GWM Advice

This could be the future of car multimedia.Officially launched in May this year, Apple CarPlay Ultra is the next generation of Apple CarPlay, a smartphone mirroring platform that’s enjoyed by millions of iPhone users every day.Yep, Android owners, this review isn’t for you – unless you’re considering making the switch to Apple’s iOS mobile software.It’s the Apple CarPlay many have come to know and love, but it takes control of all of your vehicle’s screens, as opposed to just its central display.It also assumes control of (nearly) all of your vehicle’s functions, including its climate, camera and radio controls, plus all other general settings.Point being, it’s a complete Apple takeover, which is good news if you’re a fan of its ecosystem.And let’s face it, many car brands’ default multimedia systems are underwhelming for a multitude of reasons, including bad user interfaces and limited functionality.Apple CarPlay and even its Android Auto competitor don’t suffer from those issues as they are literal mirrors of the user-friendly and highly capable smartphones that we love to use every day.Most users will say their primary reason for preferencing Apple CarPlay or Android Auto over their vehicle’s default multimedia system is access to their favourite satellite navigation platform, be it Apple Maps, Google Maps or a third party.Several car brands have either launched or are in the process of rolling out new default multimedia systems based on Android Automotive, which is a car-specific derivative of Android Auto with Google Maps and Google Play built in.Much like Apple CarPlay Ultra, Android Automotive takes over all of a vehicle’s screens and functions – and sometimes even still offers Apple CarPlay support – but it differs by being the default multimedia system.Apple CarPlay Ultra sets itself apart as it can be wirelessly streamed on demand to any vehicle that supports it.Apple CarPlay Ultra’s first problem is availability. The first model to support it was the highly attainable Aston Martin DBX707 large SUV. It’s priced from a lazy $462,500, plus on-road costs, for reference. And yes, I am being sarcastic.You would’ve thought that car brands beyond Aston Martin would’ve jumped at the opportunity to offer the latest smartphone mirroring platform, but they haven’t for several reasons.Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volvo, Polestar, Renault, Rivian and Lincoln have either cancelled or said they have no plans to support Apple CarPlay Ultra, with some saying they are not impressed with its first version due to the level of control it gives to Apple.General Motors’ Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC brands are also unlikely to support Apple CarPlay Ultra in its new electric vehicles due to its controversial decision to not even support regular Apple CarPlay.That said, Hyundai, Kia, Porsche and Genesis, as well as Aston Martin, remain committed to adding support for Apple CarPlay Ultra in the 12 months from its launch, meaning they should start to release their versions by May 2026.Nissan, Honda, Land Rover, Jaguar, Infiniti and Acura also announced plans for Apple CarPlay Ultra support when it was previewed at Apple’s WWDC 2022 event, but it remains to be seen if they’ve changed like so many others have.Another sticking point for car brands is the implementation of Apple’s user interface and experience, which differs greatly from their own.However, Apple is open to working with car brands to put their own design spin on their version of Apple CarPlay Ultra, with Aston Martin being the first example.To work out what this actually means, I got the keys to a MY25 Aston Martin DBX707 to give it a red-hot go.First thing’s first, getting Apple CarPlay Ultra set up is a very similar process to that of regular Apple CarPlay, but you have to wait a little bit longer.Once you’re in, the central display has a very familiar look to it, but the home screen features three new apps: Climate, Radio and Vehicle.As mentioned, the Climate and Radio apps do exactly what you think they will and well.But it’s the Vehicle app that is the most interesting, as in the case of the DBX707, it features everything from Individual drive mode customisation to clock settings.That said, while the DBX707’s delightful Bowers & Wilkins sound system has its own setting menu, if you click on it, it will ironically boot you out to an inset version of the default multimedia system to make your adjustments. The same goes for its ambient lighting.Presumably this happens because Apple and the car brand (Aston Martin in this instance) haven’t configured some of these more bespoke settings.And for that reason Apple CarPlay Ultra doesn’t quite live up to the hype for me. Don’t get me wrong, it is very, very exciting for a tech nerd like myself, but it’s also very clearly a first version.When it inevitably becomes all encompassing with a future iOS update, it will be a true game changer due to its ease of use, particularly as drivers move from one car to another.But wait, there’s more! Apple CarPlay Ultra also takes control of the DBX707’s digital instrument cluster and it’s really where Aston Martin gets to flex its design muscle in conjunction with Apple.Different themes for the driver display are available, with the ‘traditional’ one featuring a speedometer and tachometer, which are split by an even more customisable section. It features either maps, current media, adaptive cruise control, the trip computer, tyre pressures or more.The colours and layouts are at the discretion of the car brand, with Aston Martin using its signature hues (think green) in the DBX707.The British marque also goes a step further with the aforementioned tachometer, which features very subtle ‘Handbuilt in Great Britain’ lettering in the top right corner.Another interesting thing about the Apple CarPlay Ultra experience is that every time you turn your vehicle’s ignition on, it automatically activates – but it takes a decent amount of time to do so, during which you get to experience the default multimedia system.It’s still very early days for Apple CarPlay Ultra, but the early signs are very promising. It offers iPhone users an interface that they’re familiar with and an experience that they’ll likely love.But Apple CarPlay Ultra’s success will mainly be dictated by the support of car brands, which need to play ball to roll it out. Also, it’s got a few more vehicle settings that it needs to fully integrate.But there’s no doubt that Apple CarPlay Ultra’s potential is very high.

