It’s a shame that this second-generation Ford Fusion hasn’t proven as durable as its predecessor. Read my Autos.ca used car review to learn what to watch out for.
Category Archives: What I Think
What I think: About a bunch of vehicles
I’ve been lazy about updating lately, so here are links to a number of recent reviews of mine, published at Autos.ca:
Test Drive: 2012 Acura TSX V6 — A very nice sport sedan that nonetheless needs a serious dose of personality and a number of high-tech features that many most of its competitors offer.
Used Vehicle Review: Nissan Altima, 2007-2012 — As a Japanese company, Nissan has a reputation for building tough cars. It earned that in the 1980s and 90s, but its later models are less robust; the fourth-generation Altima mid-size sedan is a good example.
Used Vehicle Review: Lexus GS, 2006-2012 — Speaking of Japanese cars that don’t live up to the nation’s reputation for well-built cars, there’s the third-generation Lexus GS. Compared to the quality benchmark set by Lexus (and parent-company Toyota) in the 1990s, this car falls well short.
Used Vehicle Review: Mitsubishi Outlander, 2007-2012 — Then, there’s Mitsubishi, a company with plenty to prove. It’s proving it well, apparently, with the well-built Outlander crossover, an underrated vehicle that gets overlooked by many used-vehicle buyers.
Used Vehicle Review: Mazda Tribute, 2001-2011 — I always thought the Tribute was a stop-gap vehicle added to Mazda’s lineup to fill a gap until it designed its own crossover model. It was a near carbon-copy of the Ford Escape, and so inherited that vehicle’s positive traits — and its common flaws.
Used Vehicle Review: Nissan Frontier, 2005-2012 — Here’s a modern Nissan that seems more in line with the company’s reputation. The Frontier has a few common problems, but is generally a decent little truck.
Used Vehicle Review: Acura RDX, 2007-2012 — The RDX is Acura’s compact crossover, and the first-generation model is a quirky vehicle, for being the only Honda-built product to use a turbocharged engine. Common problems include air conditioning compressor failures, but the basics — engine, transmission and nifty all-wheel drive system — seem to be pretty tough.
What I think: 2012 Kia Rio
There’s a lot to like about the 2012 Kia Rio, including its sharp looks and fun handling. My main complaint are the optimistic fuel consumption estimates, which are nowhere close to what the car is capable of in real-world driving. Read my full Autos.ca review here.
What I think: Buying a used Hyundai Santa Fe
The second-generation Hyundai Santa Fe, produced between 2007 and 2012, is a good vehicle, but is more representative of the company in transition that Hyundai was then, and not the brand gunning for the top that it is now. Read my Autos.ca used vehicle review here.
What I think: Buying a used Hyundai Elantra Touring
Canadians seem to love compact SUVs and hatchbacks, but neither of those vehicle types can rival a small station wagon’s combination of utility and affordability. The Hyundai Elantra Touring, sold in Canada from 2009 through the 2012 model year (and due to be replaced in 2012 by the redesigned 2013 Elantra GT), is a great example of a simple, solid and (surprisingly) fun-to-drive wagon. Click on through to Autos.ca to read my opinion on buying a used one.
What I think: 2012 Porsche Cayman R
Despite bearing the name of one of the world’s most respected sports car manufacturers, the Porsche Cayman is arguably the car that best combines track-happy performance, day-to-day driveability and fuel economy. The Cayman S has a 320-horsepower engine and posts a zero-to-100 km/h time of less than five seconds, and yet boats fuel consumption estimates to rival some family sedans and an easy-driving nature well-suited to the rush-hour slog.
What I think: Creative parking (and lazy drivers)
Here are a few poor-quality photos I took with my phone last night at a public sports complex not far from my house.
What I think: 2012 Toyota Camry
What’s in a name? An awful lot if yours is Camry.
This mid-sized Toyota has practically defined the term “family car” since it was introduced in the early 1980s, its name becoming closely-associated with things like reliable, practical and generally awesome.
What I think: 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid
In August, I extolled the virtues of the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid, and mused about how far Porsche has come as an automaker with addition of that gas-electric powertrain. The Panamera S Hybrid arguably moves the company a step further, combining that fuel-efficient drivetrain with sport-sedan handling.
What I think: 2012 Subaru Impreza
A redesigned car product is expected to be better than the one it replaces, and it usually works out that way with new cars. It’s a different story for the 2012 Subaru Impreza, a car that, at best, is as good as its predecessor, but is a move backwards in many respects. Click here to read my review at Autos.ca.
Chris Chases Cars 