Car News

BYD might have provided key insight into future car prices for its Aussie vehicles.Standard BYD flagship models will be priced no more than about 300,000 yuan in China (roughly $62,000), according to Chinese media.The news comes after BYD released pricing for its upcoming Da Han (or Big Han) flagship large electric sedan aimed at the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in China. It confirmed the Da Han will wear a maximum starting price tag of 299,900 yuan (roughly $62,000), just shy of the 300,000 yuan cap. This leaves BYD’s premium sub-brands like Denza, Fangchengbao and Yangwang room to occupy more expensive brackets. BYD’s latest pricing insight provides a glimpse into how its Australian line-up could be priced moving forwards.An imported new car from China usually incurs a 20 to 30 per cent price rise when it goes on sale here, so the cap is more likely to be around the $80,000 mark compared to $62,000. BYD’s most expensive model on sale right now is the range-topping variant of the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid three-row large SUV, starting from $70,990 (before on-road costs). This is not an exact science partly because BYD sells some of its models under different sub-brands and names in Australia compared to China. The Denza B5 is known as the Fangchengbao Bao 5 in China, while the incoming BYD M9 people mover goes by BYD Xia in its local market. This news does demonstrate BYD’s commitment to offering its cars at affordable price points in Australia in the future. Chery Group has a growing list of sub-brands in Australia, adopting a different strategy to BYD.It seeks to capture different buyer demographics through its sub-brands as opposed to bracketing features at higher price points. The majority of Chery Group cars in Australia rides on the brand’s T1X platform, including the Tiggo 4, Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8. Chery relies on its T1X architecture for its sub-brands, with the Jaecoo J5 and incoming Lepas L6 riding on an updated version of the platform. Chery uses styling tweaks to cater for different buyers.The Tiggo 4, Jaecoo J5 and Lepas L6 all share similar set-ups with minor price differences, but each is designed to appeal to a specific lifestyle compared to a price point.

BYD has officially revealed a new ute in Brazil that’s more lifestyle-oriented than the body-on-frame Shark 6.Dubbed the BYD Mako, this new ute is based on the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV, which has a more passenger-oriented monocoque platform.This therefore makes it a rival to the likes of the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. It’ll also form as a rival to Toyota’s forthcoming Corolla Cross-based ute.Given this car was unveiled in Brazil, it seems the target market for this new ute is Latin America. It’s unclear if it will be offered in any other markets.“The Shark 6 is well accepted in this market and the lineup is pretty strong right now following the recent introduction of the Shark 6 Dynamic Cab Chassis and 2.0-litre Performance pickup. We’re pretty happy with that for now,” said a BYD Australia spokesperson.“But sure, we are always looking at what might be available, then assess whether it may fill a gap in our line-up and if there would be sufficient customer demand to make a business case work.”The BYD Mako is the Chinese carmaker’s second ute it currently offers, slotting underneath the top-selling Shark 6.According to previous reports, it features a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain marrying together a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. Total system outputs are 166kW and 400Nm.It’s understood that initial versions of the Mako will only be front-wheel drive, however it’s expected BYD will launch an all-wheel drive version at a later date.Interestingly the Mako retains a multi-link rear suspension set-up, like the Sealion 6, but it’s claimed to have reinforced springs and shock absorbers. This type of suspension set-up typically doesn’t offer as much payload as leaf-sprung utes.At this stage now payload or towing capacity figures have been detailed.The BYD Mako that was shown off in Brazil appears to still be in prototype guise.On the outside it looks rather similar to the Sealion 6, especially on the front half, but there’s a slightly different grille set-up, more aggressive roof rails and different 18-inch alloy wheels.The rear is where things make a sharp departure from the Sealion 6. There’s a large tub with a full-width LED lightbar for the tail-lights, BYD embossing on the tailgate, as well as a soft tonneau cover.Inside the prototype nature of this ute is even more prominent due to the series of kill switches, monitoring equipment and black tape to conceal design details.However, it looks virtually identical to the Sealion 6. This means there is a digital instrument cluster, 15.6-inch touchscreen multimedia system, as well as a small amount of physical buttons and switches on the centre console.At this stage BYD Australia hasn’t officially confirmed whether the Mako ute is coming to Australia.Despite this, BYD’s most senior executive recently promised a new model designed for Australia would launch during 2026. It’s unclear whether this is referring to the Mako or another vehicle."We have another special model, just for Australian customers," Liu Xueliang, Group Vice President of BYD and General Manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division Liu told CarsGuide.Chief Operating Officer of BYD Australia Stephen Collins was pressed for more information, but would only say that the brand will “have more to say about that later in the year”.The larger, body-on-frame BYD Shark 6 has been a runaway sales success in Australia. So far in 2026 a total of 10,709 examples have been sold.

