Car Advice, Tips, Reviews, Q&A in UAE

The Toyota Highlander has a bold, premium-looking exterior but is still easy to handle for daily use. The interior is simple and practical, though the plastic feel is noticeable. Wind noise becomes more noticeable after 90 km/h. Space is great for five passengers; the third row is okay for short trips but not ideal for long drives. Performance is decent, especially with the hybrid assist during takeoff, but it can feel a bit sluggish if you drive gently. Fuel consumption is excellent — as low as 4.6 L/100 km on short trips, and usually stays between 5–6 L depending on your driving style.

Driving the Prado is lighter and easier than I expected for a vehicle of its size. The steering is very responsive and flexible. However, the engine noise is quite noticeable and sounds a bit rough, especially when the engine kicks in after running on electric mode — things are quiet and smooth on electricity, but once the engine starts, the sound becomes prominent. Fuel consumption is really low. I haven’t taken it on long trips yet, but in the city, it doesn’t exceed 10L/100km. When I fill the tank, it shows a range of about 500 km — which is decent, but honestly, the fuel tank feels a bit small. The safety features are excellent. It has automatic emergency braking both front and rear, which is a great addition. The seats are a bit firm, but they offer good back support. One thing I don’t like is that you can’t fully turn off the headlights — they switch on automatically even before it gets dark. The smart system (infotainment and services) is free for the first five years, but no one seems to know how much the subscription will cost afterward — not even the dealership staff. Tip for anyone buying: when negotiating the price, ask them to activate the hidden features. For example, the windows don’t roll up automatically when you lock the car, and if you go back to the dealership to enable it later, they’ll charge you — which is kind of unreasonable. The trunk is spacious, but because of the battery placement, the floor is a bit high, which makes it harder to load and unload things. Rear legroom is average — if the front seats are reclined a bit, it gets a bit tight in the back. I’ve only had the car for a week, and these are my first impressions.

I spent quite a while comparing different cars — Suburban, Buick Verano, StarRay, Honda XRV, the new Nissan Sentra, and the Corolla. I was actually about to go with the Sentra since it's comfortable, fuel-efficient, and practical. But then I thought: I’m still young, why not go for something with a bit more excitement? So I changed my mind. I considered the Suburban with the 1.4 turbo — everyone says it’s great — but I didn’t like the 2022 design, and the new facelifted model was just too expensive. In the end, it came down to the Honda Civic and the Buick Verano Pro. My family really wanted me to go with the XRV — they love it — and even on the day of delivery, they were still trying to convince me to change my mind. But I told them, since I’m the one driving it, I’ll get what makes me happy — so I went with the Civic. I was busy with work, so my family handled the whole process. They went to the dealership, paid the deposit the same day, picked up the car the next morning, and by that evening, the car was registered, insured, and ready to drive! Everything moved fast. We didn’t get a huge discount, but we did get AED 7,000 off, plus extras like leather seats, seat heaters, window tint, floor mats, a can of engine oil, and a fire extinguisher. Performance-wise, the car is quick — responsive acceleration, and it handles inclines with no problem. Way better than the Qashqai we had before. Fuel consumption is excellent. At first, it was doing 6.2L/100km on the highway. Now after almost 2,000 km, the average is around 6.3 — I think that’s really efficient. Space was a nice surprise. I expected the rear seats to be tight, but they’re actually spacious — I’m 177 cm tall, and with the front seat adjusted to my comfort, the back seat still feels roomy. Downsides? The chassis is pretty low — I’ve scraped it twice already going over bumps or potholes. Even e-scooters honk at me from behind! The body feels a bit light too. Sound insulation isn’t great — after 80 km/h, tire noise becomes noticeable. But I actually like the engine sound — smooth and satisfying. Driving experience is excellent — the steering is sharp and responsive, and body roll is minimal. At first, I found the driver-assist system a bit annoying since it felt like it was fighting me for the wheel, but I got used to it, and it’s actually helpful. The side mirror heaters don’t seem very effective, but the automatic headlights are a big plus — they make night driving much easier. In short? The Civic is a great car. It looks sporty, drives well, and while it has a few small issues, as a first car for a young person, I say: just buy it and don’t overthink it.

