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Chery's boss has confirmed the new Freelander brand has been locked in for a launch in Australia and New Zealand, with its arrival to be spearheaded by the new Freelander 8, which was unveiled at the Beijing motor show."The Freelander will be introduced to Australia and New Zealand," Yin Tongyue, Chery Auto chairman told Australian media at a round table event.Created as part of a joint venture between Chery and Land Rover, until now the Freelander's first model, the rugged Freelander 8, had only been announced that it would be produced in right-hand drive.Addressing rumours the Freelander 8 would be sold through Land Rover dealers, the Chery boss was quick to dismiss that idea."It will be an independent . It will have an independent network."Speaking to an insider later on, CarsGuide was told that behind the scenes Chery will work as hard as possible to separate its brands, with the Freelander brand joining both newly announced Lepas and Jetour to be sold, serviced and maintained via its own dealers, even in small markets like New Zealand.On sale in China in the second half of 2026, Chery's boss did not provide any time frame for the rollout of Freelander Down Under, but it's hotly tipped that right-hand drive production is scheduled to commence as soon as early 2027, suggesting the brand and the Freelander 8 could arrive as soon as next year.Created to be a capable off-roader, the Freelander brand will not be offered with pure-combustion engines; instead, it will only be available with pure-electric power or Chery's latest range-extender hybrid.The first of six SUVs to be launched in the next five years, in Beijing the fledgling brand revealed its first car – a mid-to-large six-seat SUV alternative to the hybrid Toyota Kluger that would come with powerful 800-volt electrics for ultra-fast DC charging.In Australia, it's likely range-extender hybrid (EREV), as well as the plug-in hybrids, are expected to be the most popular powertrains, with the former among the earliest adopters of CATL's latest Freevoy battery.Capable of 6C charging, the EREV version can handle a peak charge of up to 360kW, ensuring charging times a fraction of most plug-in hybrids currently on sale in Australia.With Land Rover responsible for the design in and out and reportedly tasked with ensuring it is as capable as any other Land Rover on or off-road, the Freelander 8 features an electronic limited-slip differential, which combines a virtual central locking differential, for maximum traction in all conditions.A height-adjustable dual-chamber air suspension, meanwhile, should provide plenty of ground clearance for serious off-roading.Within, advanced new tech that has been sourced from its Chinese partner, includes a BMW iX3-style curved screen that stretches from pillar-to-pillar.Backed up by a large central floating infotainment, the Freelander is likely to appeal to Aussies fed up with having to operate everything through a touchscreen as both physical switches and a large rotary dial are present.Appealing to families, a 2+2+2 seating configuration is standard, with the second-row bagging a pair of Chery's 'zero-gravity' seats for enhanced comfort.Fresh tech includes extra-bright 8000-pixel projection headlamps, and Huawei's latest-gen 896-LiDAR that helps the Freelander SUV support the tech giant's new Qiankun ADS 4.1 driver assistance system, which provides Level 2+ driverless tech.The advanced autonomous driving aids benefit the Freelander 8 even when it's off-road, with the tech helping deliver up to nine driving modes, evolving Land Rover's famed traction-boosting terrain response tech.Designed and engineered to achieve the full five stars in EuroNCAP crash tests, the Freelander 8 is expected to be awarded top marks by ANCAP.Announcing the Freelander 8 will be built at Chery-Land Rover's current factory in Changshu, close to Shanghai, the Freelander production model does without both Chery or Land Rover badging – an early hint that the Freelander 8 would not leverage either parent when sales begin.No pricing has yet been released, but it's thought the Freelander 8 will be positioned as an even more rugged and capable alternative to the Denza B5 ($74,990-$79,990) that's currently on sale Down Under.

