Articles by Tim Nicholson

The brutally powerful all-electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class has made its Australian debut and it comes with quite the price-tag.Called the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, the charged-up beast will set you back a cool $249,900 before on-road costs, while the limited-run Edition One is $299,900.That opening price puts it right up there in Benz’s catalogue, but it’s still not the German brand’s priciest SUV - that title is held by the Mercedes-Maybach EQS680 which is $327,990. The electric Geländewagen sits somewhere between the regular EQS450 SUV ($195,900) and the Maybach version.In terms of rivals, there really are none for the G-Class, but even more so for the electric version. You could look at other high-end electric SUVs like the Lotus Eletre which is $279,990 for the R version. Or something with a combustion engine, like the V8-powered Land Rover Defender Octa ($291,542).But the electric G-Class is more than its price tag. It packs quite the punch from its all-electric powertrain - the first time in the model’s 45-year history it’s been powered by electricity.Maintaining its ladder-frame underpinnings, the G580 features four individually controlled motors located near the wheels, all powered by a 116kWh lithium-ion battery delivering a WLTP range of around 473km.Combined outputs for the big Benz are 432kW of power and 1164Nm of torque.Mercedes says the 0-100km/h acceleration time is 4.7 seconds, before hitting an electronically limited top speed of 180km/h.The 400-volt system allows for a charge from 10 to 80 per cent battery capacity in about 32 minutes on a fast charger. The official energy consumption figure is 30.3kWh/100km.Given the off-road chops of the G-Class, Benz says the G580 can still “confidently traverse 45-degree slopes and drive along 35-degree angles”, and it has virtual diff locks generated via torque vectoring.There are various driving modes from ‘Comfort’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Individual’ for driving on regular roads, to ‘Trail’ and ‘Rock’ for off-road driving adventures.One of the G580’s tricks is the G-Turn function, which is when the wheels on either side of the vehicle spin in opposite directions, and that in turn makes the G580 do a full 360-degree turn on the spot, but Benz says this should only be activated on loose or unpaved surfaces off-road.A G-Steering function helps manoeuvre in tight spots with the wheels turning at different speeds, which causes slight oversteer and ensures a much smaller turning circle.Despite retaining the regular G-Class’s retro cool ‘block-of-flats’ design, Benz has added some touches to aid aerodynamics, like vents in the flares over the rear wheel arches, a small roof spoiler and more.Inside it gets the full MBUX multimedia setup including all-digital displays and a new Offroad Cockpit function. It also gets a ‘transparent bonnet’, which uses cameras to show a few under the front of the car during off-roading.It wouldn’t be a Benz without numerous options and options packs and they include a Night Package, Superior Line Interior Plus Package and a Manufaktur Exterior Package.The Edition One grade is based on the AMG line and gets blue calipers, different paint, and more high end interior materials exclusive to the grade.

Another plug-in hybrid family SUV has entered the market in Australia, but it has a familiar face. The GWM Haval H6 GT has been around for a few years already, but does a PHEV powertrain help or hinder the Chinese coupe-style SUV?

If you’re keen on a hybrid from an established brand but want something other than a Toyota, there might be a few more options on the horizon soon, with Kia set to ramp up its plug-in hybrid offerings.

The Kia Cerato is no more. Welcome to the Kia line-up, the new K4.It is bigger than the Cerato in almost every dimension and has a bigger cabin as well as a sleek new exterior design. From launch the only body style is the sedan, but a hatchback is coming before the end of 2025. It’s also petrol power only for now but expect a hybrid soon.Compared with the Cerato GT, pricing has increased by more than $6100, but Kia says the uptick in price can be put down to an increase in in-car and safety tech, greater levels of refinement and more.The GT-Line uses a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit, matched with an eight-speed torque converter auto. With power and torque outputs of 142kW and 264Nm, it is down slightly compared with the outgoing Cerato GT’s 150kW/265Nm figures, but the K4 GT-Line is no full-fat GT. As a result, fuel consumption on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle is down by 0.2L to 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres.As the flagship grade, the GT-Line gains the most standard gear and on top of everything that’s included on the Sport+, you get a premium Harman Kardon eight-speaker audio system, a three-spoke premium steering wheel, artificial leather seats, eight-way power driver’s seat, paddle shifters, ambient lighting, heated steering wheel and a wireless charging pad.You also get a more premium interior with two-tone synthetic leather, a two-tone three-spoke GT-Line steering wheel and more soft-touch materials.

The Kia K4 has officially replaced the popular Cerato as Kia’s small car offering, but this model is bigger than its predecessor and many of its rivals that include the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3.From launch the only body style is the sedan, but a hatchback is coming before the end of 2025. It’s also petrol power only for now but expect a hybrid soon.Pricing for the Sport+ has increased by more than $5300 over the equivalent Cerato grade, but Kia says the uptick in price can be put down to an increase in in-car and safety tech, greater levels of refinement and more.The Sport is powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine offering up power and torque of 112kW/192Nm. This drives the front wheels via a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission.The carryover 2.0-litre unit consumes 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle and emits 167g/km of CO2.The Sport+ is the best equipped 2.0L K4 grade and over and above the Sport it comes standard with heated front seats, a passenger side rear map pocket, illuminated glove box, soft-touch door panels, auto-dimming rear view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, synthetic leather seats and 17-inch alloys.