Australia will begin testing Artificial Intelligence intersections with traffic lights that can see you coming and change to green.The AI traffic light test will be the first of its kind and will be trialled on a small intersection in Queensland’s Moreton Bay.The system by Austrian traffic technology company SWARCO is currently in use in Denmark, and while the first Australian test is small, a larger version will start testing in Brisbane later this year.The intersection chosen for the AI traffic light test will be the junction of Paper Avenue and Moreton Parade in the suburb of Petrie in Moreton Bay.While not a tiny intersection the junction isn’t on main transport routes and will allow a fairly safe environment to see how the technology handles regular, but light traffic.The first testing in Moreton bay will start in September, 2026.In Australia currently, traffic lights work on sensors embedded in the road that detect waiting traffic and work on timers. It’s the same automated system that’s been in place since the 1970s and while it’s extremely reliable and safe, it’s also not flexible enough to respond to traffic needs. The system being tested in Moreton Bay will use camera sensors to provide live data to intelligent software that can manage traffic flow at intersections. The AI will not only be able to see traffic, but will be able to identify all types of road users from buses, trucks and cars to motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians.The system learns how the traffic flows over the day and is important specifically for that intersection and it will react autonomously depending on the situation.This means you won’t be left waiting for a green light at an empty intersection late at night. Instead the traffic lights know it's empty and can see you approaching and flick to green to let you through so you won’t even have to stop.The same goes for pedestrians, with the system seeing you approach and ensuring a safe time for you to cross.   AI traffic lights can also recognise emergency vehicles and help clear the way for them.The test in Moreton Bay will run from September 2026 and finish in 2029, but later this year a larger $15m trial will begin in Brisbane.The Brisbane trial will encompass road corridors, not just an individual intersection. This is where AI systems become even more useful in managing traffic flow with intersections effectively all being able to communicate with each other. Other states are also currently trialling AI but not on the same scale, with NSW testing thermal imaging and camera systems for cyclists, while LIDAR systems are also being developed to help better manage road use.Some European countries have already adopted the AI traffic systems including Denmark, while specific locations in the United States have recently started using intelligent intersections too. 

It’s been in place in various forms for over 25 years and what is now the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance has had many high-profile ups and downs over that quarter of a century.Now, overnight reports out of Japan are pointing to fundamental problems with the working relationship between two of those three alliance pillars - Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan Motor Company.As the 10th anniversary of Nissan’s big investment in Mitsubishi looms, Nikkei Asia has positioned the corporate association as “nearing a crossroads after a lackluster decade” pointing to a potential divestment by Nissan, which could leave room for Honda or Foxconn to swoop in.In October 2016, with a green light from then Chairman (and great automotive escape artist) Carlos Ghosn, Nissan invested around ¥240 billion (A$2.1 billion) for a 34 per cent stake in Mitsubishi Motors.The core aim was to collaborate on new model development to improve speed to market and gain cost efficiencies. But as the report points out, Mitsubishi Motors has shown limited synergy with Nissan in recent years.Early on, the jointly-developed Mitsubishi eK X and Nissan Sakura EV kei city cars were successful and the Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Trail SUVs were underpinned by a shared platform.But in speaking with Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory Senior Analyst Seiji Sugiura, the report makes the point that Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan "haven’t made progress on shared parts and procurement"."The investment really seems to have been driven by Ghosn, and I have doubts about whether there was deep discussion in advance about cooperation," Sugiura-san said.Nissan’s relationship with Mitsubishi is believed to have contributed only about one per cent of the company’s pre-tax profit over the past decade.And Mitsubishi Motors' market capitalisation has fallen by around 40 per cent since October 2016, which is ironic given the Nissan investment served partly as a rescue package for Mitsubishi, which had at that point lost customer trust