Articles by Tim Gibson

Honda’s future line-up plans have just been leaked, and there are some big models coming.  A dealer source has revealed key details from a tell-all Honda meeting in the United States, according to AutoNews.  The Japanese brand is planning to introduce a new-generation hybrid-only CR-V mid-size SUV and track-focused Type R variant, as well as a new Accord sedan, among other models. These moves are all part of Honda’s plans to further boost market share in the United States in the next five years.  Honda will invest $3 billion US into its new assembly plant in Ohio as it pivots towards hybrid production.  In the meeting, the brand revealed the first details of its seventh-generation CR-V that will arrive in the US in 2027. Honda will shift the CR-V to a hybrid-only line-up from 2027, mirroring the Toyota RAV4. The new hybrid system will employ two electric motors and provide boosted performance compared to the current generation (135kW/335Nm in Australia), while improving fuel efficiency by 10 per cent.  It will also be the first Honda to offer an electric all-wheel drive system, using a dedicated rear-axle motor.  The car will ride on a lighter and stiffer platform that’s designed to provide a sportier driving experience.  Honda has sketched a bolder exterior design for the CR-V in line with other redesigns for rivals in the segment. The CR-V is currently available with petrol and hybrid choices in Australia, but this announcement means buyers can expect a hybrid-only approach moving forward.  The current-generation Aussie-spec CR-V is built in Thailand, rather than Japan or the US. It’s unclear when the new CR-V will hit Australian showrooms, with Honda yet to confirm where it will source right-hand-drive examples from.  The CR-V is Honda’s best-selling model in Australia, edging out the smaller HR-V and ZR-V SUVs. The dealer meeting confirmed a few other models that are due to launch in 2027 and beyond, starting with a new Honda Accord.  The Accord sedan will launch in the second half of 2027, exclusive of a sporty SUV that wasn’t mentioned at the meeting, but rumoured for its next-generation coming in 2028 or 2029.  It’s expected to feature more futuristic styling, including a sweeping hood and slim headlights to foreshadow the incoming CR-V.  The meeting also briefly mentioned the Civic Type R, showing off a track-ready version painted in blue and developed by Honda's racing division, but there were no details on performance figures. The Ridgeline ute and Pilot large three-row SUV are also due for new generations before 2030.  Those two models are mainly sold in North America, meaning they're only built in left-hand drive, at least for now. Honda Australia's CEO recently told CarsGuide, that the Australian division would be arguing the case for future large platform vehicles to be built in right-hand drive, thanks in no small part to the ongoing dealer and customer demand for the Ridgeline ute. This news follows Honda Australia teasing the Avancier hybrid three-row SUV in November 2026 as what looks likely to be the brand’s next introduction Down Under.  While the brand hasn’t officially confirmed the Thai-built Avancier will launch in Australia, there's likely to be more information in the coming weeks.

Omoda Jaecoo is about to issue an urgent recall for some of its Omoda 5 cars in Australia. The news follows an incident in Malaysia where images showed the small SUV stationary on a road, with its rear axle entirely detached behind the car. The issue concerns cars fitted with a simpler torsion-beam rear suspension that connected to the rear wheels through a single solid beam. One of the connecting welds can impact the structural integrity of the rear axle leading to potential accidents. The Malaysian government subsequently halted registrations on the car, meanwhile, Omoda Jaecoo Australia will imminently recall impacted variants. Omoda Jaecoo Australia confirmed there have been no reported instances of the issue occurring locally, with the recall merely precautionary. The brand has not said exactly how many units are impacted by the issue in Australia, but it only impacts the Omoda 5. Owners will receive more details when the Department of Infrastructure publishes the official recall notice. CarsGuide has contacted Omoda Jaecoo Australia to find out more about the impending recall. The petrol-powered Omoda 5 initially launched in Australia in 2023, with some examples using the same rear suspension set-up as the one which is under investigation in Malaysia. Up-spec GT grades of the car received a more complex independent multi-link system that isn’t affected by this issue. The car adopted the independent multi-link system as standard across the range when it became the Chery C5 in 2025.

