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Buyers still love 4WDs in Australia.  It remains a big-selling segment, but some of its biggest hitters are suffering losses. China is starting to get a foothold in the market with budget offerings posing a serious threat to established regulars. Emissions-heavy vehicles such as 4WDs are also coming under fire from increasingly stringent rules in Australia. Here is the rundown of the best-selling 4WDs up to June 2026.  The Ford Everest large SUV is up front with more than 11,000 sales in 2026 so far, despite a near 10 per cent year-on-year drop.  It is based on the Ford Ranger, which is the best-selling ute in Australia. The Toyota Prado takes second place with more than 9000 sales so far this year, but it has experienced an even sharper drop of nearly 42 per cent year-on-year. The Prado is a scaled down version of the LandCruiser 300 Series, using a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, as opposed to the more powerful V6.  Isuzu’s MU-X is third, making 7564 sales up to June, but it too experienced a more minor slump of 3.2 per cent.  The LandCruiser 300 Series is currently fourth on the standings, and is the only car in the top five to have experienced a substantial growth in sales.  Its 6451 sales constitutes a 26.3 per cent rise compared to first six months of 2025. Toyota also released a performance petrol hybrid V6 variant earlier this year. The Suzuki Jimny rounds out the top five as a much smaller and cheaper competitor to those above it.  Priced from $31,990, before on-road costs, the Jimny is down 11.1 per cent compared to this time last year, while still amassing 3882 sales.  The Nissan Patrol is down nearly 25 per cent compared to its sales result up to June 2025, with 2843 sales so far in 2026.  The current Y62 petrol V8 Patrol will cease production next month, and order books for a new twin-turbo V6 will open later.   GWM’s Tank 300 mid-size SUV off-roader has continued to surge up the sales charts in 2026, with 2759 sales so far. The Tank 300 is available in petrol, diesel, plug-less hybrid and plug-in hybrid set-ups - more varied than any of its competitors.  BYD’s Denza sub-brand is another Chinese rival experiencing a solid sales return in Australia. Its B5 plug-in hybrid SUV has already accumulated 1445 sales this year, having only gone on sale in December 2025. Its bigger sibling the B8 is also approaching the 1000-unit mark midway through this year.  The ultra-luxury GMC Yukon Denali from the United States is starting to pick up momentum in Australia.  The V8-powered eight-seater Yukon Denali went on sale in the middle of last year, but 2026 has seen sales explode by nearly 190 per cent.  It remains a low-volume model with only 202 sales, as it carries a $174,990 price tag.  The 4WD segment is about undergo some serious changes in the next few months, including an influx of new models. The Mitsubishi Pajero will return to Australia, along with several new Chinese competitors likely to join it over the next 18 months. The anticipated Geely Galaxy Cruiser is slated for a UK launch, meaning Australia could its next step, while the GAC Yue 7 also seems to be on the way.  

We all secretly knew it, but now it's official: Ute and four-wheel-drive owners rarely use their vehicles as intended. Utes and rough-and-tumble 4WDs are some of the best-selling vehicles in the country, and if you have ever spent any time on the road you'll see it is dominated by Ford Rangers, Toyota HiLuxes and Pradoes and a range of newer vehicles such as the BYD Shark 6, GWM Tank 300 and Denza B5. Now new data from Continental tyres shows most high-riding and rough-road-ready vehicles rarely make it out of the suburbs. The survey polled 2000 Australian ute and 4WD owners across the country aged 18-years-old and above. Only 18 per cent of those surveyed said they had used their vehicle’s off-road capabilities frequently, while 22 per cent said they never went 4WDing. A further 21 per cent said they had gone off-road once or twice, and shockingly two per cent said they weren’t even aware of their car’s off-road ability. Of the drivers surveyed, 33 per cent said they take their vehicle off-road every few months, while 22 per cent said they never take their ute or 4WD off-roading. Twenty one per cent said once a year and only six per cent said every weekend, Surprisingly only 22 per cent of respondents said they bought their ute or 4WD for its off-road ability, with towing capacity (21 per cent) and space for the family (20 per cent) also the main reasons for the purchase. But if people aren't going off-road regularly, what are they using them for? The most common use of the vehicle was for grocery runs, with 57 per cent of those polled stating they do that on a weekly basis. This was followed by commuting to work (52 per cent) and weekend getaways (41 per cent). Only 20 per cent said they used the vehicle for camping or off-roading weekly. And the most common off-roading use in suburban areas was to tackle gravel or dirt carparks followed by grassed areas at local parks or sports fields. And the biggest challenge for utes and 4WDs? That’s parking in tight carparks and driving in poor weather conditions, followed by hitting a pothole.

