Articles by James Cleary

Chinese carmaker Chery Group loves a sub-brand and its Jaecoo nameplate arrived here just over 12 months ago as a more premium option relative to its Omoda sibling. Stand by for Lepas hitting Aussie showrooms any minute as well as iCaur and Freelander in 2027. Think of Jaecoo as a mainstream Hyundai, Kia and Toyota alternative and the J5 on test here as a sharply priced small SUV challenger to the Kona, Seltos and Corolla Cross. At $34,990, drive-away, the J5 SHS-H Summit is a (series-parallel) hybrid five seater promising compelling value, family focused practicality and miserly fuel consumption.  And we spent a week behind the wheel to see if it has what it takes to upset the established order in one of the Aussie new-car market’s most hotly contested segments. Elaborate decoration is notable by its absence when it comes to the Jaecoo J5’s exterior. Broad, largely unadorned surfaces give this SUV a clean, solid, no fuss look with the bold waterfall grille and flower petal-style 18-inch ‘Aero’ alloy wheels the closest things come to embellishment. The interior is similarly minimalist although some visual interest is added via configurable ambient lighting, white perimeter piping and cross stitching on the seats, a diamond pattern on the upper section of the dash and a piano black finish on the front centre console and around the multimedia screen. The colour palette is multi shades of grey, although off-white headlining lifts things a bit.  For its sub-$35K drive-away price the J5 Summit is loaded with standard equipment, the highlights being: All LED exterior lighting Intelligent high beam Roof rails Rain-sensing wipers Heated and power-folding exterior mirrors Glass sunroof (with power sunshade) Power tailgate Synthetic leather trim Six-way power-adjustable (heated & ventilated) front seats Dual-zone climate-control Interior ambient lighting 8.9-inch digital instrument display 13.2-inch multimedia touchscreen Eight-speaker audio Wired & wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay Intelligent voice command We’ll get to safety equipment soon, but without even going there that list of included features is as good or better than pricier hybrid rivals like the Hyundai Kona (from $36,950) or Toyota Corolla Cross (from $37,440), both before on-road costs.  At just under 4.4m long, less than 1.9m wide and a bit over 1.6m tall with a 2620mm wheelbase the Jaecoo J5 packs a lot of capacity into a relatively compact footprint. No shortage of breathing room upfront and the rear is surprisingly roomy with ample headroom and decent legroom (for me sitting behind the driver’s seat set for my 183cm position). The synthetic leather trim is claimed to “stand up to pet claws and everyday spills” and our always enthusiastic doggo put it to the test without any immediate signs of damage. Heaps of storage with everything from generous door bins (front and rear) to storage bays and boxes, multiple cupholders, pockets and power sources including wireless charging, USB-A and -C ports as well as 12V outlets (front and boot). Speaking of the boot, it boasts an average 314-litre volume to the top of the rear seatbacks, 410L to the roof and even more with the 60/40 split-folding rear seat lowered.  There's a big black mark against the lack of a physical spare, though, compounded by the fact Jaecoo puts it right in your face with a spare tyre-shaped cavity under the boot floor and the 12-volt battery plonked in the middle of it. Boo.  The Jaecoo J5 is offered in Australia in petrol internal-combustion, pure-electric and as tested here, series-parallel hybrid form. The SHS-H in the car’s name stands for ‘Super Hybrid System-Hybrid’, which is a self-charging powertrain consisting of a 1.5-litre (105kW/215Nm) turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine working in concert with a single (150kW/310Nm) permanent magnet synchronous motor which together send 165kW/295Nm to the front wheels through a dedicated hybrid transmission. The Jaecoo J5 SHS-H Summit’s official fuel-economy figure on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle is 5.6L/100km and over a week of city suburban and some freeway running we saw an impressive average of just 4.6L/100km which equates to a range of more than 1100km. Wow. This hybrid feels more electric than petrol with plenty of surge from rest and more than enough grunt for the cut and thrust of city traffic and easy freeway cruising. It’s commendably quiet, although the ride from the strut front, multi-link rear suspension is firm and sensitive to smaller, high-frequency bumps and thumps. Steering is accurate and road feel is okay, the standard Continental EcoContact 7 rubber is quiet and grippy but the brakes are relatively abrupt on application unless you consciously focus on greasing them in. All around vision is clear and the inclusion of a quality reversing camera and 360-degree overhead view makes parking a breeze. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) tech is extensive covering everything from auto emergency braking (AEB) to rear cross-traffic alert with any warning, assist, detection and prevention measure you can think of in between. The airbag count is seven, including a front centre bag. Most of the crash-avoidance systems work well enough, although lane keeping in adaptive cruise mode is manic with micro adjustments constantly tweaking the wheel in your hands. And the driver monitoring system is overly zealous, which is doubly annoying as it typically slaps you on the wrist with a visual and audible alert when you’re digging into the central screen for functions like ventilation that would be better handled by physical controls. Grrr. Jaecoo Motor Australia covers its cars with a competitive eight-year/unlimited km warranty (including the traction battery) with an initial 12 months of roadside assistance extended for another year each time you carry out a scheduled service at an authorised Jaecoo dealership.  Recommended service interval is 12 months/15,000km and eight-year/120,000km capped-price servicing can be locked in for an average of just over $426 per workshop visit. Not the lowest when you consider a Toyota Corolla Cross service will set you back $255 for each of the first five years. There are around 50 Omoda Jaecoo dealers in Australia covering all states and territories except the NT.

Mahindra has taken a razor to the price of its XUV700 SUV, slashing $10,000 off cost-of-entry for the base AX7 and $9000 off the more premium AX7L. But beware, there are a couple of significant catches. The ‘Instant Retail Offer’ ends on October 31, 2026 and only applies to cars built in 2025.  Despite the build date caveat, the brand has positioned the move as “its largest instant retail offer yet” adding it “strengthens the XUV700's position as one of the most compelling value propositions in Australia's highly competitive medium SUV segment.” The 2025-build seven-seat AX7 is now listed at $29,990, drive-away, and the 2025-build AX7L sits well under the $35 threshold at $33,990, drive-away. In the short-term the move effectively repositions the entry-level tier of the mid-size SUV segment putting the Mahindra at or below the price of rivals like the BYD Sealion 5 (from $33,990, before on-road costs), Chery Tiggo 7 (from $29,990, drive-away), GWM-Haval H6 (from $35,990, drive-away), Jaecoo J7 (from $34,990, drive-away), KGM Korando (from $30,990, drive-away) and the MG HS (from $33,990, drive-away). The Indian maker believes the XUV700's specification remains a key differentiator with standard features for the AX7 and AX7L including: Panoramic sunroof 18-inch alloy wheels 10.25-inch multimedia display 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto The AX7L adds: 360-degree surround-view camera Ventilated front seats 12-speaker audio Active (crash-avoidance) tech includes: Adaptive Cruise Control Autonomous Emergency Braking Lane Keep Assist Traffic Sign Recognition Blind-spot monitoring (AX7L-only)  

Denza has confirmed a pure-electric version of its Range Rover-baiting N8L large SUV will launch in the Chinese domestic market this month, joining the existing plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model, already offered across four grades. Denza Auto General Manager Li Hui confirmed the arrival timing, with documents already lodged with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) pointing to power for the luxurious six-seater coming from a single permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, sending 370kW to the rear wheels with a 130.2kWh LFP battery delivering a range of no less than 960km (to the more generous CLTC protocol). Overall dimensions are unchanged from the N8L PHEV, the pure-electric model measuring 5.2m long, a fraction under 2.0m wide and just over 1.8m tall with a 3075mm wheelbase. The front trunk measures 208 litres. Kerb weight is a sturdy 2900kg but claimed top speed is still an impressive 240km/h. Standard specification and pricing is yet to be confirmed but it’s likely the N8L EV will retain features from the PHEV including: Fast-charging capacity (taking advantage of parent company BYD’s rapidly expanding Flash Charging network) ‘God's Eye 5.0’ (end-to-end large-scale reinforcement learning model) An extensive active safety suite and nine airbags Crab parking capability Dual-cavity air suspension Motion sickness prevention Nappa leather seat trim Auto-extending running boards Multiple large-format entertainment, media and information screens High-end audio Multi-zone climate control   The Denza N8L PHEV currently ranges in price from ¥299,800 to ¥349,800, which would translate to Australian prices of around $80,000 and $95,000, respectively.  There is no word yet on whether the Denza N8L PHEV or EV will come to Australia but it’s clear BYD is aggressively expanding its high-end sub-brand’s line-up locally. The B5 large PHEV SUV, B8 upper-large PHEV SUV and D9 pure-electric people mover are already on-sale here with the high-performance Z9GT ‘arriving soon’.