after a scandal related to fuel efficiency data.Mitsubishi is not alone in facing intense competition from Chinese challenger brands in Southeast Asia as well as the impact of US tariffs and conflict in the Middle East. Nissan remains in the midst of a major global financial crisis, recording massive consecutive annual losses, including a A$7 billion net loss for the fiscal year ending March 2025 and a A$4.7 billion net loss for the year ending March 2026.And with the end of the 10-year ‘lockup’ period for Nissan's stake in Mitsubishi (during which Nissan agreed not to sell its Mitsubishi shares) approaching, market analysts suggest Nissan might unload part of its stake and speculation about other possible capital partners is rife.According to SBI Securities Chief Executive Analyst Koji Endo, what cooperation existed between the two companies "wasn't enough to support their earnings.""Staying on its current track won't produce new technology or business models," Endo added.The report puts forward several post-lock-up investment scenarios, the first being buy-in from Honda despite the planned multi-billion dollar corporate merger between Honda and Nissan being officially canceled in February 2025.The report theorises that a three-way alliance might eventuate as Mitsubishi' strength in pick-up trucks might appeal to Honda and as Nissan focuses on restructuring, having Honda take the lead on cooperation could bring better results.At the same time Taiwanese giant Foxconn could be a player with Mitsubishi confirming this month that it would buy an EV developed by an arm of Foxconn, with sales to begin in Australia and New Zealand as early as this year.Watch this space as October approaches.

Skoda has indicated two key SUV electric vehicles (EVs) slated for Australia may have their release dates pushed back.With booming demand for EVs in Europe against a backdrop of war in the Middle East and subsequent spiking oil prices, buyers in Australia may have to wait until the end of next year before they can get behind the wheel of the Epiq small SUV.Likewise, the recently announced Skoda Peaq seven-seater large SUV EV, a companion model to the popular Kodiaq and the stated flagship – or peak – of the Czechian brand’s extensive range, might still be up to two years away from a local launch.According to Skoda Australia Brand Director, Lucie Kuhn, there are a number of factors at play putting pressure on the availability of these two important electric models.“Here in Australia, we are trying to fight to get the launch of global models, the Epiq and Peaq,” she said. “We are awaiting final confirmation.”With sales of EVs expected to eclipse internal combustion engine models for Skoda in Australia, the importance of the Epiq in particular cannot be overstated.Closely related to the just-released VW ID. Polo light car supermini and ID. Cross electric crossover version that are already creating a buzz with strong pre-orders in Europe, it is a key player in the Volkswagen Group’s retaliation against the wave of cheap EVs from China.More specifically, the Epiq uses a modified version of the MEB electrical architecture known as MEB+ designed to slash engineering and production costs.Developed by Seat in Spain (where all models including a Cupra Raval version will be built), it switches from a rear-motor/rear-wheel-drive (RWD) configuration to a front-motor/front-drive layout.Along with a simpler torsion beam rear suspension set-up and the choice of two modestly sized battery packs of 39kWh (for 310km of WLTP range) and 55kWh (for about 440km WLTP) sizes, the goal here is to save money.Speaking of which, while pricing and specification details have yet to confirmed for our market, the entry-level version is expected to kick off from somewhere in the mid-$30,000 region.This would take the fight up to the BYD Atto 2, GWM Ora 5, Jaecoo J5, Leapmotor B10 and Chery E5.Crucially, at the time of publishing, neither VW has been confirmed for Australia as yet.The Peaq, meanwhile, employs a stretched version of the Enyaq’s MEB architecture, and will offer 60 RWD, 90 RWD and 90X all-wheel drive powertrains.Globally unveiled in late June, Skoda has yet to reveal many details about this model, but it is anticipated that the main target will be the successful Tesla Model Y L, which currently retails from around $75,000 and $90,000 before on-road costs in Australia.If the brand can achieve similar pricing to the latter, it would undercut a host of electric alternatives, including the Kia EV9, Volvo EX90, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Mercedes-Benz EQS.Both models represent strong opportunities for conquest sales for the company.“We are hard at work now, working on Epiq and Peaq,” according to Skoda Australia Head of Product and Marketing, Kieran Merrigan.“The feedback is really awesome, and we can't wait to see the work on them and bring them to market – 2027 for the Epiq, and then late 2027 or 2028 for the Peaq.”

