Here's a Honda That Really Sucks!

By Tom Mack

OK, settle down all you Honda fans. I’m not taking a cheap shot at your favourite automaker. In fact, it’s actually a compliment. You see, I’m talking about the 2014 Odyssey minivan and a feature available on the Touring model that’s almost guaranteed to appeal to any parent or fussy grandparent ferrying the kids to and from their various activities.

Honda Canada photo

The feature in question is the Odyssey’s industry-first solution for built-in mobile clean up – the HondaVAC, the world’s first in-vehicle vacuum.

We all know that kids, from tots to teenagers, can make quite a mess of a vehicle interior, particularly when snack foods and other treats are involved. Now, with the Odyssey, they won’t have to worry about any “uh-ohs” coming from the back seat.

Honda Canada photo

Standard equipment with the Touring trim level, the powerful “picker-upper” was developed in conjunction with industry-leader Shop-Vac and is composed of a powerful vacuum, replaceable filter and canister bag, with nozzle accessories neatly integrated into a dedicated space on the driver’s side of the rear cargo area. It makes quick clean-ups a snap, never needs an outlet or recharging, can operate continuously when the engine is running, and can run for up to eight minutes even when the engine is turned off.

It’s such a novel idea that the influential Good Housekeeping publication has awarded it one of just six 2104 VIP (Very Innovative Products) Awards – picked from tests conducted on thousands of products based on their ingenuity. The Odyssey with HondaVAC was the only automotive product to receive a VIP award this year.

The magazine praised this potent “sucker” for its breakthrough solution to solving an everyday problem. Its ability to pick up crumbs, dirt, and a variety of detritus is a perfect solution for families on the go. It also noted “an easy-to-use 12-foot (3.6-metre) hose reaches every corner, then stows neatly in the cargo area. Our staff members could let their kids snack in transit for the very first time, stress-free.”

It should also make transporting hair-shedding pets, flower flats and other spring gardening needs, no to mention dirt-producing building supplies easier to clean up after. Like I said at the outset, this Odyssey really sucks! 

Nearly Half of Canadians Worry About an Aging Loved One on the Road

By Bill McLauchlan

How do you know when it’s time to give up the car keys? This is sometimes a painful decision, not only for a “later in life” driver but also for concerned family members.

So the question becomes how bad is bad enough that it’s time to think about retiring as a driver? And how do we determine that?

Well, new research conducted by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and released today shows that nearly half (47 percent) of the population is concerned about the safety of an aging family member while behind the wheel. That’s why the CAA is launching a multimedia web tool designed to help seniors stay safe while in the driver’s seat.
Its new online portal helps seniors and their loved ones assess driving skills, learn about changing abilities and, if needed, modify driving habits.

Honda Canada photo

According to the CAA study, two-thirds of senior drivers see the need for online devices to help them stay safe on the road. The new web tool contains assessment instruments to pinpoint areas of improvement, interactive graphics that show common physical changes that affect driving, as well as videos with tips for managing challenging driving conditions. The site, located at www.seniorsdriving.caa.ca, incorporates information from the Canadian Medical Association’s Driver’s Guide and advice from the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.

The good news is that half of seniors have already taken at least one step to adjust their driving habits, such as reducing or eliminating driving at night. Meanwhile CAA research shows there is a need for more public information about age-related changes that affect driving. For instance, only three percent of seniors know that by age 60, the average person needs three times as much light to see as they did at age 20.

In the U.S. the figures are just as troubling. A survey conducted in 2013 by Liberty Mutual Insurance reports a significant gap between the number of Baby Boomer children of senior drivers concerned about their parents’ driving abilities (55 percent) and the number who are actually having conversations with their parents about the issue (23 percent). Further, 29 percent of Boomer children say they are likely to avoid the conversation entirely.

“Nine in 10 Boomer children of senior drivers think it is important to have driving conversations with their aging parents, but few are taking action – thus, not addressing potential safety risks on the roads,” said David Melton, driving safety expert with Liberty Mutual and managing director of global safety. “Earlier and more frequent chats about senior driving are essential. If people take away one lesson from this study, it is to have this conversation with your loved ones – and have it soon.”

