2026 GWM Haval Jolion Max Reviews

GWM is readying a second full-sized ute, and its first that would directly challenge the big US pick-up trucks internationally, as defined by the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra, with V8 hybrid power and economy.While North America is the obvious prime target for this as-yet unnamed model, Australia is also part of the mix, with the Chinese brand hoping to offer a high-specification dual-cab ute, perhaps for well-under $100,000, within the next two years or so.And we’re talking about a factory-built right-hand-drive (RHD) proposition here, not the costly remanufactured program that has lately priced the US utes out of reach for many Australian consumers.The top big GWM ute is expected to offer a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that can reportedly deliver around 735kW of power and over 1200Nm of torque in its highest tune.And even the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 PHEV alternative puts larger-engined rivals to shame, with an impressive 385kW and about 800Nm mooted.Plus, the ace up the sleeve is the high-economy/low-emissions benefits of hybrid electrification, differentiating this from the other full-sized pick-up competition.According to GWM Australia Public Relations Manager, Justin Stefani, the company had intended to break into the North American market with the big ute by about now, until the 2024 US election and the current administration’s war on imports via the implementation of severe tariffs put the whole project on pause for the time being.“Last year, we were told that the V8 was highly aligned to a future larger pickup truck for our introduction to the US market,” he revealed to the Australian media at last month’s China Auto Show in Beijing.“That was actually parked due to the fact that Trump came in. That was very clear that they were unsure what was going on with tariffs.”Whether the new GWM ute flagship would have any connection with the brand’s first full-sized pick-up, the King Kong Cannon, is unclear, as this is mainly a China-only model, down to its 2.0-litre turbo/manual-only powertrains.However, as the latter was only launched in 2021 and remains in production, there could be quite a lot of similarities and/or carryover parts, especially given how similar their size and dimensions would end up being.Whatever the case may be, the new full-sized pick-up would be substantially bigger than the existing P500 Cannon Alpha, which – as the larger of the two utes GWM is currently selling in Australia that also includes the P300 Cannon – already has a broader footprint and body than the Ford Ranger and most other medium-sized competition.To help amortise the vast costs behind bringing the international full-sized pick-up to fruition, it is part of an ongoing project using an all-new separate-chassis architecture that may also underpin the imminent Tank 800 three-row 4WD wagon.With the US market still up in the air, Australia’s role in supporting the big Chinese pick-up’s road to production is more important than before.“If that is on table, we would definitely look at potentially an F-150 sized ute,” Stefani said.“In terms of (GWM) going into the US...that was parked. So, that’s not to say we're not going to ever go to the US market, it's just (we're) trying to get some clarity as to what's going on with tariffs. Once that settles down they will understand (how to proceed).”Whether the full-sized ute’s dimensions and braked towing capacity exceed those of the big American alternatives, which are roughly around 5.5 metres in length and 4.5 tonnes in capability, are yet to be revealed.It appears GWM sees a gap in the Australian market, particularly in rural areas, as the original and highly-successful “Eats Utes for Breakfast” Ram 1500 from late last decade was forced to vacate its circa-$80,000 to $90,000 price point after the original DS series gave way to the more-advanced but far-more expensive DT series some three years ago.Since then, the least-expensive DT 1500 starts from $109,950 (all prices are before on-road costs) for the newly-announced Express Edition.Then it’s a step up to the $114,950 F-150 XLT SWB, and then a big jump to the $134,500 Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium and MY26 Tundra Limited Hybrid from $155,990.