A new report from the Australia Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) has shed light over fresh concerns regarding long car repair and refund wait times in Australia. Dealers admitted customers face significant delays to get their cars fixed in Australia, especially EVs.  It can take between six and eight weeks for an issue to just be diagnosed due to workshop backlogs. The association said some manufacturing faults can even take months or years to be correctly diagnosed Dealers are now refusing to accept tow-ins or diagnostic work for vehicles they did not originally sell due their backlogs. They blamed long wait times on sourcing parts like electric car batteries that cannot be air-freighted and must be shipped instead. Dealers have also pointed the finger at car manufacturers that dispute or mull over approving warranty requests. The report said that only manufacturers can provide remedy for design faults, leaving dealers helpless to appease customer expectations of a swift resolution.  The report stated concerns over manufacturers denying reimbursement claims and failing to meaningfully engage with dispute processes.  Carmakers are required to make parts and repair available for a reasonable time after purchase, but this is a vague stipulation. The report sets out several Australian Consumer Law reform recommendations to rectify these issues.  It said manufacturers should be required to respond to buyback requests within a fixed period. If the manufacturer fails to respond with written confirmation of indemnity, it is deemed to have accepted responsibility.   Manufacturers should also be required to join legal tribunal proceedings for alleged manufacturing or systemic defects.  The report called for further clarification of consumer guarantees regarding battery degradation and replacement thresholds.  This would recognise the inevitable delays of sourcing EV components and developing software solutions. The Australian EV boom is in full swing, with sales surging in the wake of skyrocketing fuel prices and increasingly stringent environment regulations.  More EVs will hit the roads in the coming months, with the industry likely to be placed under further strain.

BYD is preparing to kick petrol-powered cars to the curb with its latest EV boasting nearly 1000km of driving range.  The Denza Z9 S is an electric sedan from BYD's luxury sub-brand that has just been fully revealed in China. Its rear-wheel drive single motor variant produces 370kW and offers up to 920km of driving range from its 102kWh battery.  This is only according to generous CLTC standards, and not the more reliable WLTP, so don’t expect it to reach that figure in the real world, but it will still offer one of the longest driving ranges on the market.  The range-topping tri-motor all-wheel set-up boosts power to a whopping 890kW, but driving range is reduced to 780km. This car looks to be the sibling of the Z9 GT that is one of BYD’s most anticipated new models landing Down Under this year. The Z9 S will launch in China later this year, but there is no official news on whether it will make it to Australia like the Z9 GT. The car is marginally smaller in every dimension than its wagon sibling. It will take on the hugely popular Xiaomi SU7 in China, while locally it is closest in intent to the Porsche Taycan or Audi e-tron GT. BYD is also prepping another new electric wagon, under its Fang Cheng Bao (Formula Leopard) sub-brand, the S GT, that will launch in the third quarter of this in China. It shapes up as a more family-friendly version of the Denza Z9 GT. The car will be offered with a single motor RWD variant, producing 300kW or a dual motor AWD set-up, that adds a front-mounted motor producing 190kW. It too has a substantial 850km range from a slightly smaller 92kWh battery. The S GT can tow up to 500kg, giving it some further lifestyle potential for buyers. Fangchengbao is the off-road sub-brand of BYD, but it will likely fall under the Denza name if it hits global markets, meaning it is not out of the question for Australia.  Chinese brands have been increasingly targeting sedan and wagon markets globally as they seek profits outside of their domestic market. BYD has already started to see success on this front in Australia, with its Seal electric sedan and Seal 6 plug-in hybrid wagon.  There are more examples on their way Down Under from China, including the Geely Emgrand PHEV sedan arriving next year. 

