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.

To all C40 owners, just wondering, does the new car have any smell? My XC60 had no smell at all, but since the C40 is an electric vehicle and doesn’t have leather interiors, I’m worried it might have a smell which could make me car sick.

Can anyone tell me why the volume button on my Levante isn't working anymore? It's really driving me crazy.

I've always wanted to switch to the 86 since it’s my third car after getting my license, but after trying it, I have some regrets. The interior, sound insulation, and loudspeakers of my previous German cars make me hesitate about the 86. Since I drive half on the highway and half in the city, I’d like to know everyone's honest daily driving experience. Let's set aside its excellent handling and looks, and just talk about daily driving comfort.

I'm a 17-year-old mechanic, and seeing these makes me itch to have one. But unfortunately, I can only dream about it since I don't have the money.

I put down a deposit at the auto show mostly for the excitement, since I wouldn't actually buy a 4-cylinder. But today my friend at the port said no one's handling the 3C for the Tahoe... Currently, only the old model of the big Tahoe is available, and it's unlikely we'll see the 8-cylinder or diesel Tahoe at the port this year. That's awkward.

Why don't young people drive this car? [Crying] I asked around and none of my peers have it.

I've been driving a Touran for 7 years, and it's time for a change. I'm looking for recommendations based on my needs. Here's what I'm looking for: I commute 25km one way to work, and there's no fixed parking spot in my community. The city is crowded, which tests my driving skills, so the car can't be too big. I'd like a space for a nap at noon, so electric or plug-in hybrids are preferred. We are a family of three, and we often take the kid out on weekends, so the car's stability and smooth driving are important as my family gets car sick easily. I often take care of the kid alone, and since the kid is not very strong, an electric sliding door would be great. My kid likes camping in the car, so it needs to have ample space. Occasionally, I need to move things between houses, so flexible space is a plus. Since my wife doesn't drive, we can only have one car. Right now, it seems like the GAC E8 is the only option 🤣

For home use and occasional highway driving, should I go for the 009 or the Buick Century? Any suggestions, everyone?

It's been a month since I locked in my order today, it feels like forever. [facepalm]

Since I got the car, I’ve driven it a few times on intercity highways and elevated city roads. At first, fuel consumption was quite high — around 12 L/100 km — but after some regular use, it dropped to 7.8. It hasn’t gone any lower since then, even though I’ve only driven about 500 km in less than a month. Honestly, every time I refuel, it stings a little 😅. This is my first car, so I don’t have much to compare it to, but driving feels smooth overall. Once you hit 100 km/h, tire noise becomes noticeable, but throttle response during overtaking is pretty decent. The thing that annoyed me most is the infotainment system. There’s no built-in CarPlay, so I bought an external adapter. While it technically works, Bluetooth is unstable, and the navigation voice won’t come through the car speakers. On top of that, the system randomly activates and starts saying weird things, and the voice assistant sometimes greets you with “Hi” and other times with “I’m here” — honestly, it feels awkward. I’m not sure if all Japanese brands do this, or just this one. As for interior space, the rear seat area is quite good, but the new car smell is still strong, so I’ve thrown in a bunch of charcoal bags to absorb it. Overall, I’m satisfied for a first car, but there are definitely things that could be better.