GWM is set to replace the controversially designed H7 hybrid mid-sized SUV sooner than expected with a variation of a Chinese-market alternative.Offering completely different styling, three-row seating availability and a tech-heavy plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) system, it is expected to launch in Australia later this year as the 2027 H7.It is based on the Menglong – which translates to Raptor in China – that launched back in 2023 in China, rather than the second-gen Big Dog of the same vintage that Australia knows as the existing H7. The 2027 H7 has been recently facelifted with a new nose treatment as well as the addition of a long-wheelbase version known as the Plus.Whether that suffix transfers over is yet to be confirmed. The Menglong/H7 is also known as the V7 in some other markets.According to a GWM spokesperson speaking to Australian journalists at the China Auto Show in Beijing, we should expect to see both the five-seat and seven-seat models in time.“We will probably see the long-wheelbase model as well as the short-wheelbase version of the (Menglong),” he said.In China, the Menglong/H7 Plus features GWM’s latest Hi4 PHEV powertrain, with a four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, two electric motors for all-wheel drive and a large battery pack underneath offering decent EV-only range of at least 140km.This would make it a direct rival to other seven-seater SUVs, like the BYD Sealion 8 PHEV, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Kia Sorento PHEV and Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV, suggesting a starting price north of $60,000.In contrast, the Big Dog-based H7 as sold in Australia right now is a smaller five-seater SUV with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol hybrid system driving the front wheels only, despite its chunky styling suggesting 4x4 capability. It's offered as a single grade only, that currently starts from $46,990 drive-away.Like the latter, the Menglong/H7 Plus is a monocoque-bodied SUV (related to the H6) with a transverse engine layout, meaning it will probably be a largely on-road-only proposition, though with some off-road clearances and additional technology for light 4x4 duties in line with its boxy, rugged styling.This makes sense for GWM, since the visually similar Tank 300 and its larger 500 cousin are proper 4WD SUVs with tough body-on-frame construction, meaning they appeal to a different type of consumer compared to the more urbane H7 Plus.The availability of a seven-seater PHEV model also opens the Haval up to a broader audience, so it should prove more popular than the existing model.With just 369 sales in the first four months of this year in Australia, the current H7 trails the H6’s 5000-plus result by a considerable margin.

GWM will give its Cannon Alpha dual-cab ute and its very closely-related Tank 500 SUV a handy performance and economy boost with a big new internal combustion engine (ICE) transplant.Due in August, the 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit is a coup for the local distributor, as Australia will be the first market in the world to receive it, according to a company spokesperson.Final specifications and outputs are yet to be divulged, but in the Chinese-market 2027 models, the big four-pot diesel will deliver around 170kW of power and 620Nm of torque, pushed to the rear or all four wheels via a beefed-up version of the company’s in-house nine-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.This will be the first diesel application of any description in the 500 SUV, which has only been available here with a 258kW/615Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol hybrid since its 2024 Australian release and, more-recently, a 300kW/750Nm plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) option dubbed Hi4-T.The same plug-in hybrid set-up is also available in the Cannon Alpha, which is the larger and newer of two Cannon utes GWM sells in Australia, but the 3.0-litre unit will supplant the existing 135kW/400Nm 2.4-litre turbo-diesel, suggesting that price rises are coming as a result of the switcheroo.As announced at last month’s China Auto Show, hybrid and PHEV diesel versions will also be offered in various models across each of GWM’s sub-brands, as required, in the near future, including with the 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit serving the entry-level P300 Cannon utes.“Maybe the first quarter of 2027,” according to GWM Chief Technology Officer Nicole Wu. “That really depends on the real situation in each market.”The company has already released some data pertaining to the 2.4-litre TD hybrid as found in the 2027 Tank 500, making a combined 145kW and 500Nm, though electric motor outputs have not yet been announced.Local timing for these electrified iterations has yet to be confirmed.That said, the latest diesel seems very efficient.In both the Cannon Alpha and Tank 500 versions that will launch in China later this year, the 3.0-litre engine is actually more economical than the 2.4-litre, according to the (comparatively lenient) Chinese combined average fuel-consumption cycle numbers.In the ute it returns 7.1 litres per 100km with 2WD and 7.3L/100km with 4WD, as opposed to 8.1L/100km in the smaller diesel 4WD alternative, while the SUV’s equivalent 3.0-litre versus 2.4-litre figures are 8.4 and 8.6 respectively.As a result, the coming 3.0-litre hybrid and PHEVs stand to be very frugal.Better still, the big diesel slices nearly 5.5 seconds off the P500 Alpha 2.4-litre TD’s 0-100km/h sprint time, coming in at 10.6s. In the Tank 500, the corresponding figures see a 4.4s drop, to 10.1s.Note, however, that the Hi4-T PHEV in both vehicle types is still the sprint champion of the range at just 7.4s (Alpha) and 6.9s (Tank 500), while still being able to return a theoretical 1.7L/100km and 2.2L/100km respectively.Which probably makes offering the 2998cc 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine option in the Cannon Alpha and Tank 500 redundant for our market, particularly with record-high fuel prices, but GWM has left the door open by revealing that it is “…not decided yet for Australia.”For the record, in the SUV, it makes 260kW and 500Nm, manages the 0-100km/h time in 7.3s and averages 11.5L/100km.

