2004 Hyundai Trajet Reviews

As Hyundai’s game-changing dual-cab ute inches closer, more details of just what to expect from the brand’s answer to the Kia Tasman, Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and BYD Shark 6 are beginning to surface.The clock is ticking, though, as a new wave of utes from China wash over the Aussie new car market.New utes are big news, and so we here at CarsGuide have once again popped on our detective hats to bring you everything we know about Hyundai’s first ute in Australia.What sort of engine will the Hyundai ute have?The one thing we know for certain is that it won’t be powered by a diesel engine. Unlike the Tasman (and the vast majority of utes sold in Australia, for that matter), Hyundai is ditching the diesel, rightly predicting that the world will have moved on by the time its ute arrives."Australia doesn't need another diesel ute,” Hyundai's new local chief, Don Romano, has previously told us. ”I think we have to look at options. And I can't tell you whether that's a PHEV, a HEV or a BEV, but I think those are options that have to be considered. And I think those are the areas that will give us an opportunity for expansion.”It’s a decision no doubt solidified by the success of the BYD Shark 6, and its petrol plug-in hybrid powertrain, and it seems Hyundai will be taking a different approach, only sans one plug.It is increasingly likely — in fact, I’d say it’s almost certain — that the Hyundai pickup will debut a new Hyundai REEV powertrain that’s nearing its launch. Details are skinny for now, but expect an electric-first powertrain supplemented by a petrol engine, with the latter used to recharge the battery or power the electric motors. Hyundai says a total range of 1000kms is possible, and expects to launch the technology in 2027. The technology appears tailored for ute use, too."The beauty of EREVs lies in combining EV driving characteristics — instant high torque and serene cabin space — with a longer range. It’s kind of a modern hybrid: You can use it as an EV on a daily basis, but if you have to take a long trip, and you don’t want to carefully plan your route around EV charging stations, it provides seamless driving with the ICE generating electricity for you. This freedom is generating a lot of excitement around the world,” says Manfred Harrer, Head of the Vehicle Development Tech Unit at Hyundai Motor Group."But there’s more to EREVs than range. There’s also the ample power for towing capacity — the energy to tow something like a horse trailer — which remains an unsolved issue with EVs.Will the Hyundai ute be based on the Tasman?This is where the mystery deepens. When news of Hyundai’s ute first broke, Mr Romano made special mention of the brand’s global partnership with GM, and the commitment Hyundai HQ had made to co-develop two utes, largely for South and Central America.That remains on the table, but given the expense poured into the Tasman, and the fact that it too is being prepped for electrification, it seems crazy that Hyundai wouldn’t at least use that ladder frame platform as a base for its ute."If we used the body-on-frame, that's the Tasman, made from our factory in Korea, that could be sooner,” Mr Romano has said. ”We are looking at different drivetrains, and all of that adds time. So it's going to be step one; Tasman, diesel, ok, change the engine, ok, let's look at what else we have available from GM, ok, what's the timing on that?Will it be capable on- and off-road?Short answer? Yep. Hyundai’s ute offering will be a ladder-frame solution at least partly tailored to our markets and conditions, and that means a ute that can carry, tow and hold its own off-road. "We're continually feeding into HQ and other regional offices about what our requirements would be. We've been studying for 15-odd years and the proposal continually updates,” says Hyundai's Product Development Manager, Tim Rodgers."There's a huge portfolio of information that HQ has about our market, our market requirements, how we view the market, what would be successful, what would be a differentiated offering, what would be a mainstream offering.”When will the Hyundai ute launch?Happily, the window is shrinking. What began as a 2030 timeframe has been reduced to 2028, with Hyundai Australia COO Gavin Donaldson confirming that was now the rough window. 

