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Toyota Fortuner is here!

Toyota’s Hilux-based Fortuner SUV line-up has had an aggressive upgrade in New Zealand with the addition of a TRD (Toyota Racing Development) enhanced version.  A honeycomb grille, front spoiler, side...

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Outback front in the wagon wars

It's not hard to believe that the Subaru Outback accounts for about 45% of all the Subarus sold in New Zealand each year. It stepped into the void left by the exit of the Legacy wagon in 2015.  But...

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Baby Ram no toddler!

The Ram 2500 and 3500 utes have a name for big load-carrying and towing capability but come with a hefty price tag.  So the arrival of the new Ram 1500 at Fieldays should bring the brand into the scope...

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Holden goes easy on fuel

Holden has released details of the first-ever diesel Commodore, launching it alongside the first diesel-powered version of the new medium-size SUV, the Equinox. The company believes the diesel...

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Never lose your car

A new entry-level Range Rover Velar is set to be the model Kiwi motorists can better afford.  The 2L Velar P250, powered by the latest petrol-fuelled Ingenium engine, will go on sale in New Zealand...

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Forester comes out of the woods

Given that the Subaru Forester virtually started the trend to SUVs years ago, the New Zealand motoring public’s assigning to it the label ‘wagon’ was woolly. Launched in 1997, the Forester straightaway...

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Touring around in comfort

Okay Holden, you’re not fooling anyone with your raised ride height and plastic wheel arches; the Calais-V Tourer is no off-roader. But that’s okay because most of us don’t even take our real SUVs on...

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Golden eagle soars

The Jeep legend was born in WWII but it came of age in the 1970s with a Golden Eagle version of the Jeep CJ7. It combined off-road ability with high levels of equipment, making it a sales hit for Jeep....

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Making a line for the Sportline

After test driving the Skoda Kodiaq Sportline, we think getting one may be a clever choice. Given that the Skoda Kodiaq scooped numerous awards in 2017 — including Car of the Year — its pedigree is not...

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Mercedes ute sets a new standard

It took a while to get here, but now it’s arrived the Mercedes X-Class has created a stir at the premium end of the buoyant ute market Let’s cut to the chase: it’s good, very good. While the motoring...

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Volkswagen Transporter Runner an impressive ride

Kiwis remain fixated on utes of every shape, size and price, but we wonder whether in the rural sector the clever folk may be looking to diversify into a good van. While ‘white van men’ get lots of...

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Tried and tested Triton

Performance, safety upgrades and a new look for the 2019 Mitsubishi Triton have the manufacturer suggesting it expects its sales to increase by 25%. The new 1-tonne ute was recently unveiled at a...

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Ford’s revamped 4x4 mounts a number of challenges

The modern trend to fewer cubic centimetres and more gear ratios continues as car manufacturers chase better fuel economy and lower emissions. The revised Ford Everest Titanium does its bit by...

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Hilux marks milestone with attitude injection

Toyota has restyled the 14 wide-bodied variants of its 21-model Hilux ute range, as the maker celebrates the iconic workhorse’s 50th anniversary globally. The SR and SR5 extra and double cab variants...

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Car of the year an easy choice

Having driven the 2019 Subaru Forester at Queenstown and through the Bendigo Station at the media launch in August, your reviewer knew it was good. Now, after a week with it in the North Island, it’s...

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One for Santa’s 2019 list

Here's our 2018 car of the year. If you're a fan of the motoring pages in New Zealand newspapers, you will probably be wondering what was going on before Christmas with the annual Car of the Year...

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HSV ute a cohesive upgrade

The after-market options for utes are extensive, but there’s a big difference between a properly engineered package and a ute with a bunch of accessories bolted on. This is the approach HSV engineers...

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Raptor for fun, not work

The Ford Ranger Raptor is not the truck you buy for heavy work; payload and towing capacity are significantly less than a standard Ranger or any other working-clothes ute. But that's not the point. The...

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G-Class Professional built tough for outdoors

The Mercedes G-Class Professional is a military-grade tough, yet smooth, vehicle. If we all bought on price there wouldn’t be any choice. So before anyone throws up their arms in despair let’s say it:...

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Bold new face for Holden

Holden is putting SUVs front and centre of its plan for the future. It’s a case of giving the people what they want and other brands have done the same over recent years.  The ‘hero’ of Holden’s range...

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Jeep Gladiator a chariot that will attract many

2020 will see the arrival of a Jeep aimed at tapping Kiwis’ unquenchable thirst for utes, says brand distributor in New Zealand, Ateco. The Wrangler-based Jeep Gladiator looks surprisingly like the AEV...

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A real small-block bruiser

You wouldn't credit a 6.1L Chevy small-block V8 with a fuel economy figure of 7.8L/100km but that’s the figure displayed on the screen of the bright yellow Camaro that HSV NZ loaned us for a week....

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Mercedes X350 smoother than a Hollywood star

While 2018 heralded the arrival of the long-awaited Mercedes X-Class ute, early 2019 brought with it the cream of the crop – the V6-engine X350. Dominating visually with its large muscular engine hood...

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Puts up and impresses

Mahindra, seeking to reintroduce its products to Kiwis, recently took motoring journalists on a day-long drive from Auckland to Rotorua, an off-road excursion in the Mamakau Forest and a dash to Taupo....

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2019 Rav 4 unwrapped

Toyota NZ has unwrapped the 2019 RAV 4, the SUV first seen in boxy guise 30 years ago at the Tokyo Motor Show. Now it’s in its fifth generation, and the designers and engineers have been busy: there’s...

