Articles by Samuel Irvine

Mercedes-Benz has announced it will reintroduce plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models in Australia, starting with the new C 350e.

Jeep now holds the title of Australia's cheapest new electric SUV after announcing discounts of up to $20,000 in some states on its Avenger, Gladiator and Grand Cherokee ranges as part of its end-of-financial-year offers.Despite offering the lowest comparative savings of the three models, the European-built Avenger Longitude is now just $40,000 drive-away, meaning it undercuts budget Chinese rivals such as the new MG S5 ($40,490 drive-away) and the BYD Atto 3 ($39,990 before on-road costs). The previous-generation MG ZS EV (the S5's predecessor) is still technically the cheapest electric SUV in the country outright at $36,888 drive-away, as MG tries to offload remaining MY23 stock. For comparison, the Jeep Avenger only launched in Australia in December of last year. Typically, the Avenger Longitude was priced at $49,990 before on-roads, or approximately $55,344 drive-away in NSW – Australia's most populous state. With the inclusion of premium paint, which is valued at $990, savings now top $16,239 in NSW.The Jeep Avenger is powered by a single electric motor mounted to the front axle that outputs 115kW/260Nm. A 54kWh battery provides 396km of driving range under the WLTP cycle.As standard, the Avenger has a 10.25-inch multimedia display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED lighting, 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, a six-speaker audio system and Jeep’s advanced driver assist safety systems.The biggest savings are examples of the Gladiator Rubicon ute, the top-spec variant, which typically starts at $87,250 before on-road costs or $95,388 drive-away in NSW.Interested buyers can now snag one for $76,000 drive-away across the country, which includes a steel bar and premium paint, the latter of which is valued at $895. That takes total savings to $20,238.The Gladiator Rubicon is powered by a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol engine that sends 209kW/347Nm to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.It carries a full-time Rock-Trac 4x4 system with a 4:1 transfer case, front and rear locking differentials, sway-bar disconnect and heavy-duty shock absorbers.Additionally, it carries an 8.4-inch multimedia display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, LED lighting and advanced safety features.Five-seat examples of the Grand Cherokee Limited, which will soon be discontinued for Australia, are being offered at $62,000 drive-away, down from its previous asking price of $72,950 before on-road costs, or $79,454 drive-away in NSW.Once again, premium paint (valued at $1490) is included, taking total savings up to $18,944 once it’s factored in.The Grand Cherokee Limited carries the same 3.6-litre V6 engine as the Gladiator Rubicon, which delivers 210kW/344Nm to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.It carries a 10.1-inch multimedia display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, a nine-speaker Alpine audio system, heated and ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, LED lighting, a power tailgate and a comprehensive list of advanced safety features.The significant discounts across the Jeep line-up come as the brand struggles on the sales charts.Jeep has offloaded just 711 cars to date this April, a decline of 24.4 per cent on this time last year’s figures.

Toyota has announced a suite of safety upgrades to its Yaris hatchback and small Yaris Cross SUV in exchange for modest price rises across both car's line-ups.Starting at the new price of $28,990 before on-road costs for the entry Ascent Sport, all three Yaris grades, including the SX and ZR, now carry a low-speed acoustic vehicle alert system that warns drivers when it is using electric power.All three variants now also use R1234yf refrigerant for the climate control system, which emits substantially lower greenhouse gases compared to the outgoing R134a.The Ascent Sport also adds a parking support brake that activates autonomously when reversing if a crossing vehicle, object or pedestrian is detected and there is a collision risk, while the SX gains the same 16-inch wheels as the ZR.No changes have been made to the Yaris’ 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol-hybrid powertrain, which delivers 85kW to the front wheels.The Yaris Cross Hybrid receives the same improvements to its safety systems, including a parking support brake for the entry GX, an acoustic vehicle alert system across the board, as well as R1234yf refrigerant.The GX grade also adds a heating function for its exterior door mirrors.Power continues to be sourced from the same hybrid system as the Yaris, while all-wheel-drive versions add an additional rear electric motor generator (4kW/52Nm) to add extra traction in slipperier conditions.As before, customers can opt for premium paint for an additional $575 or two-tone paint (Urban and GR Sport variants only) for $1350.Toyota has sold 980 units of its Yaris Hybrid as of April, which is considerably fewer than the MG MG3 (3779), Mazda2 (1855) and Suzuki Swift (1275), despite seeing a 39.6 per cent increase in sales.The Yaris Cross Hybrid, meanwhile, continues to challenge the Mazda CX-3 (5390) after registering 3849 sales as of April, a 49.1 per cent year-to-date increase.