Australia’s EV revolution is in full swing, with new models arriving en masse and sales skyrocketing, but there are some unexpected challenges facing electric car drivers.A new survey from Allianz Insurance quizzed EV drivers about the biggest pitfalls they have experienced.Surprisingly the biggest challenge was feeling nervous driving around pedestrians and cyclists due to EVs' quieter operations, with 42 per cent of those surveyed admitting to feeling unsettled.Electric cars usually emit a sound at speeds up to 20km/h to alert pedestrians and cyclists that a car is nearby, but above that speed limit it stops and the only sound is the noise of tyres on the road.The next unexpected challenge of driving an EV was the speed the cars accelerate, with 35 per cent concerned about adjusting to the zip of the vehicle.Electric motors, which drive the wheels of an EV, produce torque instantly that allows for rapid acceleration off the mark compared to a petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle.The next biggest challenge was being distracted by the touchscreen. A lot of electric cars from new brands such as Tesla, BYD, Zeekr, Geely and more have removed physical buttons and controls from dashboards and moved the controls into the touchscreen. Most functions now require several touches as a result.Charging issues (19 per cent ) and running out of battery (18 per cent) were the next challenges facing EV drivers.Broken chargers and software glitches can affect whether you are able to charge at certain public locations, with the CarsGuide team experiencing these issues regularly.Electric cars have a fairly accurate readout for battery levels or remaining driving distance, but the lack of charging infrastructure can mean drivers are often caught out with nowhere to refill.Cars often have low power modes to help drivers extend their driving range in such situations. These modes often disable air-conditioning, reduce acceleration speed, increase regenerative braking to maximum and cap the vehicle’s top speed to maintain energy.Chris Wood, Emerging Risks Manager at Allianz Australia, said more Australians are choosing EVs but that comes with a risk if they don’t understand the technology. “While many drivers feel confident transitioning to an EV, our research shows there can still be a learning curve when it comes to understanding some of the unique features and requirements that come with driving an EV,” said Wood.Allianz had some tips for first time EV owners, including talking to those that know, with current owners, dealership teams and motoring experts providing valuable knowledge.They suggested exploring the vehicle’s tech and to practice driving during quieter times.Also work out a regular charging schedule. Charging regularly at home is the best way to manage an electric car. Topping up every few days overnight is ideal with DC fast charging only necessary when really needed.The Australian Electric Vehicle Association is Australia’s oldest EV community and is focused on owners and runs regular information sessions and demonstrations for new owners.

Hyundai has officially confirmed the first models that will receive its new range-extender (REEV) hybrid powertrain technology.The Hyundai Santa Fe and Genesis GV70 will be the first models. They both will launch in global markets from the first half of 2027.Hyundai has confirmed that REEVs are coming to Australia, but it won’t confirm an exact timeline or which models yet.REEV hybrids have a petrol engine but they don’t directly power the wheels. They instead act as a generator to charge up the high-voltage battery pack. This means all the driving power is done by electric motors, like an electric vehicle (EV).Hyundai has confirmed its Santa Fe REEV is launching in global markets in the first half of 2027. It’s unclear if or when it will come to Australia.The South Korean carmaker will manufacture this new REEV version of the Santa Fe in the US at its Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant. It already produces standard petrol and series-parallel hybrid versions of the Santa Fe for the USA.Few details regarding the Santa Fe REEV’s powertrain have been confirmed yet. It will have a dual-electric motor set-up, likely meaning one on each axle and all-wheel drive. It’s unclear which petrol engine it’ll have.There’s also a new ‘high-performance’ battery, which has been designed in-house, allowing for a total range of over 965km.Hyundai has been readying a facelift for the Santa Fe for a while now following the middling feedback to the exterior design and this new REEV powertrain may launch in conjunction with it.Following Genesis launching the GV80 Hybrid, which has a parallel hybrid set-up, the GV70 REEV will be the brand’s first range-extender hybrid when it launches in early 2027.Few details about the GV70 REEV’s powertrain are confirmed yet, however it will feature an in-house designed ‘high-performance’ battery pack, like the Santa Fe REEV.Genesis claims the GV70 REEV will offer a total range of over 1030km.This new powertrain option for the GV70 will add to the standard petrol and all-electric configurations.The confirmation of these new REEV models were announced as part of Hyundai’s latest Investor Day.The South Korean carmaker plans to launch over 100 new vehicles across its Hyundai and Genesis brands by 2030. The Santa Fe REEV and GV70 REEV are just two of these models.Other highlights include the new-generation Tucson, a series of body-on-frame vehicles, new EVs and a number of vehicles especially for the Chinese market, like the Ioniq V.Among the other things confirmed at the event, another key point is Hyundai plans to launch a new ‘high-volume performance’ segment by 2030 to sit between N and N Line.It will apparently feature carryover powertrain and parts from Hyundai N, with a focus on value features for daily high-performance driving.

