2024 Mazda CX-90 Signature | A Japanese BMW!

By Nauman Farooq

Mazda… you have got to love them for their unconventional approach to doing things! For instance, back in the 1960’s, when everyone was consumed with making big, powerful, V8 or V12 engines; Mazda took it upon themselves to perfect and productionize the Wankel rotary motor – an engine concept that was marred by engineering problems! Mazda never gave up, and remains just about the only company to have made the rotary work.

Fast forward to current times, and just when the automotive world is consumed with making EVs; Mazda has gone about to give us an inline-six cylinder engine – that’s BMW’s territory! Just like many modern BMW inline-six motors, the Mazda unit is both turbocharged and has a mild-hybrid system that can aid in performance and efficiency! All very interesting in concept, but is it any good? Well… keep reading, it’ll be worth your while!

Styling: From looks alone, the CX-90 is a winner! It’s face is similar to other current Mazda offerings, while the rear three-quarter view is very similar to a BMW X7 (which isn’t a bad thing). So, if you like to walk up to attractive things, you’ll like approaching the CX-90! Score: 10/12.5

Interior: Step inside, and your first impression would be really very good. The design of the cockpit, to the quality of the fit and finish, is excellent. You get all the gadgets you’d reasonably want (awesome sound system, good infotainment system, heads up display, etc.), in a spacious cabin, which combines decent comfort.

Decent, but not great, as I didn’t find the seat cushion to be comfortable enough on long drives, and while I’m complaining, the gear selector lever is a bit clumsy to use – lacks smoothness in operation. The CX-90 is a three row SUV, and while the front and middle row has plenty of room, the third row is best only reserved for children. Still… I think this interior deserves a score of: 10/12.5

Safety: The IIHS has given it a “Top Safety Pick+” rating, while the NHTSA has given it a 5 Star rating. So, we give it a score of 11/12.5 (no car is ever going to be 100% safe, hence you’ll never see us give anything more than a 11 rating.

Powertrain: A few engine options are offered for the CX-90. There’s a plug-in hybrid version that mates a 173 hp electric motor with a 2.5L inline-four cylinder motor (189 hp), for a combined system output of 323 hp. Then, you can pick between two flavors of the 3.3L inline-six cylinder motor. Base spec has 280 hp, while top spec (as tested) has 340 hp. The inline-six also makes do with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. Regardless of the powertrain, all CX-90 models come equipped with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, sending power to all wheels. Score: 10/12.5

Performance: If you saw the video before reading the description, than you already know that we timed the 340 hp version from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.75 seconds. Not great, but not bad, either! Score: 8/12.5

Driving Dynamics: Mazda typically has a reputation for building fun to drive vehicles, so this is the part I was really looking forward to! In all honesty, this is where it let me down; let me explain. First, the ride is too stiff, which means it picks up all the imperfections in the road, and crashes over even the smallest of potholes. Then, it lacks fluidity. Mazda vehicles, typically have a wonderful flow about them, regardless of their horsepower; the CX-90 just feels jerky and clumsy. I allowed two other people to drive my test vehicle, and they both felt the same way.

Where it redeems itself is on the highway at speed – this is where it feels stable, with a fair amount of power! So, if you live in Germany, and use the Autobahn a lot, you’ll like the CX-90. Score: 8/12.5

Fuel Efficiency: In a weeks worth of driving, and covering close to 600 km, I averaged 9.4 L/100 km. That’s fairly good, for a 2.2 ton vehicle. Score: 9.5/12.5

Pricing: Well… you know how I mentioned that this Mazda seemingly wants to pretend to be a BMW! Well, guess what, it is nearly priced like a BMW, too! While base price is quite good, starting from $45,900 for the GS trim; but the top Signature trim (as tested) is yours for $63,300. OK, to be fair, you won’t get anywhere near as large a BMW for this kind of money; but with the CX-90, Mazda has crept up further in the luxury segment – it remains to be seen if customers are happy to spend this type of money on a non-premium badge! Score: 6.5/12.5

Verdict: The 2024 Mazda CX-90 is attractive, has a quality interior, and a few drivetrain options – all that is very good. On the minus side, the ride quality isn’t great, the gear selector is annoying to use, and it is a bit pricey! I think, if Mazda sorts out the ride quality, and improves the ‘flow’ of the drivetrain, it’ll help this vehicle out immensely. Total score: 73/100.

2024 Acura TLX A-Spec | Nice Car, Awful Seats!

There are not a lot of sedans left in the market, so we should applaud the manufacturers who still offer vehicles with a trunk!

