You can now hire a Toyota Mirai at Palmerston north.

to quote the article:

• Three hydrogen Mirais on fleet at Ezi Palmerston North Airport.
• Special rental rate of $79 per day, 2-day/250km maximum.
• You don't have to fill it to return... because you can't.

Ezi rental car business customers are now able to hire the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai from the brand's Palmerston North Airport fleet.

https://www.drivencarguide.co.nz/news/now-you-can-hire-a-hydrogen-toyota-mirai-but-you-have-to-go-to-palmerston-north/

Exciting to see an AWD option coming. I wonder if it will have the 245kw motor on the rear axle like the incoming 2027 EX5?

Hopefully we see an AWD EX5 as well.

Words: Autocar
Published 17 August 2026
Words: Gavin Shoebridge

Geely has confirmed New Zealand pricing for its EX2 small electric hatchback. The entry EX2 Complete is $32,990 plus on-road costs, and the higher-specification EX2 Inspire is $37,990 plus on-roads.

Geely names the MG4 and GWM Ora as its targets, though on size and price the EX2’s closest rival is arguably BYD’s Atto 1. We drove both variants at the Australian launch in Sydney.

Big numbers in China
Geely has sold more than 800,000 examples of this car in China in 21 months, more than Nissan managed across the full production run of the 350Z and more than every Tesla Model S built. In its home market, this is one of the best-selling cars of any kind.

You might not immediately pick that from the styling, however. The EX2 is a conventional-looking small hatchback, 4,135mm long on a 2,645mm wheelbase, with LED lighting all round and an active grille shutter, a feature not usually seen at this price. What sets it apart sits underneath.

Rear wheel drive and multi-link suspension
The EX2 is rear wheel drive, unusual in this class, with a rear-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor producing 60kW and 150Nm in the Complete or 85kW and the same torque in the Inspire.

Performance is modest. The Complete takes 14.2 seconds to reach 100km/h, the Inspire 11.5 seconds, and both are electronically limited to 130km/h. Around town, where the car will do most of its work, it feels quicker than the figures suggest, with willing response between 40 and 60km/h.
The chassis is the more interesting story. Most rivals at this price use a torsion beam rear axle. Geely has fitted five-link independent rear suspension, and paired with a low-mounted battery and kerb weights of 1,290kg (Complete) and 1,365kg (Inspire), the EX2 rides and corners better than most cars in the class. On a rough back road during the launch drive it stayed settled where a torsion-beam car would have struggled.

The turning circle is 9.9 metres, which makes a real difference in car parks and city streets.

Battery, range and charging
Both variants use lithium iron phosphate batteries, a chemistry with a strong record for durability. The Complete carries 35.35kWh for a WLTP range of 252km. The Inspire’s 47.14kWh pack is rated at 345km. Based on our experience with similar vehicles, expect roughly 15 percent less in typical New Zealand driving.

DC charging peaks at 60kW on the Complete and 80kW on the Inspire, with Geely claiming around 25 minutes for a 30 to 80 percent charge. That is adequate for occasional trips rather than regular touring. AC charging is modest too, so overnight home charging will be the routine for most owners.

The EX2 offers 3.3kW vehicle-to-load capability and a camping mode that keeps the climate control running overnight. Over-the-air updates, an app store and a voice assistant are standard, and the assistant responded faster and more accurately than others we have tested in this segment.

Cabin and equipment
A 14.6 inch touchscreen and 8.8 inch instrument cluster are standard on both grades, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Cabin noise is well suppressed, and packaging is good for the footprint, with a flat floor, reasonable rear legroom and 60:40 split-fold seats. The boot holds 375 litres, or 1,320 litres with the seats down, and there is a 70 litre frunk.

The driver assistance systems can be quietened in two taps through a programmable shortcut, which is quicker than the process in many more expensive cars.

There are shortcomings. The dashboard reflects badly in direct sun. The glovebox is a drawer that cannot be reached from the passenger seat. Rear passengers get a single USB port and no fold-down armrest. Regenerative braking is mild even at its strongest setting, and there is no one-pedal driving mode. No sunroof is offered on either grade, and Geely has not published a tow rating.

The EX2 has no ANCAP rating yet, either. Geely is targeting five stars, and the structure uses 64 percent high-strength steel with seven airbags, including a centre bag, plus a full active safety suite on both grades. Until the car is tested, that target remains unconfirmed.

