Honda Jazz Crosstar Hybrid – A Star Is Born

Raised proportions and a functional demeanour make the Crosstar a viable proposition for prospective buyers. The Honda Jazz (or Fit if you parallel imported yours) has cemented its place early on as being the cheap and cheerful hatchback which could do it all. You had the standard variant for daily commuting, hybrid versions for added fuel efficiency, and even RS models for those who wanted a bit more fun and a ...

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BMW XM: Million Dollar Baby

The BMW XM is M division's take on what a go-anywhere performance plug-in hybrid should be BMW M’s first standalone model since the iconic M1 can do everything, and go everywhere, all at once. You would expect it to, for the best part of $1 million… It may be scarcely believable, but the car tested here is actually only the second time in BMW M’s history that is developed and built as ...

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2023 BMW 330e XDrive: The Really Easy E

A drive from Silicon Valley to Los Angeles shows why plug-in hybrids like the BMW 330e still make sense in a growing EV world. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are undoubtedly the future for the automobile – at least for the next decade anyways, until governments and manufacturers come around to e-fuels… However until then, if or when, the car industry is firmly committed to producing EVs. Like everyone else, I’m all for anything ...

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Mercedes CLS 53 – Regal Rowdiness

Want something that can pounce on most supercars on the road and wake up the entire neighbourhood, whilst still looking discreet? Let me introduce you to the Mercedes CLS 53. This is a tried and tested formula from Mercedes - take a loud boisterous engine, throw it into one of their cars, and magic happens. In the past, this would have meant a guzzling V8 or V12, with lots of other ...

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Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid – Hallowed Thresholds Crossed

Is the Corolla Cross a shot of innovation or JUST another "for-the-sake-of" SUV/crossover? When the Corolla Cross was first launched in Southeast Asia in 2020, Toyota's perceived "slapping of the revered 'Corolla' badge" on the boot lid of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) / crossover made me cross and take an instant dislike to this vehicle. Having grown up with the likes of the KE70 rear-wheel drive Corolla (affectionately known as ...

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Citroën C5 Aircross – Walking On A Dream

If you are looking for style and substance wrapped up in a practical package, listen up. The Citroën C5 Aircross may just be the car for you. (updated: 23 September 2023) The turn of the decade saw a sharp increase in the number of crossovers, each touting more benefits than the last. This has subsequently turned consumers into crossover connoisseurs, who now expect a good 3-in-1 deal: Good looks, Practicality, and Effective ...

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Opel Mokka – Stylish Bean

The Opel Mokka is a refreshing breath of fresh air in a market jam-packed with sugar-less compact crossovers. Coffee is a sacred commodity amongst most of the adult population, and I'm sure all of us have heard countless debates on which cup of brew is arguably the best there is on our shores. In order to edge out the competition, more joints are coming up with their own unique flavours, with ingredients ...

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Kia EV6 Electric – Stealth Wealth

Pay attention. This one’s quite the show. It seems like you cannot go a week now without news about a new electric vehicle (EV) that is going to hit the market soon in the near future. The market is flooded with all sorts of new-fangled EVs, so how would an automaker stand out amongst the crowd? Well, you dial it up to eleven of course. Here we have something that hails from the ...

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Kia Niro Hybrid – The Rational Choice

If you were looking for something that is extremely fuel efficient yet impresses on all fronts, look no further than the Kia Niro Hybrid. If you ask someone on the street what is a Kia Niro, chances are the replies you get are of the same tune as “efficient”, “family car” or maybe even “boring”. And that was something the Niro Hybrid couldn’t escape from, being relegated to the echelon of ...

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