Eco Luxo Lex – Lexus RX350h Limited Review
Last year was a big year for Lexus, with the combined New Zealand dealer network selling a record 1309 units, vastly eclipsing the previous 2022 record of 1,023 cars. Lexus say 2024 is likely to be another great year for the brand. With the incoming introduction of Road User Chargers for BEVs and PHEV vehicles, […]
Spark of Electric Lex – Lexus RZ450e Dynamic Review
The Lexus RZ was a bit of a milestone when it was unveiled last year. The first all-electric offering from a brand which has always been obsessed with “the pursuit of perfection” I attended the nationwide launch of the RZ family last year and spent a week with the base RZ450e Core before Christmas and, […]
Tour De Force – McLaren GT Review
The “Super Grand Tourer” in a traditional sense usually conforms to the following criteria. A hefty front mounted power unit tucked away under a vast bonnet, a 2+2 or full four seating layout, lots of leather and premium materials and to top it all off, a rather capacious boot capable of swallowing a sizeable amount […]
Deep Space 9 – LDV MIFA 9 Review
The questions were always the same. “What is that?” or “Where does that come from?” were the usual go-to for casual observers. I responded by saying this was the MIFA 9, the latest all-electric luxo people mover from LDV. Maybe it was the colour, but people kept gawping. It could be the fact the LDV […]
Lexus Electric Avenue – Lexus RZ450e Core Review
Arriving at a party first can be awkward at times. The social festivities don’t often quite get into full swing until a good chunk of the invited guests put in an appearance. Therefore, sometimes it is best to be “fashionably late” as you can assess how the other guests are and then you can swoop […]
Surf’s Up – BYD Dolphin Extended Review
If there is one brand which has made an impact within a short space of time in New Zealand, it has to be BYD. Its first flirtation with our local market was the ATTO 3, a car which gained a firm foothold the flourishing EV sector. The result was BYD couldn’t get them in quick […]
Czech This EV Out – 2023 Skoda Enyaq iV SUV Sportline Max Review
With the all-new Enyaq iV, Skoda has been welcomed into the ranks in pure electric vehicle production alongside their siblings from Volkswagen and Audi. It’s been a long time coming, even though we got a taster of the BEV potential with the plug-in hybrid versions of the Superb and Octavia. Now its here and looking […]
Feeling Cross – Toyota Corolla Cross Limited AWD Review
For some time, Toyota have been getting very cross with their own range. By “cross” of course I don’t mean seething with anger at their own models, but by adding crossover SUV variants of their already immensely popular superminis and family hatchbacks. You only need look at the likes of the C-HR and recent Yaris […]
Last of the Breed – Mazda RX-7 FD Spirit R Type A Review
Confession time. Up until recently, I never really “got” the obsession some have with a Mazda-built Rotary engine. Sure, the promise of big turbo power from an engine a fraction of the size of something with conventional cylinders has always piqued my interest, but its never really been my favourite sort of internal combustion. This […]
Two Power Tucson – Hyundai Tucson Elite Hybrid 2WD Review
When buying a five-seater SUV these days, potential buyers often ask the same question, “Is it a hybrid?” The desire to go hybrid or go home has never been burning brighter for the masses, which can only be attributed to the rising cost of fuel and that tempting Government Clean Car Discount. Hyundai have responded […]
