Hybrid News

Ford confirms new Toyota RAV4 fighter
By Laura Berry · 11 Aug 2026
Ford has shown off a low-priced hybrid SUV, a four-door Mustang and the Fathom electric ute, which the company says are all part of a raft of fresh affordable models to come.Ford’s global CEO Jim Farley broke the news at the Ford Dealer Show event, according to Autonews.Farley showed the brand’s dealers early prototypes of a small hybrid SUV and a four-door Mustang. The small SUV, which effectively replaces the Escape that was discontinued only a year ago in the United States, will go on sale in 2029, according to Farley.While smaller hybrid SUVs aren't really anything new it's important for Ford, which hasn't had a model in recent times to compete with a multitude of rivals with this kind of vehicle.Just as significant is the price of the new hybrid SUV, which will only be about A$35,000, according to Farley. At this price the small SUV would become the new entry point into Ford's model range.People at the event, who wish to remain anonymous, said the new, small SUV was “boxy looking” and resembled a first-generation Ford Escape. Ford's executives told the crowd that a name for the vehicle was yet to be announced.Ford also showcased a prototype four-door Mustang. Again the full details of the vehicle weren't fully revealed.Executives said the four-door Mustang would have more room in the back seats then a Porsche Panamera, have a 0-100km/h time of about four seconds and be priced at about A$57,000 dollars, according to Automotive News.The name Mach-4 is unconfirmed but again, the rumours suggest this could be it.Ford dealers were also able to sit in the upcoming small electric Fathom ute.The ute will be priced about A$43,000 and will use Ford's new electric vehicle architecture called the Universal EV platform, which the company said will underpin at least five of its new models.As for any of these cars coming to Australia, this hinges on the vehicles being built in right-hand drive. If we see hints these models will be sold in the United Kingdom, which is traditionally a large Ford market and right-hand drive, then there's a good chance we may see them come to Australia. Ford's line-up in Australia is currently low on model variety with the brand's biggest sellers being the Ranger ute and Everest SUV.  A model to compete with affordable hybrid SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 and Haval Jolion would help Ford.As for the Fathom, Ford has hinted this electric ute may have a future in Australia, but with the model not expected in the US until 2028 we may be waiting quite a bit longer to see it here. 
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Honda's new EV direction revealed
By Tim Gibson · 11 Aug 2026
Electric cars are back in Honda's plans.Honda has chosen giant engineering and IT firm Tata Group subsidiary Tata Technologies to help develop a future EV and hybrid platform, according to NikkeiAsia.Tata Group owns Jaguar Land Rover and deals with a range of automotive and aeronautical projects, and its Technologies arm specialises in platform development.This will reduce costs for Honda as it grapples with heavy financial losses, expecting to lose $3.29 billion (or nearly $5 billion in Australian currency). Its new EV direction could have huge implications for Australia. This new platform is expected to be used on several new hybrid and fully-electric Honda models.These vehicles are earmarked for sale in Asia and other regions, but not North America.The brand has been undergoing a serious reshuffle of its future product lineup globally, ditching an EV strategy to focus on hybrid cars.The platform could help Honda get into the mainstream EV space at a cheaper rate than its now cancelled ‘0 series’ electric car plans.There is no news on what models will spawn from the platform, but don't expect official announcements anytime soon.The models developed from Honda’s Tata Group partnership will specifically target Asian markets and other non-North American regions, so Australia is a firm possibility.It is likely some of these cars will be built in right-hand drive, smoothing the path for any potential future launch Down Under.Honda is eager to obtain further electrified models in Australia as it faces substantial fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). Honda’s CR-V, HR-V and ZR-V SUV range now features hybrid set-ups, with electrified sales offsetting fines under the NVES emissions scheme. The brand released its Super-One electric city car as its first EV in Australia recently.Models will launch in Asia before feasibly entering Australia, but it is unclear when that might be.
