New year, new steers! Such a pleasure getting to preview both the 2023 Honda Civic 4D Touring and also the 2023 Honda Passport Touring, both amazing in their own respective ways. But what was unique about one of the Test Drives is that it led me to experience the world-class care that Honda Roadside Assistance offers. More about our unforgettable experiences…

2023 HONDA CIVIC 4D TOURING

This incredibly versatile topseller once again proves its value, deliver sleek style and performance. A pleasure driving it in Platinum White Pearl. Powered by a 1.5-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, this Sedan has 180 @ 6000 rpm horsepower. Running on Regular fuel, its ECON mode and Idle Stop help you get the most for your money, delivering an economical A-game. Its fuel economy tallies-in at 7.6/6.1/6.9 (city/highway/combined). There aren’t many other cars out there than can top that!

We’re loving Honda‘s Dual-Zone Climate Controls here, which give Driver and Passengers the ability to customize, because I know I prefer it a little cooler, while often my passengers prefer it warmer. Heated seating is available for those in the front and the back and the car sits five comfortably despite being compact. This is how Honda continues to win over new fans even when they’re not the Driver!

The Touring edition provides an elevated entertainment experience coming with a BOSE^® Premium Sound System with 12 speakers including subwoofer and a 9″ colour touchscreen to navigate. Connecting wirelessly and with wires are options to stay charged, and you also get a wireless charging plate as well.

We were bombarded with a lot of snow during our Test Drive so safety features like 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System, Brake Assist, Forward Collision Warning system, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Departure Warning system, Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, A Road Departure Mitigation system, plus Auto High-Beam gave us added stability and security through it all.

In the event of an accident, you also are protected with Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, Airbag system (front), Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system, side airbags, Rear side airbags, Knee airbags and more. Honda’s concern for its Drivers and Passengers are unparalleled.

Though the car comes with a Maintenance Minder system, it wasn’t able to detect its tire blowing after being impacted by a pothole and we encounted the misfortune of losing our tire. But even admist a snowstorm, Honda Roadside Assistance not only was fast (took 30 minutes only to arrive), they were attentive, checked-in regularly to keep me updated on our Towing Service’s arrival and we were out of harm’s way. This isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity and we can’t recommend it enough. If we were able to be taken care of this swiftly and efficiently, don’t you think you deserve the same level of care?

With the 2023 Honda Civic 4D Touring riding low by design, something like a pothole does present a greater risk, hence this is something to be mindful of.

In all, this test drive still enabled us to create some great memories still. And in this highlight reel, we also recount how awesome Honda Roadside Assistance truly is.

The 2023 Honda Civic 4D Touring starts at $35,261. More here.

2023 HONDA PASSPORT TOURING

We’ll be honest. The Honda Passport quickly has shot to the top in our books after preferring smaller-sized offerings from Honda for years. We have such fond memories of test driving last year’s model, that we were pumped to preview the 2023 Honda Passport Touring in Platinum White Pearl. With its distinctive honeycomb grille and 20″ aluminum-alloy wheels, the Passport has a style all its own, doing it bigger and better.

Operating with a 3.5-litre, 24-valve, Direct Injection, SOHC, i-VTEC V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2023 Honda Passport Touring is pure power. This mid-size SUV is for all seasons, perfect for Summer roadtrips, but also chaotic snow which we know so well in Toronto.

We adore the ECON mode option which continues to help us save on fuel, and Honda always is looking out for us on the fuel economy front. This SUV‘s fuel economy rating is 12.5/9.8/11.3 (L/100 km) City/Hwy/Combined. Yes, you’ll consume a signficant quantity more fuel with an SUV, but having the confidence and security of navigating unpredictable terrains in Toronto weather is invaluable and I saw that this past week.

Though we had many a destination – it seemed like an endless sequences of celebrations – to go to during our Test Drive, we were perfectly happy just chilling under the moonroof. Its 550-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media Audio playback capability and 10 speakers including subwoofer are supreme, allowing us to enjoy SiriusXM and our Spotify playlists. Cozy, comfortable leather-trimmed seating were a pleasure and its Driver’s seat comes with 10-way power adjustment including power lumbar support. We were always comfortable, and we appreciate the ambience that large moonroof adds to our daily drives.

You get what you pay for with the 2023 Honda Passport Touring and it’s packed full of intuitive features like a Multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines making parallel parking and reversing so easy. I’ll never forget my friend trying to tell me I was parked crooked and when she opened the door, she saw right away that it wasn’t me – it was the car beside me parked crooked. In all, parking well is a cinch in the Passport Touring! Memory-linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down also are super helpful.

Dual Zone Climate Control is so powerful here – maybe even too powerful at times, making it the warmest 19°C I’ve ever felt in my life, so adjust accordingly to your preferences. Driver and Passengers get seat warmers and seat coolers, and there are several charging ports and a wireless charging plate in the front.

Safety continues to be a major selling-point for the Honda family of vehicles. The Passport Touring comes with Blind Spot Information system, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system, Forward Collision Warning system, Lane Departure Warning system, Road Departure Mitigation system, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, Advanced front airbag system, Auto high beam and more. You also get a front wiper De-Icer and also rear-window wipers too!