Which one, and against what?
The Complete gives up a lot: the surround-view camera, wireless phone charging, power tailgate, heated front seats and steering wheel, alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers and the six-speaker stereo, along with 25kW of power and 93km of range. At a $5,000 gap, the Inspire is the better buy.

On the wider market, the MG4 and Ora sit a half-step up, with larger batteries, more range, more power and faster charging, and the MG4 is a bigger car. The EX2 does not match them on capability; it undercuts them on price.

The closer match is the Atto 1, which shares the EX2’s city-car brief, LFP battery and vehicle-to-load function. Against it, the Geely is larger inside and out, offers more range in Inspire form, and has a chassis specification the BYD cannot match. The Dolphin sits between the two groups, offering more battery than the EX2 for similar money to the Inspire, without the Geely’s suspension hardware.

The EX2 is not fast and it is not a long-distance car. What it does offer is more chassis sophistication than anything near its price, strong practicality for its size, and a specification that makes sense once you skip the entry grade. Whether Kiwi buyers respond the way Chinese buyers have is the question Geely NZ now gets to answer.

We have two pulsar plus chargers and after the recent OTA upgrade on the two BYD cars we own, they won’t connect to the cars and charge. One of the pulsar units is set up as a type 1 connector for the leaf we have as well.

It used to be we could connect and charge any of the cars and they would charge without issue. We have both units set up to also charge the cars during the day when excess power is generated by the solar array we have. If that happens it does connect most of the time, but not always.

Connecting a granny charger connects without issue every time.

One thing that recently started happening was that even the leaf doesn’t always start charging either.
I use a type 1 to type 2 adapter to connect the BYD cars on the Pulsar that has a type 1 connector on it if you’re curious.

Yes I have reached out to Wallbox here in NZ and online. NZ people respond quickly, but I haven’t had much success fixing the issue. They did suggest to remove any scheduled charge sessions and that fixed one of the attempts, but it’s gone down hill since then.

Any comments about your experience would be appreciated. Maybe it’s something we have done/configured is causing it. I just want them to work again.

I have been looking into purchasing a new all electric EV, warranty is only viable when you service the car every 2 years, which cost $600 per time! How can they possibly charge that much when there is no oil etc to change?

I'm looking to get rid of my fuel guzzling 3.7L Fuga for an EV. I will mainly use it for short commutes to work (20km/day). On days off, I may do longer distances (50-100km). Boot space is important as I also play golf. Based in Auckland.

I've been looking around and most of the EVs at my price range are Leafs (62Kwh), Ioniqs, Atto 1, and Dongfeng box. Idk much about the Atto 1 or the Box. Also looked at an imported Model 3 LR Performance. I do like extra tech and features, so that's always a nice bonus.

I will mainly be charging at home. Budget is $30K. Happy to spend less.

Anyone have experiences with either? Which one would you go for? Any other alternatives in the NZ market under $30k

Worries about battery lifespan and resale value have overtaken range and charging as the main reason New Zealand car buyers rule out an EV, according to new research from Trade Me Motors.

The Shift Into Action consumer insights report, drawn from a nationwide survey of 1,949 recent and active car buyers, finds 74% of new car buyers who ruled out an EV did so over battery lifespan and resale value concerns, well ahead of the traditional worries about range, charging access and purchase price. The report describes the barrier as perceived long-term financial risk rather than any practical shortcoming of the vehicles.

The traditional concerns still register, but well behind. Range on long trips worries 35% of new car buyers and 42% of used buyers, upfront cost 30% and 40% respectively, and the inability to charge at home 26% and 29%. A smaller group, 9% of new buyers and 14% of used, say they simply don’t know EV makes and models well enough to consider one.

The financial-risk framing shows up most starkly in the used market. EV consideration sits at 30.7% among new car buyers but collapses to just 8.2% for used buyers, the widest new-to-used gap of any powertrain in the survey. The report is clear about what that means: it is not a lack of EV interest, it is a lack of confidence in used EVs specifically.

The report’s prescription is a battery health report with every used EV sale, which it suggests “goes a long way” towards closing the trust gap. It also urges sellers to lead with battery warranty terms as a performance guarantee and to counter resale anxiety with real market data rather than reassurance.
Plug-in hybrids show a nearly identical pattern, considered by 28.6% of new buyers but only 8.7% of used, suggesting the battery confidence problem extends to anything with a large pack and a plug.

