Archive for February, 2011

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2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS Coupe

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Review and photos by
Peter Bleakney, CanadianDriver.com

The last Mitsubishi Eclipse I drove was a 2008 Spyder GT-P ($35,998 for 2011), and I will confess I didn’t like it much. It had a terrifically lusty 265-hp 3.8-litre V6 engine and lovely six-speed gearbox, but it suffered from front-wheel spin, torque-steer and way too much torsional flexing in the body structure.

2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS Coupe

2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS Coupe

So when the 162-hp four-cylinder 2011 Eclipse GS Coupe ($24,498 base) showed up at my door, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

In a nutshell, it’s an about-face from the Spyder GT-P – a good front-drive chassis in search of a better motor.

So let’s get the bad stuff out of the way. The 2.4-litre SOHC 16-valve MIVEC four is a coarse and unpleasant sounding lump right from idle to the strained 6,500 rpm redline. To be fair (and I’m being charitable here), it gets the job done. It has a fairly broad torque curve (peak 162 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm) and decent throttle response. While no powerhouse, the car never felt flat-footed. (more…)

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2004-2010 BMW X3

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

By Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com

The BMW X3 was introduced for the 2004 model year as a smaller alternative to the brand’s original crossover, the X5. When it went on sale, the X3 shared its compact, luxury crossover status with just one other vehicle, the Land Rover Freelander, and it wasn’t until 2007 that it would have another competitor in the Acura RDX. The only other vehicles that might be seen as true competitors were fully-loaded versions of more affordable crossovers like the Ford Escape or Subaru Outback, for just a couple of examples.

2010 BMW X3

2010 BMW X3

By 2009, Audi had joined the fray with its Q5, and the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class was available in calendar-year 2009 too.

The original X3 was available with two inline six-cylinders, one being a 2.5-litre (184 hp; 2.5i model) and the other a 3.0-litre (225 hp; 3.0i model), both borrowed from the 3 Series sedan line. In 2007, the engine line-up was revised: the 2.5-litre was dropped, and a 215-hp version of the original 3.0-litre became the base engine, while a 260-hp motor was the upgrade. (more…)

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2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7 4X4

Monday, February 14th, 2011

Review and photos by
Greg Wilson, CanadianDriver.com

As Assistant Editor, Jil McIntosh reported in her First Drive of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, there’s much to like about this redesigned mid-size sport-ute: improved handling and ride, a quieter, roomier and better finished cabin, a more powerful base engine, and more luxury and safety features – but the thing that sticks out in my mind is its value for money – at least when it comes to the top-of-the-line Overland model with the optional 5.7-litre V8 engine (MSRP $51,895).

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7 4X4

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7 4X4

To get this level of power, refinement, luxury features and off-road ability in a competitor, you’d have to look further upmarket, namely at luxury SUVs like the Land Rover LR4 ($59,990), Infiniti FX50 ($64,550), Audi Q7 ($69,200), Mercedes-Benz ML 550 ($69,700), BMW X5 xDrive 50i ($74,300), Porsche Cayenne ($76,000), and Lexus LX570 ($89,950). (more…)

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2011 Volkswagen Jetta Trendline+

Sunday, February 13th, 2011

Review and photos by
Greg Wilson, CanadianDriver.com

The differences between the all-new Volkswagen Jetta and its predecessor could be summed up in four words: price, positioning, platform and personality. With a starting price of $15,875 for the base model, the 2011 Jetta 2.0L Trendline undercuts last year’s base Jetta 2.5 Trendline by $6,300 thanks to its smaller and less powerful 115-hp 2.0-litre base engine and fewer standard features. The lower pricing also changes the Jetta’s market positioning dramatically, allowing it to compete directly with popular sub $20,000 compacts like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. And with an all-new unit body platform that’s now different from the Golf’s, the new Jetta has distinct ride and handling characteristics, more interior room, and an independent Jetta “personality.”

2011 Volkswagen Jetta Trendline+

2011 Volkswagen Jetta Trendline+

The key to the 2011 Jetta’s lower base price is its venerable 2.0-litre SOHC 8-valve iron block four-cylinder motor, an engine that’s been around for decades. With only 115 horsepower and fuel economy numbers of 9.1 city/6.0 highway (L/100 km, manual transmission), the 2.0-litre engine is the least powerful and the least fuel-efficient engine in its class. (more…)

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2006-2009 Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ

Saturday, February 12th, 2011

By Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com

The Lincoln Zephyr was introduced in 2005, as a 2006 model, as a new entry-level model for Ford’s upscale brand. The car revived a name used on a 1936-1942 Lincoln model, and also a late-1970s Mercury based on the Ford Fairmont.