A reel of highlights from our Test Drive in the 2023 Honda Passport Touring:

Just another stellar experience in this phenomenal ride. The 2023 Honda Passport Touring starts at $55,873.50. More here.

A little sunshine to kick-off your week! If you haven’t checked-out THE OFFICE EXPERIENCE Toronto at Yorkdale, you must!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The Honda Accord remains a personal favourite so for our Birthday Celebrations this year, we could think of no better companion in our travels and adventures! The 2022 Accord Hybrid Touring is near-perfection.

Powered by its 2.0-litre, 16-valve, Atkinson cycle DOHC, i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine and a combined total horse power of 212 @ 6200 rpm. We never cease to be amazed how silent the engine is upon its push-button start and that beautiful hum is nothing short of hypnotic!

We’re all about Fuel Economy always, and the 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring tallies-in at 5.0/5.0/5.0 L/100 km (City/Hwy/Combined), continuing to place Honda heads and shoulders above the competition for value. I drove it, I saw it for myself. Three days of driving around and we barely saw the fuel meter drop.

Many of the amazing driver-conscious sensibilities continue in this latest rendition of our favourite. Proximity Entry for one is something we can’t live without and it continues to be a stress reliever. Intuition and detail are also given to the Passenger and we can’t say how much the Accord Hybrid Touring‘s Dual-zone automatic climate control with air-filtration system means to our guests. We all have different levels of comfort. I for one on these chilly autumn days will be using that seat warmer but know for a fact I live for that seat cooler in the Summer. The Accord Hybrid Touring has both!

It also comes with 19″ aluminum-alloy wheels and a tire repair kit! The Adaptive Damper System is something of a newer feature and for those who aren’t familiar, it can adjust suspension stiffness changes in a split second, to both smooth the ride and sharpen handling according to driving conditions. Exterior details are subtle and sophisticated, like a chrome grille, upper shutter grille, rain-sensing wipers, folding door mirrors (for those tight parking spots downtown especially), LED headlights, foglights, brake lights and tail lights.

And we love ourselves a gorgeous one-touch moonroof. Another bonus point for the 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring!

A huge part of our driving experience is the audio component. Our entertainment on those drives is such an integral part of our daily drives. The car comes with a 452-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability, plus 10 speakers including subwoofer. It’s got all the options: SiriusXM™, Wireless Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™ and Bluetooth Streaming Audio for all our playlists and podcasts. And it’s so easy to stay charged and connected with a wireless charging plate near the Driver’s seat, plus many outlets for our guests.

The Honda Accord Hybrid Touring does sit a little low, which is where its Driver’s seat with 12-way power adjustment including 4-way power lumbar support and position memory help give us not only a comfortable drive, but also that perfect vantage point when driving.

Safety will always be a deal-breaker for us. Once again, Honda is giving us their i-SRS airbag system (front), side curtain airbags, front knee airbags and SmartVent™ side airbags. The vehicle also boasts Honda‘s exclusive Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. This body design uses a network of front frame structures to absorb and deflect the energy from a frontal collision. 

Don’t forget its Lane Keeping Assist System, Blind Spot Information (BSI) system and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system too! Its Multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines ensures we park well and reverse safely. And we can’t stress how reassuring it is that the Honda Accord Hybrid Touring is guarded with a Walk-away door lock to eliminate those doubts. Theft is very much on our minds of late and this gets rid of one more worry. The childproof locks when you dont have a kid, however can be a bit much when you just want proximity entry when you left something in the back seat.

The 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring starts at $44,090 CAN. More here.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane. So appreciate the 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring being there to celebrate with us!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

So it’s noticably bigger than the CRV, but not quite as sizey as a Pilot. But nonetheless, we loved test driving the 2022 Honda Passport Touring. This stunner of a mid-size SUV oozes style and utility and we will never forget the memories we made in it. And we were ecstatic we got to drive one in Honda‘s signature Sonic Gray Pearl, the most beautiful colour of all-time!

This has been a bit of a rough Summer. Between what’s felt like work, work and more work, we really haven’t had time to de-compress and have a little fun really! Above this, my parents both fell ill with Covid a few weeks back and that was an ordeal being their Caretaker, and still balancing all the things life was throwing my way. I was not going to let that define my Summer ’22. Now that they’re both better, I felt it was time we went on a little adventure to help forget some of the tougher times we went through. The 2022 Honda Passport Touring was totally there for us and we will never forget our time in it.

The 2022 Honda Passport Touring is perfect for trips with your families and friends. Long drives require comfort and that the Passport Touring is. Seating five more than comfortably, it is the product of thoughtfulness and innovation that is geared not only to Driver, but also Passenger. We could store several bags and luggage within its roomy 77.7 cu.ft. Cargo Capacity.