BYD is exporting its budget electric car formula globally. The brand has its sights on affordable EV markets in Europe and other markets, with technology from its Racco kei car forming the basis, according to a report in Nikkei Asia. The Racco launched in July 2026 as BYD’s first attempt to break into Japan's very popular kei car segment, and its already got strong early demand. Kei cars are common in Japan, representing an affordable and practical electric car option for compact roads with limited parking room. BYD is looking to adapt the Racco's efficient ‘X-Pack’ battery unit to tackle Europe’s new M1E mini-car segment in the next few years. The Chinese carmaker will avoid pricey development costs by adopting the Racco's technology for the new European segment.The X-Pack is made up of key electrical parts integrated into a single battery unit fitted under the car’s floor to make the unit more compact. The up to 36kWh Blade battery boasts a quoted driving range of 320km, making the Racco the first kei car with a driving range exceeding 300km. It also features 100kW fast charging, with an estimated 10 to 80 per cent charge time of roughly 20 minutes. This efficient and practical set-up makes it perfect for buyers seeking a cheap electric car for urban driving.The European Union’s ‘M1E’ electric car classification requires cars to be less than 4.2m long (compared to 3.4m with Japanese kei cars). Carmakers who build models under M1E could be eligible for subsidies, with the EU eager to combat imported competition with locally built cheap EVs.Chinese carmakers have been plagued in Europe by tariffs on imported vehicles, as the EU seeks to address alleged foreign government subsidies pricing out local brands. BYD is planning to open a manufacturing plant in Hungary before the end of the year, so building its new mini-car there could make sense.The BYD Racco was effectively ruled out for Australia by the brand’s executives, because it was solely built for the Japanese market. Kei cars usually don’t comply with Australian Design Rules (ADRs).The Racco would require extensive reengineering to achieve adequate side-impact crash protection and rectify other safety concerns.The Honda Super-One is sold in Australia, spawning out of the N-One kei car to become substantially longer, wider and taller than its sibling.It also incurs a noticeable price hike on its smaller Japanese-only inspiration, demonstrating the prohibitive nature of conversion for budget-focused manufacturers.  It is expected cars built under the M1E classification will be valid under ADRs here because Europe and Australia derive design rules from similar principles. This could open the door for a European-built BYD mini-car to hit Aussie showrooms in the future. It would need to be built in right-hand drive and satisfy the business case to be a sufficiently cheap competitor Down Under.

