Articles by Andrew Chesterton

Mazda Australia's decision to introduce a new entry-level version of its CX-60 premium SUV should prove a boon for shoppers of the more mainstream CX-5, with the new model essentially creating a price ceiling under which the brand's Toyota RAV4 Hybrid rival will have to sit.

The Inster is a bold new play for Hyundai - an all-electric micro SUV that packs plenty of practicality into its bite-sized dimensions. And with it, the Korean brand wades into waters currently patrolled by plenty of cheap Chinese rivals. So, does the Inster have what it takes?

Hyundai has finally confirmed it will have at least one dual cab ute to take on the Kia Tasman, Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger in Australia, with the brand's new Australian chief saying he would get a Hyundai ute "locked and loaded" in the product plan within the next three years.

The MG HS Super Hybrid will soon replace the HS +EV as the new plug-in hybrid du jour for the Chinese brand in Australia. It promises more range, more power, more efficiency and a drivetrain designed for Australian roads and conditions. Those are big promises, so we put a prototype version to the test to find out how it lives up to them.

Mazda’s still mysterious CX-5 hybrid will spark an electrified revolution for Australia’s second most popular car brand, with the new hybrid-engine tech to power other, cheaper models in the range.

Chinese brand Chery is working on a unique solution for its first Australia-bound ute, and – if successful – it could form a blueprint for the future of models like the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max.

Small SUVs are bigger than ever - both in terms of sales and sheer size. We pit two of Australia's biggest-selling small hybrid SUVs against each other to determine which one comes out on top. Is it the Toyota Corolla Cross or the Hyundai Kona?

Nissan has added a return of the Xterra to the top of its future-product wish list, with one of the brand's most senior executives pushing for a "functional and affordable" ute-based SUV that would take on the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.In music to the ears of those who want a return to stripped-back motoring, the chairman of Nissan Americas, Christian Meunier, said he recognised buyers want "a return to authenticity and simplicity, not having all the gizmos and gadgets" in a ute-based SUV.Asked what white space Nissan has in its American lineup, the executive told Automotive News that "if I could bring a car tomorrow, it would be the Xterra", referencing the Navara-based SUV that was discontinued in 2015 before being reborn in the Middle East in 2021."This is a white space because many competitors target the higher end of the adventure market. People desire a sense of freedom," he said."There‘s a return to authenticity and simplicity, not having all the gizmos and gadgets. People want a comfortable, functional and affordable vehicle."The new Nissan Navara launches in Australia this year, and while the brand locally hasn't confirmed an SUV version of its dual-cab ute, the timing sometime within this generation would fit.We do know that Nissan is promising the new Navara will be a "very exciting truck", and that the brand is even considering introducing a hardcore NISMO variant to take the fight to the Ford Ranger Raptor.While the plug-in hybrid Frontier Pro, recently revealed in Shanghai, makes a sharp looking SUV, as seen this story's lead image, it's actually the Navara due this year that would most lend itself to that promise of "simplicity".That's because Nissan has pledged to stick with diesel, rather than electrification, for the earliest parts of that model's lifespan."We need to make sure that if we electrify, how we electrify. I think it will be a two-step approach, first with a PHEV solution, then later on with EV. That will be the two-step approach. That's what we're looking at, but first it will be with a diesel approach," Nissan's Chairperson of the AMEIO Region, Guillaume Cartier, has told CarsGuide.Interestingly, Nissan USA re-trademarked the Xterra name in December last year, paving the way for the model's return in that market. Sadly, no such trademark as appeared in Australia yet.

Chinese brand Chery says it has solved the brand's active safety system woes, suggesting new hardware and the expansion of its local ADAS tuning program has delivered a system better suited to Australian drivers and conditions.

Tesla Australia has conceded that brand's new status as as one of the world's most controversial car companies is impacting its results in Australia, telling CarsGuide that "things outside our control...are influencing some of the sales figures."