Articles by Tim Gibson

Diesel utes have been one of the categories hit hardest by rising fuel prices in Australia, compounding an already slowing segment of the market. Even the best-selling Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux are experiencing sales declines, with month-on-month drops for April.Ute options have grown substantially in recent times, with the addition of several new Chinese competitors. The BYD Shark 6’s success is well-documented, but it is somewhat of an anomaly in a segment where Chinese utes have experienced stuttering sales performances.One of these utes is the Foton Tunland, which was recorded in sales data for the first time in April, managing 97 registrations for the month.The Tunland returned to Australia after a more than eight-year absence Down Under, with a starting price of just under $40K, before on-road costs. The MG U9 is another experiencing a tough sales run, having amassed only 94 units in April and less than 700 units over the course of 2026 so far.With a drive-away price of $52,990, it is not priced too dissimilarly to the segment leaders like the HiLux and Ranger in the dual-cab category. JAC’s T9 also continues this trend, mustering only 56 registrations in April, and only 359 sales so far in 2026.The brand recently released a new cheaper dual-cab chassis ute, starting from $38,990 (before on-road costs) to try and boost its market appeal. One other Chinese ute falling into a similar category, bucking the wider market trend, is the LDV T60, with just 214 sales in April 2026. This number is better than many of its rivals, but still a decent chunk less than the established pack. It is priced from $45,253 (before on-road costs).Meanwhile, many Chinese brands are turning to plug-in hybrid power for their ute offerings, with many announcing new models launching before the end of the year. JAC unveiled its Hunter petrol PHEV ute, which is already open for orders, while the GWM Cannon PHEV will also join the competition soon alongside its larger Cannon Alpha sibling. Later in the year, Chery will enter the ute race with a first-ever diesel PHEV, as a point of difference to the successful Shark 6.Whether this flood of hybrid offerings can change the tide for many of these brands remains to be seen.

Chery has just dropped a huge hint on what the name for its incoming plug-in hybrid diesel ute might be.Currently codenamed ‘KP31’, the brand has whittled down 20,000 submissions to a shortlist of nine potential names for the ute. This list includes Bushwalker, Ironbark, Longreach, Mate, Orca, Outrider, Ridgeback, Stockman and Terra.It has trademarked all nine of the names in line with Australian regulations, but none of them have been officially registered yet. Orca stands out of from the rest because it was filed for trademark back in June 2025, while the rest of the names were filed over the past few weeks of 2026. This was part of the brand’s standard process of reserving potential names for future vehicles, according to Chery Australia. Orca has been filed for trademark by Chery under the SUV and pick-up truck category, showing the brand's desire to use the name for a ute for about a year.An orca is another name for a killer whale and the brand said it is one of the most powerful predators in the ocean, mightier even than the shark - a reference perhaps to the BYD Shark 6.Could a filing of a name nearly a year ago and its subsequent appearance on the shortlist be more than a coincidence?Voting on the name of the Chery ute will close on the 19th of May.The KP31’s official launch remains on track for the fourth quarter of this year, with the petrol plug-in hybrid variant expected to join the lineup later on next year. A name for the petrol PHEV ute has not been confirmed yet, meaning it could get an entirely different name to its diesel sibling. Chery’s diesel PHEV was revealed earlier this year, featuring a segment-changing 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and electric motor duo.Chery claims it will have a 1000kg payload as well as a 3500kg braked towing capacity, which matches many of its diesel-only competitors. These figures also trump the base variants of the BYD Shark 6, although there is a new Performance variant of BYD’s ute capable of towing 3500kg. It will join an increasingly busy Chinese electrified ute segment. This includes petrol PHEV rivals such as the GWM Cannon and Cannon Alpha, as well as the recently-announced JAC Hunter.

