Articles by Tim Gibson

Suzuki has just revealed its game-changing plan to tackle Chinese carmakers. The brand delivered its ‘Technology Strategy 2026 for 10 Years Ahead’, as it targets a faster and cheaper future for buyers. Suzuki is one of many carmakers feeling the effects of rapid Chinese growth of BYD, Chery and more, with Australia still playing an important role for it. Suzuki said it will cater the cars it offers to buyers based on broader market-dictated considerations in Australia.The Japanese brand said there are unique circumstances for each region surrounding fuel conditions and the state of infrastructure development. This means the optional powertrains and set-ups vary between regions. Australia only accounts for about five per cent of Suzuki’s sales, with the brand confirming it will primarily be hybrid- and petrol-powered Down Under. Petrol-powered cars, and from next year some hybrid-powered cars, incur fines for brands under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), but Suzuki will continue to back those set-ups here. Suzuki will also continue to lean into its Indian production facilities, as part of its plan to build cars close to the markets they are sold. It currently builds less than three million units in India annually, but will accelerate production to four million units per year from 2030. Australia receives the Jimny XL compact 4WD, Fronx small SUV and recently-introduced eVitara electric SUV from India. Suzuki hopes this will help the company boost development efficiency by 30 per cent and production efficiency by 50 per cent compared to 2020.  Suzuki also announced it will launch its e Sky electric Kei car in 2027 as the brand’s first of its next-generation EVs. It will launch in Japan in late 2026 as the latest of a new wave of long-range small EVs and will rival the BYD Racco.Its 310km range (WLTC) will rank among the best of the Kei car segment, including the Racco’s record-breaking 320km. It boasts an efficiency rating of 97 Wh/km, compared to the Tesla Model Y’s 100-plus Wh/km, for example. The car is capable of adding 50km of range in only five minutes, and weighs just 1030kg all up. Suzuki has not confirmed the e Sky’s Australian future, but it’s expected to launch in the UK, another right-hand drive market, some time in 2027.  Suzuki is working on some new set-ups for its cars heading into the future. It is developing a new electric motor called “e 4WD” that can be used across all sizes of cars. In smaller cars, it produces 70kW, while in bigger cars it can produce as much as 130kW. Suzuki also said the motor does not use rare-earth metals, making it more sustainable and cheaper to produce. The brand is preparing a small hybrid-powered car that will employ what it describes as a “REEV light”.Like other range-extender cars, Suzuki’s variant will use the engine to generate electricity and an electric motor to drive the wheels. Suzuki is developing a new turbo-charged engine for markets like India that still require petrol- and diesel-powered cars. It will be highly-efficient and deliver powerful driving, according to the brand. 

Honda’s next-generation hybrid plans are heating up.The Japanese brand will use its upcoming hybrid system in the new CR-V mid-size SUV and begin mass-production from February 2027, according to a report in Nikkei Asia.It is also planning to offer the CR-V as a hybrid-only model moving forward, ditching the petrol-only set-up globally, as it aims to introduce 15 new hybrid models by 2030.In addition to the CR-V, Honda has unveiled sedan and SUV prototypes to ride on an all-new platform and electric all-wheel drive set-up.The SUV will fall under Honda’s Acura luxury sub-brand in the US, and will be based on the CR-V.Most of these models will be built in left-hand drive, raising doubts as to whether they will enter the Aussie market.However, Honda Australia President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Joseph told CarsGuide in June 2026 the brand is becoming more capable of satisfying both LHD and RHD markets.Honda is planning another globally-targeted model called the Avancier that will be a three-row large SUV, targeting Thailand and China by early 2027.The Avancier will be in Thailand, which is a RHD market, thus improving the car’s chances of an Australian launch in the future.The Japanese brand is taking hybrid power seriously in Australia, with every model now available with the powertrain, and at a more affordable price, so the Avancier could be a desirable option.Honda Australia has not officially confirmed any news about the Avancier, but CarsGuide has contacted the local branch to learn more.The Avancier is not the Pilot XXL three-row SUV that will also use the next-generation hybrid set-up.That car will specifically target the North American market after 2030.In mid-2026, Honda made a global U-turn by pivoting heavy investment toward hybrids instead of EVs from 2027.The brand shelved its mid-size SUV and sedan electric concepts that were to form the bulk of its ‘0 series’ global EV push.Honda is still planning to launch the remaining Alpha small SUV in the ‘0 series’, and it could be on the cards for Australia as it hasn’t been ruled out by the local subsidiary.These newly developed hybrids are supposed to cost Honda 30 per cent less than the current generation of its hybrids, while boasting a more than 10 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency.

