Articles by Jack Quick

Mitsubishi’s new Toyota Prado rival is getting closer to its reveal. In the meantime Japanese publication Best Car Web has shown off new digital renders of what the forthcoming 2026 Mitsubishi Pajero will look like in production guise. They show a blocky and bluff large SUV, which appears to be off-road-capable and also draws some inspiration from the latest Nissan Patrol Y63, especially at the rear. At the front there is a large grille with headlights that cascade down the fascia, plus the bonnet has bulges helping to indicate its toughness. Around the side it’s fairly slab-sided, with one design flourish being the character lines on the C-pillar. The rear is virtually vertical and features tail-lights that have a similar design motif to the headlights. Notably the renders don’t show a tailgate-mounted spare wheel, indicating that Mitsubishi isn’t planning on offering this. While Best Car Web has published these new digital renders of the Pajero, a camouflaged prototype has already been spied numerous times on Australian roads. Mitsubishi has also included a camouflaged prototype in an official teaser video, confirming the new “cross-country” SUV will be revealed this year. As previously reported, it’s understood this new SUV will be called just the Pajero, dropping the Sport suffix altogether. This could see the iconic and original Pajero nameplate being revived for the first time since it was retired in 2021. There is still a lot of speculation surrounding what this new SUV is based on. The Pajero has historically been its own vehicle, however the Pajero Sport (formerly known as the Challenger) has always been based on the Triton ute. Previous reports have stipulated the new Pajero will be based on the current Triton ute, which launched locally in 2024. This means a body-on-frame is likely. Historically, the Pajero was built on a ladder-frame chassis, but later versions from the 2000s onward were built on a monocoque platform, like the current Land Rover Defender. If this new-generation Pajero is based on the Triton, this likely means it will share a version of its 2.4-litre bi-turbo-diesel engine. It produces 150kW and 470Nm in the Australian-specification Triton. It’ll likely also receive Mitsubishi’s latest version of its Super-Select four-wheel drive system which allows for full-time four-wheel drive on sealed surfaces. Locally the Triton is only offered with a six-speed automatic transmission, however the outgoing Pajero Sport was offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s unclear if Mitsubishi will offer this new-generation Pajero with a similar eight-speed automatic transmission. This new Mitsubishi large SUV can’t come soon enough as the Japanese carmaker axed a considerable portion of its line-up, including the Pajero Sport, earlier this year due to them not meeting new Australian Design Rule (ADR) standards which stipulated specific requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems. As a result Mitsubishi’s largest SUV is currently the mid-sized Outlander, which is also its best-seller by far. Certain trims can be had in seven-seat form.

BYD’s Denza has updated its D9 electric people mover once again bringing more power, a bigger battery, plus refreshed looks. A new listing on China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), as reported by Car News China, shows the 2026 Denza D9 EV now makes more power than ever. The single, front-mounted electric motor in the front-wheel drive version now produces 340kW, which is an increase of 110kW over the outgoing model. The all-wheel drive version also has a total system output of 410kW, which is an increase of 135kW over the outgoing model. While the battery specifications and claimed range figures are yet to be revealed, the MIIT filing notes the D9’s kerb weight has increased by 100kg to 3015kg. This indicates it may feature a larger battery, meaning more range. The D9 EV currently comes with a 103.4kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade battery which allows for up to 620km of range, according to lenient CLTC testing. It’s worth noting the D9 also comes with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains, however Denza technically treats it as a different model and hasn’t revealed any new updates for it yet. Beyond the changes under the skin, the D9’s exterior has received a minor refresh. The most obvious change is the front grille design. The MIIT filing also details a range of different grille and alloy wheel designs that are available. The D9 EV continues to measure in at 5250mm long, 1960mm wide and 1900mm tall with a 3110mm wheelbase. This makes it just a little bit larger than a Kia Carnival. It’s unclear whether there are any changes or updates to the interior. At this stage Denza hasn’t officially confirmed if or when the D9 will come to Australia. However, it does feature on the company’s local website, along with what appears to be the Z9 GT, in blurred images that are captioned ‘Coming Soon’. Camouflaged prototypes of the D9 have also been spied testing around Australia. It’s unclear whether they are fully electric or PHEV versions. The luxurious people mover space has been taking off in Australia over the last 12 to 18 months. A step above the mainstream Kia Carnival, the electric Zeekr 009 was one of the first, along with the hybrid Lexus LM. Now there’s also the GAC M8 PHEV people mover which is arguably the closest rival to the Denza D9.