Toyota has just released the pricing for its new 2027 hybrid LandCruiser four-wheel drive, and it will be the most powerful variant yet.It will start from $156,060 (before on-road costs) for the GR Sport grade and $156,810 (before on-road costs) for the Sahara ZX.This means a hybrid LandCruiser costs around $9000 more than the highest grade of the diesel-only model.It is a significant step up in price on the recently-announced Denza B8 plug-in hybrid off-roader, which starts from under $100K. Toyota's hybrid LandCruiser announcement is also an early warning shot to the returning Mitsubishi Pajero, which we will learn more about before the end of the year.The LandCruiser hybrid will be powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine along with a single electric motor.The hybrid system has been adapted from the Tundra full-size pick-up, which itself offered some serious power and torque.The addition of an electrified boost to the LandCruiser has seen substantial improvements in power, now producing 341kW and 790Nm, up from 227kW and 700Nm. These new figures boost the car’s power beyond that of the soon-to-be phased out V8-powered Nissan Patrol. Toyota said this hybrid transition for the LandCruiser was designed to improve performance as opposed to efficiency like on other models such as the Camry sedan and RAV4 SUV.On the inside, there are leather-accented seats, with the front and outward rear ones heated and ventilated. Elsewhere, the car gets a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and a 14-speaker premium JBL audio system.The GR Sport grade comes with front and rear lockable differentials as well as electronically-controlled suspension for increased rugged off-roading capabilities.Sahara ZX models have a rear limited-slip differential, for added poise on the road. The car’s new hybrid set-up allows for a rear auxiliary power socket, which is capable of powering small appliances.The new LandCruiser hybrid will arrive in showrooms in the middle of this year.2027 Toyota LandCruiser 300 hybrid pricing  

BMW’s performance M3 sedan is expected to achieve close on price parity between its electric and petrol variants.Electric vehicles generally still carry a hefty premium compared to internal combustion and hybrid models, but it looks like that could be all about to change.A report in UK publication AutoCar states the new electric M3 will be priced similarly to the petrol version of the car, following an interview with BMW’s sales director Sylvia Neubauer."The good news is that from a pricing perspective, they are in the same ballpark,” Neubauer told AutoCar.There is no news yet on what the price of the new M3 will be, but it is expected to exceed the current near $160K price tag in Europe, which will be closer to $200K in Australia.The electric M3 will offer 745kW from a quad electric motor set-up, which is significantly more than any M3 model currently on the market.It is even more powerful than the full-blooded 4.4-litre plug-in hybrid turbocharged V8 found in the bigger M5.It will be based on the recently-announced i3, getting a newly-designed platform from the brand’s ‘Neue Klasse’ revamp.The new petrol M3 will be a continuation of the current generation, utilising the same platform, but getting a new design under ‘Neue Klasse’.There are no details yet on the new generation M3’s future in Australia, but it can be speculated it might arrive later on in 2027, following its European launch. We should learn more about the new M3 in the fourth quarter of this year.Right now in Australia, the manual variant of the M3 starts from $169,100 (before on-road costs), with prices rising up to $253,900.There are several M3 variants currently on sale in Australia, which all use a 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol engine, producing up to 405kW and 650Nm.

JAC is taking the plug-in hybrid ute game to the BYD Shark 6, unveiling its cheaper Hunter rival. It will start from less than $50,000 (before on-road costs), making it around $8000 cheaper than the base dual-cab pick-up variant of the Shark 6. It is not just BYD’s ute the Hunter will take on, with the GWM Cannon also confirmed to be gaining a PHEV set-up to compliment the more expensive Cannon Alpha. There is a PHEV version of the best-selling Ford Ranger on sale in Australia, which is in excess of $20,000 more expensive than the Hunter. The Hunter will also have company from Chery’s codenamed ‘KP31’ diesel PHEV ute coming before the end of the year, with a petrol example following in 2027. JAC’s PHEV ute is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors, producing 360kW and a likely near 1000Nm. These figures eclipse even those of the new performance variant of the Shark 6, which launched earlier this year with a price tag of nearly $13,000 more than the Hunter. The Hunter boasts a highly-sort-after 3500kg braking towing capacity, with a payload of 915kg, highlighting its towing potential is in line with diesel rivals, while carrying capacity is little behind. According to the brand, the car has been tested extensively in Australia, facing harsh conditions such as extreme heat and rough unsealed roads.  In conjunction with a 31kWh battery, the ute offers more than 1000km of total driving range, at least according to more generous NEDC testing. Fuel consumption sits at 1.6L/100km, so long as the battery is charged. It has also been given some serious off-roading ability, with a full-time four-wheel drive system as well as front and rear differential locks. Other useful features include vehicle-to-load capabilities, which enables large devices to be charged and powered directly from the car. The Hunter gives JAC an alternative to its diesel-powered JAC T9 ute, which has endured a slow sales return in the competitive ute segment. Reservations on the car open later today.