What is the safest car in Australia?

Affordable electric cars are an emerging market in Australia - and the timing couldn’t be better.

Just like passenger cars and SUVs, the world of utes and pick-ups is set for an electric transformation in the coming decade. Medium and heavy-duty trucks and even semis are also set to be a part of this change, with big-name brands such as Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbilt and Volvo joining Tesla in the electric prime mover market.

Electric cars come in all shapes and sizes these days, but arguably the most logical shape is the hatchback. Why? Well, as much as Australians love SUVs and bigger luxury cars, the humble hatch makes the most efficient use of space. And if you’re going to buy an electric car, it makes sense to be concerned about efficiency.Thankfully, in contrast with an overall decline in the small-car market, there is an increasingly diverse range of battery-powered hatchbacks to choose from. The list of hatchback electric cars is getting longer each month with new brands jumping into the fray.And while space and size are key attractions of the electric hatch, there is another element that makes them popular - price. At the time of publication the most affordable electric car you can buy is an EV hatchback, opening up the nascent market for more people.One excellent example is the much-praised MG4, which has emerged not only as one of the better selling EVs in the country but is on track to be one of the most popular small cars over all. In 2023, it out sold the likes of the Subaru Impreza and Honda Civic and is trending upwards in 2024.Yet another reason why electric hatches are gaining popularity in Australia is availability, with those willing to look beyond an SUV discovering a good supply of electric hatchbacks in Australia.This is because of the volume of choice and diversity of models, with at least eight examples already in showrooms and more planned to follow in the near future.The biggest questions are what is the future of electric hatchbacks expected to look like in Australia?The answer to the question is more choice for smaller, more affordable EVs, but there is also likely to be more crossover between a true hatchback and a modern crossover. Models like the Renault Megane E-Tech and Volvo EX30 blur the lines between a hatch and an SUV but that appears to be a future trend.One key element missing from the market is a Tesla hatchback, and that would be a potential game changer. The American brand has repeatedly hinted at adding a hatch, likely to be known as the Model 2, as a cheaper offering to sit beneath the Model 3 sedan.In the shorter-term there are several new EV hatches likely to be hitting Australian roads in the not-too-distant future, including the Volkswagen ID.3, Peugeot e-208 and Renault 5 E-Tech.Not that we need to gaze longingly into a crystal ball to look for the next small EV. Below is a list of the best electric hatchbacks on the Australian market at the time of publication.Ranking the list of available electric hatchbacks by price is no easy task thanks to the highly competitive nature of the market at this moment in time.MG announced its small car would be the cheapest EV at $39,990, only for BYD to undercut it within days, and then GWM joined the party. It only gets more confusing thanks to a series of drive-away deals, such as the one GWM is currently (at time of publication) offering on its (not-at-all-a-Mini-why-do-you-ask) Ora small car.Its original asking price of $39,990 drive-away has been slashed to $35,990, making it the cheapest EV you can buy. For the money, you get up to 310km of driving range on a single charge and 126kW of performance.If you’re looking to Build Your Dreams of an electric car on a budget, then the Dolphin is for you. It arrived with a bang, sporting the lowest sticker price of any EV in Australia by starting at $38,890, which undercut the Ora and MG4 by $100 - at least on paper, at the time. However, the Chinese brand is offering a drive-away price of $41,490, which makes it more expensive than the GWM and MG in this current price war.For that money you get a Dolphin Dynamic, a small car with space for five, a 70kW/180Nm electric motor and a battery good for 340km of driving range. There’s a Dolphin