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2012 Acura MDX SH-AWD Review
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Premium crossover SUVs like the Acura MDX are big business. Virtually every automaker builds a machine like this one to sell to Canadians looking to blast through Mother Nature's frigid wintry depths, or escape in the lap of luxury to the cottage for a weekend.
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2013 Buick Encore Preview
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Suddenly we have another crossover catfight. The 2012 Detroit auto show is where Buick unveiled its new contender in a burgeoning segment: the compact, premium crossover.
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VIDEO: 2013 Infiniti JX at the Montreal Auto Show
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Infiniti's new seven-passenger crossover made its Canadian debut at the Montreal Auto Show. The 2013 Infiniti JX will join the Japanese luxury brand's lineup, slotting between the EX35 and FX35/FX50 crossovers.
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VIDEO: 2012 Honda CR-V (with Jerry Chenkin) at the Montreal Auto Show
Monday, January 23, 2012
The CR-V is a pivotal player in Honda's arsenal. This compact crossover is one of the originators of this extremely competitive compact crossover segment. In a bid to remain current and up to date, Honda has redesigned its CR-V without revolutionizing it.
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VIDEO: 2013 Mazda CX-5 at Detroit Auto Show
Friday, January 20, 2012
A star is born. With its technical know-how and brilliant design team, Mazda has created a very anticipated entry in the compact crossover segment. The CX-5 is the first vehicle from Mazda that incorporates all of its SKYACTIV technologies which brings, in part, class-leading fuel economy ratings.
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2012 Detroit Auto Show hits and misses
Friday, January 20, 2012
As any large and international auto show, Detroit 2012 featured a virtual smorgasbord of new production and concept vehicles to ponder.
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Heels And Wheels new vehicle reviews
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
We are in the midst of the ramping up process of our new website for women, by women. As we get closer to the launch date, we will continue to bring you interesting stories and reviews on a weekly basis.
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2012 BMW X1 xDrive28i Review
Monday, January 16, 2012
BMW recently introduced the world to a compact SAV. And what's that? you ask. It's BMW acronym for "Sport Activity Vehicle." What's a Sport Activity Vehicle? It's whatever you want it to be. Whether you live an active lifestyle or something more mundane, the X1 may be your ideal ride provided your wallet can sustain a $40K hit. If that's the case, there's good reason to read on.
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2012 Infiniti QX56 Review
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Feeling good is never overrated. Safe, warm, cozy, relaxed -- we are hard-wired to seek out those things that make up our version of Heaven. Comfort always finds its way onto lists of criteria when people shop for new cars. Be it in the first or fifth position, no one weeds through cars looking for the one that will break their back, blow out their eardrums or want them to amputate a leg. That is, unless they're in the market for a race car. Good for you if you are!
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VIDEO: Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept in Detroit
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Presented at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, the Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept shows off its three-mode powertrain that consists of a turbocharged, 2.0L inline-four, an electric motor and an integrated starter/generator, all managed by an 8-speed automatic transmission.
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2012 Dodge Durango Citadel Review
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Generation three of Dodge's biggest family hauler, the Durango, is a real treat. Not only does it look more sophisticated and upscale than ever, but it offers up more power, content and capability than Durango models before it. It's an SUV that gets noticed and talked about by passers-by. It's big, handsome and powerful from a glance, and like most American SUVs these days, represents one of the best values in the segment.
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Chrysler extends roots in Detroit
Friday, January 06, 2012
Chrysler is adding a third crew and 1,100
new jobs at its Jefferson North Assembly
Plant and reaffirming plans to reopen its
Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, both in
Detroit. The former will produce the new
diesel version of the 2013 Jeep Grand
Cherokee for North America.
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1997-2005 GMC Jimmy Pre-Owned
Saturday, January 07, 2012
The last-generation GMC Jimmy was a 4x4 SUV model available to Canadian shoppers from model years 1997 to 2005 inclusive. Built on a truck frame and featuring a transfer case-based four-wheel drive system, it offered family-ready functionality and actual off-road workability.
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2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Highline Review
Friday, January 06, 2012
You're all set. You got the spouse and the kid loaded and ready to go. The family vehicle is a brand new, right-sized 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. When you started off shopping for a new, more versatile car, you researched and inspected all the usual crossover suspects, namely the Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV, and Ford Escape. In the end, why the Tiguan?
