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It ultimately helped end Holden, and the same can happen with an alarmingly high number of other prominent car brands.We’re talking about the over-reliance on one single model in Australia.It is the ‘eggs all in one basket’ that leaves sales and financials vulnerable when the inevitable happens – a popular model starts to run out of steam with consumers.Factors include newer competition, ageing models and external outside forces like spiking oil prices and evolving buyer tastes.Here, then, are some of Australia’s most vulnerable brands due to the over-dependence on one model line.Geely’s ‘Gen-Z geek’ sub-brand has struck a chord with Australians thanks to the strikingly styled 7X, and deservedly so.However, did you know there are two other, older Zeekr models sitting beside it on the showroom floor? A smaller SUV known as the X and a large people mover badged 009.Combined, they make up just 6.4 per cent of Zeekr’s year-to-date (YTD) sales, while the 7X takes the lion’s share at an incredible 93.4 per cent. Let’s hope the latter keeps the momentum up.Tesla’s Model 3 may have opened the floodgates for electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia since arriving in mid 2019, but it has now been subsumed by the larger SUV offshoot, the Model Y.The YTD sales data tells the story, with the 3’s sales tumbling 18.4 per cent to 3326 units, while the Y’s tally – supercharged by the new three-row L version – has now breached the 25,000 mark.That puts the hunchbacked SUV at 88.3 per cent of total Tesla sales, with the sedan taking the remaining 11.7 per cent.But with no S, X or ute to provide support, the Model Y is vulnerable against an unrelenting tide of mid-sized EV SUV alternatives, like the Zeekr 7X.From nowhere, the cheapest Jaecoo from Chery’s Land Rover-aping sub-brand, the J5, is responsible for more than two-thirds of all volume.This leaves three other models, the J7, J8 and Omoda 9, to fight over the crumbs.Isuzu hasn’t developed its own passenger car since the early 1990s, electing to concentrate on utes and trucks instead.The D-Max is responsible for 63 per cent of all Isuzu Ute sales YTD. It sits fourth after the Ranger, HiLux and Shark 6 on the charts.The other 37 per cent belongs to the M-UX SUV version of the ute, and that currently occupies third place amongst large SUVs behind the Ford Everest and Prado.This country sure loves a body-on-frame three-row wagon.But both Isuzus are diesel-only powered, meaning that, with no hybrid or EV in sight for Australia, Isuzu Ute faces steep fines due to the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) carbon tax.And that’s just going to increase annually in severity, which will really hurt Isuzu Ute, unless it pulls something out of the hat, and fast.Australia’s top-selling vehicle since 2023, the Ranger is responsible for some 62.3 per cent of Ford’s total volume YTD.Combined with its Everest SUV offshoot, that jumps to a staggering 88.7 per cent. Given there are seven other distinct models squabbling over the remaining 11.3 per cent, that's a worry.The next most popular Ford YTD is the Transit Custom van at just three per cent, followed by the Mustang at 2.8 per cent, F-150 at 2.45 per cent, Transit Cargo at 1.9 per cent, Tourneo people mover at 0.5 per cent and Mustang Mach-E at 0.33 per cent.But storm clouds are in the air for the Blue Oval’s popular ute-based duo, with both Ranger and Everest sales down this year, thanks to fierce competition from new rivals including the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).While a Ranger PHEV does exist, it costs too much and delivers too little by comparison, meaning the vast majority of volume belongs to the diesel versions.That’s a lot of NVES fines Ford is facing, unless the incoming Bronco PHEV SUV and other future EVs grow the brand's share of the total market without cannibalising Ranger and Everest.With demand for the latest Vitara tanking, the Swift hybrid struggling and the Fronx floundering, it’s been the Jimny small 4WD that has kept Suzuki humming along, accounting for 56.6 per cent of all volume YTD.Likewise, the Defender attracts the most business for Land Rover in Australia, taking 54.1 per cent of all orders YTD.The Haval Jolion small SUV has performed the heavy lifting for GWM YTD, at 53.9 per cent of total sales, as has the X-Trail for Nissan, at 53 per cent.Australia’s continuous number one since 2003, Toyota boasts several high-volume models, including the RAV4, Prado, Corolla, HiAce, Camry and Yaris Cross.Yet even the brand’s most popular vehicle – the HiLux – only makes up 23.6 per cent of the company’s total sales YTD.Similarly, BYD’s top performer, the Sealion 7, is at 25 per cent, Kia’s biggest crowd-pleaser, the Sportage, is at 23.1 per cent and this country’s favourite Mazda, the CX-5, is at 26.4 per cent.The smaller the percentage, the higher the chances are your brand will weather any storm. Sadly, the writing was on the wall long before Australia's Own started to see its sales slide.Holden’s downfall is largely down to its over-reliance on one model. It was always the way, right back even before the Kingswood years.Here's the most telling stat. Australia’s best-seller for 15 years in a row from 1996 until 2011, sales of the Commodore crashed to just 50 position in 2019.That was following the disaster that was replacing the rear-drive VF series made in Australia with the smaller, front-wheel drive-based Opel Insignia out of Germany as the ZB series. This happened as a result of Holden’s manufacturing shutdown in 2017.The latter bombed so hard that it was cancelled in December of 2019, with Holden effectively over by the following February.

