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, […]
More or Less? 2026 MG S6 EV RWD & AWD Review
MG continues to progress its EV offering with the new S6 but is there too little to separate the RWD from the AWD range topper?
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 […]
Chasing the Horizon – Suzuki Jimny Horizon Review
The five-door Jimny keeps every ounce of the three-door’s off-road charm and cult following, but on the road it’s still, unapologetically, a tractor with a grin. Another Jimny review, you might be asking? Fair call. The little Suzuki tends to be a big conversation starter, and despite this generation being around for quite a while, […]
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 […]
More Wilderness, Less Compromise – Subaru Outback Wilderness Review
Subaru’s answer to a spicier Outback trades some polish for personality, and mostly gets away with it. There’s a particular kind of car owner in my life who, when asked what they drive, answers with something like “oh, just the Outback”, as if apologising for owning one of the most sensible vehicles a Kiwi household […]
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. […]