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2012 Buick Enclave CXL AWD Review
Friday, December 30, 2011
This is a tough crowd. The crossover segment as a whole is not only in constant expansion but it is evolving at a practically alarming rate. What were once crude station wagons, SUVs and other types of dedicated people and cargo movers, save for minivans, are now all found under the crossover moniker.
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2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara Preview
Friday, December 23, 2011
We first drove the current-generation Suzuki Grand Vitara way back in February 2006, and it hasn't changed much since then. True, it received a couple of engine swaps during that time, but from an aesthetic standpoint, Suzuki left it virtually untouched.
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2011 Ford Flex Titanium AWD Review
Monday, January 02, 2012
When I first saw the Ford Flex in 2008, I have to say I was a bit bummed out. The design of the Flex is not about smooth lines and flowing curves, it's more of a suitcase on wheels. I've heard some compare it to the Mini Traveller (obviously, in a much, much bigger form), but at least the Mini was cute and bite-size. The Flex is big, boxy and brutish. It was then, and it is now.
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2012 Chevrolet Traverse 2LT AWD Review
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
If you haven't yet set foot in a Chevrolet Traverse, or in a Buick Enclave, a GMC Acadia or a now-defunct Saturn Outlook for that matter, you probably don't realize just how spacious this SUV is. GM might prefer calling it a crossover, which sounds more environmentally friendly. Whatever.
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2012 Nissan Murano LE AWD Platinum Edition Review
Sunday, December 18, 2011
For the better part of a decade now, members of my family have been Nissan owners. As we entered the new millennium, my father decided to ditch our boat of a Plymouth Acclaim and invest in a brand new car: a 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE. At the time, I was still a student and had just gotten my driver's license. My vehicular obsession had begun and I was none too pleased when my parents came home with the beige (inside and out, to match the house so my mother claimed), automatic Sentra.
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2011 Acura ZDX SH-AWD TECH Review
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
History tells us that some car designs were great on paper, but turned out to be total flops once launched. There are many, many examples of bad ideas gone worse, and I've had the pleasure (or is that displeasure?) of driving a few in my short career. One such vehicle was the Pontiac Aztek, famous for being hideous. It was functional, but only the vision-impaired could fully appreciate its design.
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Electric Cars tested!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Although you may not be seeing many on the road as of yet, there are far more electric cars coming our way than you might imagine. What is especially interesting about EVs, other than the fact that they do not produce any emissions, is that they will come in all shapes, sizes, and vocations.
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2011 Acura MDX SH-AWD Elite Review
Monday, December 12, 2011
For anyone who follows my reviews and articles (which, of course, you all do), you'll know I'm not a fan of bigger vehicles. SUVs, pickups, even some CUVs are usually lost on me. I like sedans, compacts and subcompacts: the more a manufacturer can cram into a small package, the better it is for me. Perhaps it's my lifestyle: I have no need for such a vehicle - at least, that used to be the case.
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2011 Mazda CX-7 GT AWD Review
Friday, December 09, 2011
The crossover category is in full effect. The 2011 and 2012 model years have seen numerous new additions and many existing players have been given the once-over. It's no secret: this is the segment of today and, more likely than not, the future.
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2011 Dodge Durango Citadel Review
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
The 2011 Durango is a somewhat jumbo midsize SUV in Dodge's vastly improved lineup of late. The Durango is completely new for 2011, and highly impressive. In Canada, all Durangos are configured with all-wheel drive, while in the US, rear-wheel-drive is available.
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2013 Infiniti JX Preview
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
When Infiniti pulled the covers from its latest offering at this year's L.A. Auto Show, the new 2013 Infiniti JX, the crowds flocked around the vehicle. Nothing unusual in that, I guess. After all, with the world's media in attendance, it's the journalists' job to snap a few photographs and then fire them off to their publications as quickly as possible.
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2013 Mazda CX-5 First Impressions
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Our road skirts around the edges of the Tujunga Valley, past modest stucco houses surrounded by scrubby ranch land and twisted orchards. Quiet and unassuming it may seem, the area was once the site of the most famous alien landing of all in Steven Spielberg's blockbuster movie, ET the Extraterrestrial.
