Pukka Trucka – 2021 Mazda BT-50 review
In British terminology, to be ‘Pukka’ is to be great, top draw, excellent even, however, as we found out, in the truck or specifically the Ute market, it just means it’s a Mazda. The long awaited 3rd generation BT-50 has arrived and Mazda NZ let us try it out. The BT-50 first hit the market […]
Mild and wild – 2021 Skoda Octavia review
Several weeks ago we attended the NZ launch of the new 4th Generation Skoda Octavia where we were told that it was bigger, faster and simply ‘clevererer’ than ever – well now thanks to Skoda NZ, we got to test that out. The Shhhkoda brand (said in a Connery accent) has come a long way […]
3 Kings of Leon – SEAT & CUPRA Leon first drive
The fourth generation Leon has arrived in New Zealand and it’s better than ever, with stunning new designs, advanced technology and both ‘clean car’ economical or ‘heart-racing’ ferocious powertrains. There are three models on offer and we got to test them all. Named after the Spanish city of Leon (which incidentally also means lion), the […]
All-new Hyundai Tucson first drive
To celebrate the launch of the all-new 4th generation Tucson, Hyundai New Zealand had created a special ‘design’ themed event that began at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth. Not only would there be a tonne of driving ahead of us but we’d also be taking in a bit of Kiwi artistry […]
A corker of an EV – Mazda MX-30 review
Car maker Mazda has come a long way since it first started out producing corks in 1920 (Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd). Over the years it’s created machine tools, rickshaws and three-wheelers, bubble-sized cars, sports cars, SUVs, rotary engines, fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines, even petrol engines that act like diesel engines! Well now, with […]
Sports and Recreation – 2021 Audi SQ5 Sportback review
For many people, sports and recreation go hand in hand. Consider things like gyms, fun runs and social team sports, activities that combine fitness, pleasure and a release from the norm, and to me, that feeling is encapsulated in the new Audi SQ5 Sportback. For (as we found out in our NZ review), not only […]
Jazz-e – 2021 Honda Jazz Luxe e:HEV review
The Jazz nameplate has been in Honda’s range of great vehicles since 2001, however, recently we attended the NZ launch of the next or 4th Generation of this popular model in its NZ spiritual home in Nelson. I drove the three new variants at the launch, the Life (the regular Jazz), the Crosstar (a Jazz/SUV […]
All Class – 2021 Mercedes Benz S-Class review
First launched in the 1950’s and then actually named in the 70’s, the S-Class has just launched its 7th Generation and Mercedes Benz NZ let us check out the S 450 4MATIC model. The undisputed apex of the brand in terms of luxury and innovation, the S-Class exemplifies all that is great in automotive refinement, […]
The ultra-low emission 7-seat SUV – Kia Sorento PHEV Review
Just when you thought the 2021 Sorento SUV couldn’t get any better, Kia have gone and made a PHEV model that runs up to 57km in EV only mode and emits CO2 at just 36g/km – we of course jumped at the chance of a review when Kia New Zealand offered. Often, when you think […]
2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce Carbon review
At first glance (or even second for that matter) you’d say that the 2021 model of the handsome and very Italian Giulia Veloce has barely been altered, however my friends, the latest model’s tech has been brought up to speed and if you’ve got a few extra bucks it can come sprinkled with Carbon Fibre. […]