Buyers Advice & Car Reviews

To help prevent vehicle theft, keep your garage door open​er out of sight or take it with you when parking away from your home.

April is Auto Crime Prevention Month – here’s how to lock out auto crime

By Blair Qualey April is Auto Crime Prevention Month and the latest…

  • Apr 18, 2023
To help prevent vehicle theft, keep your garage door open​er out of sight or take it with you when parking away from your home.
The REV Ram 1500 is introduced at the New York International Auto Show in New York April 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

New Ram electric pickup can go up to 500 miles on a charge

An electric Ram pickup truck with up to 500 miles of range…

The REV Ram 1500 is introduced at the New York International Auto Show in New York April 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
For the 2023 Lexus RX redesign, the doors and fenders have been smoothed, while the floating-style rear roof pillars maintain their familiar look. A new taillight bar extends the full width of the vehicle. PHOTO: LEXUS

2023 Lexus RX: The all-star in the Lexus stable keeps getting better with age

Through the past four generations spanning more than two decades, the Lexus…

  • Apr 5, 2023
For the 2023 Lexus RX redesign, the doors and fenders have been smoothed, while the floating-style rear roof pillars maintain their familiar look. A new taillight bar extends the full width of the vehicle. PHOTO: LEXUS
The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport is designed to handle any terrain, with features that make it ideal for off-road adventures. Chilliwack Ford Photo

Why the Ford Bronco Sport is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts

If you’re an adventure enthusiast, you need a vehicle that can keep…

  • Apr 4, 2023
The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport is designed to handle any terrain, with features that make it ideal for off-road adventures. Chilliwack Ford Photo
The Cassiar Highway provides access to some of the most spectacular scenery in British Columbia, but with no fast-charging stations, it’s inaccessible to people driving electric vehicles.

Completing B.C.’s Electric Highway

Many B.C. residents want to take the plunge and purchase their first…

  • Apr 4, 2023
The Cassiar Highway provides access to some of the most spectacular scenery in British Columbia, but with no fast-charging stations, it’s inaccessible to people driving electric vehicles.
The GR Corolla’s special three-piece muffler with stainless-steel exhaust tips increases flow, which aids efficiency and performance of the 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine. PHOTO: TOYOTA

All the Corolla hatchback needed was a bit more power + AWD, but Toyota went all-in

Small hatchbacks make affordable fuel-sipping commuters that can tote a good amount…

  • Mar 30, 2023
The GR Corolla’s special three-piece muffler with stainless-steel exhaust tips increases flow, which aids efficiency and performance of the 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine. PHOTO: TOYOTA
The updated 2024 Cadillac XT4 gets new front styling and a 33-inch (84-centimetre) curved display to replace the current eight-inch screen. PHOTO: CADILLAC

The Auto Sleuth: New course for Cadillac; Updated Explorer + more

The Cadillac XT4 sets a course for modest changes For 2024, the…

  • Mar 27, 2023
The updated 2024 Cadillac XT4 gets new front styling and a 33-inch (84-centimetre) curved display to replace the current eight-inch screen. PHOTO: CADILLAC
The AWD SS is the first Blazer EV model to arrive. It’s also the most expensive, with loads of content, all-wheel-drive and 557 horsepower. The base 1LT is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2024. PHOTO: CHEVROLET

2024 Chevy Blazer EV: have-it-your-way trim levels, plus a variety of power + price points

The familiar Chevrolet Blazer name, which was revived for 2020, will soon…

  • Mar 27, 2023
The AWD SS is the first Blazer EV model to arrive. It’s also the most expensive, with loads of content, all-wheel-drive and 557 horsepower. The base 1LT is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2024. PHOTO: CHEVROLET
The Venue is 12.5 centimetres shorter than the next-up Hyundai Kona, although passenger room is similar. Where the Venue makes its sacrifice is total cargo room, lack of powertrain choice and it doesn’t offer all-wheel-drive. The Kona does. PHOTO: HYUNDAI

2023 Hyundai Venue: Introverted subcompact city runner is big on saving money

Big and brawny utility vehicles aren’t to everyone’s liking, or to their…

  • Mar 24, 2023
The Venue is 12.5 centimetres shorter than the next-up Hyundai Kona, although passenger room is similar. Where the Venue makes its sacrifice is total cargo room, lack of powertrain choice and it doesn’t offer all-wheel-drive. The Kona does. PHOTO: HYUNDAI
It’s anticipated the B.C. auto industry will need more than 20,000 new hires over the next 10 years to fill projected job openings across the sector, from technical positions to sales and management.

Addressing the labour shortage in B.C.’s auto sector

British Columbia’s new vehicle industry, like many other sectors, is in the…

  • Mar 20, 2023
It’s anticipated the B.C. auto industry will need more than 20,000 new hires over the next 10 years to fill projected job openings across the sector, from technical positions to sales and management.
The Encore was cancelled, but the Encore GX gets new exterior styling and fresh interior with a large touch-screen. PHOTO: BUICK

The Auto Sleuth: Updated Encore GX; Ferrari crossover a hit + more

The recent departure of the compact Encore utility vehicle leaves the similarly…

  • Mar 20, 2023
The Encore was cancelled, but the Encore GX gets new exterior styling and fresh interior with a large touch-screen. PHOTO: BUICK
While most Lower Mainland routes don’t require winter tires past March 31, anyone heading north or into the Interior should keep them on until April 30. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure file.

