This is a nice little car that’s fun to drive, nimble and nice looking
The phrase, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” can apply in spades to automobiles. We could also toss in “leave well enough alone” or “don’t mess with success.” Car makers have an annoying habit of taking a perfectly good model and altering or ‘refining’ it just because … well, just because. But with the…
This lovely automobile has a nice sense of balance, plenty of get-up-and-go, is comfortable and easy to get along with
Maybe it’s because the price of diesel has crept up. Maybe it’s because Volkswagen got busted for a massive fuel economy scam a few years ago. Maybe it’s because people stopped caring about fuel economy. But whatever the reason, diesel-engined cars have decreased in popularity to the point where they’re almost unavailable. For a while,…
If you overlook its hopeless stereo system, the Mazda3 is everything you could ask for in a compact car. It ticks most of the boxes
Years ago, while teaching my eldest daughter to drive, I tried to impress upon her the value of learning to drive a manual stick shift. “All the really cool cars have one,” I reasoned. “And it’s just more fun to drive a car with a manual transmission. You are more in touch with the car’s…
The MX-5 has better handling and braking, a much more appropriate engine, better rust resistance and a manageable soft-top
In its 18-year production run – from 1962 to 1980 – the MGB was purchased by more than half a million people. It was – and still is – one of the most successful two-seaters ever made and, even today, stands up well. There are still thousands of them around the world and the parts/service…
No one wants surprises in this market. The practical, well-thought-out model will win the race every time. This fits the bill
In a market absolutely saturated with utes, sport utes, sport cutes, and full-size beauts, what can a manufacturer do to make its product stand out in the crowd? In a word, nothing. At least, nothing drastic. This segment of the auto market is not about game-changing innovations (despite carmakers’ boasts to the contrary), revolutionary design…
It’s a little twitchy at highway speed but around town it’s nimble, easy to manoeuvre and simple to park
Take a look at what’s filling up the highways and byways these days and you’ll come to the inescapable conclusion that the day of the traditional family sedan is over. The four-door people carrier with a trunk that many of us grew up with seems to be going the way of whitewall tires, bell-bottom pants…
The Speed3 was that rarest of creatures: an affordable hot rod, accessible to just about everybody
Not to be confused with the garden-variety Mazda3, the Speed3 version of this popular econobox was the fastest car under $35,000 sold in 2010. Behind the wheel, it was a different automobile entirely. With some 263 horsepower in hand, it could rocket from zero to 100 km/h in well under six seconds and had a…
Plenty of cargo capacity, good jump for a four-cylinder engine, sleek styling and a comfortable, quiet ride add up to a solid vehicle
The CX-9 is the biggest model Mazda makes and arguably the most interesting. Not because it’s extraordinarily fast or has bling styling, or even because it pampers its occupants more than anyone else. On the face of it, the CX-9 is yet another mid-size SUV, duking it out in one of the most competitive markets…
Need four-wheel drive, some towing power, storage space and reliability? Look at the Toyota Sequoia, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac or the Mazda CX-9
So you have a cottage or need to tow a small boat or trailer – or both. You’re thinking used and need something with available four-wheel drive and a goodly-sized V6 or V8 engine – four cylinder models aren’t going to cut it here. A little elbow/storage room inside the vehicle wouldn’t hurt, nor would…