SUVs

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne speaks to reporters at the Liberal summer caucus retreat in St. Andrews, N.B. on September 13, 2022. When Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne gets in front a microphone these days to talk about electrifying Canada’s auto industry, he has a favourite line to sum up his efforts to attract global investment. “Not everyone in the world wakes up thinking about Canada,” he says. His job, as he sees it, is to change that. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Innovation minister on road to making Canada a battery electric and EV powerhouse

Champagne sees the industry as key to Canada’s future

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne speaks to reporters at the Liberal summer caucus retreat in St. Andrews, N.B. on September 13, 2022. When Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne gets in front a microphone these days to talk about electrifying Canada’s auto industry, he has a favourite line to sum up his efforts to attract global investment. “Not everyone in the world wakes up thinking about Canada,” he says. His job, as he sees it, is to change that. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
The design of the Volvo XC60 and XC90 Recharge models will derive inspiration from the concept Recharge, pictured, that Volvo debuted in 2021. PHOTO: VOLVO

The Auto Sleuth: Volvo adds electric Recharge versions; Lexus’ first EV + more

Hot off the press news from the auto world!

  • Oct 16, 2022
The design of the Volvo XC60 and XC90 Recharge models will derive inspiration from the concept Recharge, pictured, that Volvo debuted in 2021. PHOTO: VOLVO
All four winter tires need to match in size, tread type, and depth. File photo

Winter tires are required on many B.C. routes between Oct. 1 and March 31

While fall’s leisurely arrival has winter driving far from the minds of…

All four winter tires need to match in size, tread type, and depth. File photo
As before, the WRX has standard all-wheel-drive and a six-speed manual transmission. A CVT is optional, but standard with Sport and Sport-tech trims fitted with Subaru’s EyeSight suite of dynamic-safety technologies. PHOTO: SUBARU

Rally-inspired sedan keeps its performance creds on the front burner

Many automakers participate directly or indirectly in motorsports. For the past two…

  • Oct 6, 2022
As before, the WRX has standard all-wheel-drive and a six-speed manual transmission. A CVT is optional, but standard with Sport and Sport-tech trims fitted with Subaru’s EyeSight suite of dynamic-safety technologies. PHOTO: SUBARU
The redesigned Honda HR-V is based on the Civic platform, which means it’s bigger and more powerful than before. PHOTO: DELOREAN MOTOR COMPANY

The Auto Sleuth: Honda’s updated HR-V, 2024 Blazer goes electric, and more

Honda’s updated HR-V small utility vehicle is bigger and stronger After an…

  • Sep 17, 2022
The redesigned Honda HR-V is based on the Civic platform, which means it’s bigger and more powerful than before. PHOTO: DELOREAN MOTOR COMPANY
All Outback models get the 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission. PHOTO: SUBARU

2022 Outback Wilderness: Tricked-out Subaru takes direct aim at growing outdoorsy market

There likely isn’t an automaker that’s better positioned than Subaru to confront…

  • Sep 12, 2022
All Outback models get the 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission. PHOTO: SUBARU
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

Alliance with Renault-Nissan bears fruit with 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

“I get by with a little help from my friends,” is a…

  • Sep 7, 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 2022 Nissan Frontier uses the previous frame, but there are some updates. The handling and steering are also claimed to be more precise. Four-wheel-drive is standard. PHOTO: NISSAN

2022 Nissan Frontier: Not 100 per cent new, but new enough to matter

It’s been a long time coming — 18 model years to be…

  • Sep 1, 2022
The 2022 Nissan Frontier uses the previous frame, but there are some updates. The handling and steering are also claimed to be more precise. Four-wheel-drive is standard. PHOTO: NISSAN
B.C. is currently Canada’s leading province in overall percentage of zero emission vehicle adoption (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward).

New Car Dealers Association of BC applauds electric vehicle rebate increase

Rebate for EVs hiked to a maximum of $4K

B.C. is currently Canada’s leading province in overall percentage of zero emission vehicle adoption (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward).
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
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