The all-new Honda Civic puts what’s important into focus and makes you think about what features we really need. There are certain metrics by which we can measure where society is or is heading to. I’m old enough to remember that in the 1980s, there were many TV commercials that were about detergent. Housewives would worry about getting stubborn stains out of their children’s and husbands’ collars. By the end of ...
Read MoreIn a sea of SUVs, the seldom-seen station wagon smartly stands strong. And the Skoda Octavia Combi is one of the strongest there is. Admittedly, I’ve always been favourably partial towards station wagons — aka estates — even back in the days when Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) weren't really a thing. Being able to carry the family pet, the weekend furniture shopping from IKEA, and the kitchen sink in one fell ...
Read MoreThe 8-seat SUV makes for a stylish alternative to minibus-style people movers. When it comes to vehicle design, there seems to be an unwritten rule that dictates an inverse proportion between the number of seats it has and how it looks. I submit aircraft as an example, a single-seat fighter jet versus the Airbus A380. When it comes to cars, how about the new two-seat Lamborghini Countach v a 40-seat coach? So ...
Read MoreWith lively handling, Johnny Depp-esque styling and a practical cargo capacity, it’s hard to fault the refreshed entry-level MINI. There’s a scientific study that’s proven men look up to eight years older with facial hair. You’ve definitely seen the meme — shave a bearded man, and boom — he becomes a kid. Traditionally, MINIs are targeted at the young and young-at-heart. Funky colours, endless customization options, and cheerful styling. On this new ...
Read MoreMPVs have been on the wane in recent years, no thanks to the proliferation of SUVs, which makes the introduction of the new Kia Carnival here a BIG deal. Quite literally. Fitness for purpose is a hallmark of good industrial design; products exist to fulfill users’ needs, so it stands to reason that the better product is the one that does a better job of fulfilling those needs. Which is why I ...
Read MoreThe Honda Jazz has always been an economical little car, but this new hybrid version is little short of miraculous. Light weight, and a small engine — these are the biggest friends to fuel economy, which is why small hatchbacks tend to be fuel-sippiest cars out there. But even with that in mind, I still wasn’t prepared for the range estimate staring back at me on the new Honda Jazz Hybrid’s ...
Read MoreWith a range of over 420km and 408hp on tap, Mercedes-Benz gives us an idea of what to expect from its forthcoming EV models with the Mercedes-Benz EQC. Mercedes-Benz has (at last), thrown its hat into the Electric Vehicle (EV) arena with the launch of the EQC. Like its compatriots, Audi with e-tron, and BMW with i, Mercedes-Benz's EV sub-brand is EQ, hence the moniker of the car driven here. Given that ...
Read MoreThe Lexus UX300e, the Japanese automaker's first full-electric model, is all you’d expect from a proper Lexus. Unfortunately, it does come with some little foibles… Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has long made his stance clear on electric vehicles (EVs). A strong proponent of hybrids and plug-in hybrids, he’s candidly spoken out against the shift toward full electric transportation. In a Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association press conference, he’s gone as far as to ...
Read MoreThe perennial MPV gets a timely facelift to keep it fresh and relevant as the 8-seater market heats up. If you’ve been in the market for an eight-seat people mover, there haven’t been really many choices. There’s the Toyota Previa, and er, that was more or less it, really. At least, until Hyundai and Kia unveiled the Palisade and Carnival respectively within a day of each other. Incredibly, within the same ...
Read MoreVolvo’s latest XC40 Recharge PHEV crossover provides a semi-EV experience, but works best if you have a private charging point. Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are a less common, but steadily increasing, variant of hybrid vehicles. They behave similarly to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) like the Toyota Prius, except that their batteries can be recharged in two ways. Drive it like a HEV, and the battery charges itself up with regenerative braking. This ...
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