Today on CarCostCanada we review the best-selling 2015 Hyundai Accent in sporty yet inexpensive Hatchback L guise. It’s quick with 138 standard horsepower and a 6-speed manual transmission, stops quickest…

2015 Hyundai Accent Hatchback L Road Test Review

What's the most basic new car very little money can buy you? It's not Hyundai's Accent Hatchback L. Don't get me wrong, as it doesn't take much money to drive away from any Hyundai dealer in the Korean brand's least expensive Canadian offering, but it's not as basic as you might think.

For a tidy $13,599 plus $1,595 in freight and pre-delivery prep fees you can own a 2015 Hyundai Accent Hatchback L model, or at least that's the manufacturer suggested list price. Look a little farther down the page dedicated to the car on the automaker's retail website and you'll see a red highlighted no-haggle discount of $4,232 that makes the subcompact Accent Hatchback available for a mere $9,367! Yes, that's significantly less than the much more basic $9,998 Mitsubishi Mirage or Nissan Micra, both smaller, less powerful cars than the Accent Hatchback, not to mention much more frugally equipped. This is such a no-contest fight that it's practically unfair.

No doubt Hyundai has been Read Full Story
Since when did the Honda Accord get racy? According to today’s road test review, its most powerful 3.5-litre V6 is downright “soul-stirring”. It’s not perfect, as Trevor Hofmann points out, but…

2015 Honda Accord Touring V6 Road Test Review

Every time I get behind the wheel of a Honda Accord I'm immediately reminded of just how good it is, not to mention how far the auto industry has come in the last decade. I've long appreciated the Accord for its excellent driving dynamics, understated good looks and accommodating, feature-filled, high-quality cabin, but with each new generation this class leader gets better and better, this latest iteration coming as close to a premium-level four-door sedan as anything in its class.

While I'm tempted to begin this review by detailing all the soft-touch synthetics surfacing the interior or the impressive dual-screen infotainment system, not to mention the comfortable leather-clad and contrast-stitched seats, it was the fabulous sounding snarl escaping the engine bay that made me question my surroundings. Such a sultry sound emanating from the depths of a common family sedan is unusual to say the least, and my Touring V6 trimmed tester was certainly no sport model. Luxe as it was, Read Full Story
There’s no shortage of Toyota Tundra reviews on the interweb, but most of the more recent ones cover the fully loaded 5.7 CrewMax Platinum version, not the model most of us actually purchase. Today…

2015 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4.6 SR5 4×4 Road Test Review

Just try to find a bolder, badder looking pickup truck. The Tundra's got more big rig presence than the Ram, at least since Toyota refreshed its second-generation design last year. Its grille is now larger than ever, pushing out so far to each side that its large LED infused headlight clusters seem somewhat small in comparison, while it butts right up against the rugged looking chrome-capped bumper just below and wraps all the way over the edge of the raised hood above, while tougher looking front and rear fenders meld into a revised rear end design featuring new taillights bookending a reworked tailgate with an integrated spoiler. A thorough update, only the cab's body panels remained the same, and there's absolutely nothing subtle about it, important if the Tundra wants to attract more buyers away from the Big 3 while maintaining its sizable lead over its lone Japanese competitor.

So how has it worked? Very well. The Tundra's sales grew by 5,761 units in the US, from 112,732 Read Full Story
The Hyundai Veloster Turbo is no wallflower, its massive grille, aggressive shape, aero add-ons and sporty interior making it one of the most appealing compact sport coupes in its class, while the addition…

2015 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Road Test Review

We've all got to celebrate brave designs in the auto industry, and Hyundai has had a number of them over the years. Some haven't exactly caught on with the masses while others have been mega hits, the Veloster straddling that line with fairly strong sales success for its compact coupe segment along with an ardent following of zealous believers.

