The June 2025 issue of NZ Autocar is now on sale
The June issue of NZ Autocar magazine is out now. Find it all good magazine outlets and supermarkets. Find out what we have in store for readers below. Subscribe to NZ Autocar to ensure you get the best automotive magazine delivered to your mailbox, while enjoying a discount on the cover price.
We attend the big Shanghai Auto extravaganza to see what's in the pipeline for NZ.
Racy is not how you'd describe your average Lexus. But now there's a hot-shot AWD compact Lexus crossover that's track-ready. Meet LBX Morizo RR.
Kia has yet another new electric vehicle on sale in the form of the EV3. It's recently been crowned the World Car of the Year. So what's all the fuss about?
The latest Audi is the new S5. It's the replacement for the old S4, which we quite liked. Is the new one better?
The Volvo XC90 undergoes another revision as it enters its second decade. Is it still a viable option for those after a premium seven-seat SUV?
Mini's first electric Cooper went well enough, but couldn't roam that far out of town. The new SE remedies that.
The 911 rallies yet again in its 992.2 generation, adding electrification to its bag of tricks. Is the Carrera GTS still a divine choice?
The Skoda Superb is somewhat of a novelty in 2025. It's one of the dwindling wagon choices in a sea of SUVs. Is the new one really superb?
PHEVs are going gangbusters in some parts of the world where EV range is now well over 100km. How does Haval's first effort rate?
The previous RS Q8 we drove was a wild thing, but this latest is even more epic, with added output and cornering prowess.
Cupra is expanding in New Zealand and going more premium. Meet the entry-level Cupra, the Sportstourer V.
The biggest BYD has joined the long-term fleet, and we outline what's in store for this plug-in ute.
We take a little R&R in sunny Queensland, and find there a lot of Chinese cars in Australia too.
TVR mashes together a mix of parts to deliver a sports car low in weight and heavy with power. The Chimaera, named after a mythical monster, is one of the more popular models here. We take a look at a nicely restored 5.0-litre version.
Royal Enfield now has six machines powered by its 650cc parallel twin engine. The latest is this, the Bear 650, a scrambler.
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NZ Autocar
26-05-2025
- NZ Autocar
The June 2025 issue of NZ Autocar is now on sale
The June issue of NZ Autocar magazine is out now. Find it all good magazine outlets and supermarkets. Find out what we have in store for readers below. Subscribe to NZ Autocar to ensure you get the best automotive magazine delivered to your mailbox, while enjoying a discount on the cover price. We attend the big Shanghai Auto extravaganza to see what's in the pipeline for NZ. Racy is not how you'd describe your average Lexus. But now there's a hot-shot AWD compact Lexus crossover that's track-ready. Meet LBX Morizo RR. Kia has yet another new electric vehicle on sale in the form of the EV3. It's recently been crowned the World Car of the Year. So what's all the fuss about? The latest Audi is the new S5. It's the replacement for the old S4, which we quite liked. Is the new one better? The Volvo XC90 undergoes another revision as it enters its second decade. Is it still a viable option for those after a premium seven-seat SUV? Mini's first electric Cooper went well enough, but couldn't roam that far out of town. The new SE remedies that. The 911 rallies yet again in its 992.2 generation, adding electrification to its bag of tricks. Is the Carrera GTS still a divine choice? The Skoda Superb is somewhat of a novelty in 2025. It's one of the dwindling wagon choices in a sea of SUVs. Is the new one really superb? PHEVs are going gangbusters in some parts of the world where EV range is now well over 100km. How does Haval's first effort rate? The previous RS Q8 we drove was a wild thing, but this latest is even more epic, with added output and cornering prowess. Cupra is expanding in New Zealand and going more premium. Meet the entry-level Cupra, the Sportstourer V. The biggest BYD has joined the long-term fleet, and we outline what's in store for this plug-in ute. We take a little R&R in sunny Queensland, and find there a lot of Chinese cars in Australia too. TVR mashes together a mix of parts to deliver a sports car low in weight and heavy with power. The Chimaera, named after a mythical monster, is one of the more popular models here. We take a look at a nicely restored 5.0-litre version. Royal Enfield now has six machines powered by its 650cc parallel twin engine. The latest is this, the Bear 650, a scrambler.