Hyundai now fully owns one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robot makers - Boston Dynamics - but don’t expect to be able to buy a Hyundai robot friend soon.In June United States robotics company Boston Dynamics became 100 per cent owned by Hyundai Motor Group after it bought SoftBank’s remaining 9.65 per cent share.Boston Dynamics has long been developing advanced robotics and you’d absolutely know its work.There’s Spot the robot guard dog, which can eerily open doors with its disturbing ‘mouth hand’ and runaround autonomously armed with sensors that can detect and identify intruders.But it’s Atlas, the humanoid robot, which is the company’s flagship. Atlas is 1.9m tall, weighs 90kg and is a fully-electric AI-powered robot that can lift enormously heavy objects, run and even dance.There’s nothing worse than a dancing robot. I don’t know about you, but a robot that can instantly do something humans spend their life trying to master is worrying. But I digress.  The Softbank buyout now means Hyundai can do whatever it wants with the Boston Dynamics company, including mass production and commercialisation of the robots. And that’s exactly what Hyundai plans to do, but don’t expect your next Hyundai Santa Fe to come with its own robot, not unless one has escaped the factory where the cars are made.See, Hyundai’s plan is to replace its human workforce in its car production factories with robots. Yes, robots are already used in areas like spray painting and transporting parts around plants, but in Hyundai’s case it will be large scale and in roles currently performed by humans.In the US, where Hyundai and sister company Kia build several models, 25,000 humanoid robots will be deployed starting in 2028.This will be just the start.Hyundai hopes to mass produce up to 30,000 robots per year and will see deployment to all its factories.When Hyundai first bought a controlling 80 per cent stake in Boston Dynamics in 2021 I interviewed executives at Hyundai’s HQ in Korea asking them why the car company needed a robot company. The answer was a typically general response.“Hyundai Motor Group strategically aims to transform itself from a conventional automobile manufacturer to a Smart Mobility Solution Provider,” we were told by Hyundai’s HQ.“To propel this transformation, the Group has invested substantially in the development of future technologies, including robots, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence (AI), Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and smart factories. The Group considers robotics as one of the most important pillars to transform into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider.”What Hyundai didn’t tell me was that the best thing about humanoid robots is that it means you don’t have to change your current factory design which is set up for humans.Hyundai says the robots will first start in the US at its Georgia factory in 2028, and then Kia’s Georgia plant in 2029.Hyundai says its robot roll-out will take place in phases with the first being centred on logistics and parts sequencing, before moving onto a second phase which will be more complex jobs such as assembly.The plan doesn’t begin and end with the US. Hyundai wants to deploy robots to all its factories and as you can imagine this hasn’t gone down well with workers who fear they will lose their jobs.The powerful Korean Metal Workers Union has 180,000 members and last week voted to strike over the threat of a robot workforce."We are concerned about job security because of robots," a union member told the Financial Times. "News reports and videos showing robots becoming more dexterous make workers nervous about the future."The union has demanded that no robot will be allowed on the factory floor without its approval and a tentative agreement between Hyundai Motor Group and the union had been drawn up with the details currently being finalised.Hyundai has argued robots were necessary, citing Korea's aging workforce and shrinking labour market. The unions argue something quite different, and say wages and other working agreements aren't being met.n a statement in January this year Hyundai said it would be “partnering humans with co-working robots”.  “Robots designed to assist and collaborate with people starting from manufacturing environments, performing hazardous and dangerous, as well as repetitive tasks,” the statement reads.I think we’ll look back on statements like this in a decade to come and wonder if we really believed it at the time, because of course robots will take over almost all duties in a factory completely. We’ve seen AI replace hundreds of thousands of people in the tech industry and I think we’d be naive to think AI robotics won’t move into physically demanding roles once performed by humans.The loss of knowledge and skills possessed by humans is bad but more importantly people need jobs in order to feed their families and, you know, actually live.But who am I kidding, Henry Ford probably would have replaced his human workforce overnight if there were humanoid robots in 1913.Besides, so much of a vehicle’s production is already done through automation from welding to spray painting. It’s only in the final assembly process that humans are involved to a much greater degree due to the small spaces and dexterity needed to install wiring and to put the interior together.But this will likely be taken over in a decade or so by robots who can carry out these duties just as well.Quality control at car plants is currently 100 per cent done by humans, but again... this could change, too.And just to be fair, the rise of humanoid robots in car manufacturing isn’t just a Hyundai thing, it’s an entire auto industry thing. It is also just a tiny part of global robotics and AI phenomenon that will affect all areas of business and our lives.I find it all worrying, especially as a parent of kids who are thinking about jobs and careers. Perhaps human-made will have a resurgence and we'll value anything created by people even more?

