2022 Audi Q3 – Sensible Balance

The Audi Q3 range is a value proposition for prospective SUV consumers looking for a compact city cruiser. The Audi Q3 has always been a hot seller on our shores, and it's easy to see why. It's Audi’s premier compact SUV and a fierce rival to competitors like the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. First revealed in 2019, the Q3 hasn't had much of a refresh compared to its rivals. But with ...

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Mercedes-Benz SL55 – Affalterbach Symphony

The Mercedes-Benz SL55 is brutal when you want it to, and docile when you need it to. And it does all of that with the wind in your face. Even for a brand as venerable as Mercedes-Benz, the SL nameplate still holds its own even to this day. Its bloodline started with the original 300SL in 1952, a post-war dogfighter that captivated eyes the world over with its signature gullwing doors ...

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Lexus RZ 450e – Grounded Luxury

The Lexus RZ is the marque’s first shot at a luxury EV competitor, bringing about its famed Japanese refinement and sensibleness. With SUVs being produced by the dozen these days, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the new Lexus RZ is just another run-of-the-mill electric SUV. But, it’s actually Lexus’ first ever purpose-built EV, and it's making a statement for itself. Yes, there was the UX300e, but it was originally conceived ...

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Nissan X-Trail e-Power – exquisite-Power

The Nissan X-Trail e-POWER takes the Japanese marque to a new high, exemplifying how internal combustion still has a place in today's electric climate. This is the 4th iteration of Nissan’s flagship SUV, if you can believe it. It started off back in 2001 as a cheap and chunky pseudo 4x4, a contender in the vanguard of ‘soft-roaders’ that included big players like the Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander.  Like those two ...

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Opel Grandland – Sensible Return To Form

Does the Opel Grandland, the big brother of the Opel SUV line-up, got what it takes to edge out the competition?  Opel has not been a mainstream brand on most buyers' lists for a while now, thanks to stiff SUV competition and astronomical COE prices nuking sales for most non-premium car brands. But, don't count them out just yet. With parent company Stellantis's backing, we have started to see a resurgence in ...

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Maserati Grecale – Orientato Al Futuro

The Maserati Grecale is living proof that Italian flair and strict emissions can co-exist in a future-focused harmonious symphony.  It’s beginning to feel like the world has forgotten how to make anything but SUVs these days, and Maserati is actually fairly late to the game with its contender. Yes, they did launch the Levante back in 2016, but lacklustre sales didn’t make it a case-closed preposition. So back to the drawing board ...

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Skoda Octavia 1.0 e-Tec – Size Doesn’t Always Matter

With petrol prices rocking to new highs, fuel efficiency now plays a very big part in how you can save some spare cash in your wallet. It’s a tall order to expect an internal combustion (ICE) car to be economical, decently agile, and practical. The Japanese have more or less been pretty strong in this department over the past decade or so with economical cars, but you get the feeling that ...

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BMW M3 Touring 3.0 Competition – Brute Force Wagon

For the most part, Audi has dominated the performance estate space in the last decade. (Updated 23 October 2023) Save for the AMG C63 or E63 Estate, you would really need help finding a wagon with lots of space and pace. Well, enter the BMW M3 Touring. The car that everyone has been waiting for. A compact yet spacious, practical wagon with so much grip and grunt (more than 500 bhp), your family ...

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Urban Palette’d: Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid Active

Throw an eye-catching splash of colour onto your Yaris Cross Hybrid. In case you hadn't noticed by now, this Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid is pink. BRIGHT pink. I don't care that the colour is actually called Cherry Blossom. To my eyes, it's Steven Tyler-satiating PINK. A number of female friends in a Telegram group chat decided to tease heavily when a picture of this compact crossover was sent over, with one ...

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Jeep Grand Cherokee – Downsized Detroit Fighter

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a smorgasbord of American engineering, resulting in a premium SUV that fits surprisingly well on our roads. SUVs have seen a huge market shift in recent years. What was once a tool that can traverse harsh terrains without breaking a sweat has now transformed into city-dwelling 'Chelsea Tractors' that disintegrate at the first sign of anything other than tarmac. There is still a rare bunch of SUVs ...

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