News

Auto Trader Insights: The leading NZ car blog for reviews, news, and expert buying and selling advice
Image
2 June 2026

Report: Electric Lexus IS sedan cancelled over market uncertainty 

Lexus has reportedly cancelled plans for an electric version of the IS sedan to replace the petrol/hybrid version.  According to a report published by Automobilwoche, a Lexus spokesperson shared this news in an interview.  It was reportedly cancelled following a “company-wide review of vehicle development projects, taking into account fluctuations in market demand”.  As the United States of America holds
Read Article
White Ford Ranger in the dirt
29 May 2026
 / 

Ford Ranger 2.0 – is it enough? 

Ford has revised its Ranger and Everest range, known as the MY2026.5 line up. That’s seen the addition of new variants, revised specification lists and there’s a new...
Image
28 May 2026
 / 

Tech Review: Logitech G512 X 75 Gaming Keyboard

I’ll kick off this review by saying I have been a casual console gamer my whole life. The modification aspect of PC gaming has interested me in the...
Image
28 May 2026
 / 

Budget 2026 for drivers: money for the roads, nothing for the car

For drivers, the standout in Budget 2026 is what the Government plans to spend on the roads. There is nothing that changes the cost of buying a car,...
Image
28 May 2026
 / 

Do EVs Need Servicing? âš¡

Electric vehicles (EVs) are often promoted as being cheaper and easier to maintain than petrol cars – and in many ways, that’s true. Because EVs have far fewer...
Image
28 May 2026
 / 

Iconic New Zealand classic Volkswagen collection heads to auction 

A collection of classic Volkswagens owned by the late Jim Wilson is heading to auction early next month.  Owned by Jim Wilson, founder of Phantom Billstickers and the...
Lego M3 in white and black
28 May 2026
 / 

A BMW E30 M3 you can afford 

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the E30 M3, BMW and Lego have unveiled a new collaborative effort that blends touring car heritage with brick-built fun. The two...
Image
28 May 2026
 / 

Honda Super One EV gets wild Mugen treatment

Honda’s little Super One EV is not only New Zealand-bound, but it is also bringing back the wide, box-like aesthetic of the much-loved City Turbo.  It turns out...
Image
27 May 2026
 / 

Free ‘Crawl Mode’ update coming to BYD Shark 6; First Performance shipment sold

BYD New Zealand has confirmed its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute will gain a new “Crawl Mode” to improve low-speed off-road ability, with the upgrade reaching every existing...
Image
27 May 2026
 / 

Bikers to take over Harbour Bridge in protest

Police say they will be keeping a close watch on a planned motorcycle protest set to disrupt traffic on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge this weekend. The demonstration, organised by...
10 June 2026
 / 

JAC T9 PHEV – cheapest plug-in ute in New Zealand? 

There is officially another plug-in hybrid ute for sale on the New Zealand market, with the launch of the JAC T9 PHEV at Fieldays this morning. The firm is humbly calling it ‘NZ’s most powerful and safest hybrid ute’.  It has some impressive on-paper stats including 360kW of combined power (pipping the Shark 6 Performance), 674Nm of torque, an EV
Grey T9 PHEV in a field
9 June 2026
 / 

Subaru looks to keep the manual transmission alive with three new mystery models 

Subaru has teased the automotive world with three new models that are all set to feature a manual transmission.  Shown off during the Super Taikyu Fuji 24-Hour race, these three new vehicles will reportedly launch before the end of the year.  Though these vehicles were shown beneath covers, the silhouettes of two aren’t hard to spot when comparing them with
Image
9 June 2026
 / 

Mercedes-Benz brings its 140-year flagship tour to New Zealand

Mercedes-Benz is marking 140 years of the motor car with a global tour that reaches New Zealand this month, and the new S-Class is the centrepiece. Called “140 Years. 140 Places”, the journey covers more than 50,000km across six continents, linking 140 locations the brand says reflect its heritage, pioneering spirit and global reach. The anniversary traces back to 1886,
Image
9 June 2026
 / 

Leapmotor C10 update revealed in China

Leapmotor has revealed an updated version of its C10 SUV ahead of a China market launch on 16 June. The mid-cycle update brings a redesigned front end, adopting the split-headlight treatment from the smaller B10, with vertical headlights set below a light bar and chequered LED daytime running lights. A restyled bumper and new wheel designs, including 20-inch alloys, complete
Image