I chose the MG6 because of its unique and sporty design. I added some carbon fiber touches, and honestly, it looks even better than the stock version. The interior design is nice, but the materials feel a bit hard and lack that premium feel. That’s why I added a few accessories to improve the look. The infotainment system isn’t the fastest, and the 360° camera isn’t very clear — seems like a common issue across all trims. When it comes to driving, the car is both quick and stable. The 1.5 turbo engine responds fast, whether from a standstill or while cruising. The sporty exhaust sound is amazing — I always keep it in sport mode because it makes driving so much more fun. The tire noise is quite noticeable though — I just wish the sound insulation was better.

I needed a family car since I have kids and elderly parents at home, so it had to be something high-riding and comfortable. After a lot of research, we ended up focusing on BYD, especially since I had previously driven a Song Pro from the same brand — it was very comfortable and reliable, and that built my trust in them, both in terms of safety and technology. Since we travel by car a few times a year, I didn’t want to rely fully on electric, so we went with a hybrid to avoid range anxiety. The car is spacious and suits family needs really well — that’s what I liked most about it. What I regret, though, is the color. I chose it thinking it wouldn’t show dirt, but it turned out to be the opposite — every bit of dust is visible. I feel like a dark grey would’ve been a better choice. There are also a few small issues: at around 60 km/h, you can hear wind noise near the driver’s door, and the engine sound is quite noticeable. Below 30 km/h, there’s a slight humming noise, and if I brake hard, the car reacts a bit sharply. Driving-wise, the car has excellent torque, and when you step on the accelerator, you really feel the power — the hybrid system has definitely been useful. Over the last 4 months, I’ve driven more than 4,000 km, and my average consumption for the last 50 km has been around 8.7 kWh/100 km and 1.5L/100 km of fuel — which I’m honestly very happy with.

The main reason I chose the Ford Taurus was its spacious interior — it’s especially comfortable for someone with a larger build like me. I didn’t find that level of comfort in the Peugeot 508. The car feels stable on the road, and the sound insulation is excellent, especially at highway speeds — unlike some other cars like the Avalon, which can be quite noisy. The engine is powerful and offers great acceleration, even though the transmission can feel a bit hesitant at times, but you get used to it. What I didn’t really like is the interior — the color options are dark and limited in the mid-range trims, and the ambient lighting is basic and doesn’t reflect the car’s premium feel. Still, features like the 360° camera, comfortable seating, and excellent insulation make up for it. I bought it and haven’t regretted it.

I own a 2019 Peugeot 3008, and honestly, it’s been reliable — I’ve had it for six years with no major issues. The design is great, too. It’s practical and well-suited for daily use. From the outside, it looks very stylish. The interior is also very comfortable, and the cabin space is excellent — there’s plenty of room to move around without feeling cramped. The sound insulation isn’t the best, but it’s not too bad either — you can notice it, but it’s not annoying. As for performance, the car responds really well. When I press the accelerator, it picks up quickly, and the gearbox is very smooth — no jerking, everything transitions nicely. The car feels a bit heavy, like you’re driving a boat, but it’s very comfortable, and the suspension does a good job. What impressed me most is the fuel consumption — I’ve driven it up to 400,000 km, and the average fuel consumption has been around 8.2 L/100 km, which is excellent for a car of this size. Overall, it’s a very comfortable car with decent insulation, and I’m really happy with it.

After 8 years with my old petrol car, it started burning oil, and I noticed a lot of people around me were switching to electric vehicles. That got me thinking. I was originally planning to get the top-spec Tank 300 (Menglong), and during the National Day holiday I went for a test drive — it met my expectations. On the way back, I stopped by a Jetour dealership and saw the T2. My daughter instantly fell in love with the exterior and interior — it completely overshadowed the Menglong in her eyes. Looks clearly played a big role, and after a test drive, it felt good enough. Since I don’t really need 4WD for daily driving, I booked it right away. Looking back now, I do wish I had waited for the 4WD version — a bit more power would’ve been nice. For this type of vehicle, electric power saves a lot. For daily use, my cost is just around 0.10 AED/km (charging at home on off-peak rates of 3.3 AED/kWh). My daily round-trip to work is under 20 km, so I only charge every four days, when the battery hits around 20%. For long-distance trips, I don’t bother with charging — it’s too much hassle. I just set the car to preserve 60% battery and drive on petrol. Even if fuel consumption is slightly higher, it’s fine since I only do a few road trips per year. The car is heavy and feels solid on the road. Acceleration is decent, but the 4WD version definitely would’ve offered better power and confidence. I’ve had the car for over half a year now. So far, the only issue has been a slight noise from the steering system — which was fixed. Other than that, no major problems. Buying a car always involves a bit of luck anyway. The biggest downside is the driver assistance system — it lags behind the competition. The infotainment system has improved a bit with the latest 4.11 update, but it still has room for improvement. Overall, I’m quite satisfied. Compared to many newer EV startups, Chery is an established brand. The lifetime warranty adds a lot of peace of mind, especially on the powertrain and electric components.