Kia has announced its new Seltos small SUV will ditch a pure petrol power in favour of a hybrid-only lineup for the new generation. It marks a significant change for one of the brand’s best-selling models in Australia, with it previously being a petrol-only model. The switch puts the Seltos into direct competition with hybrid variants of the Hyundai Kona as well as the hybrid-exclusive Toyota Corolla Cross. It will also take on budget offerings such as the Chery Tiggo 4 and the GWM Haval Jolion, which have hybrid choices, as well as petrol. The Seltos has been one of Kia's best-selling models and accumulated more than 9000 sales in 2025.There is no official news on price but it is likely to be a step up on the outgoing petrol variant’s starting price of $31,250 (before on-road costs).Based on South Korean pricing, it could even sit around the $40,000-plus bracket, especially for high-specification models.The brand has not yet revealed the set-up that will power the new Seltos in Australia. Overseas examples have a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine, which produces 105kW and 265Nm, so we can use this as a guide. The car will be available with front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive. The brand stated its move to hybrid only has been directed by the need to meet Euro 6d standards and also to stay within New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) emissions regulations in Australia.There will still be a petrol variant of the car sold elsewhere in the world, but we will not see it Down Under.  One of the other major changes to the next-generation Seltos is that the car has grown in every dimension but height, where it has shrunk slightly. This has increased headroom and legroom in the car as well as rear storage space, which is now at 483L.Elsewhere inside, there is a single panel of a central touchscreen, digital driver display and climate control screen spanning much of the dashboard. The Seltos is expected to launch in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year, with further details, including price to be announced closer to then. 

Honda has continued its plan to make hybrids more accessible, with the brand dropping the price of entry to a hybrid ZR-V by roughly $10,000.The ZR-V will continue to be available with a base petrol variant priced from $39,900 (drive-away), which is more expensive than the outgoing petrol grade.The rest of the ZR-V line-up is now hybrid, ranging from $43,400 for the new e:HEV X up to $51,900 on the top-spec grade - which is a sizeable drop compared with the previous model.The ZR-V is positioned as a rival to the popular Hyundai Kona, available in petrol, hybrid and electric variants, as well as the hybrid-only Toyota Corolla Cross. The hybrid Kona (from $39,950) and Corolla Cross (from $37,440) are both cheaper than their Honda rival on paper, however their pricing is before on-road costs which can add up to $5000 to the price. Honda's pricing is drive-away which includes those costs.Power setups remain unchanged for the new model, with the 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine still producing 131kW/240Nm, while the 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid has 135kW and 315Nm.Inside, there is a 9.0-inch central touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital driver display, with an eight-speaker audio system.Cloth seats come as standard, but some up-spec models receive synthetic and synthetic leather seats. Much like the freshly launched CR-V, the 2026 ZR-V now gets Google Built-in with Google Maps, Play and voice command, as well as post-collision braking, the latest Honda Connect app and a safety system software upgrade.The ZR-V remains one of Honda’s best-selling models since its launch in 2023, along with the CR-V and HR-V SUVs.2026 Honda ZR-V pricing Australia 2026 Honda ZR-V engine and efficiency  2026 Honda ZR-V standard features Other standard features include: Synthetic leather steering wheelLeather wrapped gear shift knobDual-zone climate controlAuto-dimming rearview mirrorKeyless entry and start eHEV X adds: 18-inch alloy wheelseHEV L adds:Privacy glassHands free power tailgateHeated door mirrorsHeated front seatsSynthetic leather and fabric seatseHEV LX adds: Smart keyWireless phone chargerPower adjustable and memory driver seatHeated rear outer seatsHeated steering wheelSports pedals12-speaker premium Bose sound systemDigital radio 2026 Honda ZR-V safetyThe Honda ZR-V has a four-star ANCAP safety rating. Standard safety features include: Blind spot monitoringRear cross traffic alertForward collision warningLane departure warningLane keep assistTraffic jam assistAdaptive cruise controlTraffic sign recognition  2026 Honda ZR-V dimensions 2026 Honda ZR-V warranty and servicingThe Honda ZR-V comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. It is available with a five-year capped price servicing plan, valued at $199 per increment. 

