Chery E5 Reviews

Freelander, a new joint-venture brand between Land Rover and Chery, has detailed its upcoming debut model thanks to regulatory filings in China.The Freelander 8 was previously confirmed to be a large SUV, measuring 5118, 2050mm wide, and 1890mm long, with an enormous wheelbase of 3040mm, featuring a luxurious six-seat layout, as is popular in China.This makes the new Freelander-branded SUV about the opposite of the original Land Rover Freelander, where it played a role as the company’s smallest and most affordable vehicle.It was also known that the Freelander 8 would exclusively be a range-extender hybrid at launch, meaning it will drive the wheels only via electric motors, keeping a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine on board to serve only as a generator for its battery.New technical filings, which are required for vehicles to apply for tax exemptions in China, confirm the Freelander 8 will use an EV-sized circa-60kWh battery, allowing it a 221km pure electric driving range (seemingly a preliminary CLTC figure, more lenient than the WLTP standard more widely used in Australia), built by CATL, the world’s biggest battery manufacturer.Its 1.5-litre engine has a power output of 115kW, although no torque figure or combined outputs from its dual-motor set-up is available yet.In addition, the Freelander 8 will have a new all-terrain software system and will also feature a front mechanical differential lock, and a simulated electronic centre differential (with no mechanical linkage between the front and rear motors), and a rear electronic limited slip differential.As previously reported, the Freelander 8 will also feature dual-chamber air suspension. In addition, the large SUV will feature the latest Huawei-developed active safety and self-driving system in its Chinese home market. It will also feature a towing capability, with its capacity for the Chinese market set to 2000kg.Other new details include a battery-drained average fuel consumption of 8.18L/100km, and an apparent overall weight of 2980kg. The battery alone weighs 372kg.A full battery electric version of the car is expected to follow at a later date.The Freelander 8 is the first in a range of new Freelander vehicles, and the brand is expected to expand globally after its launch in China in the second half of 2026.According to Chery's local operation, the Freelander brand is confirmed for Australia, although it won’t be distributed by the local Chery factory-backed arm and will operate independently. It has said the same about its off-road focused own brand, Jetour, which has a similar range of boxy hybrid SUVs.Chery will need to work hard to separate its array of brands which are on the way with the ones it already offers in Australia. Currently it offers products under the Chery brand, and has a separate operation which sells cars under the Omoda/Jaecoo brands.Lepas, another passenger car marque which will use the same platforms and technology as Chery and Omoda/Jaecoo vehicles is set for an imminent launch, while Jetour is expected to follow at a later stage.Stay tuned for more information on the Freelander brand including its Chinese launch as well as its launch plans for Australia imminently.

New Chinese brand Lepas is gearing up to take on the Australian market in 2026, starting with an electric family SUV.Chery Group has officially announced its Lepas brand will launch in Australia with the L6 mid-size electric SUV in the fourth quarter of this year. The L6 is roughly the same size as the popular Toyota RAV4, but at this stage the L6 will only be available with a fully electric setup. There is a plug-in hybrid variant available overseas that will be made available in Australia in 2027.The L6 EV will contest the most popular segment of the Australian market in the mid-size SUV, facing off against the BYD Atto 3, Zeekr 7X and Geely EX5. It will also provide competition for conventionally popular petrol competitors like the Mazda CX-5.The L6 has a single electric motor, producing 160kW and 275Nm, while offering a driving range of 450km (WLTP) from its 67kWh battery. Lepas Australia said more details on the incoming L6 will be revealed closer to its local arrival in Q4. It comes after plans for Lepas in Australia were pushed back from mid-year to the end of this year. Lepas models have a different design language from other models in the Chery Group, with the brand targeting “lifestyle-focused” buyers.The brand said it will appeal to a different buyer than what Chery and Omoda Jaecoo does.This means the L6 is likely to be more expensive than the Jaecoo J5 EV small SUV that starts from $36,990 (drive-away). The L6 is expected to start from around the $40,000-plus mark when it goes on sale. While it offers exterior styling tweaks compared to other Chery Group models, it seems to share the same 13.2-inch central touchscreen and 8.8-inch digital driver display as found on the J5. The L6 will be followed by the L4 small electric SUV and the larger L8 plug-in hybrid, both due in 2027.Lepas is the latest in a growing number of sub-brands under the Chery Group in Australia.Omoda Jaecoo launched roughly a year ago, with Lepas to be followed by the Freelander brand in 2027. Off-road brand iCaur is also on the agenda for Australia. 