The Denza B8 introduces a luxury plug-in hybrid to the upper-large SUV segment but does it make enough of a splash to stand out against its heavy-hitting rivals?

BYD’s latest luxury hybrid SUV could have one trick up its sleeve its rivals don’t. The incoming FangChengBao Titanium 9, or BYD Ti9 as it is likely to be known in export markets, is a three-row plug-in hybrid SUV that is a size-up on family favourites like the Toyota Kluger. It is 5300mm long and has a wheelbase of 3120mm, so it will be a shape up in the increasingly popular large SUV segment in China. It will be similarly sized to the Zeekr 9X which is due in Australia in the next 18 months,. AutoHome has reported the Ti9 will boast a driving range of more than 2300km, substantially more than most cars on the market. There is no news on how big the fuel tank and battery will be to achieve this, but expect it to be a cut above many of its rivals.  Chinese media has been suggesting it will be powered by a dual electric motor plug-in hybrid set-up, with power and torque figures still to be revealed, but possibly shared with other recent BYD models.  Its smaller Ti7 sibling has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors, producing 358 kW and 630 Nm. This could provide an indication for what powers the Ti9.  It will be available in six-seat and seven-seat configurations, and is designed for urban and light off-roading environments. The large SUV is likely to be be unveiled in the second half of this year, and go on sale early next year. There is potential for this model to come to Australia, with its smaller Titanium 7 (or Ti7) sibling going on sale in the United Kingdom soon. FangChengBao, or Formula Leopard, is one of BYD’s off-roading sub-brands, but its models do not fall under that name overseas. The Ti7 in the UK will have a BYD badge on it, as might be the case in Australia, while its larger Leopard 5 is sold locally as the Denza B5. There is no official news on whether models like the Ti7 and Ti9 will launch Down Under. The UK launch means they are being built in right-hand drive, so there is a good chance they will eventually make their way over here, as almost every BYD product available in the UK has come to Australia. BYD Australia has previously told CarsGuide the Ti7 is not on its radar, but the brand has demonstrated previously that plans can change quickly. 

BYD is turning its attention to Europe's best performance car brands, revealing details about its new Denza Z sports car.  The Denza Z is a fully-electric performance four-seater roaster, shaping up as a rival to petrol-powered and established alternatives such as the Mercedes-Benz SL Class.  The Z has a three electric motor set-up, with two on the rear axle and one on the front, producing a combined 1180kW.  It boasts a 0-100km/h time of less than two seconds and has a top speed of 350km/h, putting it into direct competition with the biggest names in the business.  Unlike other Denza products, the Z will debut in Europe and China, signalling a clear intention from the brand to tackle established European rivals.  There is no news on whether the Z will come to Australia, but if it does, it would likely not be for a few years, due to currently being left-hand drive only. Denza Australia has been contacted for comment to see if the Z will launch in Australia in the future.  It would compliment the Z9 GT sports wagon due Down Under in the coming months. The Z is available as a hardtop or as a heavier convertible.  It was first seen as a concept car last year at the Beijing Motor Show, with it keeping much of the same striking look.  At 4780mm long, 1990mm wide and 1350mm tall, it is similarly-sized to the SL Class.  Underneath the skin, there is an advanced adaptive suspension system that is also found on the Yangwang U9 top-end performance car.  The Z's European future means BYD will come in ahead of many of its competition by offering a fully-electric sports car, with others still focusing on petrol power. Lamborghini recently pulled back its plans for an EV, putting resources into plug-in hybrid set-ups.  Ferrari recently revealed its first-ever EV, the Luce, which has received polarising commentary.  The Denza Z scheduled to launch from next month. 