GWM is preparing to add more grunt to its tough Tank 300 4WD, with the Ford Everest now in its sights.A new V6-powered Tank 300 variant has just appeared in Chinese sale approval documents ahead of its full launch before the end of 2026.Its 3.0-litre turbo-petrol engine produces 265kW, which is a decent step up on the 2.0-litre unit's 162kW available in Australia. It has not been confirmed for Australia, and without hybrid power, it will have a tough time slipping under our emissions regulations.It is also expected to only be available in left-hand drive due to engineering restrictions. The V6 Tank 300 sports a different honeycomb front grille design to other variants, but it otherwise bears a similar resemblance to its siblings. It would continue to rival the diesel-powered Ford Everest and Toyota Prado, along with BYD sub-brand Denza’s new B5 plug-in hybrid SUV. GWM’s Australian approach could be more likely to include the diesel hybrid and plug-in hybrid set-ups planned for next year.The Tank 300 should receive these new engines, but it is unclear whether they will come Down Under.GWM has regularly tinkered with its Tank 300 lineup in Australia, which at one stage had petrol, diesel, hybrid and PHEV options.Having now cut the hybrid model, there could be room for the more powerful V6 in the range to accompany the soon-approaching 3.0-litre diesel.GWM also filed details of an updated 2.0-litre turbo-petrol version, boosting power from 162kW to 175kW.

Move over, Denza B8!Arguably China’s most-convincing answer-yet to the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Lexus LX, Range Rover and other European and Japanese upper-large luxury SUVs is looming for Australia, with most conceivable luxury features for half price.Revealed in early March and debuting at last month’s China Auto Show in Beijing, GWM flagship brand Wey’s V9X has yet to be confirmed for Australia.However, according to a company spokesperson speaking to CarsGuide at the company’s vast headquarters in Baoding, it could follow on from the G9 luxury people mover that is scheduled to finally arrive sometime in the second half of this year.“The V9X is under very serious consideration for Australia,” he said. “We have not yet made the decision… and it would be priced over $100,000.”That would make the GWM more expensive than the Denza B8, that starts from $91,000 and nearly $98,000 for the seven-seater and six-seater models respectively.To help justify that, the Wey SUV is designed, packaged and specified to go up against the higher-grade versions of its competitors.This means including luxuries like GWM-first air suspension with three comfort settings, four-wheel steering with a “Crab Mode” for a tighter turning circle, AI assistance inside, next-level autonomous driving tech where legal, powered doors, massaging seats (with captain’s chairs and ottomans in the second and third row), expansive multimedia systems accessed by various huge touchscreens, multiple conductive charging surfaces for devices and more.A colossal amount of individualisation is available, within two body lengths (5.2 metres and 5.3m) and wheelbase sizes (3050mm and 3150mm). Kerb weight ranges from 2740kg to 2930kg.Built on GWM’s all-new ONE Platform, the electrified architecture supports internal combustion engine (ICE) in hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) formats branded Hi4, as well as coming EV power using battery and - later on - fuel-cell hydrogen applications. Even the Hi4 is available in faster-charging 800 volt as well as 400V configurations.For now, the V9X is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol Hi4 PHEV-only proposition, using a three- or four-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (depending on spec), paired to two electric motors and a choice of battery packs in around 55.5kWh, 66kWh and 80kWh sizes, for China-rated CLTC range of 240km, 312km and 363km respectively. Not bad for a massive electrified SUV.Full details are still scarce, but the 400V PHEV with the 55.5kWh battery delivers a combined 510kW of power and 862Nm of torque to all four wheels, for a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds on the way to a 210km/h top speed, while the 800V PHEV’s numbers are 550kW, 930Nm, 4.6s and 225km/h.To help keep all that performance in check, the V9X features intelligent-torque-distribution all-wheel drive and electronically-controlled air suspension for the double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension systems.More information, including full data specs for the whole range, will be revealed later this year.