Among the concerns associated with their parents’ driving, Boomer kids cited: Poor eyesight (47 percent), drives too slow (38 percent), poor hearing (30 percent) and drives distracted (25 percent). Most of them fear bringing up the subject will be negative, predicting the following reactions: Parents will be angry or hurt (46 percent), say it’s too hard to find other means of transport (31 percent) and they will only become more determined to keep driving (22 percent).

If you have any concerns at all about an older family member’s driving, logging onto www.seniorsdriving.caa.ca with them could be a good way to start them thinking about their obligations to you and their fellow road users.

New Ferrari Museum Opens in Modena

By Bill McLauchlan

Here’s a place to put on your bucket list, particularly if your travels this year take you anywhere close to Italy.

Today, company chairman Luca di Montezemolo and Piero Ferrari, the son of the man who started off the amazing story of a marquee recognized today as the strongest in the world, opened the new Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena.

The choice of today’s launch ceremony seems especially appropriate as 116 years ago today the legendary car racer/constructor, son of a machine shop owner, was born right in Modena.

The new life of the spectacular museum has begun with the large and beautiful main wing: here, as well as seeing the most important cars in the history of the Ferrari driver, constructor and creator of the Scuderia, you go into a veritable “time machine” that takes visitors through 100 years of history via multiple projections that immerse the visitor in images, sounds and emotions. A total of 18 projectors weave together the history of Modena motoring, the story of Enzo and his deeds and the world in which it all happened.

Art, technology, design, battles and new hopes make up the setting for the triumphs of the great drivers and the most outstanding scarlet cars.

The MEF further enriches the area’s attractions that are already numerous, starting with the Ferrari Museum in nearby Maranello.

From today, the two museums, open every day of the year, except for Christmas and New Year holidays, complement each other in a perfect way. In Modena there’s the story of the man who created everything and the cars of his time. In Maranello there’s the Ferrari of today and tomorrow, presented via a past of success on the track and the roads.

Who Builds the Best Cars?

By Bill McLauchlan

If you pay any attention at all to the tub-thumping ad claims made by car makers they’re invariably playing the one-upsmanship card in the endless game of “Our Car is Better Than Yours.”

Often it’s played with price. Other times it’s fuel economy, features, styling, technology, practicality or functionality … you name it.

These days it’s likely to be quality, as in the latest J.D. Power 2014 Vehicle Dependability Study. On that score, it would appear GM can claim “Our Car is Better” than any other automaker, with eight segment award recipients covering its Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac brands.

According the J.D. Power, the fewer problems owners experience with their vehicles, the greater the loyalty to the brand. The 2014 study tracks 2011 model-year vehicles in their third year of ownership.

In all, GM placed 13 models among the top three in their market segments. For Chevrolet, the Volt received this highest dependability award in the Compact Car segment in its launch year. The Camaro ranked highest in Mid-Size Sporty Segment for the second year in a row, after also receiving the award as a launch vehicle last year. The Tahoe, Silverado HD pickup and Avalanche also ranked second or third in their respective categories.
Cadillac earned segment awards for the Escalade in Large Premium SUV and the DTS in Large Premium Car (tied with the Lexus LS). Buick picked up the laurels in Large Car with its Lucerne while the LaCrosse ranked second in its Mid-Size category. GMC picked up awards for the Sierra in Large Light Duty and Large Heavy Duty pickup segments and the Yukon in Large CUV.

Lexus GS 350 Sport

That said, Lexus ranks highest in vehicle dependability among all nameplates for a third consecutive year. The gap between Lexus and all other brands is substantial, with Lexus averaging 68 PP100 (Problems experienced Per 100 vehicles) compared with second-ranked Mercedes-Benz at 104 PP100. Following in the overall rankings are Cadillac (107), Acura (109) and Buick (112) respectively.

GM’s Big Three rivals didn’t fare quite so well. While its Lincoln brand ranked well at 114 PP100 for a seventh overall position, Ford itself came in at 140 PP100. Chrysler and its other in-house brands all recorded scores of 155 or lower.