The latest data has revealed Tesla has experienced a serious sales downturn in Australia.The brand managed 1225 sales in April, compared to 3485 sales the previous month.Year-to-date sales remain positive for Tesla, with more than double for April 2026 compared to April 2025.The Model Y remains Tesla’s best-selling car, but the brand sold around 2000 less units of its popular SUV in April than in March. It was a similar story for the Model 3 sedan, selling roughly 400 units, down from more than 600 for the previous month. The Model 3’s sales are also down comparing April 2026 and April 2025, meaning it is an EV that has gone backwards over the past year.Tesla Australia said the sales decline was down to delivery cycles on vehicles coming into the country.Tesla could experience a pick-up in sales when its six-seater Model Y L SUV, with deliveries beginning at the start of this month.This news comes at a time when EV sales are booming in Australia, due to skyrocketing fuel prices. Many brands are reporting increasing electric vehicle registrations, with them making up greater proportions of total sales.Kia said 40 per cent of all sales currently are coming from full EVs. Chery said 70 per cent of total sales are coming from electrified set-ups, which includes hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs. The EV boom has resulted in an increasingly diversified market for buyers, with more choices than ever in the segment. Most brands now have EV options across their range, while many Chinese brands are bringing cheaper options, which are proving popular.Rivals such as the Zeekr 7X SUV have put down solid roots in Australia, along with several BYD models like the Atto 1 hatch - a car still holding the cheapest EV in Australia title.BYD has already signalled its intention to dominate the EV market Down Under, with all of its models among the best sellers in the electric category. 

Hyundai has released the pricing and specifications for a new ballistic electric car called the Ioniq 6 N. It will start from $115,000 (before on-road costs), which is nearly $20K more than the most expensive Ioniq 6 variant on sale in Australia, but a similar price to the Ioniq 5 N SUV. The car shapes up as a rival to other electric performance sedans, such as the Tesla Model 3 Performance, BYD Seal Performance and the Polestar 2.The Ioniq 6 N is a sizeable step up in price on those competitors, which sit in the $80K bracket. Hyundai’s example trumps many of its competitors when it comes to output, with 478kW and 770Nm.It can shift from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds quicker than the Ioniq 5 N. The Ioniq 6 N has a top speed of 257km/h.It has an 84kWh battery, which offers 10-80 per cent charging in 18 minutes and has a total driving range of 487km. The car features Hyundai’s torque distribution system, which is able to distribute torque between the front and rear wheels, or all four together. It also comes with huge braking power, courtesy of 400mm front disks and 360mm rear disks. The Ioniq 6 N is already available in showrooms.2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N pricing Australia 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N engine and efficiency 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N standard features Head-up displaySatellite navigationHeated and ventilated front seatsWireless phone chargerPower tailgate 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N safetyThe Ioniq 6 N is currently unrated under the ANCAP testing system. Standard safety features: 6 airbagsBlind spot assistLane change assistForward collision avoidance assistEvasive steer assistLane keep assistFront, rear and side parking sensorsAdaptive cruise control2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N dimensions 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N warranty and servicingThe Ioniq 6 N is covered by a fiver/unlimited-kilometre warranty. This can be extended to a seven-year warranty when all services are conducted on time at an authorised dealer.There is also an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty. 

Kia has made a concerted effort to introduce electrified options to its line-up over the last few years. The brand has five fully electric models on sale in Australia, along with plug-less and plug-in hybrid family SUVs. This has seen Kia’s electric vehicle sales skyrocket, particularly in the last few weeks, with increased popularity for non-fuel-powered models.Subsequently, Kia’s sales split is now 70 per cent electrified (40% EV and 30% hybrid), with the remaining 30 per cent made up of pure petrol or diesel units. A primary driver of Kia’s electric shift has been the future impacts of the Australian federal government's National Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). Under the scheme, vehicles sold which have an interim emissions value above zero incur a liability, while those which are zero or less, earn the brand a credit.According to Kia Australia Chief Executive Officer Damien Meredith, NVES is an important part of the brand’s thinking on which cars to bring Down Under.“The government is going to stick to what they’ve put in place and it becomes part of the product planning decision,” Meredith told CarsGuide. “If you’ve got an EV range, you’re looking towards the future. “If you haven’t got an EV range, you’re catering to the customers' needs right now. “It’s one of the variables when we’re making decisions, put it like that.”The result of this EV focus for Kia is that it accumulated more than 720,000 units for the 2025 NVES performance period, the second-most of any brand, trailing only BYD.Meredith said Kia has no plans to sell its credits, banking them for a later time.The key to this success has been the combined performance of the EV3 and EV5 SUVs, which have continued to prove popular in 2026, with more than 2000 sales so far. Kia’s NVES approach has not been shared by some brands, such as Ford, which has been defiant in light of potential future penalties. Ford CEO Jim Farley said a market made up of vehicles being manufactured to meet NVES regulations is not sustainable, threatening to cut local engineering jobs. Ford is yet to feel the effects of future NVES liabilities, with key sales contributors such as the diesel Ranger ute being considered a ‘Type 2’ vehicle. Mazda is one brand which has been handed down a substantial amount of liabilities. More than 500,000, which is the most by some margin, given its high-volume petrol-based line-up.