New car intenders are on the decline in Australia. While Chinese brands such as BYD and Chery are on the up, many of Australia’s most popular brands are struggling. Total sales for cars in Australia are down more than two per cent for May 2026 compared to May 2025. This decrease grows to nearly five per cent, if sales of the Tesla's Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan are excluded.This is reflected year-to-date data, which shows a more than one per cent overall drop compared to 2025 so far. The decrease comes after total sales declined slightly in 2025 compared to 2024, with sales already coming off a downturn in the second half of 2024. Even dominant players in the Australian car market like Toyota have experienced a near 25 per cent drop this year compared to 2025 numbers.This has been partly driven by a delay on supply for the new-generation RAV4 SUV, though. Economic factors are key drivers for buyer decline, including the ever-increasing costs of buying a new car, coupled with higher fuel prices. Potential buyers also need to satisfy cost of living pressures before thinking about buying a new car. The impacts of these economic conditions increases the possibility of the Australian market continuing to stagnate.Data provided from Roy Morgan last month showed buying intention to purchase a new car in the next four years has decreased by four per cent, and overall intention has dropped to 47 per cent. “The latest data on car buying intention reflects Australians believe now is not a good time to make big purchase decisions in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis,” Roy Morgan Chief Executive Officer Michele Levine said.The Kia Picanto, Australia’s cheapest new car on sale, remains the only car priced from less than $20,000. The exponential growth of Chinese brands in Australia has been driven by the comparative cheapness to legacy brand alternatives. Cars like the Chery Tiggo 4 and Jaecoo J5 EV small SUVs find themselves in the top 10 best sellers and have a price tag much lower than many of its legacy competition. 

Audi RS5: Ready to enter the German ‘Big Three’ performance octagon with the BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C63S, the new Audi RS5, offered as a sedan and ‘Avant’ wagon, is a plug-in hybrid combining a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine with a powerful single electric motor for outputs of 470kW/825Nm. Pricing is already confirmed from $179,900, before on-road costs. Read moreBentley Bentayga Speed: Swapping out the British brand’s epic (but emissions constrained) 6.0L W12 for a fearsome 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 has made this luxurious SUV even faster and louder. How about 478kW/850Nm and $525,000, before on-road costs, when it arrives here in the next couple of months?Read moreBMW iX3: Arriving in early July, BMW’s much-anticipated 'Neue Klasse' iX3 is an ultra-modern mid-size five-door SUV with a pure-electric powertrain initially launching with one model, the 345kW/645Nm 50 xDrive (109,900, before on-road costs). The 235kW/500Nm iX3 40 ($89,900, BOC), which slips under the Luxury Car Tax threshold, will follow in Q4.  Read moreBMW M2 xDrive: New compact muscle coupe variant picks up all-wheel drive to put the 353kW/600Nm produced by its 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder on the ground. Zero to 100km/h in 3.7sec with cost-of-entry at $172,900, before on-road costs when it arrives in Q4.Read moreBYD Atto 3 Evo: Prior to the all-new next-gen Atto 3 likely hitting Aussie showrooms sometime in 2027, the Evo version of the current model gives it rear-wheel drive. There’s also an all-wheel-drive flagship with 330kW available. Likely local touchdown in Q3.Read moreChery KP31: And you thought there wasn’t room for another ute in the Aussie market. The subject of a local naming contest (Orca is looking likely, as it tops BYD Shark) the Chery ‘KP31’ is scheduled for a Q4 launch, featuring a ladder chassis and a segment-first 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel and electric motor hybrid powertrain. A petrol-electric hybrid will arrive in 2027.Read moreCupra VZ5: Fire-breathing mid-size SUV