China’s BYD is upgrading its top-selling Shark 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute in Australia with more power and towing capacity. According to local government approval filings, this version of the Shark 6 will receive a more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 200kW front electric motor and a 150kW rear electric motor, bringing a total system output of 345kW. This is up from the current 321kW total system output which is achieved by a smaller 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, a 170kW front electric motor and a 150kW rear electric motor. It’s worth noting that this new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and dual-electric motor set-up is borrowed from the recently launched Denza B5, though it’s a detuned version. The B5 has a total system output of 400kW. Thanks in part to the extra power, the maximum braked towing capacity has been increased from 2500kg to a segment-meeting 3500kg. The larger engine and more powerful front electric motor however has also increased the tare mass from 2675kg to 2738kg. No payload or gross vehicle mass (GVM) figures have been detailed yet. It’s unclear whether BYD will add this forthcoming more powerful version as a flagship offering in the line-up, or whether it will completely replace the existing model. Regardless it will likely cost more than the current Shark 6 Premium, which starts at $57,900 before on-road costs. For now BYD hasn’t officially announced when this upgraded version of the Shark 6 will be going on sale, though government approval filings like the typically are published just a few months before a vehicle goes on sale. As previously reported, the approval filings also include a cab-chassis version of the Shark 6. It’s worth noting that it still features the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol dual-electric motor powertrain as the existing Shark 6, meaning it also only has a 2500kg braked towing capacity. BYD similarly hasn’t confirmed exactly when this Shark 6 cab-chassis will be going on sale. In Australia the Shark 6 has been a runaway sales success since it was first launched in early 2025. Last year a total of 18,073 examples were sold, making it the best-selling PHEV in Australia. Even in January 2026, a total of 1108 Shark 6 examples were sold. This saw it outsell the likes of the GWM Cannon and Cannon Alpha (885 sales combined), Kia Tasman (410 sales) and the Mazda BT-50 (780 sales).

Toyota is reportedly set to boost production of vehicles with its popular hybrid powertrain technology by around 30 per cent in the next two years. As reported by Nikkei Asia, the Japanese carmaker expects to produce 6.7 million hybrid vehicles globally in 2028. This is up from the planned five million hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars it expects to produce in 2026. This also means that 50 to 60 per cent of the 11.3 million cars Toyota expects to make globally in 2028 will be equipped with a hybrid powertrain. Nikkei Asia reports a key driver of this boost in hybrid vehicle production will come from the US as people are moving away from electric vehicles (EVs) due to subsidies and incentives being cut. In November 2025, Toyota announced its plans to invest 1.5 trillion yen (~A$13.86 billion) in the US over the next five years. It will initially spend 140 billion yen (~A$1.29 billion) to produce hybrid powertrains and components at five of its US facilities. According to GlobalData as reported by Nikkei Asia, Toyota currently holds a 58 per cent share of the global hybrid vehicle market as of the end of 2025. Toyota is far from the only carmaker that is ramping up and adjusting its strategy in response to falling EV demand in certain markets. Examples include Ford, General Motors, Hyundai and even Volkswagen, among others. In Australia hybrid vehicles accounted for 16.5 per cent of overall new vehicle sales during 2025, as reported by VFACTS. This is up 15.3 per cent year-on-year. Toyota has long been the top-selling hybrid brand in Australia and was one of the first to market with its Prius hatchback that launched locally in 2001. Many Toyota vehicles, including the C-HR, Camry, Corolla, Corolla Cross, Kluger, RAV4, Yaris, Yaris Cross and the Tundra are exclusively offered with hybrid powertrains in Australia. Lots of other brands are reacting though to growing hybrid vehicle interest and are offering more options. Examples include GWM, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and Subaru. There has also been meteoric growth in PHEV sales in Australia. Last year a total of 53,484 examples were sold, which was up 130.9 per cent year-on-year. Toyota is set to dive into this segment in Australia during 2026 with the forthcoming PHEV version of its new-generation RAV4. It’s set to arrive in the third quarter of 2026 after the regular hybrid versions.