Suzuki has released the pricing and specifications for its new e Vitara electric compact SUV in Australia.This will be the first electric version of the popular Suzuki put on sale in Australia, starting from $46,990 (drive-away) as part of a limited-time deal.The all-wheel drive version of the car is $10,000 more under the deal.Prices will rise by $3000 on the Motion grade and $2000 on the Ultra grade after the pre-order pricing expires on the 1st of July this year, with this deal also only applicable to the first 100 customers. The cheapest automatic petrol variant of the Vitara in Australia has a starting price of $31,990 (before on-road costs), so going electric incurs a substantial premium for buyers. The e Vitara will tackle other electric compact SUVs in its segment, such as the strong-selling Kia EV3, which starts from $47,600 (before on-road costs). It will also take on cheaper Chinese rivals, including the BYD Atto 2 and the MG S5.The car is offered with either a single electric motor, producing 106kW and 193Nm, or a dual motor pumping out 135kW and 307Nm. The base Motion variant gets 344km of WLTP driving range from its 49kWh battery, while the 61kWh unit in the AWD offers 395km. DC fast charging from 10-80 per cent takes 45 minutes, courtesy of a newly-developed platform from Suzuki. On the inside, there is a single display spanning the dashboard made of a 10.1-inch central touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital driver display.The Ultra grade of the car receives a glass roof with a shade and a wireless phone charger, along with a premium sound system. 2026 Suzuki e Vitara pricing Australia 2026 Suzuki e Vitara electric motor and efficiency 2026 Suzuki e Vitara standard features Other standard features include: Rain-sensing wipersSynthetic leather steering wheelFront and rear USB portsAmbient lightingUltra grade addsGlass roof with shadeWireless phone chargerFabric and synthetic leather seatsElectrically adjustable driver seatHeated front seatsInfinity sound system with subwoofer 2026 Suzuki e Vitara safetyThe Suzuki e-Vitara has a four-star ANCAP safety rating.  Standard safety features include: 7 airbagsAdaptive cruise controlAuto emergency brakingLane keep assistLane departure preventionForward collision warningHigh beam assistBlind spot monitorFront and rear parking sensors360-degree cameraMulti-collision braking  2026 Suzuki e Vitara dimensions  2026 Suzuki e Vitara warranty and servicingThe e-Vitara comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty as well as an eight-year/160,000-kilometre battery warranty. The car is also available with a five-year capped-price servicing plan. 

Jeep has debuted an updated version of one of its newest models at a Brazilian festival.This refreshed 2026 Jeep Avenger is the official car of this year's Todo Mundo no Rio music festival, which has historically played host to millions of attendees and artists like Madonna and Lady Gaga.A highlight of this update is a reinterpretation of the brand's iconic seven-slot grille. It's now illuminated, following an increasing trend for brands to highlight their trademark design features.The Avenger also scores new X-shaped tail-lights as past of a “modern look aligned with the brand's new global design”.New wheel arches and bumpers are said to “reinforce the feeling of being in a Jeep, as well as excellent approach, departure, and ground clearance angles”.New paint options, two-tone combinations, roof racks, and a new 18-inch wheel design are also part of the update.So far, Jeep hasn’t confirmed any technical or mechanical changes to the model.It’s unclear if it retains the same setups in its petrol front-wheel drive, hybrid all-wheel drive, or electric front-wheel drive versions.In Australia, the Avenger is available only as an EV with a 115kW front-drive setup and 390km of range and competes with the BYD Atto 2 and coming Geely EX2.The current version is priced from $40,000 drive-away.Expect more information about the Avenger update to come later this year.

Toyota Australia’s reputation for reliability has, in the last few years, had to work hard against its reputation for long wait times.Especially after supply chains were ravaged in the lockdowns of the early 2020s, Toyota’s most popular models became the subject of months-long waits.So, with the arrival of a new generation Toyota RAV4, we asked Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas if customers can expect times to diminish.“So on average, across our range for RAV4, on average, the lead times will be within three to six months,” Pappas told CarsGuide.“And we obviously, together with our dealers, communicate that when we're taking any of the orders for our customers.”When asked whether a six-month waiting period was still acceptable to the brand, he said it was usually only customers who had more specific preferences that would wait longer.“I think for us a lead time is always going to differ a little bit whether it's going to be a one month versus a three month depending on, you know, the grade, the colour, the spec. “And let's not forget that the RAV actually has, when you look at the RAV breadth, when it comes to spec, two-wheel drive, all-wheel drive… It's quite broad.”Pappas added, now that the line-up for the RAV4 is more diverse thanks to a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain on the way and a series of trims with either two- or all-wheel drive, he expects those looking for more ‘standard’ versions of the RAV4 won’t have to wait as long.He says it also means anyone looking for a bit more out of the RAV4 will have an option thanks to the introduction of the more powerful GR Sport model that will sit atop the range.“And the reason why we've done that is because, on the strength of RAV now becoming an icon in Australia since 1994, six generations, and it's so popular that we've taken all that sort of customer feedback, and that's why now… when you look at the range, we've got the plug-in coming now with a new halo vehicle, GR Sport, because we want something more sporty, more aggressive at that top end, with more power. “And then you can look at where the Edge sits now versus where it used to sit. So we’ve strategically done that based on meeting customer requirements.”