I used to drive a manual car for a long time, but with how bad traffic has become — especially during holidays and peak seasons — driving got really exhausting, especially on highways. My old car was also close to hitting 10 years, so I started keeping an eye on new car offers. At the beginning of 2024, I checked out the Oshan Z6. It had good specs, but I heard they were about to change the branding, and I got worried that spare parts might become rare or unavailable, so I didn’t feel confident about it. Then I looked at the Changan X7 Plus, but we couldn’t agree on a price. I had actually been eyeing the Changan CS75 for a while, especially after I saw a discount of around 3,400 AED — the specs seemed solid. The problem was, the 2023 model was sold out everywhere — in my city and even back home. In March, a nearby dealership called me and told me the 2024 model had arrived, so I went to check it out — and I liked it. After some long negotiations, I bought it. They gave me floor mats, a 500 AED window tint voucher, and a car vacuum. No free maintenance or extra perks. The insurance came out to 5,200 AED, but I noticed that 500 AED of that was for coverage I didn’t really need. So I ended up paying an extra 300–400 AED unnecessarily, but it is what it is. They didn’t have a test drive model for the CS75, but I had driven the CS55 Plus, and it felt smooth with no jerky gear shifts. However, after picking up the CS75, I noticed a difference — especially in gears 1, 2, and 3, which feel a bit jerky. You can’t slam the gas pedal either, or it’ll just rev without moving properly. You have to press the accelerator gently to get smooth performance. Right now, I’m just driving in the city, and fuel consumption is around 9L/100 km. I expect it to drop to 7–8 with time. I don’t drive much — maybe 10,000 km per year at most — so I can live with that. One thing that really annoyed me is that many accessories for the 2024 model aren’t available yet. I bought a metallic door handle cover online — the seller said it would fit. But when I tried to install it, not only did it not fit, but it also scratched the door paint pretty badly. I had to return it and get a soft rubber one instead. It was frustrating, but hey — lesson learned.

I recently purchased the 2025 BYD Han DM-i Elite, and honestly, at this price point, there’s no other hybrid that offers the same features and value. It’s classified as a B+ segment sedan, meaning it’s large and spacious — competing with cars in higher categories. I wasn’t originally a fan of BYD, but my budget was limited, and I needed a car that could handle long distances without worrying about fuel consumption or charging. Initially, I was leaning toward the Tang DM-i because it’s an SUV, but once I saw the interior, it felt too basic compared to the Han. The Han had just launched its 2025 model with several upgrades: a redesigned front similar to the EV version, improved engine and electric motor performance, and a new five-link rear suspension. Even though they replaced some aluminum parts with steel, the underbody design actually looked much better. I changed my mind and went with the Han DM-i, even though it's a sedan and sits lower — but I don’t often drive on rough roads, so it wasn’t a big deal. The worst part of the experience? It was the first time I’d ever heard of a dealership handing over a car to a customer without washing it! I asked them to clean it before delivery, and the guy just grabbed a damp cloth and gave it a quick wipe — like he just wanted me to stay quiet. On top of that, the tire pressure was 320. I told him to lower it because I was heading out on the highway, and he casually said, "It’s hot outside, that’s normal." The next day, it was still at 300 — he clearly didn’t care about safety or service standards. That part of the experience honestly left a bad taste.