Subaru Australia has finally announced it’s launching the Trailseeker electric SUV in Australia in the second quarter of 2026. This will be the Japanese carmaker’s second electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, following the related and slightly smaller Solterra electric SUV. You can now register your interest for a 2026 Subaru Trailseeker on the carmaker’s local website. Pricing and specifications will be announced closer to its launch. The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker was first revealed in 2025 alongside the updated Solterra at the New York International Auto Show. It’s being offered in Europe as the E-Outback. With a total system output of up to 280kW, the Trailseeker is set to be Subaru’s fastest accelerating production vehicle offered to date. It’s claimed to be able to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.4 seconds. Additionally it offers 211mm of ground clearance and a 1500kg braked towing capacity. The dual electric motors are fed by a 74.7kWh CATL-sourced lithium-ion battery, which Subaru claims allows for up to 533km of range, according to ADR testing. AC charging is available at rates up to 22kW and DC charging is available at rates up to 150kW. Using the latter a 10 to 80 per cent charge will take around 30 minutes. The Trailseeker also offers 1500W vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability. “Trailseeker is the EV with personality. As the name suggests, this is the vehicle for drivers seeking adventure, who want to enjoy an engaging performance drive, all while remaining grounded in the confidence, safety and all-terrain capability that defines Subaru’s DNA,” said Subaru Australia General Manager Scott Lawrence. “It shows that electric performance doesn’t have to come at the expense of confidence, control or real-world capability – the qualities our customers expect from a Subaru. And being the quickest Subaru production vehicle ever it’s a fun and engaging drive in all conditions “Trailseeker stays true to Subaru’s DNA, while opening a new chapter through electric power, offering even greater choice for our customers.” The Subaru Trailseeker is virtually a twin under the skin with the forthcoming Toyota bZ4X Touring which is set to arrive in Australia around a similar time. Toyota and Subaru collaboratively developed the bZ4X and Solterra, as well as the bZ4X Touring and Trailseeker. As noted above, local pricing and specifications for the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker will be announced closer to its launch.

The premium small car category (starting under $80K) is an interesting one because there are many cars that might not necessarily be cross-shopped, but in one way or another they end up being compared to one another. Our 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards category shortlist saw entrants from Audi, BMW, Cupra, Renault, Smart, Subaru and Volvo. The vehicles range from small petrol hatches all the way to small electric SUVs. Now we’re at the pointy end and it’s time to whittle it down to a winner. First up are the two runners up in alphabetical order, then the category winner. This small SUV from Audi is an oldie but a goodie and that’s how it has ended up as a runner up for CarsGuide’s best small premium car. CarsGuide reviewers love how the Q3, despite its age, still presents well with a stunning exterior design, while the driving experience is elegant, yet fun. “I think it’s such a neatly executed package, it’s hard to pick faults in that car,” said CarsGuide Deputy Editor James Cleary. However there is a new-generation model set to launch locally in early 2026 that could potentially become the new benchmark for the segment. While this French small electric SUV hasn’t stormed up the sales charts like some of its competitors, it’s a dark horse with charming driving dynamics and a stunning interior design. CarsGuide Deputy News Editor Tom White, who had one for a three-month long-term loan early in 2025, noted it’s a car that moves the Renault brand forward in Australia. In fact, he said that everyone who sat in this tester asked if it was a Kia, which he believes is a massive compliment to the Megane E-Tech. The few things holding this car back are the mediocre AC charging rate, plus the Australian-specification car does miss out on things like connected services, which are offered overseas. Thankfully Renault has committed to addressing the latter with an update in 2026. Although it’s been a couple of years now since the current-generation X1 launched in Australia, it still stands out as a segment benchmark, therefore making it a clear choice for CarsGuide’s best premium small car of 2026. “Previously the Q3 was my favourite in that category, I think the X1 does move the game forward,” said CarsGuide Deputy News Editor Tom White. It not only offers class-leading petrol-powered variants, but the availability of electric powertrains in the same body style. All of them have stellar driving dynamics and high-tech interiors. Additionally, besides its compact exterior dimensions, the X1’s clever interior packaging and available storage space makes it almost feel like a mid-sized SUV. You can see why this is now the best-selling BMW in Australia.