But, there is more to a car than just a body style, along with safety and performance, the most important thing we look for in a car are comfortable seats.

So… how does the 2024 Acura TLX A-Spec do in this regard?

Watch this video, and also read the detailed description of the video, and you’ll get the answer:

A RAW LOOK AT THE 2024 CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW (VIDEO)

And this video also lists all the AJAC Car and Utility Vehicle of the year winners (although, why they have a seperate category for EVs is beyond our comprehension).

The Super SUV Comparo… Which Is Quickest?

Would it be the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, or the Land Rover Defender 110 V8, or the Jaguar F-Pace SVR?

Watch this video to find out!

2024 Chevrolet Trax RS – Review – Should You Buy One?

By Nauman Farooq

Typically, when I review a vehicle, it is most often borrowed from a car company’s press office; but this review is a little different, as it is of my own vehicle.

Furthermore, I bought this vehicle after taking it on a test drive (or two) from a car dealership (MacMaster Chevrolet), and not based on my opinion of it after living with a press fleet unit for a week.

I’ve now had my 2024 Chevrolet Trax RS for two months now, and have covered over 2,000 km with it. Question is, am I happy with my purchase, or do I regret it?

Well, let’s break it down in the format of a regular review, and examine this vehicle in detail.

Styling: Well… I think most humans will agree, we are visual creatures! We don’t approach things that we don’t like looking at!

So, when I spotted this “Nitro Yellow” Trax at the dealership, it peaked my interest. In the “RS” trim with its sporty x-fighter themed front grille and bumper treatment, and snazzy 18-inch alloy wheels, it encouraged me to look into this vehicle in even more detail.

Is the styling perfect? Well, I wish there was an actual, visible exhaust outlet at the rear (it is completely hidden from view), and that the rear glass was a bit more upright – that would have created more cargo room – but these are minor gripes!

Most people – which has included some strangers, who walked up to ask about the Trax – say that this is a attractive vehicle. So, on the styling front, I’d give it a score of 8/10.

Interior: Open the door and step inside, and just this action scores positive points from me! Why, because I was in a car accident a few years ago, which resulted in rods and plates, screws and pins in my body – so you can imagine that getting in an out of most cars is now quite difficult! Sports cars and sedans are too low, a proper SUV or pickup truck are too high – strains a normal body can handle easily, but not for someone with injuries like mine.

In the Trax, I open the door and just walk into the vehicle – I don’t have to drop down or climb in. So, it is perfect for me. Couple that with the fact that the driver’s seat is fairly comfortable, and the Trax just keeps on scoring points with me.

I also find that there is ample room inside, front and back, and the flat floor means that three people (kid sized) will be comfortable in the second row. Yes, the rear seats do fold down, for when you need to expand on your cargo area – so that’s also a plus.

One of the best features, the infotainment system has wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (although the latter is said to be discontinued in future GM vehicles), which means I have access to features from my phone, including navigation – that’s neat.

Also neat are the heated front seats and heated steering wheel that came with my 1RS package – ideal for our winters.

Any gripes? Yes, the quality of some of the plastics is not great – but this thing was built for a budget, so some concessions had to be made! Score: 8/10.

Safety: The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) haven’t yet crash tested the 2024 Chevrolet Trax, but you should know it has a total of six airbags (2 front, 2 side of front seats, and 2 side curtain airbags covering the first and second row), so it will likely score well in the crash test. You also get automatic emergency braking, following distance indicator, forward collision alert with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, plus traction and stability control – all as standard. So, it’ll do well to keep you safe! Score: 8/10.

Powertrain: This is the one area I originally had concerns about, because you see, the Trax just has a 1.2L three-cylinder motor. Thanks to a turbocharger, you get 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, but that still doesn’t seem like a recipe for excitement! Power is just fed to the front wheels (no AWD option available) via a six-speed automatic – thank god it doesn’t have a CVT, that might have been a deal breaker, and a big reason I didn’t consider many of its competition. Score: 6/10 (more power would have led to a higher score).

Performance: This is not a “blood and guts” speed machine that would accelerate like the Millennium Falcon in hyperdrive – but it is more than adequate! According to “Car & Driver” magazine, it’ll do the 0-96 km/h (Zero to 60 mph) sprint in 8.8 seconds – which doesn’t sound all that great, but thanks to the turbo, progress on the road actually feels swifter than the numbers suggest. Score: 6/10.

