We publish thousands of stories every year, and naturally we keep a close eye on the readership of each - so we better know what readers are most most interested in.
But it's not always entirely predictable, and there's still of plenty of room for surprise-and-delight pieces that emerge from nowhere to be big hits. So let's check out our 10 most-read stories for 2024.
BYD to introduce PHEVs with 2000km range
Big numbers garner, well, big numbers. This April story about BYD's aim to create a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) with truly staggering range really struck a chord with Kiwi readers.
It's even more relevant now that we've met the company's AA DRIVEN Car Guide Car of the Year-winning Sealion 6 and Shark 6 ute, both of which feature dual-motor PHEV technology.
Revamped Tesla Model Y
Yes Tesla, but you're running out of time. In January we covered the proposed updates for the Model Y SUV, which were set to appear in China first, but then filter out into other global markets.
Still no sign of the car, although it remains a newsworthy topic worldwide. Clearly, people are intrigued.
Legendary car collection hidden for decades
Not barn finds, more desert finds. But a mythical collection of rare and exotic cars left in the California sun emerged for auction this year and there were some truly incredible cars to behold - even more so because they were all essentially abandoned.
Classic Mercedes-Benz SLs and Porsche 911s, Lamborghini Miuras... all there to see in total disrepair. Take a look.
Complete guide to the 64 warning lights on your dashboard
This dates way, way, way, back... to 2017 and we have never republished or promoted it, but freelance writer Anthony Joseph's guide to all the confusing lights on your car's dashboard continually pops up in our top-10 list.
Clearly, there's something magic about this story and people keep finding it. Maybe warning lights really are that confusing.
Tesla Model Y Juniper refresh (again)
Told you it was popular! More speculation about the Tesla Model Y "Juniper" update, with versiosd fo the car spotted testing in disguise in the US.
When it finally does arrive in 2025 (or perhaps it won't), expect plenty of design and tech lifted from the sister Model 3 update, known as "Highland".
Peter Fonda’s Easy Rider motorcycle auctioned
The most famous motorcycle in the world? The "Captain America" Panhead chopper ridden by Peter Fonda in the seminal 19609 movie Easy Rider came up for auction in March.
While the bike meets a tragic end in the movie, it was later restored and it was this very machine that was up for grabs, complete with Fonda's signature (dated 2003) on the tank.
How the Jaecoo J8 could rattle luxury SUVs
There's a lot happening with the Omoda and Jaecoo brands (both part of the Chery parent group) right now. In fact, we travelled to China twice in 2024 to view new models and learn more about the company.
Our first foray in May offered the opportunity to grab a quick drive in the Jaecoo J8, which is larger than the J7 already sold here and ramps up the luxury considerably.
Read the story here
NZ’s plunging EV trade-in values
One of the hottest topics in the NZ automotive scene this year has been the cooling of EV demand, after the end of the Clean Car Discount and in the face of a tough economic climate.
In April, we took a detailed look at what impact it's had on the secondhand values of EVs. It's clear that 2024 has been the best time to buy an EV, but absolutely the worst time to be selling one.
Top Gear’s Chris Harris & Collecting Cars
Hugely successful online collector-car auction platform Collecting Cars was launched in NZ this year. In February, UK founder Edward Lovett and business partner Chris Harris, of Top Gear fame, visited NZ for promotion and to host one of the organisation's famous Coffee Runs for fans.
We talked to them on a sunny morning in central Auckland, which turned out to be a bit of a moment in Collecting Cars history; Harris suddenly left the organisation in June.
The 3 most popular medium SUVs
Who loves medium-sized SUVs? Kiwis. Who loves a good "listicle"? DRIVEN Car Guide readers. Mid-year, we covered the top-selling new vehicles in NZ's most popular market segment, medium SUVs.
It's probably not a spoiler to mention that they were the Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander and Kia Sportage. On a side note, RAV4 was also our COTY People's Choice winner yet again for 2024. Some things chage year-to-year... some things really don't.