Topic: Feature: Autos.ca 2013 Top Picks

[Autos_Editor]

There has never been a better time than now for Canadian automotive consumers, but how do you sort the good cars from the bad cars?

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[easyrider]

LOL, seems to me the Cruze won your non hatchback comparo and the /sonic is much better than the /fit. so i call BS on this one.

[Jaeger]

Good idea for a best of year list - and well presented also. Solid list. I don't have too many quibbles. I guess the new Accord must be a vaulting leap ahead of the old, which I thought to be the very definition of "average" in very nearly every respect.

[Mike]

LOL, seems to me the Cruze won your non hatchback comparo and the /sonic is much better than the /fit. so i call BS on this one.

The Cruze did win then...but lost to the Elantra GT later.  The Focus always finished near the top, is a sedan and a hatchback, and offers the ST.

Who said the Sonic is better than the Fit?

[Rupert]

I like your choices low down up to Focus. Above that level I will never be in the car market for so my opinion does not count. Except that the Ford F150 is a suprise...well the emphatic statement anyway. I have heard this from knowing users though. Oh I suppose the Van category is left out because there is no catching the Caravan for content and value. It handles decently too.
Yeah, I like the Reo over the Accent also...oh and the Fiesta for looks, too many folds for me but the new grille might change that.

[mastodon]

Great choices IMO, similar to my own as follows:

Subcompact - Kia Rio (based on looks only)

Compact - Mazda 3, Hyundai Elantra

Midsize - Honda Accord, Kia Optima

Sports car low - Subaru Brz/Scion FR-S, Mazda Miata, Ford Mustang

Sports car high  - Porsche Boxster

Luxury car low - BMW 3 Series, Cadillac ATS

Luxury Car high - BMW 5 series

CUV low - Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, Mazda CX-5

CUV high - Audi Q5, Jeep Grand Cherokee

Trucks - Ford F-150, ram 1500

[jjac28]

^^^thats a better list, I have the Mazda 3 skyactiv as the best compact by far

[whaddaiknow]

There has never been a better time than now for Canadian automotive consumers, but how do you sort the good cars from the bad cars?
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Mostly agree, but some choices don't make sense and are contradictory.

1) Luxury low
ATS? "Dynamically superior" winning the "luxury" category. New 3-series would be my top pick.

Add a new category and name it "best premium/luxury driver's car". Put the ATS on top and I'll be happy with that.

2) Isn't the BRZ and FR-S the same car? So having essentially the same car occupy both 1st and 2nd looks kinda strange.

3) What happened to Ford Escape? How did the CR-V manage to beat it here? Not that I disagree with your choice (I would pick the CR-V too) but why change of heart?

4) The new Fusion is still unknown quantity. We don't know how the hybrid will perform in real driving conditions, so your praise for its "fantastic hybrid option" is a bit premature, as well as the troublesome 1.6l turbo engine. So value for money has a big question mark next to it. I wish it best though as it is a great looking car, and hopefully Ford resolves the engine issues quickly.

[redman]

No bull huh !!

Well maybe a monkey with a wrench though !

These are opinions based on....well, let's say a number of factors ?

I to am surprised to see some of these choices, but ultimately the sales #'s will decide.

[carcrazed]

Great idea for the list.  I'm not even in a market for a family sedan, but I want to check out the Accord to see why everyone is falling in love with it.

[whaddaiknow]

Again, I think you're really cutting the ATS short. It's not like some POS that's just dynamically better. The entire package is very good - your subjective opinion notwithstanding.

Oh, boy please don't start it again. My opinion is just that, my opinion.

When it comes to luxury features, interior wise and ride quality, BMW is better designed, thought out, stylish, and has more room in the back. Everything that makes a car "luxury".

The presence of features does not make a luxury car (Kia Rio has them in spades), it's the execution.

I never for a second assumed ATS was a POS car, just that in the "luxury" category it lags behind the competition, and I would put the 3 FGCs ahead of the ATS. And I am not even talking about the new Lexus ES which I'm surprised didn't make the list. James loved it for its "luxury". It's exactly what a "luxury" car is supposed to be.