It was only a matter of time before Volkswagen introduced a factory camper version of its ID. Buzz pure-electric van, and now it’s arrived in the shape of the ID. California Cruise. Offered in short- and long-wheelbase form, the adventurous newcomer is equipped with a host of lifestyle-focused extras, including: 2.0m x 1.2m (by 9.0cm thick) folding mattress extending out across the rear seats Lightweight folding table and chair set housed above the mattress Ventilation grilles Window black-out covers Optional panoramic sunroof with light-proof cover No ‘pop-top’ roof or kitchen unit at this stage Power is supplied by the same rear-mounted single electric motor as the ID. Buzz Pro and Pro+ models, sending 210kW/510Nm to the rear wheels with a 79kWh lithium-ion battery in the SWB and 86kWh pack in the LWB likely to deliver similar range figures of 422km and 452km, respectively. But the electric California Cruise’s signature campsite party trick will surely be its V2L (Vehicle to Load) functionality with up to 3.6kW output to power equipment like lighting, cooking gear or a fridge/freezer box that would typically require a petrol generator. Another special feature up the new camper’s sleeve is ‘California Mode’, which keeps the air-conditioning or heating system as well as interior lighting and USB sockets up and running for 48 hours. Volkswagen has positioned the ID. California Cruise as “an important milestone towards an entirely new generation of all-electric campervans, which will be introduced step by step through to 2028.”  Pricing is confirmed in the new model’s German home market at €60,761 (~A$98,300) with deliveries scheduled to start in early 2027. For reference, the current local ID. Buzz line-up starts with the SWB Pro at $75,990, before on-road costs and tops out with the LWB-only dual-motor GTX at $106,990, BOC.   CarGuide contacted Volkswagen Australia for comment on the ID. California Cruise’s potential for local sale and a spokesperson told us, "We are continually reviewing our product portfolio for the Australian market. "While we recognise the interest in the Volkswagen ID. California Cruise, we are unable to confirm local availability or timing at this stage for Australia." 

Hyundai has come out with all guns blazing at its 2026 CEO Investor Day, sharing strategy related to everything from increased global production targets, boosted manufacturing and a plan to launch more than 100 new or substantially refreshed products by 2030. Headlining the event in Seoul, Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO Jose Muñoz also confirmed Hyundai will aggressively expand into body-on-frame SUVs and pick-ups as well as other new segments to deliver a 35 per cent increase in worldwide sales to 5.55 million units across the group by 2030. Global manufacturing capacity to expand by 1.27 million units by 2030 Seven new vehicles arriving in the next eight months Electrified vehicles to represent 60 per cent of sales by the end of the decade (up from 23 per cent in 2025) The group’s first Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) models (targeting around 960km range) hitting showrooms from the first half of 2027  Genesis to launch its first hybrid, first EREV and GV90 flagship SUV, targeting 350,000 annual sales across more than 40 markets by 2030 Hyundai N performance line-up to “expand to 100,000 annual sales by 2030 and be joined by a new volume high-performance tier” Scaling Boston Dynamics robotics commercialisation to expand 10-fold by the end of the current financial year No surprise, given the current US federal administration's tariff regime, North America is set to increase production by 500,000 units over the next four years with end-part localisation rising above 80 per cent. This will be led by a new Santa Fe EREV to be built at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing facility in Alabama and followed by the push into shared ladder-frame models produced at the group’s ‘Metaplant’ in Georgia. In emphasising Hyundai’s shift towards body-on-frame SUVs and pick-ups Mr Muñoz referenced the recent Hyundai Boulder and Crater SUV concept vehicles, noting a rapidly growing customer base feeding demand for tough, off-road capable vehicles “providing a prime opportunity for Hyundai Motor, which already has an 8.4 per cent share of the highly profitable market.” Speaking with Automotive News after the formal presentation, Munoz said, “We want to develop a family of products capitalizing on platforms. “You would typically see several models derived from the same platform and will try to maximize the volume.” He confirmed ‘frame-trucks’ will account for 50 per cent of planned volume growth over the next four years, adding, “This already gives you an indication that (truck volume) is going to be significant,” although he declined to give sales estimates, saying volume will partly hinge on whether Kia or Genesis also develop vehicles based on the same ladder-frame platforms. During the main presentation Muñoz said, “Our fundamentals have never been stronger. Hyundai Motor Group is the third-largest automotive group and the second-most profitable, which gives us the ability to invest while others are pulling back.”  