The overall dependability average for the industry was 133 PP100, a six percent increase in problems from 126 PP100 a year ago. This marks the first time since 1998 that the average number of problems has increased. Engine and transmission problems accounted for a big part of the 2014 increase.  Power noted the decline in quality is particularly acute for vehicles with 4-cylinder engines, where problem levels increased by nearly 10 PP100. These smaller engines, as well as large diesel engines, tend to be more problematic than 5- and 6-cylinder engines, for which owners report fewer problems on average.
But for individual brand bragging rights Honda claimed five awards: Fit (Sub-Compact Car), Element Sub-Compact CUV, CR-V (Compact CUV), Crosstour (Mid-Size CUV) and Ridgeline (Mid-Size Pickup).

Honda CR-V

Next up with a quartet of awards was Lexus for its ES (Compact premium Car), GS (Mid-Size Premium Car), LS (tied with Cadillac’s DTS in Large Premium Car) and RX (Mid-Size Premium CUV) models. Toyota led the Mid-Size Car segment with its Camry while the Sienna was rated best in the Minivan category. Solo awards went to Acura’s RDX (Compact Premium CUV), Scion xB (Compact MPV) and the MINI Cooper (Compact Sporty Car). The latter two are curious winners, in that the MINI ranked dead last in nameplate rankings with 185 PP100 while the Scion didn’t fare much better at 152 PP100. Likely due to limited competition from rival automakers in those segments.

Chevrolet to Help Restore Damaged Historic 'Vettes

Museum cars damaged in sinkhole collapse will be shipped to Warren Mich.

To help the National Corvette Museum recover from the massive sinkhole that opened under the facility this week, Chevrolet will oversee restoration of the Corvettes damaged. General Motors Design in Warren, Mich., will lead the project.

“The vehicles at the National Corvette Museum are some of the most significant in automotive history,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president of General Motors Global Product Development. “There can only be one 1-millionth Corvette ever built. We want to ensure as many of the damaged cars are restored as possible so fans from around the world can enjoy them when the Museum reopens.”

Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design, will oversee the restoration.

When the cars are recovered, they will be shipped to the Mechanical Assembly facility, a small specialty shop within GM Design, where the best restoration approach will be determined. Mechanical Assembly has been part of GM Design since the 1930s, and today maintains and restores many of the vehicles in the GM Heritage Collection and GM’s historic concept cars.

The National Corvette Museum is independently owned, and supported solely by charitable donations from enthusiasts. It is currently accepting donations on its website to assist in refurbishing the facility. Donations are tax-deductible.

MG Launches a New Online Shop

By Tom Mack

Down the years it’s always been fun to own a sports car, few more so than the widely popular MG brand.

Since the first MG went on sale 90 years ago in 1924, the iconic British brand has become world famous for making stylish cars that are fun to drive. From the Midget of 1929 and the flat-front radiators, delicate sweeping fenders and square-rigged bodies of the TC, post-war TD and TF (oozing with creamy English charm) to the contemporary, modern curves of the MGAs, MIdgets and Bs of the Fifties and Sixties they exude an aura or romance and history.

1954 MG TF 1250

Then they were a weekend toy, a perfect escape device, or just right for chasing girls. Now, later in a successful life, you’ve gained the financial means to chase those youthful memories and bought or restored an MG classic of old purely for its emotional and entertainment value.

So, love the brand? Bought the car? Now you can complete the picture with official MG-branded merchandise direct from the historic marque’s new online shop via the manufacturer’s website www.mg.co.uk. There you’ll find everything needed to live the MG lifestyle once again, including a wide range of branded clothing and great gifts such as teddy bears, model cars, MG badges and many more.

All items are subject to availability, though. So for more information and regular updates of the product range, go to http//shop.mg.co.uk 

Driving Well Never Gets Old

By Bill McLauchlan

Let’s face it, we can all feel a trifle anxious at times when we’re driving. Some more than others.

Freshly-licensed young drivers aside, as we age, those tense moments tend to happen more often. It might be someone tailgating you, impatient to overtake. Or dense traffic conditions, unfamiliar roads, being boxed-in by a flock of 18-wheelers, trouble making out highway signs, reduced night vision – or any one of a bunch of other things that can make an older driver feel a bit nervous and uncomfortable at the wheel.

Obviously, as our physical and mental abilities slow down, so too does our ability to drive a car, particularly in built-up urban areas.