Driving Dynamics: As someone who really enjoys the act of driving, you’d think that a three-cylinder econo-box might not be something I’d enjoy; but you know what, the new Chevrolet Trax is surprisingly good.

The handling is very predictable, as you’d expect from a front-wheel drive vehicle, and at least in the dry, the grip from its Goodyear Assurance tires seems adequate. Also, the steering is reasonably communicative, which helps on windy roads!

It also rides road imperfections rather well, but best of all is how quiet this Trax is on the highway. My previous car, a 2013 Mazda3 GX, had been a fairly reliable and economical mode of transportation, but the ride quality was horrible, and road noise at highway speeds was often unbearable! The latter is the main reason I had to change it. The Trax is nearly whisper quiet because it has active noise cancellation tech as standard on all trims – so this compact crossover is almost as relaxing as a luxury car, not kidding!

All in all, the Trax is a very decent vehicle for daily driving duties! Score: 6/10.

Fuel Economy: Well… in the first 2,000+ km of driving, I’ve averaged 8.4 L/100 km. Given that the engine is just loosening up, and we are in winter, that’s not bad at all. Bet it’ll improve by the summer! Score: 7/10.

Pricing: The base Trax LS is $24,530. The RS trim starts from $26,030, while the top of the range ACTIV model is yours from $31,030. Given car prices these days, the 2024 Chevy Trax is a bargain! Score: 9/10.

Verdict: The 2024 Chevrolet Trax – a vehicle that is built in South Korea – is really rather good! It made a good impression on me when I test drove it, but in the back of my head, I worried that it might not be as impressive to live with over the long run!

I didn’t need to worry, the new Trax has impressed me on a daily basis – so to answer the question I posted in the beginning of the article is: I don’t regret buying it at all.

Final score: 58/80 = 72.5%.

Merry Xmas & A Happy New Year! Oh… And Check Out Our Quick Review Of The Honda Ridgeline

Merry Christmas to Everyone – let’s wish for World Peace! Now… let’s talk about the Honda Ridgeline: The first generation model of the Honda Ridgeline (2006 to 2015) was a clever, innovative pickup truck, but it didn’t exactly set new sales records! But, it did well enough for its maker to keep the model in its lineup and come up with a new one.

So, in 2017, Honda introduced an all-new Ridgeline, and like its predecessor, it has a dual action tailgate (it drops down, or swings), but this new pickup offers quite a lot more. The 2022 Ridgeline we are featuring here today, is a further development of the gen-2 model.

Like any vehicle, your first impressions are with the way it looks, because if you don’t find it attractive or interesting, chances are you’re not going to look any further into it. My first impression was, that it looks like a much more conventional pickup truck than the gen-1 Ridgeline. That, according to Honda, was intentional. Honda, in their research, found that many pickup truck buyers didn’t like the original Ridgeline, because it didn’t look like it could do the hard chores that pickup truck buyers need to do – mainly because of its unibody construction.

The Gen-2 Ridgeline, is a bit like the old model, and a bit like a conventional pickup truck – in the sense that the truck bed is a separate piece from the cabin, but it is fused together, hence there is no gap between the two. So, from afar, it looks like one solid vehicle, but get up close and you’ll see cut lines. Up close, you’ll also find clever features in its truck bed, such as speakers built into the body lining using its skin to generate sound, a 150W/400W in-bed power inverter to power your tools (Touring and Black Edition), and a hideaway trunk within the bed that lets you store golf bags or coolers out of sight. For the main truck bed duty, you get a 5’4″ bed that is lined with a special plastic that won’t crack and needs no additional bed liner – so as you can tell, Honda did their homework on this truck.

You’ll also see a lot of resemblance between the Ridgeline and the current Honda Pilot – that is because the former is closely related to the latter, but to think all Honda did was chop the back off the Pilot, would be discrediting their engineers. In fact, Honda engineers looked hard to strengthen the Ridgeline in several areas (suspension, joints, structure), because pickup trucks generally are used for harder tasks than an SUV that is likely to only get used on the school run, or trips to the mall.

That doesn’t mean Honda skimmed on the luxury bits. Sure, pickup trucks are suppose to be rough and ready, but the Ridgeline has all the conveniences of the Pilot. That means, excellent seats, a state of the art infotainment system, lots of storage bins + on Canadian market models, rear cabin climate control, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, rain sensing wipers, power folding mirrors with LED turn signals (SPORT model and up), front wiper de-icer, and lots more. In short, the Ridgeline will do everything you want it to do, every single day – there are no comprises in sight.

