Kia Sonet Reviews

2026 has been a massive year of change for Australia’s new car market. The tide has turned against diesel, and global affairs have pushed more buyers than ever to hybrid and electric cars and into the arms of new brands with more competitive offerings.This has been disastrous for old favourites. In a market where the forever steadfast and market-leading Toyota has taken a nearly 25 per cent hit to its sales figures, something is definitely changing in the mindsets of buyers.Chery, BYD, Geely and Zeekr are up staggering amounts and are stealing sales from Subaru, Mitsubishi and Nissan, which are now looking at a future as former top-10 marques.There are still a handful of big name brands continuing to post gains. It’s a diverse group ranging from Mercedes-Benz to Hyundai.Let’s take a lookAfter years of nosediving down the Aussie new car sales charts, thanks to what the brand would probably describe as a tactical retreat to a more limited footprint and ‘agency’ sales model, Honda seems to have stabilised.The Japanese brand has posted a 5.1 per cent gain year-on-year accounting for a mere 52 units.It’s not a great story looking at the by-the-model numbers, with every car in the brands range posting declines apart from its best-selling CR-V posting a 4.4 per cent gain year-on-year, the ZR-V is up a very modest 0.8 per cent year-on-year and the brand-new Prelude sports car posted an additional 142 units.The Accord sedan has shrunk to a handful of units off of an already-low-base, while the Civic also posted a near 30 per cent decline.Hyundai has had a pretty decent year, even though its initial trailblazing range of EVs have had it tough in the face of new rivals.Up 5.1 per cent for the year, Hyundai’s gains come from its ageing Tucson mid-sizer and high-performing Kona small SUV, which is available with the choice of petrol, hybrid and pure electric power.It also posted solid gains from the addition of the Chinese-built Elexio to its range.The fully electric Hyundai Inster city car, which initially had a tepid reception, has surged back thanks to price-cuts and a renewed interest in electric cars off the back of the fuel crisis. The brand’s once-headline-grabbing Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, with their advanced E-GMP 800-volt platforms, continue to lose their shine.The loss of the i30 has also put a dent in the brands range, while the Venue also continues to tumble down the charts as it struggles to compete with keen new Chinese rivals such as the Chery Tiggo 4.Kia has proven to be a success story in 2026, with its well-received range of electric cars and Tasman ute forming a significant part of the brand’s additional volume.A gain of just 2.7 per cent isn't all good news. The Sportage has not quite enjoyed the same sales growth as its Hyundai Tucson relation, down over a thousand units year on year.The loss of the Cerato has been more than compensated for by the arrival of the K4, which has posted a massive gain of 1958 units year-on-year. The once-heavy-hitting Sorento has lost nearly half its volume.The EV3, EV4, and EV5 have all done well, but the EV6 and EV9, which are its most expensive EVs, have posted steep declines.The controversial Tasman ute is barely doing half the volume Kia had predicted pre-launch, it is still a significant volume-add for the brand, with more than 2000 units sold so far this year.The brand is up 3.4 per cent for the year, accounting for an additional 295 units. It is some of the older models from the brand’s line-up kicking goals.The A-Class and related GLA SUV posted solid gains alongside the electric EQA and EQB, while the GLC mid-size and GLE large SUVs have also done well.It’s not good news for the rest of the brand’s range. Its larger electric vehicles have failed to resonate with buyers. The EQE SUV was the hardest hit so far, down 383 units for the year, and the EQE, EQS and EQS SUV ranges all posted significant declines.Volvo’s story of steady-but-surely continues, posting a modest 2.4 per cent gain in 2026.The ever-popular XC40 continues to kick goals for the Swedish brand, with the model up 16.6 per cent year-on-year despite its age. The soon-to-be replaced XC60 also posted a small 1.8 per cent gain.The EX90, the brand’s new large fully electric SUV, is up 46.2 per cent off a very low base. The new SUV is still outsold at a ratio of three-to-one by its XC90 internal-combustion engined predecessor.The EX30 small SUV, which is a platform-share with the Zeekr X, posted modest gains, up 6.3 per cent.