The Kia Tasman had big dreams in Australia, including spawning a proper ute-based 4WD SUV to do battle with the Ford Everest. Slow sales have stalled that plan, but could the ute's upcoming facelift reignite the plan?Let's hope so, because these new unofficial renders show how cool the Tasman could look if it cops the full SUV treatment. Officially, Kia says the SUV plan is on hold as it pours focus into making the Tasman a success in Australia and abroad. Slower-than-expected sales here have forced Korea back to the drawing board in an effort to drum up interest."We've been quite vocal, and we always have been with this car in particular," Kia has previously told CarsGuide. "We're very vocal with our superiors, and up front. We're definitely being very deliberate in what we think might be hampering its sales performance."If we want to be a third of the total production volume, they've got to be receptive. But it's not necessarily going to happen at the speed at which you might feel the market might be thinking."Because a major redesign; it's not simple. And when you've already invested in tooling for sheet metal and tooling for plastics, it's a multi-million-dollar process."It's that redesign that has paused the Tasman's SUV project, with a new ute required for a new SUV. Spencer Cho, Kia’s Senior Vice President and Head of the Global Business Planning Subdivision, has told CarsGuide that, while "there might be options", it wasn't on the priority list."Well, there might be options, but at this point, we are trying to focus on what we can and what we can do better, and of course, we can give much more choices to the customers,” he said.“At this time, as you know, we have the ICE line-up, and we also have close to the full EV line-up as well."For now, then, the Tasman SUV is a pipe dream.

Japan’s carmakers are finding ways to fight back against the growing might of Chinese auto brands.Outside of Toyota most Japanese carmakers are not big enough, or rich enough, to balloon out to the size of some of the new Chinese powerhouses.Relatively small manufacturers such as Mazda, Mitsubishi and Subaru don’t have the resources to overhaul their collective ranges and invest in electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid technology all at once.Instead they are borrowing from others. Subaru joined forces with Toyota to build EVs, Mazda with China’s Changan and Mitsubishi with Taiwan's Foxtron, the latter is part of the company that builds iPhones.They now have the tech but predicting demand for electric cars is proving difficult for all manufacturers.Mazda and Subaru have found the solution.Mazda is developing a new way of producing cars that would allow one production line to make internal-combustion engined vehicles, hybrids and electric vehicles depending on demand.Subaru is also working on flexible production lines to help it make the most of its modest production resources, without having to build new factories or re-tool old ones.This would help the pair adjust to lulls in EV demand without having to mothball production lines, which has impacted other major makers such as Ford and Volkswagen.Subaru Managing Executive Officer Ikuo Watanabe told US outlet Autonews it would be able to adapt to changes in tariffs of exchange rate fluctuations to shuffle production between factories around the world.“Demand trends are uncertain and we cannot predict which powertrain, battery-electric, hybrid or internal combustion engine, will sell well and when,” Watanabe said. “Making an investment decision on one specific technology poses the greatest risk.”Mazda has pushed back its own in-house developed electric cars until 2029, with it instead relying on Changan’s production to deliver its reskinned EVs. Hybrid versions of its CX-5 SUV won’t arrive in the US until late 2027 before rolling out to other markets, including Australia.But it already has a plan in place to build all its different powered vehicles on the same line when they are available towards the end of the decade.Former Toyota boss and now head of Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Koji Sato recently called for the country’s carmakers to join forces or risk oblivion, according to Autonews.“Unless things change, we will not survive,” Sato said. He is calling for all brands to have uniform parts to help reduce costs and complexity across the industry.Japan’s automakers believe this will help them tackle China’s scale and speed.