What a month! The war in the Middle East has created serious panic for commuters stung by soaring fuel prices.A way out of that spiral is getting into an electric vehicle (EV), and there are still several models available at heavily-discounted prices to make the transition from internal combustion engines easier.Here are a handful of electric bargains we found online at a minimum of 30 per cent off retail, with odometers capped at 10,000km for that fresh-car feel. Many had barely breached 2500km.To be sure, there must have been at least three examples at the lower prices advertised to make this list at the time of publishing. Most are dealer demonstrators, and all will bring savings if you depend on your vehicle on a daily basis, since the bulk of their early depreciation has already occurred.Kia Niro EVThe second-gen Niro launched in 2022 from an eye-watering $65K, putting punters off from what was a pleasant, competent and likeable mid-sized crossover EV. Sales stalled, and Kia discontinued it. But there are still a handful of MY23 demos at under $40K. That’s over 40 per cent off retail!New price: $65,300 before ORCSeen for: $36,000 drive-away (MY23, demo)Hyundai InsterCharming, chuckable and ideal for urban commutes, the Inster can be had for over 33 per cent off retail if you’re willing to snap up one of the demos doted around the country.New price: $43,500 drive-awaySeen for: $28,990 drive-away (MY25, demo)Renault Kangoo E-TechAbout a half-dozen demo examples of Renault’s terrific little Kangoo E-Tech from 2023 are still available for under $40K, representing another 40 per cent saving. The little French van is also indecently fun. What a bargain!New price: $66,500 before ORCSeen for: $38,000 drive-away (MY23, demo)Hyundai Kona ElectricSpacious, agile and refined, the electric version of the Kona small SUV punches above its weight, as reflected by its current mid-fifties price point. Which means that a 30 per cent saving with just 3000km on the odo make this a no-brainer buy.New price: $54,000 before ORCSeen for: $38,000 (MY24 demo)Audi Q4 45 e-tronOne of our favourite premium EV SUVs, the Q4 e-tron combines high couture with sophisticated engineering, for an on-brand luxury experience that will have you seeking the long way home.New price: $93,000 drive-awaySeen for: $66,000 drive-away (MY25, demo)Ford Mustang Mach-E SelectThe Mustang Mach-E is an enigma. Disregard the baggage associated with the pony-car image and instead revel in a sporty, dynamic and surprisingly practical family car with ample range. Yes, it’s the pre-facelift model, but the savings are worth it.New price: $73,400 drive-awaySeen for: $50,000 drive-away (MY23, demo)Jeep AvengerArguably the most athletic Jeep in history, the Avenger is a sweet-driving, decently packaged and well-presented city-sized SUV with relatively minor off-road capabilities. Built in Poland, it’s related to the Peugeot 2008 EV.New price: $53,990 before ORCSeen for: $37,000 drive-away (MY24, demo)Subaru Solterra TouringSubaru’s version of the Toyota bZ4X has really struggled to secure buyers, with the up-spec Touring launching at nearly $84K before quickly being reduced to $77K. Though facelifted and improved, there are loaded demos advertised in the low-fifties drive-away, offering a lot of EV for the money.New price: $76,990 before ORCSeen for: $53,000 drive-away (MY24, demo)Fiat 500eItalians know how to make a chic urban runabout and Fiat’s stylish 500e is no exception. Rapid yet refined, its small battery is quick to charge, still provides over 311km of WLTP range and the handling is a lot of fun.New price: $52,500 before ORCSeen for: $36,000 drive-away (MY23, demo)

Electric vehicle sales in Australia are booming, but not in the locations where you might expect them to be.There has been new insight into where Aussies are buying EVs in Australia from the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA).NALSPA’s data shows where EVs are being purchased using a novated lease and the Electric Car Discount (ECD).Range anxiety is often quoted as one of the major roadblocks to the uptake on EVs in Australia. This data suggests it might not play on people's minds to the extent previously thought.Many of the suburbs on the list are not immediately located in the city centres, but further out.The top two postcodes are both on the outskirts of Melbourne in Victoria, around 25-30km away from the CBD.Next up on the list are two postcodes from the west of Sydney, before a rural area in the ACT.The outskirt city theme continues down the list, with a postcode roughly 30km from Brisbane, Queensland, followed by another outer Melbourne postcode.Rounding out the list is a postcode in the greater Western Sydney area, along with NSW/ACT border town Queanbeyan and a postcode around 10km away from Canberra’s centre.This point outer metro residents searching for some respite from high fuel costs from their long commutes and they have access to roof top solar power.Top 10 postcodes for electric vehicles using novated leasing and EDCThe ECD waives the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). The incentive applies to new battery-electric vehicles, up to a total cost of $89,332.NALSPA Chief Executive Officer Rohan Martin said the data demonstrates the importance of the ECD, especially to people living outside of the major cities. “Australians living in the outer suburbs often face longer commutes and are more likely to have access to rooftop solar and off-street parking so switching to EVs with the help of the FBT exemption is a smart cost-of-living and green choice for them, especially during the ongoing cost-of-living crunch,” Martin said. “We cannot increase EV uptake further, especially during this early adoption phase, without continued targeted demand-side incentives - that's the stark reality. The EV Discount is more than proving its worth but there is still much heavy lifting to be done.”This news comes after the federal government announced a statutory review in the EDC last year, with rumours the whole scheme could be pulled. Costs for the scheme have increased significantly beyond original forecasts, with it costing $1.35 billion last financial year. There is potential for these costs to blow out further as EVs become a more attractive option for buyers with petrol and diesel fuels soaring up in price, along with increasingly scarce availability.

