In this section, you’ll find ways to learn more about the vehicles that interest you. We’ve organized this process into three steps.
Talk to family and friends: their experiences, good or bad, can help.
Have a look at magazines that specialize in cars or consumer needs (e.g., Consumer Reports, Protégez-Vous).
Read up on car guides written by authors who are well versed in the Quebec automobile market.
L’Annuel de l’automobile
L’Annuel de l’auto d’occasion
Le Guide de l’auto
Check car sales websites to get an idea of prices.
Guides, websites and advertisements will give you a good idea of the value of any given model. In the case of a used car, however, many criteria can have an influence on this value, from the odometer reading to the mechanical and body condition.
To get to know certain cars better, make your way through our road tests. Our experts keep an eye out for new models, and test dozens of them very year. Chances are the ones you’re interested in have been test-driven by us!
As a CAA-Quebec member, you have free unlimited access to our Mobility Advisory Services. Consult them at any point during your new car search, for objective advice. Our experts can provide answers to all of your questions plus a wealth of advice like the market value of a used car—practical information to know whether one you’ve got your eye on is priced right.
The automotive world offers plenty of specialized information sources to establish used car prices. In Canada, the most popular are the following:
The Red Book is used by dealers, but especially by banks, to get an idea of the value of a car.
This book is used by dealers who take trade-ins. You can use the organization’s website to estimate the trade-in value or future value of any models sold in Canada.
The Guide Hebdo (in French) helps dealers set a price on used cars. The Quebec government also uses it when collecting sales tax (QST) on used vehicle sales.
You’ve done your preliminary research, so you have a few models in mind. Compare them, using the criteria below, to find your ideal car. There are lots of criteria: fuel economy, handling, reliability, safety, what kind of tires it uses, the options, warranties offered, etc.
Run through these criteria with us to rule out the models that aren’t right for you… and zero in the best choice.
Several factors influence vehicles’ fuel consumption and the amount of emissions they put out. To find out if a car is a gas-guzzler or a fuel-sipper, consult Natural Resources Canada’s annual Fuel Consumption Guide. It provides ratings for each model depending on engine size and transmission type.
Like one car in particular? Check what kind of fuel the manufacturer recommends. If it needs “Super”, it’s something to think about: that “detail” could cost you hundreds of dollars every year.
Thinking about fuel consumption means more than just saving money: the chemical reactions involved in engine combustion release 2.3kg of CO2 per litre of fuel into the atmosphere. When you drive, you have an effect on the environment… and its future.
Based on the articles or test-drive reports that you’ve read, which of the models you’re interested in handles best?
By handling, we mean acceleration, braking, steering, ride quality, road hugging ability, road noise—even off-road handling (if you’re buying a vehicle designed for that).
You can test-drive a car yourself to assess most of these aspects, but specialist test-drive reports already provide plenty of information up front. For example, a Jeep Wrangler is known for being noisy and uncomfortable, but off-road, it is king. If an in-town car is what you want, though, it’s best to look elsewhere.
Reliability and durability—it comes to the same thing, right? Not exactly.
Some brands are known for their reliability over the short term, exhibiting no mechanical problems. Give them a few years, though, and they’re done for….
Others are durable, sometimes invincible—but because their reliability varies, a stricter maintenance regimen may be required.
This kind of difference should have an influence on your choice. Do you want to keep your next car as long as you can?
Certain high-end models (often European) will cost more to maintain. Their main components are rarely at fault, but electronic and mechanical problems can be an issue: parts can be hard to find, and so can repair shops able to install them.
Talk to specialists about the vehicles you’re interested in (you don’t have to look far: CAA-Quebec’s Automotive Advisory Services are there for you). A trusted mechanic is another good choice: they know the pros and cons of various models, and can certainly tell you a few things about a car you’re thinking of buying.
The level of safety can vary quite a bit from one car to another! All vehicles sold in this country, though, must conform to Transport Canada standards.
Automobile safety depends, among other things, on how much visibility is offered. There are also a wide range of safety devices that may or may not be found on certain models. Let’s have a look at some of them here:
ESC, or Electronic Stability Control, greatly reduces the risk of losing control of your car. It goes to work as soon as a skid starts, whether it results from a slippery road surface or driver error. Highly recommended, ESC has been standard equipment on all vehicle models since September 2011.
Check how many airbags are available in the cars on your short list. Some vehicles can have up to 10, covering every area of the passenger cabin.
These devices have proven themselves. During an accident, the forward airbags stop the driver’s head from hitting the steering wheel and keep the passenger from being thrown into the dashboard or windshield. As for side-impact curtains, they prevent damage to the head from a lateral impact—into glass, pillars or, worse, another car.