A fight is brewing over the newest Chinese ute earmarked for Australia, with the new Hunter a possible Mazda, Deepal or Changan.In fact, both Deepal and Changan already have a deferred trademark on the Hunter, while Mazda already partners with the latter on the 6e and CX-6e.The ute in question is the Changan Hunter K50 – a plug-in hybrid powerhouse that was recently updated with a bigger battery for a class-leading EV-only range.The latest update saw the K50 fitted with a 43.47kWh lithium-ion battery pack, promising an NEDC-rated range of 192km (estimated 150km WLTP), and a total range of over 1000km.It is a REEV, rather than a traditional plug-in hybrid, meaning its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine is used only to recharge the battery or provide power to the electric motor, rather than drive the wheels themselves.Providing the shove instead are dual electric motors, one at each axle, delivering a total 240kW and four-wheel drive.It was initially thought the Hunter could arrive in Australia as a Deepal, but in the months since its refreshed launch, Changan itself has set up an Australian office and is currently recruiting staff for a factory-backed operation of its own.Meanwhile, Mazda has delved deeper into its partnership with Changan in China to deliver two crucial electric models, the 6e and CX-6e.Given the popularity of electrified utes in Australia – with the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha, Ford Ranger Stormtrak and the soon-to-launch Chery Stockman all competing for sales – there will no doubt be all three hands in the air to launch the Hunter, though a renaming might now be on the cards in Australia, given the JAC Hunter exists here.The current BT-50, developed in partnership with Isuzu, launched in 2020, meaning a replacement could feasibly be due as early as 2027.One thing we do know is it won't be a Mazda solo project, with the brand on record as not developing its own ute."Mazda does not produce trucks on its own," the brand has previously told CarsGuide.

It’s no secret that Chinese car brands have managed to undercut most legacy brands on price, helping their sales surge. This has led to off-the-record accusations these prices are only possible thanks to subsidies and other financial assistance from the Chinese government.Chery is one of the fastest growing Chinese brands in Australia and also one of the most-affordable, offering some of the cheapest new cars on the market today.This includes the Tiggo 4 Pro, which is priced from just $23,990 drive-away and has already become the best-selling small SUV on the market.But any suggestion that these sorts of prices are unsustainable and only possible thanks to government subsidies is quickly dismissed by Chery Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris.“ I think if you account for inflation the short answer's, yes, I think it is sustainable,” Harris told CarsGuide.“If you work out and factor inflation on new car prices over the last 15 or 20 years actually, there hasn't really been a huge shift."The challenge, I think, that we've got at the moment is inflation's out of control. But I think cars in Australia are still quite affordable generally across the board, particularly if you compare to most countries in Europe.“Is it sustainable? I think so, yes. You hear all of these accusations around dumping and government subsidies I would love to see some actual evidence. I'd love a government subsidy, it would certainly help us out.”Instead, Harris said the Chinese brands are attracting Australian buyers not simply on price, but also a significant focus on technology.“ They just want everything to improve and to be better, and there's no sleeping or sitting on their hands and waiting for the next thing,” he explained.“They want to create the next thing. And so there's a huge amount of effort put into trying to understand the customers better and understand what the customers want and push the technology as far as they can. And there's certainly a lot of the reasons you gave before around why people are buying Chinese vehicles, it's not just about the price. I think it's largely driven by technology."I think it's fairly fair to say that if you want a car that is on the leading edge of technology, then you buy a Chinese car. The Chinese brands happen to make it more affordable and more attainable than some others.”In the same interview Harris also hit back at other off-the-record criticism that Chinese car brands are ‘dumping’ vehicles in Australia.“ I would be reluctant to speak poorly about any other particular brands or countries of origins,” Harris said.“And the only explanation I could think of why someone would want to do that is if they were fighting for their lives, and they knew that they couldn't win in a fair fight.” Unfortunately, the complexity of the Chinese car industry and its integration with various levels of government means only time will tell if Harris is right or if they will follow the same trend as their Japanese and South Korean rivals and increase prices over time.

