Electric News

The Tesla Model Y is clearly the new Holden Commodore and the BYD Sealion 7 is the new Mazda CX-5. That’s how much things have changed, and it’s also how unscientific this story is - but I’ve included a table that makes me look as if I've based some of this on facts. Yep, the top 10 best-selling cars in Australia in 2026 looks very different to the top 10 from 2016. What were the big sellers back then and what’s replaced them now? Have we progressed onto better cars or was 2016 the peak and it’s all been downhill since? If you were to travel back 10 years in time and show anybody the top 10 best-selling cars for September 2026, even a car journo would look at you and say: "What’s a Geely EX5?". And you’d tell them it's a fully electric mid-sized SUV that came in at No.8 in the list of best sellers for September, 2026. But do not tell them anything else, you’ll risk altering the time line.  If you look at what car placed No.8 in 2016 you’ll find it was the Mitsubishi Triton ute. The Triton has fallen out of today’s top 10 in fact only two of the cars from the 2016 best sellers are still in the 2026 list, some of them like the Holden Commodore don’t exist at all anymore. Check out the table below for a side-by-side comparison of September 2016 v September 2026 In 2016, all of our top 10 cars had internal combustion engines (ICE) and only the Corolla was offered with a hybrid powertrain.  Currently, three of our top 10 cars are fully electric, five are offered in both hybrid and ICE formats, while only two models are only offered with ICE. The Corolla is gone, well it’s still on sale in 2026, but it’s left the top 10. See 2016 was one of the last years when hatchbacks ruled. The Corolla, Mazda3, Hyundai i30 were the three little kings, with the Hyundai Accent thrown in there, too. But they’ve been replaced now by new small rulers. I would even say the Chery Tiggo 4 and Haval Jolion are the new Corolla, i30 and Mazda 3. They are almost exactly the same size, price and target demographic for a Corolla in 2016. Following this gut logic I reckon the Tesla Model Y is the new Commodore. Holden fans won’t like to admit it, but they know I’m right.  The BYD Sealion 7 — that is the new Mazda CX-5. They’ve everywhere and they appeal to people who think they’re a bit better than a RAV4. Who’s now buying the RAV4? That’s a trick question because we all know RAV4 owners go on to buy another RAV4. So the RAV4 is the new RAV4. The EX5 is obviously the new Hyundai Tucson because it's one of the best but under-appreciated cars here. The D-Max is the new Triton. And that’s because the D-Max is no longer the runt of the ute litter, but it's still cheaper than a Ranger. What’s left. Ranger hasn’t changed - the same people are buying it and more of them and the same goes for HiLux. Those folks who would have loved V8 Commodores and Falcons are now in the tough ute group. Basically anyone who’d have a HSV or FPV 10 years ago is in a Ranger Raptor or HiLux GR Sport now. Prado is interesting and I think they are Toyota buyers who don’t want a Kluger and didn’t like their Fortuner but aren’t up for the 300 Series big dog. What do you think? If the Tesla Model Y isn’t the new Commodore then what is?  And were things better in 2016 when everything was ICE? Is our top 10 now looking like a list of best-selling electrical appliances? Are the Ranger and HiLux the last bastions of the best era ever? Or has their time come to move aside because EVs make far more sense? Also as a side note just to reassure you somewhat that not all of this is complete rubbish. Not only was in the same role at CarsGuide in 2016, but I'm pretty sure I also took most of the pictures of these cars from then, too. Stay tuned for my next unscientific round up of what’s what in 2036 when I’ll tell you that the super popular Mooflander Huckster 4 is the new Tesla Model Y.

