Articles by Tim Gibson

Aussie buyers have a new electric SUV to choose from in Australia. The Smart #5 is a mid-size SUV from a Geely and Mercedes-Benz joint venture in China. It will start from $58,900, so it’s identically priced to the Tesla Model Y ($58,900) and $1000 more expensive than the Zeekr 7X ($57,900), all before on-road costs. Its more expensive than its #1 hatch ($54,900) and #3 coupe siblings ($57,900). The ‘Premium+’ variant of the #5 starts from $63,900, while the range-topping all-wheel drive Brabus edition is available from $73,900. Deliveries for the Smart #5 begin in November 2026 and will be distributed through LSH Auto's dealer network that have showrooms in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The brand has not officially revealed performance output figures for Australia yet, but in the UK its standard single electric motor provides up to 267kW and 373Nm to the rear wheels. The AWD Brabus adds an additional motor, increasing performance to 475kW and 710Nm. This dual motor set-up means the car can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds.  Smart Australia has confirmed the car is equipped with a 100kWh battery, offering a driving range of 590km, according to WLTP standards. Riding on an 800-volt platform, it is capable of DC fast charging from 10 to 80 per cent in less than 18 minutes.  The platform also offers vehicle-to-load capabilities, enabling devices and tools to be powered directly from the car.  The #5 has a well thought out suspension system that includes a front double-wishbone and rear five-link set-up for comfort and versatility. Smart said the car has been styled by Mercedes-Benz’s global design team, featuring boxy external proportions, and is dimensionally a size-up on the Toyota RAV4 hybrid. The #5 is fitted with plenty of technology as standard, including a single 13.0-inch OLED central display and smaller digital driver display. Up-spec variants add a 13.0-inch passenger display and a premium 20-speaker audio system. The car also features an automatic three-way camping layout for added adventuring potential.

Aussie buyers will soon have a new fully-electric ute to choose from. The MG U9 EV will be the latest in a limited, but expanding set of electric utes in Australia. Prices for the MG U9 EV will start at $78,990 (before on-road costs). Its main competition will be the KGM Musso EV and the low-volume targeted Toyota HiLux BEV. The Musso EV is about $20,000 cheaper than the U9 EV, and the HiLux BEV is in the same ballpark. The U9 EV joins its diesel sibling that has been available in Australia since September 2025. The MG U9 is powered by two electric motors, making 325kW and 700Nm. This is substantially more performance than the Musso EV (152kW/339Nm) and the HiLux BEV (144kW/468Nm). It has the industry standard 3500kg braked towing capacity and a 685kg payload. It’s equipped with a sizeable 102kWh battery that offers a driving range of 430km, besting the HiLux BEV (240km), both according to WLTP standards. DC charging at 115kW from 20 to 80 per cent takes 42 minutes. The car has all-wheel drive and a four-wheel electric air suspension system. The U9 EV can charge and power external devices directly using its vehicle-to-load system. Its external outlet operates at 6.6kW, with three 2.2kW outlets available in the cabin.  Elsewhere inside, there is a 12.3-inch digital driver display and 12.3-inch central touchscreen as well as a wireless phone charger. The ute has an eight-speaker JBL audio system and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Front seats are wrapped in leather and are heated, while the driver seat is ventilated and has massage functionality. The U9 EV's technology includes a 360-degree camera and hands-free automatic tailgate. The U9 EV will be shown in the metal for one of the first times on September 18, 2026 at the Everything Electric event in Sydney as it edges closer to an official launch. Australia will be the first market to launch the U9 EV globally, which is expected to happen before the end of 2026 or early 2027. Pricing will be revealed closer to U9 EV’s arrival, but it will need to be competitive with the KGM Musso EV ($60,000, drive-away) and the Toyota HiLux BEV ($74,990, before on-road costs). Buyers can expect it to be more expensive than the diesel variant that starts from $52,990, drive-away. 

Ford has put out a recall notice and stop-sale order for some of its Mustang sports car examples in Australia.  The recall impacts 7724 units built between 2023 and 2026, across both its 2.3-litre four-cylinder and 5.0-litre V8 engine options.  The Mustang is one of the most popular choices for sports car buyers on the market. Nearly 500 vehicles in dealer stock will not be sold until the issue is rectified. Any stock built since the start of June is not affected by the issue as well as upcoming Mustang Dark Horse and Dark Horse T8 Spec Pack examples. The issue concerns potential vibrations causing the engine wiring harness to break loose. “Due to a manufacturing defect, the engine bay wiring harness ground terminal may become damaged due to vibrations,” the notice reads.  “This may cause the wiring harness to break, resulting in a loss of engine power. Additional safety functions such as the headlamps and windshield wipers may fail to operate as intended.  “A loss of motive power and safety functions whilst driving increases the risk of an accident, resulting in serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.”  A spokesperson for Ford Australia said there have been no reported instances of the issue occurring in Australia.     Ford will contact affected vehicle owners in writing to request they contact an authorised dealer to arrange inspection and repair, free of charge.  Owners can also contact Ford Australia for additional information. 

