Articles by Jack Quick

Smart has officially revived its small two-seat hatchback, and it may be returning to Australian shores. The Smart #2, pronounced ‘Hashtag Two’, is the spiritual successor to the original Smart ForTwo that similarly debuted at the Paris motor show, but 28 years prior. This new two-seat hatchback is now electric-only and based on a new platform called the Electric Compact Architecture (ECA). It’s powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor that produces 60kW and 130Nm. The electric motor is fed by a 35.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a WLTP-claimed range of 289km. AC charging is offered at rates up to 11kW, depending on the trim, while DC fast-charging is available at rates up to 65kW. The latter allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge to occur within 20 minutes. The Smart #2 measures in at 2746mm long, 1760mm wide and 1555mm tall, with a 1875mm wheelbase. This makes it roughly 250mm longer, 250mm wider and 55mm taller than the original Smart ForTwo. The Smart #2 also has a kerb weight of 1140kg, which is 410kg heavier than the three-cylinder-powered original. All four wheels are pushed to the corners of the body and the rear wheels are slightly wider than the front. The exterior styling is reminiscent of previous-generation ForTwo models and it retains the classic split-folding tailgate. There’s 305 litres of boot space as standard, which expands to 527 litres with the underfloor section. The Smart #2 is available in a series of trim levels, including Pure, Premium and the limited-edition Couture Edition. A high-performance Brabus version is also in the works. All versions receive LED headlights, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.1-inch touchscreen multimedia system, bench-style front seat and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability. The Premium receives a panoramic glass sunroof, seven-speaker Sennheiser sound system, a heated driver’s seat, as well as synthetic leather upholstery. The limited-edition Couture Edition has Atelier White matte exterior paint with a Platinum Gold roof, plus 16-inch alloy wheels with gold details. All versions have adaptive cruise control and lane centring, while the Premium and up receive blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Smart #2 is set to launch in the UK in 2027 and a wider European and Chinese launch is in the works. A Smart spokesperson has said there is currently no specific details about a launch in other global markets, including Australia. Despite the uncertainty, Smart did paint a mural of the #2 in Melbourne, among other global locations, back in August. This indicates that an Australian launch is at least on the brand’s radar. The Smart ForTwo was discontinued locally in 2015 following declining sales. This revived electric version, if it comes to Australia, will rival the likes of the Hyundai Inster, BYD Atto 1, Geely EX2 and GAC Aion UT, among others. Since the Smart brand relaunched in 2019 as a joint-venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely, it returned to Australia in 2024 with the #1 and #3 electric SUVs. The new Smart #5 mid-size electric SUV, which is the brand’s largest vehicle to date, is set to launch in Australia during November.

While the future of the current Toyota Kluger remains uncertain, the Japanese carmaker has confirmed the Kluger nameplate will carry over. “Firstly with regard to nameplate of Kluger, we will continue,” said Toyota Australia Vice President National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas to CarsGuide. “So, we have no plan on discontinuing the Kluger nameplate. “Regarding the BEV … right now we have nothing to confirm or announce on that BEV, but … Kluger will continue.” The current-generation Toyota Kluger (Highlander in other markets) has been produced in the USA since 2019. Reports from the US indicate that production of the current Kluger will finish up before the end of 2026. It’s unclear if this is just for US-specification Highlander models or globally. The outgoing Kluger/Highlander will be replaced by a new, all-electric model called the Highlander BEV. If it launches locally it will likely be called the Kluger BEV as Hyundai owns the trademark for the name ‘Highlander’. The Highlander BEV is set to launch in the US in 2027. At this stage it’s unclear whether a local launch will happen, but this is a potential way for the Kluger name to carry on in Australia. Toyota already offers the larger Grand Highlander that’s built on the same TNGA-K platform as the regular Kluger. Right-hand drive production for this model has never been confirmed. While Toyota Australia hasn’t confirmed the launch of the Highlander/Kluger BEV, Lexus has just announced it is launching the new TZ in 2027. The Lexus TZ is based on the same TNGA-K EV platform as the Kluger BEV. There’s also a Subaru version of this car called the Getaway, but for now this is only confirmed for North America. In the US, the new Kluger BEV will be available with two electric motor configurations, as well as two battery packs. A single-motor, front-wheel drive version produces 164kW, whereas a dual-motor, all-wheel drive set-up has a total system output of 252kW. A 95.8kWh lithium-ion battery will be available first, with a smaller 77kWh unit to be offered later. If Toyota did bring the new electric version of the Highlander to Australia and badge it as the Kluger, it would be the Japanese brand’s largest EV to date. Beyond the related Lexus TX, key rivals that are large three-row electric SUVs include the Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Tesla Model Y L, Cadillac Vistiq and the Volvo EX90. There’s also the new Mercedes-Benz GLB, which offers both an electric powertrain and three rows of seating, but it’s a considerably smaller vehicle. Toyota has been ramping up its EV sales thanks to the addition of the bZ4X Touring and it’s aiming to have 30 per cent of its overall local sales be EVs, PHEVs and FCEVs by the end of 2030.

