Kia Soul review: The best used small SUV + MORE Apr 29th

Ask MoneySense
My husband and I retired last September. We have moved into a condo and are now travelling. Enjoying life but I’m concerned about his RRIF. My husband turns 71 in June 2025. So, I understand we can contribute to his RRSP for 2025 before he turns 71 and claim the contribution for the 2025 tax year but what happens next?

—Chris

When to convert an RRSP to a RRIF

Congratulations on your retirement, Chris. Glad to hear you and your husband are enjoying this first year so much.

I am guessing you have downsized your home to move to a condo and now have money to contribute more to your registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) as a result. First, we will start with a quick rundown of how RRSP to RRIF conversion works.

Converting an RRSP to a RRIF

A registered retirement income fund (RRIF) is the most common withdrawal option for RRSP savings. By December 31 of the year you turn 71, you need to convert your RRSP to a RRIF or buy an annuity from an insurance company…

There’s simply no people mover on the market today more popular than the Dodge Grand Caravan. With an unbeatable space-for-the-dollar quotient and flexibility unmatched by crossover and SUV models, this car-based minivan delivers appreciable handling and fuel economy in a package that can go from “family mover” to “cargo van” in a matter of seconds—thanks to flexible rear seating arrangements and the Stow n’ Go system.

This hardworking minivan easily handles a variety of family duties and other needs, and it offers more room than most crossovers. Here’s why it’s on my list of the 10 best used cars in Canada.

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Is the Dodge Grand Caravan a good car?

Seems that way, if the sales volumes are any indication. The Dodge Grand Caravan has been around for decades—refined for each generation—and it was the strongest-selling minivan on the market by a considerable margin…

Fun, efficient and practical, the Kia Soul is a worthy addition to my list of the 10 best used cars in Canada.

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Is the Kia Soul a good car?

Yes, it is. The Kia Soul has a good track record, as well as impressive roominess for a car this size. In recent years, Kia has topped expert lists ranking vehicles for dependability. And, for many Canadians, the price is right. 

Model years 2018 and 2019 were built towards the end of the Kia Soul’s second generation, after five or six years in production. The third generation hit the market for model year 2020, but buying a used car from towards the end of an earlier generation is often a safe bet, as many bugs and problems from earlier units have been worked out.

The Soul has been a strong success for Kia, which has sold well over a million units since this car first hit showrooms in 2008…

The Mazda MX-5 is a thrill to drive. It’s light, quick and fuel-efficient—and while you have sportier and higher-performing options for your dollar, few machines are as purebred an athlete (or as easy to live with) as the MX-5, which is exactly why it’s on my list of the best used cars in Canada.

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Is the Mazda MX-5 a good car?

Yes, and it’s worth hunting around for. The supply-chain issues that made it hard to buy certain goods during the pandemic have eased somewhat, but some new-car buyers are still waiting months or even years for their vehicles to arrive. It’s also been harder to buy a used car, as drivers hang on to their existing vehicles longer. 

So, what’s a sports car buyer to do? Shop patiently and leave a lot of lead time. The smiles the MX-5 will leave on your face are worth the wait for a good one, like the GS-P trim, which is aimed squarely at enthusiasts with features like a sportier-tuned suspension and a limited slip differential…

Looking for a great used SUV (sport utility vehicle)? The GMC Yukon is a compelling option, and it’s our pick for the large SUV category in our list of the 10 best used cars in Canada.

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The Yukon is huge, it’s capable and it’s built for big families with big plans and big things to tow along the way. Remember, the guts of the GMC Yukon are largely sourced from the GMC Sierra pickup truck, one of the bestselling, most proven and most mass-produced utility vehicles on the road.If you plan to take long trips with a trailer in tow, a family on board and four-wheel drive at the ready for off-road journeys, this SUV should be on your radar. You can also check out the Chevrolet Tahoe which is the Yukon’s corporate sibling. With room for up to eight people (along with cargo, shopping and canines), a second-hand Yukon or Tahoe might just be the ultimate adventure vehicle…