Mitsubishi has announced there will be no price increases across its petrol Outlander mid-size SUV range in Australia. The Outlander will continue to be available from $39,990 (before on-road costs), with prices ranging up to $58,740 for the top-spec grade. It will also continue to offer five and part-time seven seat configurations, as well as front-wheel and all-wheel drive set-ups.The Mazda CX-5 is the same price as the Outlander, and the hybrid-only Toyota RAV4 is a step up in price on both of those competitors. Mitsubishi has brought back the Black Edition variant of the Outlander, citing 2024 sales success as the reason for its return. This version adds several blacked out elements, including 20-inch alloy wheels and synthetic leather seats. It will only be available in a front-wheel drive seven-seater configuration. The Outlander’s announcement comes after Mitsubishi hiked the prices of plug-in hybrid versions of the car earlier this year. It means there is a near $20K jump for buyers to get into a PHEV versus a petrol unit. It will be powered by the same 2.5-litre petrol engine, producing 135kW and 244Nm, paired with a continuously variable transmission. Mitsubishi said the car will keep the Australian-developed suspension and power steering tunes introduced in 2025.On the inside, there is a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and same sized digital driver display, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offered as standard. The Outlander is Mitsubishi’s best-selling car in Australia, having managed more than 22,000 sales in 2025, with it still one of the brand’s top performers despite dipping sales generally.The new Outlander is due to land in dealerships from next month.2026 Mitsubishi Outlander pricing Australia 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander engine and efficiency 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander standard features Other standard features include: Satellite navigationLS grade addsMachined two-tone alloy wheelsTwo rear-mounted USB portsSilver front and rear bumpersWireless phone chargerBlack Edition grade adds20-inch black alloy wheelsBlack front and rear bumpersBlack door mirrorsBlack grilleBlack interior headliningBlack synthetic leather seatsAspire grade adds20-inch machined-finished alloy wheelsHeated steering wheelPower tailgateExceedVentilated front seatsLeather seat trimAluminum pedalsFrameless and digital monitor rearview mirrorMemory side mirrorsFront door foot lampsFull-size alloy spare wheelPanoramic roofExceed tourerSemi-aniline leather seats12-speaker premium Yamaha sound system2026 Mitsubishi Outlander safetyThe Mitsubishi Outlander has a five-star ANCAP safety rating.  Standard safety features:Blind spot assistLane departure assist360-degree cameraRear auto brakingTraffic sign recognitionFront and rear parking sensorsAspire grade addsLane centre assistTraffic jam assist2026 Mitsubishi Outlander dimensions 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander warranty and servicingThe Mitsubishi Outlander comes with a 10-year/200,000-kilometre warranty, when all scheduled services are completed in a timely manner at Mitsubishi dealerships.There is also a 10-year capped price servicing deal available on the car. 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander capped price servicing table  

Mitsubishi is planning to introduce hybrid models to its lineup by 2028, matching many of its key rivals, and it could be a game changer in Australia.The brand is expected to begin production and sales in Japan, according to reports.It will be the first time Mitsubishi has produced full-sized hybrids in Japan.Mitsubishi’s move brings it into line with several of its key rivals in Japan such as Toyota, which boasts a product lineup dominated by hybrid vehicles. It could also give the brand the jump on another of its competitors, Mazda, which is still yet to bolster its electrified options.This could be a game changer for the brand, particularly in Australia, given the increasingly stringent emissions regulations to be set out under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).Mitsubishi did not receive any liabilities for the 2025 performance period, but it will have greater challenges maintaining this record, given its substantially petrol and diesel powered lineup.The brand’s hybrid push comes at a time when it is experiencing a tough sales downturn in Australia, despite the relatively positive return on Triton ute models. Hybrids could be the key to turning around Mitsubishi's fortunes in Australia.While there are no new confirmed hybrid models for Australia yet, Mitsubishi continues to follow its 'Momentum 2030' plan, which puts electrification at the core of the business' lineup.Mitsubishi recently unveiled an updated version of its plug-in hybrid Outlander SUV, providing increased efficiency.The brand currently sells a petrol-exclusive ASX small SUV, along with the diesel Pajero Sport large SUV and Triton ute.It also has its Outlander mid-size SUV, which comes as either a petrol or a plug-in hybrid - the only electrified set-up offered by the brand in Australia. Mitsubishi will release a new large off-roader, expected to be called the Pajero, this year, which is rumoured to be destined for Australia.