Nissan’s decades old rivalry with the Toyota LandCruiser has been reignited and has hit DEFCON 1.The new Y63 Nissan Patrol will arrive in Australia at the start of 2027 after a two-and-a-half-year wait since its reveal.Now the Japanese brand has confirmed prices and confirmed its beefed-up six-tier Patrol range.Customers can now put down a deposit for a specific grade with their local dealer. Nissan hasn’t set a deposit amount as it will be up to the specific dealer, but expect something in the range of $500-$1000.The big news? Nissan’s Patrol is cheaper, more powerful and better equipped than the equivalent Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.The Ti grade kicks things off at $98,990 (before on-road costs), which is $2450 more expensive than the base Y62 Patrol grade. It is also $350 cheaper than the base LandCruiser GX. Full pricing table below.The Patrol continues to undercut the equivalent LandCruiser throughout its line-up, with the new-to-Australia off-road-focused Pro-4X grade severely cheaper than the LandCruiser GR Sport.The only other carry-over grade from the Y62 range is the Ti-L, which is about $14,000 more expensive than before but is complemented by the cheaper new Ti+ grade.It’s old news now, but the outgoing Patrol’s V8 petrol engine is no more. In its place is a twin-turbo 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine that makes 317kW and 700Nm. This is matched to a nine-speed auto, and a full time 4WD set-up that has low and high gears.The Patrol has an electronic locking rear differential and eight different drive modes.All grades also have some hi-tech off-roading features such as an invisible bonnet view, which gives drivers an idea of what is beneath them as they cross rough terrain.Nissan also promotes a scavenger oil pump, which helps keep lubrication on steep or off-camber climbs.Nissan has confirmed towing capacity is 3700kg, and trailer blind spot warning is fitted standard across the range. Higher grades build on the towing prowess with trailer docking support and electric brake controller.Payload, fuel use and details won’t be known until closer to the vehicle’s launch date.The addition of the Pro-4X grade also puts into doubt the potential for a locally tuned Warrior version.The Pro-4X is the brand’s new off-road hero with adaptive air suspension and auto damper control that reads the road ahead and adjusts suspension accordingly.It has all-terrain tyres, unique front bumper, trailer docking support and electric trailer brake controller.There is no locally tuned Patrol Warrior grade for now, with the brand stating it is actively investigating a Warrior, but it wouldn’t commit to the rugged 4WD.One of Nissan’s biggest selling points over the LandCruiser is its service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km, compared to six months or 10,000km. Nissan charges $499 per visit for the first five scheduled workshop appointments, which costs about $2000 less than the LandCruiser over the first five years.Nissan also backs its cars with a 10 year/300,000km conditional warranty, which requires owners to service their vehicle at a Nissan dealership or it reverts to a five year/unlimited km guarantee.All grades come with dual 12.3-inch displays, one for the multimedia the other for the driver’s instruments, Google built-in, which includes Google Maps, and Gemini AI assistant that can control certain car functions.The base Ti grade has:18-inch alloy wheels 360-degree cameraThree-zone climate controlSynthetic leather seats and leather Synthetic leather-wrapped steering wheelStepping up to the Ti+ gets you:Panoramic sunroofPrivacy glassPower tailgateRoof railsRain-sensing wipersDigital rear-view mirrorTi-L buyers can expect all that and more, including:14.3-inch dual screens12-speaker Klipsch stereoHead-up displayIntelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper) suspension, which continuously adjusts suspension to driving and road conditions20-inch alloy wheelsRotating view 360-degree cameraTi-L+ grade adds:Leather and synthetic leather seat upholsteryHeated and ventilated front seatsMassage driver’s seatHeated steering wheelCentre console cool boxBiometric Cooling with in-built pollen and particulate filterMulti-colour ambient interior illuminationPro-4X builds on the Ti-L grade with:Adaptive Air Suspension with Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper)20-inch black-painted alloy wheelsAll-terrain tyresPRO-4X unique off-road front bumper fasciaCentre console cool boxHeated and ventilated front row seatsHeated steering wheelTrailer docking supportElectric trailer brake controllerBiometric Cooling with in-built pollen and particulate filterRange-topping Ti-L Reserve boasts the Ti-L+’s kit and:Adaptive Air Suspension with Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper)22-inch step-machined alloy wheelsTrailer docking supportElectric trailer brake controllerDual 12.8-inch second-row entertainment screensDriver and front passenger massage seats