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The small and light passenger car segments have been dwindling for years in Australia, but new offerings are helping to revive the affordable new car.These cars are the BYD Atto 1, MG3 and MG4 Urban. They’re all from Chinese carmakers and offer electrified power options.In June BYD sold a total of 871 examples of the Atto 1. It’s only been on sale for a few months and it’s the most affordable electric vehicle (EV) in Australia with a starting price of $23,990 before on-road costs.It was only pipped at the post in terms of monthly sales by the MG3 with a total of 898 examples sold. This is down 1.8 per cent compared to June 2025.The MG3 is now one of the only cars that's available for less than $20,000. It’s offered with both petrol and hybrid power.The Kia Picanto is the only other new car that’s available for less than $20,000 and it’s even smaller than the MG3. The South Korean carmaker sold 626 examples during June, which is down 13.3 per cent over the same month last year.MG also had some sales success with its new MG4 Urban small electric hatchback in June with a total of 1015 examples sold during the month.This almost outsold the venerable Toyota Corolla which shifted 1037 units. This is down 28.6 per cent compared to June 2025.Looking at the year-to-date (YTD) sales figures, BYD has sold a total of 3254 examples of the Atto 1 despite only being on sale for a few months.The Chinese carmaker has been going from strength to strength in terms of sales in Australia. It’s now the second best-selling brand in Australia behind only Toyota, which has held the crown for the last 20 consecutive years.MG sold a total of 3917 examples of the MG3 to the end of June which was down 25.9 per cent year-on-year. For context, MG sold a total of 8984 examples of the related ZS small SUV over the same period, an 11.7 per cent drop.MG sold a total of 1424 examples of the MG4 Urban up to the end of June. It’s only been on sale for a few months now and it appears full supply is coming on tap and backorders are being fulfilled.Forecasting for the rest of the 2026, it will be interesting to see how much of this renewed interest in certain small cars carries on as the segments as a whole continue to decline.Light and small SUV sales continue to boom and don’t look like they’re slowing down anytime soon. The overall sales volume for the segments are much higher than the respective passenger car segments too.Chery sold a total of 13,638 examples of the Tiggo 4 small SUV until the end of June, which is up 70.6 per cent year-on-year. It also makes it the fifth best-selling car in Australia overall.The best-selling passenger car currently is the Toyota Corolla in 22nd place for YTD sales. Every vehicle with a higher sales volume is either an SUV or ute.

XPeng’s new segment-bending Mona L03 SUV has been caught testing in Australia just after going on sale in China.Spotted by CarsGuide’s own Byron Mathioudakis on Victoria's Great Ocean Road, the SUV remains heavily camouflaged but still identifiable as the L03 thanks to its partially exposed signature front headlights, tail-lights that form part of its rear spoiler piece and partially exposed alloy wheels with XPeng logos.Glimpses of a steering wheel on the right-hand side can be identified, which is the first time the L03 has ever been spotted in this configuration.The L03 sits below XPeng’s only current model in Australia, the G6 mid-sizer SUV, which competes with the Tesla Model Y. The L03 will compete with more affordable SUVs such as the Geely EX5 (from $41,990), BYD Atto 3 (from $39,990) and GAC Aion V (from $42,590).It shares a familiar minimalist interior treatment to many of its Chinese contemporaries, with modern touches like a large central multimedia touchscreen, oval steering wheel and floating central console, with its key differentiator being its slinky fastback-style rear.The L03 is available overseas in electric form, with a 183kW/280Nm rear-mounted motor and either a 56kWh or 69kWh battery pack for up to 625km of range, according to lenient Chinese standards.A range-extender hybrid model will follow, using a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a 37.2kWh battery pack.The L03 was spotted alongside another unknown XPeng model, which appears to be a hatchback or crossover. It could be a third member of the Mona family, with the L03 being an SUV and the M03 being a sedan.It stands to reason that XPeng would launch a hatchback as the brand has been active in the European market for some time. It would follow in the footsteps of the original MG4, Leapmotor's B05 hatchback, both created specifically for the European market, or BYD and its Euro-focused plug-in hybrid derivatives of the Atto 1 and Atto 2.The M03 sedan has been previewed in Australia in left-hand-drive form under XPeng’s previous distributor, and has gone on to become a popular low-cost vehicle in China, but it is unclear whether XPeng’s new factory-backed operation will follow through with plans to launch it in Australia now the company’s model range has evolved overseas.The freshly spotted car seems to have more in common with the SUV design, featuring a bar-style tail-light rather than the individual light clusters of the M03 sedan, while its hatch-style tailgate is a new profile for the brand.CarsGuide understands the L03 is due in Australia in 2027, and the spotted SUV is likely undergoing validation testing for the Australian market.The hatchback model is likely undergoing initial testing and will launch further down the track.XPeng is seeking to get its business back on track in Australia amid an ongoing legal stoush with its former distributor TrueEV.The now factory-backed brand currently only offers the updated G6 on its website, with the X9 people mover listed as coming soon.It is yet to comment locally on the L03 and CarsGuide has sought clarity on the hatchback model.

