Class Act: Kia Carnival Review
If one was to comb one’s memory banks for long enough, chances are you would have been to a Carnival of some description at least once in your life. The idea of a tone of complete strangers all huddled together watching in fairground attractions in riding side saddle on a merry-go-round certainly has its appeal. […]
All-new Hyundai Tucson first drive
To celebrate the launch of the all-new 4th generation Tucson, Hyundai New Zealand had created a special ‘design’ themed event that began at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth. Not only would there be a tonne of driving ahead of us but we’d also be taking in a bit of Kiwi artistry […]
Audi RS e-tron GT – first drive
‘Vorsprung Durch Technik’ has been car maker Audi’s tagline for, well forever (okay 1971). It was first released to emphasise how advanced the NSU Ro 80 was, but as we take our first NZ look (and drive) of the all new Audi e-tron RS GT. Its ‘Progress through Technology’ meaning has arguably never been truer. […]
Jolly On The Road: Haval Jolion Review
If there is one name in the automotive world which is growing rapidly, then it has to be Haval. The Chinese brand has been in our neck of the woods for a few years now, and in that time, have made no bones about their intentions to take a large chunk of New Zealand’s new […]
A corker of an EV – Mazda MX-30 review
Car maker Mazda has come a long way since it first started out producing corks in 1920 (Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd). Over the years it’s created machine tools, rickshaws and three-wheelers, bubble-sized cars, sports cars, SUVs, rotary engines, fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines, even petrol engines that act like diesel engines! Well now, with […]
Sports and Recreation – 2021 Audi SQ5 Sportback review
For many people, sports and recreation go hand in hand. Consider things like gyms, fun runs and social team sports, activities that combine fitness, pleasure and a release from the norm, and to me, that feeling is encapsulated in the new Audi SQ5 Sportback. For (as we found out in our NZ review), not only […]
Jazz-e – 2021 Honda Jazz Luxe e:HEV review
The Jazz nameplate has been in Honda’s range of great vehicles since 2001, however, recently we attended the NZ launch of the next or 4th Generation of this popular model in its NZ spiritual home in Nelson. I drove the three new variants at the launch, the Life (the regular Jazz), the Crosstar (a Jazz/SUV […]
Merc’s baby EV SUV is here – Mercedes-Benz EQA first drive
The NZ launch of Mercedes-EQ EQA 250 was a very sustainable event that began at New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star hotel, The Hotel Britomart. From its hand-made brick exterior and timber-lined rooms to its linen, staff uniforms and sustainably caught seafood-biased ‘Kingi’ restaurant, this 99 room hotel oozes good green karma from every angle. […]
All Class – 2021 Mercedes Benz S-Class review
First launched in the 1950’s and then actually named in the 70’s, the S-Class has just launched its 7th Generation and Mercedes Benz NZ let us check out the S 450 4MATIC model. The undisputed apex of the brand in terms of luxury and innovation, the S-Class exemplifies all that is great in automotive refinement, […]
The ultra-low emission 7-seat SUV – Kia Sorento PHEV Review
Just when you thought the 2021 Sorento SUV couldn’t get any better, Kia have gone and made a PHEV model that runs up to 57km in EV only mode and emits CO2 at just 36g/km – we of course jumped at the chance of a review when Kia New Zealand offered. Often, when you think […]