Say G’day to the new Kia Niro HEV GT line
It has to be said that when it comes to prestigious and desirable fashion houses, Australia ranks a lot lower than its European or Eastern USA counterparts. However, it would appear that when the designers and engineers at Kia looked to create their latest iteration of the Niro, our neighbours across the ditch had plenty […]
Last of the Breed – Mazda RX-7 FD Spirit R Type A Review
Confession time. Up until recently, I never really “got” the obsession some have with a Mazda-built Rotary engine. Sure, the promise of big turbo power from an engine a fraction of the size of something with conventional cylinders has always piqued my interest, but its never really been my favourite sort of internal combustion. This […]
Canny wee compact – 2023 Opel Corsa SRi ICE review
Not only does canny mean smart and shrewdness but from where I’m from it means pleasant and nice too – or in other words, the new Opel Corsa. For not only has this 6th generation been crammed full of smart tech and clever driving aids, but it’s also as cute as a bright new button. […]
Cheaper by the half dozen, pt II – South Island road trip
And we’re back for the second post about my most recent South Island roadtrip. Just in case you missed it, here’s a link to the first part. We pick it up from December 31st, shortly after arriving in Queenstown, which was booming and at the busiest I’d ever seen it. We booked accommodation back in […]
Wild Thing: Mazda MX-30 AWD Wild Hybrid Review
The Mazda MX-30 is a fine car which ever way you look at it. However, what you could never accuse the standard MX-30 of being is a bit wild. That was until Blackwells Mazda in Christchurch had an idea. Take a regular MX-30 Mild-Hybrid and turn it into something crazy different. “The idea came about […]
3 in 1 Merc – Mercedes-Benz C350e PHEV review
Having already reviewed (and been impressed with) the all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan, to hear that they had extended the range (literally) with the addition of a PHEV model, I was naturally keen to take that for a spin too – Mercedes-Benz NZ were happy to oblige. For those that haven’t ventured inside the new C-Class, […]
Cheaper by the half dozen – South Island road trip
It had been a hot minute since my last road trip through the South Island, and we were already missing the expansive vistas, the beautiful lakes and the great food. So this holiday break called for another trip, but this time around the brief was a bit different – given I had both my parents […]
B-quiet – Mercedes-EQ EQB 350 review
Mercedes’ EQ alphabet continues to expand with the ‘quiet’ introduction of the all-electric B. I say quiet as it slipped into the NZ range without a lot of fanfare or even a local launch, but thankfully we were given the keys for a week to make our own assessment. Having driven the B-Class when it […]
Luxury MPV with no L/KM – Mercedes-EQ EQV 300 review
With the Mercedes-EQ family already charging (pun intended) ahead, it seemed fitting that the premium-luxury brand should add their MPV to their ever-increasing all-electric brood. And with my family needing a lift to the airport, Mercedes-Benz NZ let me do some people moving for myself. To all intents and purposes, the Mercedes-EQV sits in between […]
Two Power Tucson – Hyundai Tucson Elite Hybrid 2WD Review
When buying a five-seater SUV these days, potential buyers often ask the same question, “Is it a hybrid?” The desire to go hybrid or go home has never been burning brighter for the masses, which can only be attributed to the rising cost of fuel and that tempting Government Clean Car Discount. Hyundai have responded […]