Utter Joy – 2024 Mazda MX-5 GT Review
It seems like just about every year we get a refreshed Mazda MX-5. This is certainly not a bad thing, as every time this happens, we are reminded just how good the MX-5 and has been since the first edition, the NA, first turned a wheel in 1989. Where do we start? Its mechanical simplicity, […]
Xpression of Power – 2024 MG4 XPOWER Review
Make no mistake, the MG4 is one of the best value EVs out there. So those of us in the specialist motoring press took a keen interest when MG announced the ultimate version of the MG4 would touching down on New Zealand shores. Called the MG4 XPOWER, it’s the most powerful MG4 there is right […]
Limited Edge – 2024 Toyota C-HR Limited Review
It’s nice when one has the oppourtunity to compare different spec levels of the same car. Such was the case with the new Toyota C-HR. Recently it was the GX and then it was time for the Limited to get the same treatment. The C-HR has been a bit of a success story for Toyota […]
The Final Act? – 2024 Lexus LC500 Coupe Review
There are some cars out there which really get under one’s skin. It can be difficult to describe to some extent, but all car buffs out there have a handful of cars they could happily picture being parked in their garage. For me, one such car is the Lexus LC500, one sporting GT which left […]
Edging Forward – 2024 Toyota C-HR GX Review
The Toyota C-HR is a standout in the small SUV segment in more ways than one. What raised eyebrows when the first generation was launched was its somewhat “dramatic for an SUV” styling cues. Its blend of coupe lines and cues which seem to pay homage to Japanese Manga comic books gave the C-HR a […]
Emission Impossible – Fiat 500e Icon Review
It was only matter of time before Fiat gave us an all-electric 500. If any Italian city car/fashion item was to get the zero emission treatment, it was going to be this one. The 500 has always exhibited all the fundamentals which make for an ideal template for an urban electric run around. You only […]
Better Standard? – BYD Dolphin Standard Range Review
It seems like just yesterday that BYD arrived in New Zealand. What started with the ATTO 3 SUV, the all-electric BYD family has swelled to incorporate the Dolphin hatch and the most recent addition, the new Seal sports saloon. The range has built a solid customer base and while I have yet to sample the […]
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, […]
Wagons Roll – Toyota Corolla Wagon GX Hybrid Review
When it comes to a daily driver, I don’t need something that launches from 0 to 100 in a fraction of a second or produces a million kW per tonne etc. However, it must have plenty of space and relatively inexpensive to maintain and run. This is probably why I drive a 2004 Toyota Caldina […]