Hyundai’s new electric van has landed.  The Hyundai Staria Load Electric has become the latest in a growing list of electric van choices for buyers.  It starts from $70,990, making it cheaper than the smaller Ford Transit Custom Electric ($77,890), but it will also tackle its mechanical sibling the Kia PV7 due in Australia before the end of 2027.  This equates to a more than $20,000 jump on the base diesel grade, and more than $9000 extra compared to previous range-topping hybrid.  The Staria Load Electric will make its Australian debut at the Everything Electric event in Sydney that starts from 18 September, 2026.  The brand has already confirmed a people mover variant of the Staria Electric is not under consideration at this stage.  The Staria Load Electric is powered by a single electric motor, producing 160kW and 350Nm. Diesel variants produce 130kW/430Nm, while hybrid variants produce 180 kW/304Nm The van is equipped with an 84kWh battery, offering a total driving range of 450km, according to WLTP standards.  It consumes 20.7kWh of power for every 100km driven, according to the brand.  Riding on Hyundai’s 800-volt E-GMP platform it can DC fast charge at up to 350kW, meaning a 20-80 per cent juice up takes 20 minutes.  The Staria Load Electric has a braked towing capacity of 2000kg (500kg less than diesel variants), and a 1005kg payload.  The van’s cargo capacity is 4935L, but it also has a 23.9L front storage area.  It can also use its battery via vehicle-to-load to power tools and other devices directly with a standard three-pin electrical outlet.  The Staria Load electric only comes in a two-seat configuration.  Elsewhere in the cabin, there is a 12.3-inch digital driver display and 12.3-inch central touchscreen as well as a wireless phone charger.  It has a leather steering wheel, while seats are wrapped in a black cloth material. The van boasts keyless entry and a push-button start.  Buyers can choose from either liftback or twin outward-swinging rear doors at no extra cost for added practicality.  The Staria Load Electric has a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre manufacturer's warranty as well as an eight-year/160,000km warranty for the high-voltage battery.  The van is available with a capped-priced servicing deal, with servicing occurring every two years or 30,000km. 

BMW has priced its latest luxe SUV Down Under.  The new-generation BMW X5 large SUV will start from $143,900 for the diesel variant, while petrol power starts from $145,900, both before on-road costs.  This means the diesel variant is $4000 more expensive now, while the petrol variant costs an extra $2000.  The new BMW X5 is due to arrive in showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2026, with plug-in hybrid variants available in the first quarter of 2027.  The brand has confirmed a new fully-electric iX5 is also on its way to Australia in Q1 2027.  The X5 will rival the cheaper Audi Q7, with its base diesel-powered variant starting from $120,530.  It will also tackle the new Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class that was unveiled in Australia for the first time in September 2026, priced from $142,300.  Both petrol- and diesel-powered variants use an improved 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-charged engine layout with 48-volt mild hybrid system. The base Mercedes-Benz GLE 350d also now comes with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine as standard, but is $1300 more expensive.  Diesel variants now produce 230kW/670Nm, compared to 210kW/650Nm, while petrol variants now make 294kW/540Nm, up from 280kW/520Nm.  Petrol variants can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds.  All examples come with all-wheel drive as standard and a 3500kg braked towing capacity.  The BMW X5 is only available as a five-seater, so it does not have a seven-seater option, like its close rivals the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class.  It features BMW’s high-tech interface, with a 3D head-up display and panoramic dashboard-mounted screen.  The car also gets a flashy new 17.9-inch central touchscreen and a passenger display as standard.  The front seats are heated, ventilated and have massage functionality.  Elsewhere in the cabin, there is an 18-speaker sound system and a panoramic glass roof.    Buyers can option heated armrests and rear seats and a rear roller sunblind for an extra $2300.

