Singapore’s $316,000 Toyotas fuel angst over wealth gap

Singapore’s $316,000 Toyotas fuel angst over wealth gap
Driving in Singapore was never meant to be cheap, and the government controls the number of vehicles on the road to keep it that way. (Image: Edwin Koo/Bloomberg)
Bloomberg
By Low De Wei, Yoojung Lee and Jinshan Hong, with assistance from Kevin Varley and Stephanie PhangFor most of her life, Sabrina Vu had a car, even though you can’t drive far in her native Singapore, a city-state of only 735sq kilometres. But when she went to the showroom for the first time in six years and realised she’d have to shell out the price of an Aston Martin in most countries for a Toyota, she thought again.“When we went into the Toyota dealership, they were asking S$260,000 [NZ$316,700] for a hybrid,”...

More Cars

Mini Aceman EV confirmed for New Zealand this year
The Life

Mini Aceman EV confirmed for New Zealand this year

Mini promises a blend of 'truly enjoyable immersive digital experience'.

David Linklater 28 Apr 2024
Maserati reveals all-electric GranCabrio Folgore convertible
The Life

Maserati reveals all-electric GranCabrio Folgore convertible

The new model can go from 0 to 100km/h in just 2.8 seconds.

Jet Sanchez 21 Apr 2024
Review: Cupra Leon Sportstourer V e-Hybrid - good clean fun
The Life

Review: Cupra Leon Sportstourer V e-Hybrid - good clean fun

At the risk of sounding like a motor-industry apologist, you have to feel for those brands that made a huge effort to source plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars to meet a forecast increase in demand from the Clean Car Discount, only to be left all charged up and with nowhere to go in 2024...

David Linklater 14 Apr 2024
New car sales hit the skids, plummet 27.4%
Economy

New car sales hit the skids, plummet 27.4%

The 11,616 new cars that hit the road last month reflected a year-on-year decline in registrations of 27.4%, the Motor Industry Association (MIA) says. Its sales and registration data show consumers have kept their foot on the brake regarding upgrading their cars, with overall nu...

Staff reporters 03 Apr 2024