It's easy to see why some feel so passionate about it. It has the looks as well as something most sport coupes don't have, practicality. With a grille that could make an Audi feel inadequate, especially in my tester's top-line Turbo trim, beautifully detailed complex headlamps featuring cool integrated LED daytime running lights, an upright roofline that still looks rakish thanks to skillful rear styling incorporating a glass rooftop and tiny rear window only bisected by a high-mounted rear spoiler, taillights positioned high up on its rear haunches and one of the largest diffuser-style rear bumper caps offered anywhere, it's a small car Read Full Story
There was a time when domestic brands couldn’t compete in the compact segments, but thanks to vehicles like the latest Escape, Ford has made sure such memories remain in the distant past. By far the…

2015 Ford Escape SE 1.6 Ecoboost 4WD Road Test Review

Ford enjoyed its best year of Escape sales ever in 2014, with 306,212 sold in the US and 52,198 finding new homes here in Canada. While the US total looks more impressive, Ford of Canada's accomplishment was a much more significant feat. First off, on a per capita basis the Canadian consumer take-rate should be closer to 30,000 units, not 50,000-plus being that Canada has roughly 10 percent the population of the US. Even more impressive, the Escape ranks second in popularity south of the 49th, handily beaten by the Honda CR-V's 335,019 sales last year, but a shocking 14,514 more Canadian compact crossover buyers chose the Escape over the CR-V in 2014. The gap widens further when comparing Toyota's RAV4 or Nissan's Rogue, the two next most popular compact CUVs available.

Also notable is just how much the Escape has grown in popularity over the last decade, its 2004 numbers just 183,430 in the US and 20,360 in Canada. A similar trend can be seen with its rivals, albeit lacking Read Full Story
There are a surprising number of sport coupes available for under $20k, but none as uniquely iconic as the latest VW Beetle. The Beetle, a sport coupe? It certainly is now that Volkswagen’s fabulous…

2015 Volkswagen Beetle 1.8 TSI Comfortline Road Test Review

The iconic VW Beetle has long been a good car in search of a great engine, and with the advent of the impressive new 1.8 TSI its time has arrived.

Volkswagen has been stuffing its new direct injection, turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder into every small car it sells, and the result has been strong performance combined with very competitive fuel economy. The Beetle 1.8 TSI puts out a formidable 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque while fully capable of achieving a five-cycle EnerGuide rating of 9.9 L/100km in the city and 7.2 on the highway when fitted to the car's standard five-speed manual gearbox, or an even better 9.6 city and 7.2 highway rating when upgraded to the six-speed automatic.

Unlike the Jetta that still gets the old 2.0-litre mill in lower rung trims, the 1.8 TSI comes standard in the Beetle, and unlike the Jetta the Beetle's base price is commensurately higher at $19,990 plus $1,395 for freight and pre-delivery prep. Just the same that's quite reasonable Read Full Story
How much do you have to spend to have the time of your life on four wheels? Ford claims you’ll only need about $25k, and today’s review does a good job of explaining why the blue oval brand can be…

2015 Ford Fiesta ST Road Test Review

If you've got a craving for thrilling performance in a relatively inexpensive subcompact hatchback package you don't have too many cars to choose from. There's the quintessential Mini Cooper S and even more entertaining JCW version, now available in unorthodox five-door trim, the even more radical Fiat 500 Abarth that'll quickly snarl and blat its way into any performance enthusiast's heart, and the absolutely amazing Ford Fiesta ST, a car that demonstrates just how capable the blue oval gang can be when producing performance cars.

Just one look lets you know this isn't just any run of the mill Fiesta. The base car's lofty Aston Martin lookalike grille gets tossed aside for a more original opening featuring a sportier gloss black mesh insert, racy red ST badging, and a deep F1 wing-inspired air dam incorporating circular fog lamps at each corner, the look a great deal more enticing than the base car's exoticar wannabe appearance. Don't get me wrong, we all found humour in old Read Full Story
Good news for Jetta fans, Volkswagen has updated the 2015 model with revised styling, more features available in lower trim levels including a standard tilt and telescopic multifunction steering wheel,…

2015 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8 TSI SE Road Test Review

Volkswagen didn't need to do much with this year's mid-cycle update to make the Jetta any better looking; some tweaks to the front fascia, updated taillights, and reworked interior trim with new standard infotainment being all that was required. After all, why dramatically change a good thing? Its many fans have spoken with their wallets and the vehicle's strong sales show that they like the styling direction VW is on.

Last year's 31,042 Canadian sales made it the best year ever for the long-running compact model, with deliveries coming very close to doubling over the last 10 years. By all indications the trend is rising, so it could very well be another banner year for Jetta.

I certainly understand what all the fuss is about. Its 2015 Jetta Trendline starting price is only $14,990 plus $1,395 for freight and pre-delivery prep, and while it comes with the weakest engine in the compact class at just 115 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque, VW doesn't charge any extra Read Full Story