Toyota's Project 150D mini-HiLux ute project is on the cards for an Australian launch, with the brand confirming there would be demand for the smaller, car-based ute in Australia. Designed to take on everything from the BYD Mako (or Shark 5) to the Ford Maverick, the new ute is reportedly being developed for a launch in Brazil in the first half of 2027. When it does, the ute will debut Toyota's first tray-backed plug-in hybrid powertrain, using a system taken from the Prius.That would pair a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors for a total system output of 166kW, while the e-CVT is joined by a second electric motor to enable eFour all-wheel drive.Toyota in Australia hasn't confirmed the ute for sale here, it has indicated its interest in it, suggesting it had identified demand for a smaller car-based ute.Asked if the Project 150D was made globally available, Toyota Australia would have its hand up for it, Ray Munday, Senior Manager Product Planning and Pricing at Toyota Motor Corporation Australia, replied: "We'd certainly look into it"."If it was the right product at the right price, we believe there is some demand for that here. But it's always got to be about the right product at the right price. Otherwise, it won't be successful," he said.Described by Toyota in the USA as an "SUV with a bed", the smaller ute is understood to be based on the same platform as the Toyota Corolla Cross. It will be one of a rash of new mini ute products, with the BYD Mako, or Shark 5, also to join the fray against vehicles like the Ford Maverick.In Brazil, the Mako is a plug-in hybrid producing an expected 175kW, and promising a circa-100km EV-only driving range, along with a choice of two- or all-wheel drive.Global markets are expected to see power increased to more like 200kW. The powertrain in question will reportedly be borrowed from the Sealion 6 SUV, pairing a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor.

We just got more details on Geely’s 830kW rugged 4WD.The Geely Galaxy Starship is a large plug-in hybrid SUV that is expected to launch in China towards the end of this year.The car's 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and three electric motor set-up will produce 830kW, making more powerful than some of the biggest names on 4WD scene.This put it into direct competition with the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, Nissan Patrol and the incoming Mitsubishi Pajero. Geely has just released new interior pictures of the car on social media. It features plush seat coverings, with soft-touch materials everywhere in the cabin. It has a gear selection mechanism akin to one found in a jet airliner, with a single horizontal lever responsible for choosing the park, reverse, neutral and drive gears. There are also plenty of physical buttons on the steering wheel and centre console as opposed to the car’s functions being controlled from a touchscreen display.There is a large panoramic glass roof, and its large tablet-sized central touchscreen, complimented by a smaller display spanning the width of the dashboard. We don’t know exactly how big the car will be but images show it as a five-seater, so it won’t be among the biggest offerings in its segment. It should have a cheaper price tag than much of the competition if it ever gets to Australia, falling into a similar category as BYD’s Denza B5.Geely has demonstrated a methodical approach to the introduction of new models in Australia compared to other Chinese brands. We shouldn’t expect any news on the Galaxy Battleship this year, but it could form part of the brand’s lineup in 2027 or beyond. Geely has already confirmed it will launch in the United Kingdom, which could be a final step before it lands Down Under. A spokesperson for Geely Australia told CarsGuide at the start of this year they could not confirm the Galaxy Battleship as a future part of the brand’s lineup. 

