Motor Illustrated is a car news website that has been reporting on new cars and the industry since 2011. It is a Canadian site, and it covers the Canadian market in detail, but it also reports on the global car industry, so a reader in the UK or the USA will still find it useful. It publishes car news, reviews, car photos and videos, and it also offers new car buying guidance, so you can read the news, watch the video, and then work out what the car will cost you. If you want a site that covers the car world in depth, and you do not mind a Canadian view, start here.
What it covers
The site covers new car news, reviews, and the business of the car industry. It reports on new models, on price changes, on the car sales struggles, and on the technology that is changing the car, from electric motors to driver assistance. It also publishes car photos and videos, so you can see the car and hear it, as well as read about it. Its reviews cover the most popular new cars, and its news desk reports on the trends that will shape the next car you buy. Action: read the news on the model you like, then read the review, so you know what the car is, and what it will be worth in a year.
How it helps you buy
Motor Illustrated also offers new car buying guidance, and it has a car comparison tool, a car price estimator, and a list of the best new cars to buy. That is useful, because buying a car is a big decision, and a site that tells you what a car is worth, and what it will cost to run, is worth more than a site that only tells you how fast it goes. Action: use the comparison tool to put your top two cars side by side, then check the price estimator to see what the car will cost you, before you visit a dealer.
Who writes it
Motor Illustrated is written by a small team of Canadian journalists, and it is run by the same people who write it. That matters, because a site that is written by people who love cars, and who drive them every day, is a site you can trust. Its writers are not trying to sell you a car, they are trying to tell you what a car is like to live with, and that is what you need to know before you buy. Action: when you read a review, check who wrote it, and how long they had the car, because a review written after a week with a car is worth more than a review written after a day.
Who should read it, and who should look elsewhere
This site is best for a reader who wants car news and reviews in depth, and who is happy with a Canadian view of the car world. It is less useful if you want a site that only covers your own country, because its focus is Canada, and some of its prices and models will be different where you live. If that matters to you, use it with a local site, so you can check the price and the models in your own market. Before you buy, work out what the car will cost you each month with our car payment calculator, so you know whether the car you like fits your budget, and not just your driveway.
How to use it in three steps
Step one, read the news on the car you are considering, so you know what has changed, and what is coming next. Step two, read the review and watch the video, so you know what the car is like to drive, and what it is like to live with. Step three, use the comparison tool and the price estimator to see what the car will cost you, then book a test drive of your top pick only. That order, news, review, then price, keeps you from falling in love with a car you cannot afford.
Frequently asked questions
Is Motor Illustrated only for Canadian readers?
No, it is a Canadian site, but it covers the global car industry, so a reader anywhere will find it useful. Its prices and models are Canadian, so check them against your own market before you buy.
Does it sell cars?
No, it is a news and reviews site. It offers buying guidance and a price estimator, but you buy the car from a dealer. Use it to decide what to buy and what to pay, then take that knowledge to the dealer.
Can I compare two cars on Motor Illustrated?
Yes, it has a car comparison tool that lets you put two cars side by side, and look at their price, their specs and their features. Use it to narrow your shortlist, then test drive the winner.