BYD has apologised for a manufacturing error that saw the front and rear wheels put on the wrong axles of its Great Tang flagship SUV. The issue came about after owners complained of wider rear-wheel alloys being installed on the front tyres and visa-versa, leading to concerns of excessive wear. BYD has since acknowledged the error, blaming a local supplier mix-up, with the brand now claiming it has fixed the system, offering replacement and a warranty restart. The giant Chinese carmaker hasn’t confirmed how many vehicles were impacted by the issue, but it said there was no safety risk, or associated handling issues. The Great Tang sits at the pinnacle of BYD’s line-up as an ultra-luxury competitor for the Australia-bound Zeekr 9X. BYD confirmed on Chinese social media the issue stemmed from a data-entry error from wheel rim supplier Hubeir Boyu. “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this has caused,” it said on its official Weibo account. The error resulted in the incorrect installation of wheels “on a number of vehicles”. It said it has corrected this data-entry process to ensure the assembly errors don’t happen again, along with new visual safeguards. It also said its specialised testing found impacted cars remained safe to drive and without impact to vehicle handling. The statement did not cover any potential other damages could have been caused by the error. Prices for BYD’s Great Tang range from 239,000 yuan (A$52,300) to 309,900 yuan (A$67,500), making it one of the brand’s most expensive non-sub-brand models on sale. This slip-up comes at a time when the brand is coming under increasing pressure to prove its cars have the quality and reliability of legacy alternatives. BYD has been the subject of several hard-hitting reports and investigations in Australia in 2026. The local branch’s Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins told CarsGuide this type of scrutiny comes with the territory. “I think with success comes scrutiny and that’s fine,” Collins said in October 2026. “We want to be a good corporate citizen, and with scrutiny comes improvements and that’s important for us.” The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Four Corners program aired allegations of hacking and privacy risks in September 2026 that forced BYD to respond extensively. Australia’s car safety watchdog ANCAP also gave its Sealion 5 mid-size SUV a three-star rating, making it the first BYD model not to achieve the full five stars. ANCAP independently purchased the Sealion 5 units needed to complete the testing, with BYD not actively pursuing the car for testing.

This popular affordable 4WD just got cheaper for Aussie buyers.  Suzuki is offering 10 per cent off the list price on Suzuki Jimny examples finished in Bluish Black Pearl paint.  Three-door variants are available from $35,762 (drive-away), equating to a $3474 discount, while the five-door XL grade is available with a $3674 discount, at $37,562 drive-away.  Suzuki’s Jimny deal runs until November 30, 2026 on new and demonstrator units, but isn’t available in Northern New South Wales or Queensland.  This deal does not apply to the Jimny’s base manual Lite grade that still starts from $31,990 (before on-road costs).  The Jimny sits in a difficult-to-define 4WD segment, with its compact size and genuine off-roading potential.  GWM’s Tank 300 is the closest 4WD competitor to the Jimny, but it's still substantially bigger and more expensive ($47,990, drive-away). Meanwhile the closer-in-size Renault Duster is priced from $36,490 (before on-roads). This deal slashes on-road costs across the Jimny range, which typically starts at $33,990 for the three-door and $34,990 for the five-door. This is still more than $8000 extra compared to the Jimny’s launch drive-away price in 2019 ($27,333).  The Jimny remains a high-demand car in Australia, and is Suzuki’s best-seller here, despite a roughly six per cent sales decline compared to October 2025.  All Jimny examples use a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine that produces 75kW and 130Nm.  The Japanese brand is also offering discounts on its Swift hatch, Fronx compact and Vitara/e Vitara small SUVs.  The Swift in Super Black Pearl paint is available with a $23,022 drive-away price, which is a $2614 discount. This makes it even more affordable than the Mazda 2 ($28,990) and closer to the hugely popular MG3 ($19,990), both on drive-away pricing.  Buyers can save $3074 on the Fronx in Bluish Black Pearl paint, with a $27,662 drive-away price tag, while the bigger Vitara is available from $36,762 (in Cosmic Black Pearl).  The brand has also discounted its recently-launched all-electric e Vitara, offering it with a $42,862 drive-away deal on examples finished in Bluish Black Pearl.  All these deals have the same conditions as the Jimny, running until November 30, 2026, excluding Northern NSW and Queensland.

