Hatchback News

Australia's new-car market is set to "change dramatically", with the influx of Chinese brands, putting legacy car makers at real risk of failure.

Will BYD release an even cheaper version of its Dolphin and wade into the electric vehicle (EV) price war that currently sees the GWM Ora from $35,990 driveaway and MG’s 4 and ZS both not too far behind at $39,990 driveaway?

Booming car maker MG has raised the prices of its MG4 electric hatchback.The Chinese maker started a tsunami of price cuts when it slashed the price of 2023 MG4 models in March.Those price cuts brought the price down to $39,990 drive-away for the entry-level MG4 51kWh Excite, which was a reduction of thousands.Now MG has lifted the price by $1000 for newer 2024-plated MG4s. The price remains lower than the pre-March drive-away figure and still undercuts the circa-$41,490 drive-away BYD Dolphin.The range-topping Xpower performance variant is the only exception with its price remaining at $59,990 drive-away.An MG spokesperson put the price rise on 2024 models down to increased cost of doing business.“Like other markets and industries, our costs are going up as are the costs to do business so it is only natural that the prices will have to follow that trend, however, we have made a conscious decision to absorb those costs for some models when and where possible.”Buyers can still get their hands on 2023 MG4s according to the brand with plenty of stock across most variants.A price war has been unfolding in the electric car market in the past few months with some makers offering massive discounts on their electric cars.BYD has knocked up to $8000 off 2023 Atto 3 demonstrators and Peugeot slashed $25,000 off the price of its e-2008 small electric SUV. Peugeot has since sold out of the e-2008 and it won't be on sale until an updated model has arrived.Nissan has lopped $16,000 off the price of its slow-selling Leaf electric hatchback.GWM cut thousands off the price of the Ora hatch to $35,990 drive-away, whic. makes it Australia’s cheapest EV.Renault has gotten in on the act too, slicing $10,000 off its Megane E-Tech small electric SUV, which only launched a few months ago.Tesla cut the price of the Model Y and 3 repeatedly in April.The Model Y is between $4500 and $8500 cheaper than it was in March and the Model 3 is between $3000 and $4000 more affordable.High-end makers aren't immune either. Lotus shaved $50,000 off the price of its Eletre luxury SUV before the first vehicles arrives in a few months. 

Peugeot's e-208 seemingly has its battery specs leaked in regulatory approvals, but will the brand be more price competitive this time around?

The electric car space is brutal at the moment with Nissan’s Leaf ZE1 electric hatch the latest model to have a significant price cut to drive sales. The Leaf, which was last updated in 2023, is on offer for as little as $39,990 drive-away with the longer range e+ model $49,990 drive-away, a state and territory-dependent discount of $15,300 and $16,300, respectively. Nissan’s impermanent end of financial year (EOFY) deal follows BYD slashing $8000 off demonstrator Atto 3s, Tesla lowering the price of popular Model Y and Model 3s, and the drastic $25,000 drop Peugeot applied to its e-2008 small SUV.In April, Nissan sold 11 Leafs for a yearly total of just 89 – half of what the car had achieved in the same time last year. They are normally priced at $50,990 and $61,490, both before on-road costs.The second generation of Nissan’s pioneering electric car is facing stiff competition from new Chinese rivals such as the BYD Dolphin (from $42,190 drive-away) and MG4 ($39,990 drive-away). With even more Chinese brands on the way, it’s task will only get tougher. Tech under the Leaf is now relatively old compared to rivals, with an air-cooled battery pack it’s able to eke 285km driving range (WLTP) from a 39kWh battery, while the larger pack in the e+ ups the figure to 398km.  A CHAdeMO fast-charge port limits the Leaf e+’s 10-80 per cent fast-charge time to 59 minutes – the BYD Dolphin manages this interval in 40 minutes. CarsGuide understands Nissan’s new Ariya is still on hold for Australia with no arrival date confirmed.

Volkswagen adds a new ID.3 variant with a longer range as part of range-wide upgrades, but Australian launch still as far out as 2025.

It looks like one of China's biggest automakers is coming to Australia - here's what the brand is about and what kind of models to expect when it finally arrives.

For the first time in a long time a ute isn’t the favourite vehicle in Australia.

Hyundai is committed to the hot hatch with plentiful stock of its i30 N hot hatch available in Australia. 

Cupra is racing towards its goal to electrify its entire range by the end of the decade with a range of new fuel efficient and electric models on the horizon.