Dear John: We need a compact hauler for hockey-loving kids

Story by John LeBlancWho doesn’t love a good compact crossover? Based on the surging sales numbers of these small and useful vehicles, most Canadian new vehicle owners would shout, “Not us!” But for some new car buyers, like Peter and Wendy Murray from my hometown of Ottawa, Ont., their current small SUV just isn’t doing […]

Comparison Test: 2016 Ford Edge vs. 2016 Nissan Murano

Story and photos by John LeBlancLet’s be clear: If not for the success of Nissan’s original Murano, there would be no Ford Edge to battle for the hearts of midsize crossover buyers. Arriving for 2003, the five-passenger, four-door Murano was one of the pioneers of the car-based crossover utility vehicle craze. Based on a Nissan […]

Long-Term Test: 2016 Ford Explorer – The Verdict

Story and photo by John LeBlanc Coming hard after our too-short summers, the dark months of winter can be like purgatory for many Canadian drivers; in truth, dicey winter driving is a big reason why so many buyers opt for the safety and comfort of SUVs and crossovers. This was also the reason we picked […]

Long-Term Test: 2016 Ford Explorer Sport – Part 3

Story and photo by John LeBlancOne of the advantages of a 60-day test drive is that it allows us to experience and report back on a new vehicle in a variety of scenarios the typical one-week road test cannot afford. Take for instance our latest adventure in our 2016 Ford Explorer Sport: a middle-of-the-winter, near-2,000-kilometre road […]

Long-Term Test: 2016 Ford Explorer Sport – Part 2

Story and photo by John LeBlancFor a while there, it looked like winter was being put on “pause” in Ontario this season. Halfway through our 60-day test drive of the 2016 Ford Explorer Sport, though, Mother Nature finally hit the “play” button — and hard.

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