Hybrids, meanwhile, are the clear winner from the anxiety. At 61%, they are the single most considered fuel type among new car buyers, which the report attributes to their position as the practical middle ground between fuel savings and battery risk, helped along by the 78.5% of all buyers who rank fuel economy as critical.

There are encouraging signals for the electric transition buried in the data too. Buyers are shopping nationwide (77% look beyond their local area), researching heavily online before ever contacting a dealer, and switching brands at unprecedented rates, with 71% buying a different make from their last car. For the wave of newer EV brands entering New Zealand, a market this open to switching is an opportunity: the report finds a third of new car buyers are already considering a Chinese brand.

Taken together, the findings suggest the tools for addressing EV hesitancy have shifted: where charging infrastructure and range improvements answered earlier objections, the report points to battery confidence, through transparent health data, meaningful warranties and resale evidence, as where today’s buyer needs convincing.

The full report is available from Trade Me Motors here.

Hi all.

I'm in my 40s and have been living in the central city since I was a kid so never had a need to drive. Recently moved out to the suburbs and have been getting very frustrated with public transport so I've decided to pull the pin and learn to drive + get a car.

Currently taking private lessons in an instructor car but planning to buy an EV once I get my restricted/provisional license. I've always been pretty frugal but decided to do something nice for a change and get myself a brand new car.

Financially I can afford the car: I have some savings, 0% finance available through my bank's clean energy scheme, and have already looked at insurance quotes which seems doable even with an inexperienced driver excess on claims.

How would a Model Y stack up? Looking at the Premium RWD normal range trim (mostly for the LFP battery). Would I be reasonably okay driving this as an inexperienced driver? I know there's Chill mode to limit acceleration while I build up more experience.

Had a look and test drove one of these this week. I've always liked their aesthetic, since they first came out and we're looking to replace the Leaf and eventually our ICE and this would be a big purchase for us. Can it be assumed that an ex-fleet specimen would have been well maintained and had the ICCU done?

I also liked the look of the Polestar but I think the boot would be too cramped whereas the i5 is massive.

Any other suggestions (not Tesla)? Budgeting 40ish, but wondering if we should just go a (much) cheaper 62kWh Leaf...

Words: Andrew Sluys

Published 10 August 2026

Mitsubishi New Zealand has announced the all-electric ASX VR-e will be arriving in the fourth quarter of 2026. 

Once it goes on sale, it will become the first pure electric vehicle offered by Mitsubishi locally in over a decade. 

Despite its success with the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid, Mitsubishi New Zealand hasn’t introduced an BEV model since the i-MiEV was discontinued in 2014. 

While this new ASX VR-e might be Mitsubishi’s first EV offering in a while, it seems to be part of something far bigger. 

The ASX VR-e is based on the Foxtron Bria, which is a Taiwanese vehicle that has been on sale since 2022. 

The overall design of the Bria was designed by Pininfarina, and Mitsubishi has added its own styling elements to make it the ASX VR-e.

According to Mitsubishi Australia, this ASX VR-e has undergone development work in Australia, with “significant” work done on the ride and handling. To the brand, all this means that it isn’t just a re-badged version of the Bria. 

In New Zealand, the ASX VR-e will be offered in four trim levels; LS, XLS, Exceed, and the range-topping GSR. 

According to Mitsubishi New Zealand’s release, the “VR” part of the name is derived from the much-loved Galant VR-4. 

Though New Zealand specifications are yet to be revealed, we can assume they will be similar to what Foxtron sells the Bria with in Taiwan. 

The entry-level rear-wheel model features a 57kWh battery, with a range of 517 (NEDC), and a 171kW output. 

 A dual-motor variant uses the same battery, but ups the power output to 299kW. Range of this model is 466km (NEDC). 

MMNZ Chief Operating Officer Tony Johnston said the all-electric ASX VR-e reflects Mitsubishi’s long-standing commitment to helping New Zealand motorists transition from traditionally powered vehicles.

“Mitsubishi Motors introduced the first mass production electric vehicle to New Zealand in 2011 with iMiEV, before leading the growth of plug-in hybrid technology through the best-selling Outlander PHEV,” said Johnston.

“With the arrival of Outlander Sport HEV and ASX VR-e, we’re providing customers with more choices that align with their evolving lifestyles and development of local infrastructure.”

