- 2023 Subaru Outback arrives with new Onyx trim and tech
- Prices for the 25th Anniversary Toyota Sienna minivan start at $53,860
- Honda prices the 2023 CR-V starting at $34,790
- Getting to know the upcoming CX-90 via the E.U.-only 2023 Mazda CX-60
- Northern Ontario school bus drivers claim pay is “grossly unfair”
Those who design the popular vehicles of today must consider more than just the driver’s experience. Because while many vehicles are still used to shuttle one or two adults into work day after day, they’re also called upon to transport the rest of the family, along with all of their belongings, to and from the plethora of after-school and weekend activities that make up modern life.
Here are the biggest and most recent family-vehicle stories, debuts, and reviews from the past month.
2023 Subaru Outback arrives with new Onyx trim and tech
2023 Subaru Outback Onyx Photo by Brian Harper
Subaru didn’t exactly rewrite the recipe for the Outback with the 2023 model-year refresh, but it did add some details that true Outback fans should appreciate. Engines are the exact same, for example, but there is an entirely new trim level, Onyx ($38,695), which builds on the Touring trim with blacked-out exterior finishes and badges, 18-inch gunmetal alloy wheels, a rear bumper step-pad, heated rear outboard seats, and an exclusive grey two-tone interior.
All six of the other trims, save the Wilderness, will also appear slightly different than the outgoing thanks to new front fasciae with a bolder grille, redesigned lights, wheel arch cladding, and a more “rugged” bumper cover. The crossover’s safety smarts increase, too, as the 2023 Outback comes with an updated and more intuitive EyeSight driver assist now with a wider field of view, adjusted control software, and a new electric brake booster. In the top-level Premier XT trim, there’s also a third wide-angle mono camera to increase field of view and assist the dual-cam EyeSight system in spotting walkers and bikers, plus some other added “smart” goodies and chrome accents. Get the full breakdown at the First Look link above.
Prices for the 25th Anniversary Toyota Sienna minivan start at $53,860
2023 Toyota Sienna 25th Anniversary Special Edition Photo by Toyota
Toyota is celebrating 25 years of having its Sienna minivan on the roads. How? With another minivan, naturally. The 2023 Sienna will be available with a FWD or AWD setup, and has an opening price of $41,650, while the 2023 25th Anniversary Special Edition will start at $53,860. Two model years after the newest-gen 2021 model was revealed, Toyota has added some trim details and options, including offerings in seven- or eight-passenger configurations, or as mobility vans.
Regardless of trim or model, power comes from a 2.5L four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system, all good for a combined 245 horses and a city/highway combined consumption rating of 6.5 L/100 km in FWD and 6.7 L/100 km in AWD. All trims also come stock with adaptive cruise control, emergency front braking, lane-keep assist, USB charging, power liftgate, heated front seats and steering wheel, and a nine-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Shoppers requiring FWD can shop trims between the $41,650 and $52,450 mark, while those looking for AWD will need $43,490 to $59,670 depending on trim.
Honda prices the 2023 CR-V starting at $34,790
2023 Honda CR-V Photo by Graeme Fletcher
The 2023 Honda CR-V is currently available for pre-sale at brand dealerships in Canada for a starting price of $34,790, just over $3,000 more than the 2022’s entry-level option. For the extra spend, buyers unlock the redesigned model year’s added space and performance, including, for the first time ever, the option for a hybrid powertrain in the top-level Touring trim, which opens at $48,890, plus a $1,950 destination charge. Using a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine that produces 204 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque for all wheels, the Touring Hybrid fuel consumption numbers hit 6.4 L/100 km, 6.0 city, and 6.9 highway.
In the LX, Sport, and EX-L trims that fall below the Touring, there’s Honda’s 1.5L turbo paired with a CVT for 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque. Two-wheel-drive versions of the LX start at $34,700, while its AWD version demands $37,540—both get a new seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Another $3,000 or so unlocks the Sport ($41,490) with black exterior accents, 18-inch wheels, and interior leather finishes, while $2k on top of that opens the EX-L’s doors ($43,390), revealing leather seats, a nine-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charger.
The first deliveries of the 2023 Honda CR-V are expected to take place this fall.
Getting to know the upcoming CX-90 via the E.U.-only 2023 Mazda CX-60
The international launch of the Mazda CX-60 recently took place at the brand’s European HQ in Dusseldorf, Germany, and though the nameplate won’t be seen on Canadian roadways, we attended the event to get a feel for what will soon come our way: the larger but related CX-90. The E.U.-only model shares a rear-wheel-drive platform, plug-in hybrid system, suspension, and design language with the CX-90 and CX-70, so there was plenty to glean.
Our first drive of the CX-60 highlighted the benefits of the rear-wheel-drive-based platform’s longitudinal engine layout, with a balanced drive through corners and acceleration. It’s not Mazda’s sportiest take ever, but that’s not the point of the vehicles, especially the larger CX-90. Expect to see that North American model available with a pair of powertrains: a plug-in hybrid and a turbocharged inline-six-cylinder. Our European tester included the PHEV, which pairs a 2.5L four with an electric motor and 17.8-kWh battery, good in the CX-60 for a total of 320 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque, plus about 60 km of all-electric motoring. That number should be a bit smaller for the bigger CX-90.
Design-wise, we found the new CX to be more modern and upscale than some of Mazda’s recent products – with smaller vents and grille, and no body cladding – which may be something that will likely be appreciated by the family buyers. Inside, the vehicles welcome some new button layouts and an electronic gear lever that might take some getting used to. All this and the rest of the CX-60’s First Drive review should be taken with a grain of salt when in comparison with the CX-90. Because while it’ll likely be similar, it’ll surely have its differences.
Northern Ontario school bus drivers claim pay is “grossly unfair”
(File photo)
Parts of Ontario are having a difficult time holding on to school bus drivers, and the professionals behind the wheel say the reason is simple: they’re not getting paid enough. In the Nipissing Parry Sound area, it’s not uncommon to have multiple drivers of its 406 total routes cancel during one day, leaving parents to check official websites in the mornings to see if their children will have a way to school or not.
It’s tough to blame the drivers, either, as the pay for some routes is pretty paltry. “Although I’m enjoying it, there’s a reason there is a shortage,” says Marc Taillefer, who recently quit his job as a teacher and has taken up a post from behind the wheel of the iconic yellow buses. “To my surprise it’s a way more difficult job than I ever imagined. And the pay is slightly above minimum wage. Which quite frankly is a crime in my opinion.”
Taillefer says he continues to drive to fight “boredom” in his retirement and to ensure his three boys and many former students are actually able to go to school, saying he “had two students from Massey last year who missed many days because of not having a bus.”
Keyword: Family Vehicle Roundup: 2023 Subaru Outback, prices for new CR-V, Sienna