Australia might be a big country, but we do like our small cars.These little vehicles are generally affordable and typically energy efficient — both the petrol and electric ones. They also fit into tight car spaces and zip through narrow city streets. These pint-sized machines can be fun and easy to drive, which makes them great first cars or even last cars for those who don’t need something giant.So, we have compiled a list of the five smallest cars in Australia.Dimensions: 3860mm long, 1735mm wide, 1520mm tallWho doesn’t like a Suzuki Swift? This Aussie favourite has just scraped into our top five at just under 3.9m long. The Swift is loved for its practicality, with four doors and five seats, and it’s fun-to-drive nature - especially the Sport version. There’s a choice of hybrid and pure petrol powertrains, but no fully electric Swift unfortunately. The Swift scored three stars out of five in its ANCAP safety test in 2024.  Prices start at $24,990 drive-away. Dimensions: 3858mm, 1967 wide, 1460mm tallWhoever said Minis were now so big they’re no longer mini was wrong - also, that was me who said it. The Mini Cooper three-door is the miniest Mini, and the electric version is a tad shorter than the petrol variant. And while it is shortest in height here and only just 3.8m long it’s actually the widest in our top five. The Mini Cooper has four seats, a 210-litre boot and scored the maximum five-star ANCAP rating.Prices start at $53,990 for the electric variant and $41,990 for the petrol version.Dimensions: 3825mm long, 1610 wide, 1575mm tallThe Hyundai Inster is a fully electric little SUV with four doors, four seats and a 351-litre boot.A range of up to 360km makes it very usable for city dwellers, or those who don’t do many miles each week.The Inster has rugged but cute looks, and a starting price of $39,000 makes the Inster a very affordable EV.The Inster scored four out of five stars in ANCAP tests. Dimensions: 3631mm, 1900mm wide, 1529mm tall The Fiat 500e has two doors, five seats and a 185-litre boot. Yep, it’s probably the least practical tiny car on our list but it's also one of the most fun to drive with its electric powertrain.It's a small car with a big price. The 500e starts at $58,900. Yes, that's outrageous, and we wouldn't be surprised if at some point the 500e is withdrawn from Australia due to the low sales. Still that might be a good way to bargain your way into one.It also scored four stars in safety tests.Dimensions: 3595mm long, 1595mm wide, 1485mm tallThe Kia Picanto is our top five tiny cars winner at less than 3.6m long. It’s also the most popular micro car in Australia and it's easy to see why. Its starting price is $19,190, the value and standard features are outstanding and it’s good looking. Four doors, five seats and 255 litres of boot space. It’s smaller than it sounds, seriously. There’s no EV version of the Picanto, and the one sold in Australia has a four cylinder petrol engine. The four-star ANCAP rating from 2017 is now out of date.

China may hog much of the automotive headlines nowadays, with its aggressively and allegedly heavily-subsidised cheap vehicle-export strategy.But it is the South Korean carmakers Hyundai, Kia and even KGM (formerly SsangYong) that have come of age this decade, through engineering excellence, bold design, visionary product planning and sheer value for money that is the envy of the rest of the world.In fact, every year since 2020, a Korean vehicle has stood out above all others in some way, showing up anything Japan, Germany, France, Italy and America can do.Korea is the actual fear of the rest of the world, and here’s why.China dominates the electric vehicle (EV) segment in many parts of the world with unfeasibly inexpensive models that have democratised the technology.But the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), which includes Kia, that makes the best affordable EVs, due to progressive technologies that, in models like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, have included faster-charging 800-volt architectures, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) tech and other advancements that were the provenance of high-end European marques like Porsche.And let’s not forget the brilliant ballistic missile that is the Ioniq 5 N, a performance grand-touring hot hatch that redefines what an EV can do.HMG invested billions in electrification well before most other mainstream carmakers during the 2010s, gaining experience with early EVs like the original, Toyota Prius-esque Ioniq, Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV, allowing Korea to forge ahead with next-gen models nowadays.Sticking with the Ioniq 5, this is an incredibly talented mid-sized SUV for a number of other reasons besides breakthrough EV engineering, such as for design, interior packaging and overall sophistication.It still turns heads with crisp, timeless design that plays lip service to Hyundai’s first in-house-developed production car (the 1970s Pony), while it has a loping, relaxed refinement that embarrasses most other SUVs, period.For us, the Ioniq 5 remains a leading candidate for the car of the decade, even though it launched back in 2021.In 2026, the Kia EV3 is arguably the best small SUV EV for the money on a number of fronts, especially where Chinese vehicles struggle with, including unintrusive advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) tech, user-friendly vehicle controls, regional steering and suspension tuning and Australia-wide servicing access.More than the sum of its parts, the EV3 simply behaves and drives like a good car should, with few vices or frustrating surprises.Everybody remembers the Kia Stinger of 2017, an ambitious but ultimately doomed final attempt at a large, rear-drive family sedan in the mould of the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon.A