variant powered by an Audi RS3-sourced 2.5-litre turbo-petrol five-cylinder engine sending 287kW/480Nm to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission. Zero to 100km/h comes up in 4.2 seconds – 0.7 seconds quicker than the 228kW VZx, making it one of the fastest combustion-powered SUVs out there. Read moreDeepal S05: The Deepal S05 small-medium SUV joins the S07 mid-size SUV, likely offered in range-extender hybrid and/or pure-electric form. ADR compliance is locked in and pre-orders are open on the brand’s Aussie website.Read moreFerrari 849 Testarossa: Okay, the shopping list - milk, bread, eggs and a $932,648 Ferrari 849 Testarossa. Not for everyone, then. But what a car! Zero to 100km/h in 2.3sec courtesy of a twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain sending 611kW/842Nm to all four wheels. Coupe in Q4, with the roofless Spider arring in early ‘27.  Read moreGeely EX2: Set to arrive in the third quarter, this budget-focused electric compact SUV could start under $30K, before on-road costs. It has a single motor driving the rear wheels and two battery sizes are offered in China, providing 310km or 410km of range, respectively. Read moreGenesis GV60 Magma: Part of the upcoming next-gen GV60 line-up, the Magma is a performance-focused pure-electric powerhouse SUV riding on the same ‘E-GMP’ platform as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Dual electric motors for 478kW/790Nm, 0-200km/h in 10.9sec and maximum velocity of 264km/h. Arrives in July.Read moreGWM Wey G9: The Wey G9 (name yet to be confirmed for Australia) is a luxury plug-in hybrid people mover scheduled for Q4 with the V9X PHEV SUV spilling over into 2027. Its chunky 44.2 kWh battery provides a claimed pure-electric driving range of up to 170 km with a combined range of more than 1000km. Read moreHonda Super One: Super by name, super by nature, this pure-electric ‘kei’ car is guaranteed to put a smile on your face with a likely Aussie starting price around $35,000. A front-mounted electric motor produces 70kW/162Nm and Honda claims up to 274km of range.  Read moreHyundai Palisade XRT Pro: A tough looking Toyota LandCruiser rival with twin, chassis-mounted tow hooks as well as more ground clearance for useful approach, departure and breakover angles. Add a rear electronic limited-slip differential for better off-road capability as well as downhill brake control and new terrain modes for mud, sand and snow. Read moreIsuzu D-Max EV: One of the most popular utes in the county could get a pure-electric option powered by front- and rear-mounted electric motors, producing 140kW, with front motor torque at 108Nm and rear motor torque at 217Nm for a maximum 325Nm and full-time 4WD. A 67kWh battery offers a driving range of 263km (WLTP). No launch confirmation yet, but Isuzu Ute Australia says “it will continue to monitor local needs and evaluate the reception of BEVs”. Read moreJeep Compass: Potentially a Q4 arrival, the new Compass rides on the same ‘STLA Medium’ platform as Stellantis stablemates such as the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008. It will join the smaller Avenger in Jeep’s electrified line-up. There should be a choice of 106kW 48V eHybrid and 145kW plug-in hybrid powertrains, both likely based on the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine carried over from the current-generation. Read moreKGM Musso Q300: Dual-cab only, powered by a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 150kW/441Nm mated to a six-speed torque-converter auto transmission with 4WD and a locking rear differential. Coil- or leaf-spring rear suspension options with a payload of 500kg for the former and 700kg for the latter. Features a 12.3-inch digital dash and matching multimedia touchscreen.   Read moreKia Seltos: Coming in Q4, We’re expecting a front-wheel drive version with outputs to be approximately 113kW/265Nm, plus an all-wheel drive with 131kW, though its rear wheels will be powered by an electric motor and not mechanically connected to the front wheels. The all-new Seltos should start around $30K, before on-road costs. A specific Australian suspension tune is already in the works.  