Car Reviews

Auto Trader Insights: The leading NZ car blog for reviews, news, and expert buying and selling advice
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8 July 2026

First drive: MG’s new MGS6 EV takes aim at the Model Y, undercuts it by $10k

MG has launched its third all-electric model for 2026, a mid-size electric SUV sized, specced and priced to tempt buyers out of a Tesla Model Y. After a first drive on Auckland roads, the MGS6 EV looks well placed to do exactly that. The range opens at $56,990 plus on-road costs for the rear-wheel drive Essence, with the dual-motor Essence
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5 July 2026
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2026 Porsche 911 turbo S Review

The sun doesn’t always shine when you have a special car to check out. As was the case when we had the latest Porsche 911 Turbo S. And...
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5 July 2026
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2026 Subaru Outback Premium Review

The Outback returns for another round, still family-friendly and capable. But it looks a bit different. Is it still likeable?  There aren’t many cars left quite like the...
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2026 KIA EV9 GT Review

Kia has updated its EV9, the line up featuring a new GT version. It’s a sports luxury model with lots of power, premium features and a big price...
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2 July 2026
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RAM 1500 Express Black Editon – First Drive

In New Zealand and Australia, the Express is RAM’s biggest seller, with the previous DS generation making up 50% of sales. After a two-year hiatus, the value-oriented Express...
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1 July 2026
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2026 Volkswagen T-Roc First Drive: A Slick City Dweller

Since its introduction in 2018, the Volkswagen T-Roc has sold more than two million sales globally, with 3,000 of those units coming from the New Zealand market. And...
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28 June 2026
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2026 BYD Sealion 5 Premium Review

BYD’s range grows with the addition of the Sealion 5, a plug-in hybrid SUV. It’s well priced but is it up for the fight in the ultra competitive...
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2026 Skoda Enyaq RS 85 Review

At the top of the Skoda electric range is the recently revised Enyaq RS. Along with spiffy new styling, the RS brings a bit more character to the...
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2026 Jaecoo J5 EV Review

They say that in Chinese culture, imitation is flattery. And you might see hints of a certain luxury SUV brand in the styling of the Jaecoo J5. But...
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2026 Dongfeng 007 Performance Review

A 400kW AWD sedan that cracks 100km/h in 3.9 seconds for $59,990 puts the Dongfeng 007 Performance in a conversation it has no business being in. Tesla’s Model...
11 July 2026
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1990 Citroën AX GT

The Citroen AX GT is not the first hot hatch that springs to mind when discussing the 80s ‘icons’ of the genre. Yet it is one that deserves a mention alongside those others that wear the GT badge. It’s a little cracker.  Long before hot hatches became bloated with technology, creature comforts and general excesses of modern life, there was
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2026 Leapmotor B10 REEV Life Review

They’ve decided to call it a ‘REEV’. It rolls off the tongue easier than ‘Plug-in Hybrid’ or ‘Battery Electric Vehicle’, but it’s not a word that slots into conversation without a sideways glance or two. And if you’re talking to people who aren’t familiar with automotive terms, calling it a range-extending electric vehicle only causes more confusion. Luckily the Leapmotor
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10 July 2026
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2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid  Review

The Palisade continues to push Hyundai further into the premium sphere. Does it justify its elevated price tag?  There was a time when the idea of spending six figures on a Hyundai seemed faintly ridiculous. A couple of decades ago, Hyundai’s flagship sedan was the Grandeur. We dubbed it the “Delusions Of” given it was hardly inspiring. But the brand
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2026 MG4 Urban Essence 54 Review

MG has quietly built one of the best small cars on sale, and it has done it by going back to basics.  New Zealanders these days are obsessed with SUVs. Back in my day, and I am now old enough to say that, it was all about hatchbacks. They were small and efficient yet practical, and the good ones were
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