The Straight-GOODS/Hot Hatches

2010 Audi A3 2.0 TFSI quattro Base Price: $36,900 Driver Must Haves: Sport Package ($3,100) It’s not as sharp as a Subie WRX265. But think of this classy-looking A3 as the Golf R Volkswagen Canada (shy 80 hp) won’t bring here. The five-door A3 is chock-a-block with all-wheel drive, twin-clutch gearbox, a gutsy 200 hp […]

The Straight-GOODS/Sports Sedans

2010 Acura TL SH-AWD Base Price: $48,490 Driver Must Haves: The ability to ignore the non-German badge The addition of a new manual gearbox allows the TL into The Goods for the first time. Granted, you have to pony up for the loaded $48,490 SH-AWD Tech to get to the new six-speed stick, but it’s […]

First Drive: 2011 Toyota Sienna

[svgallery name=”2011_Toyota_Sienna_hirez”] Story and photos by John LeBlanc VICTORIA–As the first new vehicle launched in Canada since the Toyota recall crisis started in January, let’s deal right away with the elephant in the room. Of the several 2011 Sienna minivans I drove during the course of a one-day media event this week, none accelerated unintentionally, […]

First Drive: 2010 Acura RDX

[svgallery name=”2010 Acura RDX”] Story and photos by John LeBlanc PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – In a down-turned economy that’s created a drop in new car sales, one of the few segments to grow is the compact luxury crossover. The promise of car-like handling and interior features, the utility of a hatchback and a modicum of […]

The Trouble with Toyotas: Has the hybrid halo been tarnished?

By John LeBlanc So, let’s see, what’s on Toyota president Akio Toyoda’s agenda today? Oh. Only recalling its “halo” Prius, the best-selling car in Japan, that’s all.

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