China is dominating Australian new-car sales, but it’s also not alone, with a handful of legacy brands bucking the trend to somehow grow their sales in the face of BYD, Chery and GWM’s continued ascent.

Australia is the most competitive new-car market in the world, with more than 60 brands fighting for just over a million sales with hundreds of models. So surely we have enough choice, right? Right?We may already have a plethora of new cars to choose from, but more choice is always better than less. And with that in mind we have scoured the world looking for the cars we’re missing out on.But unlike so many of these lists that are typically driven by a motoring journalists’ desire for dynamic cars from exotic brands (or just wagons, because we all love wagons), this list is made up entirely of practical choices.All of the entrants on the list below are already available in right-hand drive and most are already on sale in the UK market, meaning there are less barriers for local sale (unlike left-hand-drive-only models that are focused on the North American and European markets).Ford ExplorerFord has a popularity problem. The Ranger is very popular and its Everest SUV spin-off is also a big hit - and both are powered by diesel engines. Which isn’t ideal at a time when the Federal Government is cracking down on emissions and incentivising electric vehicles.The Mustang Mach-E is struggling to find buyers thanks to its high asking price and confusing branding - is it a Mustang or is it an electric SUV? What Ford has great success with is big name models, with Ranger, Mustang and Transit at the heart of its Australian line-up. Which is why it would make sense to add the Explorer, which is both a well-known nameplate but also a mid-size electric SUV that has better potential than the Mach-E.While a direct like-for-like comparison is difficult and more nuanced, in the UK the Mach-E is priced from £42k while the Explorer starts at £35k, which means it has potential to be a more affordable EV option for Ford Australia.This would make more sense than the similarly-priced but smaller Ford Capri or the smaller Puma-E, which Ford Australia had previously considered but ruled out when it ran the numbers.The continued lack of Explorer in Australian showrooms, coupled with the reports that Chinese-made Bronco Basecamp hybrid/EV is headed our way, suggests that the numbers simply don’t add up (probably due to its German production). Which is a shame for both the brand and local buyers looking for a family-friendly electric SUV from a proven brand. Hyundai Santa Fe PHEVHyundai has been one of the most proactive brands when it comes to electrification, jumping in early into the hybrid and all-electric markets with a variety of models. But the obvious missing piece is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model.Thankfully, Hyundai UK already has the Santa Fe PHEV available, with a claimed fuel economy rating of just 1.6L/100km and up to 55km of electric-only range. While that’s off-the-pace of its Chinese rivals, which offer more EV range, the addition of a PHEV powertrain to the Santa Fe seems like an obvious choice given the shifting market dynamics.There’s only one other model that arguably makes more sense to be a PHEV in Hyundai’s line-up, which you can read about below… Hyundai Tucson PHEV The Tucson PHEV has been available in the UK for a few years now, back at a time when the technology was proving unpopular in Australia. But since then times have changed dramatically, but Hyundai Australia hasn’t taken advantage of the situation.Toyota won’t introduce a RAV4 PHEV until later in the year and Mazda is still coy on when the CX-5 will join the PHEV party, so there was a golden opportunity for the Tucson to steal sales in the interim.On paper the 67km claimed EV range is behind the nearly-triple-digits offered by some Chinese competitors, but the 1.1L/100km fuel consumption rating would no doubt attract attention from local buyers looking to cut their fuel bill but not ready to make the electric switch.Toyota Prius PrimeOne of the most talked about Toyotas in years is the new Prius.Surprisingly, after years of polarising opinions, the new-generation model launched in 2022 was an immediate hit with not only those looking to save on their fuel bills but genuine car fans. It wasn’t hard to see why, with its sleek and stylish looks.But as I said at the time, it was hard to justify bringing it to Australia as a ‘hybrid hero’ when Toyota was already selling thousands and thousands of hybrid Camrys, RAV4s, Corollas, etc.However, as Toyota prepares to unleash the RAV4 PHEV, the plug-in hybrid Prius Prime would make sense as a technology showcase just like the original Prius did. In the same way the Prius made hybrid approachable and understandable, leading to its expansion across the range, so too