Traditional, ICE SUV from BAIC

I was “relieved” to be behind the wheel of a traditional, internal combustion-engined vehicle after many a foray with EV’s. Plus, the X55 has received a superb stamp of approval from the general public… the friendly and helpful people of David Pieris Automobiles tells me that a few hundred u...

Published on 27 Oct 2025

Transformer Truck Slash SUV

What on earth is this thing? If you’re looking at our photos, you’re probably scratching your head too. When Teranka Carim, CEO of Deepal Sri Lanka told me about an SUV that could convert into a pickup truck… I couldn’t believe my ears. Then he sent me some pictures, and a clearer idea began...

Published on 03 Oct 2025

On Road and Off Road with the 4WD Variant

You might recall that we had a short preview of the Riddara RD6 back in the April 2025 issue of Motor… That special test vehicle was a 200-kilowatt, rear-wheel drive variant that surprised us with its nippiness, ride comfort and practicality. Now, Evolution Auto, the authorized distributor of Ridd...

Published on 30 Aug 2025

Magnetic or Igniting?

The official press release for the Nissan Magnite dated October 21st, 2020 says that the word Magnite is a combination of Magnetic and Ignite. Competing in the crowded sub-4 metre subcompact crossover segment in India, the Magnite has landed to take on the Sri Lankan market. Yes, this vehicle hails ...

Published on 26 Aug 2025

Human psychology is a curious thing. Step into a car that smells like a premium European model, feels as solidly built as one, and drives with the same confidence, and suddenly, your subconscious takes charge. Without thinking, your left hand instinctively reaches for the adjacent stalk to indicate ...

Published on 27 Jul 2025

India’s take on the Sportback SUV

When I first saw photos of the Tata Curvv on social media, I was intrigued. What on Earth is this thing? Looks like the Indians are doubling down with taking on the world, jumping on the sportback SUV bandwagon that’s previously been the near-exclusive preserve of German luxury automakers. Then, D...

Published on 05 Jul 2025

Five long years. I reckon not many people imagined the import ban on vehicles that came into place just as Covid evolved into a global pandemic would last half the decade. That also brings to mind how long it's been since Covid became a thing and just how fast we're all getting older. The ban was of...

Published on 03 Jul 2025

The SsangYong Musso Sports lives on!

Remember the SsangYong Musso Sports of yore, specifically during the mid to late Nineties? It was the pickup truck variant of the SsangYong Musso SUV, a South Korean vehicle most renowned for its Mercedes-Benz powertrains and components. As a child who grew up in the Nineties, I vividly remember see...

Published on 05 Jun 2025

The Mercedes EQB was first introduced to the world in 2022, but here in Sri Lanka we have now got the latest front-wheel-drive 250+ version which is arguably one of the best family SUVs around. The combination of seven seats, around 400 kms of range from the improved battery, and Mercedes’ typical...

Published on 29 May 2025

In the life of a motoring journalist, two days stand out as particularly challenging: the day we write our first piece and the day we test a Mercedes S-Class....

Published on 02 May 2025