We try the tamer Stinger with the 2L engine which most people would buy - is it still the bargain sports sedan of the moment?

The John Cooper Works Countryman is back, with quite a bit more shove. Now boasting 306hp, a whopping 78hp more, and torque ramped up by 100Nm to 450Nm. MINI denies that this is an actual facelift, but just simply a much desired needed performance upgrade.

They could not help themselves could they? Porsche is the latest brand to jump onto the coupe-inspired SUV bandwagon. Brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz had theirs for a while, with the X6 and GLE Coupe respectively. Audi went that direction too… kind-of… with their Q8, which is a very boxed-up Coupe-inspired SUV… or would that make it an SUV-inspired Coupe? Oh well… there are buyers, and if it fits, it sits!

Ah yes! It’s back! The Toyota Corolla is the car that almost single-handedly put the Japanese automotive giant on the map, before cooler offerings, like their Celica, and Cressida; followed by the Camry became household names of their own.

Singapore sets itself up to phase out fossil fuel-powered cars by 2040. It may seem a long way from now, and public infrastructure is far from ready to accommodate such a shift. This however there are already brands which are going all out to establish themselves in our market, with electric-only offerings. 

One of the most unique production cars to be built by the German automotive giant, the BMW Z4 may not be a mainstream model; however if you were to think of it as sort-of a mid-tier halo car, you can understand the amount of thought that goes into cars BMW builds.

The CLA Shooting Brake returns with a brand-new platform, stunning looks and a completely revised drivetrain. Can it live up to its sports car proportions?

The SUV ownership has increased, especially in recent years. Rugged, a little taller, and always seemingly brimming with a sense of adventure, not only do they stand out in the crowd, but they are incredibly practical too!

The XC60 is an accomplished car, with a conservative yet slick exterior design and a tasteful high-quality interior. Is it any better with a range-topping plug-in hybrid variant?

Well step aside (slightly) junior… It took a while before it reached us, but the second generation Audi Q3 is larger than the car it replaces, and takes chonky styling to the next level.

The GLC is one of the most important cars for Mercedes-Benz, in-fact it is one of their best-selling current models. As luxury SUV sales have risen over the last two decades, amidst a market which has become equally more discerning; competition has also gotten stiffer. 

The X1, like the all-new 1 Series, are important cars for the brand, as they are targeted heavily at the entry luxury buyer, meaning that they are a good litmus test to how cars further up their product ladder are.

It is hard to imagine that just twenty years ago, a hybrid car plying our roads would turn heads. There were lesser offerings back then, and I must admit that I did see them as little more than just a conversation piece, for those who had a little more in their bank to burn. 

V8 engines are going to get more difficult to come by, and that is a sad thing to hear. But for the moment, we can get to enjoy them for a little while more, before the rest of the world decides to take another Greta TURNberg on our beloved automobile manufacturers. I mean like, HOW DARE YOU?!

Yes yes… I can hear the many voices of discontent. Groaning about the new 1 Series BMW now being a FWD car. Believe me, I am in a way quite discontented as you. 

I love estate cars. Their versatility is valuable to those who require more hauling room, and somehow, they also tend to be visually more appealing than the sedan counterparts they are often derived from. Seriously, you do not need an SUV to do all that hauling do you?

Mercedes-Benz has blurred lines yet again with their entry-level A-range. For a while, we thought their CLA was a sedan, marketed as a coupe. Then again we were right. But the second CLA launched (we absolutely love that one), hot on the tails of that, came the A Class with a tail.

There are times when an automotive manufacturer produces a car which is unique to their right-of-field offerings in their stable. Volkswagen recently ended production of its Beetle reincarnation, while BMW offers excellent driver’s kicks in their Z4. Such offerings from mainstream manufacturers are indeed special, since in many cases, a good share of componentry has to be developed just for that one car in-mind.

If you are the sort who loves the sporty lifestyle pegged to the ever-so-popular SUV, do stick with them. The car you see here, is one of the very few purpose-built serious off-roaders, constructed in traditional body-on-frame style.

Blistering barnacles! Those blistered fenders on the new Audi RS 5 Sportback, and that stance! Some say that it is the wheels and how they sit that maketh the car. And in this case, the first ever family friendly version of the Audi RS5 in my humble opinion is prettier than its 2-door sibling.  In-fact, it is a lot more mental than the vanilla A5 Sportback.

The brand which essentially created the SUV, Land Rover has often touted the “Best Four by Four by Far” line, and there is a good reason why. Their vehicles could take on tougher terrain than their counterparts, thanks to stiff platforms and some superb wheel articulation.

We take out the refreshed family-friendly 5-door version for a spin, and some exhaust popping fun. I must say, that there is so much character in the Cooper S, it is quite hard to part with the car.

Nissan brings to the market a 7-seater MPV that sends electric power to the wheels, yet also has a petrol engine solely to keep the battery charged. If you're concerned about range anxiety and are not yet ready to buy a fully electric vehicle, or if you are already looking at a parallel imported 7-seater hybrid MPV, the Serena is certainly worth considering. 

Back in the early 2000s, the large sedan was seen as the attainable status symbol for many. Models like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda 6 and Nissan Cefiro/Teana were simply so desirable, especially if you were looking for something more luxurious than the average bread-and-butter compact.