One of the most affordable small SUVs on the market will benefit from another major facelift. The Kia Stonic went on sale in many markets in late 2017, but didn’t land on Australian shores until early 2021.

The Kia Cerato-replacing K4 is bigger and bolder than its predecessor and comes to market with a lot more standard gear and safety equipment.From launch the only body style is the sedan, but a hatchback is coming before the end of 2025. It’s also petrol power only for now but expect a hybrid soon.Pricing for the Sport has increased by more than $6000 over the equivalent Cerato grade, but Kia says the uptick in price can be put down to an increase in in-car and safety tech, greater levels of refinement and more.The Sport is powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine offering up power and torque of 112kW/192Nm. This drives the front wheels via a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission.The carryover 2.0-litre unit consumes 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle and emits 167g/km of CO2.The K4 comes with a lengthy safety features list across all grades, including auto emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control (with stop & go functionality), lane keep assist, lane follow assist, multi-collision braking, ‘Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist’, driver attention warning, ‘Intelligent Speed Limit Assist’, a front centre airbag and more.

The Kia K4 replaces the long-running Cerato and the new model has increased in size to the point that it’s straddling small and mid-size car dimensions.From launch the only body style is the sedan, but a hatchback is coming before the end of 2025. It’s also petrol power only for now but expect a hybrid soon.Kicking off the range is the base S, which has gone up in price by more than $3500. Kia says the uptick in price can be put down to an increase in in-car and safety tech, greater levels of refinement and more.The S is powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine offering up power and torque of 112kW/192Nm. This drives the front wheels via a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission.The carryover 2.0-litre unit consumes 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle and emits 167g/km of CO2.Standard gear in the S includes a 4.0-inch LCD driver’s instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch multimedia screen, over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, rear-seat air vents and USB-C ports, digital radio, customisable driver profiles and manual air conditioning.You can opt for a 'Safety Pack' ($2100) that adds a 12.3-inch instrument display, a 5.0-inch air con display, dual-zone climate control and an expanded AEB system with junction turning and crossing and direct/oncoming lane change detection.

The Cerato became a huge hit for Kia in Australia with more than 200,000 sold over 20 years. But Kia is replacing it with a new global small car, dubbed the K4. It is larger than the Cerato, and gets a big uptick in in-car and safety tech. Not to mention the radical redesign. But can it divert attention away from the still popular Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla?

If you are keen on buying a Kia Cerato, you’d better get your skates on because the ageing small hatch and sedan range is just weeks from selling out.Kia has just replaced the long-running Cerato with the new K4, adopting a new global nameplate for its small passenger car range.That model is rolling into dealerships right now and instead of being produced in Korea like the Cerarto, and most of Kia’s other models, the K4 hails from the carmaker’s Mexican facility.Kia Australia said K4s are being shipped from Mexico to South Korea then onto Australia. That trip takes approximately a month.The K4 ushers in a new design inside and out, an updated platform, tweaked ride and handling, fresh multimedia and safety tech and an uptick in standard gear over the Cerato. But it also comes with a price increase of between $3530 and $6130 compared with equivalent Cerato grades.As the K4 starts to enter showrooms, Kia Australia Chief Operating Officer Dennis Piccoli said the Korean carmaker has “about six weeks worth” of Cerato stock remaining in Australia.“We expect to have a full suite of cars in market by February 1, across the country, not withstanding the issues that have occurred with logistics across the eastern seaboard, particularly Brisbane and Sydney.”He’s referring to strikes at the docks that have impacted deliveries of vehicles from multiple brands.The Kia website is showing drive-away deals on the outgoing Cerato S of $28,790, or the GT from $39,290.Piccoli says the new K4 small car probably won’t reach the sales highs of its Cerato predecessor, at least for this year.The ageing Cerato clocked up an impressive 15,502 sales in 2024, its final full year of sales. Piccoli said, given only the K4 sedan is on sale now with the hatch arriving later in 2025, the new model will have a “slower start”.“But then when we come through with the hatch in quarter four, we think that we will probably round out around 9000 cars - eight to 9000 cars.”As well as the hatch, expect a hybrid version to land soon — although Kia Australia refused to confirm it just yet — as the brand grapples with the NVES (New Vehicle Efficiency Standards) legislation.The K4 is yet to be tested by ANCAP for crash safety, but Kia Australia’s General Manager of Product Planning Roland Rivero said he is hopeful of a maximum five-star rating, “but the goal, or the target, is four/five.”That rating should be revealed in the next two months. There is some concern, however, given the K4’s mechanical cousin — the Hyundai i30 Sedan — only achieved a three-star rating late last year. It lost marks in the assessment areas of Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist assessment areas.With the new K4, the GT-Line replaces the Cerato GT hot hatch and sedan as the range flagship, but the GT-Line lacks the performance bite of the GT.“The GT versus GT-Line is really a global branding position, and in effect, with the likes of EV6 GT and even Stinger GT, before, to earn the GT badge required some serious performance,” explained Rivero.He said the GT-Line, however, was benchmarked for ride and handling against impressive rivals including the Honda Civic hybrid and the Volkswagen Golf R-Line.And if you are hanging out for a K4 performance grade, don’t hold your breath.“There's no plans for a GT at this stage,” Rivero confirmed.