Toyota Australia has increased the asking price of a number of its popular SUV models. From January 1, 2026, the Toyota C-HR, LandCruiser Prado and LandCruiser 300 Series all received price hikes of up to $1500, depending on the model and variant. “Toyota is committed to keeping price increases to a minimum. These changes came into effect recently due to increased costs and inflationary pressures both here and overseas,” said a Toyota Australia spokesperson. The 2026 Toyota C-HR is now priced from $46,940 before on-road costs to $58,890 before on-road costs. Pricing for the entire line-up is $1500. The 2026 Toyota LandCruiser Prado is now priced from $73,200 before on-road costs to $100,690 before on-road costs. Pricing is up $700 across the line-up. The 2026 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series $99,340 before on-road costs to $147,160 before on-road costs. Pricing is up $1000 across the line-up. Pricing tables for all three Toyota models are at the bottom of this story. This is the first time the current-generation Prado has received a price rise in Australia since it was introduced in late 2024. Since it first launched, Toyota introduced a five-seat version of the popular GXL mid-spec variant following criticism of the compromised boot space of the seven-seat versions. The Prado was also the third best-selling Toyota model in Australia during 2025, behind only the popular HiLux and RAV4. While the existing LandCruiser 300 Series with its 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel engine almost already reaches $150,000 before on-road costs, it’s expected to surpass this with the forthcoming 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol ‘Performance Hybrid’ GR Sport and Sahara ZX trims. While the first-generation Toyota C-HR was a sales success, sales of the current second-generation which was introduced in 2024 have been notably softer. During 2025 a total of 2892 examples were sold which is up 2.3 per cent year-on-year. However over the same period Toyota also sold 12,686 examples of the similarly sized Corolla Cross. This is likely due to the fact the current C-HR is much more expensive than it was. It’s now sourced from Turkey instead of Japan and as a result incurs a five per cent import tariff. 2026 Toyota C-HR pricing: 2026 Toyota LandCruiser Prado pricing: 2026 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series pricing:

China’s MG is in dire need of reversing its slowing sales in Australia and although peak ute may have already passed, its savour deserves to be its new dual-cab ute. Thankfully the MG U9 already has a lot going for it. It’s the Chinese carmaker’s first dual-cab ute in Australia, although it does share its underpinnings with the LDV Terron 9, which is another brand from Chinese state-owned SAIC Motor. Compared to the Terron 9, the U9 is a much more premium-looking proposition but its price tag doesn’t reflect this. The entry-level Explore grade starts at $52,990 drive-away, and extends to $60,990 drive-away for the fully loaded Explore Pro. This will barely get you a mid-spec HiLux or Ranger. It features a humongous grille and has a menacing presence that’ll make a HiLux or Ranger look small in comparison. You’re almost guaranteed to get people craning their necks to get a look at what this ute is. It's certainly one way to get your brand back out on the forefront. The U9 is also filled to the gills with high-end tech and finishes that ooze flash, which sets it above your everyday dual-cab ute. Depending on the trim there is a panoramic glass sunroof, large digital screens, digital rear-view mirror, plush leather seats with front-seat heating and ventilation, and a suede-like headliner. This is before mentioning the wild electric-folding mid-gate which extends the tub into the cabin and allows you to carry items up to 2.4-metres long. It’s an extremely unique offering in the dual-cab ute market, though it does come at a hefty cost – $5490 extra, and it's only available on the top-spec U9 Explore Pro. As standard however is rear multi-link suspension set-up which is much more passenger comfort-oriented than the typical leaf sprung ute. As a result payload is slightly down over other dual-cab utes. Despite the fluff, it’s worth calling out the U9 still stacks up where it counts most. It has a four-wheel drive system with a low-range transfer case and, depending on the trim level, front and rear diff locks. It also has a segment-meeting 3500kg braked towing capacity. However, like virtually every car, the MG U9 isn’t perfect. Although it’s only marginally larger than regular dual-cab utes, it certainly feels much bigger from behind the wheel, especially when doing tight manoeuvres in carparks or U-turns. Additionally, the 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine has healthy outputs on paper of 160kW and 520Nm, but it feels lethargic in reality and needs to be pushed to keep up with traffic. It doesn’t help that the car defaults back to ‘Eco’ mode every time it’s switched on. Even with this, I still achieved a rather disappointing average fuel consumption of 11.0L/100km during my urban driving testing. That’s not great, especially when you can get much less in the similarly-priced BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute. Even with these flaws, the U9 is a more deserving and a much better flagship for the MG brand, especially from an Australian perspective given how popular utes are still, than the niche Cyberster electric convertible. We’ll have to wait and see whether the Australian public latches onto the idea of the U9 but for now it’s a great step in the right direction of localising and understanding what a specific market needs and wants.

