Surf’s Up – BYD Dolphin Extended Review
If there is one brand which has made an impact within a short space of time in New Zealand, it has to be BYD. Its first flirtation with our local market was the ATTO 3, a car which gained a firm foothold the flourishing EV sector. The result was BYD couldn’t get them in quick […]
GR8 Expectations – Toyota GR86 Review
I can remember when Toyota first lifted the lid on the Toyota 86. We didn’t get it here until around 2012 but boy was there a lot of hype. Here was a sports car made to bring back the fun to Toyota. Not to mention conjure up flashbacks of classic AE86 Levins and Turenos drifting […]
Qash and Carry – 2023 Nissan Qashqai Ti-L ePOWER Review
Its hard to believe the Nissan Qashqai has been with us for almost 20 years. This mainstay of the Nissan SUV lineup has been a firm favourite, but now it ventures into its third generation. There have been significant upgrades both in tech and in powertrain, particularly on the economy front. The new Qashqai is […]
Czech This EV Out – 2023 Skoda Enyaq iV SUV Sportline Max Review
With the all-new Enyaq iV, Skoda has been welcomed into the ranks in pure electric vehicle production alongside their siblings from Volkswagen and Audi. It’s been a long time coming, even though we got a taster of the BEV potential with the plug-in hybrid versions of the Superb and Octavia. Now its here and looking […]
Feeling Cross – Toyota Corolla Cross Limited AWD Review
For some time, Toyota have been getting very cross with their own range. By “cross” of course I don’t mean seething with anger at their own models, but by adding crossover SUV variants of their already immensely popular superminis and family hatchbacks. You only need look at the likes of the C-HR and recent Yaris […]
So Long Sucky Infotainment
If you, like me, have made some questionable life choices that have limited the amount of disposable income you have and don’t drive the kinds of cars that we generally review here on Tarmac Life, you’re probably enduring your daily commute in some Japanese speaking s**tbox. My daily punishment is a stunning example of a […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Whooooaa it really shifts!
Okay, so small hatches might not be the biggest segment in New Zealand but that’s where we often find some amazing cars that deserve more attention than they’re getting. One of these absolute gems on the smaller size is the Hyundai i20 hatch. You can only get it in one trim here and that’s exactly […]