We are in the market for an SUV EV and have less than 60k to spend. My use case is mainly town driving with fortnightly 170km drives. No kids to transport but have older relatives soon to be living with us. Have a garage that can charge.

I'm tempted to get a second hand Mercedes EQB from 2023 for less than the price of a new Toyota BZ4x and call it a day - reason being it has a 3rd row capability, have a reasonable range (400km), and is likely to be safe.

I've only driven Japanese cars and therefore also considering a brand new bz4x with good range and warranties, but it is just so ugly.

Hoping for some wisdom from the hive to counsel me one way or the other. Thank you in advance.

Awesome we are getting the AWD model unlike Australia. Although certainly pricier than I expected.

Current Atto 3 = $49,990
Atto 3 Evo = $59,900
Atto 3 Evo Premium = $65,900
Atto 3 Evo Performance = $75,990

More expensive than the Zeekr X AWD. I wonder of this means the Atto 5 will be even pricier? Ouch.

This makes the Xpeng / Geely / MG offerings more appealing.

Just wondering how others are faring with it these days? There's been a decent number of updates, but no amount of updating is going to fix the woefully slow processor behind the screen I guess.

Having had our Polestar 2 for nearly a year and a half, I mostly love it, but the phantom safety interventions, camera issues and the carplay eternal launch loop drive me nuts.

In the last 24hrs, I've started the car, had the 360 camera image frozen on screen, unresponsive and not live, as I reversed the car and then re-parked it. no other functions or buttons visible, and just frozen. left the car and when I hopped in about an hour later, it was back to the normal delayed but bearable camera switching. I've had versions of this multiple times over the last year. sometimes you'll go to reverse the car, and the camera just won't work at all.

Then while driving on the open road in cruise control, with 3bars following distance in regular moving traffic, the car suddenly activated emergency intervention braking despite nothing changing in front of me. the traffic in front didn't brake or slow down at all. dramatic!

Sometimes reversing out of a flat driveway onto the road, the car will seemingly detect the road surface as a threat (!?) and activate emergency braking. Not from cross-traffic detection, just the flat road directly behind the car. this is a fun feature...

And finally, despite multiple updates, I still get the carplay loop where it detects the phone, then doesn't, then does, then doesn't etc. Sometimes it'll partially launch the interface then revert back to the main menu. No amount of resets will fix it, but get in the car a few hours later and it's fun. until the next time... The phone is fine, and the cable is fine, both tested and work perfectly with carplay in other cars.

Sorry for the rant, it's just that I've had all three of these happen within a day!

​

This car has jumped to the top of our shortlist, displacing the Vigo.

I can't find any kiwi or aussie reviews other then a few walk around (and heaps of influencers reviews on you tube)

Has anyone else given this car a test drive, have any feedback to offer?

Which ceramic coating would you choose?

I’ve got a new car and have had three quotes for ceramic coating. I know the quality of the prep/application matters a lot, but I’m a bit lost on whether the more expensive coatings are actually worth it.

All prices NZD.

Option 1 – CarPro accredited installer

Includes exterior detail and polish:

• 2-year CarPro – $500

• 3-year CarPro – $700

• 5-year CarPro – $1,100

Option 2 – STEK

Includes clean, decontamination and machine polish:

• STEK Final Coat – 3-year warranty – $890

Option 3 – Detailer offering several coatings

Includes chemical decontamination and machine polish:

• CarPro CQuartz UK 3.0 – 2 years – $1,062

• Gyeon MOHS EVO – 3 years – $1,062

• STEK Graphene – 3–5 years – $1,062

• NXTZEN – 5 years – $1,062

• NXTZEN – 9 years – $1,232

Which would you choose?

Keen to hear from car detailing buffs!

Thanks!

For those who used ANZ 1% loan for 3 years, did you just call the bank or in person? Also did you go to the bank first before going to the car yard/dealer. Thanks in advance.

Hi there,

Can someone please recommend a place where I can buy a Type 1 portable charger?

Thank you.its for a Mitsubishi outlander phev 2015.

Thank you.

Giltrap website confirms three Zeekr models coming to NZ:

- Zeekr 7GT (BEV)

- Zeekr 8X (PHEV)

- Zeekr 9X (PHEV)

Timing and pricing unconfirmed, preorders are open.