All-new Mahindra Scorpio – first drive (in India)
Six or seven seater SUVs have been gracing NZ roads for quite a while now, with their elevated ride height and all-wheel drive features (for some) giving the customer the impression that they are able to go anywhere, and in fairness, many are far more capable than the ‘school run’ duties they are used for. […]
MG4 EV first drive – in Sydney
Heralded as a ‘game changer’ the all-new and all-electric MG4 has just touched down in New Zealand, however, just prior to its release we hopped (pun intended) over the ditch to the home of the NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs to find out all about it. The MG4 is an EV Hatch that’s not only sleek […]
Call Me Rita – GWM Ora Review
Look, out there on the road. Is it a new Mini? Is it a new restomod Beetle? Wait, it’s an Ora? That pretty much sums up my first encounter with the GWM Ora, the newest and probably quirkiest urban EV from what is probably one of the fastest growing brands in New Zealand. GWM, or […]
Be careful what you wish for – The all-electric FIAT 500e review
‘You can’t always get what you want’ is how the song goes, but it would appear that you can if you want a charismatic compact Italian hatch that’s quick off the mark and doesn’t come with any challenging transmission issues – introducing the FIAT 500e, an all-electric Bambina Although the ‘500’ nameplate dates back to […]
Crosstrek Voyager: 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Premium Review
Subaru never attempts to play down its image as a brand with serious talent when venturing off the beaten path. Such is the case with their range, with just about every model in the family able to boldly go where few in their respective segments have gone before, or will go. Look at the XV […]
Astra(eco)nomical – Opel Astra SRi review
After having a bit of an OE break, the ever-popular Astra hatch is now back in NZ, only this time it comes with an Opel ‘blitz’ badge and a cabinet full of awards. It’s bold, it’s pure and Opel says that it’s autobahn-ready too – so best we found out what all the fuss is […]
Less is so much more – Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC review
Call me old-fashioned, but it wasn’t that long ago that a 2L engine produced 70 kW of power and 148 Nm of torque, well not only does the latest 2L C43 Mercedes-AMG boast over four times that power, but with 310 kW and 500 Nm, the output rivals its very own twin-turbo V6 – oh […]
Audi Q5 TFSIe review – plugged in family favourite
Premium car brand Audi have added an extra touch of electrification to their popular family-sized SUV, and revamped its quattro-ness too. We discover just how smart and frugal the latest Q5 TFSIe really is. The Audi Q5 50 TFSI e S-line (with Ultra and black pack) may sound like a bit of a mouthful when […]
Putting the E in yEEhaw – Ford Mustang Mach-E GT review
To many raised eyebrows, Ford’s longest running and much loved nameplate, the Mustang, has been given a family-sized silhouette and an eco-friendly electric heart. But fear not my petrolhead friends, not only is it more powerful and quicker off the line than a V8, but it’s just as ‘tail-waggy’ too. It’s muscle with a capital […]
A Compass pointing to the future – Jeep Compass 4xe
As the owner of an EV with not a lot of range, I constantly find myself dealing with range anxiety and having to jump into another car for longer commutes or trips. But I am also very aware this is not a system that would work for most people, so I genuinely think that the […]