Articles by Jack Quick

Kia has sharpened the price for one of its most popular SUVs. The outgoing version of the Kia Seltos is now in run-out in Australia and the company is offering a series of drive-away pricing offers. These drive-away pricing offers span the entire line-up and are valid until September 30 and while dealer stock lasts. With this in mind, the 2026 Kia Seltos line-up is currently priced as follows: Kia Seltos S FWD: $33,990 Kia Seltos Sport FWD: $37,590 Kia Seltos Sport+ FWD: $40,690 Kia Seltos Sport+ AWD: $43,940 Kia Seltos GT-Line FWD: $46,790 Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD: $49,640 All prices are drive-away Beyond the Seltos, Kia Australia is offering plenty of other offers and deals on the Picanto, Stonic, K4, EV3, EV4, EV5, Sportage, Sorento, Carnival and Tasman. The outgoing Kia Seltos is currently available in four trim levels - S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line. All versions are available with a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 110kW and 180Nm. It’s mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with drive sent to the front wheels only. The Sport+ and GT-Line trims can also be had with a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 146kW and 265Nm. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with drive sent through an all-wheel drive system. There is no hybrid powertrain available, like many of its rivals, but this will change with the new-generation model that will land soon. The outgoing Kia Seltos first launched in 2019 and it received a facelift in 2022. A new-generation model was revealed in 2025 and will launch in Australia before the end of 2026. Locally this new-generation model will be hybrid-only and be direct competition to the Toyota Corolla Cross and Hyundai Kona, among others. According to local approval filings, both front- and all-wheel drive hybrid versions have been approved for sale. Both come with a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor set-up. Total system output is 118kW for the front-wheel drive and 169kW for the all-wheel drive. The Kia Seltos has historically been one of the South Korean carmaker’s best-selling vehicles. In 2025 a total of 9223 Seltos examples were sold, which is up 18.6 per cent year-on-year. It was only outsold by the Kia Carnival (10,948 sales) and the Sportage (19,137 sales). Until the end of August, a total of 4458 examples have been sold, which is down 27.3 per cent year-on-year. For context, a total of 16,916 Hyundai Kona examples, 15,033 GWM Haval Jolion examples, 11,822 MG ZS examples, 8779 Toyota Corolla Cross examples and 5210 Subaru Crosstrek examples were sold over the same period.

MG is temporarily giving $2000 cash back on its MG4 Urban electric hatchback so it now starts under $30,000. Until September 30, the MG4 Urban line-up is priced as follows: MG4 Urban Essence 43: $29,990 MG4 Urban Essence 54: $32,990 All prices are drive-away This promotional drive-away pricing for the MG4 Urban Essence 43 makes it more affordable than the GAC Aion UT Premium and puts it on par with the entry-level BYD Dolphin Essential. However, it’s worth noting the Geely EX2 and BYD Atto 1 are both available for cheaper, but they offer less range. MG Motor Australia has also announced it will have a stall at the Everything Electric show in Sydney from September 18-20. If you place an order for an MG4 Urban you’ll also get a $500 charging card in addition to the cash back offer. Beyond this, if you put down a $1000 deposit at the show for an MG IM5 sedan or IM6 SUV, you’ll get access to a $5000 cashback. This adds the existing $3000 cash back offer with an additional $2000 Everything Electric cash back offer. This will price the MG IM models as follows: MG IM5 Premium: $55,990 MG IM5 Platinum: $62,990 MG IM5 Performance: $72,990 MG IM6 Premium: $55,990 MG IM6 Platinum: $62,990 MG IM6 Performance: 72,990 All prices are drive-away The MG4 Urban is the Chinese carmaker’s newest entry-level electric vehicle (EV) and it sits below the standard MG4. It launched locally earlier in 2026 as a more city- and budget-focused offering to compete against the likes of the BYD Dolphin, GAC Aion UT and Geely EX2, among others. All versions of the MG4 Urban are front-wheel drive, unlike the rear-wheel drive MG4, and there are two different battery packs available, a 43kW and a 54kWh unit. They offer up to 316km and 405km of WLTP-claimed electric range, respectively. Until the end of August a total of 2604 MG4 Urban examples were sold. Over this same time a total of 3838 BYD Atto 1 examples, 3068 BYD Dolphin examples, 1753 Geely EX2 examples and 572 GAC Aion UT examples were sold.

