Coming soon ?
Q: The Audi A3 convertible has not been in circulation since 2019. Will Audi offer a new convertible of this format soon, and will it be electric? — Henry T.
A: A mass market electric convertible from Audi? Don’t count on it too much in the immediate future. Tesla, Polestar, Porsche and presumably Genesis will offer one before the ring mark.
Unidentified rolling object
PHOTO PROVIDED BY BMW
BMW X2
Q: In Canada, cars have visible numbers like BMW X1, X2, X3, etc. In Germany, there are none, why? — Claudine T.
A: In Germany, customers prefer to remove them to avoid comparison with the neighbor. Thus, the latter cannot know if you have opted for the entry-level or high-end model. And it’s not just the Germans. The Swiss are also fond of driving an unidentified vehicle. Note that some European brands offer when placing an order to remove the inscriptions from the vehicle.
three hearts
PHOTO PROVIDED BY TOYOTA
Toyota Corolla Cross
Q: I hesitate between the Hyundai Kona, the Honda HR-V and the Toyota Corolla Cross. My annual mileage is 18,000 km. We go to Florida three months a year. We keep our vehicles for a long time (10 years). What do you recommend ? — Linda L.
A: You should know first that the Kona will be getting a facelift in the fall. In its current form, this vehicle struggles to compare to the more recently designed HR-V and Corolla Cross. Between the two ? The Corolla Cross has the advantage of being more economical at the pump, more comfortable (front seats), more spacious (rear seats). In addition, it has higher ground clearance, greater towing capacity and a more generous trunk, provided the rear seat is folded down. In place, the volume is practically identical between the two models. On the other hand, the Honda is more rewarding (interior presentation) and more fun to drive. Both vehicles finish on a par when it comes to reliability, however.
Difficult to amortize
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MAZDA
Mazda 5 2012
Q: I am retired and 80 years old. I currently have a 2012 Mazda 5 with 75,000 km on the clock. I travel 8000 km annually, mostly in town. I would like to exchange it for a hybrid vehicle and I would like to know your suggestions. — Maud L.
A: The question is: why change it? Your vehicle has been driven very little so far. We assume here that it must be like new, right? It’s all very well, a hybrid, but here’s an expense that’s difficult to amortize considering your use and the absence of subsidies (only plug-in hybrids – and of course electric ones – are eligible). Our suggestion: keep your vehicle.