Mitsubishi is close to bringing back its legendary four-wheel drive.The Japanese brand has confirmed its new large off-roader  — likely called Pajero — will be revealed this year, with an Australian launch also tipped for 2026.The latest mail from Japan’s Best Car magazine, which is known for its well-placed sources in the Japanese car industry, reveals the new Pajero will have a three-grade line-up.It is likely the Pajero will borrow the same model grade names from the Triton, which it shares its underpinnings with.This means the base and mid-tier versions are likely to be the GLX and either GLS or GSR. Best Car believes the range-topper will take on the Exceed name in a throwback to past generations of Pajero.Mitsubishi hasn’t confirmed any details about the Pajero, including its name, except that the big rig will debut this year.Camouflaged versions have been spotted testing in Australia, including by CarsGuide earlier this year in Western Victoria.Mitsubishi's President Keisuke Kishiura told US outlet Automotive News, "the Pajero is a cross-country SUV that combines fully-fledged off-road capability with the ease of handling and comfort of a passenger car".“We plan to launch the new cross-country SUV within the year.”It is believed to be based on the Triton platform, which means a proper ladder frame that would give it genuine off-road ability. It'll need some fancy adaptable suspension to give it proper on-road manners compared to the Triton.Expect it to use a version of 2.4-litre bi-turbo-diesel engine, but it could make more than the 150kW and 470Nm in the Australian-specification Triton.The camouflaged vehicles give us a clue at what the new Pajero will look like, with big blocky styling similar to the new Nissan Patrol. There appears to be a large grille with vertical tiered headlights and bonnet bulges.There is no tailgate-mounted spare wheel, which could be added later or it is likely located beneath the vehicle.

Cadillac dropped the pricing of its Lyriq mid-size electric SUV in Australia earlier this year as part of a retail offer, however this price has now been made permanent.The Cadillac Lyriq is now priced from $90,000 before on-road costs or $95,000 drive-away, regardless of whether you opt for the Luxury or Sport trim.This is a $32,000 price cut from the original launch price and now sees the price dip below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold for ‘fuel-efficient vehicles’. This means if you purchase a Lyriq with a novated lease it’s exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT).The Lyriq is now priced between the smaller Optiq ($80,000 before on-roads) and the larger Vistiq ($116,000 before on-roads).There have been no other changes to the Lyriq in terms of the powertrain or standard equipment.Power comes from a dual-electric motor set-up with a total system output of 388kW. They are fed by a 102kWh lithium-ion battery allowing for a claimed range of up to 530km, according to WLTP testing.Standard equipment highlights include 21-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, a panoramic glass sunroof, power tailgate, 33-inch digital screen set-up, 19-speaker AKG sound system, interior ambient lighting, as well as leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats with a massage function, plus heated and ventilated outboard rear seats.Cadillac has previously confirmed the high-performance Lyriq-V will be coming to Australia during 2026, however it’s unclear if this is still the case. We’ve reached out to Cadillac Australia and will update this story once we hear back.The iconic American carmaker that falls under the General Motors (GM) umbrella launched in Australia last year as an EV-only brand.The Lyriq was its first offering and is now being followed up by the larger Vistiq and smaller Optiq EVs.All the Cadillac cars offered in Australia are produced in right-hand drive at the factory unlike some other GM cars that are converted from left- to right-hand drive locally by Walkinshaw.Despite being in Australia now for over 12 months, Cadillac still doesn’t officially report its sales figures.As it currently stands the brand has an ‘Experience Centre’ in Sydney, as well as a test drive location in Melbourne. It’s planning to open a new dealer in Brisbane in the first half of 2026, as well as one in Melbourne.