New Chinese carmakers are slowly but surely storming up the sales charts in Australia as legacy carmakers are slipping.The biggest highlight over the first six months of 2026 is BYD. It’s now the second-best-selling carmaker in Australia, behind only Toyota, which has retained the number one spot for 20 consecutive years.BYD sold a total of 52,335 vehicles until the end of June, which is up 124.1 per cent compared to H1 2025.Toyota sold a total of 95,141 vehicles until the end of June, which is down 21.4 per cent year-on-year.While BYD still has a long way to go to overtake Toyota’s annual sales crown in Australia, during June alone BYD sold a total of 18,881 vehicles, which was just 243 vehicles shy of Toyota’s monthly result.GWM is now holding steady at seventh place on the year-to-date sales charts. It has sold a total of 30,359 until the end of June, which is up 20.5 per cent year-on-year.MG sold a total of 23,146 vehicles until the end of June, making it the 11th best-selling brand. Its sales are up 6.8 per cent.Recent entrant to the market Geely sold a total of 10,970 vehicles until the end of June, which is up a wild 494.6 per cent year-on-year. It’s now the 18th best-selling brand in Australia.New arrival Omoda Jaecoo sold a total of 8808 vehicles until the end of June, which is up an even wilder 1177 per cent year-on-year. It’s now the 19th best-selling brand in Australia.Zeekr is now the 20th best-selling brand in Australia. It sold a total of 5835 vehicles until the end of June, which is up 1197 per cent year-on-year.The flip side of the Chinese brands having sales success is a number of legacy brands are moving down the sales charts.Ford has been relegated to third place on the year-to-date sales charts. It sold a total of 42,296 vehicles until the end of June, which is down 10.6 per cent year-on-year.Mazda is now the fifth-best-selling brand in Australia. It sold a total of 40,502 vehicles until the end of June, which is down 17.2 per cent year-on-year.Mazda previously was the second best-selling brand in Australia from 2015 until 2022.Mitsubishi is now hanging on to ninth place in the year-to-date sales charts. It dropped out of the top 10 best-selling brands in the month of June.The Japanese carmaker sold a total of 24,802 vehicles until the end of June, which is down 25.7 per cent year-on-year.Subaru is now in 13th place, selling a total of 14,817 vehicles until the end of June. This is down 25.6 per cent year-on-year.Nissan drop to 14th place, with a total of 13,854 vehicles, down 32.8 per cent.It’s not just the Japanese legacy carmakers either. Volkswagen is now the 16th-best-selling carmaker in Australia in terms of year-to-date sales.It sold a total of 12,333 vehicles until the end of June, which is down 16.6 per cent year-on-year.BMW is down 8.0 per cent and Mercedes-Benz is down 5.0 per cent.We’ll have to wait and see how things shake out for the rest of 2026, but it’s clear that these rapidly establishing Chinese carmakers are going from strength to strength in Australia.

The re-launch of the Ora brand for GWM was just the start of a huge list of launches set for the second half of 2026, the brand has revealed.GWM Australia’s Managing Director, Andrew Gao, told media that Australia is one of GWM’s top three “strategic international markets”, so it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that the brand plans to launch nine new models or variants in Australia before the end of the year.The new 2027 GWM Ora 5 SUV is one, but several more models and variants are set to land later this year, including two more variants of the Ora 5, new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel-powered Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha variants, a new Haval H7, plus a new Haval Jolion Max and the introduction of a new sub-brand, Wey.Starting with Ora, there is set to be a hatch version of the Ora 5, sharing a body style with the new SUV but with a lower ride height. It’ll likely share the same specifications as the SUV, which has a 150kW/260Nm front-mounted electric motor. A longer, ‘Touring’ version classed as a mid-size SUV will join the two Ora 5 variants later.GWM also plans to introduce its Hi4-T plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain to its Cannon ute, similar to that already found in the larger Cannon Alpha. The Cannon Alpha range itself will also be expanded to include a more off-road focussed Cannon Alpha XSR, while a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine is set to become available for it and the Tank 500 4WD.For the new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, Australia has been picked as the “lead global market to launch the powertrain”, with Australian customer feedback and local engineering talent being used to shape the new running gear and ensure its suitability for local needs.GWM has already been testing the new 3.0-litre diesel in Australia, having racked up tens of thousands kilometres with at-the-limit 3.5-tonne towing weights being hauled.The mid-size SUV space, one of Australia’s most competitive markets, is also set for more competition with GWM to introduce a new Haval H7, replacing the current generation’s single-variant and its front-drive hybrid powertrain.A hybrid and all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid drivetrain will both be available in the new H7, which has had a big visual refresh. Front and rear diff-locks are already confirmed for the model, too, so its off-roading ability is set to surpass the current-gen H7.The Haval Jolion Max is also set to join the line-up, with PHEV and full-EV versions on the cards for the mid-size SUV.Finally, GWM will launch its Wey luxury arm in Australia by the end of the year, adding a fifth sub-brand to the GWM family. Which models will arrive locally are yet to be fully locked-in, but GWM says large SUVs and MPVs will be the focus.Don’t be surprised if the Wey V9X Large SUV and Wey G9 people mover are early on the cards for our market.The new model assault comes as GWM renews its push to become a top-five brand in Australia, recording an all-time peak of 6104 cars sold in June 2026.John Kett, Chief Operating Officer for GWM Australia told media at the launch of the Ora 5 SUV that GWM Australia’s access to the full global catalogue of models is key to its future plans.“For the first time, GWM Australia has access to GWM's complete global portfolio,” Kett said.“It means we're no longer planning around the business we have today, we're planning around the business we're becoming. More importantly, it allows us to do something very few automotive manufacturers can do.“We can build our portfolio around our customers instead of asking our customers to fit our portfolio.”To reach its goal of becoming one of Australia’s top-five brands by sales, Kett says GWM will need to shift 75,000 new cars a year across its brands. In June, it finished eighth with Mazda, Hyundai, and Kia between it and fifth.

