Articles by Jack Quick

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.

Hyundai is reportedly preparing to discontinue its dual-cab ute.As reported by Automotive News, the South Korean carmaker is planning to axe the Santa Cruz unibody dual-cab ute and won’t replace it with a second-generation model.Hyundai Santa Cruz production was reportedly set to continue until the second quarter of 2027, however it’s now understood it’ll end a lot sooner.There were previously rumours the Santa Cruz would receive a major update introducing a hybrid powertrain 2027, though this puts doubt over that.No exact time frame has been given for when Santa Cruz production will cease entirely, though this quarter production is reportedly halving.Automotive News reports the earlier axing date is due to slowing sales of the Santa Cruz and a growing inventory that now spans nearly five months worth of stock.For context, the Ford Maverick, which is the Santa Cruz’s closest competitor, outsold it six to one over the course of 2025. The axing of the Santa Cruz will allow the Blue Oval to walk away with even more market share of this segment.Hyundai introduced the lifestyle-oriented unibody dual-cab ute primarily for the North American market in 2021. It’s essentially a stretched version of the Tucson mid-size SUV and features a tub.Despite large demand for dual-cab utes in Australia, the Hyundai Santa Cruz has always been off limits for a local launch due to its left-hand drive construction.As a result of ending Santa Cruz production, the South Korean carmaker will reportedly instead be able to add more production slots for the Tucson at its facility in Alabama. Tucson sales in the US reportedly rose 14 per cent last year, whereas Santa Cruz sales dropped 20 per cent.Although the Santa Cruz will reportedly soon be axed, Hyundai isn’t planning on leaving the dual-cab ute market just yet.It has already confirmed it’s working on a body-on-frame ute, though it’s unclear whether it will have any relation to the Kia Tasman. This will see Hyundai go up against the likes of the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.It’s understood this body-on-frame Hyundai ute will be ready to launch by the end of 2028 and likely will be coming to Australia.An SUV version of this forthcoming Hyundai ute is also understood to be on the cards. This will give Hyundai a rival to the likes of the popular Ford Everest and Toyota Prado.Additionally, Hyundai currently has a partnership with General Motors (GM) which will see it jointly develop five vehicles, including a mid-size pick-up for Central and South America.It’s unclear whether this particular Hyundai/GM ute will ever make its way to Australia.

The Polestar 2 was among one of the first electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia to break through to the mainstream and this latest update brings a number of subtle changes.

Mercedes-AMG is readying the next instalment of its ultra high-end Mythos series of vehicles and it will be an “extreme” take on the CLE coupe.This forthcoming and yet-unnamed Mercedes-AMG CLE Mythos is currently undergoing cold-weather testing in Sweden with heavy black-and-white camouflage to disguise the design features.Compared to the regular, V6-powered AMG CLE53 which is currently the most powerful version of this car, it has very aggressive front and rear fascias for additional cooling, wider wheel arches for the wider track width, as well as a large rear wing.As reported by Autocar, it will be powered by a new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine with a flat-plane crankshaft.Mercedes-Benz will also reportedly use this new flat-plane V8 in the facelifted version of the S-Class, which is set to be revealed later today.It will reportedly produce 395kW and 745Nm in the facelifted S-Class, however in this forthcoming CLE Mythos the outputs will be increased to over 484kW and 800Nm.For context, the AMG GT63 Pro with its cross-plane crank 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine produces 450kW and 850Nm.Flat-plane crank V8 engines are used in many Ferraris, McLarens, as well as the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and allow for a lighter and smaller overall package, higher revs and sharper throttle response.Mercedes-AMG’s first foray into a flat-plane crankshaft V8 was the limited-production AMG GT Black Series in 2020.Given the Mythos line of vehicles is similarly focused on exclusivity and limited production, this will likely make the CLE Mythos the most direct successor to the C63 AMG Black Series from 2012. Only 800 units of it were made globally.The first Mythos vehicle was the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed which was revealed in 2024 and is a roof-less and windscreen-less version of the AMG SL roadster. Only 250 units are being made.