Australia’s cheapest electric SUV right now is poised to gain an even-cheaper hybrid (HEV) sister model before long.The Ora 5 EV lands in showrooms later this month from a headline-making $33,990 (all prices are drive-away), but the Ora 5 HEV may cost considerably less, even dipping below $30,000 for the entry-level Lux grade.For now, parent company GWM refuses to confirm the HEV is even a definite starter for Australia, stating instead that it needs to concentrate on getting the retro-themed sub-brand’s first EV SUV off the ground.This comes after the consistently poor sales of the now-discontinued Ora hatch (that inexplicably cost $2000 more than the Ora 5 EV SUV) in this market.“Our focus right now is on launching the Ora 5 SUV (EV),” said GWM Australia Head of Marketing and Communications Steve Maciver.“We think it's the right car at the right time. We've been pretty aggressive in terms of our positioning and our pricing. We see an opportunity, so that's why we've done that.“But… the way we've positioned the Ora 5 SUV, has been intentional in terms of where that's going to position other models around that as well. So, read into that what you will. We’re pretty happy with Ora pricing right now. It is resonating, but it does leave us options either side of it.”With the uncertainty surrounding fuel prices, the booming popularity of EVs may be short-lived, meaning that GWM is probably hedging its bets by offering broader electrification choices for consumers in Australia like the Ora 5 HEV.“There will be further expansions that come in the Ora range this year,” Maciver added. “You’re going to see possibly one and even two additional Ora models to land in Australia this year as well.“(But) at this stage, Ora is focused on EV. There may be hybrid options in there as well… we’re not committing one way or another, but again, we’ve got plenty of options. We’ve just got to work out what the right one for us is.”There may be further, different Ora models coming beyond the 5 SUV, though what these are remain a tightly-held secret. Predictions include a larger SUV and a city-sized runabout.“There are other vehicles which we have seen, which were very keen on, which have not yet been reviewed publicly, which are very much on our radar to add to the Ora portfolio,” Maciver teased.In China, the Ora 5 is available with three powertrain choices.The EV features a 150kW/260Nm electric motor and 58.3kWh battery pack for a range claim of about 430km (all figures are WLTC).The HEV pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor for a combined 164kW of power and 476Nm of torque, averaging 5.1 litres per 100km for over 1000km of range.The solely internal combustion engine variants come as either a 105kW/210Nm naturally-aspirated or 118kW/270Nm turbo versions, for a 6.7L/100km rating.Along with the different powertrain, the Ora 5 HEV comes with reduced cargo capacity, falling from the EV’s 422 litres to 390L without a spare wheel, or from 362L to just 272L with one.Maciver added that he is buoyed by the pre-launch reaction to the Ora 5 EV’s pricing.“That’s had a really, really strong reception so far, taking a good amount of orders within the first couple of weeks,” he said.“We've said all along that, with Ora, if we can get an EV powertrain into an SUV bodystyle, we will do well with it. Now, obviously, the timing for us has been very fortuitous right now, but that car has really hit the ground running.”The Ora 5 EV’s $33,990 pricing undercuts all rival EV SUVs, including the BYD Atto 2 from around $35,500, Jaecoo J5 EV from $36,990 and ageing Chery E5 from $37,990.There are cheaper non-SUV EVs, such as the BYD Atto 1 hatchback from around $27,100, not-so-small MG 4 Urban hatch from $31,990, GAC Aion UT hatch from $32,990 and BYD Dolphin hatch from about $33,400.

I have been to three Chinese motor shows in a row, and all three times have signalled a shift in the calibre of the cars, which are increasingly setting a global agenda.The first time, I wrote of the sheer scale on display from some of the biggest brands and the amount of interest around carmakers BYD, GWM and Nio compared to the stands of Nissan, Toyota and Honda.The Shanghai Motor Show a year later was full of ambitious new products and a lack of fear to try new things on a global stage.But this year’s Beijing Motor Show marked yet another, unexpected shift, which should continue to strike fear into popular incumbents used to topping charts in regions around the world.This time, things were somewhat scaled back. Gone were the weird and whacky Chinese domestic market specials. The stands were slick, professional and showcased a handful of global-market ready models.Above all, the flavour was international. If the previous two motor shows were experimental and expansion themed, respectively the 2026 Beijing Motor Show was an announcement.Chinese automakers aren’t just for China any more. They have their sights well and truly set at topping the charts around the world.The Geely Group stand was happy to show some older cars, such as the Monjaro SUV and Preface sedan, but also ones that were fully prepared for export, with a variety of fresh hybrid powertrains designed to please international buyers and markets with different emissions settings and charging infrastructure.Even the auto giant’s primary reveal was relatively tame, a concept sedan which previewed its new design language but the message was clear - this is our new unified design for the world, not just for China, and it is powertrain agnostic. You’ll know a Geely when you see it, and it will have exactly what you want under the bonnet.The same could be said for most of the other stands I had time to visit. GAC showed off its global market off-road SUV alongside an array of export-ready models, but it was the more obscure once-domestic-only marques like the luxury HongQi and