Articles by Tom White

In what seems to be an obvious end-game as part of its team-up with Leapmotor, Stellantis could be set to lean on its Chinese partner for hybrid technology to bolster its other brands in Europe.Ultimately, according to a new report from Autocar, this will mean the range extender hybrid tech from Leapmotor’s C10 and B10 will be deployed in at least Peugeots and Fiats.Autocar quotes Leapmotor’s international CEO Tianshu Xin as saying the company is “exploring the possibilities” to use range extender hybrid tech in other Stellantis brands, as part of the group finding “synergies by using each other's technology.”The international boss also earmarked future platform sharing as the direction in which the partnership was moving.Stelllantis, which was born from a merger between the America-focused Fiat Chrysler and Euro-focused PSA Group, has had a disparate array of products built for an array of different markets on a range of platforms which didn’t start out with a lot of commonality between them.The brands under the group include Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram and Vauxhall.While this initially made it challenging for the group, it has gradually begun to rationalize its platforms into a handful to be used across its global range. For passenger cars this includes the 'STLA' small, medium, and large architecture, 4x4s and utes ride on the SLTA Frame platform.Leapmotor, which is 19.99 per cent owned by Stellantis, uses a separate 'LEAP' architecture for its vehicles, developed separately from Stellantis in China. Leapmotor is now also building cars in EuropeMr Xin’s comments on future platform sharing seems to indicate there could be future cars from European brands on the LEAP platform, or future Leapmotor cars underpinned by an STLA platform.Either way, Leapmotor’s range-extender hybrid technology solves a problem for Stellantis in rolling out a consistent range of hybrids in emissions-sensitive markets, or potentially even for the American market where EVs are floundering thanks to the removal of incentives.For Australia, it could lead to a range of appealing range-extender hybrids wearing a wider array of badges, whether they are Fiats, Peugeots or even Jeeps.Jeep in particular is embattled in Australia, down a whopping 33.3 per cent until the end of 2025, moving just 1585 units for the year. Its range of products has been cut down significantly, with the brand discontinuing the new-generation (and significantly more expensive) Grand Cherokee after a slow sales run.This strips its range down to just the Wrangler off-roader and its related Gladiator ute, as well as the Euro-sourced Avenger electric compact SUV and outgoing previous-generation Compass mid-sizer.Peugeot is also embattled in Australia, having taken a 28.8 per cent sales hit over the course of 2025. It moved just 1350 units for the year, as it faces stiff competition from rivals new and old.Even Leapmotor’s fledgling effort in the Australian market has struggled to find traction. The brand offered the mid-size C10 in both EV and range-extender hybrid forms, and yet managed to sell 644 new vehicles over the course of the year.In comparison, its most direct rival, Geely and its EX-5 and Starray EM-i hybrid spin-off, moved over 5000 units in the same period.Next for Leapmotor’s Australian efforts is its B10 small SUV, initially in electric and later hybrid form. Internationally, the brand has also debuted the C16 large SUV and A10 crossover in China, as well as the B05 Golf-sized hatchback in Europe.

Mazda has pushed back its in-house EV plans to 2029 as it focuses development of its incoming in-house hybrid drivetrain, according to a new report.Mazda had planned to launch its next-generation Japanese-developed electric car in 2027, but had pushed back to 2028 and now 2029. According to industry source Automotive News this is because hybrid demand is booming in the US, while electric vehicle incentives are being removed.The outlet quoted Mazda’s CEO Masahiro Moro as saying the brand expects EV sales now to only account for 25 per cent or less of its global sales due to changing market forces, particularly in the US.This revises Mazda’s original expectations of 25 - 40 per cent of global volume to be fully electric by 2030.However, while a significant portion of the brand's sales remain in North America and Japan, a significant portion remains in markets like Europe and Australia. Australia is the third largest market by volume for Mazda globally, after the US and Japan, forcing the brand to adapt to our conditions.This means sourcing more low emissions vehicles in the interim to comply with our Euro-inspired New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). This recently-introduced regulation tightens the vice on carbon emissions based on manufacturer’s vehicle sales, under threat of fines for every unit sold which pushes them over a pre-defined CO2 limit.Mazda is one of the most exposed brands in Australia currently. It offers only a limited array of hybrid models, with the majority of its sales still being pure combustion vehicles, like the ever-popular