The April 2026 issue of NZ Autocar is now on sale

Car of the Year 

Here we name the class winners in the NZ Autocar Car of the Year Awards, powered by Auto Trader.

Denza B5 & B8 

A pair of plug-in hybrid off-roaders from BYD’s premium sub-brand aim to shake up New Zealand’s large SUV pecking order. We drove both in outback South Australia to find out if the hype is justified.

Aston Martin DBX-S vs Land Rover Defender OCTA 

The Super SUV is a favourite of upper society. Here we look at two that fit the description but are rather different in their execution.  

Dongfeng Vigo 

The Dongfeng Vigo lands with an impressive price tag, a versatile  interior concept and a few surprise and delight features. Is it a genuine contender? 

GAC Aion V 

You might not have heard of GAC, yet another new arrival to the market from China. It’s Aion V is a thoroughly decent package, with some standout numbers and a few quirky features too. 

Skoda Elroq Sportline 85 

Skoda has added another electric option to its range in the form of the Elroq. It’s more affordable than the Enyaq, does that make it better? 

Kia EV4 Long Range 

It can be hard to define the EV4, an electric model that fits in between the EV3 and EV5. It’s a capable middle-child, but does it have limited appeal in a crowded market?

Hayden Paddon 

Hayden Paddon is back on the world’s biggest stage with Hyundai Motorsport. We catch up with him to see how it all came about.

Unreal Racing 

While motorsport is a wealthy person’s hobby, sim racing allows more people access to something that can be as good as the real thing. We talk with Logitech’s NZ manager to find out what it’s all about.  

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT 

The electric Mustang has been revised, the GT now with even more power. Is it better than the V8-powered GT?  

BMW i4 eDrive40 

Want an EV that’s a properly decent drive? The i4 could be the one, if you can afford the privilege. 

Chery Tiggo 4 HEV

The Tiggo 4 is good value, if a little thirsty. Is it worth paying more for the hybrid version then? 

Bridgestone Turanza 6 

Our long-term Atto 3 has just ticked over 40,000km on its original rubber. The Bridgestone Turanza 6 is the replacement. Early impressions are promising.

Audi RS2 Avant 

Every story has its origin, and for Audi’s RS brand, that is the RS2. It was fearsomely quick in its day, but how is the legend holding up 30 years on?

 Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster 1200 

Does a cruiser like Triumph’s Bonneville Speedmaster 1200 have anything to offer for a lover of sportsbikes? It seems so.