But there are plenty of examples out there to give reason for optimism if you’ve been wondering how much longer you’ll be able to maintain your motoring independence.

A case in point happened last weekend in Pomona, California, where John Force recorded his 139th career victory and took the Funny Car title in his Castrol GTX-sponsored Ford Mustang. OK, what’s the big deal you might ask? Just this: Force is 64 years old and set a new national top speed record in the process. Still not impressed? How about making his qualifying pass at 521.5 km/h (324.12 mph) and another bracket pass in 3.596 seconds at 520.6 km/h (323.58 mph). This for the 1,000 foot track distance that replaces the old ¼-mile strip length.

© Wieck

Think about that for a moment. Exploding from a standing start to 521 km/h in about the length of three football fields. Incredible, when you think of the lightning fast reaction times called for to get his car off the line and keep it straight – all while coping with gut-churning g-loads. For a 20-something in his physical prime that’s a heck of an accomplishment. For a guy nudging the door to senior citizen status it’s absolutely mind-boggling.

Morgan Shepherd.com

Force’s success came on the heels of another bit of heartening news for geriatric drivers. NASCAR veteran Morgan Shepherd (left) has announced he’ll try to become, at 72, the oldest drive to race in the Daytona 500 when he tries to qualify for the February 23 race – stock car racing’s Super Bowl, if you like.

He turned 72 last October and, earlier in the year, competed in a Sprint Cup race in New Hampshire where he ran 92 laps before retiring – and in the process entered the record books as the oldest driver to compete at NASCAR’s top level of competition. Showing his durability, Shepherd also ran the full 34-race Sprint Cup schedule in 2011.

If that news isn’t encouraging enough, consider Paul Newman’s feat. Yes that Paul Newman. In his later years, when not otherwise engaged in film making, he made a pretty fair fist of his second career as a car racer. How about winning four Sports Car Club of America national class championships (1976, ’79, ’85 and ’86), winning the GT class and taking 2nd. overall in the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans and – at age 70 – becoming the oldest driver to be part of a winning team in a major international race, winning his class at the 1995 24 Hours of Daytona.

© Wieck/Autostock

Not satisfied with that, in his last professional race – the 2007 SCCA GT-1 event at Watkins Glen – he qualified on pole when he was a mere 82 years old. On a hot, humid day his driver’s “cool suit” malfunctioned and he finished a very soggy fourth in the race. When asked after the race how he felt, Newman wryly responded, “I wish I was 81 again.” Newman succumbed to cancer the following September.

But such vintage performances are not uncommon. Two others I can think of involve a couple of amateur road racers racers still going strong into their eighth decade. Eighty-year-old Al Ores of Burnaby in British Columbia began racing 45 years ago and is still at it. He has won many races and several championships along the way and even has a track record to his credit.

Another octogenarian is U.S. mid-west Porsche driver George C. Balbach (the C. is important because he races against his grown son, George F.) who turned 82 last summer and is still at it. Always at or near the front of the pack, as recently as 2011 George C. stood on the third step of the podium at a major Porsche meet at the demanding Laguna Seca circuit in California.

These guys may be extraordinary but if they’re anything to go by – and assuming eyes and reflexes are still sharp and there are no major medical issues to hinder things – roughly 30 million drivers over age 65 in the U.S. and Canada can anticipate many more enjoyable driving years before having to hang up the keys. By then, self-driving autonomous cars should be making their presence felt so maybe the whole concept of knowing when to hand over your keys will become redundant.

Canadian Car of the Year is Mazda6

By Bill McLauchlan

The votes have been counted and the decision finalized! The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) kicked off the 2014 Canadian International Auto Show today in Toronto by announcing the 2014 Mazda6 as the winner of its Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) award for 2014.

To take the award the mid-size 6 topped two other finalists, its Mazda3 in-house rival and the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Other category winners, eligible for the CCOTY kudos, trophy included the Kia Soul, Lexus IS350 AWD, Infiniti Q50 Hybrid and the new Mercedes S Class.

The Truck of the Year title went to Jeep’s new Cherokee, gaining the nod over Kia’s Sorento and the Acura MDX. 

(CNW Group/Mazda Canada)
Kory Koreeda, president, Mazda Canada, accepting the 2014 AJAC Canadian Car of the Year award for the Mazda6.