Mitsubishi has signed a memorandum of understanding with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxtron to co-develop and sell an EV exclusively for the Australian and New Zealand markets.The announcement confirms an earlier report by CarsGuide that Foxtron, the EV division of major iPhone manufacturer Foxconn and Taiwanese carmaker Yulon, would offer its catalogue of electric cars to Mitsubishi for the local market.It’s unclear at this stage which Foxtron model will be developed by Mitsubishi for the Australian market, though the brand has confirmed it will launch in the second half of 2026.The most likely candidate is the Pininfarina-designed Foxtron Model B, a Mitsubishi ASX-sized SUV, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 2024 as a prospective competitor to the Volkswagen ID.3, Jeep Avenger and Kia Niro.Driving range is estimated to top 500km under the NEDC cycle thanks to a 60kWh traction battery, while single-motor and dual-motor drivetrains are anticipated.Foxconn has said it aims to crowdsource its EVs to car brands rather than sell them directly. In addition to the Foxtron Model B, Foxconn’s line-up includes a larger Tesla Model Y-sized SUV, a pick up, a bus, a sedan and a van.Mitsubishi doesn’t currently offer an electric model in Australia, despite the brand being the first to offer a highway-capable mass-market EV for the global market, known as the iMiEV, in 2009.More recently, the brand has chosen to focus its attention on its plug-in hybrid capabilities with the Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross PHEV. The former is one of Australia’s best-selling PHEV models next to the BYD Sealion 6.The decision to partner with Foxconn is likely to shore up its electrification credentials as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) comes into effect.The scheme imposes penalties on car brands that don’t comply with emissions standards, which are progressively tightened each year. Car brands can earn credits for meeting or exceeding their emissions targets, which they can then sell to other brands.Mitsubishi’s Australia CEO, Shaun Westcott, said the brand was excited to be partnering with Foxtron on its future EV model.“Mitsubishi Motors Australia welcomes confirmation of this exciting partnership between Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and Foxtron and we are looking forward to working closely to deliver a great product for Australian customers,” said Westcott.“This pure EV model is the latest step in our Momentum 2030 plan and offers another string to our multi-powertrain bow that will see us through to the next decade.”

Jaecoo has announced a new five-seat SUV model for Australia, the J8, which will officially go on sale in June.

The BYD Sealion 7 was Australia's best-selling EV in April, marking the first time the brand has claimed the title since arriving locally in 2022.Last month, Australians bought 743 BYD Sealion 7s as opposed to 500 Tesla Model Ys (280) and Model 3s (220), which is Tesla's lowest monthly sales since August 2022, according to sales data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and Electric Vehicle Council.The result brings the Model Y's five-month consecutive lead as Australia's best-selling EV to an end, while marking only the second time since August 2022 a Tesla model hasn't claimed the title.BYD’s total sales were more than six times that of Tesla’s last month, making April the second consecutive month it has been a top-ten brand in Australia.More than a third of BYD’s sales (1293) came from the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute, which has notched up 6129 sales so far this year.The new Kia EV5 (342) and Geely EX5 (324) also outsold the Model Y, which was Australia’s best-selling EV for the entirety of 2023 and 2024.Tesla’s Australian sales fell by a staggering 76 per cent last month compared to April the previous year as the brand's global quarter one profits nosedived by 71 per cent.Many have pointed the finger at the controversial politics of CEO Elon Musk, who has been overseeing the Trump Administration’s cost-cutting measures as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).The picture couldn’t look any different for BYD, which grew its global profits by 100.3 per cent in quarter one compared to the previous year. The vast majority of sales still come from its home market, though the brand plans to sell 800,000 cars overseas this year.Musk has said he will start returning his focus to Tesla this month as his work with DOGE concludes.A Wall Street Journal report that claimed the Tesla board was looking to oust the controversial figurehead was quickly shut down by the brand and Musk himself, who called the report an “EXTREMELY BAD BREACH OF ETHICS” on his social media site X (formerly Twitter).Tesla sales are expected to uptick next month as the brand officially changes over to its new Model Y. It promises more driving range and a slew of new updates, but whether it can regain the podium against a growing cohort of new Chinese and South Korean rivals is proving an uphill battle.*Best-selling electric-only models included