CX-5.A next-generation CX-5 is due, although it will continue on with a petrol engine until the hybrid variant launches in 2027. Unlike the hybrid Mazda CX-50 available in America, which borrows its hybrid tech from Toyota, the new CX-5 will use an in-house Mazda-developed hybrid system the brand calls SkyActiv-Z.In the interim, Mazda has confirmed it will sell the China-built fully electric 6e sedan and CX-6e, both are platform-shares with Changan’s Deepal brand. The brand has earmarked even more models to potentially spawn from this tie-up.Potentially this could include a Mazda take on Deepal’s S09 over-five-meter-long large SUV, or a small SUV based on the more compact S05, which would sit beneath the CX-6e to compete with the likes of MG’s S5.In another potential blow to Mazda in Australia, there are also fresh reports out of Japan that its two entry-level models, the Mazda 2 and CX-3, will cease production over the course of 2026.While these two cars are the oldest models in Mazda’s line-up, they continue to sell well in Australia thanks to regular updates. The removal of these accessible models plus the delay on a hybrid CX-5 could see Mazda tumble down the sales charts in 2026, making the roll-out of its Chinese-built models ever more important. However, Japanese media are also reporting a small car successor is due based on the Vision-X compact car shown at Tokyo Motor Show in 2025. The model will reportedly be built in Thailand as part of a push by Mazda to make the country a new export hub. Again, if this model does come to Australia, it could be as far out as 2028, making Mazda’s short term outlook for 2026 and 2027 more challenging.Mazda has told CarsGuide in 2024 its order of priorities are the new CX-5, its hybrid version, and then “small architecture cars.”Stay tuned for more on Mazda’s plans for 2026 as it faces a rapidly changing new car market. In particular it will need to fend off an aggressive new model strategy from an ambitious BYD, which is plotting a top-three market position by the end of the year.

GWM has teased its upcoming flagship SUV, which, at well over five meters long, will be one of the largest vehicles in its line-up.It’s a three-row SUV to compete in the same size-bracket as the Hyundai Palisade or Kia EV9, and appears to show a boxier and more refined design language.The SUV seems most likely to live either under the Haval SUV brand or the Wey premium brand, which is yet to debut in Australia.The incoming vehicle will be the debut product for the brand’s next-generation platform, dubbed GWM One.This platform is designed to support internal combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fully electric and hydrogen fuel-cell power. It also has the flexibility to be single-axle or all-wheel drive and support several different form factors.The platform will also support an 800-volt architecture, with the new SUV using a 2.0-litre turbocharged plug-in hybrid set-up, according to presentation slides shown by GWM at an event in China. Its electric motor looks to have a peak output of 270kW.The brand also said it will achieve up to 363km in fully electric mode, or up to 1393km in combined mode, according to the more lenient WLTC cycle. In addition, it will consume 6.3L/100km when the battery is drained, and is said to sprint from 0-100km/h in as low as 4.4 seconds.Of the other powertrains this platform will support, the brand said it would even be launching both a plugless hybrid and a diesel hybrid, which is a not-often explored technology.Diesel hybrid tech seems to be a new direction some Chinese manufacturers are investigating, with Chery’s upcoming dual-cab ute also plotting a diesel hybrid variant for superior off-road and heavy duty performance as well as low emissions and fuel consumption.Other features of the platform include more “AI-enabled” software features, which reportedly take in various powertrain, chassis, and driver assistance data to optimise vehicle performance.In addition the brand is plotting its future product range on this platform to have a high level of parts commonality for a higher parts commonality and lower assembly cost.GWM is on a winning streak locally, after fighting its way to the top of the pile of local Chinese brands. In 2025, it placed seventh on the charts of Australia’s favourite automakers, placing behind Mitsubishi. In 2026 it will face a tough challenge from BYD, which placed just behind it last year, in eighth position.To hold its position GWM will be launching its Wey premium brand with its Wey 80 people mover, opening the door to its range of premium plug-in hybrids available overseas. It will also update and expand on its range of Ora electric vehicles, and don’t be surprised to see deeper upgrades across its Haval range of SUVs, too.In addition, the brand has made no secret of its plans to top out its Tank range with something like the Tank 700 PHEV, although it might not be until an update is due in 2027.GWM's flagship SUV offering looks to face tough competition with its rivals, with BYD plotting a similar range-topper, and Zeekr has also already revealed its luxurious hybrid 9X.