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Best mid-size SUVs still to come in 2026
By Jack Quick · 11 Aug 2026
Despite an already huge year for new model launches, there are still some key mid-size SUVs slated for Australia in the tail end of 2026 which might be worth waiting for.So far this year, new-generation versions of top-selling mid-size SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 have arrived, among a swathe of new contenders from challenger brands.If you’re not a huge fan of what’s currently on the market though, there may be something coming that better suits your lifestyle, budget or tastes.Here is a rundown of the five best mid-size SUVs that are still to come. They’re in alphabetical order and span both the mainstream and premium mid-size SUV segments.The current GWM Haval H7 has flown under the radar since it launched in 2025 and the Chinese carmaker is planning to hit reset with a new-generation model.GWM has confirmed it will launch the new Haval H7 in the second half of 2026 and it will feature hybrid and all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power.Front and rear differential locks are also confirmed for the flagship variants, which is a major upgrade to the off-road capabilities compared to the current front-wheel drive hybrid model.Overall there’s a tougher and boxier look that’s more in keeping with the Tank models.Mazda is finally launching a rival to the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X in Australia.The CX-6e is the brand’s first electric mid-size SUV and it quickly follows on the heels of the Mazda 6e electric liftback launching locally.Both vehicles have been co-developed with Changan and are built in China. The CX-6e in particular is built on the same platform as the Deepal S07, which is already offered in Australia.Locally the CX-6e will only be offered with a battery electric (BEV) powertrain, however in other markets a range-extender (REEV) hybrid is available.Mercedes-Benz is set to launch a new-generation version of the GLB SUV in Australia. Final details haven’t been locked in yet.Globally the new GLB is offered with both mild-hybrid and BEV powertrains, like the new GLA and CLA it shares componentry with.This new GLB is larger in every dimension and notably features a 60mm longer wheelbase. It’s available with both five- and seven-seat configurations.Another highlight is the ‘MBUX Superscreen’ which comprises a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as dual 14.0-inch touchscreens for the central multimedia system and front passenger display.Skoda launched the regular Elroq electric SUV in 2025, but later in 2026 it’s readying the hotter RS version.Power comes from a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with total system outputs of 250kW and 545Nm. This is enough to send it from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds.The electric motors are fed by an 84kWh lithium-ion battery pack which allows for up to 550km of claimed range, according to WLTP testing.The Elroq is essentially a shortened version of the Enyaq electric mid-size SUV. It is already offered in RS form locally with both the typical SUV and ‘coupe’ SUV body styles.Volvo fans have been waiting for an electric counterpart to the top-selling XC60 mid-size SUV for years now and later in 2026 it’ll arrive in Australia.The Volvo EX60 is based on a new platform called SPA3 and it has an 800V electrical architecture.In Australia two versions of the EX60 will be offered initially, the Ultra P6 RWD and Ultra P10 AWD. They’re priced from $86,990 and $101,990, before on-road costs, respectively.It’s understood that the range-topping P12 AWD trim, as well as a more affordable, entry-level grade will arrive in 2027.
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Good news for fans of diesel utes, 4WDs
By Jack Quick · 10 Aug 2026
GWM is rolling out its new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine imminently in Australia, but it’s already exploring electrification to further reduce emissions in the future.This electrified 3.0-litre diesel engine may take the form of either a hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV), or both.It is expected to launch locally around 2028 to offset tightening emissions standards.“Fuel consumption has a direct relation to emissions, and we've been able to get low enough to pass the current emission standard without needing AdBlue,” said GWM ANZ Product Planning Manager Timothy Leong to CarsGuide.“In about 2028, that's when it's going to change. But even then, we haven't decided whether it's AdBlue or hybrid or what other technology we might be putting in.”It’s understood GWM is working on more diesel hybrids and PHEVs beyond the ones based on the 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel.This likely includes electrified versions of GWM’s existing 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines.It’s understood these electrified diesel engines will be used in body-on-frame vehicles in both the Hi4-T and Hi4-Z PHEV configurations. The former is more off-road focused and retains a mechanical four-wheel drive system, while the latter is more on-road focused motor and prioritises electric performance.The GWM Cannon Alpha, Tank 500 and Tank 300 are already offered with both Hi4-T and Hi-4Z petrol-electric set-ups globally. Only the Hi4-T versions are offered in Australia.It’s understood these future electrified diesel engines may be used in a transverse orientation in other two-wheel drive vehicles across GWM’s line-up.It appears the main reason why GWM is exploring electrified diesel engines is to further reduce CO2 and NOx emissions.The forthcoming GWM Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha with the regular 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine are claimed to consume 7.1L/100km and 7.3L/100km, respectively, according to ADR 81/02 testing.Claimed CO2 and NOx emissions figures for the 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine haven’t been published yet.Another potential benefit GWM may be targeting with its electrified diesel engines is additional performance. Electric motors are known for producing peak torque from a standstill and this may improve initial acceleration and low-speed response.GWM won’t be the only carmaker to be offering electrified diesel engines if it does roll them out in 2028.Chery is launching the Stockman dual-cab ute in Australia before the end of 2026 with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel PHEV. It’s claimed to have total system outputs of 350kW and 800Nm and offer up to 100km of NEDC-claimed electric range.A petrol-electric PHEV version of the Stockman will follow and will rival the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha Hi4-T PHEV and Ford Ranger Hybrid.Audi, BMW, Mazda and Mercedes-Benz, among others, currently offer diesel mild-hybrid powertrains.Mercedes-Benz does offer diesel PHEV powertrains globally in a number of models, but none have ever been offered in Australia.