Toyota is in danger of being overtaken by BYD.By retreating upmarket, it also risks losing the loyalty of a generation of buyers, especially younger ones, destroying the bedrock of the brand’s success in Australia.Toyota is still the world leader and dominant force in Australia, but that could all fall apart if it gets complacent.Yes, Toyota has been number one every year since 2003, and remains the richest car company in the world after Tesla.But BYD and other Chinese brands like Chery are cutting its lunch.Toyota’s year-to-date (YTD) sales have tumbled 20 per cent, from 142,700 to 115,550 units, while market share has shrunken from 20 per cent to 16.3 per cent.In contrast, BYD’s YTD sales have jumped, from 28,000 to nearly 61,000 units while share has expanded from 3.9 per cent to 8.5 per cent.Toyota assumed its premium, hybrid-heavy strategy would prevail.But BYD’s cheaper electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEV) are both more affordable and available, while Chery, MG and others clean up in the sub-$30,000 drive-away classes that Toyota abandoned in 2024. Coincidence?Reportedly sitting on a $A96.5 billion war chest, Toyota can shore up customer loyalty by once again offering more-affordable vehicles that Australians want.Playing the long game, not the wrong game, the Japanese brand’s models already have the reputation for reliability, durability and quality required to remain number one.We understand. Today’s Yaris from $29,190 before on-road costs is measurably superior to its 2019 predecessor. But that’s a moot point for buyers who cannot stretch another $10,000-plus to own one.Here, then, are the Toyotas we reckon Australia needs right now.Although it is an all-new model in a segment Toyota has not bothered with for decades, the LandCruiser FJ is anything but ‘all-new’ underneath.Derived from the IMV architecture that is already two decades old beneath the HiLux, this compact SUV is a Thai-built body-on-frame, off-road-ready 4x4 with the Suzuki Jimny in its crosshairs.Surely that makes the LandCruiser FJ a natural for Australia?Well… no. The biggest drawback seems to be the equally ancient 2TR-FE I4 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that Toyota had to drop from the latest HiLux range due to non-compliance with our increasingly tough emissions.There is speculation galore about a hybrid alternative happening sometime in the future, and – if true – then that’s what we would expect a locally bound LandCruiser FJ to be powered by.It seems unfathomable Toyota would create an SUV with classic FJ40 retro design cues, yet not engineer a powertrain suitable for LandCruiser-obsessed Australia.As a BYD Atto 2 beater, this hybrid is a no-brainer.Japan’s second best-selling vehicle YTD after the Yaris/Yaris Cross duo on which it is based upon, Sienta is a portmanteau of siete, Spanish for ‘seven’, and ‘entertain’.And there-in lays this Toyota’s appeal.Essentially a Yaris MPV that majors on packaging, it features sliding doors and space for up to seven (hence the name), with the optional third-row seating ingeniously dropping underneath the middle bench for an instant big cavity.Along with Sienta’s eye-catching Fiat Panda-esque design and capable Yaris underpinnings, it is little wonder both hipsters and artificial-hip buyers alike have fallen for the tall-boy Toyota’s charms.Finally, a growing army of ex-Japan used imports here is further proof of concept.Developed and built by Toyota sub-brand Daihatsu (which markets it as Rocky – a tiny but tough off-roader in the style of the Suzuki Jimny), the Raize would slip in as an entry-level high-riding crossover.At round four metres long, this chunky, high-riding, monocoque-bodied urban crossover employs a unique, lower-cost architecture to help keep prices down in the South East Asian region, without scrimping on safety tech.This would make it ideal as a sub-$30,000 light SUV targeting the likes of the BYD Atto 1, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO.Engine options include a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol or 1.2-litre hybrid version.A podium seller in Japan this year, the Raize is another used import from appearing on Australian roads, and it’s not difficult to see why.The original Prius of 2001 was a toe-in-the-water exercise in Australia. Its 2003 and 2009 successors proved to be successful brand builders as hybrid pioneers.But the 2016 redesign was so insectoid in appearance that buyers were repelled en-masse, despite being the first of the vastly-improved TNGA-platform Toyotas available here.That’s why the company passed on the fifth iteration locally, but what subsequently surfaced remains one of the most beautiful modern hatchbacks of this decade.Nowadays, with the dramatic uptake of PHEV as well as hybrid vehicles, Toyota admits it is gunning for the Prius’ return as a result, but it may take a while yet.Great design is timeless and, even from $40,000 as a BYD Seal 6 PHEV rival, the latest Prius would attract plenty of non-traditional Toyota buyers.It seems inevitable that a Grand Kluger will eventually appear in Australia, but when is the big question.Built in the USA as the Grand Highlander, this is a larger and longer take on the existing Kluger/Highlander model that it has essentially usurped.Born to battle the ultra-successful Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade in North America, the grandest of Toyota’s on-road SUVs is a far-roomier – and prettier – big family hauler as a consequence.It is also soon to be joined by an unrelated, all-electric SUV taking over the regular Highlander name and production line – a decision that was clearly made before the current, anti-EV US administration came into power.This mean the days of the current Kluger as we know it in Australia seem to be numbered, with no hybrid replacement in sight – except for a right-hand drive version of the Grand Highlander.The perfect foil for the BYD Sealion 8 PHEV!