can the Prius Prime.And at a time when PHEVs are becoming more common, it wouldn’t hurt Toyota to flex its muscle and remind everyone who was the pioneer in this space more than two decades ago.Jetour TravellerWhile some might argue we already have enough car brands, Chery’s off-road spin-off, Jetour, makes a strong case for Australia with its Traveller SUV. This Santa Fe-sized SUV has a genuinely rugged off-roader look to it that would have appeal to Australian buyers.Officially, Chery Australia hasn’t confirmed Jetour will arrive in Australia, which isn’t a big surprise as it’s already busy establishing the Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo brands.The good news is, the Traveller (or T2 as it’s known in some markets) is already available in right-hand drive, so that obstacle is overcome. And it comes with both petrol and PHEV powertrains, so it would be well-suited to the current market demands.If and when Chery decides to bring it, this super-sized Suzuki Jimny lookalike would likely find an audience in Australia.

Is the ‘uncool’ people mover on the verge of a renaissance?New arrivals and rising sales suggest the once daggy family transport could become the new battleground in the Australian market.While large, seven-seat SUVs remain the preferred option for Australian families, people mover sales were up 9.2 per cent in 2025 and have started 2026 with a surge, a whopping 41.1 per cent jump on last year.While the Kia Carnival remains the undisputed champion of people movers, accounting for approximately 80 per cent of its market, there is a new wave of more premium rivals that are catering to a specific audience looking for spacious and luxurious travel.The Chinese brands are, unsurprisingly, leading this charge, as people movers are a much more popular choice in its native market. The likes of the Zeekr 009, LDV Mifa, GAC M8 PHEV and upcoming Denza D9 are all offering space and premium features for both family and business buyers.These add to the likes of the Lexus LM, which is available with an opulent four-seat layout, as well as the Mercedes-Benz Vito and V-Class, giving buyers more choice.Meanwhile in the more family/fleet-orientated segment of the market, the Carnival competes against the Hyundai Staria, new Ford Tourneo and Volkswagen’s new-generation Multivan and Caddy.And, if that’s not enough, there are the all-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz and Mercedes-Benz EQV to expand the appeal of the people mover even further.So what makes people movers so popular, especially the Carnival?According to Roland Rivero, Kia Australia’s head of product planning, it’s the simple fact they are bigger and more practical than a seven-seat SUV for families that need the space.“I think our dealers do a pretty good job of conveying that while there might be a high desirability of an SUV, because everyone has got one… but for most families a Carnival is a better proposition,” explains Rivero.“For a family, fundamentally a Carnival does a better job.”The combination of more interior space, especially in the third row and a practical boot, as well as the sliding rear doors, are the standout areas where a people mover has the edge over an SUV, says Rivero.“For the most part dealers are able to convey the benefits of the Carnival over an SUV, unless the buyer has a need for four-wheel drive,” he said. “It’s probably the marketing that has driven that SUV popularity.”Rivero added: “Those that discovered the benefits of a people mover, those who have a family, realise quickly how good it can be.”Speaking to CarsGuide in August 2025, Zeekr Australia boss Frank Li admitted he was surprised by the initial slow uptake for the 009 given its popularity in overseas markets but expressed confidence in its long-term prospects.“Before actually, we valued the Australian market very much as well, but you know previously we only had two models and that is quite a niche segment in Australia,” Li explained.“Even though 009 performance is very good – it’s brilliant in south east Asia, like Hong Kong, Malay Thailand, we’re dominating this segment in this market – but the Australian market is obviously not a traditional people mover market. We believe that slowly, slowly our customers will love 009, but that takes time.”The more premium end of the market is a growing space for these more luxurious people movers, and it’s a key reason why Denza (BYD’s luxury sub-brand) is going to launch the D9 in Australia.Paul Ellis, spokesperson for Denza, said the brand’s move into the market is less about attracting fleet buyers and instead a more corporate audience, smaller operators that do luxury transfers and upmarket hotels, as well as families looking for space and comfort.“They’re a niche product, but within that niche there is quite a lot of demand for them,” Ellis told CarsGuide.