Ford might be the most exposed to the changed auto landscape forced by Australia’s tough new emissions laws.The Blue Oval is the number two brand in Australia thanks to impressive sales of its Ranger ute and Everest 4x4 SUV, and more than 90 per cent of its sales are turbo diesels.To make matters worse for Ford, the brand has globally discontinued the smaller but strong-selling 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel, making the higher-emitting new 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 likely to be the brand’s best seller going forward.Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) places fines on brands that sell too many vehicles above a C02 limit.Ford’s Australian Marketing Director Ambrose Henderson explained how Ford is being driven by customer demand rather than emissions limitations going forward, as it doubles down on its top-selling internal combustion powered models.“When we look at a vehicle and our business, and the decision on whether we bring that vehicle or not, of course NVES is an ingredient to that. But, it’s only one factor in a really broad range of things we assess and we need to work with,” he explained.“There’s exchange rates and material costs and labor rates and all sorts of things around the world which impact the business case for a vehicle.“What it comes down to is what do customers want? What do they actually need? If you don’t deliver on that then it doesn’t matter what equation you come up with, you can’t sell it. So it has to be about that."Henderson said one of Ford’s unique advantages in Australia is its local division, which remains substantial even in the era of post-local manufacturing.“We’re the largest automotive employer in Australia and we have our designers and engineers right here in Melbourne, more than 1500 of them, who design and engineer Ranger and Everest for the world - and they’re seeing success around the world.”“We understand Australian customers, Australian roads and Australian environments and that’s allowed us to achieve that success.”Henderson said the plan to transition to more emissions-friendly models would continue to be driven by buyers, and said Ford thinks there are limitations with electrified technologies in Australia.“We’ll obviously transition over time as our customers are able to get the capability and the experience out of the cars that they’re really looking for.”“We have the broadest range of powertrains available in the ute segment out of any other brand - we have a four-cylinder diesel, a six-cylinder diesel, the performance petrol engine in the Raptor and the hybrid powertrain available in Ranger PHEV. We’ve done that specifically to provide the choice and those options that our customers are actually seeking,” he said.What would really help Ford in the short term is a better performing pure electric model.The brand’s Mustang Mach-E continues to struggle on the sales charts, moving just 483 units in the last year.“If you think about where Ford does really well - providing that capability to travel around Australia and provide the ability to do those kinds of 4x4 activities - for those types of applications there still needs to be more investment from an infrastructure point of view to make those things more viable.”The brand’s success in the 4x4 market could be its downfall in the long run. The Everest remains the top-selling large SUV, and is diesel only, with no PHEV model to be seen yet. The Ranger PHEV is noticeably limited on the EV range front compared to its primary rivals the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and smash-hit BYD Shark 6.At least one relief for Ford executives is the Ranger Super Duty, which is in a category above the usual ute crop, and is immune from being counted against the brand's C02 total for the year.It could be the emissions-forward knowledge from China, which helps Ford in the short-term, as it’s hard to see any emissions-friendly models from its European range landing a knock-out blow in any segment in Australia.Sources have told CarsGuide Ford will bring a Chinese-built version of the Bronco monocoque SUV to Australia, offering the brand a blocky off-road styled mid-sized SUV right in a popular sales segment the brand needs to bring its fleet average down.The Chinese Bronco adopts the trendy blocky styling of the rest of the Bronco range, whilst offering either fully electric or range-extender hybrid powertrains, both of which could serve to carve chunks out of Ford’s local emissions footprint.When again asked about models like the Bronco from the brand’s Chinese line-up, Henderson had nothing to add to comments made to CarsGuide earlier about the model.“We’re always evaluating what we’ve got in the global portfolio,” he said. We have nothing to announce for today, but we’ll continue to assess that.”

