Top of its automotive game: Skoda Karoq

Skoda was founded in 1850 as an arms producer before later moving into transportation in 1895.     It was Skoda that produced the velocipede bicycle and the later Czech-designed Panzer 38(t) armored vehicle became one of the world’s best at the time. The 1960s saw an increase in exporting from Czechoslovakia, with models like […]

Simple but elegant

When you’ve driven every Mitsubishi over the course of a year, one thing seems to be constant – simplicity, despite this simplicity, every vehicle from the Triton to the Pajero is packed to the brim with everything you need from a modern vehicle.     The Pajero Sport is no different. This seven-seater has loads […]

A Sweet Set Up

The C-HR has been a mighty strong seller since Toyota lifted the lid on the first-generation compact SUV way back in 2017. The C-HR wowed us willing engines, levels of equipment and that edgy love it or hate it styling. For 2020, the C-HR has been enhanced to cope with its mid life crisis, so […]

Staggering Superleggera

THE ASTON MARTIN DBS SUPERLEGGERA IS NOTHING SHORT OF STAGGERING. ASTON MARTIN’S NEW FLAGSHIP IS WINNING FANS EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING THIS WRITER AFTER A MERE TWO DAYS IN ITS COMPANY.     The DBS Superleggera is based on the same platform as the DB11, but don’t think for a moment it’s the same car. The giveaway […]

A luxury lifesaver

FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT FOR TWO WEEKS, I REALLY GOT TO USE IT TO ITS FULL CAPACITY.   It’s one thing getting to drive something small and sporty, but when push comes to shove, the opportunity to take on a seven-seater with heaps of space ended up being a lifesaver. Throw the […]

Pretty darn brisk

THE NEW AUDI SQ7 IS A POWERHOUSE OF AN SUV. LET’S DIVE STRAIGHT INTO IT AND SEE HOW GOOD IT IS.     On the outside, the standard Q7 has been given a stylistic nip and tuck by Audi’s S department, giving you a more square-jawed looking front and rear, along with a set of […]

Plenty of power

ONE COULD BE CONSIDERED LUCKY WHEN MERCEDES INVITES THEM TO ITS AUCKLAND OFFICE TO TEST DRIVE THE NEW MERCEDES GLS 400D 4MATIC.   Ushered into to the boardroom, we were given an extensive breakdown of the specifications. It’s a seven-seat SUV with more spin than a very spinny thing! With a 3.0-litre six-cylinder, 243 kW […]

Easy to impress

It’s hard not to like the Lexus RX. The large SUV has been the biggest seller for the premium Japanese brand for many moons now and, for 2020, the people’s choice has been tweaked and updated. We got stuck into two variants of the new car over a two-week period. So, the 2020 RX, is […]

Oasis for the body & soul: Maruia Hot Springs

Two and a half hours from Christchurch, amongst the beach forest and rivers of the serene Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve, is the wonderful Maruia Hot Springs.     Set in a lush bush-laden area, the facilities feature three thermally heated outdoor rock pools, one main indoor Japanese bath style thermal pool and discreet private pools […]

Mazda CX5

Automotive Nip and Tuck: Mazda CX5

You have got to admit, Mazda has a real knack for giving us great all-round cars in a variety of segments – the CX5 is no exception. Since the original was launched in 2012, the CX5 left so many of Mazda’s national clientele, and motoring scribes like yours truly for that matter, utterly smitten. This […]