The 2015 Subaru Legacy

Jan 29 2015

It’s Subaru’s fully-refreshed, entry-level sedan.

2015 Subaru Legacy AWD

– 2.5 L 4-cyl. boxer engine
– CVT automatic with standard paddle shifters
– 175 hp and 174 lb.-ft.
– starting at $23,495

Competitors: Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion

Short review – loved it for 3 reasons

1 – it’s available in MANUAL

2 – List of standard features is strong

This is the base model, and includes: heated seats, automatic up/down front windows, rear-view camera, 10-way driver seat, Bluetooth and USB, riding on 17-inch wheels. But the best standard feature is reason 3…

3 – All-wheel Drive comes standard

Lowest price in the country for an AWD sedan. And if the Legacy’s competitors even offer it, it’s about a $5,000 upgrade.

1 – the base finishings and materials do a good job faking it

2 – the infotainment system is all-new too, replacing the disaster that Subaru’s system once was

3 – good rear seat room, see next paragraph

4 – really into that cell phone pocket

The backseat will easily house to two large humans, and the fabric is cozy.

There’s no heat ducts back there though, maybe the only negative I found on this car.

The engine is a CVT, which like any good Canadian auto journalist I despise.

But Subaru does a better job than most, see: first CVT engine I ever liked.)

Has a great launch, steering is quick, and although the handling is slightly soft it’s supposed to be, it’s a sedan not a sports something #s

(see the steering in action in the photo I used for my column, Solving Crimes using Car Clues)

Subaru seems to get forgotten, but this Legacy is going to start changing that.

Read my detailed review on Autonet.

Turn your Car into a Library

Jan 29 2015

The internet is arriving in our dashes this year, and a Canadian! company is the one (and only) to use it to stream audiobooks into our cabins. We speak with Sanjay Singhal, CEO of AudioBooks.com.

The streaming service will debut in Jaguar Land Rover, arriving this April 2015, with other manufacturers lined up behind them.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

The New York Times top 100 list is available, and includes The Hunger Games trilogy, 50 Shades of EyeRoll, American Sniper, and Gone Girl.

’50 Shades of EyeRoll‘… come ON that I got that printed.

Tagging this post: a Keri Owned Phrase (23)

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Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

This is Luxury Blogging

Jan 28 2015

I’m being chauffeured in the back of a 2015 Jaguar XJL AWD.

A 5.0L Supercharged V8 outputting 470 hp and 424 lb-ft.
0-100 km/h in 5.2 seconds
Starting at $105,990

Look how happy I am.

I love this doubling down:
getting work done, while getting where I need to go.

And getting there in complete luxury, like, this Jag is as good as it gets. There’s even a “Rear Executive Package” that makes the seats massage, and recline. Recline!

Eyes up front chauffeur, you don’t engage unless I do first #Chauffeur101

Now once more around the park and then home, James.

A Top 5 Favourite Car – VW Golf & GTI

Jan 27 2015

Volkswagen’s Golf and GTI, their signature hatchback.

I’ve loved it for years, almost bought a GTI back in 2011; like, deposit-down-papers-signed almost.

Non-car nerds: a Golf and GTI are very similar, the GTI is the faster sportier version of the Golf, and has a red accent stripe across the grille.

Both handle amazing and literally are the cliche – amazingly fun to drive.

It’s all-new this 2015 model year. This 7th generation Golf is lower, longer and wider.

2015 VW Golf
A 1.8 TSI turbo outputting 170 hp and 184 lb-ft.
Starting at $18,995

2015 VW GTI
A 2.0L turbo outputting 210 hp and 258 lb-ft.
Starting at $27,995

The interior is so me – minimal and ergonomic. And no touch controls, proper buttons and knobs only.

This will probably be the only time I ever recommend choosing a non-plain fabric, because the Clark Plaid is that sharp.

And doubles as camouflague.

All the features you’d expect – Bluetooth, add heated seats or cruise control, a new infotainment system and more, but VW is ahead of the game with its self-cleaning lens on the backup camera.