GR8 Expectations – Toyota GR86 Review
I can remember when Toyota first lifted the lid on the Toyota 86. We didn’t get it here until around 2012 but boy was there a lot of hype. Here was a sports car made to bring back the fun to Toyota. Not to mention conjure up flashbacks of classic AE86 Levins and Turenos drifting […]
Call Me Rita – GWM Ora Review
Look, out there on the road. Is it a new Mini? Is it a new restomod Beetle? Wait, it’s an Ora? That pretty much sums up my first encounter with the GWM Ora, the newest and probably quirkiest urban EV from what is probably one of the fastest growing brands in New Zealand. GWM, or […]
Crosstrek Voyager: 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Premium Review
Subaru never attempts to play down its image as a brand with serious talent when venturing off the beaten path. Such is the case with their range, with just about every model in the family able to boldly go where few in their respective segments have gone before, or will go. Look at the XV […]
Qash and Carry – 2023 Nissan Qashqai Ti-L ePOWER Review
Its hard to believe the Nissan Qashqai has been with us for almost 20 years. This mainstay of the Nissan SUV lineup has been a firm favourite, but now it ventures into its third generation. There have been significant upgrades both in tech and in powertrain, particularly on the economy front. The new Qashqai is […]
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 […]
King Trident: Maserati MC20 Review
It really has been sometime since Maserati gave us a bespoke supercar. Decades in fact as it happens. While the MC12 hyper car launched in 2005 was a force to be reckoned with both on and off the track, it was essentially a road going racing car. Plus, a rear window was not an option. […]
Ha-Kona Matata: 2022 Hyundai Kona Hybrid Elite Review
The Hyundai Kona has made considerable in-roads into a very competitive market. The introduction of an EV variant has only helped sales, but its hefty price tag has put it out of reach for many. What the Kona needed was a mid-way point for those not able to go fully electric just yet. Hyundai responded […]