A refreshing highlander

  For some, a Highlander is a rugby player from the deep south, to others, an 80s fantasy film starring Sean Connery. To Toyota, a Highlander is a mid-sized SUV, and a big seller.     For 2021, the Highlander has been refreshed for the fourth time, with a recent launch in Auckland and Paihia […]

Tantalising Takami

The Takami grade has been a welcome addition to Mazda’s line-up in recent years, so it was inevitable the flagship CX-9 SUV would get the same treatment. For 2021, the facelift CX-9 Takami gets a new grille, the option of a new Polymetal Grey Metallic colour, and new designed alloys.     Inside, Mazda’s simplistic […]

As intoxicating as ever

There is an old saying, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”. And this perfectly sums up the Honda Civic Type R.   . The current generation has been with us since 2017 and was the first Type R to be sold new in New Zealand. It also quickly set the standard which all would-be […]

Crossing the Yaris

The trend of turning small hatchbacks into small SUVs just keeps growing. It was only a matter of time before Toyota did the same thing to the Yaris. This brings us to the Yaris Cross, a Yaris hatch with a difference.     While sharing the same TNGA-B platform, the Cross is 240mm longer and […]

Supra speedy, supra slick

The Toyota GR Supra has been the subject of plenty of gushing reviews by the motoring press since its launch in 2019. There is a good reason for this mind you, it is a properly fantastic sports car and continuation of the Supra name which laid dormant within Toyota’s family for far too long. Now, […]

Upping the game

After nine years, we have a new Toyota Yaris. The first of Toyota’s new TNGA “B” Platform, and it happens to be rather nice.   As far as looks go, the Yaris is more rakish and aggressive than its predecessor, with a gaping whale shark-esque grill and frowning headlights, it certainly looks like this urban […]

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 […]

Supra Hot!

After years of speculation, Toyota has given us a new Supra and it’s in New Zealand! I recently headed to a rain-soaked Hampton Downs Raceway to enjoy two glorious, if a bit brief, laps in the 2019 Toyota GR Supra.     So, what can we tell you? Well the new Supra is the result […]

Toyota Corolla

An Oldie but a Goodie: Toyota Corolla

When Toyota invites you to the national launch of a new Corolla, it’s not an offer to refuse. So, I found myself flying to Toyota New Zealand’s HQ in Palmerston North to be among the first to get acquainted with the newest edition of New Zealand’s favourite car.     More than 44 million Corollas […]