Mercedes-AMG has released a more affordable version of its warmed-up C43 sedan in Australia.The special-edition variant, called Edition R, starts from $121,200 (before on-road costs), which is $2600 less than the standard C43. This variant will be offered in limited numbers but a Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesperson would not disclose how many will be made available Down Under.The Edition R+ gets performance front seats featuring ‘AMG’ lettering on the backrests, and bigger side bolsters, which the brand said aids dynamic driving. Front seats are also electrically adjustable, heated and have a memory function. Seats are made from the brands’ 'ARTICO' synthetic leather, which has been given a Nappa look. Elsewhere in the cabin, there is an 11.9-inch central touchscreen, head-up display and panoramic electric sunroof. The car has 20-inch alloy wheels painted in a matt back, with red brake callipers.It also features the brand’s new styling look, which was previously only available on more expensive grades.This includes a gloss black front splitter as well as an AMG spoiler lip in the same colour. Additionally, there is a rear gloss black diffuser, taken from the design on the range-topping C63 S E Performance.The C43 is a rival to other premium performance sedans, such as the BMW M340i xDrive, and the Audi S5, with Mercedes’ example more expensive than both. It gets the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, which produces 310kW and 500Nm, along with a mild-hybrid system, paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The set-up means the car can shift from 0-100km/h in under five seconds. It will be on sale at Australian dealerships from today.2026 Mercedes-AMG C43 pricing Australia  

Honda Australia says it has not been greatly impacted by the recent cancellation of the ‘0’ series EVs.The Japanese carmaker announced in March that it was pulling the pin on three new EVs it had already developed - the striking Honda 0 Saloon, 0 SUV and the related Acura RSX. Set to be built in the US, the two 0 models were earmarked for Australia and other global markets.But just before it started production Honda released a statement saying it "determined that starting production and sales of these three models in the current business environment where the demand for EVs is declining significantly would likely result in further losses over the long term”.About two weeks after that announcement, Honda confirmed its long-planned partnership with Sony to build an EV under the new Afeela banner had also been abandoned.Honda Australia Director, Automotive, Robert Thorp said the global decision to drop the 0 Series models was “in response to a whole multitude of factors”, and while the Saloon and SUV were being seriously considered for Australia, they were predominantly for North America.The changing EV landscape in the US under President Donald Trump was one major factor in the decision.However, there are still Honda EVs in the global catalogue that the Australian arm is keen on, including the 0 Series Alpha revealed at last year’s Tokyo motor show.“The remaining vehicle, being the Alpha, which is still part of the product plan globally, is probably going to be more of an Asian-led vehicle. And therefore the decisions to keep that are a little bit different. And certainly for us, we're considering putting our hand up for that,” he told CarsGuide.“And so for us, that's still a potential option for us. And I think that, from that perspective, EVs aren't completely off. It's just really trying to prioritise the investments and where it could be. So for those being North America, for us locally, those models, whilst we put our hand up for those two, they were only ever going to be niche in many respects. So whilst it's a disappointment that we can't potentially access them, they don't fundamentally change our long-term plans or strategies.”The production version of the 0 Alpha is expected to go on sale in Japan and India next year, meaning if it gets the green light for Australia it probably won’t be until 2028 at the earliest.Honda only recently confirmed its first EV for Australia, the tiny 3.6m long and 1.6m wide Japanese Super-One hatchback. Honda is keeping pricing and mechanical details of the Super-One a secret for now, but reports suggest a driving range of about 274km, meaning it is definitely a city-focused EV and will be a niche seller.But another global Honda EV the Australian arm is looking at is the recently revealed, reborn Insight.Up to now the Insight was a hybrid model across three generations, but the fourth-gen version is a mid-size liftback/crossover BEV with driving range of up to 535km (WLTC).When asked if Honda Australia was considering any of Honda’s Chinese-made EVs, and the Insight more specifically, Thorp said “we're constantly scanning the globe for product in the Honda portfolio”.“And if it makes sense and it ticks enough boxes, (those) boxes being can we actually physically bring it to market? Can we make it compliant? Does it actually meet consumer demand? Can we get a volume that's sustainable, etc, etc, etc. Any model that can tick enough of those boxes we’ll always put a hand up and ask for.”Thorp said the cancellation of 0 Series models has not had a major impact on the company’s preparation for the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).“Any change we make, there's an impact. You know whether, if it's 70 per cent hybrid sales to 80 per cent hybrid sales, that has an impact. The date we bring in Super-One and we bring that to market has an impact. Having ‘0’ series in the future or not has an impact. But the variables are numerous and ever changing.“I will say, though, that our current plans and a strategy which have been in place for a long time, with the knowledge of what the NVES parameters are, we're very comfortable that our plan, in the material sense, works.”