Originally published January 12, 2015
The Detroit Auto Show kicks off next week and puts us into 2015 proper. But before we charge ahead into another year of concepts, reveals and whatever this thing was, let’s take a moment to revisit your favourite articles of the past year.
Previews
Based on the universally liked Fit, the 2015 2016 Honda HR-V is basically a smaller CR-V. So yeah, it’ll sell like hotcakes once it hits later this year. We initially speculated on its, er, specs based on the JDM Vezel, but Brendan McAleer got a chance to see it in the paint at the L.A. Auto Show and cleaned up that mess.
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R was shown off at the 2014 Detroit show and though it’s a regular-order car, as Peter Bleakney notes, you might be waiting a while if you don’t get that order in soon.
Also present in Detroit was the practically-in-production 2015 Acura TLX prototype, which replaces the TSX and TL. Or as Mark Stevenson put it: “Same sausage, different length.” (And indeed it launched in 2014, and we got our grubby mitts all over it, though Mark Stevenson has yet to park his buns in the driver seat.)
The all-new 2015 Subaru Outback is an “SUV alternative” – otherwise known as a wagon – and it can handle rough terrain. Is it any wonder it’s popular with Canadians? It’s our second-most-researched vehicle this year, beaten only by the Volkswagen Golf.
“We dislike turbochargers!” said no auto enthusiast (nor Justin Pritchard), ever. The 2015 Lexus NX got the marque’s first-ever turbocharged engine, though in true Lexus form, the cabin itself remains an isolation chamber.
First Drives
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf. According to the PR, its intended market is “Anyone with a pulse.” #dropmic
With the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class we didn’t initially understand the Super Mario commercial or the Mario Kart tie-in. Then Jacob drove one around and a bunch of university students exclaimed, “Sick car man, sick car!” #gameovermangameover
The 2015 Lexus NX targets young families. Young families with an IKEA fetish, says Jacob. #thislamphasnofeelings
Thanks to some clever engineering, the 2014 Nissan Rogue has more interior room, a longer wheelbase, but is actually shorter overall. No word on if it comes in TARDIS blue. #allaboutthatwheelbase
The 2015 Porsche Macan will make believers out of SUV haters, if Lesley Wimbush is to be believed. But what haters? Four out of the five in this category are SUVs. #porschedoppelkupplung
Comparison Tests
Family vehicles continue to be the bread and butter of the automotive industry, and our roundup of seven 2014 mid-size sedans showed just how competitive this segment is. Yes, it’s time to put on the little league coach’s cap and say, yet again, “there are no losers, only winners.” Winners being you, the drivers.
But first up, a hybrid grudge match between the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid and 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid. And yes, we picked a winner.
Move down a size and we’re talking about the 2014 Honda Civic and 2014 Toyota Corolla. What more needs to be said? Each has its own followers and while we harbour no illusions that we’ll sway the diehards, in this case our conclusion is backed up by the sales figures.
And because we can’t avoid talking about SUVs for very long, next up is the 2014 Nissan Rogue vs 2014 Mazda CX-5 comparison. At the risk of sounding like clickbait, the results may surprise you. (Okay, that was entirely intentional.)
Last up in our top five comparison tests of 2014 is the Luxury SUV round-up, with competitors ranging from the Acura MDX to the Porsche Cayenne. As with all our comparison tests, there could only be one winner, but in this case, a special mention went out to #teamdiesel.