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2019 RAV4 tops 25-year legacy

Toyota's recently launched, fifth generation RAV4 is said to build on its 25-year legacy with its charismatic design, improved performance, advanced technology and fuel efficiency. First unveiled in...

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Forester ferries Feds

Federated Farmers will front for Subaru at Fieldays, a spin-off from the partnership the vehicle maker formed with Feds in 2018. Feds president Katie Milne and its nine territory managers nationwide...

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Concept ROX for Fieldays

Holden New Zealand has revealed its own home-grown concept to go on display at Fieldays – the Colorado ROX. Built with the annual agricultural show in mind, the Colorado ROX will take pride of place at...

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Big show for Toyota at Fieldays

Toyota's massive site in the automotive precinct at Fieldays will showcase its extensive range of SUVs. From the trendy C-HR to the powerful V8 Land Cruiser 200, these vehicles build on a 60 year...

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You can’t get better bang out of your buck

Always very capable, the Mitsubishi Triton has had a loyal following in New Zealand, even with its slightly off target looks. The latest 2019 model takes things to a higher level, confirmed the buyers...

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Colorado concept huge at Fieldays and beyond

With saloon cars fading on buyers’ radar, Holden is confirming its focus on the ute and SUV market. The company chose the National Fieldays to reveal its home-grown concept -- the mighty Colorado ROX....

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Feisty Vitara right on the mark

Just why is the Suzuki Vitara so popular in New Zealand? Mark Daniel found out as he test drove the new 2019 2WD turbo. My daily drive is a seven-seat SUV so I’m always prepared for disappointment when...

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It’s a family affair

How does the Aussie Holden SUV range handle the modern Kiwi family lifestyle? We found out... Time was when a Holden Kingswood was a staple car for the larger New Zealand family. Ours was a dark green...

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Yank tank makes it hard to go back

Once you go large it’s hard to go back to regular, goes the old saying. Like the time this reviewer recently spent with a RAM 1500 truck, then a week later he was back in a humble ute. Dubbed the...

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Pajero Sport refreshed for 2020

Mitsubishi has released details of its new Pajero Sport SUV scheduled to arrive here late in 2019. This is an important part of the company’s offering, scoring 77,000 sales globally in 2018. The new...

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Holden ups the ante with latest Colarado ute

The latest Holden Colorado Z71 comes pretty close to perfection.  Sometimes a vehicle feels right, either because it drives well, is comfortable or the controls fall easily to hand. If you’re very...

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Hilux upgrade scores well

In its first test in 2015 the eighth generation Toyota Hilux gained a 5-star ANCAP rating. It was recently re-submitted for testing against the more stringent 2019 criteria and the venerable ute again...

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Tourer – a practical family car

The new Holden Tourer may be just the ticket for Kiwi families wanting to go on adventures. For three hours the torrential rain didn’t let up. Not the ideal start for a family trip to Taupo but perfect...

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Hilux ups the ante on safety

Toyota has raised the safety benchmark at grassroots level by introducing its Toyota Safety Sense Package on its hugely popular Hilux. All its New Zealand new vehicle offerings will now have high-spec...

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New wagon a little different

Subaru's latest SUV offering fills a need for drivers looking for something smaller and a little more potent than your average. The 2020 Levorg 2.0 GT-S, successor to the much missed Legacy GTB wagon,...

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New entry level model for Hilux

Toyota New Zealand has broadened its Hilux range with a new entry level two-wheel drive, the WorkMate, aimed at buyers looking for affordability and Toyota reliability. Replacing the ‘S’ grade as the...

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Colorado gets enhanced content

The Holden Colorado Z71 will be seen with new features when the 2020 model arrives at dealerships in November. These will include wheel-arch fender flares, a new black grille, underbody protection,...

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Navara’s mid-life make over

Midway through its product life cycle the Nissan Navara has had a cosmetic makeover and some upgraded technology. A smart blackout trim package includes the headlight and fog light surrounds, door...

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Holden on the road for summer

In a move to demonstrate the capability of its vehicles, Holden recently put the talk to one side and ‘walked the walk’. Holden showed this off in an innovative towing event to showcase the...

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Workhorse gets makeover

Like many of Toyota’s product ranges, the Hiace series has a history that dates back five decades. The arrival of its fifth series in 2019, sees the hardy workhorse being radically reworked for the...

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FX4 rejoins Ranger line-up

The latest addition to the long running Ford Ranger line-up, is the return of the FX4. The FX4 now comes with the Bi-Turbo powertrain as standard, bringing customers a unique Ranger that combines...

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Holden to bite the dust

A few weeks ago, it told us – with a poker face – that utes and SUVs were the future. However, last week, Holden put its cards on the table, telling us it’s folding by the end of 2021 in both New...

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The last of the Sports Cats

The launch of the Series 2 HSV SportsCat was an endorsement of the risky decision to take the performance brand into the crowded high-end ute market. Buyers of flash utes are spoilt for choice and...

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Roomy RAM offers V8 power

Having arrived in New Zealand in 2019, the journey for the RAM 1500 continues in 2020 with the introduction of the all-new Express Crew V8 Hemi.  Sitting one step above the entry 1500 Express Quad and...

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Electric ute a breath of fresh air

Based on the Toyota Landcruiser 70, the all-electirc ZED 70 is engineered for harsh climates. While hybrid and electric vehicles are in the news every week, particularly in the saloon and SUV sectors,...

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