Cupra has confirmed that there are currently no plans to bring back the Born electric hatchback to Australia, at least for now.“It's still something we discuss with headquarters, and you know there might be a way forward in the future, but there's no plan right now,” said Cupra Australia Head of Product Jeff Shafer to CarsGuide.“We've got, you know, Raval coming, and we've got some news on Tavascan coming soon, and I think that kind of is where we're focusing our EV efforts right now.“We need to make Born have a position that makes sense within that total range, so I wouldn't say never, but it's not right on the cards.”The Born was Cupra’s first all-electric model globally and in Australia. It was originally revealed in production form in 2021 and eventually arrived in 2023 following a number of delays.It’s based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB dedicated electric architecture and shares a number of commonalities with the Volkswagen ID.3 which has never been offered in Australia.Locally the Born was offered in a single trim level and was powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor producing 170kW and 310Nm. This was fed by a 77kWh lithium-ion battery pack allowing for up to 511km of claimed range.As standard the Born was a five-seater, however if you opted for any of the optional performance or interior packages, the seat count would drop to four.In 2025 Cupra stopped taking new orders of the Born as existing stock dried up despite it previously indicating a launch of the higher-performance Born VZ was on the cards.Earlier this year Cupra revealed a facelift for the Born which brought tweaked looks, bigger screens, as well as more physical switchgear around the cabin.Although the Born may not be returning to Australian shores, as Shafer noted Cupra already has the Tavascan mid-size electric SUV which is soon receiving an update for 2026.Additionally the Raval small electric hatchback is set to arrive Down Under during 2027.

The Honda Civic Type R is back in stock, but it won't stick around for long.This new batch of the Japanese sports car will be priced from $85,000 drive-away, which is $500 cheaper than the previous allocation. There will be less than 100 (expected to be 98) units available, with deliveries expected in December.The Civic Type R is one of the most sought after sports cars on the market.It tackles hot hatch rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf R ($71,990, before on-road costs).It has not been available for mass order in Australia since August 2025, when it sold out in less than an hour.This latest batch will not be fitted with the carbon fibre spoiler as standard, with it instead available as a pricey $4100 option, which effectively makes it more expensive than the previous version once the spoiler is accounted for.The Civic Type R has been subject to several price increases during its time in Australia.It is now in excess of $12,000 more expensive compared to when it first went on sale.It will continue to be powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, producing 235kW and 420Nm, paired with a six-speed manual transmission.  The brand was forced to axe the Civic Type R in Europe at the start of this year, due to tightening emissions standards. Honda is also facing emissions pressures Down Under, so it could have to make a similar move here at some point.The brand recently announced it will be investing heavily into hybrid models over the next few years.Honda has already added hybrid power to much of its range in Australia, including on its CR-V, HR-V and ZR-V SUVs.There are no plans for the Civic Type R to be given hybrid power at this stage.Bookings for the Civic Type R will open on Monday 6th of July at 12:00 pm at Honda dealers, and 3:00 pm online.Buyers will be required to place a $5000 to secure their order. 