Toyota is preparing for a record-breaking fourth quarter after a slow start to the year. Toyota Australia Vice President National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said the Japanese carmaker will sell over 220,000 vehicles in 2026. Until the end of September, Toyota has sold a total of 152,944 vehicles, which is down 15.9 per cent year-on-year. In order to reach this target, Toyota has to sell over 67,000 vehicles before the end of 2026, or roughly 23,300 per month. The Japanese carmaker claims it’s on track to once again be the best-selling brand in Australia. This will make it the 31st consecutive year. For reference, the second- and third-best selling brands year-to-date are currently Ford (61,104) and Mazda (58,865). At the end of 2026, Toyota also claims it will have led the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment for 48 unbroken years. The way that Toyota claims it will be able to deliver this record-breaking fourth quarter of vehicle sales is thanks to increased vehicle supply across multiple in-demand model lines, including the HiLux, Prado, LandCruiser, RAV4 and bZ4X. In September Toyota sold a total of 4624 examples of the RAV4 mid-size SUV, which is up 81 per cent on the same month last year. Toyota has sold 31,209 RAV4 examples year-to-date, which is down 11.1 per cent year-on-year. Toyota sold 2006 Prado examples in September, which is its second-best monthly sales result for this model in over 12 months. A total of 15,665 year-to-date sales means it’s down 28.3 per cent year-on-year. With the introduction of the new bZ4X Touring trim, overall bZ4X sales year-to-date are up 331.8 per cent, year-on-year. A total of 2919 examples were sold until the end of September. While Toyota may be gearing up for a record-breaking fourth quarter of vehicle sales, it likely won’t be enough to top its overall yearly record. In 2024 Toyota sold a total of 241,296 vehicles and this is roughly 20,000 more than what it’s projecting for its 2026 sales. Pappas notes the reasons for this include slower monthly sales results for the RAV4 and HiLux. Thanks to increased supply, Toyota claims the average wait time for many of its models is now down from three-to-six months, to three months.

There are some sharply priced new car deals available for Aussie buyers at the moment. Brands including Chery, Geely and GWM are putting forward some strong deals. Here are a few of the best ones going around. GWM has discounted some of its most popular models in Australia until October 31, 2026 as part of its 18-year celebrations.  The Haval Jolion's Premium grade starts from $23,990, down from $26,990 on drive-away pricing. The small SUV has consistently been one of the best-selling cars in Australia in 2026.  GWM has discounted its H6 mid-size SUV range. The petrol Lux grade is available from $33,990 (a $2000 price cut), while the Lux hybrid starts from $37,990 ($3000 cheaper). The Haval H6 GT is now $2000 cheaper, starting from $44,490, drive-away, while the Cannon Alpha diesel ute Ultra grade is available from $54,990 - a $4000 discount.  Geely is offering six per cent off cars purchased through approved novated lease arrangements until October 31, 2026.  This is available on its electric EX2 hatchback and EX5 mid-size SUV, as well as the Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid SUV.  The six per cent discount is applied to the vehicle price, meaning buyers must still pay for on-road costs and other applicable charges.  Applying the discount, the EX2 is available from $24,900, the EX5 $39,470 and the Starray $35,240, all before on-road costs.  Chery is offering several deals on its popular SUV range.  The brand is selling its hugely popular Tiggo 4 small SUV with a $1500 bonus fuel card until October 31, 2026. The car is available from $23,990 (drive-away).  Tiggo 4 hybrid variants are now available with $2000 cashback until October 31, 2026, reducing its starting price to $27,990 (drive-away).  Chery is offering its Tiggo 7 ($29,990) petrol and plug-in hybrid ($39,990) mid-size SUVs with a $2000 fuel card, as well as its Tiggo 8 ($41,990) petrol until October 31, 2026, both drive-away.  The Tiggo 8 ($45,990) and Tiggo 9 ($52,990) PHEVs are available with a $3000 cashback deal, equating to a discounted price of $42,990 and $49,990, drive-away, respectively. The Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class is available with substantial discounts.  The GLC 200 Special Edition is priced from $65,490 (drive-away) as the cheapest GLC model in the line-up.  The regular GLC 200 now starts from $79,990 (drive-away) compared to its original $89,000 before on-road costs pricing.  The plug-in hybrid GLC 350e is also available with a sharp deal from $98,990 (drive-away), contrasting its $99,900 (before on-road costs) retail price.  These offers run until November 30, 2026 and the car must be delivered by December 31, 2026.  Mercedes-Benz has also discounted the EQA 250+ electric SUV that is available from $65,490 (drive-away) until December 31, 2026.  Skoda is offering its Kodiaq mild hybrid large SUV from $49,990 (drive-away), essentially representing free on-road costs, with this deal matching the car's retail price.  Buyers should note the Kodiaq is not powered by a conventional hybrid set-up, rather it has a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine powering the wheels and a 48-volt battery.  The deal runs until December 31, 2026. 