Read moreLeapmotor B05: Lobbing in Q4, the Leapmotor B05 is a five-door, electric, rear-wheel drive, hot-ish hatch with 180kW/320Nm in the flagship Ultra variant. A choice of 56.2kWh or 67.1kWh battery, delivers a range of 500km or 600km (CLTC) and we’d be shocked if it wasn't among the cheapest warmed-over hatch offerings in the local market.   Read moreLexus ES: Electric versions of the striking all-new Lexus ES have been approved for Australian sale, the dual-motor, all-wheel drive ES500e flagship producing 252kW. The ES350e is powered by a single front-mounted electric motor delivering 170kW. However, the brand has confirmed hybrid powertrains will eventually be offered locally.  Read moreMazda CX-6e: Set to challenge the Tesla Model Y on price, the Mazda CX-6e is likely to land with a starting price around $54K. A 78kWh battery delivers a 450km (WLTP) range, the rear-mounted 190kW/290Nm electric motor drives the rear wheels and 0-100km/h comes up in 7.9sec. Its 195kW DC charging capacity is good for a 10-80 per cent top-up in under 25 minutes.Read moreMercedes-Benz GLB: Launch line-up of the pure-electric small SUV will be single-motor rear-wheel drive (200kW/335Nm) GLB250+ or dual-motor all-wheel drive (260kW/515Nm) GLB350. Its 800-volt architecture allows an ultra-rapid DC charging rate of up to 320kW. Three hybrid powertrains will be added later in front- or all-wheel drive all using a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 48-volt assistance. Read moreMG QS PHEV: Launched in plug-in hybrid form in the UK with an Aussie introduction likely this year. Plug-in hybrid uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine paired to an electric motor for around 220kW combined. A 24.7kWh battery pack grants it a WLTP-certified electric range of 100km.Read moreMitsubishi Pajero: One of the year’s most significant arrivals comes with the return of the Mitsubishi Pajero, with sights set on the upcoming Y63 Nissan Patrol and current Toyota LandCruiser 300. Most likely powertrain is an updated version of the 2.4-litre turbo-diesel powering the current Triton range (150kW/470Nm). Looking like a Q4 launch.Read moreNissan Patrol: Nissan Australia has confirmed orders for the new ‘Y63’ Patrol will “open in coming months” with vehicles on the ground at the end of the year or very early next. Its 3.5-litre V6 turbo-petrol engine is derived from GT-R’s and produces 317kW/700Nm, dwarfing the 298kW/560Nm outputs of the soon-to-be-defunct V8 of the Y62 Patrol. Read moreOmoda 4: New entry-level model for the brand with edgy, angular looks and a choice of internal-combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure-electric power in the domestic Chinese market. Riding on Chery’s ‘T1X’ platform, the Omoda 4 is a likely Toyota Corolla Cross competitor.Read morePolestar 5: Headed our way in Q3, the 5.1m long ultra-slippery (Cd 0.24) Polestar 5 offers the performance, comfort and touring ability of the Porsche Taycan and its Audi e-tron GT sibling at an appreciably lower price. Two versions coming, both powered by dual motors - the Dual Motor (550kW/812Nm) at $171,100 and the Performance (650kW/1015Nm) at $193,100 (both before on-road costs).Read morePorsche Cayenne Electric: Dropping in Q3, as the name implies, this is a pure-electric beast with even the entry-grade (of three) Cayenne Electric ($167,800, before on-road costs) featuring dual motors, all-wheel drive and producing 325kW. The flagship Turbo accelerates from 0-100km/h in hypercar-equalling 2.5sec thanks to its stonking 850kW/1500Nm outputs.  Read moreRenault Symbioz: On course for a July touchdown, the Symbioz is a Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross rival with an entry-level mild-hybrid 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine powertrain producing 104kW/245Nm. A 1.8L full-hybrid boosts that to 116kW/265Nm. Pricing starts from $36,990. Read moreSmart #5: It’s been a long time in the offing but the Smart #5 plug-in hybrid SUV is a likely Aussie arrival in the second half of the year. It offers up to 252km of pure-electric range and up to 320kW of total power from its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol, four-cylinder engine and three-speed hybrid transaxle motor powertrain. Claimed fuel economy is as low as 4.4L/100km (when its battery is depleted). Read moreToyota RAV4 PHEV: Another significant new entry. FWD variants of the RAV4 PHEV will be powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and front-mounted electric motor, producing 201kW. AWD variants add a rear-mounted motor, increasing power to 227kW. Pricing will start from $58,840, before on-road costs, making it roughly $15K more expensive than the car's base standard hybrid variant ($45,990).  