Toyota Australia has introduced a factory-backed solution to help prevent theft of its vehicles. A secondary immobiliser genuine accessory is now available to purchase for current-generation LandCruiser 300 Series and Prado 250 Series vehicles at Toyota dealers for $1735 fitted. Toyota is currently studying whether it will widen the number of models it’s offering this factory-approved secondary immobiliser to. The Japanese carmaker has been rolling out improvements and enhancements to its vehicle security systems. These not only include the LandCruiser 300 Series and Prado, but also the HiLux and RAV4. The secondary immobiliser system is claimed to enhance the security offered in the standard, factory-fitted immobiliser. It provides an additional layer of vehicle start authentication and is designed so the vehicle cannot be started without the immobiliser key fob in range. There’s also an independently powered siren with a battery backup. It’s designed to activate in response to unauthorised actions and provides an audible deterrent even if the vehicle’s primary electrical power is disconnected. Although this secondary immobiliser does provide another layer of vehicle security, Toyota claims it still doesn’t guarantee complete theft protection. The introduction of this secondary immobiliser genuine accessory comes off the back of rising vehicle thefts. According to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), motor theft claims rose 2.5 per cent nationally in 2025. Victoria in particular recorded a 25 per cent increase in 2025. Many vehicles, including Toyota vehicles, with keyless entry systems have been targeted recently as there are devices that allow thieves to get around the vehicle’s security system. Toyota Australia says it is still collaborating with law enforcement agencies, industry and government agencies to promote the banning of devices used to facilitate vehicle theft. Toyota Australia still promotes the regulation of legitimate devices used by locksmiths, mechanics and other automotive professionals.

JAC has officially confirmed it is launching a cab-chassis version of its new Hunter PHEV dual-cab ute in Australia in early 2027. This new JAC Hunter PHEV cab-chassis will perform as a direct rival to the recently introduced BYD Shark 6 Dynamic cab-chassis. The Chinese carmaker claims this particular version of the Hunter PHEV has been developed with tradies, farmers and fleet operators in mind. With the lack of a tub this allows for a tray, canopy, toolbox or specialised body can fitted to the rear of the ute. Pricing and final specifications will be confirmed closer to the launch, as well as the genuine body and tray options. “More than half of the prospective fleet customers we are speaking with want a cab-chassis,” said JAC Motors Australia Managing Director Ahmed Mahmoud. “That is a clear signal that Australian businesses are looking for a more flexible PHEV work platform.” This forthcoming, cab-chassis version of the Hunter PHEV will sit alongside the traditional versions with a tub that have only just started arriving at local dealers. It will also sit alongside the turbo-diesel-powered T9 cab-chassis that launched locally late last year. It’s offered in entry-level Tradepro, as well as Oasis guises. It’s expected the JAC Hunter PHEV cab-chassis will retain the same powertrain as the existing examples with a tub. It marries together a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with dual electric motors for total system outputs of 360kW and 1010Nm. There’s also a 31.2kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that’s claimed to allow for up to 100km of NEDC-claimed electric range. A 3500kg braked towing capacity, as well as the 3.3kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) system are also expected to carry over to the cab-chassis version. At this stage it’s unclear whether JAC is planning to offer multiple Hunter PHEV cab-chassis trims, but regardless it will likely undercut the Shark 6 in terms of price. The entry-level JAC Hunter PHEV Pro is currently $49,988, before on-road costs, whereas the BYD Shark 6 Dynamic cab-chassis is $55,900, before on-road costs.

China’s Forthing has just launched its first model in Australia and it plans to launch at least three more over the next 18 months. The Taikon 5 electric (EV) and range-extender hybrid (REEV) mid-size SUV is the brand’s first model, but it will be following it up with a people mover. It similarly will be offered with EV and REEV powertrains. This Forthing people mover will likely be the Yacht/Xinghai V6. It’s unclear what the Chinese carmaker will call this model in Australia. This forthcoming Forthing people mover will be displayed in prototype form at the Sydney Everything Electric show from September 18 to 20. Forthing has confirmed it will launch a larger SUV in 2028. It’s unclear what this model will be yet as the Chinese carmaker globally doesn’t offer any larger SUV than the mid-size Taikon 5. Beyond this, another model of an undisclosed body type is bound for Australia. Forthing Australia National Manager Shaun Garrard said the brand currently doesn’t have any ute in the works for Down Under. “There isn’t currently a ute model in the pipeline for Forthing, but again, we’re open to considering any product that Forthing wants to develop for Australia,” said Garrard. This seemingly rules out the Forthing P6 and P8 dual-cab utes that are offered in China. Forthing is a Chinese carmaker that’s part of China’s giant Dongfeng Motor Group that globally has joint venture partnerships with Nissan, Honda and Stellantis. It was introduced in China in 20001 but recently has been expanding its reach in export markets. The brand is being imported by Ateco in Australia, which also distributes LDV, Renault and Ram vehicles, among others, locally. The Forthing Taikon 5, which is currently in the midst of a trademark infringement issue regarding its name, is the brand’s first vehicle in Australia and it’s available in both EV and REEV trims. Pricing starts at $36,990 drive-away. This sees it compete directly with the likes of the BYD Sealion 6, Leapmotor C10, Geely EX5 and Starray EM-i, as well as the Jaecoo J7.