Chinese EV specialist Li Auto looks like it’s on the march towards the Aussie new car market with news the rapidly expanding brand is setting up operations in Malaysia, having already confirmed it will produce right-hand drive versions of two of its most high-profile models. Offering an eight-model line-up in China, across pure-electric SUV and people mover options, as well EREV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle) SUVs, Li Auto has already stated it will produce its electric Li i6 five-seat SUV and Li Mega EV people mover in RHD for sale in Hong Kong, Singapore and other ASEAN nations before the end of 2026. The move into Malaysia (another RHD market) means Li Auto is almost certainly following a well-trodden path for new challenger brands on their way to opening up shop Down Under. The Li i6 is the entry-point to the Li Auto range, measuring just under five metres long, close to 2.0m wide and around 1.6m tall with a 3000mm wheelbase. But this swoopy SUV is no bare bones base model, featuring a 15.7-inch HD dual screen for backseaters, 20-speaker premium audio and multimedia driven by a high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon chip set. Highly configurable Nappa leather seats, ambient lighting, power everything, a panoramic roof and close to 730 litres of boot space (with all seats up) mark it as a high-end blend of luxury and practicality. Offered domestically in (250kW/425Nm) single-motor rear-wheel drive and (400kW/660Nm) dual-motor all-wheel drive form, the i6 features an 87.3kWh LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery and supports ultra-fast DC charging for a 10 to 80 per cent top up in less than 15 minutes. Maximum CLTC range is 720km. The Li Mega is a futuristic, strongly aero-influenced (Cd 0.21) luxury people mover offering seven seats including two fully rotating captains chairs in the second row. At over 5.3 metres long, just under 2.0m wide and a bit over 1.8m tall with a 3300mm wheelbase it’s a substantial machine offering everything from heating for all seven seats (ventilation and massage function on the first two rows) multiple large screens, Dolby audio and a dual-purpose refrigerator, to a massive panoramic roof, Nappa leather upholstery and one-touch power doors. With dual electric motors producing overall outputs of 413kW/542Nm this 2.8-tonne beast can blast from 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds.  Its 103kWh NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) battery is good for a quoted CLTC range of 710km and the car’s 800-volt architecture delivers a peak charge capacity of 520kW for a 10-80 per cent charge in just over 10 minutes. The Li i6 single-motor starts at ¥249,800 in China with the dual-motor at ¥269,800. Taking import and distribution costs into account those prices would likely translate to around A$70,000 and A$75,000, respectively, putting it in the same price ballpark as large EV SUV players like the Ford Mach-E (from $65,990), Kia EV6 (from $72,865) and Lexus RZ (from $84,500). The Li Mega costs ¥509,800 in China, which would potentially end up at around A$140,000 here, mixing it with the XPeng X9 (from $89,900) and Zeekr 009 (from $115,900).  CarsGuide has contacted Li Auto through its Beijing HQ for comment on the Li i6 and Li Mega’s potential sale in Australia.