A new affordable electric car brand is on its way to Australia.The Wuling Eksion 560 electric mid-size SUV has been approved for sale in Australia.It is 4745mm long, making it similarly-sized to the Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X.Wuling is a subsidiary of SAIC Motor that also owns MG and LDV - brands that have significant line-ups on sale in Australia.General Motors holds a significant stake in Wuling as well.The car is known as the Xingguang 560 in China, but is also on sale in Indonesia as the Eksion 560.It is available in petrol, plug-in hybrid and EV set-ups, but at this stage, only the latter has been approved for sale.Australian sales approval information confirmed the car has a single front-mounted electric motor that produces 150kW.It’s expected to offer the same 310Nm as in Indonesia.Indonesian models are equipped with a 69.2kWh battery, offering up to 530km of driving range, according to more generous CLTC standards.Buyers can expect a driving range of less than the 500km mark when the car is put through the more rigorous WLTP cycle.It can DC fast charge from 0 to 100 per cent in roughly half an hour.The Eksion 560 EV is a front-wheel drive only model.Australian examples of the car will only have five seats for now, despite a seven-seater variant existing overseas.Seats are wrapped in a synthetic leather upholstery, with the front ones ventilated and electrically adjustable.Elsewhere inside, there is a 12.8-inch central touchscreen and 8.8-inch digital driver display.It is unclear when the Wuling Eksion 560 will arrive in Australia or who it will be sold by.With the car already approved for sale, it is likely to hit showrooms some time in 2027, but there might be more details on this before the end of 2026.The car starts from 399,000,000 rupiah (around $32,000) in Indonesia, but buyers can expect it to be more expensive when it arrives here.This could see the Wuling Eksion 560 priced from around the $35,000-plus mark in Australia.

Leapmotor has responded to alleged camera security risks in its cars in Australia. An ABC Four Corners report revealed Leapmotor vehicles use Dahua cameras, which were removed from Australian federal and defence sites in 2023 and 2025Cameras are a key component of the tech-focused electric car brands such as Leapmotor.They provide more visibility and greater safety for drivers, including features like a 360-degree view camera and are critical in the push for self-driving cars.Former national cybersecurity advisor Alastair MacGibbon told the ABC electric car microphones and cameras are an ideal surveillance device. A spokesperson for Stellantis Australia, parent company of Leapmotor, confirmed to CarsGuide Dahua cameras are fitted in Leapmotor vehicles.They said the brand takes cybersecurity, customer privacy and data protection seriously.Dahua cameras fitted in Leapmotor vehicles are used exclusively to support functionality and safety related features.“The system is not designed to record or store footage as part of its normal operation, nor is it designed to upload camera data to the cloud or transmit it to third parties,” a Stellantis Australia spokesperson said.“Any video recording functionality is customer controlled, and storage requires the use of an external USB device.”Leapmotor vehicles undergo independent cybersecurity assessment and certification, according to the brand.In February 2023 an audit found more than 900 surveillance camera units built by Chinese government-linked companies Hikvision and Dahua were being used in government workplaces.The government said it removed these security cameras due to national security concerns because Dahua is partially owned by the Chinese government and has ties to intelligence laws. The United States and United Kingdom also moved to remove Dahua cameras from its key government infrastructure. 

Honda is plotting a new hybrid three-row SUV for buyers, according to a report in AutoNews.The code-named Pilot XXL would be a full-size SUV designed to provide more space for larger families, related to the current Pilot SUV model on sale in the US.The Pilot rivals other three-row SUVs, including the Toyota Grand Highlander (its smaller sibling is known as the Kluger in Australia).Details are scarce, with the car expected to be produced in the United States from the first quarter of 2032.It is potentially 200mm longer than the standard Pilot SUV, which will provide a lot more interior space and storage capacity.It is likely to employ Honda’s next-generation V6 hybrid set-up, with an all-wheel drive system that features an electric motor powering the rear axle.This set-up is rumoured to boast a more than 30 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency and 10 per cent increase in potential acceleration.Honda has not revealed any details about the performance of its incoming hybrid engine, but the brand is investing heavily into hybrid power over the next few years.The V6 hybrid set-up will start to appear in new Honda models from 2028, which will provide further insight into what will power the Pilot XXL.Honda currently does not have a large SUV choice for buyers to compete in the popular family SUV segment and rival the Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Kluger in Australia.The Pilot XXL’s hybrid status would provide Honda with an emissions-friendly choice Down Under, but increasingly stringent emissions rules could see it incur fines here in the future.It will be built in the US, which means it will only be available in left-hand drive for now, reducing its chances of an Aussie arrival.However, Honda Australia President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Joseph told CarsGuide in June 2026 LHD manufacturing does not rule out Honda models for Australia."The right hand drive requirement is a little bit of a challenge for some of the North American product that we have, which was always intended for LHD," he told CarsGuide."But we're becoming more capable, and more adept, at being flexible on that. So that option is opening up."Its Australian future remains a while away, with plans still in their infancy in the US, but if there is demand from Australian buyers it is not out of the question.