Double play
Combined use of seatbelts and airbags has been shown to lower the risk of severe head injury by 75%, and of chest injury by 66%. Those numbers speak volumes: these types of impact are the leading cause of death or life-changing injury in auto collisions.
You want your car to protect you as much as possible during an accident. But here again, models differ.
Most car and truck models are put through a series of tests both before and after they go on the market. The goal of these tests is to evaluate the vehicle’s safety in the case of side, front and rear impact. For sport utility vehicles (SUVs), there is also a ranking of the safest vehicles in case of a rollover.
The U.S. government’s NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) releases information about these crash tests. The NHTSA uses a “star” rating system, up to a maximum of 5. You’re likely to come away from an accident with fewer injuries if you are driving or riding in a vehicle with a 4- or 5-star rating as compared to one with a lower rating.
The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), also based in the U.S., performs similar tests, often with more stringent criteria than the NHTSA. For example, their small overlap frontal crash test is very demanding on a car’s frame. Each test is rated on a four-level scale, from “poor” to “good”.
To find out the safest models, see test results on the NHTSA and IIHS websites.
Tires are another reason you might choose one car over another. Why? Because of the high cost of tires for certain models.
Some cars come equipped with specialized tires, which are more expensive than standard tires:
Run flat tires, for example, allow you to continue driving with a pressure loss or a flat.
OEM (original equipment manufacturer) products are also more expensive option.
Size matters, as well! Tire dimensions tell you the diameter of the tire, the width of the tread and the height of the sidewall.
Most “base-trim” (entry-level) cars are equipped with 16-inch tires, with 17- or 18-inch tires available as options. But on some popular models like the Ford Edge or the Toyota Venza, among others, 20-inch tires “come standard.” Consider these kinds of details when comparing vehicles—the price of replacement tires can double from one model to another!
Before setting your sights on a specific car, check the annual insurance rates: some cars cost more to insure than others.
Several factors can affect your premium:
distance driven per year;
whether you buy a new or used car;
performance level (e.g., sports car vs. sedan), etc.
What if a model isn’t just on your wish list, but on car thieves’ as well? Some insurance companies may require you to install a sophisticated anti-theft device, which sometimes carries a monthly subscription fee.
There are several kinds of warranties: standard manufacturer’s warranty, dealer warranty, etc. If a model that you’re interested in is previously owned, check to see whether one (or more) of these warranties1 is still in effect.
For example, new or used cars can be covered by an original manufacturer’s warranty. This kind of protection includes parts and labour.
To find out if a used car is covered, check with customer service at a dealership that sells the same make (you’ll need to have the vehicle’s serial number handy): they can tell you which year the car entered service. Using that date, you can easily calculate whether the original manufacturer’s warranty still applies.
All manufacturer warranties are 100% transferable between owners. Whether you buy your car from an individual or a dealer, if it is still under warranty, you are still protected.
Generally, major brands offer a 3-year/60,000km “bumper to bumper” warranty—but many warranties run longer.
More specific coverage options (against rust, for example) vary greatly from one make to another, and can last up to 12 years. The details can get confusing. Luckily, CAA-Quebec publishes a yearly study to help consumers make sense of manufacturer warranties.
Of your two or three top picks, which vehicle offers the best in terms of comfort and standard equipment? This is another important comparison to make, whether you are buying (or leasing) a new or used car.
First off, expect the following standard equipment and accessories found on most models:
Base audio system;
Cup holders;
Keyless entry system;
Multi-way adjustable seats, etc.
Optional equipment, meanwhile, includes:
Automatic climate control;
Backup camera;
Satellite navigation;
Leather seats, etc.
With a used car, of course, you have no choice as to options, but if you buy a new one, you have much more freedom to add optional equipment. The dealer will offer you all kinds of bells and whistles—which is great—but do you really need them?
If you only need a few options, choosing them “a la carte” may be the most economical solution. But most manufacturers also offer groups of options: to get a touchscreen audio system with USB ports on a given model, you may have to take a sunroof… In short, evaluate what you’re offered against your actual needs.
Is a vehicle’s colour important? Of course it is… so take a minute to think about it.
In recent years, the most popular colours in North America have been white, silver and black. Red and various shades of blue are also common.
You may want something a little flashier. But keep in mind that more offbeat colours like turquoise, lemon yellow or fluorescent green are very likely to hinder resale value, especially a few years down the road.
Many criteria come into play when choosing one car over another. Some things are more important to you—and to your wallet—than others. After your “investigation” of the vehicles on your short list, which one stands out?