Articles by Dom Tripolone

Renault’s family SUV keeps fighting the good fight.

Isuzu has revealed the price of its new electric D-Max in fellow right-hand drive market, the UK.Isuzu Australia hasn’t confirmed if the D-Max EV will arrive in Australia, but it is expected to launch sometime in 2026.In the UK the new D-Max EV is priced from £59,995, excluding a 20 per cent tax, which puts it at about $124,000 in Aussie dollars before tax.If the D-Max EV arrives in Australia, it is expected to be much cheaper than that, though.Non-European vehicles are usually considerably cheaper in Australia than the UK and shipping is cheaper as Australia is much closer to the D-Max’s production hub in Thailand. Australia also has a free trade agreement with Thailand.Even at circa-$100,000 it would be a tough sell to most tradies. Big company fleets looking to decarbonise will likely be the main customer at that price.The D-Max EV appears fit for purpose with a rugged ladder frame chassis, one tonne payload, 3500kg braked towing capacity and dual motors putting it in the same ballmark as diesel-powered alternatives.Its dual motors make 130kW and 325Nm and are matched to a 66.9kWh battery, which is good for a WLTP-rated range of 262km. A max DC charge rate of 50kW will see the battery topped up from 20 to 80 per cent in one hour.It boasts 210mm of ground clearance and a wading depth of 600mm. Approach and departure angles are listed at 30.5 degrees and 24.2 degrees, respectively.Isuzu has ditched rear leaf spring suspension for more advanced De Dion suspension. It has permanent all-wheel drive and a dedicated Rough Terrain Mode.The D-Max EV looks mostly the same as the combustion version inside and out. Inside there is a 9.0-inch multimedia screen that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eight-inch digital display, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and front and rear parking sensors.Isuzu Australia has been contacted for an update on the D-Max EV’s prospects for Australia.

Tough off-roaders are having a renaissance.Aussie favourites such as the Toyota LandCruiser 300, Prado and Ford Everest are selling fast, but they have new competition from BYD’s Denza brand and Hyundai and Kia could soon get in on the act. Not to mention a new Nissan Patrol is due at the end of 2027 and a Navara-based 4WD could follow.Now, Mitsubishi has been caught again testing a rugged-looking SUV that could be the next-generation Pajero Sport or even Pajero.We’ve commissioned digital artist Thanos Pappas to give us a glimpse of what this next-gen tough Mitsu could look like, based on those spy pics and the new Destinator SUV bound for South-East Asian markets.The vehicle has chunky proportions with squared-off edges that have shades of the new Nissan Patrol, built by its alliance partner.It has the ground clearance needed for heavy-duty off-roading and short front and rear overhangs will give it generous approach and departure angles.It also has some modern flair, with bold alloy wheels and dynamic LED headlights and daytime running lights.The spy shots show a vehicle that resembles one of the shady silhouettes presented in the company’s 2030 Momentum plan.“So in that 2030 plan you’ll see the outline or the silhouette of a large SUV,” said Mitsubishi Australia boss Shaun Westcott earlier this year.“We are doing a lot of work on a lot of platforms and a lot of models, so that 2030 Momentum plan includes a number of new products that you’ve seen the silhouette of that we are working on. There’s a lot happening at the moment,” he said.The Pajero Sport — along with the ASX and Eclipse Cross SUVs — was discontinued at the start of this year due to it not meeting Australia Design Rules (ADRs). Mitsubishi Australia told CarsGuide at the time there would be a replacement, but was coy on what it would be called."These nameplates will be replaced by equivalent — if you want to call it that — vehicles in the coming years," said Mitsubishi Australia's GM of Product Strategy and PR, Bruce Hampel.This opens the door to Mitsubishi ditching the Pajero Sport name and bringing back the Pajero.Japanese magazine Best Car claims the next-generation Pajero will be based on the new Triton, which means a rugged ladder-frame chassis and the brand’s capable 4WD set-up.The Pajero Sport has also shared its underpinnings with the Triton, which further strengthens the idea the Pajero might actually replace the Pajero Sport.Westcott said the brand intended to continue helping people explore Australia regardless of what the vehicle is called.“The future is very much focused towards off-road adventure, four-wheel drive, SUV, large SUV in the portfolio. We’d like to see all of them,” he said.It could even use plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power, which has been earmarked for the Triton and its twin, the Nissan Navara.This would likely be the same set-up featured in the Outlander PHEV, which pairs a petrol engine with an electric motor and a sizeable battery to deliver all-paw grip, plenty of torque and lower fuel use.It would help it trump the Toyota Prado that only makes do with mild-hybrids, and the Ford Everest upon which Ford won't (for now) bestow the Ranger’s plug-in hybrid set-up.Bruce Hampel previously told CarsGuide it is unlikely full battery-electric power would be an option for proper 4WDs, with plug-in hybrid grunt the best alternative.“I think in the body on frame space, like commercial vehicles and large SUVs, the PHEV technology is a good stepping stone to full-BEVs,” said Hampel.“It is going to be very challenging to have full-BEV vehicles of that size deliver what the customers are looking for.“I think that’s the challenge we've all got in the industry at this point in time, especially in a market like Australia, where once you’re outside the cities and into the regional areas.“The charging infrastructure is really not in place to give you that reassurance that you can continue your journey uninterrupted going forward.“So I definitely think PHEV is going to be the bridging technology in those large vehicle classes,” he said.