When I decided to buy this car, my main focus was on affordability and practicality, especially since I drive it daily to and from work — and the roads are usually crowded. What impressed me the most was the fuel efficiency. Even though it has a 1.5L engine, the fuel consumption is excellent. The official figure is 5.36L/100 km, and while my usage is mostly city driving (so it's slightly higher), it’s still noticeably economical — I find myself filling up less often, and that really helps with daily expenses. The 1.5L engine performs well enough, and the keyless start feature is super convenient — especially when I’m in a rush or carrying things. It saves me the hassle of digging around for the keys. It also comes with L2-level driver assistance, like lane keeping and forward collision warning. On long highway drives or open roads, you can really feel it assisting — it helps reduce fatigue and adds peace of mind. Inside, the dual 10.25-inch connected screens look modern, the display is clear, and everything is easy to use. It definitely gives the cabin a more high-tech and premium feel.

I've always been interested in French cars. They’re not very common here in the UAE, but their quality speaks for itself, and they definitely have a unique character. I bought a Peugeot 5008 two years ago, and the top-trim interior is truly premium — the two-tone leather upholstery looks elegant. The car is spacious inside, and even the third row has two extra seats that come in handy when needed. The seats are electric and even have a massage function, which lets me relax my back while driving — something my old car never had. The difference in features and comfort is significant, and I can honestly say I’ve been very happy with the car since day one.

I’ve had the Altima for about a month now — it’s been comfortable and practical. There was a strong new car smell at first since it had just come off the production line, but other than that, everything's been great. The 2.0L engine is more than enough for daily driving and overtaking, and the comfort is outstanding — the seats feel like a sofa, plus they come with cooling, heating, and ambient lighting. I tested other options like the Camry, Inspire, and Magotan, but either the interior didn’t appeal to me, the seats were too stiff, or the price was over budget. The Altima gave me comfort and good features at a reasonable price, and honestly, I think it's a solid choice for anyone looking for a practical and comfy daily car.

I used to own a 2014 Discovery 4, and that car is so close to my heart that I couldn’t bring myself to sell it — even after I bought the 2025 Defender. Honestly, the Defender felt like a massive leap forward in every way. What really drew me to it was that it gave me the same commanding presence as the Discovery, but with a more modern design and performance. I customized it both inside and out, and every modification was carefully planned to match my style. The end result turned out even better than I expected. The first thing that surprised me during the test drive was how agile and easy it is to drive, even though it’s bigger than the Discovery. It actually felt lighter and more responsive than I had imagined. In terms of space, it’s noticeably wider inside, and since it’s a two-row version, the rear seats have a lot more legroom. The car produces 400 horsepower, compared to the 340 hp in the Discovery, and the difference is noticeable. The 48V mild-hybrid system kicks in at low speeds, making takeoff feel smooth and effortless. As for the suspension, there's really no comparison — the ride comfort is on another level, and you can truly feel the luxury and refinement, especially with the PM2.5 air purification system inside the cabin — that actually made a real difference. The only thing I could complain about is the wind noise at high speeds, but I think that’s mainly because I installed roof-mounted spotlights, so it’s expected to have some extra noise.

The car I tested was the 2020 Kia Pegas, 1.4L automatic version. In terms of space, it's a small car — very suitable for commuting and daily errands. Ideally, it's best for four passengers, as it feels a bit cramped with five. There are a few small storage compartments inside for personal items, and the trunk is spacious enough to fit two suitcases. Performance-wise, the car is decent. However, when going uphill or carrying extra weight, you can feel it struggling a bit — if others are speeding ahead, you'll probably be cruising at a calmer pace. That said, the transmission is smooth and comfortable, with no noticeable lag or jerking. The seats are comfortable even for long drives. The front suspension is MacPherson and the rear is a torsion beam — small bumps or manhole covers aren’t really felt, but bigger potholes and rough roads do send some vibration into the cabin. The car holds steady at speed, and the steering is light and easy to control. As for noise insulation, it’s fine in the city and at speeds under 50 km/h — you’ll hear a faint engine sound, but it’s not distracting. However, once you go above 50 km/h, wind and tire noise become more noticeable, which shows the insulation isn’t the strongest. Overall, it’s a great choice for people looking for an affordable, practical city car, especially if they’re on a tight budget. It’s not ideal as the only car for a big family, but for students or new employees, it’s a smart and economical option.