Read moreVolkswagen T-Roc: Sleeker looking and bigger, with a more premium vibe, VW’s small SUV also features new powertrains. A 1.5-litre turbo-petrol mild-hybrid in two states of tune (85kW and 110kW) for FWD versions and a more powerful 2.0L mild-hybrid arriving later. A T-Roc R is confirmed to follow, too.  Read moreXPeng G9: As the legal cage fight between previous XPeng importer True EV and the XPeng factory continues, the priority is getting G6s back into showrooms. But the luxury G9 electric SUV is a possible addition. Rear- or all-wheel drive with two battery options, a driving range of up to 680km and loads of included features for an estimated starting price in the region of $70K.Read moreZeekr 8X: Upper mid-sized, plug-in hybrid luxury SUV to sit above the mid-size fully electric 7X and below the flagship three-row 9X. Pairs a 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol, four-cylinder engine (205kW/410Nm) with dual electric motors for a combined 660kW/935Nm and a 0-100km/h sprint in 3.7 seconds. A 55kWh or 70kWh battery pack with a 900-volt architecture allows ultra-fast charging and either a 320km or 410km EV driving range. Probable starting price in the $80K band.Read moreZeekr 9X: Ultra-luxury, upper-large, three-row SUV offering a dual- or tri-motor plug-in hybrid system, backed by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and a massive battery pack. The result is either 660kW/935Nm of combined power for the two lower variants, or 1030kW/1410Nm for the top-spec car, as well as between 300 and 380km of fully electric driving range. Standard equipment and features are suitably extensive. Expect a starting price just over $100K.Read more

There is a tough new three-row plug-in hybrid SUV from China that could be headed to Australia.The Jetour G700 has been teased by on social media ahead of its appearance at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Shaw. The Jetour brand has already been confirmed for Australia and is scheduled to arrive early next year, but there is no news yet on whether the G700 will be one of its models at launch.Jetour will not fall under the Chery name in Australia, despite being a sub-brand, and will be its own operation.The G700 will be available in right-hand drive for Malaysia, which increases its chances for Australia in the future.It would line up against the Denza B8 ($91,000, before on-road costs) and GWM Tank 500 ($79,000, drive-away) plug-in hybrid 4WDs.It would also tackle more established 4WDs, the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser.It is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric-motor set-up, producing a whopping 665kW and 1135Nm, so it can shift from 0-100km/h in less than five seconds. There is a 34kWh battery, with an electric-only driving range of 150km, according to more lenient CLTC standards. With a fully-charged battery and brimmed tank, total driving range sits at 1148km on more accurate WLTP standards. DC charging at 170kW takes just 10 minutes for a 30 to 80 per cent boost.The G700 has an overall boxy look, including a rectangular-encased headlight design and flat roofline. The car gets a suite of high-end luxury features, simialr to other Chinese large SUVs. On the inside, there is a panoramic dashboard display measuring at 35.4-inches, along with a 15.6-inch central touchscreen. A 17.3-inch rear screen folds out from the roof for rear passenger entertainment, while an 8.8-inch touchscreen controls the climate.The G700 is priced in China from just under the equivalent of $70,000, but expect it to be more than the $80,000 mark if it comes Down Under, which will put it in close proximity to other rivals. 

The Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and RAV4 are typically Australia’s most popular cars in any given month. But what other cars are having a great 2026?We’ve scoured the latest new car sales data to reveal the cars that are off to a storming start in the first five months of this year. For our list we’ve tried to focus on cars that have shown at least double-digit sales growth and have sold at least four-digit volume, so we avoid niche models that are coming off a very low base.We also deliberately avoided focusing on electric vehicles, as we have previously written about the EVs that are enjoying a sales boom in 2026.This is by no means a comprehensive list, and there are several models that are enjoying huge growth from brands such as BYD and Chery, but we’ve limited it to one entry to highlight more brands.Chery Tiggo 7 Pro - up 200.2%Choosing a Chery to put on this list wasn’t an easy task, as the brand is enjoying a bumper year with total sales up more than 84 per cent. The compact Tiggo 4 Pro remains the brand’s sales leader, with more than 11k sold already, but the Tiggo 7 is the clear star performer in terms of growth.With sales tracking more than 200 per cent up, the Tiggo 7 Pro has moved from also-ran to serious contender in the intensely competitive mid-size SUV market. It’s still well-short of the class-leading Toyota RAV4, but only the related Jaecoo J7 (up 427%) and BYD Sealion 7 (up 297%) have experienced more growth so far this year.Kia K4 - up 103.5%Reports of the demise of the hatchback appear to be exaggerated. While small SUVs remain incredibly popular, Kia has demonstrated that the right small car (as the K4 is both a hatch and sedan now) still has plenty of appeal.The South Korean brand has sold 3850 examples of its Cerato-replacement so far in 2026, more than double what it managed this time last year, when the hatch was not available.BYD Seal - up 92%The Atto 3 and Sealion 7 EVs are also enjoying good years, and the new Sealion 5 and 8 plug-in hybrids are both off to a good start, but for this list we’re highlighting the under-rated Seal EV. Under-rated because, like the hatchback, sedans are supposed to be in terminal decline.And yet, BYD has managed to almost double the sales of its mid-size sedan in 2026, with 1885 sold year-to-date. This actually makes it one of the brand’s worst-performing models, only further highlighting just what a successful year BYD is having.For the record, sales of the Sealion 7 are up 297%, the Dolphin is up 115% and the Atto 3 is up 85% (despite being the brand’s longest tenured model). Everything is looking rosy for BYD so far in 2026.Toyota Camry - up 48.3%It’s not exactly the glory days for the Camry, 5221 sales in five months is small fry compared to its past, but it remains an under-rated sales performer for not just the brand. Combined with the Seal, these two very different sedans have almost single-handedly kept the family car segment afloat in recent years.Every other existing model in the mid-size sedan segment is down in 2026, but the Camry remains the automotive equivalent of a cockroach - impossible to ever count out.Hyundai Palisade - up 37.1%This was a borderline inclusion on the list, as Hyundai introduced a new generation Palisade in late 2025 so the comparison to last year’s sales is against the out-going model. But given the huge price jump from the old model, plus a small range, it suggests Hyundai’s biggest SUV is finding an audience.Aside from the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and GWM Tank 300 (see below) the Palisade is the only other large SUV to meet our criteria, further underlining its strong sales performance so far this year.The addition of a more-affordable Elite trim grade, to go along with the initial flagship Calligraphy, plus the introduction of the more-rugged XRT Pro variant later this year may help the Palisade to continue its momentum.GWM Tank 300 - up 26.9%As mentioned above, the Tank 300 is another standout performer in the large SUV segment. The Chinese brand’s off-road capable offering has grown in recent times to include a diesel and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) alternative for buyers, which has clearly helped to expand its appeal.The relative struggles of the bigger Tank 500, which has only sold 529 units this year compared to 2228 Tank 300, is a clear demonstration that not all Chinese models sell in big numbers simply because they are cheaper than their rivals.The Tank 300 has therefore done enough to convince buyers to give it a chance and if this growth continues in the second half of the year it could become a key model for GWM.

