My last drive in the Mini Clubman?
Hailing from England means that there are certain car brands that I have an immediate affinity with, and Mini would have to be up there with one of the ones I have the most with. My Mini story is filled with the joys of youth, freedom and endless sunny summers – sigh. But enough about […]
Merino Wolf: 2023 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura Review
The famous VW truck returns but does its urban trim suit both town and country?
Mazda CX-60 and CX-90 first drive NZ
It’s been a while since premium car brand Mazda has launched a new nameplate, so the invite to an event to test out not one but two new SUVs (one being a new PHEV) ‘was an offer we couldn’t refuse’ (Godfather quote). Seeming to underline their Jinba Ittai philosophy (the unity of horse/car and rider/driver), […]
Italian Stallions – Maserati Grecale Modena and Trofeo review
(Not so) hot on the heels of the Levante which was launched in 2016, comes the all new Maserati Grecale. It’s slightly smaller than the Levante, but it too has been named after a Mediterranean wind (a tradition that dates back to the ‘60s), oozes Italian flair and a huff and puff that’ll blow your […]
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 […]