NZ Autocar
23-05-2025
- NZ Autocar
2025 Cupra Formentor VZ Review
Each time we've driven the Cupra Formentor crossover, we get the feeling we've experienced about the best there is in the compact crossover sector. But can that last forever? Er, apparently, because there's still nothing much else in the area that thinks it's a hot hatch in disguise. This still goes like stink and corners like a car, so what's not to like? Perhaps a price rise precisely when the global economy seems to be on a knife edge. Things have changed somewhat though, for the Formentor has undergone a recent facelift. There's a new more go-get-em look up front, with an aggressive prow and reshaped bonnet line. Down the back are new lights, and a Cupra sign that illuminates at night, along with a full-width light bar. But the shape is still familiar, as is the urban friendly size of Formentor (4.45m long, by 1.84m wide). It fits easily enough in our garage and will tote five adults at a pinch, better for four though. A turning circle of 10.7m is city friendly too, not that rearward visibility is exactly first rate. Nevermind as a surround camera circumvents that issue. The Formentor line-up slims down for this year; the hybrid is now to-order only. Meantime, Cupra is making moves to become a national player. Outlets are on the up. Previously, there was just the single 'garage' in Auckland but now there are six. Five are scattered about the North Island, two in Auckland, either side of the bridge. There's a lone Christchurch site on the mainland. Cupras are now more expensive but what isn't subject to price creep? The entry-level V model is asking $65,500. When we drove it in 2022 it was under $50k. That's in part due to a repositioning of Cupra as a more premium brand. So it competes now with a different calibre of rival, as does the VZ you see here. At one time this model with the hot 2.0T engine and DCT tranny was available for under $70k but now commands a price tag of $87,500. At least now you can haggle over the price however, Cupra moving away from the agency model. As if to emphasise its shift in status, the retail outlets are placed in close proximity to Audi dealerships, putting it in good premium company. You buy the Audi if you want the conservative choice, the Cupra if you want something a bit more dynamic with outgoing style. Despite fewer models in each area, the line-up is growing. Aside from Cupra Formentor and Leon SportsTourer – the hatch has dropped out, as has Cupra Born – there's also the new Terramar SUV, along with the electric Tavascan due here later this year. So now most Cupras you can buy have ICE power and electrification…except for the one you see here. It's pure 2.0T power, hooked up to a seven-speed twin-clutch transmission and driving through all four wheels. It can honk, naturally, given its output of 245kW and 420Nm, cutting the sprint out in 4.8sec. We near as dammit managed that on a damp road. That's so far ahead of the V it isn't funny, being almost twice as quick. You pay more up front and at the pump of course. That said, we easily met its mean fuel consumption figure of 8.3L/100km (8.8 rightcar) on the motorway at cruising speed, even if the long term average was just into double figures. The mild hybrid V model uses a suggested 5.5L/100km. Yes, it's still a proper riot, especially in the more vibrant Cupra mode where it's amongst the fastest, most dynamic and tastiest of compact crossovers available at present. And the best bit is that the ride is, if anything, even better. Sure, it's firm in the go-hard Cupra and Race modes, but not jarringly so. And in the Personal mode, you can dial up adaptive damper settings from Comfort to Cupra. In the Comfort mode it borders on pampering, midway is ideal for regular out-of-town drives and Cupra is for, well, Cupra driving. This is the main difference from its natural Eastern rival, the LBX Morizo RR. It also feels more premium and is somewhat roomier. It's also more potent, sounds better and is a half second quicker in the sprint. Like the RR, this is a limpet in the dry, confident in the wet. And its quick steering and Cupra bark make it feel even more like a hot-hatch. Beware the options boxes as they add up. With Akrapovic exhaust ($7400), the Century Bronze matte paint ($4k), matrix LED headlights ($2k), panoramic sunroof ($3100) and special copper-coloured forged alloy wheels ($3300) that put the price over the top to $107,300. You can also order an Akebono front brake upgrade for $4500 but we'd not bother for the standard items are good as is. Other rivals are more expensive and not as quick, like X2 M35i, and Q3 Sportback (ditto). VW's T-Roc R costs less but isn't as ornery. Cupra Formentor VZ $87,500 / 8.3L/100km / 200g/km 0-100 km/h 4.78s Engine 1984cc / IL4 / DI / T Max power 245kW@5600-6500rpm Max torque 420Nm@2100-5500rpm Drivetrain 7-speed-twin clutch / AWD Weight (claimed) 1679kg
NZ Autocar
09-05-2025
- NZ Autocar
Four-star safety rating for Cupra Tavascan
The incoming Cupra Tavascan electric SUV that launches here later this year has received a four-star ANCAP safety rating. What prevented it from getting a five-star rating was the omission of traffic sign recognition and intelligent speed limiter. The safety assist score slipped below the 70 per cent threshold, robbing it of the fifth safety star. The Cupra Tavascan performed well in the other key areas, however. In destructive crash testing, it recorded a score of 89 per cent for adult protection. A 'good' score was recorded in the frontal offset test for most body regions of driver and front seat passenger. The electric SUV excelled in the side impact test, earning maximum points and offering 'good' protection for all critical body regions of the driver. The oblique pole test produced similar results. A centre airbag provided 'good' protection to front seat occupants, on the whole. For Child Occupant Protection, the Tavascan scored 87 per cent. Full points were awarded for protection of both child dummies in the frontal offset and side impact crash tests. Tavascan also performed admirably in the Vulnerable Road User tests, with a score of 80 per cent. ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg, said that the Cupra Tavascan performed well in crash tests, with 'strong structural performance'. Within the Vulnerable Road User Protection area, which considers the vehicle's ability to protect other road users, the Tavascan achieved a score of 80 per cent. Its AEB systems performed well. However, it lost points for not have AEB when reversing. Hoorweg concluded 'We encourage Cupra to consider an update …to elevate Tavascan to the five-star level of its European equivalents.'