China’s Chery and India’s Tata Motors will team up on a new luxury brand that will launch two new models in 2027.This is thanks to a new report from Reuters, which claims Tata has forged a new partnership for its upcoming Avinya premium arm, after a plan to base the models on Jaguar Land Rover platforms fell through.The Indian giant told Reuters it plans to use the same platform, which underpins the upcoming Freelander 8 that is part of Chery’s existing tie-up with the Tata owned Jaguar Land Rover.The new deal with Tata will see the Chery platform components built in China and shipped as a knock-down kit, with final assembly occurring in India. They will cater to right-hand drive, opening up the opportunity for them to be exported to Australia. Chery’s new Freelander division also has designs to launch in Australia.Tata told Reuters, “Avinya is being developed as a global premium brand. Our collaboration with JLR and global partners will be an important pillar.”The vehicles were to be based on Jaguar Land Rover’s upcoming EMA platform, which was announced in 2024.That platform was originally designed to support next-generation electrified mid-size luxury SUVs, and was capable of supporting both hybrid, range extender and fully electric drivetrains.The switch to the Chery platform will shorten development timelines, in yet another example of a foreign brand embracing what has become known in the industry as “China Speed”.While Tata doesn’t currently have an automotive presence in Australia (aside from Jaguar Land Rover), the company’s main rival, Mahindra, offers several products in our market, showing a taste for Indian brands to expand.Tata turning to Chery also offers the Chinese giant a foothold in the Indian subcontinent, which it did not have before. As is the case in other markets, India has several barriers in place to stop Chinese automakers from having free market access in order to protect its domestic brands.It is part of a major global push by Chery, which has for a long time been one of China’s most successful brands in overseas markets. It already had strongholds in South America, and is in the process of establishing links in Europe, which looks to be the next battleground for Chinese brands.Nissan announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding to allocate one of its production lines at its Sunderland UK plant to build Chery vehicles alongside Australian-bound Nissan Qashqais.

We are now living in the age of the Super Hybrids - vehicles that can drive for at least 1000km on a tank of petrol. We’ve picked five of the best long haulers sold in Australia right now.Super Hybrid is the snazzy buzz word given to plug-in hybrids with large batteries, big fuel tanks and clever fuel-energy management systems, which ensure outstanding efficiency. They are better suited to cities and suburbs duties than interstate commutes. Super Hybrids allow for long distances between filling up the petrol tank - as long as you plug it in regularly to charge the battery.Here are the top five super hybrids currently sold in Australia.5. MG HS Super Hybrid - 1000kmThe MG HS mid-sized plug-in hybrid SUV has a four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor, a large 24.7kWh battery and a 55-litre fuel tank, which offer an electric driving range of up to 135km and 1000km combined range, both calculated via the more lenient NEDC test cycle. Combined fuel economy is 0.7L/100km, but this requires you to never let the batter run low and applies to all the cars listed here.4. GWM H6 GT PHEV - 1183kmGWM’s H6 GT mid-sized SUV is a plug-in hybrid, which uses a four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, a huge 35.4kWh battery and 55-litre fuel tank to deliver a long electric driving range of 183km and a combined range of 1183km (both NEDC). Combined fuel consumption is 0.6L/100km.3. Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid - 1200kmThe Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid is a large SUV, which uses a four-cylinder engine and a single motor driving the front wheels, an 18.4kWh battery combined with a 60-litre fuel tank to deliver 95km of electric driving range and up to 1200km (NEDC) of combined driving range. Combined fuel consumption is 1.3L/100km. The Chery Tiggo 9 and Tiggo 7 Super Hybrids offer similarly long ranges.2. Jaecoo J7 SHS - 1200kmThe Jaecoo J7 SHS mid-sized SUV is a plug-in hybrid cousin to the Chery Tiggo 8, and has a very similar driving range. A four-cylinder petrol engine and a single electric motor drives the front wheels, while an 18.3kWh battery and 60-litre fuel tank offer 90km of electric driving range and 1200km of combined driving range. Combined fuel consumption is 1.0L/100km. 1. BYD Sealion 6 - 1250km BYD’s Sealion 6 plug-in hyrbid is a mid-sized SUV and its the Dynamic Extended range variant, which uses a four-cylinder engine and a single electric motor, is the real long range hauler.  Its 26.6kWh battery and 60-litre fuel tank offer 140km (NEDC) of electric driving range and 1250km (NEDC) combined driving range. Combined fuel consumption is 0.8L/100km.

