Boldly uplifted – 2024 Audi SQ7 review

The Audi SQ7 has long been a standout in the full-size luxury SUV segment, and the latest iteration ups the ante with an attractive blend of power, elegance, and cutting-edge technology. With its recent refresh, Audi has not only refined the SQ7’s aesthetics but has also enhanced its versatility and functionality, making it an excellent […]
An Unexpected Shift – BMW G310 GS Review

What is this weird looking thing on Tarmac’s home page that doesn’t have four wheels, you might ask? Your eyes don’t deceive you, we have indeed started covering motorcycles as well! And just in case this seems out of the blue, here’s a bit of context: I’ve been riding motorcycles since I was 18 years […]
Unsung Hero: 2024 Lotus Emira i4 Turbo Review

Lotus’ sportscar gets a new powertrain but is it flawed or fantastic?
Working the way up – New MG HS Review

Alongside the hobbies I usually talk about (incessantly) here at TarmacLife, I have yet another one: gaming. And when playing a game that captivates me, I am something the community calls “a completionist”. I won’t put the game down until I’ve explored every single dungeon of an RPG, or bought every last car of a […]
Growth Spurt – MG3 Essence Hybrid+Review

Looking back, the first MG3 was something of an anomaly in the marketplace. Sure, it wasn’t quite as polished around the edges as some of its contemporaries, but it had one major element in its favour, the price. For a long time, it was New Zealand’s most affordable new car and with a hefty warranty […]
Family-size thrills – Audi RS4 Competition Plus review

As numbers in the Audi world begin to blur between the electric and internal combustion era, (odds-ICE/evens-EV) the Audi RS4 Competition Plus rolls in as a fitting farewell tribute to a beloved icon. It’s not just another family wagon; it’s a track-ready performance machine that manages to blend practicality with exhilarating speed. In other words, […]
Swiftly Going Fourth – 2024 Suzuki Swift RSC Hybrid Review

One simply can’t imagine the small car game without the Suzuki Swift. Such has been the appeal, it has held a firm foothold among its competitors over here for almost a generation and just about anyone out there could think of someone, from a family member to a work colleague, who owns one. The Swift […]
The power of the people(‘s car) – Golf R Line MK8.5 Review

The Golf is one of the definitive hatchbacks in the industry, so whenever a new one hits the roads, everyone pays attention. Volkswagen has recently unveiled the facelifted version of the eight generation of the Golf, or MK8.5 in VW nerd talk (which I’m fluent in), and given the MK8 was appreciated for some things […]
Safari-so goody – Ford Everest’s African Adventure

“For over a century, Ford has been cruising alongside South Africa on its thrilling journey, and we couldn’t be prouder to host the Ford Everest African Experience here in the heart of the wild,” was the opening gambit from Neale Hill, President – Ford Motor Company: Africa. He continued, “with landscapes as diverse as a […]
Slippery when wet – Omoda C5 GT review

Having already reviewed the Omoda C5 and its EV sibling the E5, you’d have thought that was it, but thankfully for us, the C5 has a more powerful GT model (2 in fact) and we couldn’t wait to give it a thrash – sorry, I mean test it out. To recap, Omoda as a vehicle […]