Articles by Jack Quick

Lexus Australia is introducing a new entry-level version of its NX plug-in hybrid (PHEV) mid-size SUV.The 2026 Lexus NX450h+ Luxury AWD is set to be available from late September and is priced from $84,500 before on-road costs.This is $12,800 more than the entry-level NX350h Luxury 2WD, and $11,500 less than the flagship NX450h+ F Sport AWD.As part of this introduction, Lexus has axed the entry-level NX250 trim, making the NX350 F Sport the only non-hybridised variant on offer locally.All other carryover trims have received a $100 price rise. The line-up now starts from $71,700 before on-roads for the NX350h Luxury 2WD and extends to $96,000 before on-roads for the NX450h+ F Sport AWD.A full pricing table is at the bottom of this story.This new NX450h+ Luxury AWD is powered by the same 2.5-litre PHEV powertrain as the NX450h+ F Sport AWD. It has a total system output of 227kW of power and is claimed to be able to sprint from 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds.The two electric motors are fed by an 18.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Lexus claims this allows for an electric range up to 87km, according to comparatively lenient NEDC testing.Owners can AC charge at rates up to 6.6kW, which at this speed will see the battery fully recharge in 2.5 hours.Lexus hasn’t confirmed the full specifications for the NX450h+ Luxury AWD just yet.Standard equipment that has been confirmed includes a power tailgate, keyless entry and push-button start, surround-view cameras, wireless phone charger, heated steering wheel, leather-accented upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with eight-way electric adjustment, and heated outboard rear seats.The NX450h+ Luxury AWD is now Lexus’ third PHEV offered in Australia. It follows the recent introduction of the RX450h+ Sports Luxury AWD in April.

Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles sales are really taking off in Australia and many new and emerging brands are to thank for this.

The Chery Tiggo 4 has been Australia’s cheapest SUV for a while now, but its crown has been snatched by an Indian-made rival.Mahindra has confirmed its new XUV 3XO starts from $23,490 drive-away for the entry-level AX5L thanks to an introductory pricing offer until August 31.This makes this Indian light SUV cheaper than the Chery Tiggo 4, Hyundai Venue, Kia Stonic and MG ZS, among others.The flagship XUV 3XO AX7L also starts from $26,490 drive-away thanks to that same introductory pricing offer until August 31.After this date, the drive-away pricing of the entire XUV3XO range goes up by $500. A full pricing table is at the bottom of this story.All variants are powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 82kW of power and 200Nm of torque.This is mated to an Aisin-sourced six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission with drive sent to the front wheels only.Claimed combined fuel consumption is 6.5L/100km, according to ADR testing, and there’s a 42L fuel tank that requires a minimum of 91 RON unleaded petrol, though 95 RON premium unleaded is recommended.Measuring in at 3990mm long, 1821mm wide and 1647mm tall with a 2600mm wheelbase, the XUV 3XO has a turning circle of 5.3 metres and a kerb weight of around 1400kg.Inside there’s 368L of boot space with the rear seats upright. All versions of the XUV 3XO also offer five seats as standard.Like other Mahindra models, the XUV 3XO is covered by a seven-year, 150,000km warranty with seven years of roadside assistance. There’s also seven years of capped-price servicing totalling $1994, or $284.85 per service.As standard the entry-level Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L comes with 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six-speaker sound system, dual-zone climate control, electric park brake with auto-hold, keyless entry and push-button start, leather steering wheel and gear selector and black cloth upholstery.Moving up to the AX7L adds a black-painted contrast roof, 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, LED front fog lights, panoramic glass sunroof, seven-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, 65W USB-C charger, cooled glovebox, black synthetic leather upholstery, and synthetic leather on dashboard and door trims.Standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane centring, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.Stepping up to the AX7L gets you a surround-view camera, blind-spot view camera, and front parking sensors.Available exterior colours include Everest White, Galaxy Grey, Tango Red and Stealth Black. The latter isn’t offered on the flagship AX7L trim and is instead replaced by Citrine Yellow.

Mahindra has been in Australia for 20 years now, though over this time it has bubbled away under the surface primarily as a tractor brand and maker of rugged utes and SUVs.

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JAC has slashed the pricing of its T9 turbodiesel dual-cab ute in Australia with the introduction of a limited-time drive-away pricing offer for run-out model year 2024 (MY24) stock.

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Volkswagen Australia has detailed its model year 2025 (MY25) update for the Amarok dual-cab ute ahead of first arrivals during the second half of 2025.The Amarok line-up continues to open with the Core TDI405 at $55,490, before on-road costs, or $55,990 drive-away. The latter price is $2000 more than the MY24 version.The line-up still extends all the way to the Aventura TDI600 at $82,990, drive-away. This is $3000 more than the MY24 version.Almost every Amarok variant picked up a drive-away pricing increase for MY25 except the Aventura TSI452 which continues to be the only variant offered with the 2.3-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine.It now starts at $79,990, drive-away, which technically remains unchanged from MY24. A full pricing table is at the bottom of this story.Headlining the MY25 Amarok update is the introduction of the off-road-oriented 10 Deserts Edition TDI500 which was made to commemorate the company achieving a Guinness World Record last year.Only 300 examples of this limited-edition dual cab ute are being made and they’re priced from $68,490, before on-road costs, or $69,990, drive-away. This is $8000 more expensive than the Amarok Life TDI500 which it’s based on.The 10 Desert Edition TDI500 features a 40mm suspension lift, 17-inch satin black wheels wrapped in Continental ATR tyres, underbody protection, a black sports bar, soft tonneau cover, all-weather floor mats and ‘10 Deserts’ decals.Additionally, MY25 versions of the Amarok Style, Panamericana and Aventura trims get 230V power sockets with an Australian plug pattern, backed by an integrated 400W inverter. They also pick up a ‘Trailer Assist’ mode which makes hitching and reversing trailers easier.It’s worth noting the related Ford Ranger also recently picked up these features as part of an update.Another change for MY25 is the ‘Mid Blue Metallic’ exterior paint option has been replaced by the new ‘Reed Green Metallic’ finish.Lastly, Amarok Core, Life and Style variants now get the option of a cab chassis tray body style.Opting for this is an additional $4000 over the standard asking price of the dual cab pick-up variant.Included is a standardised alloy tray that weighs 132kg and measures 1650mm long by 1900mm wide. There’s also a steel tray that weighs 243kg and measures similarly to the alloy tray, but pricing for this hasn’t been disclosed.Both of these trays are available as dealer-fit accessories, meaning they are covered by the same five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty as the Amarok itself.It also means any existing current-generation Amarok can have a tray retrofitted as a dealer-fit accessory.