GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV Review – Luxury Meets Off-Road Prowess
If you’re in the market for a large SUV that blends premium luxury with serious off-road credentials, the GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV might just be the game-changer you’ve been waiting for. As a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) from Great Wall Motors (GWM), this beast promises to tackle New Zealand’s rugged terrains while sipping […]
Dig at the X – Zeekr X Review
The last couple of years marked a stark shift in our automotive landscape, with an onslaught of new brands and vehicles finding their way to our shores. Out of most of them, Zeekr was one I was very eager to try out, with a curiosity driven by their mix of being a new player, but […]
The Badge or Nothing: 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLA250e Review
For those who want a Mercedes-Benz PHEV, the option of a GLA250e exists, but is it a compelling one?
The Essence of MG’s Future? – MG S5 EV Essence Review
MG’s newest fully electric SUV, the MG S5 EV has touched down in New Zealand. This all-new model appears highly promising on paper, particularly since it shares the impressive Modular Scalable platform of the MG4. Let’s have a look at what’s what. MG regard the S5 EV as an “SUV” but from many angles it […]
Leaping from B to C, we test the Leapmotor C10 REEV and B10 BEV back to back
There’s something refreshingly honest about Leapmotor’s approach to electric vehicles. No grandiose promises, no revolutionary claims, just smart, well-executed SUVs that deliver exactly what they promise. We were given the chance to ‘leap’ from the compact B10 and its larger sibling, the C10 REEV, back to back and have come to appreciate how two vehicles […]
Geely Riddara RD6 full review NZ – Ute, electrified
The Geely Riddara RD6 is a ute that’s breaking new ground by combining traditional workhorse credentials with zero-emission performance. Now, having spent more quality time behind the wheel, we can confirm this Chinese manufacturer has delivered something genuinely compelling, albeit with a few caveats worth considering. Exterior Design – Bold and Purposeful The Riddara RD6 […]
Omoda 9 SHS Review – The Frugal yet Fancy, Family SUV
The Omoda 9 arrives with audacious design cues borrowed from ultra-premium marques, a bewilderingly powerful hybrid powertrain, and equipment levels that embarrass established rivals. But does this ambitious newcomer have the substance to match its style, or is it all show and no go? We decided to take it for a football weekend in Taupo. […]
Tarmac Life Xmas Special – Mini 66th. 66 Hours, 6 Cities, 6 British Meals Across NZ
With Xmas looming and Season 1 of our TV Show wrapped up, we decided to do an Xmas special, taking to the road to celebrate Mini’s 66th anniversary. Instead of a simple cake and candles affair, we orchestrated an epic road trip challenge that would take the 3 of us (Dave, Matt and Harry), and […]
Jaecoo J7 SHS Super Hybrid Review – Efficient Adventurer
Chinese manufacturers are making bold moves into territories traditionally dominated by Japanese and European brands, in this case, the Jaecoo J7 SHS Super Hybrid, a name that itself tells a story. Jaecoo, a portmanteau of “Jaeger (hunter)” and “Cool,” is Cherry’s adventure-focused sub-brand, and their J7 represents an intriguing proposition in the increasingly crowded hybrid […]
Practical Powerhouse – 2025 BMW M5 Touring Review
Reflecting on all new BMW models which arrived in our country this year—and that I had the chance to experience locally in 2025—I can confidently say it has been quite an enjoyable year. However, has the best been saved for last in the form of the eagerly awaited and much hyped wagon variant of the […]