The Passport Touring is powered by a 3.5-litre, 24-valve, Direct Injection, SOHC, i-VTEC^® V6 engine, operating at 280 @ 6000 rpm horsepower. As is our worry sometimes with SUVs, Fuel Economy at times is sacrificed for power and convenience, but we were impressed by its 12.5/9.8/11.3 litres/100 km fuel ecnomy. Features like ECON mode, Eco-Assist and Idle Stop also ensure we’re getting the most value for our money. It also runs on Regular fuel.

It’s all about the elevated experience with the Passport Touring. One-touch power moonroof with tilt feature and ambient lighting in its cupholder, footwell and doors are beautiful added touches. And when driving on long road trips, it’s important to have an audio system that matches just how great this SUV is. The Touring edition is a cut above all others with a 550-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media^® Audio playback capability and 10 speakers including subwoofer. You know we love our Spotify playlists and SiriusXM and we can’t drive any other way, navigating from a beautiful Display Audio System. Oh, and the rims were gold! GOLD.

In addition to Dual Climate Control for Driver and Front Passenger, second row Passengers also get seat warmers and coolers, plus their own vents, ensuring everyone’s comfortable. Did we mention there’s four USB charging ports here? Plus a Wireless Charging plate driverside? We love that. This, and also tinted windows in the back for privacy, especially when we have our Princess beanie back there. The Driver gets 10-way power adjustment seating including power lumbar support. We couldn’t have been more comfy!

All this means little if the Vehicle isn’t just as obsessed with our well-being as it is making us look good. Among the key safety features to highlight here are: 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System; Brake Assist; Collision Mitigation Braking System; Forward Collision Warning; Lane Departure Warning; Road Departure Mitigation; SmartVent™ side airbags and Side Curtain Airbags. The Passport Touring is unique in that it features Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering which serves to enhance occupant protection in the event of collision.

While we cannot live without things like Walk-Away Door Lock and Proximity Entry, we worry the moment we walk away from our Car sometimes. The Passport Touring protects you with its Immobilizer theft-deterrent system. And we appreciate that when we leave something on the rear seats, it actually tells us! This is so intuitive and if your car manufacturer isn’t doing all this for you, then we suggest looking this way.

Our one and only wish here was that we would’ve hoped the Hatchback Door could have been activated via remote which was a bit cumbersome, but easily forgivable.

And because we’re super-busy, its Maintenance Minders and Tire Pressure Monitoring System ensure we minimize those “blind spots” that are out of site, out of mind sometimes. And speaking of blind spots, Its Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with dynamic guidelines is a lifesaver especially considering that the Passport Touring a bit wide. This is super-helpful when parking in the City or in underground parking.

All this and Rear-Window Wipers too? The Passport Touring is after our heart and has got it!

In all, we couldn’t have had this Summer adventure complete without the 2022 Honda Passport Touring. The Passport Touring starts at $52,170 CAN. More here.

Just some of the memories we made in the 2022 Honda Passport Touring on our trip to Saratoga Springs, the most charming city in Upstate New York with an old school charm, yet many modern amenities and everything we need! The shopping and dining is outstanding. This City is obsessed with Horse Racing with so much of its economy centered on Saratoga Racetrack which hosts upwards of 100k people in its opening weekend alone. The top Racehorses, Jockeys and Owners all migrate to Saratoga every Summer for the meet and it is literally a dream for any fan. It’s always been a hope to bring my Mom and Dad here at least once in their lifetime and I’m so thrilled they got to witness the magic! Unforgettable memories.

And to cap it all off, we always attend the Queen’s Plate, which is North America’s most historic Horse Race and so wonderful that it takes place right here in Toronto at Woodbine Racetrack!

…and an appearance on America’s Best Racing Live where we talk about the Queen’s Plate and our Saratoga visit.

Somehow we always have time for a star-sighting! So amazing meeting this star of HBO‘s Game of Thrones Prequel, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON.

And quality time with the Princess.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It’s little wonder why the Honda Civic continues to be Canada’s bestselling car and has been for 24 straight years! Its value, style and impeccable safety standards put it heads and shoulders above the rest. Honda‘s laser-focus philosophy of offering modern, sleek and human-centered vehicles have kept them at the top of their game.

We had the joy of driving a real fan favourite in the 2022 Honda Civic 4D Touring, in a stunning Sonic Grey Pearl. Seeing it for the first time literally elicited a squeal from me as I got ready to embark on some Canada Day adventures. I’ve been waiting for what seems like forever to be paired with a car this colour. I’m obsessed. And others are too! While ordering Chicken Biryani, a gentleman walked by professing his love of the grey! It takes a special car to elicit a reaction like that from a stranger.

I did encounter a serious family matter over the weekend and am so grateful for this amazing ride being there for me and my family. More below. We couldn’t have done it without the Civic 4D Touring!

Let’s talk technical stuff first. The 2022 Honda Civic 4D Touring is powered by a 1.5-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, at 180 @ 6000 horsepower. We get in times where fuel prices are just astronomical, Honda has its focus set on consciousness – ecological and economical. This Civic runs on Regular fuel, with Eco-Assist and Honda‘s game-changing ECON MODE, with Idle Stop included. Its Fuel Economy tallies-in at 7.6/6.1/6.9 litres/100 km. While Honda can’t do much about gas prices, they do ensure you get the best bang for your buck.