[tooscoops]

i may rank mine a little different, but i have no issues with the choices... for trucks, i've always liked the look of the ram more and the coil over rear suspension makes it ride better unloaded, so i go that route. but the ford is a good truck for sure.

i like that you did this... is not as fact based as your reviews (which they should be fact based)... this is more overall feel. just if YOU were chosing a car in the category, what you would choose. for someone with a similar mindset or needs, this is more useful than many reviews.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Oh, boy please don't start it again. My opinion is just that, my opinion.

When it comes to luxury features, interior wise and ride quality, BMW is better designed, thought out, stylish, and has more room in the back. Everything that makes a car "luxury".

The presence of features does not make a luxury car (Kia Rio has them in spades), it's the execution.

I never for a second assumed ATS was a POS car, just that in the "luxury" category it lags behind the competition, and I would put the 3 FGCs ahead of the ATS. And I am not even talking about the new Lexus ES which I'm surprised didn't make the list. James loved it for its "luxury". It's exactly what a "luxury" car is supposed to be.

The BMW has softer handling, less precise steering, it's bloated to the size of the previous 5 series, and has indifferent styling inside and out.

Slap a roundel on it though, and it's the bees knees isn't it?

[opg210]

I saw the news release on Marketwire! Loved the "venerable online magazine" line - venerable: commanding respect because of great age or dignity. I guess you qualify through your dignity?

Regardless, good list and great work guys, I really enjoy this site and the way you review. I hope autos.ca continues to gain in popularity so that you'll get first crack at whatever you want to review.

[Mike]

I saw the news release on Marketwire! Loved the "venerable online magazine" line - venerable: commanding respect because of great age or dignity. I guess you qualify through your dignity?

Regardless, good list and great work guys, I really enjoy this site and the way you review. I hope autos.ca continues to gain in popularity so that you'll get first crack at whatever you want to review.

Thanks! 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

It's interesting that the press keeps picking the Fit, while the market mostly ignores it. I'd take a Fiesta, maybe in ST trim.

In fact, I'd pick the Fusion AWD over the Accord and the Escape 2.0L tubo over the CRV too.


As these things go though,it's a pretty good list.

[Jaeger]

It's interesting that the press keeps picking the Fit, while the market mostly ignores it.

But not the least bit surprising to those who own one.  That it continues to gather accolades when it is by far the senior citizen of a highly competitive segment is a noteworthy accomplishment.

[redman]

It's interesting that the press keeps picking the Fit, while the market mostly ignores it. I'd take a Fiesta, maybe in ST trim.

In fact, I'd pick the Fusion AWD over the Accord and the Escape 2.0L tubo over the CRV too.


As these things go though,it's a pretty good list.

Sounds more like Honda biased to Ford biased. Same difference to me.

[safristi]

I'm in accord with the Accord ,FORD is cheap inside and issues with YOU TOUCH ME stuff!! . Fit is Fab.Escape on the other hand is Ford's better answer to the CRV(MINUS TOUCHY FEEELY SCREEN),,


Where is the Toy Avalon here?   seriously nice value...and you know Artic is gonna be on yer arse worse than Harponi for NO ToyoBOTS....


 their new slogan is "WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' ENGINEERS/DESIGNERS or COLOUR CO_ORDINATORS   BLAND IS THE NEW GANGAMAN"
 

[whaddaiknow]

The BMW has softer handling, less precise steering, it's bloated to the size of the previous 5 series, and has indifferent styling inside and out.
Slap a roundel on it though, and it's the bees knees isn't it?

Have you driven the new 3-series? I have. Softer doesn't mean soft, it's still more than competent. Bloated is welcome if there is no fuel economy penalty. I find the styling quite appealing. Your expectations are understandably high for a car labeled "the ultimate driving machine" so anything that even slightly deviates from the well entrenched "standards" gets a slap on the wrist.

Yet another player comes in with no history or preconceptions. Shows off its superior handling and all of a sudden the rest of the package becomes not important. Handling IS important for the segment but so is craftsmanship and attention to detail. You may put more weight on handling and competely ignore the rest as long as it's "adequate" or competitive. While I definitely want handling to be above mainstream (camcords and such), I put more weight on the overall package in the "luxury" category.

The issue I see is in the definition of the class of vehicles. Our definitions don't match and thus we may have exactly the same opinion about a particular car on its own merits but begin to disagree when we put them in specific context. We name it the same but the basis is different. I see the word "luxury", you see the word "sporty" - that's all.