Hyundai Ioniq 5 – Style and Sense

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 ticks all the grown-up sensible boxes and looks epic on the roads. Who wouldn't want one? (article updated 13 November 2023) The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the first of a new family of EVs from Hyundai, which has since been followed by the Ioniq 6. Expect other Ioniq models in the near future. And expect those to be rather excellent machines, if this first effort is anything to ...

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2023 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard – Easy Cruising

The Softail Standard captures the essence of classic Harley-Davidson while being approachable. Man As collection day loomed, I found myself sweating more than usual. No, this wasn't just hyperhidrosis. For context, my own bike, a KTM Duke 390, is essentially a featherweight 171kg Class 2B bike powered by a 373cc Class 2A engine. The last time I'd ridden a "big bike" was during my Class 2 Traffic Police or TP test at Bukit ...

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BMW M2 – Compact Charisma

The BMW M2 has matured into a more rounded and grown-up sports coupe, but it lost some of its predecessor’s brash naive charm. The BMW M2 is the smallest, least expensive M car you can lay your hands on today. And this Zanvoort blue unit you see here is also the sequel to the best-selling M car ever in history. Yes, more than 60,000 individuals snapped up the old M2, so ...

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Peugeot 408 – Wild-Looking Fastback

The Peugeot 408 is a tempting fastback that drives more engagingly than most crossovers, whilst maintaining the status quo of a sedan. So, what exactly is this? It’s a good question really – and no one is entirely sure. It's like the automotive equivalent of mixing all your favourite snacks into one bowl – a hatchback, a coupe, and a crossover SUV. Are we witnessing the apex of the crossover trend, or ...

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Land Rover Defender 90 – Small Size, Big Smiles

The Land Rover Defender 90 is a compact two-door marvel that's ready to take on any adventure. The Defender has been a byword of hardy reliability since it was first conscripted into the ranks of Land Rover. Its "go anywhere, do anything" approach made it a star in the world of unpaved routes and undulating terrains. Which is exactly why the Defender had to overcome a deafening roar of polarising opinions ...

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First Drive – Volkswagen ID.4 Pro

The Volkswagen ID.4 is Singapore’s first taste into the world of das elektroauto. Before we rev up the engine, or rather, juice up the batteries, let's set the stage. The ID.4 is the SUV cousin of the ID.3, and it's no secret that within the VW Group's electric family tree, this one's expected to be the best-seller worldwide. So, the pressure's on for this electric city runabout. Under the sleek hood of the ...

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Ford Ranger Double Cab – Prime Pickup

Ford Ranger combines commercial commuting with premium features. First off, its full name is the Ford Ranger 2.0A Turbo 4X4 Double Cab. For brevity's sake, we'll just call it 'Ranger' from now on. Having ridden shotgun in a few pickups, this was my first foray into the premium side of things, not to mention driving one. Also, having seen how Americans enjoy snapping up the Ford F-150, and our Malaysian kinship the ...

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MAXUS MIFA 9 Luxury – Passengers’ Paradise

Passengers get to ride on Cloud 9 with the MIFA 9. The MAXUS MIFA 9 is SAIC Motor's first export model out of China. Interesting, then, that a seven-seat multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) was chosen to represent the company's maiden overseas foray - probably due in no small part to the success of the likes of Toyota's upmarket Alphard and Velfire MPVs. There's only one realistic electric vehicle (EV) MPV competitor in Singapore's ...

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Hyundai IONIQ 6 – A Refreshing Retrospect

The new Hyundai Ioniq 6 takes all of the good points from the Ioniq 5, resulting in an even more impressive offering. (Article updated 25 October 2023) Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 is one of the defining cars of the past few years - a vehicle with a polarising bold design and tech to boot, marking the Korean automaker’s emergence as a real dominant superpower, particularly in the electric vehicle segment. Now the company ...

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The all-in-one Audi SQ7 does everything and does them well.

More space and more pace never hurt anyone. Many of our loyal readers would know that I often make references to the Audi RS6 when reviewing cars with space and pace, simply because there aren't many cars that do that formula as well as the wonder wagon from Ingolstadt. Well, with the SQ7, Audi has created a compelling alternative. Aren't they different, though? Sure, they are rather different in many ways. One is a ...

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