He confirmed many of the new product arrivals across the group will be entries into “white spaces” where the brand is underrepresented, the first newcomers arriving soon, including: Hyundai Ioniq 3 All-new Hyundai Elantra Hyundai Tucson (including hybrid) Hyundai Santa Fe EREV All-new A-segment SUV EV for India All-new global B-segment SUV All-new B-segment SUV for Europe The compact, pure-electric Hyundai Ioniq 3 EV is set to arrive in Australia in the first half of 2027, offering a maximum 496km range.

For more than 70 years the Chevrolet Corvette has been a sports car icon and the current eighth-generation version comes to Australia in factory right-hand drive form. The petrol-electric hybrid Corvette E-Ray is arguably the most interesting version and we spent a week behind the wheel to see how 'America's sports car' fares in local conditions.

It’s been in place in various forms for over 25 years and what is now the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance has had many high-profile ups and downs over that quarter of a century. Now, overnight reports out of Japan are pointing to fundamental problems with the working relationship between two of those three alliance pillars - Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan Motor Company. As the 10th anniversary of Nissan’s big investment in Mitsubishi looms, Nikkei Asia has positioned the corporate association as “nearing a crossroads after a lackluster decade” pointing to a potential divestment by Nissan, which could leave room for Honda or Foxconn to swoop in. In October 2016, with a green light from then Chairman (and great automotive escape artist) Carlos Ghosn, Nissan invested around ¥240 billion (A$2.1 billion) for a 34 per cent stake in Mitsubishi Motors. The core aim was to collaborate on new model development to improve speed to market and gain cost efficiencies. But as the report points out, Mitsubishi Motors has shown limited synergy with Nissan in recent years. Early on, the jointly-developed Mitsubishi eK X and Nissan Sakura EV kei city cars were successful and the Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Trail SUVs were underpinned by a shared platform. But in speaking with Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory Senior Analyst Seiji Sugiura, the report makes the point that Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan "haven’t made progress on shared parts and procurement". "The investment really seems to have been driven by Ghosn, and I have doubts about whether there was deep discussion in advance about cooperation," Sugiura-san said. Nissan’s relationship with Mitsubishi is believed to have contributed only about one per cent of the company’s pre-tax profit over the past decade. And Mitsubishi Motors' market capitalisation has fallen by around 40 per cent since October 2016, which is ironic given the Nissan investment served partly as a rescue package for Mitsubishi, which had at that point lost customer trust after a scandal related to fuel efficiency data. Mitsubishi is not alone in facing intense competition from Chinese challenger brands in Southeast Asia as well as the impact of US tariffs and conflict in the Middle East.  Nissan remains in the midst of a major global financial crisis, recording massive consecutive annual losses, including a A$7 billion net loss for the fiscal year ending March 2025 and a A$4.7 billion net loss for the year ending March 2026. And with the end of the 10-year ‘lockup’ period for Nissan's stake in Mitsubishi (during which Nissan agreed not to sell its Mitsubishi shares) approaching, market analysts suggest Nissan might unload part of its stake and speculation about other possible capital partners is rife. According to SBI Securities Chief Executive Analyst Koji Endo, what cooperation existed between the two companies "wasn't enough to support their earnings." "Staying on its current track won't produce new technology or business models," Endo added. The report puts forward several post-lock-up investment scenarios, the first being buy-in from Honda despite the planned multi-billion dollar corporate merger between Honda and Nissan being officially canceled in February 2025. The report theorises that a three-way alliance might eventuate as Mitsubishi' strength in pick-up trucks might appeal to Honda and as Nissan focuses on restructuring, having Honda take the lead on cooperation could bring better results. At the same time Taiwanese giant Foxconn could be a player with Mitsubishi confirming this month that it would buy an EV developed by an arm of Foxconn, with sales to begin in Australia and New Zealand as early as this year. Watch this space as October approaches.

