Articles by Tim Nicholson

Lexus might not be the obvious brand to launch a potent hot hatch/SUV, but that's precisely what it's done with the LBX Morizo RR. 

Does size matter? It’s an age-old question but when it comes to cars, it’s complicated.Most car reviews - rightly - will cover whether the model represents good value for money. That will usually include a focus on what is and isn’t included in the standard features list, the safety offering, quality of materials and more.Often this will include whether you get enough metal for your money. Is the car big enough for the price?My question is, should size factor into the value of a car? And how do you fairly determine value when each buyer has a different budget?I understand that everyone has different requirements when looking for a new car. A family of five will require more space than a family of two, or a single person, for example.But I would argue that size should not determine whether a car represents good or bad value for money.Again, I appreciate that many people will want as much car as they can get for their money, based on how they will use it. But surely things like overall vehicle quality, the drive experience and how the car makes you feel are just as important.Here’s an example. A Honda Civic e:HEV L costs $49,900 (drive-away). When compared with old foes like the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla, it is seen as being quite a lot of money for a small hatchback.For roughly the same price as the Civic, you could buy an entry grade large seven-seat SUV like a Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Isuzu MU-X, or a Toyota Kluger.But just because you can get a bigger car for the same price, should you?If you don’t need the space, then I say you shouldn’t. And not just for reasons like the environmental impact of large vehicles, or the sheer space it takes up on the road. Although those reasons are also valid.If a smaller car ticks other boxes including being fun to drive, that should be enough.Back to my example - the Honda Civic hybrid is an excellent car. I would argue it’s the best small passenger car (as in, not an SUV) on sale in Australia. It has excellent build quality, a solid standard features list, a handsome design, nicely executed interior and an exceptional and efficient powertrain.Something like that is a perfect car for me. And I don’t feel like I would be ripped off buying this instead of a larger car.Similarly, if someone has the means to buy a premium car instead of something from a mainstream brand, that’s fine. As Donna Meagle famously said in Parks and Recreation, “Treat yo’self!”Sure, a circa-$60,000 BMW 120 hatch may not have the same level of standard features as a higher grade Toyota Corolla or Mazda3 - which cost $20,000 less - but who cares?If you have your heart set on a premium car like a BMW and you’ve got the money for it, then it doesn’t matter if it’s missing a few features.Whether it’s the materials in the cabin, the way it drives or the feeling you get when driving a premium European car, a model like that often just feels more special.A couple of years back I lived with a Peugeot 308 Premium GT hatchback for four months. That specific grade at the time was priced at $48,990 before on-road costs. Again, there was a lot of commentary about that being a lot of money “for a small hatchback”.I am not suggesting it’s cheap - it clearly isn’t. But that is an excellent little car that made me smile every time I got behind the wheel. I would be happy - proud even - to own one.To reiterate, there is nothing wrong with trying to get as much car as possible for your budget. If you want as many standard features as you can possibly get for $40k, and you are less fussed about how the car drives or its perceived quality, terrific. And there’s no shortage of options, especially with the growing number of Chinese brands offering affordable models.But equally, no one should be shamed for spending big bucks on a car that isn’t the size of a boat, or if it doesn’t tick every single box on the standard features list.

If you thought there’s no way Australia could accommodate yet another Chinese brand, then think again. Because it looks like another one is getting ready to launch.One of Chery’s many sub-brands, iCar, is likely to hit Australian shores in the coming years.According to Autocar, iCar will launch in the UK in 2026, however it will be marketed as ‘iCaur’ outside of China given Apple owns the rights to ‘iCar’.Chery Australia is remaining quiet on the iCar brand for now, with a company spokesperson telling CarsGuide: “We’re certainly interested in the exciting product that was revealed at the Shanghai Motor Show. However, at this early stage there are no confirmed plans.”That exciting product is the iCar V23, a small, rugged, electric off-roader that looks like a shrunken Jeep Wrangler.The V23 is already on sale in China and it comes with a choice of three electric powerplants including a 100kW single-motor base grade with a 47.3kWh LFP battery and about 300km of range on the lenient CLTC cycle.Topping the range is a 155kW dual-motor powertrain with an 81.8kWh NMC battery and around 500km of range.Following the boxy V23 in the UK at least will be the larger V25 SUV that comes with a range-extender powertrain including a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine.Beyond that, Autocar said there is a small SUV in 2027 called the V21 that will be a Jeep Avenger rival, while a large V29 is also on the cards.If iCar comes to Australia it will add to the growing stable of Chery and its sub-brands. Currently the Chinese giant sells the Tiggo range of SUVs (Tiggo 4, 7 Pro and 8 Pro Max) as well as the Omoda 5 small SUV and related E5 EV.The latter two will shortly be spun off under the Omoda sub-brand which sits alongside the more premium Jaecoo brand. Jaecoo offers the J7 medium SUV and will soon add the J8.Chery has had a strong start to 2025 with 6057 sales to the end of March, representing a 217 per cent increase year on year.