With fuel prices surging to around two dollars a litre nationally, and more that three dollars a litre in some regional areas, now is one of the best times to consider switching to a fully electric vehicle.Price was once one of the biggest deterrents for buyers wanting to make the switch, but now that gap has well and truly closed.To highlight this we’ve pulled together the most popular cars from last year in each mainstream car category, and the fully electric alternatives you can now buy for the same money.Seeking a practical small SUV? Top of the charts last year was the Hyundai Kona, and one of its most popular variants is the entry-level Kona Hybrid which starts from $36,950.To be fair here, the Kona Hybrid is a great choice anyway, as one of the most fuel-efficient small SUVs you can buy, but if you’re looking to wean yourself off fuel altogether, a great alternative is the Jaecoo J5.Surprisingly spacious and swish-looking, the J5 starts from just $35,990 before on-roads and offers a 402km (WLTP) range with a 155kW/288Nm electric motor driving the front wheels. It can even charge relatively quickly with its 130kW DC peak speed taking it from 20 - 80 per cent in just over half an hour.Read our Jaecoo J5 review hereYou actually can’t buy the popular GXL hybrid front-wheel-drive version of the Toyota RAV4 anymore, because production ended in the lead up to the launch of the new-gen version. The bad news is, the new one will cost even more than the outgoing car, which started from $45,810 before on-road costs.The RAV4 has earned its place as Australia’s most popular mid-size SUV through its family-friendly design, practical size and interior, and its no-nonsense approach to pretty much everything. The brand’s 2.5-litre 160kW hybrid system remains one of the most user-friendly hybrid systems on the market, too.What can you get as an EV for the same money? Quite a few options these days, as it turns out, and one of the most appealing is the just-updated Geely EX5 Extended Range, which is priced from $45,990 before on-roads.This relatively straightforward EV also provides a spacious interior and practical dimensions, but even combines it with more modern luxuries than the RAV4 offers in equivalent guise. It features synthetic leather interior trim, bigger screens with more connected technology, and its most recent upgrade brought with it a boost in driving range to 450km (WLTP). No wonder this one is storming up the sales charts.Read our Geely EX5 review hereFord’s big Everest off-roader is the most popular option in the large SUV space, and buyers tend to splash a bit more, reaching for the upper mid-grade Sport variant, which wields a 3.0-litre diesel V6 paired to a full-time 4WD system.This car wears a before-on-roads price-tag of $75,990, so what can you get as an EV instead?How about the just-released Tesla Model Y L? Starting from $74,900, sporting six-seats, and expanding in every dimension, this new take on the best-selling electric car in Australia offers more than you might expect.Sure, it’s not a big off-road oriented 4x4, but if it’s a fuel-free family hauler you’re looking for, you could do worse. With 378kW/580Nm it’s rapid, too, and with a huge battery offering up to 681km of range, it’s one of the furthest-travelling EVs on sale in Australia.Plus, it’s much more affordable than truly large electric SUVs, like the Kia EV9, which starts much higher at $97,000 before on-roads.Read more about the Tesla Model Y L hereThe Toyota Corolla continues as a perennial favourite among Australian buyers, and with the popular Ascent Sport hybrid starting from $32,110, why wouldn’t it?The swish little hatch offers Toyota’s perennial 1.8-litre four-cylinder hybrid drivetrain in a front-wheel-drive layout, sporting a modest combined 103kW. There’s no denying that as far as cars with combustion engines go, it’s pretty fuel efficient, officially consuming 4.0L/100km, but what if you could forgo fuel altogether?The obvious answer for some time has been BYD’s Dolphin Premium. Starting from $36,990 before on-roads it carries a slight price premium over the most popular Corolla variant, however, the Dolphin also brings with it a long electric driving range of 490km (WLTP), and a punchier 150kW/310Nm electric motor.It also scores a much more contemporary