The powertrain, well… it’s only available with a 3.5L V6 that features direct fuel-injection, a single over head cam, and variable valve timing. The end result is 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all-wheels through a nine-speed automatic gearbox – you can select your gear ratios through the steering wheel mounted pedal shifters. Firestone developed its Destination LE2 tires especially for the new Ridgeline, to give it the best on-and-off road performance. Yes, you read that right, while the Ridgeline looks like just a street truck, it has real off-road capability.

This pickup truck rides unlike any other truck on the market, in fact, you soon forget you’re driving a pickup truck at all – it feels like a refined SUV, and that is a compliment. The ride is excellent, the sound deadening is just as good, but what really surprises you is its handling, this Ridgeline can show many sporty coupes its tailgate around a twisty road. It manages to do that because it has torque vectoring – yes, the kind of technology you’ll find in a Nissan GT-R or a Porsche 911 Turbo. What it does is, it can vary the power ratio not only between the front and rear axles, but also side to side. The system in the Ridgeline works really well – this truck sticks to the tarmac like glue.

Fuel economy? It’ll average about 12.5L/100 km – so not bad! Price? Well… it certainly ain’t cheap – as even the base model is roughly $50,000 in Canada.

Verdict: This Ridgeline is a good truck, one you can live with on a daily basis. But, it isn’t exciting to drive, nor is it cheap to buy. We like this vehicle, but not for $50K.

A Look Back At: Oblivion V

Oblivion – the show that celebrates the car culture of the 1980’s and 90’s – held their 5th show back in August 2023, but we’re only getting to share it now!

As some say, better late than never!

The theme for this years show was: It’s a nice day for a white wedding! Inspired by a hit song from Billy Idol.

2024 Lotus Eletre – Is It Any Good?

By: Nauman Farooq

Lotus has been around for 75 years, and in all this time, it has done just one thing – and that is to produce sports cars. It has (mostly) been so good at that, that the Lotus brand has become a benchmark for light weight, handling and performance.

This helped them achieve success not just in the world of road cars, but also in the world of racing, where Lotus branded vehicles have won sports car championships and even in Formula 1. However, times change, finances change! Lotus has probably spent most of its life on the brink of bankruptcy, and has hence been tossed around from company to company.

It’s latest caretaker however, the Geely Group out of China (which also owns Volvo and Polestar), wants to do things a little differently! They actually want the Lotus brand to succeed, and make a profit. Hence, they took a page out of Porsche’s handbook, while another one out of Tesla – and that is to go into the sports utility or crossover market (SUV or CUV), and also to go electric.

Hence, we have what you see here – it’s called the Lotus Eletre – and it is the first all-electric vehicle offered by Lotus (it was supposed to be the Evija hypercar, but I don’t think that is actually out yet), and it is most unlike any Lotus model ever produced in the past; but is that a bad thing? Unlike; because the Eletre is a big, four-door crossover (Lotus had never offered anything other than a two-door vehicle in the past – I know, some of you might be say, what about the Lotus Carlton, but that was a Opel / Vauxhall model, and not a ground up Lotus), and it is also not light – in fact, at 5,850 lbs. this is by far the heaviest vehicle ever offered by the brand.

But (as the title of this video asks), is it any good? Well, thanks to a test drive invite from Lotus of Oakville, I got to sample the Eletre – read on!

Styling: Judging by the pictures, I wasn’t convinced; in fact, I didn’t like it! However, seeing one in the metal changes that opinion vastly – this is a stunning looking vehicle, and it grabs so much attention that a five minute stop turned into a 25 minute conversation. Score: 8/10.

Interior: This is where Lotus has truly shined! Remember the time when a Lotus interior was so minimalistic that it didn’t even have carpeting, and you had to use a crank to wind up/down the windows? That’s not the case with the Eletre – as it has a sumptuously appointed cabin with design and tech that is straight out of the future. On top of that, it has lots of space; not just for the people in the front seats, but also the rear – plus the trunk is huge! I’ve been in a lot of EVs, and in my opinion, the Eletre is the nicest one to sit in. Score: 9/10.

Safety: Not seen any independent crash test data on the Eletre, but given its platform is shared by Volvo and Polestar vehicles, it’ll do very well in this regard. Score: TBD.

