I am neither tall, nor do I possess the financial fortitude necessary for luxury car ownership. Presumably, though, there are many non height-challenged drivers who have the cash for a cushy car. If you are one of them, let me take the opportunity to tell you that the sedan you see here — the Lexus IS 350 AWD — is not the car for you.
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.
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.
Here are a few poor-quality photos I took with my phone last night at a public sports complex not far from my house.
Toyota is in the midst of a cost-cutting campaign aimed at keeping this Japanese juggernaut competitive against aggressively-priced Korean cars, and the result is lower-quality vehicles in some cases. While the Internet suggests there are a few common flaws with the Yaris, organizations like Consumer Reports think Toyota’s smallest car is still a good choice for a budget-priced used vehicle, and I tend to agree. Read all about it in my latest used car review at Autos.ca.
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.
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.
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.
I was looking at photos of the Subaru Impreza I test-drove recently, and I paused at this shot I took of the speedometer.
It was a snowy, slippery January day, and I had to make a trip to the grocery store. Here’s a photo of the two test cars I have right now; guess which one I took.
Here’s a hint: it wasn’t the red one.
Chris Chases Cars 