Volkswagen has used this year’s Peon Festival, Brazil’s largest agricultural fair to unveil a camouflaged version of its all-new South American Amarok, pointing to a long-suspected under-the-skin connection to Chinese giant SAIC’s Maxus Interstellar X, MG U9 and LDV Terron 9 dual cab ute siblings. SAIC Volkswagen is one of the longest established automotive joint ventures in China and has clearly played a significant role in the development of the new pick-up which replaces the 16-year old original ‘2H’ series-based Amarok, still in production in Argentina for the South American market. The outgoing ute was last facelifted in 2024. At the high-profile preview Volkswagen said, “The presentation of the new Amarok is part of (its) pickup truck offensive strategy in Brazil and South America, a region that is playing an increasingly important role in the development of the brand's new generation of pickups, with active participation in design, engineering, testing, and validation. “South America is no longer just a consumer market; it’s helping to define the future of Volkswagen pickups,” it said. Despite its heavy camouflage wrap, the new dual cab bears an obvious resemblance to the Maxus, MG and LDV utes, specifically its bluff, squared-off nose, high bonnet and broad C-pillar panels. If the Latin Amarok adopts the MG/LDV’s powertrains in base versions it will likely centre on a variation of their 163kW/520Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission and 4WD systems.  That said, VW has said the new-generation model will also be electrified, supporting earlier reporting from Motor1 Brazil on a plug-in hybrid Amarok 800 TSI version expected to produce around 350kW/800Nm.  Rear suspension will likely lean towards the Maxus and MG’s independent set-up rather than the LDV’s leaf-spring, live axle arrangement. Interestingly, Motor1 Brazil has also quoted internal sources confirming the ‘Atacama Project’, a three-row, seven-seat SUV version of the Latin Amarok. Commenting on the upcoming Amarok, Volkswagen South America Executive Chairman Alexander Seitz said, “The future Amarok is being developed based on the needs of South American customers, for one of the most demanding environments in the world.” With the new Amarok’s release scheduled for the second quarter of 2027, Volkswagen is investing over A$800 million in its General Pacheco plant in Buenos Aires, the Amarok production hub for Latin America and Mexico which has just reached the 800,000 unit milestone. Of that total, more than 465,000 units were exported to more than 100 markets. Could Australia be one of them in future? Aside from the no right-hand drive factor VW has already played down that idea, saying in a statement, “While the new Amarok will be developed in South America and produced for the local markets, the existing partnerships for the production of the Amarok in South Africa will remain in place.” The (NF) Amarok currently sold in Australia was developed in parallel with the T6.2 Ford Ranger and is built in South Africa. VW positions it as a premium vehicle for global consumption.

