You, the people, have officially spoken. From a duo of sport compacts to pickups; from crossovers to Godzilla himself, these are our most popular reviews of 2016, as voted by your clicks. We wouldn’t be here without you.
First Drive: 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack
The 2017 VW Golf Alltrack is something Canadians who love station wagons have been waiting a long time for: an all-wheel drive wagon built to take on the outdoors. It will be available in October with an MSRP of $35,295.
Until now, the Subaru Outback was pretty much a niche player in the jacked-up wagon world. Although you could still pick out the wagon-like traits, the Outback is a bit more of a crossover these days, leaving a bit of wiggle room for Volkswagen to jump into the segment with the Golf Alltrack. New for 2017, Alltrack is basically a toughened-up Golf Sportwagen with a smooth, 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and all-wheel-drive, a combination that’ll surely win over a handful of Canadians. Plus, it actually drives like a car, says Andrew McCredie.
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First Drive: 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack
Car Comparison: 2016 Audi S3 vs. Volkswagen Golf R
Despite what their body panels, badges and interiors suggest, the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R and Audi S3 are the same car. Same 292-horsepower engine, same six-speed dual-clutch transmissions – though the Golf R gets a six-speed manual – and same all-wheel-drive system. The S3 is a little nicer inside and has badge cred, while the Golf R is a tad more practical and the six-speed manual makes it arguably more fun. The problem? One of these cars is considerably less expensive than the other. I’d spend my money on the Golf R; my good friend (and Driving‘s resident Old Dude) Brian Harper would go for the S3. How about you?
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Car Comparison: 2016 Audi S3 vs. Volkswagen Golf R
First Drive: 2017 Subaru Impreza
2017 Subaru Impreza hatchback
Remember when the Subaru Impreza was a plucky little compact sedan (and wagon) that wasn’t afraid to hide its rally car roots? Us too, but times change. No longer four-wheeled penalty boxes, compact cars emulate their larger siblings very well, whether it comes down to road manners and drivability, features and equipment, technology and design, etc. As Lesley Wimbush points out, the latest among the trend is the 2017 Subaru Impreza – freshly redone for 2017, Canada’s cheapest all-wheel-drive car feels like a much larger (and more expensive) car than its $20,000 price tag suggests.
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First Drive: 2017 Subaru Impreza
First Drive: 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
Do you wish Taco Tuesday was every day? Well, we can’t help you there. But if you fancy yourself a taco aficionado, might we direct your attention to the 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro? This tough-looking truck doesn’t come cheap, but it’s pretty much unstoppable. Derek McNaughton says it can chew up the nastiest of trails and backwoods roads, yet it’s surprisingly civil on a daily basis. Plus, the Tacoma’s resale value is tough to beat. If you can swallow the $53,000 price tag, what’s not to love?
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First Drive: 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
First Drive: 2018 Audi Q5
2017 Audi Q5
What’s with crossovers these days trying to be sporty? Audi’s freshly redesigned Q5 is everything we’d expect from Audi these days – not a significant visual departure from its predecessor, but the lighter platform and 252-horsepower turbo-four put a spring in the Q5’s step, and the interior is exquisite. Still, if it’s too much of a crossover for your liking, try the A4 Allroad on for size. Similar greasy bits, only wrapped in a more car-like body.
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First Drive: 2018 Audi Q5
First Drive: 2017 Porsche Macan
Speaking of crossovers that try to be sporty, the Porsche Macan gets a new base model for 2017. By now, we’re used to the idea of a Porsche with a turbocharged four-cylinder under the skin – but unlike the 718 Boxster and Cayman with their turbocharged flat-four engines, the Macan gets the VW Group’s ubiquitous 2.0L turbo-four. With 252 horspower on tap – sounds a lot like the new Q5, doesn’t it? – Lorraine Sommerfeld points out the four-cylinder Macan is now the cheapest Porsche you can buy brand new, priced at just under $55,000. It’s no 911, but you bet it’ll sell. And that just means Porsche will have more money to keep building cool sports cars, like the Cayman GT4.
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First Drive: 2017 Porsche Macan
Supercar Review: 2017 Nissan GT-R
2017 Nissan GT-R
With Rogue One in theatres, Nissan likes to tout its Star Wars connection. Trouble is, the company is doing it all wrong. Instead of slapping a ton of badges onto the Rogue, Nissan should’ve conscripted the GT-R for such promotional duties. Why? Because, as David Booth points out, when the GT-R rips out of a corner, it’s the closest any of us humans will ever get to a ride in the Millennium Falcon. Freshened up for 2017, it’s like Nissan took the GT-R’s boost and cranked it up well past 11, and all the way up to absurdity.
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Supercar Review: 2017 Nissan GT-R
Pickup Review: 2016 Toyota Tacoma
2016 Toyota Tacoma
OK, so you still wish it was Taco Tuesday every day, but the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is still too much coin. Well, the regular Tacoma should fit the bill nicely. It’s not perfect, but it’s an honest workhorse of a pickup. There’s a reason why Tacoma owners let their wallets (and loyalties) do the talking – as Costa Mouzouris points out, of all the pickups on the market today, Kelley Blue Book finds the Tacoma holds its resale value better than not just any other pickup, but any other vehicle in North America, period. Not even the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon could dethrone the Taco.
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Pickup Review: 2016 Toyota Tacoma
Car Review: Mercedes-Benz B250 4Matic
2017 Mercedes-Benz B250 4Matic
Despite what the three-pointed stars suggest, Peter Bleakney thinks the Mercedes-Benz B-Class is the oddball pony in Mercedes’ lineup. Sure, the $31,850 price tag for a Mercedes is attractive, but don’t expect it to be anywhere near as luxurious as many of Mercedes’ other models. Instead, what you get is a spacious cargo area, a decently zippy engine and, of course, the badge. For some buyers, that’s all that matters.
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Car Review: 2017 Mercedes-Benz B250 4Matic
Pickup Review: 2017 Honda Ridgeline
2017 Honda Ridgeline Touring
Let’s be real – the Honda Ridgeline isn’t as tough as the Ford F-150, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra twins, and the Ram 1500. That’s because it isn’t supposed to be. Truth is, the Ridgeline is all the pickup most buyers need. It’s comfortable, easy to live with and can handle most tasks any other pickup truck can. Despite its Honda Pilot-based underpinnings, Jil McIntosh says the Ridgeline is definitely a real truck.
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Pickup Review: 2017 Honda Ridgeline