China’s Forthing has just launched its first model in Australia and it is temporarily avoiding the use of its name due to an ongoing trademark infringement issue. The Forthing Taikon 5 electrified mid-size SUV was confirmed for an Australian launch earlier this year. Due to an ongoing trademark battle, which originated in New Zealand, it is now referred to as either the Forthing Electric or Forthing Range Extender Hybrid. “We’ve taken this temporary and precautionary step in Australia due to a trademark infringement issue that’s been raised by Porsche AG in another market that alleges that consumers could mistake a Forthing vehicle for some Porsche vehicles,” said Forthing Australia National Manager Shaun Garrard. “We are flattered Porsche feels this way and that they’ve expressed such strong interest in the Forthing brand, but until the issue is resolved, we’ll focus on promoting Forthing brand predominantly, as opposed to the Taikon 5.” “Now, this is just a risk mitigation approach for our marketing and our media in Australia, so it has reduced the speed at which we've been able to get our national advertising campaign up and running in Australia.” For the time being Forthing has commenced deliveries of the Taikon 5, but on all marketing materials the Taikon 5 badging has been removed. Forthing has said it is not instructing dealers to remove the Taikon 5 badging from customer vehicles. At this stage Forthing is expecting the trademark infringement issue to be resolved by the end of 2026. However, Porsche is successful with its opposition, it may require a rename of the car in Australia. Globally versions of this car are called the Friday, Leiting, T-Five and even simply the 5. None of these names have been trademarked by Forthing in Australia yet. Forthing is part of the ginormous Dongfeng Motor Group which globally has joint venture partnerships with Nissan, Honda and Stellantis. It was introduced in China in 2001 but recently has been expanding its reach in export markets. The brand is being imported by Ateco in Australia, which also distributes LDV, Renault and Ram vehicles, among others, locally. The Forthing Taikon 5 is the brand’s first vehicle in Australia and it’s available in both electric and range-extender hybrid (REEV) trims. Pricing starts at $36,990 drive-away. This sees it compete directly with the likes of the BYD Sealion 6, Leapmotor C10, Geely EX5 and Starray EM-i, as well as the Jaecoo J7.

A camouflaged prototype of what appears to be the production Nissan Terrano SUV has been spied ahead of its imminent reveal. The images were posted to Instagram by nissanarabian and show the white-painted production-specification prototype with varying levels of camouflage. What is clear is the Nissan badge on the front grille and the Terrano badging on the tailgate, clearly marking it as the production version of the new Nissan Terrano. Virtually all of the vehicle’s boxy SUV looks and design cues have carried over from the Terrano PHEV concept that was revealed in China earlier this year. One particular photo that shows under the bonnet indicates this Terrano features a combustion engine, indicating it’ll likely have a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) set-up, like the concept. It’s understood the Terrano will share a lot of components and its body-on-frame platform with the Frontier Pro/Navara Pro dual-cab ute. The PHEV set-up in the Frontier Pro/Navara Pro marries together a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor with total system outputs of 300kW and 800Nm. Depending on the battery pack, it can offer up to 135km of electric range, according to the lenient CLTC test cycle. 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. Beyond the boxy SUV exterior of the new Nissan Terrano, a photo of the vehicle’s interior can be seen. There is a large central touchscreen multimedia system, as well as the digital instrument cluster. There also seems to be a series of physical buttons on the centre console and the steering wheel. This version of the Terrano has what looks like a high-spec brown-and-black interior colourway. Other colours are also expected. While the Terrano nameplate has a long history with Nissan, this new version has been developed and will be manufactured in China with the Dongfeng Nissan joint venture. Many of these Dongfeng Nissan vehicles, like the Frontier Pro/Navara Pro ute, NX8 SUV and N7 sedan, have been developed with the Chinese market in mind. However, Nissan is currently ramping up the export of these Chinese-made models. At this stage Nissan hasn’t confirmed which of its Dongfeng Nissan models will be coming to Australia, however vehicles like the Frontier Pro/Navara Pro and NX8 have been earmarked. Nissan has confirmed the new Terrano is “intended for selected global markets”, however it’s unclear whether Australia is on the list. If it does come to Australia it will slot under the Y63 Patrol and be a more rugged successor to the US-made Pathfinder.