Powertrain: Initial offering is one battery pack, and two power outputs. All Eletre models get a 109 kWh battery, which is capable of a DC fast charge of 350 kW. All Eletre models are dual motor with all-wheel drive. Base model offers 603 hp, while the R model (as tested) gets 905 hp. Unlike most EVs, the Eletre has a two-speed transmission – so it’ll be better than most on the highway, especially if that highway is called the Autobahn. Score: 9/10.

Performance: As you’d expect with a 905 hp vehicle, it is very quick! The 0 to 60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint is done in 2.7 seconds, while top speed is pegged at 165 mph (266 km/h) – that’s fast! Score: 9/10.

Driving Dynamics: For Lotus drivers, numbers were never important, it was all about how the car felt in your hands! I’m happy to say, this heavy crossover is actually very nice to drive. The ride is soft when you want it to be, and tight when you engage the sport mode. As for the steering, sure it is a fully electric power system, and that does mean it can sometimes feel numb; however, it is better than just about any other electric vehicle I’ve ever driven – so that’s a win for the Eletre. Score: 8/10.

Fuel Economy: Well, the EPA rates it at 70 MPGe – that’s decent, especially for a vehicle of this size and power. By comparison, the new GMC Hummer EV does 59 MPGe. Eletre score: 6/10.

Pricing: North American pricing has not been officially announced, but Car and Driver published a base price of US$115,000 – that’s $156,000 in Canadian funds! Not cheap, but luxury EVs aren’t for the masses! Score: 6/10.

Verdict: I was not happy when I learned that Lotus was going to do a big, heavy, electric SUV/CUV thingy! However, after spending some time with it, I am very happy with the way it has turned out; well done Lotus.

Should You Consider Buying An Automatic Miata?

By Nauman Farooq 

The Mazda MX-5 [affectionately known as the Miata] has been around for about 34 years, and in this time, it has gained the reputation of being one of the best driver’s car on earth!

The MX-5 is a poster child of the “less is more” philosophy, and the key to this car’s charms is not gobs of power; but handling!

The “Miata” has never had a engine that had more (or less) than four-cylinders, and wringing every ounce of power while using its excellent manual gearbox, is one of the best motoring experiences you can have!

But… what happens when you take the gearbox out of the equation? What if – perhaps due to an injury or a medical condition – you have to opt for the automatic variant? Would the slush-box Mazda Roadster [as it’s called in Japan] be just as rewarding to drive?

To find out, I spent a week with a 2023 Mazda MX-5 with an automatic transmission.

How did my week go?

Read on!

The car looked fantastic, it still turns heads – despite this ND generation model being in the market since 2016.

As for the interior, even despite my physical limitations (broken left tibia bonded with a titanium plate and nails, and a fractured spine stabilized by rods and screws), I was fairly comfortable in this vehicle; although, getting in and out was often a pain! From a technology point of view, you get a decent infotainment system, although the sound system could be a lot better, especially to combat against the wind and road noise you get in the cabin, especially when driving with the roof on!

The handling of the car on tight, twisty roads, was a joy [as with any MX-5 I’ve ever tested], and its Skyactiv-G 2.0L in-line four cylinder engine [which is good for 181 hp, and 151 lb-ft of torque] offered great response, especially in city traffic

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But, what’s on test here in this article are none of the things I just mentioned; instead, it is all about the transmission – to see if this six-speed automatic [with steering wheel mounted pedal shifters], is just as much fun to drive as a “Miata” with a stick-shift and a three pedal layout!

The short answer is an unfortunate, no.

The car just felt over stressed and under geared. I had a feeling that the gear ratios between the manual MX-5 and the auto are different! So, I looked up the gear ratios, and there is a definite difference between the manual and automatic model. The gear ratios in the automatic are much more closely bunched up, which is good for acceleration [up to a point], but works against you at highway speeds. Imagine driving a manual car on the highway, while stuck in fourth gear [out of six]; that’s what this auto MX-5 felt like.

This made any highway journey quite tiring!

As a result, I couldn’t wait to give this Roadster back!

I really wanted to like the automatic version of the ND Miata, because my clutch leg doesn’t quite work like it used to, but I very quickly realized, that if I ever decide to own a MX-5, I’d rather suffer from some physical discomfort and buy one with a manual transmission.

If you are still tempted to buy a MX-5 with an auto, you should prepare to spend $39,374 (options and taxes are extra). As I stated in the previous paragraph, I just wouldn’t.

So… I’ve driven two sports cars recently, with automatic gearboxes, and I disliked both of them – perhaps there’s a trend here!

A Quick Look At The 2023 Volvo XC40 B5

Plus… a 0 to 60 km/h test!