Mercedes-Benz is embracing the hybrid life.The German brand was an early adopter of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) tech before going cold on the petrol-electric combo several years ago to focus on full electric vehicles.Not anymore, though, as plug-in hybrid variants come streaming back into Australia wearing the three-pointed star badge.Benz has just launched the GLA 250e in Australia, joining the C350e in the brand’s growing range of plug-in hybrids. Even the vaunted C63 muscle car now comes with plug-in hybrid power instead of witha rumbling V8.The GLA 250e is priced from $78,000 (before on-road costs), which is cheaper than the petrol-powered GLA 250.The GLA 250e pairs a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver combined outputs of 160kW and 450Nm.Mercedes-Benz claims the GLA 250e can drive up to 65km on electric power alone thanks to its 11.5kWh battery.It can be charged via AC power at a max rate of 3.7kW, which is fine as it is a small battery and will easily fill up overnight when connected to a regular household power outlet.Owners who want faster charging can upgrade it to 11kW capacity for $800.Some of the equipment highlights include 18-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, ambient interior lighting, heated front seats, wireless device charging and metallic paint.

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Subaru and Toyota continue to do the electric car waltz.The two Japanese brands are in-step with their rollout of co-developed electric cars.First was the bZ4X and Solterra twins and now it's the new Subaru Uncharted and Toyota C-HR+ duo.The Uncharted and C-HR+ are twins under the skin, but different styling and interior gear add a point of difference.Subaru breaks from tradition by offering the Uncharted in front- and all-wheel drive layouts. Only the BRZ sports car - which is also co-developed with Toyota - is the other non-all-wheel drive vehicle in its line-up.All Uncharted variants come with a circa-75kWh Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery, which delivers a driving range of up to 466km in the all-wheel drive and 482km in the front-wheel drive. Toyota’s CH-R+ delivers a max range of 600km with its 77kWh battery. The CH-R+ can also be had with a cheaper and smaller 58kWh battery, unlike the Uncharted.Front-wheel drive versions of the Uncharted use a single electric motor to make 165kW and all-wheel drive examples use two electric motors to pump out a combined 252kW.Those outputs match the CH-R+ fitted with the 77kWh battery. All-wheel drive versions can hit 100km/h from a standstill in roughly the same 5.2 seconds.It can accept a max DC charge rate of 150kW and AC charging tops out at 11kW. Subaru said it can fill the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes when on a 150kW or more DC charger.All-wheel drive variants come with Subaru’s X-Mode, which enhances its ability to tackle tougher terrain and surfaces.Inside there is a 14-inch multimedia screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual wireless device chargers, USB-C charging ports and Subaru’s Eyesight safety kit.The Uncharted follows the CH-R+ with a sleek SUV-coupe silhouette.There is no word on if the Uncharted will make it to Australia, but the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) that is now in effect is designed to compel manufacturers to bring more low emissions and electric vehicles to Australia.It appears Subaru will need more no- and low-emissions vehicles if it wants to avoid fines under the scheme in the near future.

Move over America, there is a new big SUV titan in town. China’s love affair with oversized SUVs isn’t slowing down, with MG’s premium brand IM Motors showing off its new hybrid behemoth.

Hyundai is about to drop a new cut-price mid-size electric SUV in the Australian market, which should worry BYD and Tesla.

Rumours of the quick demise of electric car batteries have been greatly exaggerated.