Will the new 2014 Toyota Corolla be competitive enough?

By John LeBlanc As previewed by the Furia concept (seen above) from this year’s Detroit auto show, we already know Japan’s Toyota has an all-new version of its compact Corolla sedan hitting showrooms this fall as a 2014 model. But in a segment chock-a-block with competitive products like the Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus and Volkswagen […]

Would you buy the Apple iPod of new cars?

  By John LeBlanc Last week in Paris, Japan’s Toyota revealed its new Me.We Concept. Unlike most show cars these days, the Me.We doesn’t brag about having a gazillion horsepower or is jammed with leather-this or power-that or more infotainment goodies than you’ll find at home. Instead, the Toyota concept is more like what an […]

Road Test: 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Story and photos by John LeBlanc Six years ago, when its retro-styled FJ Cruiser first went on sale, Japan’s Toyota was the best-selling import automaker here in Canada. The majority of those Toyota and luxury Lexus vehicles sold, though, were achingly conservative in nature, whether to look at or drive. It was almost like Toyota […]

Comparo: 2012 Ford Fiesta vs. Kia Rio 5 vs. Toyota Yaris

Story and photos by John LeBlanc Bottom feeders, tin cans, s—boxes — if you haven’t been in the market for a new small car lately, these are just some of the adjectives you may associate with subcompact cars. However, automakers are trying to lower their government-mandated corporate average fuel economy ratings, so to soften the […]

2012 Canadian mid-year new car sales report

Story and photos by John LeBlanc The end of June marks the halfway point of the calendar year. And for the majority of Canadian brands, 2012 has been a very good year so far. Compared to sales between January and June 2011, Canadians bought 7.1 per cent more new passenger cars and trucks, for a […]

« go back — keep looking »