by Chris Chase These days, few vehicle segments are more competitive than the compact luxury crossover SUV class. These models are popular for combining refinement, performance and practicality with accessible prices. The dominant entries come from European and Japanese brands, while North America’s luxury automakers are more recent converts. And all of those companies now
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Premium vs Economy Mercedes-Benz B-Class vs Kia Rondo
In the first two instalments in our high-versus-low series comparing similar mainstream and upscale vehicles, we pitted pairs of new vehicles against each other. This time, we’re switching our focus to the used-vehicle marketplace. In this matchup, our “high” option is the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, a compact wagon that packaged some of the brand’s upscale touches
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Crossovers Designed for Off-Roading
by Chris Chase Crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) were originally conceived to capitalize on the popularity of truck-like SUVs while offering car-like fuel economy and driving feel. In the last few years, though, automakers have started building off-road-friendly CUV options that bridge the gap between comfortable daily drivers and rugged SUVs. If a crossover with some
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Mercedes-Benz GLB vs Volkswagen Tiguan
by Chris Chase As we discussed in the first instalment in our High vs Low series, upscale automakers have injected a lot more variety into the marketplace in recent years. Much of that change has been driven by the addition of compact models aimed at first-time car buyers or shoppers looking for their first luxury
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Buick Encore vs Chevrolet Trailblazer
by Chris Chase The market for luxury vehicles is stronger than ever, thanks to upscale automakers expanding their lineups to appeal to a wider range of buyers. It’s a wise strategy. In the past, upscale brands competed against one another for the attentions of vehicle shoppers seeking a certain level of performance or to project
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Old vs New, Toyota, Ford, BMW
Here’s the latest instalment in our “old versus new” series of used-vehicle articles, where we compare the reliability of two subsequent generations of popular car and truck models. In this article, we look at three vehicles aimed at different audiences. The Toyota Corolla is a compact economy car known for its reliability and fuel efficiency.
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Most and Least Reliable Brands
by Chris Chase Mazda, Toyota and Lexus make today’s most reliable vehicles, according to the results of Consumer Reports’ (CR) latest predicted reliability ranking, published in late November. This annual evaluation is based on data that CR collects in its survey of owners. Those drivers are asked to rate how satisfied they are with 17
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Which Generation Should you Buy?
by Chris Chase Perhaps you’ve heard it suggested that you should never buy a car in its first year after a major redesign. This common maxim seems counterintuitive: A new design should be more reliable, thanks to the ever-improving precision that goes into the manufacturing process. It’s not a universal truth, but it is common
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Used Minivan Comparison
by Chris Chase If you’re looking for a way to move a family of five or six, no vehicle can beat a minivan’s practicality and interior space. And for family buyers on a budget, a minivan that’s about 10 years old could be an affordable way to meet your daily driving needs. However, as when
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Better Lights, Safer Driving
by Conor Burke Who doesn’t want to see better and further when driving at night? At one point in time HID (High Intensity Discharge) or Xenon Headlights were reserved for the higher end vehicles of the car market. In the early 2000’s these cars stood out at night with very bright, crisp headlights. If you
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