Two years after it was retired to the hatchback hall of fame, the iconic Ford Fiesta could return as a rebadged Volkswagen – and an EV.

Jeep has confirmed the next-generation Compass will arrive in Australia in the second half of 2026 after launching overseas in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric guises.The European-designed and built Compass will ride on Stellantis’ modular STLA Medium platform, which currently underpins Stellantis stablemates such as the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008, and will join the smaller Avenger in its electric line-up.It will shape up considerably longer than its predecessor at 4550mm long, up from 4404mm. It subsequently benefits from a new 34-litre frunk, an additional 45-litres of boot capacity (550-litres in total) and 55mm of additional legroom.The Compass’ exterior design has also been refreshed to reflect its larger stature, with boxier, retro-styling, a new front grille and headlight clusters, black plastic wheel arches and a rear LED light-bar.Inside, a new 10-inch digital driver’s display and 16-inch multimedia display will come standard, as well as connected services with over-the-air updates and Level 2 autonomous driving.Customers will have the choice of a 106kW 48V eHybrid powertrain and a 145kW plug-in hybrid powertrain, both are likely to use the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine carried over from the current-generation. Power on both variants will be sent exclusively to the front wheels.Three additional electric variants will provide optional front-wheel and all-wheel-drive, with power peaking at 279kW on the latter thanks to a new rear electric motor that delivers 49kW/232Nm.All electric variants will carry a 74kWh battery, with driving range peaking at 650km on 158kW front-wheel-drive variants. 160kW DC fast charging will see the battery replenished from 20 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes, with a 22kW on-board charger becoming standard.Despite standard front-wheel drive on the Compass, Jeep claims it will be “100% capable”, offering 200mm of ground clearance, 20°/26° approach/departure angles and a 470mm water wading depth.All-wheel-drive variants will see improved ground clearance and water-wading depths, although Jeep hasn’t confirmed by exactly how much. Approach and departure angles will also increase to 27°/31°, while hill-descent control will come standard.A suspension tune with updated springs, dampers and an antiroll bar across the board will offer what the brand says is “a good compromise between handling and comfort”.Jeep will launch the new Compass in Europe in the second half of 2025 in special electric and eHybrid First Editions. Both variants will carry 20-inch alloy wheels, LED matrix lights, a surround-view camera and a hands-free power tailgate.Six colours will be made available, including a new Hawaii green colour at launch.Jeep Australia will be looking to the new Compass to reinvigorate the brand, which has been in a sales freefall over the last decade after peaking in 2014 with a tally of 30,408 sales.Last year the brand sold just 2377 cars, which preceded an announcement in March that it would axe the Grand Cherokee from the brand’s line-up this year – Australia’s best-selling large SUV in 2014.

Volkswagen has confirmed the arrival of two new sub-$70,000 grades to complete its ID.4 and ID.5 line-ups.

Mazda has updated its popular CX-60 family SUV and added two additional grades, lowering the model’s entry price by more than $10,000.