glorious failure, it cemented Kia a place in the hearts of performance family sedan fans.Except… its spirit lives on in the award-winning Kia EV6, the just-as-talented but far-sleeker cousin to the Ioniq 5, melding the packaging, practicality and performance of, say, a VF SS or Falcon XR6 Turbo, within an EV proposition.And, guess what, with Millennials and Gen Z buyers rejecting SUVs and crossovers as daggy and boring, it is Kia that is poised to step up with a cool, sleek and sophisticated liftback. So much more mature and charming than a Tesla Model 3.For most of this decade, it has been Korea that has offered Australia’s cheapest new car in the Kia Picanto.Yes, it’s old and one of the smallest on the market, but the Picanto’s proven reliability, solid engineering, decent safety specification, long warranty, dealer-network back-up and decent dynamics make it a dependable and enjoyable runabout.Nowadays the improved second-gen MG 3 is nipping at the Kia’s heels, but Kia has no intention of abandoning the bargain basement in Australia… we hope.Kia has obviously shot itself in the foot with the Tasman because of its kooky, oddball styling.But the sole Korean body-on-frame one-tonne ute is currently the best in its diesel-powered class, with a lovely, refined and roomy interior, excellent workhorse capability, a powerful yet proven and efficient powertrain and pleasing servicing back-up.The Tasman is also impressive to drive, and we do not hesitate to recommend one over its rivals – especially as a long-term ownership proposition.No DPF issues like the Toyota HiLux or engine-belt and transmission problems that reportedly afflicts the Ford Ranger, either. The Kia is a better vehicle than either of these segment best-sellers in our estimation.In North America, the Ford has prised open the car-based, monocoque-bodied, dual-cab ute market wide open with the SUV-derived Maverick, and that’s a deserved success for the hybrid and turbo-petrol-powered pick-upYet it is Korean minnow KGM that has pioneered the similar concept, but as a battery electric ute, with the Musso EV.Along with being a good-looking, comfortable and refined five-seater family car, it is keenly priced, well equipped, decent to drive and everyday-useable thanks to a WLTP range of between 380km and 420km.Plus, and, in keeping with the Musso heritage, there is some ute functionality on offer, including AWD availability and an 1800kg braked towing capacity.There’s nothing even remotely like it in Australia right now that combines all of the above, except from KGM. Which shouldn’t be too surprising, given that the original Korando all the way back in 1983 was named for the contraction of the term “Korea can do”.

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

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.

For the first time in Australia, electric cars are outselling diesel ones in what appears to be a major turning point for the Australian market.The latest data, compiled from both the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council, shows registrations of electric cars have more than doubled year-on-year, and now account for just under 20 per cent of Australia’s new car market.This is the culmination of multiple factors, including an influx of affordable Chinese models as the country’s behemoth manufacturers seek export markets to flee tough local conditions, and Australia’s new vehicle efficiency standards (NVES) heavily incentivise lower-emissions models, either to avoid fines or rack up credits.On top of this, skyrocketing fuel prices have clearly made many Australians think twice about committing to another combustion car, and the prospect of government incentives ending further down the track as outlined in the latest federal budget has no doubt only bolstered the latest figures.Digging into the data and one thing becomes obvious - amongst the 10 best-selling EVs, all of them were built in China. In what should come as a warning to legacy automakers yet to embrace “China Speed” as part of their business model in our market, even the most successful models from Tesla and Kia are built in China.This trend looks to continue, with Mazda the next brand to introduce Chinese joint-venture models via the Mazda 6e sedan and CX-6e SUV, both of which use Changan platforms. The Japanese giant will no doubt be betting heavily on these two models to reduce its market-leading projected fine under the new NVES rules.Nissan will also begin to introduce its array of successful-in-China Dongfeng-based models in the coming years, with Suzuki, Toyota and Volkswagen potentially being left behind as they continue to source cars from more traditional manufacturing locations like Japan, Thailand and Europe.May in particular was a bumper one, not just for market leader Tesla, but also for keen newcomers Jaecoo and Geely. BYD dominates nearly half of the top-10 charts, including the Atto 2 and Atto 1, which both arrived in 2026.EV Sales May 2026The year-to-date numbers paint a slightly different, but overall familiar story, with the Model Y managing to maintain its lead over the Sealion 7.Some year-to-date surprises include Geely’s EX5 rising to third place and Jaecoo’s aggressively-priced J5 has largely captured the entry-level EV space.Zeekr has had a huge year off the back of the launch of its 7X as it keeps up with its big order bank, and Kia has managed to hold onto 9th place with its relatively popular EV5.The Tesla Model 3 is in seventh place and is the only sedan on the list.EV sales year-to-date 2026It is hard to say what this chart will look like by the end of 2026, although the complete and ongoing re-shuffle of Australia’s favourite cars looks to continue. One thing is for sure though, China has the market well and truly cornered on fully electric cars in Australia.