Nissan has just confirmed the launch of its first Chinese-sourced, joint-venture model in Australia and more models are in the plans. “We are working on business cases and I think we’ve been pretty open,” said Nissan Australia Managing Director Steve Milette to CarsGuide. “There’s a lot of vehicles that were revealed at the Auto China [motor show this year]. “I mean, we have our hand up for many of those and it’s just a matter of going through the proper business cases, just like we went through on the Navara Pro PHEV, but there definitely is a need for us to continue down the electrification of our portfolio and expanding the line-up and so more to come in the future.” Nissan engineers have conducted over 20,000km of local testing of the new Navara Pro PHEV since 2025 and Milette noted that prototypes of other Chinese Nissan vehicles are already being driven around in Australia. At this stage it’s unclear which Chinese-made models Nissan will bring to Australia next, but at the Auto China motor show earlier in 2026 it revealed the following vehicles: Nissan NX8 electric (EV) and range-extender (REEV) large SUV Nissan Terrano PHEV concept Nissan Urban SUV PHEV concept Nissan has since revealed the NX7 PHEV mid-size SUV, which is based on the Urban SUV PHEV concept. While a production version of the Terrano PHEV concept hasn’t been revealed yet, Nissan notes that it will be revealed before April 2027. A camouflaged, production-specification Nissan Terrano PHEV prototype was spied earlier this year and it’s understood to share many components and its body-on-frame platform with the Navara Pro PHEV dual-cab ute. This means the production-specification Terrano PHEV will likely have either a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol PHEV or 2.0-litre turbo-petrol PHEV, like the Navara Pro PHEV. The latter offers total system outputs of 300kW and 800Nm. It’s unclear whether any other powertrain options will be available in the Terrano. For reference, the Frontier Pro/Navara Pro is also offered with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel. If the Terrano PHEV comes to Australia, it will sit underneath the flagship Patrol. It will be a key rival to the likes of the GWM Tank 500 PHEV, Denza B5 and Denza B8, while also a rival to diesel alternatives like the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado. Beyond the Nissan Terrano PHEV, the Japanese carmaker has a series of other Chinese-made models that have previously been earmarked for a local launch. Examples include the Nissan NX8 electric and REEV large SUV, NX7 PHEV mid-size SUV, as well as the N7 electric sedan. The latter vehicle was most recently confirmed for a launch in the Philippines as the Primera EV earlier this year. Nissan has been ramping up the exports from its Chinese production facility which it operates as part of a joint-venture with Dongfeng.

