Articles by Jack Quick

Best new cars coming to Australia in 2026

Before the Toyota HiLux BEV and Isuzu D-Max EV arrives, South Korea's KGM has beaten them to the punch with its new electric dual-cab ute, the Musso EV.

China's GWM is set to launch a new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine option in the Prado-rivalling Tank 500 SUV in the second half of 2025. It will also feature in the related Cannon Alpha ute.Orders for the new-generation Nissan Patrol Y63 will open in Australia late in 2026, ahead of first deliveries in 2027.An update for the Suzuki Jimny three-door will see it return for local sale in early 2026. It will feature safety technology that's already present in the Jimny XL five-door.A new petrol-electric hybrid powertrain will join the LandCruiser 300 Series line-up in the second half of 2026. A version of this engine already features in the Tundra pickup. Want to know what other new models are due in 2026? Check out our rolling coverage by clicking on the links below. Best EVs Australia 2026Best Small Cars Australia 2026Best Ute Australia 2026Best New Cars 2026 AustraliaBest Family Cars Australia 2026Best Hybrid Cars Australia 2026Best SUVs Australia 2026

China’s Zeekr has been spied testing a new large SUV in its domestic market ahead of an expected reveal before the end of 2025.As reported by Car News China, this new SUV will be called the Zeekr 8X, slotting between the electric 7X and plug-in hybrid 9X.It will reportedly be based on the Zeekr’s SEA-S hybrid platform, which underpins the 9X, meaning the 8X will likely be a plug-in hybrid.Power will reportedly come from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with dual electric motors, producing a projected total system output of 400kW and 700Nm. This allows for a projected 0-100km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds.The electric motors will reportedly be fed by a 70kWh ternary-lithium battery pack, allowing for more than 400km of electric range, according to an undisclosed testing cycle. A smaller 55kWh will also reportedly be offered but will have less EV range.Total range in the 8X will reportedly be more than 1200km with the larger battery pack option and a full tank of petrol.The vehicle will reportedly operate on a 900V electric architecture, allowing for a 10-80 per cent battery charge in around 15 minutes.It’s understood the 8X will offer a three-row seating configuration with second-row captain’s chairs, bringing the total seating capacity to six. All the seats will reportedly be upholstered in Nappa leather.Standard equipment will reportedly include an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch central touchscreen multimedia system.There will also reportedly be semi-autonomous driving capabilities thanks to a LiDAR sensor, multiple cameras, as well as radar and ultrasonic sensors.This large hybrid SUV segment has been growing in China specifically and there is now plenty of competition in the domestic market. This includes the Li Auto L8 and the Aito M8.It’s unclear whether the Zeekr 8X will ever come to Australia.Zeekr has been selling vehicles in the Australian market around 12 months now, launching initially with the small X electric SUV and then the 009 electric people mover.The Chinese carmaker recently launched the mid-sized 7X electric SUV in Australia, also confirming it won’t receive any updates for the next 12-18 months.

Wilderness is finally coming to Australia!

Remember the humble family station wagon? Audi has just launched a plug-in hybrid version of its A5 Avant in Australia. It has introduced it in the liftback body style too with up to 100km of electric range.

Another affordable SUV is set for the axe in Australia.

Hyundai has reportedly started preparations for production of its forthcoming Santa Fe range-extender electric vehicle (REEV).As reported by ETNews, the South Korean carmaker currently plans to complete development of the new vehicle’s combustion engine and engine control unit (ECU) by the first half of 2026.It’s reported that mass production of the Santa Fe REEV will commence towards the end of 2026 at the company’s forthcoming Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America facility.The US will be the target initially due to the success of the Santa Fe in that market, with global sales expected for 2027.At this stage it’s unclear whether Hyundai plans to offer the Santa Fe REEV in Australia. It’s currently offered with either turbo-petrol or hybrid powertrains.No details about the Santa Fe REEV’s powertrain have been confirmed yet, but it’s believed to offer double the driving range of the Ioniq 6 (up to 614km of range). This theoretically means a total driving range of 1200km could be on offer.Like other REEVs, it’s understood the primary driving force will come from either one or two electric motors, with a petrol engine acting purely as a generator to top up the battery pack.REEVs are becoming increasingly popular in the Chinese market and while the Holden Volt and BMW i3 REx were among the first REEVs to ever be offered in Australia, there’s now the Leapmotor C10 REEV.It’s understood Genesis is also working on REEV technology and is planning to launch a GV70 REEV in the near future. The brands could be sharing the development work.In addition to this new REEV powertrain for the Santa Fe, it’s expected there’s an imminent facelift due which will address some of the complaints about its exterior design.This could include a redesign of the horizontal low-sitting tail-lights. A recently spied prototype showed what appeared to be vertically oriented units, skirting the edges of the vehicle’s tailgate.New LED headlights and daytime running lights were shown too, ditching the current model's H-shaped look.The updated Santa Fe will likely also introduce the company’s new Pleos Connect infotainment software which is more software-defined than current operating systems and will offer over-the-air updates, among other things.More prototypes of the updated Santa Fe, potentially with the new REEV powertrain, will likely be spied ahead of its expected reveal next year.

All-electric off-roaders were all the rage just a year or so ago, but now demand has tapered off.

BYD is phasing out one of its key features that sets it apart from the crowd.