Duplex Lex – 2022 Lexus NX350h FWD/AWD Limited Review
The previous generation Lexus NX was certainly a half-decent car. However, despite having a number of good points, in some ways it didn’t really feel truly like a Lexus should. Let’s fast forward to what you see here, the new second generation Lexus NX and straight away I am happy to say there is much […]
The Ferrari 296 GTB Launches in the South Island
South Island Ferrari customers and fans have been given a unique look at the new Ferrari 296 GTB at a special launch event in Christchurch. Hosted at the headquarters of renowned Canterbury based automotive detailing business, Avid Group, the chance to finally see up close Ferrari’s first V6 powered production car since the 1974 Dino […]
Mildly Hybrid and mildly black – Mazda CX-30 SP MHEV Blackout Edition
With its compact size, design tweaks and mild-hybrid efficiency there’s a lot to like about Mazda’s CX-30 SP MHEV Blackout Edition, but could they have done a little bit more? Mazda NZ gave us the keys for a few days to find out. Alright, so when a vehicle brand usually releases a ‘Blackout Edition’, visions […]
Electric Essence – 2022 MG HS PHEV Review
The MG HS has now joined the plug-in electric fraternity. The mid-sized HS has already proved immensely popular with consumers, now the addition of a plug-in variant is shaping up to becoming another very strong seller in New Zealand. Therefore, thanks to MG Motor New Zealand through CMG Motors in Christchurch, I decided to see […]
Luxury Leviathan – 2022 Lexus LX500d F Sport Review
Dignified Sophistication. This is how Lexus refers to the latest incarnation of its largest SUV, the LX. Now into its fourth generation, the LX is very much a different beast to the ones before it. Petrol variants are now a thing of the past and the old V8 has also been laid out to pasture. […]
Urban Chique – 2022 Renault Arkana Intens Review
Whatever you may think of SUVs styled to resemble coupes, you can’t deny that of all the avenues the SUV as we know it has ventured into, this is probably the most popular to date. Say hello to Renault’s offering, the Arkana, and on the face of it, Renault’s foray into this niche seems to […]
Class Act – 2022 Mercedes C 300 Review
I find the older I get, the more appreciation I have for a leisurely and more relaxed way of driving. Sure, getting out onto a twisty road with some million-horsepower asphalt devourer will still get the adrenaline going, but the appeal having just enough power to soak up the miles in quiet and refinement grows […]
Light-footed quinquagenarian – 2022 Honda Civic Mugen review
Honda’s longest-standing nameplate the Civic has turned fifty and to help celebrate this epic achievement, Honda New Zealand has released a Mugen edition and we got to play with it. Despite it not being ‘official’, Mugen is the performance name that’s essentially gone hand in hand with Honda since Hirotoshi Honda (son of Honda’s founder) […]
In Da Club – 2022 Mini Clubman JCW Review
You can’t think of Mini without thinking of John Cooper. His aptitude turned the Mini from an automotive shopping basket to a rally and track racing legend almost overnight. Probably even more famous than Cooper’s back-to-back F1 World Championships with Jack Brabham, the Mini and the Cooper brand are inseparable. This brings us jointly […]
Racy ‘Roc – VW T-Roc R review
With a sharpened exterior design, enhanced technical, safety and infotainment features and a refined interior, much has been done to VW’s ‘facelifted’ compact SUV, the T-Roc. But of NZ’s three new options (Life, R-Line and R) it’s the introduction of the ‘Roc’ into their R performance segment that’s really piqued our interest – lucky for […]