Now let’s talk elegance and sophistication. This Civic is elevated with a luxurious variety of colour options:

• Rallye Red
• Aegean Blue Metallic
• Crystal Black Pearl
• Lunar Silver Metallic
• Meteorite Gray Metallic
• Morning Mist Metallic
• Platinum White Pearl
• Sonic Gray Pearl

While most other editions of the Civic come with a 6-way Driver’s Seat Power Adjustment, the 4D Touring comes with 8-way power adjustment. Front and back passengers also get heated seating, because we love and care about the people we drive around.

We’re super-picky about the Audio experience when driving and we get the best here. The 4D Touring comes with a BOSE® Premium Sound System with 12 speakers including Subwoofer. We were able to enjoy sound at its best in AM/FM/Sirius XM and our Spotify playlists on our phone. Connecting the Bluetooth was a breeze, as was keeping our phone charged with Wireless Charging!

One enhancement we’ve seen in recent models from Honda, this one included, is a 9″ colour touchscreen (versus 7″ on other models) and also a 10.2″ colour TFT full digital driver meter display (versus 7″ on others). We love the clean new Honda font and size of display. This is even better when reversing and parking where we depend on the colour display and now we can see traffic oncoming even clearer.

Other intuitive things we can’t get enough of are the Civic 4D Touring‘s Dual Climate Zone. This is actually a huge dealm which my friend was so fascinated by as she’d never seen that in a car before. In the Summer I prefer being chilly, whereas sometimes my passengers have a different tolerance to A/C. Honda once again proves that it understands not only its customer base, but their customer’s “customers”. Also a huge fan of the visually-pleasing Honeycomb Air Vents in the car.

From a Safety lens, the Civic 4D Touring boasts a stocked cupboard. Traffic Sign Recognition is so super-handy when you’re driving a long stretch (especially on rural roads) and have forgotten the Speed Limit. And when driving at night not all areas are well-lit, which is why we appreciate Auto High-Beam. We love having Proximity Entry when our hands are full, but even better is that it has Walk-away Door Lock for those who get anxiety about whether or not they’ve locked their doors. Its Blind Spot Information (BSI) System, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor System, Traffic Jam Assist, 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) System, Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS^®) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) System serve the sole purpose of saving lives and they continue to do so.

The Civic 4D Touring also has Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. This is a design that uses a network of front frame structures to absorb and deflect the energy from a frontal collision. Let’s not forget all the Airbags as well. It comes wth a Front Airbag System, Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor System, Side Airbags, Rear Side Airbags and even Knee Airbags. Basically all the Airbags. Honda‘s got you.

Not much to critique here other than super-minor things. The Driver’s Seat has small perforations which you have to be super careful about, especially if you’re a coffee drinker like me, as this can be tricky to clean if the liquid seaps through the holes. Another thing, while super-sleek, the Car does sit quite low, so be super-careful when exiting to avoid slips.

The 2022 Honda Civic 4D Touring starts at $31,000 CAN.

Learn more here.

Some Canada Day memories we created in the 2022 Honda Civic 4D Touring. It was there for us in our celebrations, star sightings and even a worrying family emergency.

Scares aside, there was time for celebrations and sightings otherwise this Canada Day weekend, thanks to the 2022 Honda Civic 4D Touring. We met a Top Gun star, a Grammy winner and a member of Bob Marley dynasty! And even had a lot of quality time with beanie.

A major highlight of our Summer is the Queen’s Plate, North America’s most historic Horse Race and party! The season is gearing-up for the big day August 21, 2022 and we got a clearer reading of Tea Leaves this past weekend as well.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

April and May have been absolutely bonkers. Not sure if yours was the same? The Pandemic brought us a bit of downtime, but since this province’s reopening, it’s been literally everything all at once these past couple months in catch-ups. With multiple Red Carpet events back-to-back like the Juno Awards and the David Foster Foundation A Night on Broadway Gala, plus Premieres for Box Office smashes like Top Gun: Maverick and Downton Abbey: A New Era this past bit, plus family gatherings and a wedding even, we’re delighted to be in the thick of all the action again. But more so look forward to a slower pace in June!

We couldn’t have made it through Victoria Day weekend and all our commitments without the help of the gorgeous 2022 HONDA CR-V BLACK EDITION. While we’ve driven many CR-Vs in the past, none match the sophistication and style of the Black Edition with its perforated black leather seats, black woodgrain interior trim, and black-painted 19″ wheels which set it apart from the others.

Let’s get superficial for a moment, because looks matter and the SUV does not disappoint. Once glance it its Ambient Lighting front door handles and rear-tinted windows, you’ll see this is all in the details and the Black Edition possesses a sleek sense of mystery, and we’re all about it. We love also that its Panoramic Moonroof, can be adjusted to allow more or less light in, which can be crucial in these hot Summer months ahead.

This CR-V is powered with a 1.5 litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 179 -lb.ft. of torque. While acceleration can be a click behind to start, once you’re rolling, its sheer power is undeniable.