It’s the equivalent of Toyota opening its own service station franchise, but BYD Australia has admitted it could open its own public electric vehicle charging network. It’s one of a number of options on the table for the Chinese brand as it introduces its proprietary ‘Flash charging’ system to Australia. The initial rollout will focus on its Denza premium brand dealers in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide before expanding to BYD dealers in the future, but beyond that the options are wide open. “We’re working through that, but we'll have them in public spaces,” explained Stephen Collins, BYD Australia chief operating officer. “Now, whether it's next to a KFC or a shopping centre or a standalone ... the ones in China, for example, are basically standalone, so they're basically like the old petrol station. But it's just electric, a mega charging- electric service station.” Collins said creating standalone charging ‘service stations’ is possible thanks to the Flash charging technology, which can recharge at up to 1500kW and take a compatible battery from zero to 97 per cent capacity in just nine minutes. Currently the most powerful chargers in Australia are 400kW. Because of the speed of charging, Collins said this opens up the possibility of specific charging locations, instead of so-called ‘destination chargers’, such as those at shopping centres and hotels. “ I think that what they've shown in China is… ultimately having a public charging station, like the old petrol station, you literally drive in and in six, seven, eight, nine minutes, bang you're full,” he said. The BYD boss also said that Flash charging should help reduce another factor in buyer hesitation towards electric vehicles. “ I think ‘time to charge’ has been a barrier, and that's what this technology solves,” he explained. “So I think it will be a big factor, next year and into the following years is that time to charge.” The technology is specific to BYD and Denza and requires the company’s latest generation Blade Batteries with 1000V capacity, so cars from other brands will not be able to use the Flash chargers.

BYD’s Fangchengbao brand has released official imagery of a new electric shooting brake wagon ahead of its launch in the domestic market in the third quarter of 2026. Dubbed the Fangchengbao Formula S GT, this is essentially a shooting brake version of the Formula S sedan that's already been shown. It forms as a key rival to the Porsche Taycan which is available both as a sedan and shooting brake wagon. As reported by China’s Autohome, this car will come with a fully electric powertrain with the electric motors being fed by a second-generation Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP), allowing flash charging capabilities. No official power, range or performance figures have been announced yet, but it’s expected there will be multiple variants. It’s also understood the Formula S GT features adaptive suspension, as well as semi-autonomous driving capabilities due to the LiDAR sensor on the roof. In terms of design, this electric liftback bears some similarities to the Denza Z9 GT which is already confirmed for an Australian launch later this year. It also has a similar footprint, with the Formula S GT measuring 5.0 metres long and 2.0 metres wide, with a 3.0-metre wheelbase. Some exterior design highlights include semi-flush door handles, diamond-shaped tail-lights, plus an active ducktail rear spoiler. Fangchengbao hasn’t officially revealed any imagery of the Formula S GT’s interior yet. At this stage it’s unclear whether the Formula S GT, or even the regular Formula S, will come to Australia. The Fangchengbao brand doesn’t have a presence in Australia, though a few of its models are badged as Denza models locally. Even if it comes to Australia, it’ll compete closely with the Denza Z9 GT, which is due to arrive before the end of 2026. Power will come from three electric motors with a total system output of 850kW. This will allow for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 2.7 seconds. Additionally, the Z9 GT will offer flash charging capabilities at up to 1500kW.

BYD’s Denza sub-brand has lifted its game. The brand has rolled out its first over-the-air software update, in the same way your smartphone improves itself periodically, for its plug-ing hybrid B5 and B8 4WDs. There are several headline grabbing improvements, but the real Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series smashing news is in the details. Denza’s B5 and B8 four-wheel drives have had their security improved with a driver password lock added to the vehicle. This is in direct contrast to the LandCruiser 300, which is being stolen in increasing numbers around Australia. Thieves are effectively using a device to clone keys to access and drive the vehicles. Toyota’s response is a bit more old school, with the company offering a steering wheel lock. The steering locks are available as a genuine Toyota accessory on all models, and in the past few decades were used as a deterrent to car thieves. The Denza B5 also now has a cruise control function when towing, a dedicated towing mode switch and users can select a trailer weight that Denza claims the vehicle to intelligently adjust its performance parameters to enhance stability and safety during towing. The bigger B8 also now has cruise control when towing and more accurate range estimates when hauling. The company also made tweaks to the duo’s off-road performance, with new traction control settings. This improves the off-road capability, driving stability and performance on sand. Increased safety includes anti-jam second and third row folding seats, which now stop if they detect resistance. It has also added turn signals into the head-up display alerts. Denza Australia Chief Operating Officer Mark Harland said this update shows the brand is listening to its customers right here in Australia.