This new brand’s Aussie plans are heating up. Changan has confirmed on its social media the Deepal S05 is coming to Australia.  The S05 is an electric mid-size SUV that sits beneath its bigger S07 sibling already on sale here. It’s similar in length to the Toyota RAV4, despite having a longer wheelbase, rivalling the Geely EX5 and GAC Aion V, as well as the smaller BYD Atto 3. It was originally penned in to launch here in the second half of 2025, but was held up and the affordable EV is finally on its way Down Under.  Changan Australia confirmed the S05 “is coming to Australia”, with “more to reveal soon”.  It’s unclear exactly when the S05 will arrive here, but given it was already so close to launching Down Under, it won’t be too far away.  Deepal initially launched in Australia under distributor Inchcape in late 2024 with its larger S07 mid-size SUV. The E07 SUV-ute mash-up followed, with the S05 supposed to be next in line, but it never got here. Deepal's plans have changed, with parent company Changan now taking over from distributors Inchcape. Changan, Avatr and Nevo will join Deepal in Australia from 2027 as part of a new factory backed operation for the Chinese brand. Changan will reveal pricing closer to the S05’s official announcement, but in China it ranges from 119,990 yuan (or $26,000) to 151,900 yuan (or $33,000).  Buyers can expect a 20-to-30 per cent increase on those prices, which puts it between $30,000 and $45,000.  Deepal recently updated the rear-wheel drive S05 in China, with its single rear-mounted electric motor now producing 200kW.  The brand also has a dual-motor all-wheel drive performance grade that has 320kW, and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds.  The RWD grade is equipped with either a 56.12kWh or 68.8kWh battery, with up to 485km of WLTP driving range, while the AWD is only available with the bigger battery that has 445km (WLTP). There is a range-extender plug-in hybrid variant of the S05 available that uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor to make up to 190kW and 320Nm.  The brand has not confirmed what variants will be sold in Australia yet, but there’s likely to be more details towards the end of 2026. 

GWM’s new luxury sub-brand, Wey, has just priced one of its upcoming high-end models in China.  The Wey Blue Mountain large SUV will start from 289,800 yuan (about $63,000), with prices rising up to 329,800 yuan (about $72,000).  The rugged-looking plug-in-hybrid-powered Blue Mountain is a bigger family SUV than the Kia Sorento PHEV ($71,175) and the conventional-hybrid-only Toyota Kluger ($62,410), both before on-road costs.  It will also be a direct competitor to the seven-seat BYD Ti 7 PHEV that has just been approved for sale in Australia.  GWM is expected to begin deliveries before the end of 2026. The Blue Mountain uses a plug-in hybrid set-up made up of a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors that combine to produce 510kW and 940Nm.  This means the car can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds.  GWM has equipped the Blue Mountain with a 66.6kWh battery that has an electric-only driving range of 350km, according to less accurate CLTC standards.  The car sits on an 800-volt platform, enabling DC fast charging from 30 to 80 per cent in just nine minutes.  GWM is also planning to release a conventional hybrid variant of the Blue Mountain in the future. While the Blue Mountain rides on a car-based monocoque chassis, Wey has equipped the SUV with some off-roading hardware. This includes a locking rear differential and seven driving modes like snow, mud and sand.  It has dual-direction rear-wheel steering (up to 20 degrees), with a dedicated crab-walk capability. There is closed dual-chamber air suspension and continuously variable damping as well for more comfortable driving. Inside, buyers can opt for the Blue Mountain to be fitted with five or six seats. Six-seater variants of the Blue Mountain measure up at 5300mm long, compared to the five-seater's 5140mm. It has an expansive 29.6-inch dual central multimedia and passenger screen, as well as a separate digital driver display and head-up display.  Other interior features include a 21.4-inch roof-mounted rear entertainment screen, with heated, ventilated and massaging seats in the front two rows.  GWM has confirmed the Wey sub-brand will launch in 2026, but the Blue Mountain is not one of the models that is expected to arrive first.  The Wey G9X people mover and V9X are earmarked to be the first models to hit local showrooms, with a smaller V8X also on the cards.  There’s potential for the Blue Mountain to land in Australia in 2027 as part of Wey’s expanded line-up. A spokesperson for GWM Australia told CarsGuide the car remains under investigation as part of the larger Wey brand expansion, but could not confirm its Aussie introduction. New Chinese cars usually incur a 20 to 30 per cent price increase when put on sale in Australia, meaning buyers can expect a price tag of more than $80,000 here.