There’s a lot of attention paid to the rise of Chinese auto brands in Australia and their ever-increasing market share.Brands like BYD, Chery, GWM, MG and newer marques like Deepal, Geely, JAC, Leapmotor and Zeekr have collectively taken a bite out of the sales of some long-standing brands.But it’s not all doom and gloom for the more established, non-Chinese makes. In fact, a number of them are performing quite well on the sales charts so far this year.However, it’s not mainstream legacy brands that are on the up. In fact, a lot of the top-10 brands are treading water.With the exception of Fiat Professional, whose sales are up by 120 per cent this year, all of the other brands experiencing strong growth in 2025 are exotic, premium or semi-premium offerings.One of the semi-premium brands doing well in 2025 is Cupra. Volkswagen Group’s Spanish performance specialist has seen its overall sales shoot up by 35 per cent so far in 2025 after a slower 2024.While a couple of its models - the ageing Ateca SUV and the Leon small hatchback - have gone backwards on the sales charts, the striking Formentor SUV has increased by 54.8 per cent in 2025. At 469 sales so far, it’s not a massive number but it represents a big uptick for a newish name.The Born EV is also up this year by 24.2 per cent, while the only just arrived Tavascan electric SUV is expected to further boost Cupra’s sales thanks to keen pricing and sharp design. Facelifted versions of the Leon and Formentor arriving this year should only help Cupra’s upward trajectory.Mini is another semi-premium brand having an excellent 2025. The BMW-owned marque’s sales are up by 69.4 per cent so far (1394 versus 823 units). And it’s largely thanks to one model.The new-gen Countryman SUV has proven to be a massive hit, recording 553 sales which equates to a 369 per cent increase on Q1 last year. As well as enjoying positive media reviews, buyers have clearly warmed to the new Countryman’s more family-friendly dimensions, new tech and the option of petrol and fully-electric powertrains.Of course the Cooper hatch remains the brand’s top seller, with petrol and electric versions combining for a total of 634 sales, up 29.7 per cent.It might not be a premium brand in its US home market, but in Australia, Chevrolet takes a more upscale position as it only sells high-end, full-size pick-ups and sports cars.That strategy is clearly working because Chevrolet sales are up by 12.8 per cent so far in 2025, on the back of interest in the Corvette sports car. Z06 sales are up 250 per cent and the Stingray has increased by 50 per cent. The Silverado 1500 truck is the biggest seller with 627 sold in 2025, up by 14.4 per cent.Two of Australia’s most popular premium brands are also having a good year - Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.What’s interesting about Lexus is that its growth is mostly down to the compact LBX SUV. The little crossover has recorded a massive 353 per cent increase on its Q1 2024 tally with 598 sales.The LBX is easily outselling its slightly larger UX sibling and is just ahead of the aforementioned Cupra Forementor (469 sales) and Mini Countryman (553), but trailing the Audi Q3 (676) in the premium small SUV segment.The Toyota Prado-based GX large SUV is Lexus’ other solid performer with 285 sales.Mercedes is having an exceptional start to the year with a 31 per cent boost thanks to big sales increases on a number of its model lines.Key models having a good year include the E-Class (+223 per cent) and S-Class (+300 per cent) sedans, GLA (+139.2 per cent), GLC (+82.5 per cent) and GLS (+72.6 per cent) SUVs and EVs like the EQB (+270 per cent).Despite double-digit sales drops for most of its Range Rover models - Range Rover, Evoque and Velar - Land Rover has seen strong interest in the Defender (+61.2 per cent) and the Discovery Sport (+57 per cent) for a Q1 boost of 13 per cent.As is often the case in harsh economic times, the top end of town is sailing through unaffected. That is evident in sales of exotic brands in Australia, which are largely in positive territory.Rolls-Royce may have small volumes, but sales are up by 111 per cent this year, while sports car brands like Aston Martin (+34.1 per cent), Ferrari (+7.4 per cent), Lamborghini (+78.3 per cent) and McLaren (+100 per cent) are all well in front of the year prior.

