Road Test: 2013 Toyota Avalon Limited Premium

Story and photos by John LeBlanc About half a century ago (before the minivan, the SUV or the crossover existed), full-sized sedans met the family transportation needs for the majority of Canadian households. Today, however, big four-doors are just a blip on new car sales charts.

Road Test: 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid

Story and photos by John LeBlanc It’s not as big of a personality clash as Dr. Henry Jekyll’s struggles with his Edward Hyde alter ego, but the automotive terms “Turbo” and “Hybrid” don’t seem like likely bedfellows, as in the new-this-year Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid, a car that seems to be trying to be all […]

Road Test: 2013 Toyota Corolla LE

Story and photos by John LeBlanc It’s time to say goodbye to the Corolla. And not just the 2013 model, but the Corolla as we’ve known it for decades.

Are you ready for a front-wheel-drive BMW?

By John LeBlanc When the front-wheel-drive, Mini Countryman arrived for 2010, it may have not been obvious that at some point, parent BMW — a company that had built its reputation on high-performance, rear-wheel-drive cars — would eventually launch a small, FWD car of its own. But the new BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor is […]

Dear John: Hybrid sedans

By John LeBlanc When they first came out over a decade ago, gasoline-electric — or “hybrid” — cars definitely saved more fuel compared to their gas-only counterparts. But their low-volume sales numbers meant automakers were obligated to sell hybrids at premium prices. That’s no longer the case.

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