Turbo transformer – MG ZS Essence 1.5L Turbo review
A dash of turbo transforms MG’s compact SUV into a confident urban cruiser It was only late last year that the second-generation MG ZS landed in New Zealand, impressing us with its sleek design, enhanced tech offering, and sharper dynamics. Now, MG has added a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine to the range, promising more punch and […]
Subtle Compromise – BYD Sealion 6 Essential Review
BYD’s recent rise has been quiet and efficient, both literally and figuratively. With each new model, the brand shows an uncanny ability to learn fast, adapt even faster, and undercut the market with surprisingly competent alternatives. The Sealion 6, launched to carve out space in the increasingly crowded plug-in hybrid SUV segment, is already available […]
ID.Buzz First Drive – A New Electric Icon with an Old Soul
In 1946, Dutch importer Ben Pon sketched a simple idea in his notebook, a commercial vehicle based on the Beetle. Four years later, the VW Type 2 was born, launching as both the passenger Kombi and the hard-working Transporter. The Kombi went on to become a global icon of freedom and counterculture, while the Transporter […]
2025 Hyundai Tucson Series II N Line Hybrid Review
Style, Substance, and Efficiency Combined The Hyundai Tucson has been a quiet achiever in the medium SUV market, but the 2025 Series II update, particularly in our N Line Hybrid review guise, elevates it into serious contender territory. With a sharper design, major interior tech upgrades, and a frugal-yet-punchy hybrid powertrain. From the outside, the […]
Ford Ranger Hybrid – First Drive
Electrifying the Ranger Ute Without Shocking the Purists The automotive world, bless its CO2-belching heart, has an emissions problem. The current darling solution? Electrification. But whisper “EV” in the hallowed halls of the ute segment, and you’ll likely hear a chorus of “but can it even see a dirt road without whimpering?” Ford, it seems, […]
2025 Tesla Model Y first drive NZ
Tesla’s Model Y has always been a lightning rod in the EV world—praised for its innovation, critiqued for its quirks, and endlessly debated among enthusiasts and critics alike. Now, in its latest update, the Model Y proves that evolution can be just as exciting as revolution. With subtle yet meaningful changes across design, comfort, tech, […]
Wild, Weird, and Wonderful – Lexus LBX Morizo RR Review
It’s not every day that a car comes along and completely flips your expectations of a brand on its head. But the Lexus LBX Morizo RR does exactly that, and does it unapologetically. This is a car that almost didn’t exist, one that had to be fought for, engineered under cover of passion, and championed […]
Small footprint BIG range – Kia EV3 Long Range Review NZ
The Kia EV3 marks the brand’s smallest SUV footprint yet delivers an outsized electric range and a compelling package for those seeking practicality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in the growing EV market. Stylistically, the EV3 is clearly modeled after its larger sibling, the EV9, echoing its bolder, boxy stance but in a more compact form. The […]
Zip, Zap, Zoom and ‘Zand’ – Mahindra XUV 3XO first drive
A Small SUV with big intentions In a segment bursting with options, Mahindra’s new XUV 3XO arrives as a bold and well-equipped contender. A facelifted evolution of the XUV300, the 3XO pairs a familiar subcompact silhouette with premium appointments, up-to-date tech, and practical performance—all underpinned by extensive local testing across New Zealand’s varied terrain. A […]
Wowser – 2026 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance Review
Hybrid Family SUV Meets Tyre-Frying Performance You don’t often hear the words “family-friendly” and “high-performance hybrid SUV” in the same breath—but Mercedes-AMG clearly didn’t get that memo. With the new GLC 63 S E Performance, they’ve managed to cram blistering performance into a sophisticated, spacious plug-in hybrid that can handle the school run just as […]