Chinese players in Australia look to get even more aggressive as the country's automotive giants try to offset sales slumps in their own market with an aggressive export strategy to help shift excess metal.That's the latest analysis from automotive experts, who point to falling profits or soaring losses in China's saturated new-car market.To put the market there into perspective, there are now more than 130 brands, and there were more than 500 new models launched in the first six months of 2026 alone.“Such an aggressive rollout of new products was far beyond what the market was able to accommodate,” said Fu Bingfeng, secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, at an industry forum in July.New analysis from the US's Automotive News details the challenges facing some of the now-biggest car brands in the world. Many are booming in Australia, but it's a different story in their home market, where oversupply is crippling sales.According to the US site, July marked the seventh consecutive month of market decline in China, with sales down 24 per cent compared to the same period last year. The July result was even more stark, with month on month sales down 25 per cent.Several auto giants have released their six-month financial results, with Geely benefiting from a massive 158 per cent increase in exports to protect profits, which still dropped two per cent. BAIC, which partners with Hyundai on the Elexio, reported a net loss of 1.65 billion yuan (345m), while GAC is forecasting a potential full-year loss of 4.6 billion yuan ($958m).Changan, which will soon launch in Australia, and already has a footprint here through Deepal, says its first-half profit could slip by 68 per cent, while Great Wall Motor reports a similar, though slightly smaller, figure.Domestic pressure is fuelling an export boom, with a total 5.35 million vehicles shipped overseas from January to July, up more than 70 per cent on the same period last year.The export boom will likely increase competition and sharpen prices in Australia, which will be good news for consumers, and the opposite for legacy OEMs battling ever increasing Chinese headwinds.

Geely’s new hybrid family SUV is getting closer to Aussie buyers. Geely Monjaro is a plug-in hybrid mid-size family SUV that has just been confirmed for the United Kingdom.This means the car is now available in right-hand drive, smoothing its path for an Australian launch.The Monjaro is on the large end of the mid-size SUV scale at 4770mm long, making it a size up on the Toyota RAV4. It will still be a rival to the RAV4 when it gets here, as well as everything from the MG HS to the Kia Sportage . It is considered Geely’s flagship SUV, indicating it will sit at the top of the brand’s SUV line-up globally. The Monjaro is available with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and conventional hybrid power, but it is unclear what Geely will offer Down Under. The PHEV set-up is the same as the Starray EM-i that combines a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor to produce 160kW and 262Nm. Hybrid power also comes from a four-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor, making 111kW and 225Nm. The Monjaro is available with standard 2.0-litre petrol engines in some markets, but don’t expect them in Australia as they would incur fines under our emissions regulations. It is more likely Australian examples will boast the PHEV set-up as it provides greater performance.The Monjaro hasn't been officially confirmed for a launch in Australia, but it is widely expected to arrive in 2027. It will likely hit Aussie shores after its UK launch that is scheduled for some time next year. Pricing details remain a while away, but Geely has confirmed it will sit above the Starray EM-i PHEV that starts from $37,490 (before on-road costs).Expect more details from Geely Australia on the Monjaro’s future in the coming weeks.  

