EV Reviews

Camrys have been dull for years and the hybrid Camry seemed like simply an imaginative new way to generate jokes about it being an even quieter accountant on wheels. The new Camry, though, is a bit tougher. It's been to the gym and is sick of us all laughing at it.

Mitsubishi's Outlander is a popular family workhorse, and the addition of a hybrid drivetrain in PHEV versions adds a touch of high-tech sizzle, not to mention dramatically reduced fuel bills.

The Outlander Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle - PHEV - is now available across all three specifications - ES, LS and Exceed.  All Outlanders have a minimum spec of 18-inch alloys, a six-speaker sound system, reversing camera, remote central locking, climate control, cruise control, leather gearshift and steering wheel. Step up to the LS and you can add auto headlights and wipers, partial leather interior with micro-suede inserts, keyless entry and start, electric front seats, heated and folding power mirrors and electrochromatic rear vision mirror. And finally, the Exceed offers active cruise control, keyless entry and start, electric heated front seats and a sunroof. The presence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto makes up for the lack of sat nav. There is also DAB radio, six speakers, USB and Bluetooth. The 7.0-inch touch screen, familiar from the ASX, is of the "it's alright, I guess" approach to touchscreen hardware. Looks good, though. Standard across the range are seven airbags, ABS, stability and traction controls and a reversing camera. The ADAS package - optional on ES models, standard on the rest - includes reverse parking sensors, forward AEB, lane-departure warning, active cruise, reverse parking sensors and auto high beam.  The ADAS package, which is an option on the ES and standard on LS and Exceed, includes forward AEB, lane-departure warning, active cruise and auto high beam. Step up to the Exceed and you can also expect lane change warning, lane change assist, around view camera, reverse cross traffic alert, blind spot warning and auto high beam The Outlander range scored five ANCAP stars in 2014.

The Toyota Corolla has just ticked over into its 12th generation after selling millions all over the world and is an absolute testament to Toyota's unique blend of quality and crushing dullness.

The Prius has been Toyota's eco ice-breaker for a couple of decades, but have time and other hybrids in the brand's mainstream range overtaken it?

Tesla forged a position in the automotive market by challenging people's expectations, and with the Model X the company challenges more than just perceptions.

The Toyota Corolla 2018 hatchback range is now available with a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain in every variant. Previously buyers were only able to access a sole hybrid version, but now there's the choice between the Ascent Sport ($25,870), SX ($28,370) or ZR ($31,870). Every Toyota Corolla hybrid model has a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric drivetrain that combines Toyota's 'e-CVT' automatic transmission with a nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack and an electric motor with maximum outputs of 53kW/163Nm. Combined maximum power is 90kW. Fuel consumption is class-leading, rated at 4.2L/100km. So, what do you get in each grade of Corolla hybrid? Here's a rundown. The Ascent Sport has LED headlights (with auto high-beam), LED daytime running lights, LED tail-lights, 16-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch touchscreen media system with Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, voice recognition, USB/auxiliary connectivity and a six-speaker stereo, push-button start, keyless entry and dual-zone climate control. All Ascent Sport models come with a plastic steering wheel with audio controls, but at least there's an electric park brake and a 4.2-inch colour info display for the driver. Safety has been a big focus for Toyota, with every automatic Corolla fitted with auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection (day and night) and bicyclist detection (day), adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist, speed sign recognition, active cornering control (torque vectoring by braking), a reversing camera and seven airbags (dual front, front side, curtain and driver's knee). The next step up is the SX, which adds fog-lights, privacy glass, a 'premium steering wheel', a wireless phone charger, DAB+/DAB digital radio and satellite navigation with live traffic updates. The SX has two USB ports (one front, one rear), and blind-spot monitoring is added to this grade and the one above. Flagship ZR grade versions look the sportiest of the lot, with a set of 18-inch alloy wheels adding some presence. Inside there are heated front sports seats, leather/'ultrasuede' seat trim, driver's lumbar adjustment, a 7.0-inch driver info display, ambient lighting, a head-up display and a JBL sound system with eight speakers. ZR models also gain electro-chromatic (auto-dimming) rear-view mirror and high-grade bi-LED headlamps. ZR hybrids have the biggest boot capacity of all Corolla hatch models, with 333 litres of cargo space (VDA). The rest of the hybrid models have a space-saver spare wheel, which impacts boot space to the tune of more than a hundred litres (217L).

Weighing in at $135,600, the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid sits between the entry-level Cayenne and more performance-focused Cayenne S.

If you need a family friendly vehicle that uses very little fuel, you might think that you have to buy a diesel seven-seat SUV, but that's not the case.

Porsche's drive towards electrification continues, and the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid represents an interesting fast GT/luxury-limo mash-up that stands apart from the usual suspects.