Gas prices are on all our minds of late with Ontario seeing $2 litres of gas for the first time in history. You’ll be relieved to know that the CR-V is economy-minded at a Fuel Economy of 8.7/7.4/8.1 L/100 KM (City/Hwy/Combined). Above this, the SUV benefits from having an ECON Mode and Idle Stop features.

Honda is known for its Driver and Passenger Intuitiveness and nails the mark yet again here. The Driver’s Seat goes 12-ways with power adjustment with added Lumbar Support here, and the Driver’s Position can be saved and set via Seat Position Memory. Front and Passener Seats come with warmers, as does the Leather Steering Wheel. We love that Climate Control once again here is customizable and sync-able for Driver and Passenger, really showing that Honda gets individual needs of Driver and Passenger. This, and also the many, many charging ports on the front and back sides, plus Wireless Charging plate. We love Proximity Entry and Remote Starter options, the latter which makes this a car for all the seasons we experience here in Ontario. How many cold mornings have you wished you could have had that car warmed and ready for you?

We cannot stress how important the Audio and Entertainment experience is on our drives. The CR-V Black Edition comes with a 331-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 9 speakers including subwoofer. This is an unparalleled sound experience and no matter whether we’re listening to SiriusXM™, or connecting to Spotify on our phone via Bluetooth, we’re hearing our Music exactly the way the Artist intended – full, crisp and full of detail.

Safety is always first and foremost with Honda and they round-up the troops again here to ensure you are as safe as can be with the 2022 Honda CR-V Black Edition. We appreciate always having an extra pair of eyes and that Multi-angle Rearview Camera with dynamic guidelines makes reversing and parking so simple. Smart features like Auto High-Beam, Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers (and Rear-Windshield Wipers too!) are things we appreciate. We know how bad our weather can get – case in point – a destructive thunder shower Southwestern Ontario witnessed. Every added bit of visibility matters.

The CR-V benefits on the daily from features like its Blindpsot Information, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system, Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS®), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with Traction Control, ensuring you’re alert and driving well even when you are just doing your best to make it through these exhausting times.

If you’ve ever had a flat tire (and we have a few times!), you’d know how important it is to have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System* (TPMS). The CR-V comes with this.

In addition to Collision Warnings, the SUV comes with a plethora of airbag protection: i-SRS airbag system (front), Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system and SmartVent™ side airbags. These are the features that continue to save lives on the daily.

…and did we mention the incredible storage space here?

The 2022 HONDA CR-V BLACK EDITION starts at $45,370 CAN. More here.

Some highlights from our week. Some incredible taste-filled adventures, celebrations and sightings!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It’s been a minute since we’ve driven a Hybrid, but what better way to do Easter Weekend than with the 2022 HONDA ACCORD HYBRID? It’s in times like this when gas prices have skyrocketed that we really appreciate having a car that one, is so conscious of the environment, and two is mindful of your wallet. Possessing that gorgeous elegance and style that the Accord has come to be known for, there is everything to love about the Accord Hybrid!

The 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid is powered by a Lithium Ion Battery and 2.0-litre, 16-valve, Atkinson cycle DOHC, i-VTEC^® 4-cylinder engine and the car drives as beautifully as it looks. Turning on the ignition with its push-button, you hear an ethereal hum which one of my friends describes as sounding “like a spaceship”. Yes, this car is out of this world! And the engine is so silent that you wonder at times if this thing is even on! Don’t ask me how Honda did it, but they did!

Operating at 212 @ 6200 combined (gasoline + electric) horsepower, the car is pure strength. Running on just Regular fuel with a Fuel Economy of 5.0/5.0/5.0 City/Hwy/Combined, we were relieved that our drives from the burbs to the city and the country and back, were pleasingly affordable. While we can’t control fuel prices, the Accord ensures we get the most out of our dollar. This is a car we would stick with for the long haul. The Accord can do no wrong.

The Audio Entertainment piece is always important in our daily drives. Its 452-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media^® Audio playback capability and 10 speakers including subwoofer provide an elevated audio experience, and of course it is Sirius XM-ready. The only one small thing we could nitpick about is that with various phones synced to this car prior via Bluetooth, the system didn’t have the intuition to know to sync first to my phone, the most recently-added. The Car does benefit from several USB ports front and back and of course, a wireless charging plate in the front – though we wish it were tilted a bit more towards the Driver for easier glancing at our phone’s Google Maps, which is our preferred way of navigation.

The comfort level here is mastered to an art. We’d be pressed to think of any other car that seats as comfortable as the Accord. The Driver’s Seat comes with 12-way power adjustment (Front Passenger gets 4-way), including 4-way power lumbar support. Seats come with warming and cooling buttons, and air-filtrated Climate Control is customizable for Driver and Front Passenger. Back Passengers also get Rear-Ventilation Ducts. We also love how smart it is to tell you that you’ve left something in the back seat just as you’re about to leave the car!

Safety features are unparalleled with the Accord Hybrid. Active Safety features include: Collision Mitigation Braking System™, 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Forward Collision Warning system, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Lane Departure Warning system and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system.