China’s premier car brand is headed to Australia. Hongqi, which is part of state-owned carmaker FAW, was originally the official motor vehicle supplier for high ranking communist party officials. Now it is China’s answer to Bentley, Rolls-Royce and the like. Now it has Australian roads in its sights, with the electric E-HS9 large SUV the first vehicle slated to arrive Down Under and it will be on display at the Melbourne and Sydney EV shows on 23-25 October and 6-8 November, respectively. It is a big, brash electric SUV with a dominant grille, blocky silhouette and a plush interior. There is no word on when it will arrive in Australia, and it hasn’t been approved for sale by the federal government regulator, which points to it still being at least six months away. We can gather some idea of what to expect by looking at fellow right-hand-drive markets such as Singapore where it is on sale. Hongqi’s Singapore website said it is 5209mm long, 2010mm wide, 1713mm tall and with a wheelbase of 3110mm. That makes it one of the largest passenger vehicles on Australian roads, and is bigger than a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and on par with the incoming Nissan Y63 Patrol. The enormous wheelbase - the distance between the front and rear axles - means it will also have one of the roomiest cabins of any vehicle in Australia. It uses two electric motors, in two tunes, to make a combined 320kW and 600Nm or 405kW/750Nm and provide all-wheel drive grip. Battery sizes range from 84kWh to 120kWh delivering a driving range of between 380km and 515km. The bigger battery and more powerful version is the one slated for Australia. It is fully kitted out inside, with heated, ventilated and power-adjustable massage seats up front, and a heated and ventilated second-row pew. Nappa and synthetic leather-wrapped upholstery is complemented by soft-touch and premium materials, 16-speaker stereo and a laundry list of other items. It has seating for six or seven, with the six-seat version using premium captain’s chairs in the second row and the seven-seat has a 2+3+2 layout.

Lexus has announced its TZ three-row electric SUV will land in Australia in 2027.  The TZ is a luxury version of the new all-electric Toyota Highlander announced in February 2026 that was ruled out for an Australian launch by Toyota. The current hybrid-powered Highlander is on sale in Australia as the popular Kluger, but the next-generation will be electric-only. The TZ lines up as a rival to other three-row EVs the Hyundai Ioniq 9 ($119,668) and Kia EV9 ($97,155), both before on-road costs.  Lexus Australia hasn't confirmed local specification details for the TZ.  It's designed around a “driving lounge” concept that prioritises passenger space, seat flexibility and comfort.  The TZ was first revealed in the United States in May 2026.  It uses dual electric motors, providing a total system output of 300kW, compared to the Ioniq 9’s 314kW and the 160kW of the EV9’s base grade. Aided by an all-wheel drive system, the TZ can sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds.  Lexus has given the TZ a huge 96kWh battery, offering a WLTP driving range of 530km.  The car can DC charge at 150kW, meaning a 10 to 80 per cent juice-up takes about 35 minutes.  The car will be configured in a 2-2-3 layout, with second-row captain chairs and three seats in the back row, but there is also expected to be a six-seat option It's likely to have the same 14.0-inch central touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital driver display as the new Highlander EV.  The TZ will launch in Japan in late 2026, ahead of its Australian arrival in 2027.  It’s unclear exactly when the TZ will arrive here, but it could be as early as the first quarter of 2027.  Lexus will show off the TZ for the first time at the Melbourne Cup on November 3, 2026.  Lexus will reveal official pricing closer to the TZ’s launch, but buyers can expect it to be more than $100,000, which is similar to its rivals.  Lexus will also show off an ultra-exclusive grade of its RZ 600e electric performance SUV at the Melbourne Cup in November 2026.  The Japanese brand announced RZ 600e F Sport Performance in December 2025, with it now revealing there will only be nine examples sold in Australia.  It has different 21-inch alloy wheels and a yoke steering wheel as well as sports suspension that’s been lowered by 20mm.  The car boasts a suite of new carbon elements, including the spoilers and on the bonnet.  It has dual electric motors that combine to produce a total system output of 313kW, with a 0 to 100km/h acceleration time of 4.4 seconds.  It’s also equipped with a 77kWh battery that has a quoted driving range of 525km. 