Chinese giant Dongfeng, which has joint-venture projects with Nissan and Honda, has announced it is entering late-stage trials for a new solid state battery, which it predicts will be in a production car by 2027.The brand says its new battery will grant electric cars a range of 1000 kilometres, and has established a limited production line for its new technology.Solid state batteries are still seen as the holy grail of electric car technology, promising to unlock massive driving range thanks to higher energy density, ultra-fast charging times, the ability to deal with temperature extremes and a safer, longer service life.The brand’s latest testing was for batteries with a 350Wh/kg density (current battery technology ranges from 180 - 300Wh/kg) in extreme cold, and the brand claims its testing sees the batteries maintain 72 per cent of their energy capacity at temperatures as high as 170 degrees celsius.Its next round of testing will see the batteries subjected to real-world conditions in the far north of China in temperatures as low as -40 degrees.The brand is aiming energy densities as high as 500Wh/kg, which would make them twice as dense as some EV batteries currently on the market. It also showcased an ultra fast charging 1200-volt electric platform concept, which is said to add 2.5km of range when charging every second.This will require a 2MW charger, which is unbelievable in Australia but much closer to reality in the Chinese domestic market where 1MW chargers already exist.Currently the fastest EV chargers in Australia are around 350kW, and even these are limited by high costs to install and rely on the local power grid being able to support such outputs.Dongfeng plans to put these new solid-state batteries in pre-production cars before the end of 2026, with a production run expected by 2027.The batteries are likely to debut in a vehicle from Dongfeng’s Yipai brand (styled eπ). The passenger sedans from the brand share their Tianyan platform with the Nissan N7, which has shot to relative popularity for the brand in its Chinese home market.Nissan also partners with Dongfeng to make the NX8 large SUV and the much-hyped Frontier Pro dual-cab plug-in hybrid ute, which many see as Nissan’s potential answer to the BYD Shark 6.Dongfeng is not the only brand that claims to be close to cracking the solid state battery code. MG is fitting semi-solid state batteries in its IM luxury cars and even its upcoming re-worked MG4. The brand has said the tech isn’t set for an Australian launch imminently, as it was still a work in progress for markets outside of China.China-based CATL is the world's biggest electric car battery maker and only expects to have small scale production of solid state batteries in 2027. It told Chinese media late in 2025 that large scale production is still as far away as 2030.Even Toyota is working on solid state, which it says will solve a lot of electric car problems in “a single stroke”. The Japanese giant has cast doubt on whether the technology will eventuate in the way we expect, with the brand’s Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima saying “development is always unpredictable. Franky, there’s no telling if it will work out or not”.Toyota’s aim was to have solid state technology in cars by 2027, while its rivals over in Europe have also been making progress, with prototypes being tested in some vehicles in the BMW and Mercedes-Benz line-ups.

The mainstream mid-size SUV segment is one of the most hotly contested in the Australian market, as the prevailing family car of choice for so many.We’re truly spoilt for choice, with options available at many price points, and with the choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric, as well as from both old favourite brands and new challengers.While this has generally been a boon for buyers, it has also made this congested segment more difficult to shop in than ever before, so as part of our ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, we’ve distilled a top-10 shortlist of our highest-rated Medium SUVs starting under $60K.Our top three and winner will be announced on February 6, but you can see the alphabetically ordered shortlist below.The Cupra Terramar serves as the Spanish brand’s take on the Volkswagen Tiguan formula - a true mid-size SUV, although it offers a truly sporty take over the Tiguan’s more wide appeal.Priced from $53,990, it’s a surprising value player considering its sporty look and feel, although if you want the full performance on offer, you’ll have to spend north of the $70K mark to get the spicy VZ version.Still Cupra continues to impress us with its edgy designs and impressive driving dynamics compared to its other Volkswagen Group relations.Perhaps a candidate for the most improved model on sale in Australia, the new GWM Haval H6 moves up in the world from simply a value player to a more impressive mainstream offering.Packed with standard kit and tweaked across the board when it comes to drivability and tuning, this Chinese rival takes more direct aim at the segment-leading Toyota RAV4 than ever before.Available as a 2.0-litre turbo as well as a 1.5-litre hybrid in plugless or plug-in form, it also covers the gamut of powertrain options Aussie buyers are looking for.While the sharply-priced Lux is impressive value, the plugless hybrids are the pick of the range with their trim fuel efficiency and smooth electrified