Dongfeng Vigo and 007 first drive NZ – out of the box thinking
Late last year, Dongfeng officially launched itself in New Zealand, and ANCAP safety escapades aside, the Box offered a playful/feature rich alternative to the small car status quo. Anyway, they’re back to take a bigger bite out of NZ’s automotive landscape cake with the launch of the all‑electric Vigo and 007, and they invited us […]
Outback’s Back – 2026 Subaru Outback & Outback Wilderness First Drive NZ
Subaru’s Outback has long been the unofficial adventure wagon of New Zealand, equally at home outside the local Four Square as it is halfway up a rutted forestry track. Now, with the NZ arrival of the seventh‑generation Outback and the debut of the Outback Wilderness, Subaru has rewritten the brief. Taller, tougher, more technologically advanced […]
BYD Atto 1 First Drive Review – NZ’s New ‘Little Treasure’ for Urban Living
When a car launch includes an Amazing Race–style treasure hunt on Waiheke Island, you know the brand wants to make a point, this car is meant to be fun. And on a sun-kissed day across intricate island roads, BYD’s new compact EV (officially named the Atto 1) proved it has more personality, capability, and charm […]
2026 Leapmotor C10 AWD Review – their most powerful leap
Let me begin this review with a ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ moment. You see, having a vehicle for a week is both a blessing and a curse, with the latter being more apparent with my Leapmotor C10 AWD experience. OWNERS, would invest the time, effort (albeit minimal) and expertise in developing full-on Leapmotor App […]
Split-Personality Sedan – 2026 Audi RS3 Sedan review
The 2026 Audi RS3 Sedan arrives as one of the most compelling compact performance sedans on the market, a small car with a giant personality, a thunderous five‑cylinder heartbeat, and the sort of everyday usability that makes it just as happy commuting as it is carving mountain roads. While largely unchanged from the 2025 facelift, […]
Stargazing – Geely Starray EM-i review
The Geely Starray EM‑i arrives in New Zealand as one of the most intriguing entrants in the fast-growing “super hybrid” space—a category designed to deliver EV‑like efficiency without the range anxiety that still trails many fully electric offerings. Launched locally alongside the EX5 and the Raddara RD6, the Starray EM‑i quickly positions itself as a […]
Skoda launches two new models to ‘roq NZ’s EV landscape – Elroq and 2025 Enyaq first drive
Škoda New Zealand has kicked off a major new chapter in its electric future with the dual launch of the facelifted Enyaq and the all‑new Elroq, two EV SUVs designed to push the brand deeper into the mainstream electric market. Modern Solid design philosophy, improved aerodynamics, smarter tech, more range, and a clear focus on […]
2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e Review – Xmas Cheer with this Stylish and Savvy PHEV
Plug‑in hybrids have long been pitched as the automotive world’s great compromise, just enough electric range to make your weekday errands guilt‑free, yet no fear of running out of juice on longer trips. The 2025 Mercedes‑Benz GLC 350e embodies that pitch more convincingly than most, and to prove it, Mercedes-Benz New Zealand gave me a […]
GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV Review – Luxury Meets Off-Road Prowess
If you’re in the market for a large SUV that blends premium luxury with serious off-road credentials, the GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV might just be the game-changer you’ve been waiting for. As a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) from Great Wall Motors (GWM), this beast promises to tackle New Zealand’s rugged terrains while sipping […]
Leaping from B to C, we test the Leapmotor C10 REEV and B10 BEV back to back
There’s something refreshingly honest about Leapmotor’s approach to electric vehicles. No grandiose promises, no revolutionary claims, just smart, well-executed SUVs that deliver exactly what they promise. We were given the chance to ‘leap’ from the compact B10 and its larger sibling, the C10 REEV, back to back and have come to appreciate how two vehicles […]