Nissan Australia has confirmed it will not build a locally-fettled Warrior version of its new Navara dual-cab ute. A concept version of a new Navara Warrior was shown to Australian media in November 2025 when the current, D27-generation Navara was first revealed. Nissan claims it was around 70 to 80 per cent of the way through the development process. The plug was pulled after the ability to fast-track the new, Chinese-sourced Navara Pro PHEV became an option. Like all Nissan Warrior models, the D27-generation Navara Warrior concept was equipped with a series of upgrades to enhance its off-road capabilities. These included a suspension lift kit, aftermarket 17-inch wheels that provided wider track for increased stability and presence and 32-inch all-terrain tyres for improved clearances. Additionally there was a Warrior-specific bullbar, wheel arch flares, a multi-stage bash plate and two extra recovery points as well as aftermarket driving lights. At the reveal event last November, Nissan had only committed to creating the flagship Pro-4X Warrior, but it was looking to potentially introduce lower versions. Nissan’s off-road-oriented Warrior models have been developed in partnership with Melbourne-based engineering and manufacturing firm, Premcar, since 2019. The first Nissan Warrior model was the Navara N-Trek Warrior, which launched that year. It was replaced by the Navara Pro-4X Warrior in 2022. Later, the budget-oriented Navara SL Warrior joined the line-up. Premcar applied itself to the Y62 Patrol, creating the Patrol Warrior that launched in 2023. With the launch of both new-generation Navara and Patrol models, it’s unclear what the future of the Warrior nameplate is for now. Both the D27 Navara and Y63 Patrol offer off-road-oriented Pro-4X trims, but neither have been further tweaked by Premcar. The decision to shelve the D27-generation Navara Warrior follows Nissan fast-tracking the Navara Pro PHEV. This new, Chinese-sourced dual-cab ute is set to launch locally in 2027 and has been subjected to an “extensive” local development and evaluation program since 2025. Prototypes have already travelled over 20,000km on Australian soil. A new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol PHEV powertrain has been selected and tested for the Australian market. It produces total system outputs of 300kW and 800Nm. Additionally, Nissan is targeting a 3500kg braked towing capacity, as well as a payload capacity of approximately 1000kg.

Toyota is preparing for a record-breaking fourth quarter after a slow start to the year. Toyota Australia Vice President National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said the Japanese carmaker will sell over 220,000 vehicles in 2026. Until the end of September, Toyota has sold a total of 152,944 vehicles, which is down 15.9 per cent year-on-year. In order to reach this target, Toyota has to sell over 67,000 vehicles before the end of 2026, or roughly 23,300 per month. The Japanese carmaker claims it’s on track to once again be the best-selling brand in Australia. This will make it the 31st consecutive year. For reference, the second- and third-best selling brands year-to-date are currently Ford (61,104) and Mazda (58,865). At the end of 2026, Toyota also claims it will have led the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment for 48 unbroken years. The way that Toyota claims it will be able to deliver this record-breaking fourth quarter of vehicle sales is thanks to increased vehicle supply across multiple in-demand model lines, including the HiLux, Prado, LandCruiser, RAV4 and bZ4X. In September Toyota sold a total of 4624 examples of the RAV4 mid-size SUV, which is up 81 per cent on the same month last year. Toyota has sold 31,209 RAV4 examples year-to-date, which is down 11.1 per cent year-on-year. Toyota sold 2006 Prado examples in September, which is its second-best monthly sales result for this model in over 12 months. A total of 15,665 year-to-date sales means it’s down 28.3 per cent year-on-year. With the introduction of the new bZ4X Touring trim, overall bZ4X sales year-to-date are up 331.8 per cent, year-on-year. A total of 2919 examples were sold until the end of September. While Toyota may be gearing up for a record-breaking fourth quarter of vehicle sales, it likely won’t be enough to top its overall yearly record. In 2024 Toyota sold a total of 241,296 vehicles and this is roughly 20,000 more than what it’s projecting for its 2026 sales. Pappas notes the reasons for this include slower monthly sales results for the RAV4 and HiLux. Thanks to increased supply, Toyota claims the average wait time for many of its models is now down from three-to-six months, to three months.