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

BYD has finished second in Australia's new-car sales race for the second consecutive month, delivering more vehicles than long-standing household names like Ford, Kia, Hyundai and Mazda, and trailing only Toyota in terms of total sales.

Two months into my three-month media loan of the 2026 Kia EV3 GT-Line Long Range and the little electric SUV has become part of the family.It fits perfectly in my cramped carport, and looks good there to boot. And, importantly, my partner is a fan.But is it a match made in heaven? There’s definitely a lot to like about the EV3, but in this instalment I deep dive into practicality, design and more. If you’re keen to learn more about pricing, spec and what the EV3 is missing, check out my first instalment.Kia’s current design language made its debut with the large and in-charge EV9 a few years back. That filtered down to all the other EVs and even to internal combustion models like the K4 and facelifted models like the Sportage.But I think the EV3 is the most successful example of that design philosophy to date. I mean, it looks like a Transformer! What more could you want?It’s a blocky SUV but with some curves, specifically on the EV3’s nose. But that duality works and never contradicts itself.Beyond the beautifully boxy silhouette, other winning design elements include the sharply shaped, blacked-out wheel arches and other chunky black elements like the roof rails, mirror caps, lower front and rear bumpers, pillars and the extended C-pillar. The black 19-inch GT-Line alloy wheels add to the vibe.The Volvo-esque tail-lights help frame the tailgate beautifully and the side view of the rear third of the EV3 is my favourite angle. That’s where the Transformer vibe is at its most pronounced.The headlights are in keeping with many current Kia models and look great. If you look closely you should count 12 tiny square LED elements on each side. And those lights are exceptional at night. But more on that in next month’s instalment.The EV3’s dimensions are 4310mm long, 1850mm wide and 1570mm tall (GT-Line is 10mm longer and taller than other grades) with a 2680mm wheelbase.It looks short in terms of length and tall in terms of height, but a quick look at rivals shows it’s exactly as long as a BYD Atto 2, but 20mm wider and 105mm shorter.That wheelbase isn’t as long as a Zeekr X (2750mm), but it’s got more space between the wheel arches than the Atto 2.While the exterior is something to behold, interior design is well executed without moving the game forward.Kia’s twin integrated screens dominate the dash which includes a mix of textured hard plastic, fabric, brushed aluminium panels and an ambient light bar.Two-tone interior and seat trim (light grey and mid-dark grey) brightens up the cabin and the two-tone steering wheel looks super cool.But how does it all function?Living with the EV3 every day for more than two months now, it’s clear this little car has some big ticks in the practicality column, but there are also some quirks and, frankly, some poor choices.Let’s start up front. Getting into the EV3 is the first quirk. The proximity key is temperamental. It constantly locks and unlocks the car if you hover near the vehicle. Just when you think it’s open, nope! Locked. It seems only French carmakers Renault and Peugeot know how to successfully operate this tech.Also, it has pop-out exterior front door handles, presumably for better aerodynamics. They’re the sort of handles where the rear arm pops out. Regardless of whether you’re left or right-handed, it feels awkward grabbing the handle, but more so if you have something in your dominant hand and you need to use the other one. A regular flush door handle you can put your hand under would suffice.Once in the driver’s seat it’s not hard to find your perfect driving position. The 10-way power-adjustable front seats help here. The seats are another quirk because they are not uncomfortable by any means, quite the opposite. But the back rest has a rounded shape, rather than traditional side bolsters and it makes for an odd sensation. But the base is comfy and supportive. I prefer nice cloth or synthetic suede to real or fake leather seats, but the Kia has the latter and it does the job.The height of the EV3 ensures ample headroom up front and there’s decent space across, although you might bump elbows with your passenger because of the central armrest.There’s more than enough legroom up front, but my knee regularly bumps the steering wheel-mounted gear selector stalk when I get in the car and occasionally when driving. If it were a little higher up it wouldn’t be an issue. I appreciate carmakers