RAVolution – 2026 Toyota RAV4 GXL HEV review NZ
The all-new sixth-generation RAV4 GXL HEV looks tougher, gets a big step up inside, and it’s still very much a RAV4, but beware, Toyota has put a 201kW PHEV in the same showroom. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is an idiom that applies to plenty of things in life (my favourite coffee order, […]
No Limit(ed)? – Toyota RAV4 Limited HEV AWD review NZ
The sixth-generation RAV4 Limited HEV is the most sensible and most ‘RAV4’ of the new RAV4s, but at $65,990 two cheaper or similarly priced plug-in RAV4s make the choice harder. Say the word “Limited” to anyone of a certain vintage and there’s a fair chance they’ll sing 2 Unlimited’s 1993 Eurodance anthem straight back at […]
GWM 3L Turbo Diesel Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha – First Drive Review
When GWM announced its “drive to top five” strategy for New Zealand & Aus, the company identified a critical gap in its lineup, genuine diesel performance in the competitive 4×4 and ute segments. And with diesel accounting for 97% of ute sales in New Zealand and 89% across the broader market, ignoring this segment obviously wasn’t […]
Leap year – Leapmotor B03X Design review
Leapmotor’s cheerful, clever little B03X proves you don’t need to be a hot hatch in SUV clothing to be genuinely useful – even if its chatty safety systems will test your patience along the way. A leap year is a calendar year that contains 366 days instead of the usual 365, adding an extra day […]
Audi A6 Avant Review – Avant in both name and Game
Audi’s A6 Avant proves the humble wagon still has plenty to say for itself, wrapped in one of the best paint jobs I’ve seen all year. Avant is French for “before” or “ahead”, and it’s also the word Audi has used for decades to badge its wagons. This always struck me as a rather clever […]
Leap of Faith – 2026 Leapmotor B05 Review
Leapmotor’s first proper swing at the Kiwi hatchback market pairs a genuinely engaging RWD chassis and class-leading range with a touchscreen-happy interior that occasionally beeps at you into submission. They say every great journey begins with a single leap, and when it comes to backing a car brand most Kiwis have never heard of with […]
Nicely Niche – All-electric Toyota Hilux SR BEV review
Toyota’s first electric Hilux swaps diesel clatter for near-silent torque, but real-world range means it’s currently a very niche ute. For as long as I can remember, the ute wars in New Zealand have been a bit of a duopoly, with the Toyota Hilux and a certain blue oval product duking it out for supremacy. […]
Kia PV5 Review – The EV Van That Makes Diesel Look Old-School
Kia’s first proper foray into the commercial vehicle market is an all-electric van built on a dedicated platform, and while the idea of an electric commercial vehicle isn’t exactly revolutionary anymore, the PV5 brings something different to the party. It’s modern, clever, exceptionally practical and, perhaps most importantly for a commercial vehicle, designed around the […]
Forthing Taikon Super Hybrid Exclusive Review
There’s no denying that the New Zealand automotive landscape has changed dramatically. Chinese manufacturers have gone from automotive outsiders to serious contenders, bringing increasingly sophisticated vehicles to our shores and forcing established brands to rethink what they charge for their badges. One of the latest arrivals is Forthing, part of the enormous Dongfeng automotive group. […]
Zeekr 7GT First Drive Review – A 500kW Grand Tourer
The Zeekr 7GT is making its way to New Zealand. And as a bit of a ‘sneak peek’ we spent a day pushing this 500kW machine on customised exercises and around the challenging corners of Highlands Motorsport Park. What we discovered was the Zeekr 7GT somehow manages to balance genuine performance credentials with the refined […]