transmission.One of the original nameplates which kicked-off the mid-size SUV segment altogether, the CR-V continues to this day to be a stellar offering in the segment, with Honda as always doing an impressive job of moving with the times.The CR-V is also one of the better value options in Honda’s current range, priced much closer to its rivals than the HR-V or ZR-V which sit below it.Again, the pick of the range is the e:HEV hybrid, although you’ll have to fork out for the pleasure with the hybrid powertrain still only sitting atop the mid-sizer’s range, priced at $59,900 drive-away.While it exudes quality like other Honda models, it also isn’t as efficient as some of its rivals, and doesn’t offer a plug-in or all-wheel drive in its hybrid form.Another impressive car from Honda, the ZR-V is a right-sized SUV to fill the increasingly large gap between the ever-growing CR-V and the still diminutive HR-V below.Again sporting the same Honda characteristics of great build quality, sharp driving dynamics and a practical interior space, with a smaller overall footprint than some of its rivals the ZR-V should be on any buyers shortlist.However, while it is marginally more affordable than its CR-V sibling, the ZR-V suffers from the same problem of only offering the sleek and efficient hybrid system on only its top-spec LX variant, eliminating savings from its fuel sipping powertrain via a much higher starting price ($54,900 before on-roads).Hyundai’s current-generation Tucson now has a few years behind it, but continues to be a strong seller thanks to gradual updates and price tweaks which keeps it high on the consideration list alongside its Kia Sportage sister vehicle and the segment-leading Toyota RAV4.Now strongest-selling as a fuel-sipping hybrid, the Tucson continues to be offered in a range of variants at many different price-points, with both front- and all-wheel drive options.The latest major updates synced the mid-sizer up with the rest of Hyundai’s range in offering a new interior design approach with fresh software, and even an array of buttons and dials for climate and volume controls we always like to see.Nissan has been embattled by rivals in recent years, but its ever-improving X-Trail continues to deserve a look-in as possibly the brand’s most competitive current offering.Spacious, modern, offered with up to seven seats, and with an innovative electric-first e-Power hybrid option, the X-Trail has a lot to offer buyers as a rival specifically to the RAV4 or Honda CR-V.Plus, it gets ergonomic fundamentals right, as well as a good level of refinement and a solid array of well-calibrated safety kit to keep newcomers at bay.Czech brand Skoda, as always, flies under the radar, and the Elroq is certainly worth your consideration thanks to a myriad of factors, not least of which is its surprisingly sharp starting price of (now) $49,990 drive-away. Did we mention it’s fully electric?On top of that, the Elroq is right-sized, with a modest but well-utilised footprint, which is laden with the brand’s clever touches like plenty of storage areas, an umbrella hidden in the door, and plenty of storage organisation options in the boot.The Elroq rides on Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform and is offered with either a long-range 85kWh battery, and now a standard-range 60kWh option. All versions are rear-wheel drive, keeping them efficient, with the longer-range one said to travel up to 529km on the WLTP cycle.The Enyaq is the Elroq’s larger sibling in Skoda’s two-pronged mid-size electric SUV range, offering a sportier look and feel.Recently updated to wear the brand’s latest and more futuristic design language, the Enyaq also inherits a lot of the same brilliant packaging as its smaller sibling. It also offers the same battery variants, which are still relatively long range considering their capacities, with the smaller version travelling 410km on the WLTP cycle, and the larger one travelling up to 548km.Not as affordable as the Elroq, but still good value in the segment, the Enyaq has a lot of the right ingredients to tempt buyers away from other popular offerings in this electric space like the Tesla Model Y or Kia EV5.To be clear here, the RAV4 being considered for our Car of the Year is the current generation, as the next-gen model hadn’t arrived in time for consideration.As dated as this top-seller may be though, it’s remained a top-seller for a reason, namely that it’s well laid out, comfortable, versatile and backed by Toyota’s ever-sturdy reputation.Its quality finish and ever smooth hybrid drive are still some of the best on the market, emulated by many to varying degrees of success.The RAV4 still bests them all in the sales charts though, and some may even argue the styling of this outgoing car is more appealing than the new one, which will also bring with it a long-awaited plug-in hybrid.Zeekr’s long-awaited third model has proven to be its most hyped. The Zeekr 7X is a fully electric premium SUV at the price of a high-end mainstream combustion or hybrid one.Despite its keen price-tag, this is still an impressively specified vehicle, with plenty of high-end features, a big battery with long driving range, and dynamics on par with much more expensive rivals.It also impresses on the design front, with Zeekr’s studio in Sweden next door to those of Polestar and Volvo making the Chinese newcomer feel like much more than a first attempt.