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Secret to Chery's success
By Laura Berry · 08 Aug 2026
Chery’s comeback from zero to hero in Australia is truly remarkable, but what has been the secret to its second-time lucky success?  Did Chery stumble onto a genie’s lamp while it was lost in the wilderness and wish for sales success? Because somewhere between 2015 and 2026 the car company, which left Australia with a reputation for low-quality, unsafe vehicles, returned a decade later with a line-up of outstanding cars that have won over Australia.Australian sales until the end of July show Chery to be the eighth best-selling car brand in Australia, with 29,579 vehicles sold. The Tiggo 4 small SUV was the fifth most popular car in Australia last month.This means Chery has overtaken mainstream brands such as Nissan, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Honda and Subaru. It is even starting to creep into the Mazda (currently on 46,960), Hyundai (45,581) and Kia (48,399) bracket.Chery will get even closer to these brands, as they are losing sales and Chery’s market share is increasing. And its ute hasn’t even arrived.When the Chery Stockman arrives it won’t just be another ute, it’ll likely have the same success as BYD’s Shark 6 because it’ll offer the benefit of being a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The edge the Stockman will have over the Shark 6 is it’ll be a diesel PHEV, not a petrol, which will make it popular for off-road use and towing. The addition of Stockman will increase Chery’s sales by at least 1000 per month. Whether it catches Hyundai, Kia and Mazda before the end of the year is yet to be seen, but Chery has come from a lot further back.This time last year Chery had sold only 17,272 cars, and the current year-to-date sales represent a doubling in market share to 4.2 per cent.Toyota is the final boss of the Australian car market and its year-to-date sales of 115,550 make everybody else’s results seem minuscule, even BYD that has reached 60,192. Chery is probably not gunning for the top spot right now, unless that was specifically wished for when it found the magic lamp.For Chery to even reach where it is today in the three years since it returned to Australia in 2023, with one car and no sales in almost a decade seems nothing short of magical.The truth is Chery’s stellar comeback is down to five factors: elevating quality perception through design but keeping retail pricing low; hiring outside automotive designers and engineers from European, United States and Korean car companies; investing big in next-gen electric and hybrid platforms, and mostly important and the reason for all of this - focussing on exports.That’s it! Oh, and just add excellent timing and money, lots of money.The importance of Chery’s export focus can’t be overstated. Exports bankroll the business. Not a lot of profit is made in Chery’s local Chinese market, while bigger than our Australian brains can comprehend, it’s so cut-throat that vehicle manufacturers are struggling to make a decent profit. So ruthless was the price war that in February this year the Chinese government banned car makers from selling below production cost, which they had been doing just to compete with each other. The stomach was eating itself.Chery realised this and put most of its energy into exports and this meant lifting the quality to a standard oversea markets had become accustomed to set by Japanese car makers such as Toyota, Honda and Mazda.This meant hiring designers and engineers from outside China, senior executives from European, Korean, Japanese and American car companies    Steve Eum, Korean born but raised in the United States, is now Chery’s Vice President and General Manager of Global Design having worked for Kia, Hyundai, General Motors and even Ford where he was based in Australia and worked on the Falcon.Eum succeeded Kevin Rice, who had worked on the MX-5 and helped develop the BMW 3 Series and 4 Series.Keeping that premium feel but pricing the vehicles to be among the most affordable vehicles offered in a market is guaranteed to be a sales winning combination anywhere, especially in Australia.Chery’s been smart enough to add sub-brands such as Jaecoo, Omoda and Lepas, which bring more luxury, sportiness and premium electric choices. The Jaecoo J5 for instance is often mistaken for a Range Rover when spotted on the road. That the hybrid and electric technology is outstanding, was also important. Chery’s super hybrids such as the Tiggo 9 and Tiggo 8 are incredibly fuel efficient.   Chery’s timing of having a wide range of affordable electric and hybrid vehicles at precisely the same time as Australian buyers were switching to EVs in record numbers was also key. The fuel crises caused by the war in Iran pushed EV sales to more than 23 per cent of all new cars sold in June and continued through July when it was above 21 per cent.In July 2026 Chery became the first Chinese car maker to surpass 20 million global sales. Sales in Europe for Chery were up by more than 200 per cent and in the UK Chery came in at No.2 for sales in July beating local favourite Ford.And the company hasn’t even started selling in the United States yet, but it will within the next two years.Chery has been very fortunate this time around, but luck is only when opportunity meets skill as they say.Or maybe Chery did find a genie’s lamp. In which case I wonder what its two other wishes were? 
