Buyers Advice & Car Reviews

The MX-30 uses the bones of the CX-30 utility vehicle, but the MX-30’s rear doors are hinged at the back and of course the styling is different with a big front bumper and thin grille. PHOTO: MAZDA

Mazda MX-30: Is there enough to lure buyers to Mazda’s first EV?

Electric-vehicle first-timer Mazda is dipping its toe into the electric grid with…

  • Aug 3, 2022
The MX-30 uses the bones of the CX-30 utility vehicle, but the MX-30’s rear doors are hinged at the back and of course the styling is different with a big front bumper and thin grille. PHOTO: MAZDA
The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer share a platform with the Ram pickup, much in the same way the Chevrolet Tahoe shares its platform with the Silverado. PHOTO: JEEP

2022 Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer: Four-wheeling in limo-like spaciousness

Look out Tahoe, Suburban and Escalade, there’s a new kid on the block

  • Aug 1, 2022
The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer share a platform with the Ram pickup, much in the same way the Chevrolet Tahoe shares its platform with the Silverado. PHOTO: JEEP
The Corolla Cross is a nice bridge between the smaller Corolla Hatchback and the larger RAV4 (certainly better than the C-HR). As you might recall, Honda has a similar bridge between the Civic and the CR-V, called the HR-V. PHOTO: TOYOTA

2022 Toyota Corolla Cross: Capitalizing on the Corolla cachet

How did it take Toyota so long to flesh out the void between the Corolla and the RAV4?

  • Jul 28, 2022
The Corolla Cross is a nice bridge between the smaller Corolla Hatchback and the larger RAV4 (certainly better than the C-HR). As you might recall, Honda has a similar bridge between the Civic and the CR-V, called the HR-V. PHOTO: TOYOTA
Visitors check out vintage Fords on the legislature grounds during the Northwest Deuce Days show and shine on the Inner Harbour Sunday. Don Descoteau/Victoria News Staff

PHOTOS: Northwest Deuce Days deals Victoria a winning hand

Triennial event packs Inner Harbour area for Sunday show and shine

Visitors check out vintage Fords on the legislature grounds during the Northwest Deuce Days show and shine on the Inner Harbour Sunday. Don Descoteau/Victoria News Staff
Jim Jennings’s 1932 Roadster is a main feature in the book and will be seen at Northwest Deuce Days next week. (Garry Foster photo)

Author launches classic car coffee table book as Deuce Days descends on Victoria

Garry Foster weaves stories of people and their historic vehicles

Jim Jennings’s 1932 Roadster is a main feature in the book and will be seen at Northwest Deuce Days next week. (Garry Foster photo)
Hyundai will create a performance-oriented version of the Ioniq 5 electric vehicle, called the N. The Sleuth expects it will get the 576-horsepower system from the related Kia EV6 GT. PHOTO: HYUNDAI

The Auto Sleuth: Hyundai’s cool Ioniq 5, Lexus’ first EV + more

Hot off the press news from the auto world

  • Jul 11, 2022
Hyundai will create a performance-oriented version of the Ioniq 5 electric vehicle, called the N. The Sleuth expects it will get the 576-horsepower system from the related Kia EV6 GT. PHOTO: HYUNDAI
The key question about the Maverick regards its capabilities as a pickup. As in, does it have any. The bed might be only 4.5-feet long, but it’s four-feet wide. Ford says it has the capacity for 18 4x8 sheets of three-quarter-inch plywood. PHOTO: FORD

2022 Ford Maverick: Can this little pickup pick up some new fans?

Ford had the small-truck market all to itself with the original Ford…

  • Jun 30, 2022
The key question about the Maverick regards its capabilities as a pickup. As in, does it have any. The bed might be only 4.5-feet long, but it’s four-feet wide. Ford says it has the capacity for 18 4x8 sheets of three-quarter-inch plywood. PHOTO: FORD
Todd Maliteare, Bruce Cameron and Dr. David Suzuki. (Submitted/file photos)

PODCAST: David Suzuki gets charged up over electric vehicles

TODAY IN B.C.: Columnist Bruce Cameron and builder Todd Maliteare also talk EVs

Todd Maliteare, Bruce Cameron and Dr. David Suzuki. (Submitted/file photos)
The roofline is similar to the Rogue’s, but the Rogue looks like a Nissan and the Outlander looks like a Mitsubishi. Which is better? PHOTO: MITSUBISHI

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

Renault-Nissan alliance bears fruit for Mitsubishi but looks a bit like another apple in the basket

  • Jun 11, 2022
The roofline is similar to the Rogue’s, but the Rogue looks like a Nissan and the Outlander looks like a Mitsubishi. Which is better? PHOTO: MITSUBISHI
The new LX600 ditches the previous LX’s V-8 engine in favour of a turbocharged V-6. The vehicle platform is shared with the Toyota Tundra pickup. PHOTO: LEXUS