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2011 Mercedes-Benz R 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC Review
Friday, November 25, 2011
Most people think of the Mercedes-Benz R-Class as a minivan, but not Mercedes-Benz. The automaker calls it an SUV, but one that "defies the rigid definition of its category."
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2012 Honda CR-V First Impressions
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Honda have been experiencing one or two setbacks recently, what with the disaster in Japan, the flooding of Thailand and, most recently, Consumer Reports giving the company its first seriously negative ear-bashing in years.
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2011 Chevrolet Equinox 2LT Review
Saturday, November 12, 2011
A year ago I was less than kind to the likes of the Equinox. I'm not going to lie, I didn't like it. Anyone who knows me, knows the story. Maybe it was circumstance, maybe I was just having a bad week, or maybe Chevy really did have an unsatisfactory product. Whatever the case, I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth while the rest of the automotive community sang the crossover's praises. I just couldn't bring myself to agree.
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2011 Lincoln MKX AWD Review
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
The MKX's job is to bring Lincoln's brand of American luxury and technology into the same premium crossover SUV segment that's occupied by Mercedes, BMW and Acura. And Lexus. Oh, and Infiniti and Cadillac and Audi. And Buick. And Porsche, and Volkswagen and GMC. Oh and uh, Volvo, too. Oh yea, and Jeep, of course.
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2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 First Impressions
Monday, November 07, 2011
The online Urban Dictionary explains "hoonage" as: "Aggressively flogging a car, but in a manner that stops just short of reckless." Not all of us are gifted enough to fully exploit a car and earn points while putting a car slideways at an intersection. Fear not, Jeep has you covered.
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2006-2009 Pontiac Torrent Pre-Owned
Saturday, November 05, 2011
Torrent was Pontiac's entry in what would become a crowded and competitive crossover SUV marketplace. It hit our streets as a 2006 model, alongside the mechanically identical Chevrolet Equinox, to replace the aging Chevy Blazer with a more agile, car-like and efficient machine. Used vehicle shoppers after a decent, relatively large crossover without the high prices of comparable Japanese models will likely gravitate towards it.
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2011 Mercedes-Benz GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC Review
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Large, luxury SUVs are so good at radiating wealth and consuming petroleum, we sometime forget about their other attributes. Take the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class for example. With its imposing looks and size, three rows of seating and the Mercedes-Benz star on the hood, you wouldn't expect it to cost less than 70 grand -- and it doesn't.
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Top 5 winter tires for trucks/SUVs in 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
There are no new winter tire models for light-duty trucks and SUVs this year. Please note that we have also added Vredestein, a quality tire brand from the Netherlands which Canadian drivers have yet to become familiar with.
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2011 Mazda CX-7 GT Review
Monday, October 31, 2011
I've talked previously about the importance of first impressions and how significantly they influence whether the chequebook is pulled or the potential purchase is pulled. By "first impressions", I'm not talking about a salesman's penchant for polyester but rather what the vehicle in question communicates at first sight, followed by first drive.
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Range roving
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Here I am back on the Canadian West Coast, and loving it. Loving it because this is our Canadian California. Although it pains me to admit it, I must say that although the East Coast has more history, Vancouver and its surrounding areas are breathtaking and far more appealing.
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2012 Range Rover Evoque First Impressions
Monday, October 10, 2011
Luxury brands are moving down while regular brands are diversifying, and if the group in which your make belongs is doing neither you'll basically be left behind. Nothing is sacred anymore, and we need to thank the powers that be sitting high atop their world headquarters, wherever they may be. Do it! Thank them!
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2012 Kia Soul First Impressions
Thursday, October 06, 2011
When the Kia Soul first came out in the spring of 2009, it didn't really get my attention. It looked kind of funny and I honestly didn't think that it would be very popular. But once I spent time behind the wheel, I realized that its funkiness was unique and it indeed had some desirable features.
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Ford Explorer XLT V6 4WD review - 2011 SUV comparison test
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Alright, we've reached the No.2 spot and we think this entry fully deserves to be here. Newly redesigned inside and out, this latest reiteration of the much-loved Ford Explorer is all about attracting a young, active, vibrant crowd while still producing impressive performance and efficiency numbers.