The Aussie EV switch is in full swing. Electric car sales have skyrocketed in Australia in 2026, and it has seen some record-breaking figures.  Electric cars outsold petrol- and diesel-powered cars individually for the first time in a single month in August 2026. EVs repeated that success in September 2026, but only bested petrol in October after diesel surged back ahead. Plenty of EVs have jumped up the sales charts in 2026, so here is a look at the 25 best-selling EVs through 10 months of the year. The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling EV in the world, and Australia is no exception.  The mid-size SUV is approaching the 40,000 sales mark for 2026, which is nearly 5000 more than the Toyota RAV4 (35,927) has managed. The BYD Sealion 7 claimed second place on this list with more than 22,000 units sold up to October 2026.  BYD’s mid-size SUV is the brand’s most successful model and has provided competition for the Model Y, boasting year-on-year growth of almost 130 per cent.  The Geely EX5 is currently sitting in third place at more than 14,500 sales, while the Zeekr 7X rounds out the top four with 12,241. The Jaecoo J5 EV is currently occupying fifth position (10,266), while the sixth-placed BYD Atto 2 small SUV (9126) is followed by the Tesla Model 3, which is one of only three sedans in the top 25.  Kia’s EV5 (5175) and EV3 (5045) SUV duo take up eighth and 10th spot, with the BYD Atto 3 sandwiched between the pair (5070).  The EV3 and EV5 have been crucial to Kia’s increased EV presence in Australia, because the rest of its electric line-up hasn't reached 1000 units sold collectively so far in 2026. The BYD Atto 1 became Australia’s cheapest new car on sale, currently available with a drive-away deal of $19,990 until December 15, 2026.  It's sold nearly 5000 examples up to October 2026. Geely’s EX2 hatchback is another ultra-affordable EV option, and hit the Australian market in August 2026, already proving popular with Aussie buyers.  The EX2 recently surpassed one million cumulative global sales in October 2026, and it has had a similar impact in Australia, already registering more than 4300 sales.  The MG4 Urban also joined the Australian market early in 2026 as a cheaper, front-wheel drive alternative to the MG4. MG has shifted 4233 examples of the MG4 Urban in 2026 so far, which is more than the BYD Dolphin (3894).  The BYD Seal is another electric sedan putting up competitive sales numbers, registering 4167 sales, as one of few sedan models to experience growth in 2026. Further down the list is Toyota’s bZ4X (3333), followed by the MG4 (2711), with the MG S5 next up (2670).  Chery’s E5 has managed 2056 sales, while the XPeng G6 (1673) is doing better under the brand’s new factory-backed operation Down Under.  Zeekr dropped the price of its X small SUV in April 2026, and it has seen a strong sales response, with 1635 units sold, equating to a 167.6 per cent increase year-on-year compared to October 2025. Hyundai’s Kona EV has shifted 1567 examples, while the European-built Volvo EX30 (1558) and Volkswagen ID.4 (1440) also sneak into the top 25.  The Mazda 6e has been the 25th best-selling car so far in 2026, with 1390 sales, as the Japanese brand looks to turn around impending fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard.   

BYD is taking electric car charging to the next level. The giant Chinese carmaker has shown off its flash fast-charging robotic arm that can charge a car without any driver intervention. The charger automatically detects where the charging port is, before opening the cover and inserting the plug, then removing it after completion. BYD demonstrated the new technology on its Yangwang U8 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is the latest news from BYD as it looks to expand its fast-charging network globally. The robotic arm relies on visual recognition and resistance control to identify the charging port, open it and correctly position the connector. The arm selects the correct charging connector and inserts it into the car. BYD said the system supports multiple charging connectors in overseas markets. The system is also capable of automatically parking the car in the charging position, meaning the driver can remain in the car throughout the process. It's not the fastest process, with the robotic arm taking roughly 50 seconds to open the flap and plug the charger in. The charger itself is one of BYD’s T-shaped flash units that has a power output more than 1000kW. BYD revealed the charger in February 2026, reporting it could add 400km of driving range in just five minutes. The brand also claimed the charger could add two kilometres of driving every second. It was the first mass-produced liquid-cooled megawatt terminal for passenger vehicles, according to BYD. This news follows Xiaomi’s announcement in June 2026 that it was working on an automated private EV charging system that was due to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026. This charger works in a similar way to BYD’s charger, but uses a smartphone app to complete the process, with it disconnecting when it reaches a predetermined level. Huawei unveiled a robotic charging arm in January 2025 that was mounted to its 600kW supercharger. BYD is taking its charging network global, expanding out of China to Europe and other regions. The brand has already confirmed a megawatt charging system is on the agenda Down Under. BYD Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins confirmed to CarsGuide in October 2026 the brand is due to announce a charging infrastructure initiative in 2027. BYD’s luxury arm, Denza, announced earlier in 2026 it will be building a flash fast-charging network across Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. It’s unclear whether this latest robotic initiative will make its way to Australia, but if it does it’s likely some years away.