For the first time ever in Australia, sales of electric vehicles (EVs) surpassed every other powertrain type for a month. Combining both the latest VFACTS and EV Council sales data, a total of 27,078 EVs were sold during the month of August. EVs notably outsold petrol (25,824, down 32.6 per cent YOY) and diesel (23,608, down 22.5 per cent YOY) vehicle sales, however when you combine the two pure combustion powertrain choices they still well and truly outperformed EVs. Additionally, 24.9 per cent of overall vehicles sold in August were EVs, meaning almost one in four. This is also a new record. While EVs had a sharp uptick in sales compared to August 2025, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) had an even sharper growth. A total of 10,591 examples were sold during August 2026, which is up 171.1 per cent year-on-year. During the month of August, the best-selling EV by far was the Tesla Model Y. A total of 6414 examples were sold, which is up 176 per cent year-on-year. This was followed by the BYD Sealion 7 (2213, up 56.6 per cent YOY) and the Geely EX5 (1947, up 385.5 per cent YOY). The following is a breakdown of the top 10 best-selling EVs during the month of August:   While EVs outsold petrol- and diesel-powered cars in August 2026, the year-to-date (YTD) sales figures paint a different picture. Until the end of August, a total of 154,304 EVs were sold, which is up 139.7 per cent year-on-year. For context, a total of 243,673 petrol vehicles and 207,541 diesel vehicles were sold over the same period, which is down 25.7 per cent and 16.2 per cent, respectively, year-on-year. If trends do continue we could expect to see EV sales overtake petrol or diesel around early-to-mid 2027. There are a lot of factors that may change this, but it’s clear that EV demand in Australia is higher than ever.

Electric vehicle (EV) sales are skyrocketing now in Australia largely thanks to novated leasing arrangements, and new data about the areas where the highest uptake is might surprise you. As it currently stands, EVs priced under the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold ($91,661) that are purchased under a novated leasing agreement are exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). This type of leasing agreements use pre-tax earnings to pay for the vehicle payments, plus things like insurance, servicing, tyres and charging costs are typically bundled into the pre-tax payments. This brings down your overall taxable income. New analysis from the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA) has revealed which postcodes in the first half of 2026 had the highest EV uptake with an eligible FBT-exempt novated lease. The overall top postcode with the highest EV uptake for eligible FBT-exempt novated leases in the first half of 2026 is Tarneit in Victoria, followed by Werribee, which is a neighbouring suburb in Melbourne’s west. The third highest suburb is Kellyville, NSW, followed by Marsden Park, NSW and Coombs, ACT. Here is a breakdown of the top 10 postcodes: Many of the listed suburbs with the highest EV uptake for eligible FBT-exempt novated leases in the first half of 2026 are notably on the outer edges of major cities like Melbourne or Sydney. Many are also predominantly working-class suburbs, or ones that are having a growth with new housing developments. In these suburbs, many residents will be facing long commutes to work, leaving residents more exposed to the cost of rising fuel prices and seeking more cost-effective alternatives. The following is breakdown per state: Victoria New South Wales Queensland While plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) under the LCT threshold are no longer exempt from FBT when purchased through a novated lease agreement, EVs continue to be for now. However, this is set to end on all electric cars by March 2029. EVs priced more than $75,000, but below the LCT threshold, will no longer be eligible from April 2027. Instead they will have to pay 75 per cent of the FBT from that date. “The new rules will encourage manufacturers to offer more affordable and cheaper to run EVs in the Australian market,” said Treasurer of Australia Jim Chalmers and Energy Minister Chris Bowen via The Guardian in May 2026. “The current new vehicle efficiency standards have seen a dramatic increase in the availability of affordable EV models, so now is the right time to focus the FBT exemption on these cars. “We will continue to provide support for families who choose to switch to EVs as we transition to a permanent 25% discount on FBT for these cars.”