The journey began at AJAC’s TestFest last October, when the Mazda6 handily won its category (Best New Family Car over $30,000), alongside its stable mates, the Mazda3 and Mazda3 Sport, which also scored top marks in their respective categories. The strong march toward victory continued when the Mazda3 and Mazda6 were nominated as finalists for the award, finally culminating in the AJAC CCOTY win for Mazda6.

In all, eight individual TestFest car category winners were announced in early December – each earning the right to be a finalist for the prestigious overall winner award.

“Today, the Mazda6, our flagship vehicle, etched its name in history by winning the overall AJAC Car of the Year award,” said Kory Koreeda, president, Mazda Canada. “This impressive achievement confirms what we already knew – the Mazda6 is nothing short of a Game Changer, once again raising the bar and outclassing other cars in its segment.”

The Canadian Car of the Year is one of the most coveted automotive awards in the automotive industry, and represents the collective voice of more than 80 of Canada’s top automotive experts. Vehicles are judged on a large variety of objective and subjective qualities, meaning there is no single factor that determines a win. Instead, the vehicle must represent an overall package of quality, value, comfort, fuel economy, and many other factors that are critical to the Canadian consumer.

The third-generation Mazda6 features ground-breaking technology; i-ELOOP, the world’s first capacitor-based brake energy regeneration system to power all the vehicle’s electrical systems, along with the front collision-detecting Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system, make their first appearance in the Mazda6 – as does SKYACTIV Technology an umbrella term for a host of performance-oriented, fuel-saving engine, transmission, body, and chassis components first introduced in the 2012 Mazda3 and fully-incorporated into the 2013 CX-5 compact SUV.

Five in a Row for the Outback

By Tom Mack

Subaru Canada's SUV alternative, the Outback, featured prominently in the annual Canadian Black Book (CBB) Best Retained Value Awards. For the fifth year in a row, the Subaru Outback sport utility wagon has claimed the CBB Best Retained Value Award in the mid-sized car segment.

Photo: Subaru Canada

The award acknowledges vehicles that retain the highest percentage of their original MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) after four years. Widely acknowledged as Canada's go-to provider of present and future vehicle values, CBB distributes its information in various formats to dealers, insurance companies and financial institutions as well as consumers on its website, www.canadianblackbook.com.

"Depreciation has always been the single greatest cost of vehicle ownership," said Shiro Ohta, president and CEO of Subaru Canada. "With 2014 marking the fifth consecutive year that the Outback has earned the Best Retained Value Award, it is clear that our commitment to the four pillars of the Subaru brand – safety, versatility, performance and durability – is why more customers than ever are choosing a Subaru."

One in Three Drivers Turned Off at the Wheel

By Bill McLauchlan

The other day, mired in rush-hour commuter traffic, it occurred to me how many of the drivers around me didn’t look too happy. Well, I’m not discounting the daily grind of a 9 to 5 desk job might have had something to do with their glum expressions but there had to be more to it than that.

Sure enough, after a little digging, I came across a startling revelation. A third of drivers simply don’t enjoy driving any more. That’s the word from a recent poll conducted by the Institute of Advanced Motorists in Britain. While the results reflect those of UK motorists, I can’t imagine too different an outcome if a similar study were conducted on this side of the pond.

The main reason given in the IAM survey for not enjoying driving on the roads was the cost of fuel (51 percent) closely followed by congestion (41 percent), no longer excited by driving (28 percent) and less leisure time (26 percent).

Photo: PRNEWSWIRE/Newscom

It also seems that half the respondents don’t always feel relaxed when their partner is in the passenger seat. Blame other road users for that. Over 60 percent of those surveyed said it’s the behaviour of other drivers that makes them feel most nervous. This was followed by bad weather conditions and driving near big 18-wheelers.

With road congestion and high fuel prices it’s easy to understand why many people think driving is a chore. But if you have the right skills and confidence in your ability driving can be as enjoyable as ever.

Once that damn traffic ahead starts moving again!

Miata Milestone Brings Back Memorable Moments

By Bill McLauchlan

Twenty five years ago, on this very day, the world was introduced to the all-new Mazda MX-5 Miata at the Chicago auto show. A few months later, it was named as one of the five “World’s Best Cars” by the car enthusiast magazine Road & Track and never looked back.