Like a few brands lately, Polestar made waves when it arrived in Australia, but has since struggled to capitalise on the original hype.One of its issues is that it arrived with just the one product, the Tesla Model 3-rivalling Polestar 2, which seemed inherently limited in how well it could do.But the brand has fleshed-out its range now with the sporty Polestar 3 mid-size SUV, and the car we’re looking at for this review - the Polestar 4. Does it have what it takes to keep building this premium challenger brand in an increasingly tough landscape? Let’s find out.First up, what exactly is the Polestar 4? The Swedish brand pitches this EV up as a direct rival to the new electric Porsche Macan, but one glance at the pictures and you might have noticed that this car isn’t an SUV.After driving it, I find the assertion that the Polestar 4 is some kind of ‘crossover’ even harder to believe. Really it’s a slightly pumped-up segment-bender which is definitely closer to an executive sedan than a standard mid-size SUV. Then again, its long roof and high bootline make it feel like some sort of coupe.I am all for this. SUVs are a dime a dozen, and cars like this with genuinely interesting proportions are hard to come by. Plus, as I’ll explore later, it has benefits when it comes to actually driving it.We also have to talk about the rear window. The Polestar 4 doesn’t have one, instead forcing you to rely on a digital rear vision mirror. You get used to it but it never seems to make up for the missing depth perception a real mirror provides.How much does the Polestar 4 cost? The car we're driving is my pick of the range. It’s a Long Range Single Motor with the pricey (but worth it) Plus Pack.The Long Range is, in fact, the base car, starting at $78,500 before on-roads, while the Plus pack adds a further $8000 of kit bringing the total to $86,500.Once you’ve ticked the boxes to get to this point, Polestar tries to tempt you into a Dual Motor - which doubles your power (from 200kW to 400kW) for $88,350 - but don’t go for it. Once you add the missing items, you’re at almost $100,000 and at that price this car makes a bit less sense.Having said that, the Polestar 4 impresses compared to rivals. The aforementioned Porsche Macan EV starts from a whopping $129,800 while only offering slightly more power and range. Based on the segment-bending design of the Polestar 4, I’d also consider its closest rivals to be the BMW i4 (eDrive 35 - $88,000), Mercedes-Benz EQE (300 - $136,600), or perhaps even the equally strange Hyundai Ioniq 6 in specced-up Epiq guise ($82,000). Interestingly all of those options offer similarly long driving ranges, but it certainly makes the value case for the Polestar and its 620km WLTP range evident.Standard kit at this money is fine, you get the recycled(ish) interior trim, big screens, big wheels, ambient lighting - basically the lot - but it’s worth splurging for the Plus Pack because you just get so many luxurious and convenient additions it makes it hard to say no.Sure there’s the (very good) Harmon Kardon audio system, but you also score the fancy illuminated door trims, cool-looking light grey contrast trims, high-end LED headlights, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, tri-zone climate, additional power adjustments for the front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated seats, as well as 22kW(!) AC charging capability.I mean, come on. I know they ‘get you’ with it - the Plus should have been its own trim level, but seriously, if I was already spending this much I’d be ticking that box.Maybe the real sell is this car's driving range, though. The Polestar 4 can travel ridiculously far on a single charge. It feels nearly akin to just driving a petrol car. In my time with the car covering a significant distance, I was always impressed with how much range was left every time I turned it on.I even took to charging it like I use a petrol car - just once every week or two as required. Thankfully, despite its enormous battery, it also charges relatively quickly. The maximum charging speed of 200kW should see the Polestar 4 charge from 10 to 80 per cent in around half an hour, but on the more prolific 150kW charging stations, I was seeing around 40 minutes.The 22kW AC charging rate available on the Plus Pack is a rare addition - only a handful of cars in Australia can do this. Unfortunately, there are fewer chargers that can, which makes this more of a future-proofing feature.Of the WLTP-claimed 620km range, my car was reporting closer to 590km in the real world according to my back-of-the-napkin numbers. With this much driving range you won’t notice the small deficit. I scored 16.4kWh/100km of energy consumption, which is not bad for a car this size.Here's some food for thought on the battery front though: Polestar claims to be the sustainability brand, and yet this car seems emblematic of the brand’s mission butting heads with its need to be a luxury automaker.Sure, a 100kWh battery gives it an enviable driving range, and the brand publishes a quite thorough emissions report which claims that the Polestar 4 is more carbon efficient than a combustion car or even a plug in hybrid (if you go by BMW’s similar emissions report for its 530e, for example).My issue with this is that 100kWh could be three or four plug-in hybrids instead of one Polestar 4. Which of those two options will theoretically remove more carbon from the atmosphere over 20 years? The maths kind of speaks for itself.The Polestar 4 is very nice to drive, giving off big luxury sedan vibes rather than the occasionally overbearing nature of some SUVs in this class. As you sit comparatively low in it, it hides the weight of the batteries well, and its 200kW motor provides plenty of immediate thrust while not being as overwhelming as, for example, the Tesla Model 3 Performance.So it’s a better tourer than a lot of EVs in my opinion. It’s also pretty quiet on the open road, and the attention to detail in the driver feedback and inputs is as European as they come, whether it's the sleek steering feel, or the smoothly integrated regenerative braking. Not too much, not too little.The ride is also relatively plush, offering a degree higher comfort than we’re usually used to from EVs with batteries this big. It’s not perfect though, and some terrain can catch it off-guard, making you feel the heft for a harsh moment.Still, it’s an impressive machine which manages to avoid the extremes.A final note on the ownership piece for this car. Polestar offers a five year and unlimited kilometre warranty with matching roadside assist, which is only really okay these days. However, it will cost you nothing to service the car for those first five years or 100,000km, which is pretty compelling, especially when combined with potentially ultra-low running costs from a home solar system.