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GMC Acadia Denali review - 2011 SUV comparison test
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Even if the Acadia, part of the trio consisting of the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse, is one of the older vehicles in the lot, its platform, which was launched in 2007, thoroughly impressed the panel.
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Toyota Highlander 4WD V6 Sport review - 2011 SUV comparison test
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Now here's an entrant none of us thought would be as high up on the list as it actually is. The Toyota Highlander turned out to be surprisingly able and quite satisfactory overall. And with the fastest 0-100 km time (7.3 sec), the shortest breaking distance (44m) and second-best fuel economy (13.18 L/100 km), it also turned out to be the most capable. So, how come it only managed to hit 4th place?
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Honda Pilot Touring review - 2011 SUV comparison test
Saturday, September 24, 2011
It's known that Honda has some pretty great products. Throughout the decades, Honda has continued to impress on the road with smaller cars, especially with its Civic. However, when it comes to the Pilot, Honda hasn't quite perfected the mould just yet.
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Dodge Durango Crew review - 2011 SUV comparison test
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The new Durango is the disappointment of the group. Having recently returned from a one-year absence where it gained a new body, a better and more efficient drivetrain as well as a totally revised interior, our expectations were very high. In fact, in a regular week-long test, we actually quite liked the Durango. In this comparative test, though, not so much.
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Nissan Pathfinder LE review - 2011 SUV comparison test
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Coming in at the bottom of the pack is the most truck-like of the group, the Nissan Pathfinder. Despite being new, the Pathfinder instantly felt years behind the rest of the pack. Thanks to cheap plastics and an overall average finish coupled with a simplistic, truck-inspired dash, the Pathfinder disappointed from the moment we drove off.
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2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara JLX-L Review
Sunday, October 02, 2011
After spending a week behind the wheel of Toyota's RAV4 just a few short weeks prior to driving the 2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara JLX-L, I was pleasantly surprised at how different the Suzuki actually was from the Toyota, despite my initial thought that I was going to get behind the wheel of the RAV4's twin.
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2011 Kia Soul 4u Luxury Review
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Introduced in the summer of '09 as a 2010 model, the compact Soul cute-'ute seems to have struck a chord in the hearts of people looking for an affordable truck. Truthfully, there are about zero truck parts that make up the Soul, but it does offer a high riding position, a jacked-up stance and cheery good looks to complement the package.
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2011 Mitsubishi RVR GT 4WD Review (video)
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Used to be that SUVs existed almost solely as big hulking monsters that flattened foliage, consumed multiple parking spaces and burned up fuel faster than a refinery fire.
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2012 Range Rover Evoque Preview
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The Evoque invokes some pretty unique and interesting reactions in the general public. Since it was first released to the world just over a year ago, we've all been waiting with intrigued and baited breath for the baby Range Rover to hit the road.
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2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD Review
Friday, September 23, 2011
Cars are, generally, built with a purpose in mind. From econoboxes to off-road giants and supercars, they're all engineered and manufactured with a goal. That goal or purpose is usually glaringly evident and one that makes itself immediately known to the buyer. However, such is not always the case.
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Frankfurt 2011: Maserati jumps on SUV bandwagon with Kubang
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Maserati introduced its first-ever SUV at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The sporty and luxurious Kubang marks a natural evolution for the prestigious Italian car maker, expanding its portfolio and increasing its presence on the market by conquering a new segment.
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2011 BMW X3 xDrive35i Review
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sometimes, you can do no wrong. BMW seems to not be able to do any wrong at the moment, except maybe the 550i GT ... we'll call it a "near-miss". Otherwise, BMW is in full product attack-and-launch mode.
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SUVs and young families: A match made in heaven?
Thursday, September 08, 2011
A few weeks ago, I blogged about an introspective moment in which I pondered the kind of car I would buy next for my family. I mentioned that I would consider swallowing my ever-manly pride for the first time in my life and spring for a minivan, although I vastly prefer SUVs and crossovers.
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2012 BMW X1 xDrive28i Review
Monday, September 05, 2011
Since luxury brands are popular right now, is it safe to assume that any vehicle BMW slaps a propeller badge on will sell like hotcakes? No, it isn't. It all depends on how far you're willing to push the envelope in creating vehicle categories no one really asked for. Case in point: People are probably still scratching their heads trying to figure out what a 5 Series Gran Turismo is.