But in the interim between its initial unveiling and R & T’s accolade, it took me on a late February trip that even today conjures up warm, pleasant memories.

In writing about cars for over three decades I’ve traveled to and driven in some two dozen countries on three continents. But one that still stands out in my memory bank is the press launch of the Miata in sunny Hawaii.

Can you think of a nicer spot to sample the little two-seat convertible’s seductive charms? Top down, scouting Oahu from Honolulu to the spectacular surfing action on the North Shore’s Banzai Pipeline? Every mile a visual delight with a barrage of aromas from the local vegetation adding an olfactory bonus you never enjoy within the confines of a closed car.

920,000 sold, making the Miata a Guinness Book of World Records holder as "Best-Selling 2-Seat Sports Car."

The only downside, if you can call it that, came when local residents intruded every time we stopped for a photo shoot. People stared at it, peered into it and imagined themselves behind the wheel … and, invariably, grossly overestimated its price. Good times indeed!

The roadster proved so popular that within ten years of its introduction, on February 7, 1999, to be exact, Mazda’s 500,000th Miata rolled off the automaker’s Hiroshima production line.

Now, with the passage of twenty five years, the Miata (never mind that its official monicker is MX-5 Miata. To me it’ll always just be the Miata) has racked up 200 awards and sold more than 920,000 worldwide as of December 2013, making it the Guinness Book of World Records holder for “Best-Selling Two-Seater Sports Car.” Adding to these great achievements, more Miatas are road-raced on any given weekend than any other model of car.

The Miata’s success is that it has not strayed from its promise to deliver pure driving enjoyment (for drivers of all ages) at an affordable price. Its introduction in 1989 revived the two-seat roadster segment (created by but ultimately fumbled by Britain’s often unreliable Austin Healey, MG and Triumph brands), and it went on to be named to R & T’s “World’s Best” list and was 14-times one of Car and Driver magazine’s “10 Best” picks.

More power and revised styling for second-gen Miata 

When it went on sale in May 1989, the Miata featured a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 116 horsepower driving through a five-speed manual transmission. One appealing feature was that its three-fold, easy-to-operate soft top was a one-hand, lightweight operation offering superior weather protection. Not a claim easily made by the old Brit sports cars.

Ten years later a second-generation Miata appeared as a 1999 model year offering. It came with a more powerful 1.8-litre engine developing 140 hp and some new styling up front that replaced the original design’s pop-up headlights with a faired-in design. It also got a heated glass rear window to replace the older model’s plastic one.

In 2005, the third generation (right) appeared with a new 16-valve, 2.0-litre powerplant producing 170 hp, coupled with either a five- or six-speed transmission – or 166 hp with the optional six-speed automatic. Every component on the car was either all-new or extensively revised (apart from the side-repeater turn signals on non-U.S models). Modern technologies like traction control and stability control also were added.

What’s down the road? Mazda is working on a new Miata replacement (sharing its platform with a similar Alfa Romeo model) that we should see fairly soon. The only question is, will the present-generation Miata hit the 1,000,000 sales mark before its replacement arrives? If it’s the latter, I can’t think of a better reason for a memorable return trip to the Big Island.

What Cars Give the Best Bang for Your Buck?

By Bill McLauchlan

While they can be useful as you research your next new car buy, “First Drives”, “Reviews” and “Road Tests” found in buff books or on web sites can’t come up with the big picture.

By their very nature they tend to be limited in scope. First drives are one-day affairs for auto writers, really no more than a chance for a few hours at the wheel and some quick first impressions. Reviews and road tests last a little longer – usually a week – giving the journalist a chance to live with the vehicle long enough in everyday use to pick up on things that might affect long-term ownership. But what they can’t tell you what you can really expect five years down the road from the day you drive it off the dealer lot.

But don’t despair dear reader. Help is at hand, from Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com, a leading provider of new and used car information.

According to KBB, the 2014 model-year vehicles and brands (in both non-luxury and luxury categories) with the lowest projected ownership costs are, respectively, Mazda and Lexus.
These awards, based on data for new cars for the initial five-year ownership period, take into consideration depreciation, expected fuel costs, finance and insurance fees, maintenance and repair costs, and registration fees for new models.