Australia is about to receive a wave of new EVs before the end of 2026.EV sales are surging in Australia as brands beef-up their line-ups to provide further choice.Here is a look at some of the best models still to arrive this year.GAC will launch an ultra-affordable variant of its Aion UT electric hatchback before the end of 2026.This Standard Range variant is priced similar to the popular Geely EX2 that starts from $26,490 (before on-road costs).It should start at less than $30,000 drive-away when it gets here, given the current variant on sale starts from $31,990 (drive-away).It’s equipped with a 44kWh battery instead of a 60kWh unit, offering a driving range of 320km, compared to 430km, according to WLTP standards.GAC hasn’t confirmed performance output yet, but in China its front-mounted electric motor produces 100kW and 145Nm, which is less than the 150kW/210Nm available now.Kia will introduce its first fully-electric people mover, the PV5 Passenger, to the Australian market in 2026.The PV5 Passenger is the people mover variant of the PV5 Cargo already on sale Down Under. Its performance matches the PV5 Cargo, with a single electric motor making 120kW/250Nm and its 71.2kWh battery expected to offer around 416km of range (WLTP).Kia hasn’t provided a more specific launch date than Q4 2026, but it’s likely to be closer to December.The Korean brand hasn’t revealed pricing yet either, but Cargo starts from $55,990 (before on-road costs), so buyers can expect the more expensive Passenger variant to sit between $60,000 to $70,000.The much-anticipated Zeekr 7GT wagon is due to land in Australian showrooms in Q4 2026.The fully-electric Euro-styled wagon will target a similar reception to its 7X mid-size SUV sibling that has taken the Aussie market by storm so far. The 7GT is available in a rear-wheel drive configuration, making 310kW/440Nm, as well as an all-wheel drive variant, with 475kW/710Nm. We still don’t know how much it will cost, but it could sit around the $55,000 mark, coming in cheaper than the 7X SUV.XPeng is looking to make the most of its new factory-backed operation Down Under.The brand will launch its L03 electric mid-size SUV in December 2026, priced from $41,900 (before on-road costs). This means it’s cheaper than the Tesla Model Y ($58,900) and the Zeekr 7X ($57,900), while matching the Geely EX5’s starting price ($41,900). The L03 comes as standard with a single electric motor, producing 163kW/280Nm, and a 445km driving range from its 58kWh battery. There will also be a hybrid range-extender variant of the car that uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine to charge the battery and a single electric motor, making 178kW/280Nm.An updated Chery E5 small SUV will hit Aussie showrooms in late 2026.The E5’s budget-friendly status pits it against the BYD Atto 3 ($41,990) and Jaecoo J5 ($36,990, drive-away). It offers the same performance as its outgoing model, with 155kW and 288Nm, while its 59kWh battery offers 430km of WLTP driving range. It now has a larger 15.6-inch central touchscreen display and an auto-dimming mirror.The EX60 is the fully-electric counterpart to the XC60 - Volvo’s best-selling car of all time.The mid-size SUV will start from $86,900, and will tackle the BMW iX3 ($89,990) in the increasingly competitive electric SUV segments. The RWD variant produces 275kW/480Nm, while the AWD makes 375kW/710Nm. Performance increases up to 500kW and 680Nm on the more expensive P12 variant due in 2027. Its initial variants will be equipped with either an 83kWh battery offering 610km or a 95kWh unit offering 660km of range, according to WLTP standards.GWM is about to launch a new hatchback variant of its Ora 5 EV in Australia. The Ora 5 hatch will rival the BYD Dolphin and MG4 Urban in the affordable EV space. It’s expected to have the same single motor found in the SUV variant, making 150kW/260Nm. GWM has confirmed it has a 58kWh battery with a 435km driving range (WLTP). 