The Auto Sleuth: Lexus LX600, Vinfest EVs + more

Lexus’s big and bold utility vehicle is new for 2022 Toyota is…

  • Jun 2, 2022
The new LX600 ditches the previous LX’s V-8 engine in favour of a turbocharged V-6. The vehicle platform is shared with the Toyota Tundra pickup. PHOTO: LEXUS
You can immediately see by the size of the rear passenger doors that space is tight. All hatchback models come with the sedan’s optional 168-horsepower four-cylinder. PHOTO: TOYOTA

The more practical Toyota Corolla also comes with a shot of performance

Corolla has plenty to offer in terms of style, substance and affordability

  • May 18, 2022
You can immediately see by the size of the rear passenger doors that space is tight. All hatchback models come with the sedan’s optional 168-horsepower four-cylinder. PHOTO: TOYOTA
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a compact utility vehicle that in base trim comes with a 256-horsepower four-cylinder engine. There will also be a plug-in hybrid version. Look for it for the 2023 model year. PHOTO: STELLANTIS

The Auto Sleuth: Alfa Romeo, Dodge Ram and Winnebago get electrified

Hot off the press news from the auto world

  • May 6, 2022
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a compact utility vehicle that in base trim comes with a 256-horsepower four-cylinder engine. There will also be a plug-in hybrid version. Look for it for the 2023 model year. PHOTO: STELLANTIS
The 3.5-litre V-6 sends 290 horsepower to the Kia Carnival’s front wheels. That’s 14 more than the Sedona’s 3.3-litre V-6. PHOTO: KIA

2022 Kia Carnival: Walking a fine line between minivan and utility vehicle

This promising people mover offers more than ample space

  • Apr 25, 2022
The 3.5-litre V-6 sends 290 horsepower to the Kia Carnival’s front wheels. That’s 14 more than the Sedona’s 3.3-litre V-6. PHOTO: KIA
The current version of the U.S.-made Tundra dates back to the 2014 model year and, other than minor adjustments to the grille and the cancellation of regular-cab models, little has changed.

Toyota Tundra: Power, space and a rugged countenance

The truck saw few changes between 2014 and 2021

  • Apr 25, 2022
The current version of the U.S.-made Tundra dates back to the 2014 model year and, other than minor adjustments to the grille and the cancellation of regular-cab models, little has changed.
A test of Google Maps’ new ‘eco-friendly routing’ feature in Victoria. (Google Maps)

BC drivers can now find most fuel-efficient route on Google Maps

Web company’s ‘eco-friendly routing’ feature recently launched in Canada

A test of Google Maps’ new ‘eco-friendly routing’ feature in Victoria. (Google Maps)
At the end of 2021, almost 80,000 ZEVs were registered in B.C., the province reported. Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer

BC tops in North America for ZEV uptake

Zero-emission vehicles represented 13 per cent of all new light-duty vehicle sales…

At the end of 2021, almost 80,000 ZEVs were registered in B.C., the province reported. Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer
The upcoming Lexus RZ 450e tall hatchback will be based on the LF-Z Electrified concept model, pictured, that was shown in early 2021. PHOTO: LEXUS

The Auto Sleuth: Electric news from Lexus, Hyundai & Tesla, Toyota’s hot hatch + more

Hot off the press news from the auto world

  • Mar 28, 2022
The upcoming Lexus RZ 450e tall hatchback will be based on the LF-Z Electrified concept model, pictured, that was shown in early 2021. PHOTO: LEXUS
Although redesigned, it will take real fans of the GTI to readily notice the differences. Note that there is no base Golf model for the 2022; only the GTI and the R make the cut. PHOTO: VOLKSWAGEN

2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI: Company credited for inventing the hot hatch turns up the heat

Hot-hatch crowd should be pleased one of its all-time favourites lives on

  • Mar 23, 2022
Although redesigned, it will take real fans of the GTI to readily notice the differences. Note that there is no base Golf model for the 2022; only the GTI and the R make the cut. PHOTO: VOLKSWAGEN
Gas prices are on the minds of vehicle drivers these days. (File photo)

10 ways to reduce your fuel bill

Some options to help you pay less at the pumps

Gas prices are on the minds of vehicle drivers these days. (File photo)
With a bit of dust on the 2022 Tucson, you can easily see the two diagonal cut lines in the doors. The dust also shows that you can take the Tucson off the asphalt, although this would likely be a better experience with the optional all-wheel-drive. PHOTO: HYUNDAI

2022 Hyundai Tucson: All-purpose wagon makes gains in style and stature

Bolder-looking, with a size that now one-ups most of the competition

  • Mar 11, 2022
With a bit of dust on the 2022 Tucson, you can easily see the two diagonal cut lines in the doors. The dust also shows that you can take the Tucson off the asphalt, although this would likely be a better experience with the optional all-wheel-drive. PHOTO: HYUNDAI