Nissan is set to invite Chery to build cars at its UK factory as part of its Re:Nissan project to downsize its manufacturing footprint, and take advantage of its spare factory capacity.This will give Nissan a boost by allowing it to cut costs at its Sunderland factory, while for Chery it means establishing a manufacturing footprint just across the channel from the European heartland.The agreement is just a Memorandum of Understanding for the time being, and also comes just after Nissan announced it had cancelled plans to manufacture electric powertrains at the factory.Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the UK may seem a world away from Australia, but the Nissan Qashqai sold here is built there, as was the just-discontinued Juke.The company said it would retain 100 per cent ownership of the factory, while re-tooling one of its production lines to manufacture Chery vehicles. While the announcement said little else for the time being, it has been reported that, if all goes to plan, Chery would start building cars at the factory in the 2027 financial year.The factory has a capacity of 500,000 units, but has been operating at just over half that for some time.Chery is understood to be planning to build right-hand drive vehicles at the factory to satisfy exploding demand for its vehicles in the UK with Omoda Jaecoo capturing up to a six per cent market share despite being on sale for barely 24 months.The runaway success of the Chery sub-brands in the UK market has made the Omoda/Jaecoo operation bullish in Australia, with the company’s global boss Shawn Xu telling CarsGuide last year that it’s not really a surprise how well the products have been received in Australia.“We’ve always looked at global markets, not just the traditional left-hand drive markets - and from this global vision, we want to build up and be a famous brand for the world,” he said.Most Chinese cars sold in Australia are sourced from either Thailand or China itself, but high tariffs and protectionist policies have a role to play in protecting companies like Volkswagen, Renault and Stellantis in Europe.Many Chinese marques are finding a way into the space by purchasing whole factories or signing deals to take up under-utilised production capacity in active factories on the continent.Whether any Euro-built models from Chinese brands make it to Australia remains to be seen, but seems less likely in the medium term as our island is a convenient way to soak up supply from increasingly under-utilised factories on the Chinese mainland as the domestic market there experiences a contraction.

The electric vehicle revolution is in full swing after another standout month in Australia. There were 21,303 EVs sold in May 2026, as they continue to take hold at the expense of petrol- and diesel-powered cars. SUVs remain the dominant player in the electric segment, accounting for nine of the 10 best sellers.Tesla’s smashing May performance was headlined by 5605 sales for its Model Y SUV, cementing its position as the leading EV in Australia.The Model Y also claimed the title for the best-selling car in Australia last month.  The Jaecoo J5 EV had its best month on sale since it hit Aussie showrooms at the start of this year, selling 2126 units, up from less than 700 in April. This makes the J5 the best-selling small SUV in the country currently, even outselling its closely related and cheaper petrol sibling, the Chery Tiggo 4. The Geely EX5 also surged up the sales charts, achieving 1814 sales, while the BYD Sealion 7 experienced another bumper month, with 1538 sales. The Zeekr 7X rounds out the top five following a continued solid performance since its introduction late last year. BYD’s budget EV trio the Atto 3, Atto 2 and Atto 1 shifted more than 2000 units between them.The BYD Seal (580) is the only non-SUV on this list.Every car in the top 10 selling EVs for May is primarily built in China, with none coming from legacy brands. Some of the other EVs to miss out on a top 10 spot include the MG4 as well as Kia's EV3 and EV5 duo.Top selling electric cars May 2026