and screen-laden interior, with bonus luxuries like synthetic leather seats, plus it undercuts the nearest equivalent MG4 by a decent margin.Read our BYD Dolphin review hereKia’s Picanto soldiers on as a hold-out in an embattled city car segment, which, despite ever-rising fuel prices, Australians have turned their back on. It’s still a great option, offering both manual and automatic transmissions, although its 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine feels its age.Starting from $20,790 before on-road costs in automatic form, the Picanto is solid value, and while its wheezy engine produces just 62kW/122Nm it’s hardly the fuel sipping hero you might need, still managing to consume 6.0L/100km.This is where BYD’s Atto 1 comes into play. Now Australia’s most affordable electric car, the sharply-styled city hatch is slightly more expensive than the Picanto, as it starts from $23,990 in base Essential form.This entry-level Atto 1 is about even with the Kia on power, producing just 65kW, but it gets a boost in the torque department, with 175Nm. It also scores a middling 220km of range from its small 30kWh battery, but in a city runabout, do you need more?The smallest BYD also scores spec bonuses over its combustion Kia rival, with synthetic leather interior trim, a more contemporary interior design, and even a vehicle-to-load power distribution system.Read more about the BYD Atto 1 here

Toyota’s undisputed hybrid dominance continued in the past year but with new emissions laws closing in, more brands are vying for a slice of the fuel-sipping hybrid market.The biggest success story so far appears to be Hyundai, which has moved to electrify some of its top-selling nameplates. The Korean juggernaut now ranks second in Australia for total hybrid sales, amassing 28,819 hybrids registered in 2025.While this still trails Toyota’s total of 116,635 hybrid units by a significant margin, it’s a reasonably rapid rise for Hyundai, which has managed to double its hybrid tally year-on-year.This is thanks to the roll-out of key hybrid variants for its most popular nameplates, like the Kona small SUV (now 46 per cent hybrid by sales), Tucson mid-sizer (52 per cent hybrid), the Santa Fe, which launched as a hybrid (hence its whopping 82 per cent hybrid sales mix), and the recently-launched Palisade hybrid, which made up 32 per cent of the large SUV’s sales (this figure combines the previous model as well).Hyundai is perhaps a victim of its own mainstream success in that its total for 2025 was still only 37 per cent hybrid, 60 per cent combustion, and just two per cent electric. The brand therefore still managed to attract a penalty under Australia’s tough New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), despite its hybrid growth.Hyundai’s hybrid strategy has managed to outfox its traditional Japanese rivals Honda and Nissan thanks to the widespread availability and affordability of its hybrid options.The Kona, for example, is available as a hybrid in base form, priced at $36,950 before on-road costs, while the most affordable Nissan Qashqai e-Power ST-L is priced at $45,640 (before on-roads), and the cheapest Honda ZR-V hybrid is priced at $54,900 (drive-away).The same can be said across the range, with the Santa Fe a plugless hybrid success when measured against its Kia Sorento sibling, which was previously only available as a hybrid in top-spec GT-Line form. Kia has now expanded its hybrid offering to include the base S at $59,630 before on-roads. In comparison, the base Santa Fe Hybrid can be had from $57,650.However, there are storm cells on the horizon for Hyundai. Not only does its two per cent EV volume mean the more affordable Chinese-built Elexio mid-size SUV must help out on the sales front in 2026, but the next brand down for hybrid sales, BYD, has rapidly caught up despite fielding only two hybrid (albeit, plug-in hybrid) offerings.The Shark 6 ute is undeniably one of the biggest success stories of 2025, shifting 18,073 units, but the mid-sized Sealion 6 is also a force to be reckoned with, achieving 9055 registrations in the same period.In total, these two plug-ins bring BYD’s tally to 27,128 units, just shy of Hyundai’s total for the year, and by far leading the charts for plug-in hybrids specifically.In addition, the