China’s GWM has detailed pricing for the new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of its Tank 300 body-on-frame SUV ahead of it arriving at local dealers from March 2026. The 2026 GWM Tank 300 Hi4-T line-up starts at $55,990 drive-away for the entry-level Lux trim and extends to $59,990 drive-away for the top-spec Ultra trim. GWM claims this is a “limited-time special launch offer” and after February 28 pricing will rise $2000 if the offer isn’t extended. For now however the Lux PHEV is priced the exact same as the Ultra Hybrid, and the Ultra PHEV is the new flagship trim in the entire Tank 300 line-up. Powering the Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an 120kW electric motor integrated into the nine-speed automatic transmission, bringing total system outputs to 300kW and 750Nm. This is 45kW and 102Nm more than the existing Tank 300 Hybrid. For context, the Nissan Patrol with its 5.6-litre V8 engine produces 2kW and 190Nm less than the Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV. A key part of the electric motor being integrated into the automatic transmission is it allows for the Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV to retain a mechanical four-wheel drive system with a low-range transfer case. There’s also both front and rear locking differentials, as well as a number of off-road terrain settings. Like the rest of the Tank 300 line-up, the PHEV versions have a 3000kg braked towing capacity. It’s unclear what the payload capacity is just yet. Additionally GWM claims the Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV can do up to 115km of electric range, according to lenient NEDC testing, thanks to its 37.1kWh battery pack. It’s capable of being fast-charged at rates up to 50kW, allowing for a 30 to 80 per cent charge in 24 minutes. There’s also vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability at rates up to 6kW, allowing you to power external devices and appliances. Full specifications are set to be detailed close to the Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV’s local launch. The addition of this new PHEV powertrain brings the number of engines the Tank 300 is now offered in to a total of four: a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, 2.4-litre turbo-diesel, 2.0-litre hybrid and a 2.0-litre PHEV. It’s unclear how long GWM will continue to offer all four of these powertrains in the Tank 300. When it launched the PHEV option in the Cannon Alpha dual-cab ute it discontinued the hybrid powertrain. Historically the 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine has been the best-selling powertrain in the Tank 300. It’s unclear how this will change with the introduction of the PHEV. “With the Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV, we’re continuing to expand our cutting-edge plug-in hybrid technology providing genuine off-road strength, all at a highly competitive price point,” said GWM Australia and New Zealand COO John Kett.   “As demonstrated across our other PHEV variants, we remain committed to delivering vehicles where customers can benefit from strong EV-only range, fast charging, V2L and true mechanical 4×4 capability. “As the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) are likely to change the Australian automotive landscape like never before, GWM stands ready to deliver more technology for less.”

China’s BYD experienced its fifth straight month of global sales decline in January as it deals with mounting pressure in its domestic market.