The BMW X1 won the Best Small Car starting under $80,000 category in CarsGuide's 2026 Car of the Year awards, and the line-up has just received a shake-up. While petrol and electric (iX1) versions of this small SUV are still on offer, there is now a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant. Dubbed the X1 xDrive25e, it’s priced from $79,900, before on-road costs. It’s almost $9000 more than the petrol-powered sDrive20i M Sport ($70,962 BOC), which is only front-wheel drive. This sees it compete against other plug-in hybrid rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLA250e ($78,800 BOC) and Cupra Formentor VZe ($68,990 BOC). Audi hasn’t launched a PHEV version of its new-generation Q3 in Australia yet. Our test car is fitted with the Enhancement Package ($5700) which adds the following: Metallic paint Panoramic glass sunroof 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system Heated steering wheel There is a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that powers the front wheels with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, as well as an 80kW electric motor on the rear axle. Total system outputs are 180kW and 477Nm which is good for a 0-100km/h sprint in 6.8 seconds. There’s plenty of power on tap. Around town the electric motor handles almost all of it on its own, but lean harder on the accelerator or deplete the battery charge and the petrol engine steps in to assist. When the petrol engine first fires there can be slight hesitation as the powertrain shuffles how the drive is sent. It’s brief and then things smooth out. The three-cylinder petrol engine has a fun, perky but you can tell it's working hard to shift 1855kg of small SUV. Feeding the electric motor is a 16.3kWh (14.2kWh usable) lithium-ion battery pack which allows for up to 86km of WLTP-claimed electric range. During my urban real-world testing I saw closer to 55km, which isn’t very much by today's standards. BMW claims the X1 xDrive25e has a combined fuel consumption of 3.3L/100km, according to ADR 81/02 testing, though your usage will depend on how often you charge. When the battery was depleted I saw an average of 9.5-10L/100km, which is a fair bit for a car of this size. There is a 47L fuel tank that requires a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol. Charging up the battery pack can only be done by a Type 2 plug that’s on the front-left quarter panel and allows for AC charging at rates up to 11kW. With this a full charge is claimed to take 1.75 hours. Even though it can feel like the turbo three-cylinder engine is working hard, it’s aided by the electric motor. When you boot the accelerator there's plenty of oomph available, plus if you’re feeling frisky, there’s also a ‘Boost’ mode that turns everything to 11. Once the need for speed is over, it’s surprising just how fun this car is to drive, even around town. This is primarily thanks to light, yet direct steering. This version of the X1 comes with the M Sport package as standard, which means it has a sportier suspension set-up with adaptive dampers. It’s generally comfortable and compliant, though harsher bumps can transmit into the cabin with a jolt. There’s a lot of polish to this car and it’s clear it's still a segment benchmark, at least from a dynamic standpoint. The BMW X1 still has a striking cabin with its dual screen set-up, though the 10.7-inch touchscreen multimedia system does look a touch small now compared to some of its competitors. Looking elsewhere there's the classic chunky BMW steering wheel, a generous amount of open storage under the centre console, a handy clamp to hold your phone on the wireless charger, as well as a comically small centre armrest storage spot. Despite being a small SUV, there’s still a generous amount of space in the second row. Plus, the floor is virtually flat, meaning the centre seat isn’t a terrible place to sit. Though the centre seat has a roof-mounted seatbelt which does eat into rearward visibility. Adding to the segment-defying space, it has 490L of boot space with the rear seats upright, expanding to 1495L when folded. Surprisingly for a PHEV there’s even underfloor storage for the charging cables, however there’s no spare wheel. Petrol and electric versions of the BMW X1 have a five-star ANCAP safety rating. It’s unclear whether this will be extended to the PHEV. The following safety equipment is on offer: Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) Blind-spot monitoring Rear cross-traffic alert Lane-keep assist Adaptive cruise control Lane-change assist Surround-view camera Front and rear parking sensors Parking assist Dashcam All of the safety systems are well-calibrated and don’t interfere with the driving experience, unless required. Like all BMWs, the X1 xDrive25e is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is standard for luxury carmakers but lacking when compared to mainstream counterparts. The high-voltage battery is also covered for eight years or 160,000km. BMW offers three- and five-year pre-paid service packages which are priced at $1466 and $2493, respectively. The latter equals about $500 per service, which is typical for a European luxury car of this size.