Ram Trucks Australia has confirmed the return of the 1500 TRX muscle truck to the local market, this time around in SRT form, powered by an “uprated” 580kW (777hp) version of the 6.2-litre supercharged Hemi V8. Due to hit local showrooms in the first half of 2027, Ram said initial production allocations of the Ram 1500 TRX SRT will be limited, at the same time confirming “several hundred customers” in Australia attempted to place pre-orders on hearing the news in January this year that the performance pick-up was returning to the US market. Ram said technical specs and standard features for the MY27 Ram 1500 TRX SRT will be announced closer to local showroom arrivals. For reference, in US-spec this beast sends 580kW (+57kW) and 922Nm (+40Nm) to all four wheels via an eight-speed auto transmission, complete with sequential manual shifting. 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds With the help of launch control the 3.0-tonne-plus beast storms from 0-60mph in a claimed 3.5 seconds, which would translate to 0-100km/h in a jaw-dropping 3.6 seconds. The Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shock absorber system is also onboard to “continuously adapt to speed, throttle position, braking, torque, steering angle and more”. Initially arriving here in mid-2022, close to 1000 examples of the first-generation Ram 1500 TRX were sold in Australia and New Zealand, finishing with a 130-unit Final Edition in 2025. Revived by Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis The Ram 1500 TRX SRT was revived by Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis for the North American market in the context of a broader change in business focus for the brand’s parent company, Stellantis. A renewed emphasis on North America is a clear rebalancing of the corporate scales by Stellantis Group CEO Antonio Filosa, with former chief Carlos Tavares widely perceived to have favoured the group’s European brands including Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Fiat, Opel and Peugeot, with his successor Filosa now leaning into its US nameplates - Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram. In fact, Kuniskis is on the record with the goal of making Ram “number two in trucks” in the USA by the end of the decade. Ram Trucks Australia said it has been working closely with Ram Trucks USA to secure the updated TRX for Australia and New Zealand since its North American return was confirmed. Passion for the TRX in Australia Ram Trucks Australia General Manager Jeff Barber said, “We know there is a lot of passion for the TRX in Australia, which is why we have worked hard to secure production out of the US for our market. “Supply of the new TRX will initially be restricted because demand is off the charts in the US, however the factory has been incredibly supportive of the Australian market and we are pleased to confirm the TRX is coming back,” he said. Pricing is confirmed with a 15 per cent increase over the previous standard model, which was pitched at $224,950, before on-road costs (Final Edition $249,950, BOC). Ram 1500 TRX SRT (MY27) pricing Available colours are:  Bright White Diamond Black Forged Blue Molten Red Serrano Green Spitfire Orange  

He’s a father, a car enthusiast and deserves a great prezzie on his special day of the year. This year, Father’s Day in Australia is celebrated on Sunday September 6 and we’ve put together 10 thought-starters across a range of budgets to help you send some automotive-themed love to your petrolhead Dad.   It even comes with its own kelpie, tool box and surfboard. Solid timber and measures a healthy 35.5cm long, 13.5cm wide and 11cm tall. Strewth, what a ripper! $90 - Make Me Iconic    Talk about a win-win. Dad gets a 100 per cent cotton tea towel covered in the VWs he loves as the rest of the family drops a subtle hint that he should pitch in on the washing up a bit more often. $14.90 - Austpicious    You can wear your automotive heart on your sleeve, or right across your chest with this classic tee proudly repping the Ford Falcon emblem. Multiple colours and hoodie versions available.  $30.75 - Redbubble He’s responsible for some of the most successful F1 racing machines ever as well as extreme road-going hypercars. What better accompaniment to a shed or garage tinkering session than Adrian Newey telling you how to build a car?    $25.69 - Audible Surely Dad would like to be the owner of a limited edition Lamborghini hybrid hypercar. Only 63 coupe and 19 roadster versions of this 6.5-litre V12 were built in full scale, but Lego’s kept the production run going.   $689.75 - JustBricks Australia  When you drop this bad boy on the table you’re sending a fast and furious message even Vin Diesel will pick. If my keyring is this intimidating, wait until you see my car!     $5.99 - Supercheap Auto  Formula 1 is big business with a bit of sport on the side, so what better way to explore the world’s premier motorsport category than through a classic Monopoly lens. I’d like a hotel on Monaco, please. $49.99 - Amazon  He may own a Mercedes-Benz, or aspire to sliding one into the garage. Either way this classic nodding dog with three-pointed star collar is the perfect inspiration or finishing touch.  $86.90 - Mercedes-Benz  Forget the Nissan 180SX or Toyota AE86, this is the RC drift car he’ll want. A 1/10 scale remote-control drift ‘Kei Truck’ looking for all the world like a super cool Daihatsu Hijet.   $102.32 - Hobbies Direct  How about a custom bobble head of Dad in race driver mode or posed with his favourite car?  Hand made in polymer clay with an ultra-rapid turnaround time. All you need is a photo or two and you’re off. $119 - Custom Bobble Heads