Hatchback News

Following the updated Audi A3 and the introduction of its AllStreet variant, the sharper and faster Audi S3 Sportback hatch and sedan have also been tweaked to make it… even sharper and faster.

No empire lasts forever, and while Toyota was distracted these last few years trying to prove it can build EVs and performance cars, its rivals have finally bridged the hybrid gap.

The bloody battle for Australia’s cheapest electric car continues with BYD slashing its Ora small car to $35,990 drive-away, with that price applying nationally. All variants in the GWM Ora range now carry national drive-away prices so it’s a little tricky to give an exact change from the old $39,990 list price as tariffs differ by state. Still, the discount is significant, and makes the Ora around $4500-$7000 more affordable than before, depending where you live. GWM’s latest hit follows MG chopping prices of its entry level MG4 Excite to $39,990 drive-away in March to be more competitive with the BYD Dolphin Dynamic ($38,890 before on-road costs). The lower price has been achieved by GWM utilising “continued favourable exchange rates and supply to sharpen Ora pricing”, the company said in a statement. It follows a $4000 price cut in July 2023. GWM has delivered 282 Oras so far this year compared to 688 BYD Dolphin and 1335 MG4 deliveries. There are no changes to Ora specification with the entry-grade Standard Range featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, a 360-degree camera, power seats, and twin 10.25-inch screens for the instruments and multimedia system.Its driving range is rated at 320km WLTP from a 48kWh battery and 126kW/250Nm front-mounted electric motor.  The $40,990 Extended Range’s 63kWh battery bumps range to 420km without any other changes save for keyless entry. Moving up to the Ultra (now $43,990 drive-away) scores a power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, power-adjust mirrors, heated steering wheel and heating/ventilation for the front seats. The $46,990 drive-away Ora GT gets an exterior makeover with sporty Toyota Supra-esque wheels, exterior cladding and red accents but no change to the 126kW electric motor. While GWM has set the latest gauntlet, we don’t expect the EV price wars to end any time soon. In fact, it’s already setting up for another change with the 2025 BYD Dolphin expected to bring cost improvements according to China’s AutoHome. GWM also promised plug-in hybrid powertrains for the Australian market. It’s unclear if that refers to its Haval SUV range, such as the Jolion and H6, or if that’s a teaser for the upcoming hybridised Alpha ute.2024 GWM Ora drive-away pricing 

Skoda has kicked off 2024 with a three-pronged attack on the Australian new car market, announcing a run-out version of its compact Kamiq SUV, an entry-level variant of the mid-size Karoq SUV and a value-focused SportLine grade for the Octavia Liftback and Wagon line-up.

Easter is a time of rebirth and new beginnings, and naturally that turns our mind to cars (what can I say, we have a one-track mind).

Mini Australia has detailed the next-gen version of its iconic hatchback, the Mini Cooper, set to arrive in Australia in the third quarter of 2024.

The Kia K4, the all-new replacement for the long-serving Cerato, broke cover at this week’s New York Motor Show overnight and the brand sprung a surprise by revealing the first look at its hatchback sibling.

The cost of entry to the Toyota Yaris light hatchback range has increased by $3700 following Toyota’s decision to drop all petrol-powered variants, except the GR Yaris hot hatch, in favour of a hybrid-heavy line-up.

Nissan reckons that pulling out barriers including the child-seat tether-enforcing ADR 34 would only hasten the arrival and decrease the cost of future models.

Farewell Kia Cerato and hello K4! That's the name of the new small sedan model that will replace the long-running Cerato moniker in Australia, likely before the end of this year.