Most drivers in B.C. should keep winter tires on vehicles until April 30

Spring is here, but Road Safety at Work’s Shift Into Winter campaign…

While most Lower Mainland routes don’t require winter tires past March 31, anyone heading north or into the Interior should keep them on until April 30. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure file.
The Civic Type R has wider track – the distance between the left and right wheels — than the standard Civic, so the fenders are flared to cover the tires. The Type R is front-wheel-drive, but the Toyota GR Corolla, the Volkswagen Golf R and the Subaru WRX are all-wheel-drive. PHOTO: HONDA

Honda ‘hatches’ a new performance compact with more flair and finesse

From the bones of the latest Honda Civic comes a new powered-up…

  • Mar 17, 2023
The Civic Type R has wider track – the distance between the left and right wheels — than the standard Civic, so the fenders are flared to cover the tires. The Type R is front-wheel-drive, but the Toyota GR Corolla, the Volkswagen Golf R and the Subaru WRX are all-wheel-drive. PHOTO: HONDA
The CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 (released in October 2021) proposes to complete B.C.’s Electric Highway by 2024 and reach a target of 10,000 public EV charging stations in B.C. by 2030.

The road to electric vehicle ownership

By Blair Qualey A recent survey by KPMG suggests that 70 per…

  • Mar 17, 2023
The CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 (released in October 2021) proposes to complete B.C.’s Electric Highway by 2024 and reach a target of 10,000 public EV charging stations in B.C. by 2030.
For the 2023 redesign, the doors and fenders have been smoothed, while the floating-style rear roof pillars maintain their familiar look. A new taillight bar extends the full width of the vehicle. The new RX is about the same length as before. PHOTO: LEXUS

2023 Lexus RX: The all-star in the Lexus stable keeps getting better with age

Through the past four generations spanning more than two decades, the Lexus…

  • Mar 14, 2023
For the 2023 redesign, the doors and fenders have been smoothed, while the floating-style rear roof pillars maintain their familiar look. A new taillight bar extends the full width of the vehicle. The new RX is about the same length as before. PHOTO: LEXUS
The Outback has standard all-wheel-drive although the base 2.5-litre four-cylinder takes a heavy foot on steeper inclines. The optional turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder has 56 per cent more peak torque, but you need to spring for a pricier trim to get it. PHOTO: SUBARU

For urban or backwoods travel, the 2023 Subaru Outback is prepared to deliver

Since its mid-1990s introduction, the Subaru Outback has kept up with the…

  • Mar 12, 2023
The Outback has standard all-wheel-drive although the base 2.5-litre four-cylinder takes a heavy foot on steeper inclines. The optional turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder has 56 per cent more peak torque, but you need to spring for a pricier trim to get it. PHOTO: SUBARU
To help keep the economy moving in the right direction, B.C.’s New Car Dealers advocate for policy and funding decisions that help encourage consumer spending and support jobs, and incentivize consumers through EV and charging equipment rebates.

Budget 2023 continues the path to a greener economy

By Blair Qualey When the B.C. government tabled Budget 2023 last week,…

  • Mar 6, 2023
To help keep the economy moving in the right direction, B.C.’s New Car Dealers advocate for policy and funding decisions that help encourage consumer spending and support jobs, and incentivize consumers through EV and charging equipment rebates.
The Silverado EV rides on GM’s Ultium battery platform, with front and rear electric motors driving all four wheels. Maximum range is estimated at 640 kilometres. PHOTO: CHEVROLET

Chevrolet’s Silverado EV: If an electric pickup can be popular, the EV movement has truly hit its stride

Electric cars are well and good, but with Dodge, Ford and General…

  • Mar 5, 2023
The Silverado EV rides on GM’s Ultium battery platform, with front and rear electric motors driving all four wheels. Maximum range is estimated at 640 kilometres. PHOTO: CHEVROLET
With a hiked up ride height, the Crown will have plenty of ground clearance to tackle the urban jungle.

The Auto Sleuth: A new Toyota nameplate; Rivian’s R1S heads to market + more

So long Avalon, hello Crown A Toyota nameplate that has existed in…

  • Feb 21, 2023
With a hiked up ride height, the Crown will have plenty of ground clearance to tackle the urban jungle.
The VinFast VF-8 seems like an average player in the EV space, so what will tempt buyers to commit to an unknown vehicle from an unfamiliar brand? The battery leasing should provide some confidence. PHOTO: VINFAST

2023 VinFast VF 8: What will draw buyers to this interesting newcomer from Vietnam?

You have to give credit to VinFast, the Vietnam-based automaker that’s rapidly…

  • Feb 19, 2023
The VinFast VF-8 seems like an average player in the EV space, so what will tempt buyers to commit to an unknown vehicle from an unfamiliar brand? The battery leasing should provide some confidence. PHOTO: VINFAST