Diesel buyers are still on the agenda for Mercedes-Benz. The German giant has just unveiled its new GLE 350d large SUV in Australia that debuts a new 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. It replaces the outgoing 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit in the GLE 300d, boosting performance to 210kW and 650Nm. This more powerful base grade GLE-Class costs nearly $6000 more than the previous model, starting from $142,300, before on-road costs. This means it is cheaper than the base diesel-powered BMW X5, starting from $143,900. More budget-friendly Chinese options are appearing in the Australian market with much cheaper price points and electrified powertrains. Zeekr will soon introduce its 8X full-size SUV that is larger than the GLE-Class, but could be offered for less than $100,000. Australia's diesel demise is in full swing. Diesel-powered car sales are down more than 16 per cent in August 2026 compared to August 2025. For the first time ever in August 2026, there were more fully-electric registrations than petrol and diesel individually. Potential fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) are also squeezing diesel-powered choices out of the market. Non-heavy duty diesel-powered vehicles sold in Australia generally fall foul of the emissions regulations, with brands incurring fines on these cars. This will not deter Mercedes-Benz, according to the Australian branch's Director of Sales Johannes Schoen, who said customer demand was driving the decision. “Well, we listen to customers, and obviously, we have a great new drivetrain here (3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel), and I could now talk about all the performance indicators. “On the other side, it's also about the refinement and the drive experience. And I think that new six-cylinder diesel engine will deliver exactly that, and that, I feel, is especially relevant here in Australia.” Schoen also said the brand can offset potential fines for its emissions-heavy vehicles like the GLE 350d with fully-electric sales. The brand now has an extensive range of electric models, with the EQA and EQB small SUVs the most prolific on the sales charts. The pair combine for roughly the same number of sales as the GLE-Class up to August 2026. “Well, we fully understand, and we also support, obviously, the intention of the legislator to contribute to lower CO2 emission values,” Schoen said. “We, as a company, globally speaking now, are obviously trying to support a road to net zero carbon emissions in the future. “Now, having said that big picture, obviously, in the here now, we have a product portfolio that allows us to also manage a very high battery electric share. “So in that sense, this is one product out of our large portfolio, and ultimately, it means, on average, we have to fulfil the legislation, and we will do everything, which is in our power, to go that path.”

This plush family SUV has just been updated in Europe.  The Volvo XC90 is a three-row large SUV available in mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid petrol set-ups.  The Swedish-built XC90 tackles other luxury European SUVs the Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. It will now face tough Chinese competition, including the Australia-bound Zeekr 8X.  The XC90 will continue to be available with petrol or PHEV power for its update model.  Mild hybrid petrol variants use a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-charged engine, producing 184kW and 360Nm, along with a 48-volt battery.  The plug-in hybrid also uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-charged engine that produces the same 184kW and 360Nm, but an electric motor adds 130kW and 309Nm. This means the PHEV can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds - more than two seconds faster compared to the petrol-only variant.  Its 41kWh lithium-ion battery has an electric-only driving range of 164km - more than double compared to before. It has a total driving range of 1100km, according to WLTP standards.  All variants use an eight-speed automatic transmission.  The interior features an 11.2-inch central touchscreen and Google’s Gemini AI assistant to plan trips and manage communication. The XC90 is expected to arrive in Australia in the second quarter of 2027. The car will launch in Europe later in 2026, so buyers can expect the new XC90 to arrive Down Under in 2027.  The XC90 currently starts in Australia from $97,990 for the petrol-only variant and $120,990 for the PHEV, both before on-road costs.  Pricing is likely to start around the $100,000 mark, but could incur a small hike on the previous model.  The XC90 is the bigger sibling of the XC40 and XC60 SUVs that are Volvo’s best-selling petrol-powered cars in Australia.  The brand’s EX30 small electric SUV is one of two models to have experienced sales growth in 2026, registering an increase of 36.4 per cent up to August 2026 compared to August 2025.