Premium, with a 150kW/310Nm motor and 427km of range (plus bigger wheels, two-tone paint and other extras) but that’s an additional $6000.The price of the MG4 is another moving target in the battle for affordability being fought out amongst the three Chinese carmakers. It has floated up and down, reaching as low as $39,990 drive-away for the run-out sale of 2023 examples, but was sitting at $43,131 drive-away for the 2024 model at the time of publication.It’s a spacious and practical small car, with 350km range from its 51kWh battery and a 125kW motor for the entry-level Excite 51 model that has the sharpest price.There are three more variants in the range, the 64kWh and 77kWh standard models and the MG4 XPower electric hot hatch. The latter boasts impressive performance credentials, with 320kW/600Nm and 400km of range for $63,973 drive-away.The fully electric hatchback that arguably started it all, the Leaf was the first mainstream small EV hatchback that was broadly accepted in the local market (with apologies to the Mitsubishi i-MiEV) way back in 2012, when the Tesla Cybertruck wasn’t even a glint in Elon Musk’s mad eyes.Even though a second-generation model was introduced in 2018 (which was largely a makeover) the Leaf is starting to show its age in terms of both design and technology.The standard model is equipped with a 39kWh battery that’s only enough for 270km of range and it powers a 110kW motor. There’s a more powerful Leaf+ available, which gains a 58kWh battery to boost range to 385km.Its official list price is $50,990, but in a bid to keep up with its newer competition, Nissan Australia is offering it for $39,990 drive-away for the standard model and $49,990 drive-away for the Leaf+.If you’re looking for a truly compact electric car then look no further than this pint-sized city runabout. Fiat has managed to keep the tiny dimensions of the petrol-powered 500 and package up an all-electric powertrain inside a stylish small car.It’s not a cheap proposition at $52,500 plus on-road costs, which makes it a premium EV by many standards, but it is well-equipped for the price and does give you a more upmarket feel than most of the cars on this list.It doesn’t have a particularly powerful motor, just 87kW/220Nm, but it certainly feels zippy on the road. Being so small it can’t fit lots of batteries, so the range is limited to just 311km, which does limit it to being more of an urban EV rather than something for long-distance drives.If you like the Fiat but want something sportier, you can consider the Abarth 500e. The Italian brand’s performance division has wound up the power to 113.7kW/235Nm and added a sound generator for a more exciting driving experience.It carries a price premium, too, starting at $58,990 (plus on-road costs) for the Turismo and $60,500 for the Scorpionissima variant.The British brand may not be thought of in the same sentence as Tesla and Polestar, but it is surprisingly ahead of the curve when it comes to EVs. It has just launched its second-generation electric Cooper hatch with an electric Countryman and Aceman to follow soon.It’s arrived with a sharp $59,830 drive-away price for the Cooper E and $65,040 for the more potent Cooper SE, no doubt helped by the brand’s decision to share development and production with GWM.The Cooper E boasts 135kW and a 305km range, with the Cooper SE boosting those numbers to 160kW and 402km.While Volkswagen awaits its first EVs, its Spanish off-shoot is already leading the way with its electric hot hatch. While it’s significantly more expensive than the first cars on this list, it comes with more features, equipment, performance and range to help justify the extra ask.Key amongst its performance credentials is the fact it’s rear-wheel drive, something few other hatches can claim. It’s powered by a 170kW/310Nm motor to provide hot-hatch levels of speed and has a 82kWh battery that provides an impressive 511km of claimed driving range.

Deciding on the best value car in Australia is not a straightforward task. Among other things, it depends on A: How an individual buyer values different elements, and: B: What properties and skill-sets are most important to a particular type of car.

Here's everything you need to know about the service schedule and pricing of current GWM and Haval models