Aussies holding out for Lepas' budget electric SUV will have to wait a little longer.The Lepas L4 small electric SUV will be the Chery sub-brand’s second model to go on sale in Australia. Lepas had previously said the L4 would launch Down Under in 2026, but it now won’t be available until 2027.The L4 SUV was slated for launch in December 2026, following the Lepas L6 mid-size electric SUV that will arrive in showrooms before the end the year, but now the L4 has been pushed well back into 2027.Lepas has now said it has a view to launching the L4 in the first half of 2027, which could mean a delay of anywhere between one to six months.The L4’s compact size at 4420mm long sees it shaping up as a rival to the BYD Atto 3 Evo ($41,990) and Hyundai Kona Electric ($46,000). It will use the same battery and electric motor set-up as in the L6, but it has an improved 450km range due to reduced weight.The brand itself was originally projected to launch in mid-2026, but Lepas pushed it back to the late second half of 2026. It comes as fellow Chery sub-brand Omoda Jaecoo needed to delay the arrival of its Omoda 4 and Omoda 7 electric SUVs to the first half of 2027.Lepas has big plans in Australia.The brand will introduce plug-in hybrid variants of its L6 and L4 models in March and June 2027, respectively. It is unclear if the L4 plug-in lauch will be delayed now, too.The L8 PHEV will then arrive towards the end of 2027 as a large mid-size SUV rival to the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year Overall Winner, the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento. There will also be a full-size L9 SUV following after that in 2027. In 2028, there will be fully-electric variants of the L8 and L9, followed by a budget-focused L2 hatchback.  

EV prices are at an all-time low for Aussie buyers. The BYD Atto 1 is available from $19,990 (drive-away) until 15 December 2026, making it the most affordable new car on sale in Australia. This makes it cheaper than the petrol-powered Kia Picanto hatch that previously held the title.While the Kia Picanto’s retail $19,190 price is lower, this does not include on-road costs that push its drive-away cost in excess of the $20,000 mark.Other budget-focused players are also gathering steam like the Geely EX2 ($26,490), MG4 Urban (from $29,990 as a limited offer) and the incoming GAC Aion UT Standard Range.It's not just affordable EVs getting cheaper, SUV segments aren't far behind.Fuel prices have driven EV demand, but government rules are having a different sort of impact. The Australian federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) has brands seriously thinking about what models they introduce to the market Down Under. This is because cars sold that emit high levels of CO2 now incur significant fines, and count towards each brand's fleet total.Pure combustion cars, whether they are petrol or diesel powered, generally fall foul of emissions regulations which has seen brands remove those models from their line-up in favour of hybrid or fully-electric alternatives. Head of the EV Council and Origin Energy E-mobility GM Chau Le told CarsGuide NVES was driving competitive pricing for electric vehicles in Australia. “Thanks to the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, we now have over 100 EV models in Australia and across quite a number of segments from affordable, smaller cars all the way to larger SUVs,” Le said. “In each of these segments, EVs are becoming competitive, but we're not quite there yet in some of the segments. “We're still a bit out, but with more EV models coming in and improvement in battery technology, it's only a matter of time until we're competitive across all segments.”Kia Australia’s General Manager Marketing Dean Norbiato told CarsGuide in May 2026 the Korean brand was pivoting its popular Seltos SUV to hybrid-only due to potential NVES fines. The outgoing Seltos SUV is sold in Australia with both petrol- and hybrid-powered set-ups. “You just have to look at the penalties for NVES on a petrol vehicle versus a hybrid vehicle," Norbiato said. “For us to be a sustainable OEM in this market, hybrid obviously makes sense from that standpoint.”Kia's sister brand, Hyundai, has also signalled its intent to switch much of its incoming range of next-generation vehicles to hybrid-only.Expanding EV options doesn't automatically boost buyer demand, according to Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Chief Executive Tony Weber. “The impact it has had has been on the supply of vehicles. And we now are in a market in Australia where there's 132 EVs on sale in the country, and there's 80 plug-in hybrid models,” Weber told CarsGuide. “What NVES doesn't do is address the demand issue. And therein lies the challenge for the industry.”Electric car sales are not surging in all areas of the market, and the ute segment is still dominated by diesel-powered options.  The popular Ford Ranger had a slow August 2026 due to an ongoing recall preventing deliveries. It was still the sixth best-selling car in the country, while the Toyota HiLux held a place in the top three. The plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 has been a game-changer for the segment in Australia, and it has been one of the few utes to see sales growth in the last 12 months. Even though the Shark 6’s sales have grown significantly, buyers are still primarily choosing diesel options. BYD’s ute has sold only roughly a third of the units compared to the Ranger in 2026. Weber said demand is not driven by NVES, but external factors like the price of petrol and the subsidisation of EVs.He said the technology needs to be available before buyers make the jump.“Now, you can argue, and quite rightly, that NVES has had an impact, say in the ute market, because we're now seeing plug-in hybrids,” Weber said. “The question I have is whether those products would have come to the market anyway, because what also drives change in markets is competition."I think people will buy the car that meets their needs and wants and until the technology can actually satisfy those people in those segments, that will limit what they buy. “This is one of the great barriers as we move forward on that pathway to zero-emission vehicles.”Electric cars outsold petrol- and diesel-powered cars for the first time in a single month in August 2026.The SUV segment has been the latest to see a surge in EV sales, with three of the top 10 for August 2026 being fully-electric. SUVs show how technology reaches an enticing level to boost buyer demand. Many models now boast driving range exceeding 450km and there are now three-row options at more price points. Utes remain a difficult segment for fully electrics to crack, with towing and driving range key aspects of a buyer’s decision.  The BYD Shark 6 initially launched with a 2500kg braked towing capacity - short of the industry standard 3500kg. BYD has since introduced a performance grade that reaches the 3500kg, but it is the most expensive in the range, starting from $62,900. The Toyota HiLux BEV launched in May 2026. It only offers a 240km (WLTP) driving range and a 2000kg towing capacity, despite being the most expensive variant in the range ($74,990).The recently-revealed MG U9 will launch in Australia the fourth quarter of 2026 with a 3500kg towing capacity and 430km driving range, but it carries a $78,990 price tag.It costs buyers noticeably more money to drive out of the showroom with an electric ute than a diesel-powered one.As technology improves and demand picks up, this gap will shrink. 

