The facelifted Hyundai i30 has a smaller engine in the name of emissions, but the equipment list has remained properly sizeable! Downsizing is all the rage today. In the race to make cars more efficient and less polluting, car manufacturers have taken the catchphrase ‘there’s no replacement for displacement’ and chucked it out the window. The trend started with European manufacturers such as Volkswagen and SEAT, before Asian manufacturers began to follow ...
Read MoreHave you heard the one about the EV that charges itself and runs on petrol? Like the idea of driving an Electric Vehicle but are still concerned about the range and lack of charging infrastructure? Or maybe installing a wall box is out of the question because you live in an apartment? One car that might be an ideal solution for such folks is the Nissan Note e-Power driven here. It has ...
Read MoreTwo new compact contestants to Singapore’s car market provide buyers new entry-level European options, in the Skoda Scala and Kamiq. 2020 was a quiet year for Skoda Singapore, but it's starting 2021 with a bang, launching not just one, but two new cars. And they really are new, with both models filling hitherto unoccupied gaps in the line-up. Meet the Scala hatchback and Kamiq crossover. The what now? The Scala and Kamiq, the ...
Read MoreWith a willing engine, lively handling, and a good bit of kit, entry level doesn’t feel quite as such in the new BMW 318i. Buying a car is a bit like portion sizing your lunch. Do you saunter up to the aunty at the counter and ask for the basic $3 bowl of fishball noodles? Or do you go all out and ask for the $6 bowl with more noodles, more ...
Read MoreThe fourth-generation Toyota Harrier may just be the quietest and most comfortable car for its price. Singapore might be a little late to the Toyota Harrier party as it was only officially introduced 3-4 years ago. However, the market has more than made up for lost time as this Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) has quickly become a firm favourite. The sheer numbers seen on local road will attest to that. The style ...
Read MoreStylish, fuel efficient and well-equipped, the self-charging Toyota Yaris Cross hybrid ticks (almost) all the right boxes. Some of you may be old enough to remember a tagline that the official Toyota dealer for Singapore used on its cars’ license plate frames: “Life with Toyota is a standard living”. I might be paraphrasing, but it was something to this effect. These words came to mind when I stepped into the Toyota ...
Read MoreSubtle exterior design changes and modernised interior equipment make the MINI Countryman better than ever. A large mini. As much as an oxymoron this is, the largest MINI on sale is seeing a steady increase in demand globally. For every 10 cars out the door of a MINI showroom these days, 3 are MINI Countryman crossovers. This is congruent with patterns across the new car buying landscape, though. What's different is that ...
Read MoreThe perenially popular Suzuki Swift gains a tiny bit of hybrid power, but its lively handling and generous safety equipment is what will leave the biggest smile on your face. If there’s one thing Suzuki is known for, it’s that they’re the makers of some cracking small cars. The Swift in particular has been a mainstay of our local motoring landscape for at least 30 years now (I’m a ‘90s kid ...
Read MoreBMW Luxury motoring is defined in 3 different ways as shown by these flagship models. Depending on your disposition, the idea of a luxury vacation for example, can take different forms. For some, their ideal holiday might be a stay in a 6-star resort in the heart of a mega-city that never sleeps, with hi-speed WiFi and the latest technology to automate their rooms. On the other hand, others would happily ...
Read MoreThe facelifted Lexus IS 300h embodies the hallmark smoothness and refinement the brand is renowned for, with just enough sportiness to make the drive exciting. It is no secret that the BMW 3 Series has been the compact sports sedan benchmark for many car makers. Lexus is no exception. Their response comes in the form of the IS series. The first generation Lexus IS ticked all the right boxes in terms ...
Read More