There also is a feature called Driver Attention Monitor, which uses an angle sensor to measure the degree of steering-wheel corrections by the driver to maintain a proper lane position. If it senses too much correction activity, it will notify the driver to take a break. This could save lives, or in the least encourage you to get that much-needed coffee, and we can never use enough reminders for that!

Passive Safety features include Traffic Sign Recognition which ensures you know the speed limit where you are driving (helpful in more rural roads). This an a list of different airbags: i-SRS airbag system (front), Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system, Front knee airbags and SmartVent™ side airbags. For those of us with kids, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) have been added, in addition to Child Safety Locks.

Above this, that almost-mandatory Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with dynamic guidelines makes us a pro at parking, especially downtown in those Green P lots!

The 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid is everything and it starts at $37,370 CAN. Learn more here.

A look back at our star-studded, award-winning Easter Weekend, thanks to the 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid. So happy to be out again!

Also, did you catch new Showtime Series THE FIRST LADY starring Viola Davis and Michelle Pfeiffer? We spotted star O-T Fagbenle in town as well. He stars in the new Series as President Obama! Series streams now on Crave!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Spring is springing, and were we ever glad to get a chance to test drive the 2022 HONDA CIVIC TOURING, celebrating this warmer weather!Okay, let’s not get too carried away. When we say warmer weather, we’re just glad to be above 0°c!  We’re just glad to be able to start attending in-person events and see friends once again, which the Civic Touring took us to and from safely.

We previewed this bestseller in a gorgeous classic Platinum White Pearl and our drives in a Civic have never been smoother and calmer.

With a super-quiet 1.5-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder, 180 horsepower engine, the 2022 Honda Civic Touring is everything we need for our everyday driving. Its ECON mode and conscious Eco-Assist System continue to make Honda the deal-breaker when stacked against the competition. And with a great combined Fuel Economy of 7.1 L/100 km, who doesn’t appreciate some more value, seeing how fuel prices have skyrocketed in recent months?

Its BOSE Premium Sound System with 12 speakers including subwoofer provides for superb acoustics in our drives, and navigating with its 9″ colour touchscreen (including clean, crisp new Honda font!) is a breeze. Syncing to our Spotify playlists was so simple via Bluetooth Audio. Though we noticed a few skips here and there, overall this was no issue. The Civic Touring‘s wireless charging continues to spoil us and our passengers really appreciated the abundance of charging ports throughout the car.  

The 2022 Honda Civic Touring is packed with little luxuries.  Driver, front and back passengers get heated seating and the leather-trimmed seating looks great.  For added convenience, a panel folds-out as an armrest and drink-holders. Dual-zone Climate Control is perfect because while we like a cool drive, our passengers (including Mom) like it warmer. It’s the attention the details in the passenger experience – not only the Driver experience – that makes Honda standout from the pack!  

We also appreciate the car’s Proximity Entry and Assisted Opening Trunk was a bit of a lifesaver when hauling bags of groceries on our errand runs. Aesthetically, the car has several little flourishes including a honeycomb mesh dashboard and updated air vent knobs which also look amazing. We live for the moonroof, especially now that our days are a bit longer and there is more daylight!

The Civic Touring continues to pack-in the safety features including Rain-Sensing Wipers, Rear-View Camera with guided parking, Low-Speed Braking Control, plus Body-colour Front and Rear Parking Sensors. Above this, the standard safety features we’ve come to adore from Honda are back once again, like Forward Collision Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation System, Vehicle Stability Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition (to keep you within speed limits), plus Front and Side and Side Curtain Airbags. Drive reassured.

Re-live some of the amazing memories we made in the 2022 Honda Civic Touring in our Test Drive:

The 2022 Honda Civic Touring starts at $30,265 CAN.  Learn more here. 

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

What an honour it was getting to Test Drive the 2022 Honda Passport Touring over the Holidays. This gorgeous SUV combines an aggressive cutting-edge style with utility. The Holidays were about taking these challenging circumstances we’re all facing right now across Ontario and making the most of them, attending a few events and seeing friends and family. And of course, stocking on essentials as the province enters Stage Two restrictions. We appreciate the Passport being there for us ensuring we got everywhere safely.

The super-powerful Passport is powered by a 3.5-litre, 24-valve, Direct Injection, SOHC, i-VTEC® V6 engine, operating at 280 @ 6000 horsepower. Our vehicle came in a gorgeous Obsidian Blue Pearl with black leather-trimmed seats. We were impressed by the Driver’s Seat’s 10-way adjustable seat with lumbar support. Driver and front passengers also get an adjustable armrest and get this, all seats front and back have seat warmers and a climate control vents! The Passport is a real people pleaser, seating five very comfortably, understanding the intrinsic needs of both Driver and Passenger. And did we mention the spacious trunkspace? This came in handy as we loaded gifts, essentials and groceries as we stocked-up seeing how we plan to stay in a lot over the next bit in a effort to curb these rising case counts.

