2015 Honda Odyssey “nothing shy of terrific”

2015 Honda Odyssey “nothing shy of terrific”This edition of the Odyssey also received some safety goodies You know what they say: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. At least that was Honda’s attitude when it came to the Odyssey minivan, which, for 2015, was essentially unchanged from the year before … and the year before that … aside from a…

2013 Acura RDX benign, comfortable and easy to live with

Has held its value reasonably well, going from the high teens to the low $20,000 range

2013 Acura RDX benign, comfortable and easy to live withBased on the Honda CR-V, the Acura RDX was the first Acura to have a turbocharger. It was also the first turbo model ever in Honda/Acura’s regular production line-up. It was and is built in Marysville, Ohio. But in 2013, that went away, and it received a V6 engine as well as a six-speed transmission.…

Quality control for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata not what it should be

One owner experienced a sudden catastrophic engine failure at 119,091 km

Quality control for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata not what it should beBy 2012 the Hyundai Sonata was in its sixth generation and benefited from a restyling job and drivetrain changes from the year before. Equipment level was still pretty high, with features like air conditioning, power windows, and heated seats becoming standard. Available extras included a leather interior, a Navi system, and satellite radio. You had…

2013 Kia Soul was one funky ride

Consumer Reports appreciated its affordability and “decent” performance

2013 Kia Soul was one funky rideBy 2013, the Kia Soul was firmly embedded in the North American market. It joined the new breed of stubby compact “urban crossover” wagons, such as the Nissan Cube, Scion xB, Honda Element, Ford Flex and so on, and was an instant success. Sometimes it seemed like every other vehicle on the road was a…

2013 Mazda3 a pleasure to drive, despite the tweaks

A thumbs up from Consumer Reports, but mixed results for JD Power

2013 Mazda3 a pleasure to drive, despite the tweaksBenefiting from an additional seven horsepower, the 2013 Mazda3 was still in its second generation and pretty much business as usual for the Japanese company. Most of the changes from the previous year were in the form of refinements and interior upgrades, and you could get Mazda’s new thrifty SkyActiv drivetrain for the first time.…

Buying used: 2010-14 Ridgeline as much an SUV as a pick-up

Consumer Reports loved the Ridgeline

Buying used: 2010-14 Ridgeline as much an SUV as a pick-upThe adage: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” applies in spades to the Honda Ridgeline, which from 2010 up to at least 2014 was essentially unchanged in appearance, drivetrain layout, comfort level, and function. The Ridgeline was never intended to be a working truck in the same way as, oh, a Ford F-150 or…

Buying used: Nissan Altima Coupe well appointed, economical

Hitting the market in 2008 and discontinued in early 2013, it was and is one of the more stylish cars on the road

Buying used: Nissan Altima Coupe well appointed, economicalIt may look like the Altima sedan but the Altima Coupe, according to Nissan, is a different vehicle in almost every way. Hitting the market in 2008 and discontinued in early 2013, it was and is one of the more stylish cars on the road – nice to look at from just about every angle.…

Buying used: Toyota Camry from 2010 to 2012 won’t disappoint

Available with either a four-cylinder or V6 engine, this generation was offered in a variety of trim levels

Buying used: Toyota Camry from 2010 to 2012 won’t disappointThere wasn’t much to separate the Toyota Camry between 2010 and 2012, aside from minor styling cues and options packages. These were all pretty good years for Toyota’s mid-size sedan, and it maintained its reputation as one of the more reliable cars on the road. Available with either a four-cylinder or V6 engine, with a…

2012 Camaro all about baby-boomer nostalgia

A high-performance car for buyers who like to drive with enthusiasm and want everyone to know it

2012 Camaro all about baby-boomer nostalgiaThe 2012 Chevrolet Camaro offered a wide range of powertrain choices, including a convertible and the hell-raising ZL1. General Motors was banking heavily on baby-boomer nostalgia with this, the fifth-generation version of the Camaro. Aside from the fact that it delivered better fuel economy than its predecessors, had better handling and braking, and was more…

Buying used: 2012 Toyota Corolla holds its value

Standard equipment includes telescoping steering, split folding rear seat, anti-lock brakes and more

Buying used: 2012 Toyota Corolla holds its valueIn 2012, the Toyota Corolla sedan accounted for 40 per cent of the company’s total Canadian sales. It had been at or near the top of the sales heap in the compact car category for the previous two decades. This generation of the Corolla received a re-do in 2009, apparently styled in part in Turin,…
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