The auto parking feature is really bad. Despite having a parking space, it just can't recognize it. What's the point of buying the top model? Everyone says to support domestic products, but silently supporting them only to be let down! Are you still there?

Does it have the automatic parking and auto-exit from parking space feature? Otherwise, with parking spaces being so narrow these days, the automatic door opening feature is significantly less effective.

Does no one really care about the car's width? Including the side mirrors, it's 2.4 meters, and when folded, it's still 2.2 meters. This width feels more intimidating than the 5.68-meter length to me. When parking outside, with a length of 5.68 meters, at worst, you can let it stick out by 30 or 40 centimeters, and passing drivers can just steer a bit to avoid it. But a width of 2.4 meters really makes parking a big issue. Perpendicular parking spaces are the most common, and a standard parking space, including the boundary lines, is 2.4 meters, which basically means it takes up the entire space. If there's a car on the right side, parking this car to the left of it makes it almost impossible for the other person to get in. If you park on the right side of another car, it might be slightly better; at most, the other person might have to move the car out a bit to let passengers get in from the passenger side. Of course, if you fold the mirrors before parking, you can give the neighboring car an extra 20 centimeters of space, but most people probably find that hard to manage.

The auto parking feature is really bad. Despite having a parking space, it just can't recognize it. What's the point of buying the top model? Everyone says to support domestic products, but silently supporting them only to be let down! Are you still there?

I had the chance to try out the new Toyota Corolla, the 1.2T Elite version. Honestly, there aren’t many changes in the design compared to the previous generation, but I thought I’d share my thoughts anyway. The engine performance isn’t particularly strong — 116 horsepower on a car this size is just acceptable. But when you push it and let the RPMs climb, it actually feels better than expected. It’s not slow, and it feels lighter than I thought it would. The CVT gearbox is smooth and decent overall, although at low speeds there are some light vibrations and a bit of drag when you lift off the throttle. When you demand sudden acceleration, it takes a little time to reach the higher revs, but it’s not annoying. The suspension handles big bumps well, but you can feel smaller imperfections in the road, especially at lower speeds. On curves and sharp turns, the car holds itself pretty well and stays composed — that was a nice surprise. The steering is great. It’s light at low speeds and firms up nicely as you go faster. The response is smooth and precise, and the brakes are easy to get used to and feel very natural — no issues there. Noise insulation is average. Wind noise is handled well, and the engine isn’t too loud, even at high RPMs — that’s actually better than the hybrid version. But road noise does come through at higher speeds, and ambient noise isolation is just okay. Inside, the design hasn’t changed much — it still feels quite basic. The materials aren’t great; most of the interior is hard plastic. The screen and instrument panel haven’t been upgraded like in the 1.5 or hybrid versions. The infotainment system is slow and outdated — not what you'd expect in a 2024 model. Front seating is fine — you can adjust the driver’s seat to a comfortable low position and the steering wheel aligns well with it. The back seats, however, aren’t great. The space is average, the seatback is a bit upright, and the cushion isn’t very long. The trunk, on the other hand, is decent and handles luggage well. In terms of safety features, you do get useful tools like radar and driving assist, but there’s no rear parking sensor — which is strange. Overall, the car isn’t lacking in features, but the priorities feel a bit off. In the end, this car doesn’t really surprise you — and that might actually be a good thing for people who prefer something reliable and familiar. It’s not futuristic, but if you’re after dependability and ease of use, it could still be a smart choice — especially with how crowded the market is becoming with hybrids and EVs. Ultimately, it depends on your needs and your budget at the time of buying.

Since this is our first family car, we decided to go with a petrol vehicle that’s suitable for both city driving and long trips. After trying out and comparing many cars — Korean, Japanese, and even some Chinese hybrids — we finally chose the 2025 Changan Eado High-Energy Edition. Honestly, the first thing that made me choose it was the design — I really liked how the car looks, and the color matched my personal taste perfectly. The second reason was the engine — the 1.5L turbo is more than enough for highway driving. Even though it's a small engine, it delivers excellent power on the road, and at the same time, it’s fuel-efficient in the city — unlike a 2.0L that would consume more. The third and most important reason was the price — I see it as an excellent deal. I ended up with a good-looking car that’s packed with features. As for daily use, both my wife and I are new drivers, so having 360° cameras was a huge plus — it helped us a lot with parking and narrow roads. Honestly, without them, we wouldn’t have dared to enter many places. The car's performance is solid, acceleration is great, and just a slight push on the gas gets it moving quickly. The space is also impressive — three people can sit comfortably in the back, and the trunk has enough room for travel and groceries when we return from family visits. The smart features are also really helpful — I can use voice commands to control the A/C, start navigation, or play music without taking my hands off the steering wheel. On top of that, the car has a built-in dashcam that records continuously. Just insert a memory card and it overwrites old footage automatically. Exporting videos is easy too. In short, for around AED 70,000, I got a car that meets all my needs and protects me from the heat and the rain. It’s been an excellent experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a practical and affordable car.

I bought the 2025 Passat 380 Star Edition, and since we already have a 2024 330 Elite model at home, I was able to directly compare the two. The main differences come down to a few added features — like extra millimeter-wave radars, one additional camera, and three more ultrasonic sensors. Most of the other specs are nearly identical. The biggest improvement I noticed is in the adaptive cruise control, which is now more responsive and accurate. The rear parking sensors also trigger more easily. Fuel consumption is actually quite good: on highways and elevated roads, it averages around 7.1 L/100 km — nearly the same as the 330 (which ranges between 6.8 to 7.2 L). As for space, it's one of the main reasons I chose this car. We’ve got kids in the family, and this car is mainly for weekend outings and family use. Compared to the Magotan, the Passat offers better ride comfort, and its 2.87m wheelbase ensures a roomy interior. Feature-wise, the Passat covers everything needed for daily use: side mirrors that tilt automatically when reversing, ventilated and heated seats, auto hold, adaptive cruise, and active braking. It’s all there and makes daily driving much more convenient. Now for the downsides: the infotainment system feels outdated. The screen is too small, there's no built-in navigation worth using, and no wireless phone connectivity, which is a letdown in 2025. Also, there’s still a bit of jerkiness at low speeds that hasn’t been addressed. The gear shifter is still wrapped in leather but looks pretty basic. Overall, at this price point, the Passat is still a solid choice. It doesn’t have any major flaws, and it’s a good all-around car — perfect for someone who wants a reliable, practical ride without too much fuss or flash. Not the flashiest design, but definitely a sensible and balanced option.

It’s now been 8 years since I got the car, and I’ve driven it for 230,000 km—and not once has it let me down. No breakdowns, no issues. It’s never even been to the dealership; all the maintenance was done at local workshops—just oil changes and basic stuff. On top of that, the yearly expenses—insurance, fuel, maintenance—have always been reasonable. I was planning to replace it in 2022, but some things happened at home—I spent a year and a half unemployed. During that time, I started driving for Uber with it. Then in 2024, I went back to my regular job. And since the car was still running great, I decided to stick with it—it still does the job. Of course, don’t expect high performance or speed—if you fill it up with passengers, it struggles a bit. But that’s not what it was built for anyway. It’s a car that simply gets you from point A to point B, without worries, and without draining your wallet. It’s extremely economical, not luxurious—but it gives you peace of mind. And honestly, in times like these, that’s what really matters.