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 […]
The BMW iX3 Neue Klasse Sets a New Benchmark for Performance EVs
The sun-drenched coastline of Spain provided the perfect backdrop for what BMW is calling “the beginning of a new era”, the unveiling and first drives of their highly anticipated iX3 Neue Klasse electric vehicle. Against ocean waves and dramatic sunsets, and with the opening introduction by Dr. Mike Reichelt (Head of Neue Klasse), the German […]
A-Game: 2025 Audi A6 Avant e-tron S-Line quattro Review
With a reputation to protect when it comes to wagons, is Audi’s first ever electric Avant a winner?
Land Rover Defender MY26 review – Subtle Refinement Meets Unstoppable Capability
Five years into its modern incarnation, the Land Rover Defender (or just Defender) has become something of an automotive phenomenon in New Zealand, sales are up 53% year-to-date, which tells you everything you need to know about how Kiwis have embraced this reborn icon. So when Land Rover invited us to the Tahorakuri Forest (Taupo) […]
Ford Ranger Super Duty First Drive Review
Built Ford Tough Gets Even Tougher When Ford slaps a “Super Duty” badge on anything, you know they mean business and it’s a promise that’s been forged over decades. The Super Duty lineage traces back to 1958 with heavy-duty engines, but the iconic truck line we know today launched in 1998 as a distinct series […]
Xtra Value X3? – BMW X3 20 xDrive M Sport Review
The BMW X3 has demonstrated significant advancements within the mid-sized premium SUV segment over recent years. It has evolved into one of the segment’s most well-rounded options, excelling in drivability, technological integration, and ergonomic design. Having experienced the fourth generation X3 30e xDrive PHEV variant just recently, and having come rather impressed all around, it […]
Ticks a Lot of Boxes – Dongfeng Box Review
If you’ve never heard of Dongfeng before, you’re not alone. The name doesn’t (yet) have the brand cachet of Toyota or Tesla in this part of the world, but in China it’s one of the “Big Four” carmakers and has been building cars since 1969. Now they’ve decided they want their own slice of the […]
Less is more – MG HS Hybrid+ Review
MG’s HS range has been on something of an evolution sprint lately, with each model showcasing another step forward in the brand’s rapid-fire development cycle. After spending a week in the HS Super Hybrid (the plug-in version), I slid straight into the HS Hybrid+ and the experience was a curious blend of déjà vu and […]
All‑New BMW iX3 Neue Klasse NZ-Exclusive first-drive Review
When it was unveiled in Munich, BMW said the iX3 Neue Klasse was the start of a new era, but now after a few days behind the wheel on sun‑baked Spanish tarmac, I can honestly confirm that it feels like they’ve quietly skipped an era altogether. It’s BMW ripping up its own playbook and starting […]
Time Flies – MG HS Super Hybrid Review
Plug-in hybrids occupy an odd middle ground these days. Execution can vary wildly depending on how well the combustion and electric sides have been integrated, and even self-proclaimed PHEV know-it-alls like yours truly can sometimes be left searching for the “best of both worlds” they promise. And with the last iteration of “EV hesitancy” we’ve […]