The new Mitsubishi Pajero is getting serious in Australia. Mitsubishi has given its Pajero 4WD a suite of Australian-developed accessories ahead of its launch in December 2026.  The much-anticipated Pajero will arrive with serious adventuring potential to rival the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado, but Mitsubishi is now providing buyers with some further gear.  Australian-developed accessories include driving lamps, front protection bar, headlamp protector and hood protectors. Buyers can opt for a weight distribution hitch and winch cradle as well. The Japanese brand will officially reveal accessory pricing at the start of sale in December 2026. There are also other non-Australian-developed accessories like an LED light bar, nudge bar, roof rack, towbar and more.  Driving Lamps*  Electric Brake Harness Front Protection Bar - Hooped*  Front Protection Bar - Hoopless*  Headlamp Protector*  Hood Protectors x 3*: Clear, Tinted, Matte Black (with integrated PAJERO logo)  LED Light Bar Nudge Bar - Black  Nudge Bar - Polished  Roof Rack Side Protection Bar Snorkel  Towbar  Towbar Harness  Under-ride Protection  Weight Distribution Hitch*  Winch Cradle* *Australian developed Mitsubishi Australia's Engineering Manager, Accessory Development Steve Pearson said the accessories were developed specifically for the Pajero.  “Australians ask a lot of their four-wheel drives,” Pearson said.  "They tow caravans, travel off-road and cover enormous distances, so our accessories must be more than cosmetic additions. They need to be engineered as part of the vehicle experience. “So the core of our role is to understand what Australian customers need, work with MMC and our suppliers to find the right engineering solution and make sure the finished accessory works with the vehicle rather than against it.” Mitsubishi has designed the Pajero’s optional towbar to sufficiently reinforce the frame and ensure the installation is accurate and well-integrated.  The brand has also made the front protection bar beefy for Aussie use, according to Pearson. “The Front Protection Bar projects really demonstrated what local accessory engineering can achieve,” Pearson said. "We wanted something genuinely tough and functional, but we also knew from the beginning that it had to work with Pajero’s driver assistance technology." The Pajero will start from $68,490, with prices rising up to $84,990, before on-road costs.  This means it’s slightly cheaper to start than the Toyota Prado ($73,200), but more expensive than the base Ford Everest ($58,990).  It will use a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, producing 150kW and 480Nm, that is loosely based on the Triton ute. The car will have a locking rear differential as standard, as well as an industry standard 3500kg braked towing capacity. 

One of Australia's most popular budget-focused EVs has received some special treatment.  MG has released a special edition variant of its MG4 Urban hatchback in Australia.  The Special Edition is available with a $33,990 drive-away price tag, which is $1000 more than the usual range-topping Essence 54 grade ($32,990 until December 31, 2026), both reflecting $2000 cashback until 31 December 2026.  There will only be 750 units of this limited edition MG4 Urban available in Australia, with order books already open for buyers.  The MG4 Urban tackles the busy affordable EV segment with rivals the BYD Dolphin ($28,888 until December 15, 2026) and GAC Aion UT ($31,990).  This new MG4 Urban variant stands out from its siblings with an exclusive “Ice Blue Metallic” paint and a contrasting black roof. Buyers can also choose from a “Diamond Red” colour that was only available on the base Essence 43. The standard Essence 54 grade is exclusively available with a “York White” paint, while the base Essence 43 has seven colours to choose from, including “Diamond Red”.  The Special Edition sports gloss black side mirrors to match the roof, while inside, there’s integrated ambient lighting in the door panels.  Otherwise, this special edition grade gets the same gear as on the top-spec Essence 54 grade.  This includes a single electric motor, producing 118kW and 250Nm, along with a 54kWh battery, offering 405km of driving range, according to WLTP standards.  The interior features a 12.8-inch central multimedia display and 7.0-inch digital driver display, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.  The MG4 Urban hit Aussie showrooms in April 2026 as a cheaper, front-wheel drive alternative to the rear-wheel drive MG4.  It’s MG’s best-selling electric car in Australia, outselling its MG4 sibling and key competitor the BYD Dolphin. “The MG4 EV Urban has proven to be a popular choice with Australian buyers, and we think this Special Edition will build on that appeal,” MG Australia Marketing Director Dimitri Andreatidis said.  “It’s already a great car, so we’ve added a few distinctive touches to make it even more appealing.”