Audi has dropped the price and beefed up the standard kit for its enticing new compact electric SUVThe Audi Q4 e-tron line-up has been tweaked with the addition of a 150kW entry model, updated interior design, tech enhancements and additional equipment.The new entry-grade Q4 e-tron is offered in traditional SUV wagon and swoopy Sportback form from $71,650, before on-road costs.That's more than $13,000 cheaper than the previous base model.All-wheel drive examples are now up to $24,000 cheaper, starting at $81,650.Crucially for buyers that means all Q4s now slip under the Fringe Benefits Tax exemption threshold, so they are even more enticing when sourced through a novated lease. Buyers will pay no Luxury Car Tax either, with the previous all-wheel drive versions slugged 33 cents per dollar over $90,000.Powered by a single electric motor sending 150kW/350Nm to the rear wheels it carries a 63kWh battery that supports DC fast charging of up to 160kW, delivering a 10 to 80 per cent in what Audi said is “as little as 27 minutes.”19-inch Aero Black alloy wheelsMatrix LED headlightsDigital DRLs (daytime running lights)Heated, auto-dimming and folding exterior mirrorsKeyless entry and startPower tailgate (with gesture control)Alloy roof rails (SUV only)Contrasting paint finish in blackBody colour wing mirror housingsLeather-trimmed steering wheel (with regen paddles)Leather-appointed upholsteryPower-adjustable, heated front seatsThree-zone climate controlAmbient lighting12.8-inch multimedia touchscreen11.9-inch digital driver displayEight-speaker audio (plus subwoofer)Digital radioApple CarPlay / Android AutoThree new exterior colours - Tambora Grey, Plasma Blue and Sage Green - have been added to the Q4 e-tron palette, joining the existing Pebble Grey, Mythos Black and Glacier White, while the interior features brushed aluminium inlays and door sill trims (illuminated at the front) and cooled inductive charging pads for mobile devices..Adaptive cruise controlSide assist (with exit warning and rear cross-traffic assist)Front cross-traffic assistSwerve and turn assistFront emergency brake assistTraffic sign recognition360-degree camera viewAt the same time the all-wheel drive Audi Q4 e-tron quattro features new electric motors claimed to deliver greater range and torque.Overall power output rises to 250kW with peak torque of 134Nm from the front motor and 545Nm at the rear, for claimed 0-100km/h acceleration in 5.4 seconds.A larger 82kWh battery can now accept 185kW fast charging (up from 175 kW) for the same 27 minute 10 to 80 per cent charge claim as the single motor version. Claimed range is 494km for the SUV and 509km for the Sportback.S line exterior package (new bumpers, body colour grille with black mask and matt silver aluminium inlays)20-inch Audi Sport wheelsLeather appointed Sport front seatsBlack headliningStainless steel pedal coversAudi drive selectAugmented reality head-up displayA 12-inch passenger side screen is optional, giving the co-pilot access to navigation, media and entertainment functions. The new Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron quattro models are scheduled to hit local showrooms in the first half of 2027 and if you place an order for one of these new models before the end of 2026 Audi is including a six-year/90,000km service plan to sweeten the deal.Announcing the upgraded Q4 e-tron range Audi Australia Director Jeff Mannering said, “These new models see compelling pricing designed to provide customers with an unmatched offering in the premium segment, while still allowing them to take advantage of government EV incentives.”

Toyota’s RAV4 hybrid was the best-selling vehicle in July and is on target to be the best selling non-ute in the nation in 2026. But there is a stylish RAV4-based alternative held back from Australia.Dubbed the Toyota Harrier, the coupe-style mid-size SUV is based on the RAV4 and sold in Japan and some other Asian right-hand drive markets. It - unlike the RAV4 - hasn’t been updated yet and is due for a makeover in the next 12 months to bring it inline with the new RAV4.The Harrier is built on Toyota's TNGA-K platform, which spawns the RAV4, Camry and several Lexus models, including the NX and RX.This means it’ll likely follow in the RAV4’s footsteps and have conventional hybrid and plug-in hybrid power.Hybrid versions use a 2.5-litre petrol-electric combo to make 143kW in both front- and all-wheel drive layouts. Fuel use is a miserly 4.5L/100km, or 0.1L/100km more for heavier AWD examples.Plug-in hybrid versions add a bigger battery, a more powerful electric motor for a total of 272kW and an electric-only driving range of up to 121km calculated via the benchmark WLTP standard.Fuel use is a claimed 0.7L/100km, but this requires owners to constantly have the battery with a substantial amount of charge, as fuel use rises dramatically when the battery is depleted.Toyota has form selling two SUVs in the same category, with its conventionally-styled Corolla Cross SUV and design-focused C-HR.The Corolla Cross is by far the more popular, but the C-HR pulls in a different demographic.Toyota could apply that same logic to mid-size SUVs that demand a bigger slice of the Australian car buying pie.SUVs account for 65 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Australia, and is the only body style growing in popularity in 2026. So brands are investing more in SUVs and expanding line-ups.Toyota hasn’t officially revealed the Harrier yet, but expect it to borrow heavily from the RAV4 and the new Corolla Cross.Unofficial digital renders published online show the Harrier wearing the same lattice work grille as the new RAV4 and Corolla Cross, as well as sharp LED headlights and body character lines seen on several new Toyotas.The big difference is the coupe-style rear end with a floating roofline, which is in a similar vein to the smaller C-HR.Full length tail-lights could be an option, too.