moving gear shifters from the console to make room for other things so I’m not mad at the stalk location.The only buttons are auto parking and auto hold on the centre armrest/table. There’s also a volume wheel on the centre stack, thankfully.While the air con is controlled via an always-on screen between the multimedia and driver display, you can change the mode, temperature and fan speed via toggles underneath. They feel nice to touch.Under the 12.3-inch multimedia screen you’ll find haptic buttons for nav, home and search. You can also do this via the touchscreen but it’s nice to have the option of a button.Kia’s head-up display is bright and clear and while the main driver display has a lot of information, it’s also clear and doesn’t overwhelm.Kia’s multimedia set-up is pretty solid. It consists of large tiles and sub menus and you can touch and swipe to your heart’s content. The EV3 includes connected services via 'Kia Connect' (in-car and app), so you can check the weather, your calendar, voice memos and EV data all through the screen. It’s a clever, high-tech car but, again, the tech never overwhelms.There’s a pair of USB-C ports under the dash and a wireless charging pad that is excellent for two reasons. It has a rubberised mat so your phone stays in place even when cornering, and the charger actually charges your phone. So many in-car chargers just heat up your phone and barely add charge, but this one does what it says on the tin. Thank God!Storage is a mixed bag in the EV3. The door bins will fit smaller, narrower bottles only. The base is actually huge but the door armrests impede it. The EV3 has a medium-sized glove box.I’d like to tell you about the EV3’s central storage bin between the drive and passenger, but there isn’t one. Well, not in the GT-Line anyway. Air and Earth grades get a conventional storage bin under the front central arm rest, but Kia’s product planners opted for a small pull-out table instead.It’s a pointless inclusion. I have only once used this function when I was running late for my mother’s birthday and had to write in a card on the run. Aside from that, it’s pretty useless. I’d much rather a covered storage compartment because currently the only secure storage space is the glove box. Under the armrest/console/table is a large open space with plenty of room for small bags. That space includes two cupholders that open up if you require even more space. But the cupholders are quite low and far from the driver and passenger’s reach. These would've been better placed higher on the central console.One thing I can’t fault is the overall feeling of quality to the cabin materials. It feels like a well built, robust cabin.Moving to the rear seats, you’ll find ample headroom, but toe room under the front seats is limited. Knee room behind my 184cm driving position is just okay. The front seat backs are made from quite hard plastic so you wouldn’t want the seat to be too far back.Amenities back there include map pockets, a USB-C port on the back of both front seats, knee-level air vents, a small nook on the back of the console and a fold-down arm rest with shallow cupholders.There’s no chunky transmission tunnel because it’s an EV.Rear seats are flat but reasonably comfortable and the chunky head rests are adjustable.Earth and GT-Line grades get a standard power tailgate, which is always welcome and the boot comes with a light and side nooks.Kia says the EV3 can swallow 460 litres of cargo with all seats in place and it’s a sizeable space, especially given the compact dimensions of the car.I love the two-level boot floor. You can place the removable floor at the same level as the tailgate lip, making for ample secure under-floor storage, or place it lower for larger items. Very clever.A front trunk can stow 25 litres which is enough for a charge cable. The bonnet has gas struts, too, which I always appreciate.Sadly the EV3 only comes with a tyre repair kit and not even a temporary spare wheel. Not uncommon for EVs, but Australians deserve better.I clocked up just under 1000km of driving in the past month and the trip computer says it was a more efficient few weeks than my first instalment. It showed 16kWh/100km, which is a tick under Kia’s claim of 16.2kWh. Not a bad result.Factoring in usable battery capacity and my efficiency figures, the real-world range this month was about 488km.That’s it for my second instalment of the 2026 Kia EV3 GT-Line long-term review. Keep an eye out for my final instalment in a few weeks and an accompanying video wrapping up my time with the car and outlining everything I like and don’t like about this appealing little EV. Acquired: February 2026Distance travelled this month: 968kmOdometer: 6931kmAverage energy consumption this month: 16kWh/100km

