JAC T9
Bang up-to-date Double Cab
JAC. Isn’t that a commercial vehicle maker? Well, yes. JAC Group, or Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp. Ltd, is a Chinese vehicle maker based in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. ...
Published on 10 Jan 2025
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro
Micro Cars Debuts Latest Locally Assembled Contender
Locally assembled cars represent the only chance for the general public to taste a brand-new vehicle that’s newer than 2020. I’ve talked about the import ban and its effects in previous tests, so I shall not repeat myself. The latest locally assembled contender is the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro from Micr...
Published on 10 Nov 2024
Ssangyong Torres EVX
We drive this latest EV contender
What’s this? We haven’t seen a brand-new Ssangyong in Sri Lanka for ages. Well, chalk that down to the import ban. The brand has been alive and kicking, see-sawing from South Korean to Indian, and back to South Korean ownership. The latest owner is a consortium spearheaded by South Korea’s KG ...
Published on 04 Sep 2024
Thomas the Troopy
A Stunning Land Cruiser BJ45 Build
The Toyota Land Cruiser needs no introduction… really. Since 1951, over ten million have been sold worldwide. Sri Lanka has enjoyed her fair share of Land Cruisers as well. Thanks to the vehicular appetites of our politicians and the well-heeled, you see plenty of 200-series examples on the roads ...
Published on 11 Mar 2024
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5
First Drive
Electric vehicles are slowly trickling into our car-starved shores, due to a permit system. We’ve seen quite a few cars on social media, and here, we were fortunate to get our hands on the very first Hyundai Ioniq 5 to land in Sri Lanka. Imported by the agents Abans Auto, the kind folks there dese...
Published on 27 Dec 2023
Mahindra KUV100 D75 AMT
Mahindra’s locally-assembled compact gains a diesel engine and autobox
Over three years ago, we sampled the Mahindra KUV100, the first locally assembled vehicle to come out of Ideal Motors’ brand-spanking-new assembly facility in Mathugama, Kalutara District. The company had impressive plans for its facility, at least they did until the economic crisis hit everyone l...
Published on 26 Sep 2023
Daihatsu Copen & Honda S660 Club Sri Lanka Drive
These open-topped two-seat Kei cars enjoy an ardent following in Sri Lanka
The rain was pouring with verve on the morning of Sunday of 11th June, but that didn’t stop 13 dedicated aficionados of the Daihatsu Copen & Honda S660 Club Sri Lanka from gathering at Galle Face for a drive to the Beach Park at Port City. One by one, these pint-sized two-seaters showed up, their ...
Published on 03 Aug 2023
1982 Renault Fuego TL
A Single Family Car That’s Jumped Through Hoops to get here
The famed automotive journalist L. J. K. Setright wrote of the Fuego, “…is blessed with a body which is not only roomy and aerodynamically efficient, but is also beautiful…” Introduced in 1980, this three-door French sports hatchback did indeed turn heads with its distinctive style and caugh...
Published on 02 Aug 2023
Kelum WJ Projects Drive to Negombo
Five owners with one common factor drive up for some car talk
An automotive engineer by profession, Kelum Wijayawardhana is currently Director of Engineering and Operations at Modicon Automotive, a component manufacturer for local automotive assembly operations. A mechanical engineer by profession, Kelum has been captivated by cars ever since he can remember. ...
Published on 31 Jul 2023
BYD e6 Second Generation
Test Driving the Family Size EV
Sri Lanka is starved of new cars, thanks to an import ban since 2020. We see random vehicles trickle in, primarily purchased for embassies, but the rest of the country’s automotive scene is in a veritable time-freeze from 2020. One of those rare gems that managed to come into the country after tha...
Published on 03 Jul 2023