The SUV comes with a 550-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 10 speakers including subwoofer. We are big on having Sirius XM™ Hits 1 blaring in our drives or just our Holiday Spotify Playlists from our phone so we appreciated the fantastic sound. The system is navigated via a Display Audio System and syncing to our phone was a breeze with Bluetooth Streaming Audio. It also is Apple CarPlay®/ Android Auto™-ready. You also can tether Wi-Fi, read and respond to text messages via the display.

We recognize that staying charged and connected is important and the Passport comes with a total five charging options including a Wireless Charging Plate. We did have some issues with our phone sliding during our drives though, going on and off the charge. Instead, we opted to plug our phone into one of the USB outlets which charged a lot more efficiently.

The Passport also is loaded with subtle features which improve the driver experience. Things like Ambient Lighting, Maintenance Minder, Tire Pressure Monitor (with Tire Fill Assist too!), Proximity Entry, Active Noise Cancellation, Acoustic Windshields, Rain-Sensing Wipers and just having Rear-Windshield Wipers are things we definitely notice when a car doesn’t come with them. The Passport has all of these.

While this is a rugged SUV, don’t be misled. It nails all the marks in style too. We love its 20″ aluminum-alloy wheels, front and rear splash guards and let’s take a moment to appreciate that beautiful one-touch Moonroof. The Passport is just as obsessed with performance, utility and power as it is looks, and we’re here for it.

Safety during the Holidays always is a concern as we continue to experience of the most erratic winters yet. One week it feels like Spring, one week it’s unmistakably the dead of winter. The SUV‘s rear-view camera is a dream backing-out of parking spots downtown or at the mall, and while it often gets splashed with slush in these conditions, it is important to give it a good wipe so that you reverse with a clear line of site.

We did have to visit the country over the Holidays and might not have made it through as smoothly if it weren’t for the Passport‘s Hill Start Assist which was a lifesaver and sometimes when there’s so much snow, its 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System, Forward Collision Warnings and Lane/Road Departure Warnings are an undisputable asset. The Passport is armed with SmartVent™ side airbags and Side Curtain Airbags with rollover sensor system in the event they are ever needed. These are the things that both save our lives and the lives of loved ones.

We’re just going to talk about some of our smaller personal challenges with the Passport, though there weren’t many. The Passport runs on Regular gas, has a Fuel Economy of 12.5/9.8/11.3 litres/100 km, hence if you are used to the outstanding value that Honda‘s Sedans give you, this takes a bit of getting used to. We recall on average having to put in about $30-$40 of gas a day in our Holiday travels, whereas for a Honda Civic, that same amount of money could last you a few days of driving. This can add-up quickly but if you favour power and performance, and aren’t concerned as much with more frequent visits to the gas station, the Passport is right up your alley.

Another thing is that I live in a Condo with underground parking. The Passport is rather wide at 2279/2115.8 mm width, including mirrors unfolded/folded and we had a few close calls with the pillars in the parking lot, though the Passport‘s intuitive sensors and alerts ensured we stayed out of damage’s way. Having an automatic folding side mirrors would definitely eliminate some of the worry.

The 2022 Honda Passport Touring starts at $52,170 and you can learn more about it here.

Let’s revisit our Holidays, courtesy of the 2022 Honda Passport Touring!

Wishing you all an amazing New Year ahead! We can’t wait to make new memories in 2022. Thank you, Honda Canada!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

We are so delighted to get to be among the first to try the wonderful 2022 HONDA CIVIC TOURING. While there aren’t too many dramatic changes to this already winning formula, it’s all about the finishing touches that lift this massively-popular choice for Canadians!

Armed with a 1.5L/180-hp/177-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4 engine, we get lots of power with this four-door Sedan. We love fuel economy, especially with gas prices having soared and finally dropping a small bit for a bit of a breather for our wallets. Happy we were able to do a few long distance road trips over the weekend getting ready for the Holidays ahead, on just a tank of gas. The Civic Touring like prior models comes with ECON mode and EcoAssist too. And though it’s taken a bit of getting used to, we do appreciate the environmental and economic benefits of having Idle Stop.

We’re not going to lie, the Civic Touring gave us Honda Accord vibes, taking several aesthetic cues from that, our favourite Honda offering. We got to preview this in Platinum White Pearl, which exuded elegance and class. Small sleek updates in detail really give the Civic Touring that hint of sophistication adding even more value to the experience. For example, we now get these stunning honeycomb air vents (see below) which look superb. There’s also the gorgeous and easy-to-use 9″ Colour Touchscreen (we also notice a new clean font!) is our guide to the car enabling us to navigate the vehicle’s many settings and audio entertainment. We love its BOSE Soundsystem with 12-speakers, including Subwoofer. There are no shortage of charging options for Driver and Passengers, and we are a huge fan of the wireless charging plate and its convenient placement, allowing the driver to glance over safely at their phone when navigating, all while staying charged and connected – especially on long-distance drives! You’d be surprised that some other models we’ve driven in the past had the plate on a slope which made it really difficult to see the phone screen! One feature I just noticed was the HD Radio, which enables the vehicle to receive digital broadcasts from stations on the AM and FM bands, with significantly enhanced audio quality. While we love our Spotify playlists and the Sirius XM capability, we do have to tune-in to good old AM/FM sometimes and we could hear the difference.