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Crucial details of Kia's new hybrid SUV
By Tim Gibson · 07 Aug 2026
The much-anticipated new-generation Kia Seltos small SUV is one step closer to Aussie buyers, with it now approved for sale Down Under. The car’s homologation filing to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts confirmed key details ahead of its arrival later this year.Seltos is one of Kia’s most popular names and is the brand’s fourth best-selling model on sale in Australia in 2026.The Seltos shapes up similarly to the Hyundai Kona Hybrid and ($36,950) and Toyota Corolla Cross ($37,440). It will also pose a new challenge to the best-selling Chery Tiggo 4, with hybrid variants starting from $29,990.Kia has officially kept Australian details close to its chest, but now some crucial details have been exposed in new government filings.We now know the hybrid-only Seltos will be available in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive layouts.Both are powered by a 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine and electric motor set-up, making either 118kW or 169kW, which is more power than South Korean examples.This will be Kia's first Seltos model to feature a hybrid set-up in Australia.Kia has provided no indication the overseas petrol models of the new Seltos will ever make their way to Australia.Measuring 4430mm long, 1830mm wide, 1600mm high and with a wheelbase of 2690mm, it is a similar size to its rivals the Kona and the Corolla Cross. The sunroof and power mirrors will be optional extras for the car.The Seltos has been officially slated for a Q4 2026 release, with CarsGuide previously reporting October as a more specific time frame. The base petrol grade Seltos is available in South Korea from around 25 million won, or roughly $25,000, with the hybrid closer to the equivalent of $30,000.Kia models incur a price hike on South Korean equivalents, meaning the more expensive hybrid Seltos is likely start in the mid-$30,000s range.
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2000km range hybrid you never knew about
By Laura Berry · 06 Aug 2026
The Nissan Qashqai SUV has just set a Guinness World Record with the longest distance travelled on a single tank of fuel covering almost 2000km.The long-distance efficiency record of 1980km was set by Nissan using a Qashqai e-Power — the brand’s small hybrid SUV — driving from Bogota to the Caribbean coast in Colombia from July 14-17, 2026.Nissan says the almost 2000km route took in a multitude of driving conditions from heavy traffic to open roads. Guinness World Record judges certified the feat and every stage of the route was independently monitored.The Qashqai e-Power is not a plug-in hybrid, but uses an electric motor fed by a 1.8kWh battery that is charged by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine.Operating like an electric vehicle most of the time the electric motor drives the wheels unless extra power is needed or if charge in the battery has reached a level too low.The fuel tank in a Qashqai e-Power is 55 litres in volume and requires a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.Travelling 1980km on 55 litres means the record-setting Qashqai used an average of 2.78L/100km, which is way better than the official Nissan fuel consumption claim of 4.1L/100km after a combination of driving conditions.CarsGuide’s own testing of the Qashqai and other hybrid vehicles has found low-speed city driving without sudden or rapid acceleration will conserve fuel use significantly.This is not the first time the Nissan Qashqai has set a Guiness World Record. In 2024 the Qashqai set the record for the world’s highest bungee jump in a car.Yes you read that right. The record was performed by Nissan France in Paris and saw a professional stunt driver successfully pilot a Nissan Qashqai e-Power off a platform 65m high while connected to a large bungee cable.The Nissan Qashqai e-Power received an update in 2025 and the now all-hybrid line-up currently starts at a list price of $45,850.