LDV's flagship workhorse might be set to get more lifestyle-oriented variants in the future, with new versions of the Terron 9 ute launching in China.Known as the Maxus Star X over in China, these domestic market versions add the option of a factory canopy and all terrain tyres, as well as the fold-down bulkhead which in Australia is only available on the Terron 9's MG U9 sister car.Meanwhile the Australian version of the Terron 9 is offered primarily in more work-oriented versions, shipping with road tyres and more basic trim levels.These latest versions of the Terron 9 is focused on adventuring capability over workhorse credentials.The ute’s cargo box connects directly through to the cabin, so when fitted with a canopy, it can be used for sleeping and camping generally.It has a mobile bed mode where the rear seats fold down to create a flat space for a double bed.There is a fishing edition of the car, with rod holders, tackle gear organisation and dedicated wet-storage compartments.The space can also be used for an increased storage space of 3000L.It continues to feature a rugged off-roading system, with front- and rear-locking differentials as well as an off-road expert mode and steep descent control. The Terron 9 continues to have an imposing look from the outside, with a large ‘T’-shaped headlight design and rectangular front grille, boasting small metallic segments across it.The ute rides on 18-inch wheels as standard. Inside, there is a 12.3-inch digital driver display and 12.3-inch central touchscreen, with convenience features like keyless entry and start.It continues to be powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine, making 165kW and 520Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.It’s unclear whether these variants of the LDV Terron 9 will make their way into Aussie showrooms. CarsGuide has contacted LDV Australia for comment to see if there are new variants planned to be sold here.The Chinese-market Terron 9 starts from 185,800 yuan, which is roughly $39,900, but prices rise up to 263,000 yuan, or $55,000.The Terron 9 is currently available in Australia from $50,674, drive-away until September 30, 2026.Buyers could expect this new variant to be closer to the $60,000 mark locally to account for importing and other associated costs, especially considering its higher level of inclusions.The e-Terron 9 electric ute is still on the cards for Australia as the brand continues to work with the factory to bring it into the country.The closely-related MG U9 electric ute was recently priced in Australia, which could suggest LDV’s version isn’t too far away. 

Hyundai's flagship family electric SUV is under investigation for a safety concern in Australia, following similar reports overseas. The South Korean brand is looking into an issue on its Ioniq 9 in Australia over a potentially dangerous problem with the second-row power-folding seats.It relates to the seat assemblies failing to detect passengers or objects on the seats and continuing to close even when using excessive force.This can lead to the seats squashing occupants and cause serious injury or worse.The Ioniq 9 is Hyundai’s most expensive car on sale, and is its biggest electric SUV offering Down Under.Virtually every Ioniq 9 sold in Australia could be affected by the issue, with more than 100 vehicles being looked into.The issue is expected to be able to be fixed with an over-the-air software update like in other markets, or owners can option to have it resolved at a Hyundai dealer.Owners should take extra care during the folding of seats in the meantime, according to the brand. In the United States, 5360 Ioniq 9 examples have been recalled, according to reports.The brand said all vehicles recalled have the fault. It’s not just the Ioniq 9 impacted in the United States, with it also linked to power-folding seats in the Palisade and the Telluride SUVs. At this stage, only the Ioniq 9 is under investigation in Australia.