Volkswagen Australia has moved to shake up its mid-size ID.4 pure-electric SUV with a bigger battery in the entry-grade, new onboard features, revised controls and upgraded active safety systems for the 2027 model year. Even as local electric vehicle (EV) sales boom, the ID.4 remains a sales minnow, recording just over 1300 registrations to the end of September this year compared to the heavy-hitting Tesla Model Y sitting on 35,930 units for the same period. So, to improve the EV’s value-equation and boost sales momentum, while adding $1000 to the before on-road costs price VW has upped the standard specification with its new, in-house-developed Innovision multimedia system (with satellite navigation), physical steering wheel controls, expanded driver assistance technologies and enhanced personalisation features across ID.4 Pro and ID.4 GTX models. The Innovision system is managed through a 12.9-inch touchscreen with nav functionality including a new-gen version of the brand’s ID. Light system, which provides guidance prompts at the base of the windscreen, including animated directional cues for upcoming turns. The MY27 updates bring an increased gross battery capacity of 84kWh for the ID.4 Pro (up from 82kWh) with the official range figure rising marginally from 544 to 546km. The ID.4 GTX retains its 82kWh pack. VW has responded to calls for physical adjustment of commonly-used features, replacing widely unloved touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel with conventional buttons for functions like audio volume, cruise control and phone connection,   At the same time a new ‘Driving Experience Selection with Atmospheres’ set-up allows personalisation of the cabin through coordinated adjustment of a range of comfort and convenience settings. The car’s ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) suite has also been expanded to include: Traffic sign recognition Front cross-traffic assist Proactive Occupant Protection System Predictive Speed Limiter Enhanced Area View Surround-view Camera System The Predictive Speed Limiter works in conjunction with the car’s adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition to automatically adjust vehicle speed in response to changing limits.  The upgraded VW ID.4 is available now and announcing its improved specification Volkswagen Australia Brand Director of Passenger Vehicles Piergiorgio Minto said, "The MY27 updates introduce a meaningful range of enhancements across technology, safety and personalisation, further strengthening the appeal of the ID. 4 range for Australian customers.”

Hyundai is entering the EV price war as it makes its smallest EV cheaper and culls the most expensive versions. There are now just two Hyundai Inster variants to choose from, down from four.  Hyundai has culled the Extended Range variant of the Inster and the tougher-looking Inster Cross with roof basket. This leaves the Standard Range Inster and the regular Inster Cross as the only two options. The range adjustment coincides with the 2027 model year car, examples of which have now started to arrive in Australia. Hyundai has also shaved $1500 off the price of the Inster Standard range to $37,500, before on-road costs, only about five months after the brand ripped more than $4000 off its price tag. The Inster Standard Range comes with a few less features now. There is no interior V2L (Vehicle to Load) port, portable emergency charging cable or heat pump. The latter is important as many carmakers have put heat pumps in to help improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems and use less of the battery’s energy, which helps improve driving range. The Standard Range comes with a 42kWh battery that delivers a driving range of up to 327km, with power coming from a single electric motor making 71kW. The Inster Cross is also $1500 cheaper at $43,500. It comes with the bigger 49kWh battery and effectively fills the void left by jettisoning of the Extended Range version. It has had the same items removed as the Standard Range to help lower the price. At its heart is a 49kWh battery that provides a driving range of up to 360km and has a more powerful 84kW electric motor. Competition is heating up at the entry-level of the electric car market, as new budget-friendly models arrive in increasing numbers to take advantage of the increased demand due to high fuel prices BYD cut the price of its entry-level Atto 1 to $19,990, drive-away, until the end of the year. The Geely EX2, GAC Aion UT, GWM Ora 5 and Leapmotor B03X have all lobbed in the past few months with price tags at about or less than $30,000. Tesla slashed $9000 of the price of entry into its Model 3 electric sedan, with a new based rear-wheel drive (RWD) variant priced from $45,900, before on-road costs.