Chinese commercial vehicle brand LDV is being taken to court by Australia’s competition and consumer watchdog over claims its cars are not reliable or tough.The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) today issued a media release detailing its claims against LDV which is distributed in Australia through private importer, Ateco Automotive.The importer has responded, saying it has tried to work with the ACCC and that the legal actions are “disappointing”.The claims relate to the T60 pick-up (but not the electric eT60) and G10 mid-size delivery vans built in China.The ACCC says between April 2019 and November 2024, LDV made “misleading representations” to consumers about the two models, with the company claiming they were “durable and tough, and that they were suitable for use in, near, or on, a variety of environments and off-road terrains”.The ACCC alleges in its claim that the two models are prone to rust or corrosion within five years of the date of manufacture and that as a result, the T60 and G10 were “not durable and tough”.It’s alleged the models are more likely to rust when they are housed near or on particular terrains and environments.According to the ACCC, LDV advertised the G10 and T60 online, on television, radio and social media in environments like beaches, lakes, rivers, unsealed and gravel roads and terrain.The ACCC also alleges “false or misleading representations” by LDV in advertising a 10-year anti-corrosion warranty for the T60, given the ute did have a propensity to rust or corrode.Further, the ACCC alleges LDV was aware of the T60 and G10 rust and corrosion issues by April 2019 and that LDV’s representations of the models were false or misleading as the brand didn’t have a basis to make such representations.LDV received more than 5000 complaints from G10 and T60 customers about rust or corrosion between January 2018 and November 2024.ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said a new car is a “significant financial purchase” and buyers should expect the product to live up to its advertised promise.“We allege that despite being aware of the propensity for the vehicles to rust, LDV continued to make representations for a number of years that the T60 and G10 vehicles were durable and suitable for use in a variety of terrains,” Cass-Gottlieb said.“As a result, we allege that LDV’s conduct is likely to have caused harm to affected consumers, including because the propensity for rust or corrosion lowered the value of their vehicles, and because consumers lost the opportunity to make an informed decision that may have involved purchasing an alternative vehicle that did not carry the same risks.”In a statement, LDV Australia said it acknowledged the announcement by the ACCC.LDV Australia General Manager Dinesh Chinnappa said the company would defend itself against the allegations.“For 18 months LDV Australia has been engaged in good faith discussions with the Commission in an attempt to resolve its concerns, and to provide remedies to consumers. It is disappointing this process has ended in these legal proceedings.“LDV Australia takes its obligations under Australian Consumer Law seriously, and we look forward to defending the ACCC’s allegations in court.”According to the ACCC, LDV has sold a combined total of 60,000 examples of the G10 and T60 in Australia between 2018 and 2024.The ACCC is seeking “penalties, declarations, consumer redress, costs and other orders”.

MG might have only been a popular mainstream brand for a few years, but the bullish carmaker is intent on being a top-three brand in Australia quite soon.

Behold, Australia’s most expensive Toyota!

Nissan Australia has finally given its ageing Y62 Patrol the update fans have been asking for for years.The big V8-powered off-roader finally gains the interior update that was rolled out in its key market, the Middle East, back in 2021.Aussie buyers have been forced to wait four long years for this upgrade to land.Nissan did add a much-needed 10.1 inch touchscreen to the Patrol a year ago, but that was essentially a head unit replacement that Nissan developed with local company Directed Technologies to bring to the model.This latest interior upgrade will roll out to the regular Patrol Ti and Ti-L, as well as the hardcore Premcar-tuned Patrol Warrior.It’s likely to be the final major update before the arrival of the highly anticipated Y63 Patrol in late 2026.So what does the 2025 Nissan Patrol update usher in?The SUV gets a redesigned centre console and centre stack and the headline feature is a new 12.3-inch digital multimedia display that now sits at the top of the dash.This new screen includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and you can access the menu via buttons on the steering wheel or controls near the screen itself.The new tech helps to modernise the interior of the Y62 Patrol which has been on sale globally since 2010, and Australia since early 2013.It also gains a wireless device charger, a new 7.0-inch digital driver display showing speed, efficiency and nav instructions as well as the Patrol’s 'Off-Road Monitor'.The trim has been given a refresh, too, with the option of a more minimalist black leather-accented layout, or what Nissan describes as a more premium chestnut treatment, featuring woodgrain flourishes on the dash and door and quilted leather-accented seats.Stepping up into the pricier Patrol Ti-L will net you a 13-speaker Bose audio system, a digital rear view mirror and a cooled centre console box.The Patrol Warrior gets all of the cabin updates and also gains black side steps.Nissan has trimmed down the colour palette for the 2025 Patrol but a new ‘Desert Red Metallic’ joins ‘Gun Metallic’, ‘Moonstone White’, ‘Brilliant Silver’ and ‘Black Obsidian’.Pricing has only increased marginally, with the Patrol Ti up by $1340 to $90,600, before on-road costs, while the Ti-L has only risen by $140 to $102,100.The off-road-focused Patrol Warrior is also only up by $140 to $105,660, BOC.In contrast, its Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series rival ranges in price from $96,991 all the way up to $145,791.The Patrol continues to be offered with Nissan’s big 298kW/560Nm Petrol V8 driving all four wheels via a seven-speed auto transmission. It’s also available with Nissan’s new 10-year/300,000km warranty which is conditional on the vehicle only being serviced by authorised Nissan dealers.Nissan is experiencing strong sales for Patrol towards the end of the current model’s life, with 1853 units finding homes to the end of March this year, which is ahead of the LandCruiser’s haul of 904 units.

Mazda seems back on track in 2025 for a bumper sales year.

The world's most popular nameplate is still Australia's most popular small passenger car. The current-generation Toyota Corolla hatchback is getting on now, but is it still a solid offering in a sea of small SUVs?