Using those parameters, Mazda and Lexus are the brand winners for a second consecutive year. In addition to a low average purchase price and strong residual values across its full model lineup, Mazda is ranked among the lowest in fuel and insurance costs, making it the 2014 winner in KBB’s 5-Year Cost to Own rankings. Some of the models driving Mazda’s success include the Mazda3, Mazda6 (above) and CX-5.

Despite an average purchase price higher than some of its segment rivals, Lexus offers the lowest depreciation cost of any of the eligible luxury brands, thanks to strong residual values across its full model line. Lexus also ranks lowest in repairs and is among the lowest in fuel and insurance costs. Some key models contributing to Lexus’s standout-performance include the ES (right), IS and RX models.

While most of us want to know how much a car will cost up front, sometimes “an even more expensive car can actually save you money during the first five years of ownership,” observes Dan Ingle, vice-president of vehicle valuations for Kelley Blue Book. The Cost to Own information, “evaluates the other out-of-pocket expenses drivers will incur, which helps consumers choose the vehicle that fits them and their wallets best, helping save money down the road,” he adds.

© GM Corp.                                                                Chevrolet Spark 

In an interesting twist, Mazda had no winner in KBB’s individual vehicle categories. Chevrolet gained recognition in four segments: Subcompact (Spark), Full-size Car (Impala), High-Performance Car (Camaro SS/ZL1) and Plug-in Vehicle (Spark EV).

Another notable Cost to Own Award winner includes the 2014 Buick Encore, in the Luxury Compact SUV/Crossover category. The Encore beat out Acura’s RDX and the BMW X3 in all parameters except maintenance and repairs. The Encore offers depreciation costs 36 percent lower than the RDX and almost 64 percent lower than the X3. And in the Plug-in Vehicle group, Chevrolet’s Spark topped its Chevy Volt corporate sibling and the Honda Accord Hybrid in nearly all ownership factors – coming out ahead, for example, in lower insurance and licensing fees.

© GM Corp.                                                                                                                                                                              Buick Encore

Other category winners included: Toyota Corolla (Compact Car), Hyundai Veloster Turbo (Sporty Compact Car), Honda Accord (Mid-size Car), Buick Verano (Entry-Level Luxury Car), Audi A5 (Luxury Car), Ford Mustang (Sports Car) and Toyota Prius c (Hybrid/Alternative Energy Car).

On the SUV/Truck side Jeep’s Patriot took the Compact SUV/Crossover award, the Mid-size SUV/Crossover crown went to Mitsubishi’s Outlander and Full-size SUV/Crossover honours went to Ford’s Explorer. Apart Buick’s compact Encore, the luxury SUV winners were Lincoln MKX (Mid-size) and the Buick Enclave (Full-size). The Lexus RX was deemed best Hybrid SUV/Crossover while the Dodge Grand Caravan won in Minivan/Van. Best Mid-size Pickup Truck went to the Toyota Tacoma regular Cab with GMC’s Sierra 1500 Regular Cab getting the nod for Full-size Pickup.

Let the showroom shopping begin. 

Subaru Takes the Wraps Off its 2015 Legacy

By Tom Mack

It doesn’t take a genius to see Subaru is on something of a roll at the moment. As the fastest growing Japanese brand in Canada its 2013 sales were up a whopping 18.7 percent over the preceding year. And the gains didn’t come just from Ontario or Quebec. Every region achieved its best-ever annual sales.

Then the company unveiled an all-new 2015 Subaru WRX in mid-January – making its Canadian debut at the Montreal auto show, a day after its U.S. entrance at Detroit’s similar showpiece.

Today marked the appearance of yet another all-new 2015 model. The appearance of a replacement for the current Legacy at the Chicago auto show gives Subaru yet another reason for optimism and an improved competitor to take on segment heavyweights like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

Visually, the mid-size Legacy echoes the design themes introduced by the Legacy Concept at the 2013 Los Angeles auto show, sporting a fresher face up front and a clean, crisp body shape that imparts a more upscale look. A smooth, coupe-style roofline flows nicely down to a shapely rear end that maintains the luxury image.

