One owner experienced a sudden catastrophic engine failure at 119,091 km
By 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…
Consumer Reports appreciated its affordability and “decent” performance
By 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…
A thumbs up from Consumer Reports, but mixed results for JD Power
Benefiting 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.…
Consumer Reports loved the Ridgeline
The 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…
Hitting the market in 2008 and discontinued in early 2013, it was and is one of the more stylish cars on the road
It 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.…
Available with either a four-cylinder or V6 engine, this generation was offered in a variety of trim levels
There 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…
A high-performance car for buyers who like to drive with enthusiasm and want everyone to know it
The 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…
Standard equipment includes telescoping steering, split folding rear seat, anti-lock brakes and more
In 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,…
From a price of just under $22,000, the Ram 1500 has more than held its value
In 2012, the Dodge Ram 1500 was well into its fourth generation and offered plenty of choices. It had three engine choices: 3.7-litre V6, 4.7-litre V8, and 5.7-litre V8. You could get this full-size truck in two-wheel and four-wheel drive configurations, with a couple of automatic transmission choices and regular or extended cab body styles.…
Tasteful interior, available leather upholstery, heated seats, rearview camera, blind spot warning and more
In 2012, the Ford Fusion was two years into a mild makeover and a revised drivetrain. You could get it with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, plus a choice of two V6s and a hybrid. Ford also introduced a new six-speed transmission the year before and there was an all-wheel-drive version, so they were covering all…