China's budget SUV will get hybrid power in Australia.Chery has announced its C5 small SUV will now be available as a hybrid in Australia.Pricing starts from $31,999 (drive-away), so it’s a $2000 price jump on the base petrol variant. It is $6000 cheaper than the fully-electric E5.Chery is axing the range-topping petrol variant of the C5 in Australia to make room for the new hybrid version in its line-up. The brand will replace it with a top-grade hybrid at the same price, starting from $34,990. The brand has no plans to cut the remaining petrol C5, so it will continue as the entry level to the model. A hybrid C5 compliments the petrol and fully-electric (called the E5) offerings of the car already available.This C5 hybrid will take on other small hybrid SUVs like the Hyundai Kona ($36,950, before on-road costs) and the incoming hybrid-only Kia Seltos.Its new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric motor set-up (165kW/295Nm) trumps the power of the petrol and electric variants of the car on offer. It also provides an improved fuel efficiency of 4.9L/100km compared to 6.9L/100km with the petrol variant. The C5 hybrid adopts much of the same exterior as its siblings, apart from a different wheel design.The cabin also features a seperate 12.3-inch digital driver display and central touchscreen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. It has synthetic leather seats as standard, with the front ones heated, as well as dual-zone automatic air conditioning. Top-grade examples add ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel and a wireless charger, along with a power sunroof and tailgate.The C5 and E5 have been steady sellers for Chery, but have been nowhere as successful as the smaller Tiggo 4 SUV. Chery finds itself as one of the top-selling brands in Australia, shifting more than 20,000 units up to June 2026. 2027 Chery C5 pricing Australia  

The days of big diesel dual-cab utes could soon be over, as carmakers around the globe pour resources into a new type of workhorse.Ford has had huge success with its small Maverick ute in the US, and now others want a slice of the pie.Some of the world’s biggest ute makers are pouring resources into developing new bite-sized utes that are reminiscent of the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon utes of the past.Forget V8 grunt though, these new work-ponies will use hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric power for work and play.They also ditch the 4WDing and load-lugging focused ladder frame underpinnings used by current big dual-cabs for a more road-biased SUV-like platform.These are the four best examples in the works right now.The Chinese behemoth is preparing to reveal its second ute later this year, but we already know plenty about the Mako — or Shark 5 as it will be known in some markets.In Brazil the Mako will use a plug-in hybrid set-up to produce 175kW and deliver about 100km of EV-only driving range. It will also be available in two- or all-wheel drive.Patent filings in Europe point to even more power, with a potent 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid combo making 200kW.It will still be a dual-cab, with spy photos showing four-doors. The tray is smaller and styling is more reminiscent of other BYD SUVs such as the Sealion 5 than the tough looks of the Shark 6.Toyota has been caught testing its Corolla Cross-based ute in South America, codenamed Project 150D.Spy shots show a little dual-cab, in the same vein as the BYD Mako, driving in heavy camouflage. It is believed to be based on Toyota’s TNGA-C platform, which also forms the base for the Toyota Corolla, Prius and C-HR.Using that platform means the ute could have petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.It will likely use a similar set-up as the Prius, which means a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors to make 166kW and all-wheel drive.It is expected to launch in South America next year. Toyota North America executives have also expressed an interest in a small ute based on the RAV4.Ford is following on from the success of its Maverick ute with an all-electric alternative.It hasn’t been named yet, but it's odds-on to be called Ranchero after the company has trademarked the name in markets such as Australia for use on a pick-up truck. Ranchero also a throwback to an old car-based ute from the US discontinued in the late 1970s.It is being developed by Ford’s new ‘skunkworks’ team in California, which has been tasked with creating a low cost EV platform.Ford has publicly said it wants it to be priced about US$30,000 ($43,000) when it goes on sale next year.At its heart will be a Lithium-ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery, which will help keep costs down but will put a lower ceiling on its EV driving range. Don’t expect much more than 400km.Not much else is known, but it should be available in two- and all-wheel drive layouts. Slate Auto is a new electric car company backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and its first vehicle will be the modular Slate Truck.The Slate Truck is a little single-cab ute that can be converted into an SUV.It is a bare bones proposition with a starting price of US$24,950 ($36,200), which is several thousand more than originally promised.The Slate Truck uses a 63kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery that delivers a driving range of up to 330km. It can absorb up to 120kW via a DC fast charger or 11kW when connected to a compatible AC charger.Power comes from a single rear electric motor that produces 135kW and 264Nm.For now it is a US-only proposition, but so was Amazon and look at it now.