This classier Legacy sits on the same wheelbase as the present generation, although the overall length of the body grows by 41 mm (1.6 inches) to 4795 mm (188.8 inches), resulting in an increase in rear legroom and cargo capacity versus the outgoing model. Inside, interior refinement and driver comfort has been improved while noise levels have been reduced.

Under the hood, you’ll find the familiar engines of the current Legacy carried over – though the 2.5-litre four-cylinder unit gains a couple of extra horsepower, weighs less, is quieter and more efficient. Both it and the 3.6 engine are a little less fuel thirsty though, a welcome development given the high gas prices these days. You will notice a difference in the transmission department, though. Manual shifters have taken a hike. For 2015, all Legacy models will come standard with a Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission), with the 6-cylinder model using a high-torque version. Changes made to reduce friction in the CVT contribute to the improvements in fuel economy mentioned earlier. All models also get standard incline Start Assist and the electronic Hill Holder system.

A newly refined version of Subaru’s well-proven Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is another improvement in the 2015 model, which should appear in dealer showrooms by the latter half of 2014.

Cars That Just Might Save Your Skin

By Bill McLauchlan

As I write this it’s snowing heavily outside. Yet another in a seemingly endless run of storms this winter. So you can appreciate the irony involved in having you think about sun exposure in your car.

Normally, when we think of overexposure to old Sol, it involves warmer weather, beaches or having fun outdoors. But millions of us get a big portion of our sun exposure when we don’t even realize it – in our cars. Yes, even at this time of year we can’t escape it as we drive during crisp, cold but bright sunny days.

Photo: Dunlop/Newscom

That’s why, if you’re checking out the latest vehicles at an auto show or dealer showroom, you should pay close attention to their glass areas.

Automakers and car buyers alike have trusted in the use of laminated glass in windshields for more than 70 years, mainly for its high-impact safety and layered construction that effectively prevents fragments from scattering during breakage and objects from entering the vehicle’s interior. But laminated glass, a layer of film between two layers of glass, has another positive benefit. It blocks up to 99 percent of the sun’s damaging UV rays.
This radiation reaches the earth as UVA and UVB rays. Glass blocks UVB and the film in laminated windshields blocks the UVA rays as well. But in many cars side and rear windows allow UVA to penetrate.

Research has shown that skin exposed to sun shining through untreated window glass can, over time, lead to significant skin damage. The UV exposure we get while driving especially adds up – especially as traffic congestion and our hectic lives keep us in our cars longer, whether during the daily commute or handling family driving duties. So, it’s no surprise then to find that according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 3.5 million cases of skin cancer in more than two million people are diagnosed annually in North America.

One interesting wrinkle in that picture is that dermatologists have noticed many patients have more sun damage on the left side of their faces than on the right. Why? UVA rays coming through the side windows. The more time we spend driving our cars the more severe the damage on the left side of our face.

As an antidote you’ll find more and more vehicles these days that offer laminated and/or advanced solar control glass in applications beyond the windshield. At recent auto shows in Detroit, Montreal, Chicago and about-to-open Toronto, those window positions include driver and passenger side windows, rear windows and roof glass. Since about 2000, we’ve seen more and more side/roof glass use by car makers as a way to minimize exposure to cancer-causing UV rays. Apart from easing life for your epidermis, other benefits of such laminated glass use includes reduced interior noise, weight saving of 12 percent over conventional tempered glass (helping fuel efficiency) plus enhanced security and safety.

Here are some current vehicles with laminated glass you might want to check out: Acura (MDX and RLX), Buick (LaCrosse and Enclave), Cadillac (ATS, CTS, SRX, XTS and Escalade), Chevrolet (Impala and Equinox), Chrysler (200, 300C and 300S, Dodge Charger and Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee), Ford (Explorer and Flex), GMC (Terrain and Yukon), Hyundai (Equus and Genesis), Jaguar (XJR), Kia (Optima and K900), Land Rover (Range Rover and Range Rover Sport), Lincoln (MKC, MKS, MKT, MKX and MKZ), Lexus (LX, ES, IS, RX, LS and GS), Mercedes-Benz (S Class and GL), Porsche (Panamera, Panamera Turbo S and Macan) and Toyota (Avalon and Venza).