Mini has globally detailed a technical update to its all-electric Countryman E and SE variants ahead of its European on-sale date of March 2026.The Mini Countryman E and SE now both receive a slightly larger 65.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is up from the 64.6kWh unit in the current model.Mini also claims to have integrated a new silicon carbide (SiC) inverter to improve energy efficiency and minimise power loss, as well as introduce friction-reduced wheel bearings on the front axle.As a result of all of these changes, WLTP-claimed range in the single-motor Countryman E is now up to 501km, whereas WLTP-claimed range in the dual-motor Countryman SE is now up to 467km.This is up 39km and 35km, respectively, over the current Countryman E and SE.Beyond this, it’s understood the electric Countryman line-up remains unchanged for the time being. Charging from 10 to 80 per cent is still claimed to take less than 30 minutes, indicating the peak DC fast-charging rate is the same at 130kW.The electric Mini Countryman line-up launched alongside the petrol counterparts in 2024 and hasn't received an update locally yet.We’ve reached out to Mini Australia to find out when this update to the Countryman E and SE will launch locally. We’ll update this story once we hear back.In Australia both the Countryman E and SE are offered. The E comes in Core, Classic and Favoured trim levels, whereas the SE comes in Classic, Favoured and JCW Sport trim levels.Australian pricing for the electric Countryman line-up starts at $64,990 before on-roads for the Countryman E Core and extends to $77,990 before on-roads for the Countryman SE JCW Sport.Power in the Countryman E comes from a single, front-mounted electric motor which produces 150kW and 250Nm of torque. It’s claimed to be able to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.6 seconds.The Countryman SE on the other hand has a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with total system outputs of 230kW and 494Nm. It’s claimed to be able to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds.Last year Mini grew its sales in Australia by 37.7 per cent year-on-year with a total of 5485. The Countryman was relegated to second place this year (2235 sales) as the smaller Cooper just overtook it (2263 sales).

Volvo is reportedly looking to make a new flagship SUV to sit above the XC90 and EX90 due to rising demand for such vehicles in the US and China.As reported by Autocar, Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson said “bigger SUVs are something we’re looking into”, however the company has “still not made any decision on going there”.“Especially in China and the US, the real three-row SUV is a growing segment and an interesting segment, but so far we have the 90 which covers the three-row,” said Samuelsson.Samuelsson didn’t mention any specific details on what form this new flagship SUV could take, though he did note that the customers in the US and China “probably at least for the next few years would be more interested in a hybrid” and that US production would be likely to minimise tariffs on US vehicle sales.Volvo already has a production facility in South Carolina and currently builds the EX90, along with the related Polestar 3 there.It’s reported this new flagship Volvo SUV could use the Zeekr 9X as a base. Zeekr is another brand that falls under the Geely umbrella and the company is known for sharing its tech between brands.Measuring in at 5.24-metres long, the Zeekr 9X is longer than the circa-5.0-metre Volvo EX90 and XC90. It also has a more overt luxurious focus.The 9X is based on Geely’s SEA-R platform, which is a version of the SEA platform but for large plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or range-extender (REEV) vehicles. It’s set to form the base of the forthcoming Lotus For Me, which is a REEV version of the Eletre SUV.Power in the Zeekr 9X comes from 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine along with three electric motors for a humongous total system output of 1030kW and a claimed 0-100km/h sprint of 3.1 seconds.Depending on the variant there are two battery packs available, a 55.1kWh unit which offers up to 235km of range, or a 70kWh unit which offers up to 302km of range, both according to lenient CLTC testing. It’s unclear whether this type of vehicle will ever come to fruition, nor what name it will receive. Previous reports have indicated it could potentially be called the EX100.In mid-2025 digital artist, Sugar Design, mocked up what this new flagship Volvo SUV could look like with current Volvo exterior design language.This includes the iconic ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED headlights and a full-width rear tail-light set-up with Volvo script written out on the tailgate.