Comparison Test: 2016 Ford Edge vs. 2016 Nissan Murano
Story and photos by John LeBlanc
Let’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 Altima sedan platform, the stylish Murano’s tall-wagon formula has been mimicked by a slew of rivals that have flooded into showrooms over the past decade, not just the Ford that arrived four years later.
Road Test: 2016 Honda Pilot Touring
Story and photo by John LeBlanc
If you’re interested in the new 2016 Honda Pilot, you’re probably also saving to put a few of your offspring through university. With seating for up to eight passengers, Honda’s midsize crossover has been popular with families looking for good value since it arrived in 2002. And although a minivan — like Honda’s excellent Odyssey — is cheaper to get into and easier to use (see sliding doors and lower step-in), there are plenty of image-conscious buyers who look at minivans as the equivalent of a wet blanket. For those buyers, know that the redesigned-for-2016 Pilot is more minivan-like than ever.
Road Test: 2016 Toyota Venza
Story and photo by John LeBlanc
Created to fill the gap between its smaller RAV4 and the larger Highlander crossover siblings, the Toyota Venza has struggled to find a loyal fan base since its arrival in 2009. Even its maker was never sure what to make of the Venza. When it was introduced as a replacement for the first-generation, two-row Highlander, officials at Toyota could not bring themselves to call the Camry sedan-based Venza a crossover.
Read moreRoad Test: 2016 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Limited
Story and photo by John LeBlanc
One of the reasons Japan’s Subaru has become so popular with Canadians is the automaker’s split personality products. On one side of a Subaru showroom, you’ll find practical vehicles like the Impreza compacts and midsize Legacy sedans and Outback wagons. Across the room, you’ll discover Subaru’s wilder side, in the shape of the BRZ sports car and rally car-inspired WRX models. Which side of the Subaru showroom should we park the practical-yet-sporty 2016 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Limited compact crossover?
Read moreLong-Term Test: 2016 Volvo V60 Sportwagon – Part 1
Story and photo by John LeBlanc
We’ve been lucky to sample a variety of new vehicles during our 60-day test drives. From a minivan to both small and large crossovers, to an electric car and a sports compact, our eight-week reviews bring out the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly that shorter test drives just can’t detect. Which makes our next long-term tester, the 2016 Volvo V60 Sportwagon — our first station wagon — such an interesting choice in a market that’s mad for crossovers, SUVs and trucks.
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