BMW’s new electric car has a monstrous driving range, and it’s headed to Aussie shores. The BMW iX4 is a 'coupe' SUV counterpart to the iX3 electric mid-size SUV. Pricing starts from $103,900, before on-road costs, with the top-spec 50 xDrive variant an extra $16,000, at $119,900, before on-road costs. The starting price is $14,000 more than the entry-level iX3 40, which notably ditches the dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up, but is substantially cheaper than the larger iX. The iX4 will rival the Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron ($89,990), as well as the Tesla Model Y Premium Long Range AWD ($68,900), among others. BMW expects deliveries on the entry-level iX4 40 xDrive to begin in Australia in the first quarter of 2027, with the top-spec grade joining later in the year. 2026 BMW iX4 pricing Australia The 2027 BMW iX4 is powered by two electric motors. Total system outputs are 275kW and 520Nm in the 40 xDrive, or 345kW and 645Nm in the 50 xDrive. In combination with its AWD system, iX4 50 xDrive can accelerate from 0-100km/h in as fast as 4.9 seconds. The iX4 is the latest addition to BMW’s Neue Klasse line-up, meaning it uses an 800-volt electrical architecture. The iX4 40 xDrive has an 82.6 kWh battery offering up to 638km of WLTP-claimed range, while the 50 xDrive has a larger 108.7kWh unit with a WLTP-claimed range of 828km. The 40 xDrive has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 300kW, while the 50 xDrive can charge at up to 400kW. Both cars can DC fast-charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 21 minutes. The iX4’s interior is dominated by a 17.9-inch central touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. It also features BMW’s panoramic digital display that projects information across the lower section of the windscreen, contrasting a traditional display in front of the driver. Both variants of the iX4 are equipped with a 3D head-up display. The car rides on 20-inch light-alloy wheels as standard, and sports BMW’s kidney grille and headlight design that looks like one single piece on the front of the car. It has a sloping roofline, with a full-length panoramic sunroof as standard.

Toyota already has an established track record of hybrid sales, but it’s now looking to build up sales of its battery electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) towards the end of the decade. “This is all part of our 30 by 30 strategy and we anticipate that by the end of 2030, approximately 30 per cent of Toyota Australia sales will come from zero- and low-emission vehicles, including BEVs, PHEVs and FCEVs,” said Toyota Australia Vice President National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas. This comes as the CO2 emission targets with the Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) continue to reduce every year. Toyota has already said it cannot rule out price rises due to the NVES from 2027 onwards and the only way to get the company’s fleet CO2 emissions under the target is to roll out more zero- or low-emissions vehicles, like BEVs, PHEVs and FCEVs. While it’s unclear what the current split of electric and plug-in hybrid for overall Toyota sales in Australia is, the Japanese carmaker already has a series of new models coming. A new RAV4 GXL 2WD PHEV variant will join the line-up in the first quarter of 2027, and will likely be the most affordable PHEV variant yet. It will sit below the XSE 2WD PHEV, XSE AWD PHEV and flagship GR Sport AWD PHEV trims. In mid-2027 Toyota will launch the C-HR BEV to sit alongside the bZ4X, bZ4X Touring and HiLux BEV. Local pricing and specifications for this model haven’t been announced yet. The Japanese carmaker will launch the HiLux FCEV in 2028. Pappas admitted this model will likely be low volume and largely for fleets, like the current HiLux BEV. Another new Toyota vehicle that hasn’t been revealed yet, but will offer a range of low- and zero-emissions power options, is the new-generation Corolla. It’s understood the new Corolla will be the embodiment of Toyota’s multi-pathway solution and offer a series of powertrain options. These are understood to include petrol, hybrid, BEV and FCEV powertrains. Previewed in concept form at the Japan Mobility Show in 2025, it’s expected this new-generation Corolla will be revealed either later this year or early next. At this stage it’s unclear when the new-generation Corolla will come to Australia and the power options that will be offered. It may help contribute to Toyota’s plan to achieve 30 per cent zero- or low-emissions vehicle sales by the end of 2030.