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.
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.
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.
2020 will see the arrival of a Jeep aimed at tapping Kiwis’ unquenchable thirst for utes, says brand distributor in New Zealand, Ateco.
The Mercedes G-Class Professional is a military-grade tough, yet smooth, vehicle.
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.
The modern trend to fewer cubic centimetres and more gear ratios continues as car manufacturers chase better fuel economy and lower emissions.
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.
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
Okay Holden, you’re not fooling anyone with your raised ride height and plastic wheel arches; the Calais-V Tourer is no off-roader.
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.
A new entry-level Range Rover Velar is set to be the model Kiwi motorists can better afford.
The Ram 2500 and 3500 utes have a name for big load-carrying and towing capability but come with a hefty price tag.
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.
Prominently displayed at the Mercedes Benz site at Fieldays was a vehicle that gives merit to the saying ‘there’s plenty of life in the old dog yet’.
News noted last year that the price of the Land Rover Discovery 6 was right up there, perhaps too high to get the vehicle out onto farms.
The last two years have seen record vehicle sales in New Zealand, with prospective purchasers spending many hours picking the right vehicle, right model, right colour and chewing over the price.
Holden is still spending up large on a marketing campaign to remind you of one thing – they’re still here.
Recently we spent a day testing out the new rear suspension upgrades to the Nissan Navara on Australian roads. Now we've tested it in New Zealand.
Two new reveals will feature on Holden’s site at Fieldays next week – part of a growing motor show at the Mystery Creek event.
The question often asked about the new Commodore is, “will Aussies accept a German car as a replacement for Commodores made by Bruce?” Or words to that effect.
Toyota is changing the way it sells new vehicles, notably by moving away from commission-paid sales staff and haggling over purchase price.
Nissan has enhanced the Navara’s performance under heavy loads by redeveloping the rear suspension and testing it in Australia, the country where feedback about the ute’s load-bearing ability was loudest.
