The Crank: Will former Explorer SUV owners buy into new metrosexual model?

By John LeBlanc Like the lampshade-wearing Christmas get-together guest who doesn’t know when to call it a night, the old, truck-based Ford Explorer hung out at the SUV party way too long. Share:

First Drive: 2011 Ford Explorer

Exploring new worlds In the search for fuel economy, Ford’s iconic Explorer evolves from SUV to crossover By John LeBlanc SAN DIEGO, Calif. – You would be forgiven if you thought Ford’s decision to move its Explorer to a car-like unibody chassis after riding for a quarter-century on a body-on-frame truck-style chassis is late. After […]

First Drive: 2010 Acura ZDX

[svgallery name=”10_Acura_ZDX_hirez”] FTD SUV Acura’s so-called coupé SUV offers more form than function By John LeBlanc PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – You probably don’t “need” the new 2010 Acura ZDX, an SUV that’s had most of its utility removed because of its coupé (Acura’s word, not mine) styling. Like its chief rival, BMW’s X6 Sports Activity […]

2010’s Top SUVs/CUVs under $50k

By John LeBlanc Every year, the Toronto Star‘s Wheels section asks its contributors to scratch together a shortlist of what they think are the top new cars—as in what’s available in showrooms, not just “new” for 2011—in various segments. Here are my picks for the Top SUVs/CUVs under $50k:

First Drive: 2011 Mitsubishi RVR GT AWD

A cuter ute Mitsubishi jumps into the mini-crossover ring By John LeBlanc LUNENBURG, Nova Scotia – My late father was a two-door kind of guy. So despite needing to jam my younger brother, myself, our hockey gear, and maybe even an occasional friend three or four times a week to a local rink or the […]

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