market-leading Toyota will put pressure on Hyundai’s line-up with the introduction of its next-generation RAV4 and its plug-in hybrid variants imminently. Toyota sold 51,869 units of just the RAV4 hybrid in 2025.The Japanese giant has also transitioned most of its passenger car and non 4x4 line-up to hybrid only, with a strong proportion of Corolla Cross, Corolla, and Camry making up its yearly total.Meanwhile Kia, whose hybrid total for 2025 came to 9401 units, is doubling down by not only adding additional hybrid variants of the Sorento, but it will soon launch a more heavily hybridised next-generation Seltos.Kia’s key advantage over its sibling is its relative dominance in the EV space, with its line-up of the EV3, EV5, EV6, EV9 and outgoing Niro accounting for 8131 units in 2025, eclipsing its hybrid total, accounting for 10 per cent of its total sales, and putting it firmly in the positive column for NVES credits which will pay dividends in the coming years.

The global geopolitical climate is seeing significant pressures placed on Australia’s fuel infrastructure. Prices are rising and fuel availability is becoming more scarce, while EV sales numbers continue to climb.Does this make it the perfect time to take the plunge into the EV market?  Petrol pricesThe average price for Unleaded E10 petrol in Australia has risen beyond two dollars, with many prices hitting the $2.30s and beyond.Increasing demand and decreasing supply for fuel means it's not just more expensive to buy, but now it's harder to source as many stations run out of fuel ahead of schedule.There is speculation the Federal Government may pause the fuel excise in Australia, potentially providing temporary relief, but doing so is an internal solution to an external problem. There remains uncertainty as to how long oil supplies will continue to be impacted by the war in the Middle East, meaning the availability and price of fuel will continue to be volatile. EVs are getting cheaper The first New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) period has seen some brands hike the prices of its internal combustion models to account for the fines soon to be incurred. Further, the price of electric vehicles has also dropped significantly, making it more affordable than ever to step into the market. The cheapest EV on the market is the BYD Atto 1, which starts from $23,990, before on-road costs. BYD’s bigger hatch offering, the Dolphin also starts from under $30K. GWM’s Ora hatch currently has a $2000 cash-back offer, meaning it starts from $33,990 (drive-away) until March 31. If you are looking for an SUV, Chery’s Jaecoo J5 starts from $35,990 (before on-roads). Other brands are also dramatically reducing the prices of some EVs, such as Hyundai with its Kona compact SUV, which has seen at least $13K shaved off the price. The previous year’s Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV received a sizable discount, while the Volkswagen ID. Buzz van has also experienced a $15k price cut.  Top 5 cheapest new EVs on sale in AustraliaEV driving range is increasingRange anxiety remains one of the biggest obstacles in the uptake of EVs. EV driving range has increased significantly, with battery technology improving constantly. Chinese manufacturers are leading the way, with many brands now boasting upcoming or future EVs with more than 1000km of range. This year in China Chery will launch its Exeed Liefeng shooting brake model, which has a range of 1500km. Driving range for Australian market EVs is getting better, with many offering a range of 400km or more. EV charging is faster and more availableThe EV charging landscape has changed in Australia over the past few years, with more than 1000 charging locations across Australia. Charging operators and infrastructure will continue to increase over the coming years as the government moves towards its plan to have five million EVs on the road by 2035. Major brands are also in talks to introduce more chargers in the network, such as Chinese carmaker BYD, which is looking to establish its charging presence in China. Late last year, the New South Wales government announced a program to deliver 159 new chargers in 48 locations. 

Japan has lost its crown as the number one source of new cars for Australia - and it could be for good.