WomanOnWheels.ca

Driving an electric car to lunch? There's an app for that!

One of the drawbacks to an electric car is that once it runs out of juice, it's not going anywhere. And with the busy schedules many people have, that's going to present a problem.

Now, researchers at the University of Windsor have developed an application that combines your datebook and your car, determining if you have enough battery to get where you're going, when you should charge, and even if you should change your route. Read all about it in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

To Infiniti Hybrid, and beyond ...

It's a lot of money, which could be why my 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid tester was the only one I've ever seen on the road, but it's a nice car nevertheless - Nissan really does do hybrids quite well. Read all about it in Autos.ca by clicking here.

In the news: Snow closes driver testing ...

It's a rather unpleasant day in the Greater Toronto Area today: wet snow, rain, and some wind to blow it all around. I've been out running errands, and while there is a fair bit of slush on the roads, it's not as bad as it looks. Traction is actually pretty good, especially if you have winter tires.

But while I was waiting at the dentist's office for my appointment, I watched the news report on television. Driving tests in the area have been cancelled today.

Yes, you heard that right. There's some snow in the air, there's some slush on the ground, and so it's too nasty for the next group of drivers on our roads to be out there. Say what? This is Ontario. This is Ontario in winter. It snows here. And if you can't safely drive in Ontario in winter in the snow, you are a hazard on the road to yourself and other drivers.

We should be testing drivers in snow, and if they get their licenses in summer, it should be conditional on them coming back in the bad stuff (or on a skid pad if necessary) and proving they can handle it just as well as they can handle dry pavement. Closing up shop just because there's snow on the ground? Hell, why not just test them on a video driving game, and give them a license based on that?

New drivers: Lots to learn, right from the start

It's no surprise that young drivers often make errors, but what you might not know is that they're more likely to crash in their first month of driving than in the rest of their first year. There are also a few situations where they're likely to make the same errors repeatedly, and then get better very quickly afterwards. I asked the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety about it; you can read the results in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

2012 Honda Civic: Not as all-new as promised

The Honda Civic was redesigned into its ninth generation for 2012, but there really doesn't seem to be that much of a difference. It's still a pleasant enough driver, but I really did expect a bit more from something that's supposed to be "all-new." Read about it in the Toronto Star by clicking here.

Canada's most fuel-efficient cars

The winners of the ecoENERGY Awards have received their trophies (a day late, since the minister couldn't make the Toronto Auto Show press day where they're normally handed out) for the most fuel-efficient cars in Canada.

You can read my report in the Toronto Star by clicking here.

The awards look good when the manufacturers go up on the podium to receive them, but I've always been of two minds on them, and part of that has to do with the way vehicles are tested. It's all done in the lab - you can read about it in my story here - using methods that don't really mirror the way cars operate in the real world. Really, if you're going to use Natural Resources' fuel figures when buying a car, you need to compare all the vehicles and then add about another 20% to the numbers.

The awards are also skewered by new models on the market, and the way Natural Resources slots the vehicles. The Chevrolet Volt, Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Nissan Leaf all took top honors, but with the exception of the Volt when it's running on extended range, none of them use any fuel. And none of them are mainstream models that will be sold in any great quantities, at least in the near future.

As for the categories, much depends on your definition of a vehicle. The Mazda5 took the "minivan" slot - yes, it's a minivan and truly a mini one compared to most in the segment, but I still think of the Mazda5 as more of a crossover when compared with vehicles like the Grand Caravan or Sienna. The small Ford Transit Connect took "large van" - well, yes, it's much bigger than a breadbox, but I tend to think of vehicles like the Sprinter or Express in that category. With so many niches now in the auto  market, it's tough to slot many of them. Which is probably why I don't work for Natural Resources Canada.

 

Acura: 25 Years in Canada

It was on February 14, 1987 that Honda made an announcement at the Toronto Auto Show: it would introduce its luxury/performance Acura brand. Now, 25 years later, it will be showing some concept cars at that same show, including the NSX pictured here. Read all about it in my story in Metro by clicking here.

You could win Chip Foose's Cruze!

California car customizer Chip Foose has put his talents on a Chevrolet Cruze, and it's going to be given away to a lucky winner at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto this month. Read all about it, including how to enter (and help the Hospital for Sick Children at the same time) in my Metro story by clicking here.

A look at Hyundai's Accent

Hyundai has redesigned the Accent for 2012, and overall, it's a decent, well-outfitted and realistically-priced car. You can read my review in Autos.ca by clicking here.

Tire wear: Why you should care

Tires wear down as you drive, gradually losing their ability to grip the road properly - which means that winter tires aren't better than all-seasons in bad weather if they don't have enough tread. Read all about my worn-tire experiences in Metro by clicking here.

Tires and training: How to get through winter

I spent a day on a winter driving course with Michelin, checking out the upcoming X-Ice Xi3 tire. Keeping a car on the straight and narrow in nasty conditions requires paying attention and knowing what to do, and the course helped me brush up for the drive home. Read all about it on Autos.ca by clicking here.

SUVs! Get your SUVs here!

The Toronto Star asked me to list my picks for midsize and full-size SUVs from the models currently available.

You can find the midsize SUVs by clicking here.

Find the full-size ones by clicking here.