You may have heard about the recent Hyundai and Kia auto thefts that have been occurring in the United States. We’ll go over what’s happening, which cars are at risk, how the trend started, and offer some tips on preventing vehicle theft. What’s Happening? Since July 2022, hundreds of reports have been filed regarding stolen
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Premium vs Economy Mercedes-Benz B-Class vs Kia Rondo
In the first two instalments in our high-versus-low series comparing similar mainstream and upscale vehicles, we pitted pairs of new vehicles against each other. This time, we’re switching our focus to the used-vehicle marketplace. In this matchup, our “high” option is the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, a compact wagon that packaged some of the brand’s upscale touches
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Mid Sized Hatchbacks
by Chris Chase In 2010, the Porsche Panamera became the closest thing to a sedan the company had ever offered. This four-door car was conceived to compete with German mid- and full-size sedans like the BMW 5 and 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz E- and S-Class. What set the Panamera apart was its fastback body style,
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Small Sedans with the Lowest Maintenance
By Chris Chase The compact sedan segment has historically been one of the most popular vehicle categories in the Canadian marketplace. These small four-doors sell well for their combination of affordable prices and good fuel economy. Market share for small sedans has shrunk as compact crossovers and SUVs have become more popular. Some carmakers have
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Compact SUVs, Cheap to Maintain
It’s easy to find out what it will cost to buy, insure and fuel a new car, and while it’s important to know those numbers up front, they’re not the only expenses you need to worry about. It also costs money to maintain and repair a vehicle as it ages, even if you buy a
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JD Power 2020 Initial Quality Servey
by Chris Chase Last month, J.D. Power released its 2020 initial quality study (IQS), the auto industry research firm’s annual snapshot of how happy new-vehicle buyers are with their purchases. Kia repeated its 2019 top-spot finish among mainstream brands, but this time in a tie with Dodge. While we’re not surprised to see Kia top
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Used Fuel Efficient Hybrid Sedans
by Chris Chase Mid-size family sedans and hybrid cars are among the fastest-fading segments in the auto industry. Sales of the former have fallen off in favour of crossovers and SUVs, while the latter represents yesterday’s technology as electric cars move into the mainstream. Honda and Toyota produced the industry’s first hybrids – the Insight
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Cars Sold In Canada, Not in the USA
Viewed on the map, Canada is significantly larger than the United States. But our relatively small population means that carmakers’ decisions about which vehicles they sell here are largely driven by the desires of U.S. buyers. From an economics point of view, it is most cost-effective for a company to sell the same cars in
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Same Car Different Name
by Chris Chase Using one vehicle platform to underpin different models is not a new practice in the auto industry. It gives a car maker a common starting point for a variety of vehicles and reduces R&D costs. A single platform might be used by different brands owned by the same parent company. Sometimes, companies
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Exotic Names for Ordinary Cars
by Chris Chase It strikes us that naming a car must be one of the most interesting jobs in the auto industry. That’s not to say it’s easy, though. Ideally, a car’s name should evoke some desirable image that its maker wants to project. There are also more mundane concerns, like the risk of copyright
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