Seats come with leather-trimmed surfaces and the Driver gets an 8-way adjustable seat. The car is super-spacious and we love foldable armrest at the back with drink holders for our guests. We cannot live without that amazing moonroof, lighting our drives with ambience. Honda absolutely understands that it’s the little things that make that difference.

We love that the Car has an Assisted Opening Trunk and Proximity Entry for the Driver. We were out doing our early Holiday shopping and appreciated all that space in the trunk! Childproof Locks at the back take a bit of getting used to when passengers are exiting, but we understand these are there for a reason!

One of the most unique things we noticed that was handy amidst this unstable weather is its Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers. But get this, the wiper fluid sprays out of the actual wipers. That was a neat addition to this Civic Touring!

Safety is a priority with Honda. One simple thing we appreciate is the Auto Headlights, giving us one less thing to worry about when driving and exiting the car. Collision Mitigation Braking System, Forward Collison Warning System, Lane Departure Warning System, 4-wheel Anti-locking Brake System, Vehicle Stability Assist and a variety of Front and Side Airbags give us that reassurance that we’re in the best hands this winter. We also enjoy the Traffic Sign Recognition that comes standard with the Civic Touring to keep you informed on speed limits. We love that there is an audio and visual signal when changing lines advising of approaching cars. There absolutely is no harm in getting all the alerts if it means saving lives.

The Rear-View Camera makes parking and reversing very easy and we’ll never struggle with Parallel Parking ever again! Do remember to keep it clean as all that slush on the roads can hinder your much needed vision, and keep in mind that some functionalities (like Low Speed Braking below) do get impacted in the inclement weather.

This was an absolute pleasure and we love that the Civic Touring is stepping-up its game even further! And thanks to the Civic Touring, we’re now Holiday-ready!

The 2022 Honda Civic Touring is priced starting at $30,265 CAN. Learn more about it here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It was a weekend of Birthday celebrations unlike any other and the 2021 Honda Civic 5D Sport Touring was there for us through it all! While navigating a return to semblance of our normal is taking a bit of getting used to after 19 months, we are just relieved our friends and family have remained healthy and sound through this all. That was our only birthday wish this year!

So happy to have a chance to preview this gorgeous and flashy ride in Rallye Red, as our travels these past few days took us to the city and back multiple times, and also out to the country. The Civic 5D Touring‘s versatility is proven time and again leaving little doubt why it remains one of Canada’s top-selling cars!

Powered by a 1.5 litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder 180 horsepower engine, this car drives like a dream. Above this, it comes with the conscious Eco-Assist and ECON mode options designed to help you maintain fuel efficiency. While it goes without saying that gas prices are astronomical right now, you get the most value for your dollar with a Fuel Economy of 7.7/6.3/7.1 litres/100 km (city/highway/combined).

The Civic 5D Sport Touring runs deep in bells and whistles, possessing style and edge. A leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated seats (front and rear), driver’s seat with 8-way power adjustment and a one-touch moonroof are among some of its most distinguished features. Its 18″ aluminum-alloy wheels with black inserts give it that perfect sporty finish. And we cannot rave enough about how spacious its hatchback trunk is! We love the thought that went behind having a second tier there as it came in handy more than once! And we are a huge fan of Proximity Entry after having our hands full shopping.

The car’s 542-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability controlled by an easy-to-use 9″ colour touch display, and BOSE® sound system with 12 speakers including subwoofer, are a perfect companion to our driving. You can connect via several options including Bluetooth to your smartphone and playlists, Sirius XM and we adore the wireless charging plate in plain sight so we can navigate our Google Maps while driving and staying charged. Our only small irritant is our phone having to be reconnected at the start of our drives with a list of other phones being memorized on the car’s list of connected devices. This can be resolved easily by deleting other devices off the list of phones.

True to Honda standard, the Civic 5D Sport Touring is packed with safety features including 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System; 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System; Auto high beam; Brake Assist; Electronic Brake-force Distribution; Collision Mitigation Braking System™; Forward Collision Warning (FCW); Hill Start Assist; Lane Departure Warning; Road Departure Mitigation (RDM); Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control and so much more.

We really appreciate the rear-view camera giving us line of sight day or night (especially with it getting dark rather early in the Fall), and its parking assist really takes the stress out of things like parallel parking.

The car comes armed and ready with a variety of life-saving mechanisms such as an i-SRS airbag system (front); SmartVent™ side airbags; Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure; Childproof rear door locks (which sometimes can be a nuisance but serve their purpose!); Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system; and the HondaLink™ Assist Automatic Emergency Response System.

2021 HONDA CIVIC 5D SPORT TOURING starts at $35,000 CAN.

More here.

Some highlights from our weekend of safe festivities!

So thrilled to hear the 2022 models from Honda are arriving very soon. Cannot wait to preview these new arrivals in their roster!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)