2007 Lincoln MKZ

2007 Lincoln MKZ

As with the Mercury Zephyr, the new Lincoln Zephyr was based on a Ford sedan, but in this case, the Fusion, which debuted at about the same time. Where the Fusion was offered in an entry-level, four-cylinder model, the Zephyr was sold in a single trim with V6 engine, automatic transmission, heated leather seats and dual-zone climate control. (more…)

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2006-2010 Dodge Charger

Friday, February 11th, 2011

Review and photos by
Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com

The 2006 Dodge Charger was the third model to use Chrysler’s (DaimlerChrysler, at the time) full-size, rear-wheel drive LX platform, following the 2006 introduction of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum.

2006 Dodge Charger SXT

2006 Dodge Charger SXT

The Charger was a mainstream variant of the upscale Chrysler 300, and ostensibly a sedan sibling to the Magnum, which shared the Charger’s drive-train options. Those included a 2.7-litre V6 (180 hp to start, later upgraded to 190), a 3.5-litre V6 (250 hp) and a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 (340 hp). A 425-horsepower, 6.1-litre V8 was reserved for a high-performance SRT8 model. (more…)

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2011 Kia Forte EX sedan

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Review and photos by
Peter Bleakney, CanadianDriver.com

With the world’s automakers scrambling to meet ever more stringent fuel economy and emission targets, the compact sedan game is moving along at a pretty decent clip.

2011 Kia Forte EX sedan

2011 Kia Forte EX sedan

The current darling of the bunch here in North America is the Chevy Cruze, garnering praise for its quality interior and big-car demeanour. It is in the final running for AJAC’s Canadian Car of the Year. Soon to enter the fray are the all-new Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra, the former which promises engaging Euro-dynamics and the latter which looks to kick serious butt with its mini-Sonata good looks in conjunction with class leading power and fuel economy.

And then there is that trio of 800-pound gorillas: the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Mazda3. (more…)

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2010 Honda Accord EX-L V6 Coupe

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Review and photos
by Peter Bleakney, CanadianDriver.com

In 2009, Honda Canada sold 15,799 Accords, 2,956 of which were the two-door coupe variant. Of those, only 351 were the 271-hp EX-L V6 Coupe fitted with a six-speed manual transmission like this $34,890 tester.

2010 Honda Accord EX-L V6 Coupe

2010 Honda Accord EX-L V6 Coupe

Not surprising, really. And this is no slight against the Honda, which I’ll be honest, took my preconceptions of this coupe and ran them into the guardrail.

It’s because most buyers looking at a two-door sports coupe in this price range will want rear-wheel-drive: Infiniti G37 Coupe, Hyundai Genesis Coupe V6, BMW 128i Coupe, Mustang or Camaro.

But before we dismiss the Accord EX-L V6 Coupe as a tarted-up family snooze-mobile, let’s have a closer look.

First off, the Accord EX-L V6 Coupe is quite a fetching rig, and a relatively uncommon sight on our roads. (more…)

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2010 Subaru Legacy PZEV

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

Review Peter Bleakney
Photos by Peter Bleakney
and Paul Williams, CanadianDriver.com

Subaru’s steady march away from quirks-ville and into the automotive mainstream takes a quantum leap with the all-new 2010 Legacy mid-sized sedan. The last vestiges of Subie weirdness are gone with this fifth-generation remake. No more frameless side windows. The styling is conservatively pleasant, in an inoffensive kind of way. Even the classic (and yes, odd) flat-four growl has been effectively tuned out of the exhaust note.

2010 Subaru Legacy PZEV

2010 Subaru Legacy PZEV

There were three issues keeping the previous Legacy out of mainstream contention – it was too small, too expensive, and with its trademark symmetrical all-wheel-drive, not as fuel efficient as the competition. With the 2010 model, all these peccadilloes have big check marks beside them.

The 2010 Legacy has stretched in all directions and now features a spacious cabin with lots of headroom. The most noticeable improvement is in the back where legroom goes from lousy to limo (up by 10 cm). The 416-litre trunk is one of the largest in the segment, and has a sizable pass-through. (more…)

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2011 Infiniti M56S

Friday, February 4th, 2011

Review and photos by
Haney Louka, CanadianDriver.com

Even though Nissan’s luxury division has long since dropped its flagship Q45 model, the spirit of the car that launched the Infiniti brand back in 1989 is still very much with us in the new M56S.

2011 Infiniti M56S

2011 Infiniti M56S

The original Q was a driver’s luxury car; a model that helped to establish Infiniti as a Japanese alternative to BMW. It was firm and responsive and lacked the luxury frou-frou that adorned the rival Lexus LS 400. It was also chock-full of technology for its day, although it would be embarrassed by many of today’s economy cars in that department.

So the original Q was a hit with me, but I was 15 at the time; hardly a member of Infiniti’s affluent target market. (more…)

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