A new exciting ute could be in the works.  Jaguar Land Rover and Stellantis are exploring the potential of introducing a Defender-branded full-size pick-up in the United States, according to The Times.  The pair announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May 2026 “to explore opportunities to collaborate on product development” in the US.  JLR confirmed it would pursue a range of new products under the Defender brand specifically designed for the US market.  The MoU includes product and technology development, with a Defender-badged ute potentially the first new car of this partnership.  JLR’s partnership with Stellantis shows the iconic brand wants to take the US market seriously.  Its Defender SUV is a popular seller in the US, but it’s subject to heavy import tariffs, limiting profitability for Land Rover in a key market.  JLR wants to prioritise the US market to capitalise on rising luxury car demand and the brand's growing popularity there.  “Our aspiration in the coming years is to grow our US business to the size of the entire JLR business as it exists today,” JLR CEO PB Balaji said in a June 2026 statement. Full-size pick-ups are some of the most popular cars on sale in North America, so this model could be a huge hit if it gets off the ground. Plans are still at an early stage for the JLR Stellantis ute, but they are expected to be finalised before the end of 2026.  The ute is likely to be built in the United States to avoid the high import tariffs. There is no confirmation on whether the new ute will use the Land Rover Defender’s existing D7x architecture or a specific ute platform from Stellantis’ Jeep or Ram.  The current Defender rides on a car-based monocoque chassis that is not used on any ute models, but it features a rigid structure like on traditional ladder frame 4WD set-ups.  Jeep and Ram have more ready-made ute chassis options, with the Ram 1500’s DT platform or the Jeep Wrangler’s JL platform a streamlined fit.  Any Australian prospects are a long way down the line for this ute.  It will be initially targeted at the US market, so it will only be built in left-hand drive, reducing its chances of going on sale Down Under.  Key full-size pick-up trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150 are remanufactured in Australia to be right-hand drive.  The Stellantis-built Ram 1500 also undergoes this remanufacturing process, meaning this new ute model could follow a similar path. 

The now repealed Marketing of Potatoes Act 1946 from Western Australia prohibited transporting more than 50kg of potatoes. Clearly it was an obscure law that may have been relevant at the time, but there are plenty more quirky road rules in Australia. What are some of the road rules still in force that you might not expect? How does the law answer some of those burning questions around driving? Here are three unusual examples. The answer to this question can be found in the Road Rules 2014 in New South Wales, specifically s 297. Under (1), a driver is required to have “proper control of the vehicle”. What does that mean? Well, its vagueness is deliberate by design to cover many situations. While it is not expressly against the law to eat while driving, if it impedes a driver’s capacity to have proper control over their vehicle, it constitutes an offence. The penalties can be hefty as well. Up to 20 penalty units, which equates to $2200.  Your fate rests with the discretion of the police officer who catches you. So your indicator stops working. What do you do?  Luckily s 50 of the Road Rules has you covered. And they’ve even got diagrams. If you want to turn right, stick your arm out of the driver’s window straight.  If you want to turn left, well the law doesn’t specify that, so you’re on your own with that one. The law can help out if your brake lights aren’t working under s 55.  Extend your arm out of the driver side window and place it at a right angle, keeping your elbow parallel to the base of the window.  Do note though, it is illegal to travel in a motor vehicle with any part of the person’s body outside a window or door under s 268(3), unless signalling to turn right or slow down (3)(b). That will also set you back up to $2200.  Just because you are driving past a bus passenger in your car does not give you the right to splash mud on them in New South Wales. Under s 291(3), a driver must slow down or stop their vehicle to prevent splashing mud on anyone getting on or off a bus.  It also covers passengers actually on the bus and those waiting at a bus stop.  Expect to pay up to $2200 for this offence.

Chery’s affordable electric SUV has been given a vital upgrade in Australia. Chery has announced its E5 small SUV will introduce a range of changes as part of its 2027 model year update. The E5 tackles other budget-friendly electric SUV choices the BYD Atto 3 and the sales-surging Jaecoo J5. The car will be shown off for the first time in Australia on September 18, 2026 at the Everything Electric event in Sydney. The new E5 will offer the same performance as its outgoing model, using a single electric motor that produces 155kW and 288Nm. It’s equipped with a 59kWh battery, offering a driving range of up to 430km, according to WLTP standards.  Inside, the E5 now boasts a 15.6-inch central touchscreen compared to the dual 12.3-inch touchscreen and driver display set-up on previous examples.  It retains an eight-speaker audio system as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.  Front seats feature four-way power lumbar support and seat ventilation, while the driver seat has massage functionality.  The car comes as standard with an auto-dimming mirror. From the outside, there is now an electrically-operated charging port cover, and active grille shutter, while the car continuing to ride on 18-inch wheels.  While there is no official showroom arrival date for the updated E5 yet, it is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2026. Chery said official pricing will be announced closer to the car’s local arrival, however, the current E5 line-up underwent a reshuffle earlier in 2026. In April 2026, Chery ditched the entry level variant of the E5, and cut the price of the remaining single variant down from $40,990, before on-road costs to $37,990, drive-away. Buyers can expect the E5 will remain pricier than its petrol- and hybrid-powered C5 siblings, starting from $28,990 and $31,990 (drive-away), respectively. It will need to be competitive with the the BYD Atto 3, starting from $41,990, before on-road costs and Jaecoo J5 EV that starts from $36,990, drive-away.