Quick Spin: 2012 Dodge Durango Citadel

Story and photos by John LeBlanc

More luxury station wagon on steroids than SUV

What is it?
After a two-year hiatus, the Dodge Durango returns for 2012 as a proper, 21st-century, mid-sized crossover, the do-it-all vehicle for many new car buyers. The new version loses its predecessor’s archaic body-on-frame (truck-based) chassis for a lighter and more space-efficient unibody (car-based) platform, derived from the same nuts and bolts that also make up the upscale Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. Read more

Video: Riding around in a Russian tank

First Drive & Video: 2012 Kia Cee’d

Story and photos by John LeBlanc

KRAKOW, Poland – Compact cars are one the largest new vehicle segments in Canada. But if you think small cars are “big” back home, come over here to Europe. With seating for five-in-a-pinch, easy-to-park dimensions, and low operating costs, compact cars lead the best-seller lists overseas — trucks and cars included. On the continent, compacts like the Ford Focus, Opel Astra, and Volkswagen Golf perennially top the sales charts. And in this competitive market, Korea’s Kia is chasing these established players with its second-generation Cee’d. Read more

Comparo: 2012 Scion iQ vs. Smart ForTwo

Story and photos by John LeBlanc

More and more Canadians are deciding to live in cities. For drivers, that lifestyle decision includes a heavy diet of traffic congestion, tight parking spots, and stop-and-go traffic. So while the majority of new car buyers still buy “normal” size vehicles — those categorized as “compact” and up — a growing number of both city dwellers and commuters are seeing the less-is-more value of tiny, so-called city cars.

To date, those customers only had the Smart ForTwo, the diminutive two-seater Mercedes-Benz Canada’s been selling here since 2004. But Toyota Canada’s Scion brand recently launched its ForTwo-inspired 2012 iQ. So which one is the better city car? Read more

2012 Canadian mid-year new car sales report

Story and photos by John LeBlanc

The end of June marks the halfway point of the calendar year. And for the majority of Canadian brands, 2012 has been a very good year so far. Compared to sales between January and June 2011, Canadians bought 7.1 per cent more new passenger cars and trucks, for a total of 864,911 compared to only 807,772 last year according to industry analysts at DesRosiers & Associates. A closer look at 2012’s half-year numbers shows two new emerging trends. Read more

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