BYD’s model range looks to expand even further as the Chinese brand sets its sights on a podium finish in Australia by the end of 2026.We already know the brand will add the Sealion 5 affordable hybrid mid-size SUV and the Sealion 8 three-row SUV during the course of the year, but now thanks to new regulatory approval documents we can see two new as-yet-unannounced models are in the works.These are the Seal 6 sedan and its Touring wagon spin-off.The new information filed with the road vehicle descriptor database confirms the vehicles as plug-in hybrids, meaning they will likely complement the existing Seal sedan, which is pure electric.They are approved with two battery specifications (15kWh or 21.6kWh) both are paired with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The engine produces just 70kW/120Nm, while there are two electric motor options, either 120kW/210Nm or 160kW/260Nm for total combined outputs of either 130kW or 163kW.In China those battery options provide a driving range of up to 128km for the 15kWh version, or 210km for the 25kWh version, but these are measured to the more lenient CLTC standard.Chinese prices indicate the sedan could be a non-SUV plug-in hybrid price leader.In China, the base 15kWh variant starts from the equivalent of just $21,000. If it follows the usual logic of adding roughly 20 per cent to the price by the time it lands in Australia, this would place the Seal 6 PHEV range in the $25,000 to $30,000 price bracket.The Seal 6 sedan and wagon were recently released in their Chinese home market, and carry a more recent version of the brand’s signature ‘Ocean’ styling language compared to the current Seal electric sedan.Chinese versions are front-wheel drive and have independent rear suspension. The Seal 6 can charge at up to 48kW on a DC connector suggesting a sub-30 minute charge time. Expect an 8.8-inch digital dash, either a 12.8 or 15.6-inch central multimedia touchscreen, over-the-air connectivity and updates, a 50W wireless phone charger, full LED lighting with some grades getting RGB ambient interior lighting, synthetic leather interior trim, dual-zone climate and V2L. The interior also adopts a newer and more refined styling approach compared to the Seal EV, and features a stalk-mounted gear shifter, which frees up more space in an also-redesigned centre console.The sedan offers 550 litres of boot space according to Chinese specs, while the wagon offers a significantly larger 670L with the rear seats up.BYD has made no secret of its lofty ambitions in 2026, with the new boss of the now-factory-backed operation Stephen Collins saying a top-three finish by the end of the year was “ambitious, but we think it’s possible”.“We want to move from a challenging brand to more of a leadership position,” he told CarsGuide previously.Part of this strategy would be “having a crack in every segment”, according to newly appointed Denza boss, Mark Harland, who worked on BYD during its rise before being appointed the chief of its premium spin-off.He said the brand looked to challenge Toyota’s market dominance by battling it across the market, not just in the biggest-selling SUV market segments.“Toyota has something like 95 per cent of the segments in Australia covered by at least one variant, and if we want to ever be number one we need to have vehicles available in those segments too,” he said.For its part, the Seal 6 is well placed to challenge everything from the Toyota Camry to the Skoda Octavia and Kia K4.BYD’s meteoric rise in 2025 (up 156.2 per cent) will need to be replicated again in 2026 if it wants a shot near the top of the market. To do so it will need to unseat some behemoths of the industry, like Ford, Kia, Hyundai and Mazda.Stay tuned for more details on the Seal 6 PHEV and BYD’s plans for the rest of the year imminently.

