Distance: 1,495 kmLocation: Illinois, IowaDates: 31 Aug – 2 Sep, 2024 Up front: The layout and size is largely familiar to the X3, with which it shares a platform. Heated seats and a heads-up display are optional, but Apple CarPlay comes standard. As usual, I have only had a few Read more…
Distance: 1,261 kmLocation: Germany, LuxembourgDate: 2-10 Aug 2024 Up front: The leather seats and leather-wrapped control surfaces feel luxurious. The digital dashboard has minimal glare at a comfortable brightness, but the centre information screen is too short for useful navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay is unavailable. The gear shift annoyingly Read more…
Distance: 513kmDate: 25-29 December, 2024Location: Pennsylvania, New Jersey Up front: Heated and powered seats are standard but the steering wheel adjustment is manual. The genuine leather available even on the base model is a plus when compared to Mercedes’ fake Artico and BMW’s fake Sensatec. The leather control surfaces are Read more…
Distance: 538 kmDate: 22-23 November 2024Location: Ontario, New York Up front: The interior looks stunning at first glance, the stalks and buttons have muted clicks, and the genuine leather is supple. But a closer inspection of the materials reveal lots of plastics and the aluminium-looking plastics stain easily. The four Read more…
Distance: 690 kmDate: 25 to 27 October, 2024Location: Alberta, Saskatchewan Up front: The large touch-screen centre display and wide digital gauge cluster is designed to resemble the S-Class super screen, but I still liked the old MBUX system with a selection wheel from the generation prior. The steering wheel buttons Read more…
Distance: 326kmLocation: Nova ScotiaDate: November 19-20, 2022 Up front: It’s objective not a bad car to drive but it is an uncomfortable car to sit in. Unlike BMW’s sedans, there is no thigh support and no lumbar support. The leather-like material on the seats are cheap and the sun visor Read more…
2019 Jeep Compass Limited Distance: 4,063km Location: Switzerland, France, Liechtenstein, Italy Date: June 1-15, 2019 Up front: It’s more comfortable than most mass-market crossovers at the $30,000 price point but it’s no luxury car. What it is represents better value than similarly-priced Korean rivals. The leather seats are a nice Read more…
2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium Convertible Distance: 1,735km Location: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri Date: August 29-September 4, 2019 Up front: It’s not a sporty car, it’s a sports car. You’re sitting on the floor, legs stretched out, and arms trying to reach the controls. The seating position for anything below Read more…
Distance: 2,095 kmDates: 18-26 May 2024Location: Texas Up front: Mid-range Progressiv is the trim to buy with four-way adjustable lumbar support, extendable thigh support, and four-way headrests. Unlike the cluttered gauge display on the similarly-sized BMW X3, the Q5’s screen is easy enough to read that you shouldn’t need to Read more…
Distance: 120km Location: Sault Ste. Marie, ON Date: June 5-6, 2022 Up front: Ergonomics are good, the leather on the steering wheel, armrests, and seat surfaces feel consistent, unlike cheaper Japanese and Korean marques. The steering wheel needs a longer telescoping distance to be comfortable, but it’s workable on a Read more…