Nissan has confirmed it will launch the Navara Pro plug-in hybrid (PHEV) dual-cab ute in Australia in 2027. Dubbed the Nissan Frontier Pro in other markets, the Navara Pro will be Nissan’s first PHEV in Australia and shapes up as a key rival to the likes of the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and forthcoming Chery Stockman. The Nissan Navara Pro PHEV is the first Chinese-made Dongfeng joint-venture model to launch locally. It’s also the first time it’ll be offered in right-hand drive. Nissan has been testing Navara Pro PHEV prototypes locally since 2025 and what is set to be offered is a unique set-up. Final pricing and specifications will be confirmed closer to its launch. Nissan evaluated the globally announced 1.5-litre turbo-petrol PHEV powertrain, as well as a new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol PHEV powertrain in Australia. The latter has been selected for the Australian-specification Navara Pro PHEV. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine has a 'high-output' electric motor integrated into an eight-speed automatic transmission, with total system outputs of 300kW and 800Nm. There is a four-wheel drive system with a series of drive and terrain modes. Nissan is targeting a 3500kg braked towing capacity with the Navara Pro PHEV, as well as a payload capacity of approximately 1000kg (both subject to final homologation). Nissan hasn’t confirmed the battery size of the Australian-specification Navara Pro PHEV. Globally there are 17kWh and 32.85kWh units available, but these are aligned with the smaller 1.5-litre turbo-petrol PHEV powertrain. As a result, the claimed EV range will be announced closer to the Navara Pro PHEV’s local launch. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) is set to be offered at an as yet unknown rate. This will allow for electrical appliances to be powered remotely. Final specifications are yet to be locked in, but Nissan notes available features, depending on the trim level, include a large central touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, panoramic glass sunroof, as well as heated and ventilated front seats. Nissan has been testing five examples of the Navara Pro PHEV in Australia since 2025 and they have collectively travelled more than 20,000km Down Under. The Japanese carmaker is yet to finalise the Aussie set-up and has evaluated leaf-spring and multi-link coil rear suspension configurations. The final suspension arrangement will be confirmed closer to the car's launch in 2027. Additionally, the Navara Pro PHEV’s powertrain, advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) calibrations, drive and terrain modes, tyres and differential lock configuration have all been evaluated locally. This is above and beyond towing and load performance testing in Australia. The Nissan Navara Pro PHEV is set to be the first Chinese-made Nissan offered in Australia. However, a series of other Chinese-made Nissans are made within its Dongfeng joint-venture operation. These include the N6 PHEV sedan, N7 electric sedan, NX7 PHEV SUV and NX8 electric and range-extender (REEV) SUV. None of these have been confirmed for right-hand drive production yet. The Navara Pro is also offered with regular turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel powertrains in other markets. It’s unclear whether any other Chinese-made Nissan models will come here, however Oceania has been identified as a key export market opportunity.

Toyota already has an established track record of hybrid sales, but it’s now looking to build up sales of its battery electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) towards the end of the decade. “This is all part of our 30 by 30 strategy and we anticipate that by the end of 2030, approximately 30 per cent of Toyota Australia sales will come from zero- and low-emission vehicles, including BEVs, PHEVs and FCEVs,” said Toyota Australia Vice President National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas. This comes as the CO2 emission targets with the Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) continue to reduce every year. Toyota has already said it cannot rule out price rises due to the NVES from 2027 onwards and the only way to get the company’s fleet CO2 emissions under the target is to roll out more zero- or low-emissions vehicles, like BEVs, PHEVs and FCEVs. While it’s unclear what the current split of electric and plug-in hybrid for overall Toyota sales in Australia is, the Japanese carmaker already has a series of new models coming. A new RAV4 GXL 2WD PHEV variant will join the line-up in the first quarter of 2027, and will likely be the most affordable PHEV variant yet. It will sit below the XSE 2WD PHEV, XSE AWD PHEV and flagship GR Sport AWD PHEV trims. In mid-2027 Toyota will launch the C-HR BEV to sit alongside the bZ4X, bZ4X Touring and HiLux BEV. Local pricing and specifications for this model haven’t been announced yet. The Japanese carmaker will launch the HiLux FCEV in 2028. Pappas admitted this model will likely be low volume and largely for fleets, like the current HiLux BEV. Another new Toyota vehicle that hasn’t been revealed yet, but will offer a range of low- and zero-emissions power options, is the new-generation Corolla. It’s understood the new Corolla will be the embodiment of Toyota’s multi-pathway solution and offer a series of powertrain options. These are understood to include petrol, hybrid, BEV and FCEV powertrains. Previewed in concept form at the Japan Mobility Show in 2025, it’s expected this new-generation Corolla will be revealed either later this year or early next. At this stage it’s unclear when the new-generation Corolla will come to Australia and the power options that will be offered. It may help contribute to Toyota’s plan to achieve 30 per cent zero- or low-emissions vehicle sales by the end of 2030.

The Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) is squeezing many carmakers locally and the latest culprit could soon be the best-seller. “Due to the challenging NVES targets for commercial vehicles from 2027 onwards, we cannot rule out price increases,” said Toyota Australia Vice President National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas. This comes as many of Toyota’s best-selling vehicles in Australia are diesel-powered vehicles. Examples include the HiLux, LandCruiser Prado and the LandCruiser 70 Series, among others. In 2025 Toyota received NVES credits for going below its fleet CO2 target and the company claims it is on track to be in the green this year. However, its result in 2027 isn’t looking so certain. As it currently stands, there are two different NVES CO2 emission targets that reduce every calendar year. ‘Type 1’ vehicles are cars, SUVs or light off-road vehicles, whereas ‘Type 2’ vehicles are utes, vans or heavy off-road vehicles. For 2026 the CO2 emissions targets for Type 1 vehicles is 116g/km and for Type 2 vehicles is 180g/km. However, in 2027 this reduces to 92g/km and 150g/km, respectively. For reference, the current Toyota HiLux SR5 V-Active diesel-powered dual-cab ute has a claimed combined CO2 emissions figure of 191g/km. This is already above the threshold for ‘Type 2’ vehicles in 2026. Toyota claims its sales of electrified vehicles, like electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), is growing, but in 2027 it still may not be enough for it to stay below the fleet CO2 emissions target. When a carmaker is above its fleet CO2 emissions target for the year, it is given fines that it can either pay directly, use credits from previous years, or purchase credits from other carmakers. Pappas’ quote indicates that the fines Toyota incurs will be passed onto the consumer. At this stage it’s unclear how much could be added to the asking price of Toyota vehicles. NVES fines are currently billed at $50 for every gram per kilometre over a model’s limit, per vehicle imported. Using the Toyota HiLux SR5 V-Active as an example, each imported vehicle is on track for a $550 fine in 2026. With over 36,000 HiLux examples sold until the end of August this year, the fines can add up very quickly. The fines can be cancelled through the import of vehicles under the CO2 targets. The brand receives NVES credits or a fine based on the overall fleet of imported vehicles for the respective year. Toyota is far from the first to admit it could increase vehicle pricing due to the tightening CO2 targets. Brands like Ford, Hyundai and Nissan have admitted to this previously. The NVES was implemented at the start of 2025 and there is an upcoming review that may spark further amendments. One change that is already being drafted is select vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) between 3500kg and 3855kg be included in the NVES from July 1, 2027. This means that the LandCruiser 70 Series may soon contribute to the brand’s CO2 fleet emissions for the NVES. It currently is exempt as it has a GVM of 3510kg. The Tundra is another vehicle that is potentially in the firing line as it has a GVM of 3536kg. Others include the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado, which both have a GVM of 3505kg. ‘Work vans’ and ‘work trucks’ will continue to be exempt from the NVES though under this draft amendment. “There’s an NVES review coming up and we’ll be contributing to that review through consultation,” said Pappas. “We fully support NVES. We fully support having an ambitious, albeit equitable and pragmatic NVES. “And when you look at the LCV segment, you can see that you’re going to be leaving customers behind because they need those vehicles. “We’ll be consulting government to be able to really look at a more pragmatic, realistic light commercial vehicle target under NVES that is more equitable to the Australian market.”

Nissan is set to confirm a new model for Australia on October 8 and it will be its first plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The Japanese carmaker has published a single teaser image showing the front end of the vehicle with an illuminated Nissan badge. Using the teaser image and available imagery, it looks very much like it is the Frontier Pro/Navara Pro PHEV. This Chinese-made dual-cab ute will be a key rival to the likes of the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and upcoming Chery Stockman. Nissan says this forthcoming new vehicle has “electrified performance and new levels of capability”. It's also claimed to be "tailored to the needs of Australian customers in a key segment". Additionally Nissan claims this new model has been “extensively tested and tuned for local conditions”. Prototype examples of the Frontier Pro/Navara Pro PHEV have been spied in Australia over the last few weeks. Nissan hasn’t been shy about leveraging its joint-venture partnership with Dongfeng in China and Australia has been identified as a key market. The Frontier Pro/Navara Pro PHEV comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and dual electric motors for total system outputs of 320kW and 800Nm. It also offers up to 135km of CLTC-claimed electric range. Both turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines are available in the Frontier Pro/Navara Pro globally. It’s unclear whether these are on the radar for a local launch. Beyond the Frontier Pro/Navara Pro, Nissan also offers a series of other Chinese-made models for export markets. These include the NX8 electric and range-extender (REEV) SUV and N7 electric sedan, among others.

Chery has confirmed more details about its new Stockman diesel plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute as pre-orders begin ahead of first deliveries in February 2027.