the off-road-focused 212 which had taken a massive step up in terms of the international allure of their stands.Another very telling shift was the renewed interest in brands like Nissan and Toyota. Not so much the globally-recognised versions of these brands, mind you, but their Chinese joint-venture incarnations, which have created quite some hype in the preceding months in markets outside of China.Nissan’s stand went from a sad handful of dated sedan models in previous years, to absolutely heaving with interest thanks to its Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute and just-revealed Terrano SUV.Nissan has unapologetically re-oriented toward its joint-venture with Dongfeng in China for these models, declaring it has to lean on “China Speed” to reignite interest in its otherwise ailing global footprint.Toyota, meanwhile, showed a stand primarily of joint-venture models with BYD and GAC, many of which, it seems, may start to be exported as more of the world seeks a more electrified line-up than the Japanese juggernaut has previously been keen to offer.With context, this shift makes a lot of sense. Domestically, Chinese automakers have been engaged in a brutal price war, as Beijing’s subsidies shift between production of ‘New Energy’ models to the actual sales pipeline, as the government seeks to rapidly get combustion vehicles off the road.The result has seen the biggest players, like BYD, able to use their scale to sell models at extremely sharp prices in order to squeeze rivals on volume, all seemingly with the objective of being one of the last ones standing at any cost. It has seen a massive contraction in the number of automakers able to stay afloat in China, and with a market quickly reaching a point of ‘New Energy’ saturation, many, including BYD, have sought the refuge and higher margins of export markets like Australia.As it turns out, many of these markets have been ripe for the taking, particularly ones with low barriers to entry, incumbent market leaders not used to such competition, and little to no tariffs.It’s no wonder then, that as I walked around the Beijing Motor Show, I very much felt like every automaker was trying to sell me a car, rather than the local standing next to me.

GWM has confirmed an ‘all-new’ Haval H6 will arrive in Australia during the first quarter of next year, to replace the third-generation version that has been around since 2020.Larger, longer and promising higher-quality fittings, there will also be corresponding price increases to match, we’re told, up from today’s base H6 Lux grade’s $36,000 drive-away.This would put GWM’s vital new mid-sized SUV closer to direct rivals such as the Nissan X-Trail, Mitsubishi Outlander and Mazda CX-5 that all kick off from just under $40,000 before on-road costs.We’ll know more about pricing and other specification details closer to its Australian launch in February or March, 2027.Elsewhere in the world, Haval’s family SUV is actually not a direct replacement for the existing H6, including in its Chinese home market, but a different model altogether and badged as Xiaolong Max, H6L or H6 Max.Released there in early 2023, it was facelifted last year, meaning that the 2027 H6 for Australia is actually a facelift of a series that will be nearly four-years old when it debuts here.Whether GWM Australia adds the ‘L’ or ‘Max’ suffix to the new H6 is unknown at this stage.We understand the larger Jolion Max will be added to the regular Jolion range by the end of this year, to help fill the void left by the demise of the existing H6, allowing the brand to offer a value-focused SUV that is roomy enough for many families’ needs.The Jolion Max is closely related to the Xiaolong Max/H6L/H6 Max.In China, the H6L/Max is offered in a variety of powertrains that broadly mirror today’s existing Australian-market H6.The entry-level models continue to use a 170kW/380Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, driving either the front (2WD) or all four wheels (AWD) via a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission. It can scoot to 100km/h from standstill in 7.6 seconds (AWD: 7.8s), hit 215km/h and average 7.8 litres per 100km (AWD: 8.3L/100km) on the Chinese WLTC cycle.More economy-minded motorists can choose a 182kW/535Nm (2WD) or 182kW/670Nm (AWD, or Hi4 in GWM-speak) HEV hybrid versions, boasting similar performance but a handy 5.6/6.1L/100km.As with today’s H6, there are also plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) grades, adding an electric motor and a choice of battery (23.7kWh and 33.8kWh), for 240kW/535Nm (2WD) and 280kW/670Nm (AWD Hi4). It is unclear whether these figures are combined. WLTC consumption is 1.0-1.3L/100km, the Hi4 PHEV manages 0-100km/h in 5.6s, while WLTC-rated EV-only range is between 95km and 140km depending on battery size.So, how much larger and more family-friendly is 2027 H6?Coming in at 4780mm long, 1895mm wide, 1730mm high and 2800mm in wheelbase, it meets or exceeds the current model’s corresponding measurements by 77mm, 9mm, 0mm and 62mm respectively.However, at 436 litres, the newcomer’s luggage capacity falls nearly 30 per cent short of the current H6’s 560L. Closer to the swoopier H6 GT (B03) SUV coupe’s 392L, it is not much larger than the smaller Jolion Max petrol’s 412L.All the H6L/Maxx figures quoted are for the Chinese domestic market versions, meaning many will invariably change for Australia.Lower boot capacity and higher prices aside, the newcomer’s sleeker styling, increased dimensions, claimed quality uptick and uprated powertrains should resonate with Australians.And that’s not forgetting the Australian steering and suspension changes GWM is implementing on all new models as they roll them out, courtesy of ex-Holden dynamics engineer Rob Trubiani.We’ll find out more later this year, ahead of the Haval’s debut early in 2027.

