FINDING BEST AT TESTFEST A FUN QUEST
Event lets writers learn about latest in auto tech,
The highlight on the calendar for automotive journalists is the annual gathering for concentrated car testing.
The event is called Testfest, and this year’s edition was held last month at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, previously known as Mosport, about 90 kilometres east of Toronto.
This year there were 55 journalists from across Canada, and I was the only journalist from Saskatchewan. Manufacturers provide 77 vehicles to be tested and evaluated.
Vehicles are scored on a one-to-10 scale in 19 categories.
Some of these categories are pretty clear-cut, including visibility, throttle response, driver position and safety features.
Other categories are more subjective, such as styling, braking feel and value. This scoring system is used on vehicles that are provided to journalists throughout the year. Testfest means that a number of vehicles can be tested in a short time frame.
The scores are submitted and the overall results are tabulated and audited by the international accounting firm KPMG.
Here are brief thoughts about the newest technologies and styles of some of the 19 vehicles I drove at Testfest:
Ford Escape: This popular compact SUV — Ford’s second-best-selling product, behind only the F-150 pickup — has been redesigned, and it looks more upscale. The interior has been completely redone, and the dashboard now is much more efficient and luxurious.
Hyundai Palisade: This new three-row SUV is luxurious and spacious. The best feature is the Blind Spot View Monitor system that uses cameras to project a wide-angle view of adjacent lanes on the dashboard. When the signal indicator is moved, the centre of the gauge display shows either the left or right lanes behind you. With a clearer and wider-angle view than outside mirrors can provide, this feature improves safety in traffic.
Infiniti QX50: Two screens are better than one. It has a navigation screen on the top of the centre of the dashboard, and right below there’s another screen for the media and heating controls. Unlike many competitors, there’s no need to switch off the map if you want to adjust the heating or cooling, or change the radio station.
Jaguar I-pace: Last year’s AJAC Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, some see this all-electric vehicle as a competitor to Tesla — especially with the price of $113,040. It has dramatic and innovative styling inside and out. It’s the fastest vehicle I drove at Testfest, and on a full charge the I-pace has a range of about 370 kilometres.
Kia Stinger: Last year’s
AJAC Canadian Car of the Year, the Stinger is a premium large car that’s very sporty and fast. The seats are extremely comfortable, although I found the interior a bit on the small side.
Volvo XC40 T5 R-design: This has an absolutely gorgeous interior. The driver position is outstanding.
It’s quiet, roomy and the ride is extremely smooth and comfortable, although the navigation screen is not quite as intuitive as what’s available from some competitors.
The finalists in the 12 categories will be announced Dec. 16.
Then on Jan. 16, category winners will be announced during press preview day at the Montreal International Auto Show.
The overall winners of Canadian Car of the Year and Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year will be announced on Feb. 13, at the opening ceremonies for the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.
On March 25, the Canadian Green Car of the Year and Canadian Green Utility Vehicle of the Year will be announced during the press preview for the Vancouver International Auto Show.
Each award will be presented to the vehicles with the highest scores based on votes by AJAC member journalists during test drives throughout 2019, including the concentrated testing at Testfest.
“We’re delighted to be able to highlight the respected opinions of our members to Canada’s largest cities, on both sides of the country and in both official languages, culminating in announcing our overall winners at the Canadian International Auto Show, the largest auto show in the country,” said AJAC president Stephanie Wallcraft.
Every consumer is looking for something different when it comes to shopping for a vehicle.
For example, it might be cargo capacity, throttle response, safety features or off-road capability.
The evaluations of vehicles by AJAC members means consumers can find out what people who specialize in automotive journalism think of what’s on the market.
Auto manufacturers use their AJAC winners in advertising, and for local dealerships an AJAC winner is a talking point when salespeople interact with customers.