The small SUV market is getting busy. Plenty of aggressively affordable models are here, arriving, or soon to land thanks to the boom in China’s international new car market.Cars like the Kia Seltos can’t win on price alone anymore, as may have been the case in the past.It’s a good thing, then, that Kia has a new Seltos with some fresh tricks like a hybrid system for Australia and an interior that wouldn't look out of place in much more expensive Kias.This car isn’t due in Australia for some time - around October should be the launch - but an international preview in South Korea gave us a pretty solid look at what we can expect from Kia’s new small SUV.We don’t know quite how much the Seltos will cost just yet, but we have some clues.Given the last-gen Seltos pricing and the market positioning of the very closely related Hyundai Kona, we expect the Seltos to start in the high $30,000 region, before on-road costs.Chances are its line-up will look a lot like the previous Seltos range, with a few options ranging from a relatively basic ‘S’ to the fully-specified GT-Line.Specifications and features are also yet to be determined. The cars available to us during the test were likely representative of GT-Line cars that will arrive in Australia, with panoramic sunroofs, heated and vented seats, adjustable interior ambient lighting, synthetic leather upholstery and a large screen display.The three-part screen unit consists of 12.3-inch screens - one touchscreen for multimedia and one for the driver display - either side of a 5.0-inch touchscreen for climate controls. As is often the case with this section of the screen arrangement in Kias, it’s out of sight behind the steering wheel when you’re in a driving position.If you’ve been in a recently designed Kia like the EV3 or EV5, the interior design and layout will look familiar. There are still physical buttons and controls for important functions, as well as shortcuts to key sections in the multimedia menus, but the overall layout is relatively tidy.The driving position works well, visibility is good thanks to decently-sized windscreen and windows, and the seats are comfortable enough for a full day of driving.The second row is spacious enough for an adult on a decent drive, Kia says there’s another 20mm of legroom because the Seltos is now slightly bigger than the previous generation - 45mm longer with a 60mm longer wheelbase.There’s also 536 litres of boot space, and in Australia under that will be a spare wheel. This means we won’t have vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, but it seems the sensible trade-off for Australia if only one of the two is up for grabs.In Australia, the drivetrain will be a hybrid-assisted 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.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 hybrid version will be it for Australia, with the brand forgoing petrol-only variants. This means more efficiency to be expected from the new Seltos, and while Kia hasn’t provided indicative fuel economy expectations for this variant, the Korean test drive provided some insight.While not a perfect indication of the efficiency we can expect in Australia (given South Korea’s roads are flatter, straighter and slower for the most part), our test averaged between 4.8L/100km and 6.1L/100km. Tyre pressures were a few kilopascals higher than you’d expect them to be on an average Australian commute, by the way.We’re going to wait until later this year for a more definitive judgement on the Seltos, but first signs are impressive.Of course, a local Australian tune is already in the works thanks to Kia Australia’s Chief Engineer for Ride and Handling, Graeme Gambold, but the starting point built to suit the Korean market is a good basis.It’s soft and can get wafty on uneven surfaces, but generally easy to control in dynamic cornering without sacrificing comfort on long stretches of old roads.We can expect a firmer tune for better input response here in Australia, with the aim of reduced body roll and more accurate steering.The drivetrain, aside from its efficiency, is also a big plus for the Seltos, though its regenerative braking caused a couple of unexpected minor lurches during braking.While not entirely lacking urgency, keen drivers might be disappointed by the outputs, especially in front-drive.The nature of Korea’s highways and roads meant we were only able to get a matter of minutes rather than hours of twisty-road dynamic driving in, but given Kia Australia’s history of decent suspension work, there’s reason to expect the new Seltos will handle well once it lands in Australia.