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2011 Toyota Venza AWD V6 Review
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Generally, large and sensible people movers don't exactly set my pulse racing, particularly when they're clad in "Refrigerator White" as my 2011 Toyota Venza AWD is. But there's something about the rakish roofline and 20" multi-spoke dubs that sets the Venza apart from its more generic brethren.
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Matt's No. 1 Off-Road Truck
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
I've enjoyed numerous driving experiences over the years, be it in California, Germany or right here in Canada. Some of the most fun I've ever had was at the wheel of a truck right around my home town - but it wasn't just any truck, mind you.
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2011 7-seater SUV comparo match
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
As spring rolled in, our editorial team at the office got some great news: three members of our gang were going to be new, first-time parents. That got us thinking about family vehicles as two of the three began to consider a new set of wheels. Anticipating more kids in the future, the guys and gal came to one unanimous conclusion: No minivans!
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2012 Ford Explorer EcoBoost First Impressions
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I will go on record right now to say that I never truly liked the Ford Explorer. Now this could have something to do with the styling of previous models, or the fact that during my time managing detail shops, I had the distinct displeasure of preparing the first Eddie Bauer Edition for its debut at the Toronto Auto Show.
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2012 Ford Edge EcoBoost First Impressions
Monday, August 29, 2011
The crossover market has become a busy place over the past few years; with escalating fuel prices, drivers start to question their need for a honking great SUV. Of course, this has given rise to a number of manufacturers jumping onto the bandwagon, and there are now probably more crossover vehicles being produced than there ever were SUVs.
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2004-2010 Infiniti QX Pre-Owned
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Infiniti's shot at machines like the Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes GL-Class is called the QX56. A new model is now on the road, but the last-generation QX was effectively a rebadged and upscaled Nissan Armada with cabin and body upgrades intended to deliver sophisticated looks and a higher level of luxury.
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2011 BMW X3 xDrive28i Review
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Manufacturers are constantly looking to fill the void. They are searching to satisfy every single customer out there, to create vehicles that will suit every need and specific budgets. If they feel a market hasn't been tapped, they come out with a new model. Enter the BMW X3.
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2012 Chevrolet Orlando First Impressions
Friday, August 12, 2011
Muskoka, Ontario--Kia Rondo, Scion xB and Mazda5 take note: Chevrolet is about to start cutting your grass. Thanks to wacky fuel prices, changing market conditions and smarter-than-ever shoppers, small crossover, compact car and small van sales in the Canadian market are heating up. So are sales of vehicles slotted loosely between these genres.
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2011 Toyota Highlander 4WD V6 Sport Review
Thursday, August 18, 2011
There are some vehicles on the market that might be lacking in refinement, practicality and eco-friendliness, but their alluring shape and extroverted character make them hard to resist. On the other hand, it's exactly the opposite for certain other vehicles. Case in point: the Toyota Highlander.
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2003-2010 Honda Element Pre-Owned
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Aimed squarely at value-minded weekend adventurer types, the Honda Element was designed to offer reliable versatility and all-weather driving confidence. Available all-wheel drive and a flexible cabin with thoughtful touches helped Element connect with outdoorsy couples, pet lovers and families alike. It was largely enjoyed by folks from many active lifestyles.
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2011 GMC Acadia Denali Review
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The GMC Acadia was one of the original members of General Motors official foray into the large crossover utility vehicle segment. With it, the General was making the Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook available to its then multitude of brands. Nowadays, we all know what happened to Saturn, but in the interim Chevy got its own version called the Traverse.
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2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X Convenience Package Review
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Subaru's Forester is available in six different trim levels that run the gamut from plain to deluxe, although Subaru would never describe the models that way. They would tell you that the entry-level 2.5X is well-equipped for its price class, with cloth seats and a manual or automatic transmission.
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News & Events Multimedia
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If it's February in Chicago, it's time for one thing - sports cars. Bringing a taste of hot performance to the Windy City winter, Nissan today debuted the revised 2013 Nissan 370Z on the floor of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The new Z, which is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide next June, features a number of enhancements designed to keep the legendary sports car fresh and exciting. For 2013, the Nissan 370Z will once again be available in Coupe, and Roadster configurations.
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