A new ute price war is forming as rivals pile in to battle the smash hit petrol-electric ute of the past 18 months.The BYD Shark 6 ute’s arrival in Australia in late 2024 was a moment in time for the local new vehicle market, with the petrol, dual-motor powered plug-in hybrid (PHEV) soon upsetting the seemingly rock solid Ford Ranger / Toyota HiLux duopoly at the top of the 4x4 ute category.Soon enough, Ford introduced its own take on the petrol-electric plug-in ute formula with the Ranger PHEV hitting showrooms mid-last year.But so far it’s barely made a blip on the new vehicle radar map, to the point where ‘MY25.75’ and prior examples have been marked down to a recommended drive-away price of $62,000, a chunky 14 per cent reduction from its previous sticker of $71,990. And that’s before taking into account the latter number did not include on-road costs.That price is available to private as well as fleet and government buyers and shifts cost-of-entry for a Ranger PHEV into the same ballpark as the mid-tier Shark 6 Premium (about $62,900 drive-away).The entry-grade Lux version of the petrol-electric GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV kicks off at $61,490, drive-away, and the just-released JAC Hunter is lining up for a super-aggressive “less than $50K drive-away”.Toyota, so well known for hybrid tech across its passenger car and SUV line ups, has so far only offered a relatively timid 48V mild-hybrid version of its diesel HiLux, starting at $57,990, before on-road costs.Which leaves a four-way PHEV ute cage fight between the BYD Shark 6, Ford Ranger, GWM Cannon Alpha and JAC Hunter.But wait, there’s another combatant due to step into the octagon before the end of this year, the diesel-electric Chery ‘KP31’ - yet to be named, but Orca is looking likely. Get it? Orca, higher up the predatory food chain than Shark.And with a petrol-electric version set to follow sometime in 2027 there’s no doubt (given the way Chery has repositioned the small SUV market with its Tiggo 4) it will be priced to take a sizeable bite out of the opposition.GWM is also preparing a plug-in hybrid version of its cheaper and smaller Cannon ute for later this year to complement the Cannon Alpha workhorse.Stand by for further price movements and positioning tweaks in this ongoing PHEV ute conflict.

Year-to-date registration data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) show ‘electrified’ passenger and light commercial vehicles have crossed a significant tipping point to become a more popular choice than traditional diesel and purely petrol-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) options in Australia.To the end of April, sales of battery electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles stood at 50,976 units, a 79.2 per cent increase on the same four-month period in 2025 (28,448 units).At the same time, sales of ICE vehicles (including light commercials but not heavy trucks) have dropped 35.9 per cent from 64,991 in 2025 to 47,813 units this year.Tellingly, sales of pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have grown by just over 100 per cent, with key players BYD up 110.8 per cent (25,243 vs 11,974) and Tesla 49.9 per cent year-on-year (8485 vs 5660).Individual (higher volume) stand-out BEV models include the BYD Sealion 7 and Dolphin, Geely EX5, Kia EV3, Tesla Model Y and Toyota bZ4X.And when it comes to hybrids, thanks to better supply of the new-generation version, the ever-popular Toyota RAV4 has come up to its more usual monthly sales rate and has been joined by its big-brother LandCruiser 300 Hybrid.Add in other relatively recent hybrid arrivals like the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid joining now established disrupters like the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha and hybrid sales are set to expand even further. Clearly, April 2026 marked a historical moment in time for the Aussie new vehicle market.