Mazda has revealed pricing and specifications for its incoming next-generation CX-5 for the North American market.The new car arrives in America with only the carryover 2.5-litre non-turbo engine option (as is also the plan in Australia), and is priced at $29,990 (AU$44,767).Currently the entry-level version of the outgoing CX-5 in Australia is a 2.0-litre front-wheel drive variant, priced at $36,740, making the straight-converted price significantly higher.For the US market, the CX-5 is now all-wheel drive only and features a host of new features and upgrades, including a connected multimedia suite, a significantly larger cabin and boot space, increased sound deadening, improved safety, torque vectoring systems and revised suspension.It also gets new cabin technology throughout, with a 12.9-inch multimedia touchscreen and 10.25-inch digital dash, which is even on the entry-level S model.On higher end variants expect larger wheels and improved interior trims, as well as the inclusion of wireless phone connectivity and a better speaker system. The top-spec Premium Plus grade for the US market gets the full array of safety equipment and a larger 15.6-inch multimedia screen. It also scores the ‘Driver Personalisation System’ (memory functions for all the adjustable features) from the larger CX-90.It is unclear at this stage whether Mazda will switch the Australian-delivered CX-5 to all-wheel drive only, or whether cars delivered here will continue to be available in front-wheel drive, which is a factor likely to drastically affect the final price.The larger CX-60, which sits on Mazda’s more premium platform, is now available with an entry-level variant using the same 2.5-litre non-turbo engine starting from $44,240, lending evidence to the idea the new-generation CX-5 needs to be more affordable in Australia.The hybrid version, which will debut a new hybrid system for Mazda dubbed SkyActiv-Z, is not due until 2027, as the brand is taking its time to imbue it with its signature ‘zoom-zoom’ driving characteristics.The brand has told CarsGuide in the past that the new system will achieve better driving dynamics than Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy system, which it uses in the US-only CX-50 that will live alongside the new CX-5 in that market.Meanwhile the brand has also confirmed it will sell the Chinese-built CX-6e in Australia as an electric alternative to the CX-5, which will give customers the choice of petrol, hybrid, and electric options.Mazda’s refreshed range will also be entering some of the most hotly contested market segments in Australia.The CX-5 will need to face-off against the new-generation Toyota RAV4, which is available as both a plugless and plug-in hybrid, and new-generation Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage SUVs with increased hybrid options are also expected to break cover in 2026. Not to mention the array of new rivals from China vying for a slice of the outgoing car’s popularity.The new-generation CX-5 is due in Australia in the middle 2026, stay tuned for more information including local pricing and specification details later in the year.

Ford Australia said the brand was confident it would maintain its position as the second best selling brand in the nation thanks to the “never seen before” response to the new Ranger Super Duty.The Blue Oval's Australian Marketing Director Ambrose Henderson said the brand was “really confident” in its plans for next year, despite renewed pressure from both established and upcoming rivals.Ford depends heavily on its best-selling Ranger ute for its impressive sales of nearly 100,000 units in 2026. It now faces a renewed push from Kia with its long-awaited Tasman and BYD shaking up the ute space with its smash-hit Shark 6 PHEV, and that’s not to mention Toyota and its recently-refreshed HiLux range.Henderson said continued updates for the Ranger and Everest line-up, including wider availability of the V6 now the 2.0-litre bi-turbo has been axed, as well as new variants and incremental content upgrades would see the ute continue to fend off the competition.But the biggest source of new sales will be the Ranger Super Duty, Henderson said.“We’re still in the launch phase for Super Duty” Henderson explained. ‘We expect to have a really successful year on that in 2026 — our expectation is that it is going into white space and will be an incremental opportunity for us.”By this, he means the Super Duty was unlikely to cannibalise existing Ranger Sales, and instead will enter a new category where fewer rivals are able to compete.The Super Duty is a unique offering in the Australian market. Much more than simply another Ranger variant, the Super Duty is almost entirely new underneath, with an up-gauged frame, new suspension, heavy duty axles and even a new transfer case. These allow it up to 8000kg of GCM and push it into a category above most dual-cabs.“The initial response has been incredible," said Henderson. “Right back from when we first announced the nameplate - we were flooded with a response we’ve never seen before.”While he wouldn’t yet share numbers - these should become available around this time next month when the first round of VFACTs figures drop for 2026, he said the models available now were just the beginning of what the true volume the new ute has to offer.“The more retail pick-up and XLT are launching later this year, and we’ve got really strong order banks for those as well. The response has been really overwhelming,” he said.While the true scope of Super Duty is yet to be seen, Ford can chalk up a handful of other segment wins despite being slightly down for the year, by 5.8 per cent. The Ranger-based Everest off-roader is number one in the Large SUV segment, while Mustang leads the sports car pack. Plus, the brand had a record year for its Transit van range.There are storm clouds on the horizon for Ford. Rivals are circling with new options and the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which places heavy fines on high-emitting engines such as Ford’s diesel V6, poses a threat as Ford is not selling enough electric cars to help alleviate its fleet average.The critically well-received Mustang Mach-e for example, only found 483 homes over the course of 2025.“We’re in the most competitive automotive market in the world — within that, everyone is fighting really hard,” Henderson said.“We’re happy with the performance we have in that EV area, but we’ll have more transitional technologies over time.”“If you think about where Ford does really well in providing that capability to travel around Australia and be able to do those kinds of 4x4 activities - there still needs to be more of an investment from an infrastructure point of view to make those things more viable,” he said.