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Real reason RAV4 Hybrid prices are going up
By Andrew Chesterton · 06 Aug 2026
Toyota has finally spilled on why its new models are copping price increases around the world, with one executive suggesting the brand "can't compete" with China at the entry-point of the market, and so is instead moving into a more premium space.The news came from South Africa specifically, where executives were questioned as to why the new RAV4 Hybrid is more expensive than the model it replaces. The reason, says Toyota South Africa Motors senior public relations manager Riaan Esterhuysen, is China."We intentionally moved it into a more premium space. It occupies or plays in the higher part of the segment now, and that is intentional," he told BizCommunity."We can't compete with the emerging Chinese brands directly on an entry-level price point. They have changed that market. They have shaped the market or changed the shape of the market by driving customers down to a lower and mid-tier of the segment or taking used car buyers and upselling them."Toyota in Australia hasn't mentioned China in the positioning of the refreshed RAV4 range in our market, instead pointing to an increase in value, but the prices have also increased here markedly.The entry-level to the range, the GX, climbed $3730 to $45,990, while the Cruiser grade has increased by up to $5930, to $60,340. The new-to-market RAV4 PHEV sets a new price ceiling for the model, at $66,340 for the GR Sport.Whatever the reason in Australia, the price shift hasn't hurt sales, with the RAV4 the country's best-selling vehicle in July, with a total 5564 deliveries – and 40 per cent belonged to the RAV4 PHEV.It marks something of a bounce back after a comparatively slow start to the year for Toyota in Australia. But it has previously told CarsGuide that supply constraints, not competition from China and elsewhere, was to blame.A new RAV4 and a new HiLux launched at around the same time, and the brand says it has been fighting for more supply to meet demand."Our biggest downfall this year has actually been our supply at the start, because we knew last year that we were coming into this year with a Q1 into Q2 shortfall, because we were launching the RAV4 later than we had liked," John Pappas, Toyota's Vice President, National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, told CarsGuide."So now the fact that we've been able to secure more production from the global allocation, particularly on hybrids and bZs and other vehicle lines, including Hilux, it's great because that enables us to shorten lead times for customers."
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Affordable new Nissan SUV teased
By Tom White · 05 Aug 2026
Nissan has teased yet another Chinese-built SUV as part of its tie-up with Dongfeng, which could serve as a cut-price replacement for the Ariya.Dubbed the NX7, Nissan shared a single teaser image of the new model on its Chinese social media channels ahead of its reveal.In line with the naming practices used on cars in China, the NX7 will serve as a mid-size SUV, a segment below the five-meter long NX8 which has just hit the market overseas.While no details of the car are available yet, the shadowy teaser shows a car with similar design traits to the NX8, with split light clusters, a filled-in front panel and an illuminated Nissan badge. Its lower light fittings are distinct from the strip-style lights featured in the NX8’s design, while traditional wing mirrors and a Lidar cluster on the roof also feature.If it follows in the footsteps of the NX8, expect the NX7 to be offered with both a purely electric (EV) and range-extender (REEV) hybrid option.The NX7 will build on the success of Nissan’s Dongfeng joint venture, which has thus far produced the Frontier Pro PHEV ute as a BYD Shark 6 rival (expected to be called the Navara Pro in Australia), as well as the N6 and N7 sedans, which join the NX8 as important wins for Nissan as it experiences a shrinking footprint elsewhere in the world.While the company had a head start in the electrification space with the pioneering Leaf hatchback, it has struggled to remain competitive since the rise of Tesla and cut-price Chinese alternatives.To that end, under the leadership of relatively new CEO Ivan Espinosa, Nissan has stated it will lean more heavily into its successful Chinese joint venture to leverage ‘China Speed’ product development for the global market.The NX7 is the next in what the company said will be 10 new Chinese models to be revealed by 2027. To our count, the brand is up to five new models, or seven if you include the recently updated combustion models from the joint venture, the Teana sedan and Pathfinder large SUV.Locally, the NX7 could be more price competitive than the car which Nissan already offers in this mid-size space, the Ariya.Starting from $55,840, before on-roads, the Ariya goes head-to-head with the Tesla Model Y (from $58,900), BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990) and Toyota bZ4X (from $55,990), although all of those rivals offer a longer driving range in their most basic forms.This leaves Nissan without a car to compete at the entry level of the mid-size SUV space, with the likes of the Geely EX5, GAC Aion V, and Leapmotor C10, all from the mid-$40k mark.It would also open the door to Nissan offering a REEV model to compete with the likes of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and BYD Sealion 6 at a competitive price.Nissan has been approached for comment on the new model’s chances for an Australian launch. While the company has alluded to exporting the Frontier Pro PHEV and NX8 to Australia in the past, it is yet to confirm timing for the models.
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Australia a ‘tough environment’ says Mazda
By Tom White · 05 Aug 2026
The extent of Mazda’s transforming business has been made evident in its latest quarterly financial report which details global sales up until March of 2026.Key takeaways from the report include Mazda pinning much of its future global growth on the launch of its Chinese-built electric duo of the Mazda 6e liftback and CX-6e SUV, with the incoming next-generation CX-3 also predicted to be a big driver for markets like South East Asia and Australia in 2027.The brand also noted strong demand for the plugless hybrid CX-50 in North America. While this model isn’t headed to Australia, it bodes well for the future CX-5 hybrid which is due in Australia in 2028.The company spent minimal time on the results for its large platform vehicles (CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90) which were previously a big investment for Mazda in moving to a semi-premium price space, debuting a new rear-drive architecture and family of inline-six engines.The CX-70 and CX-90 were both down significantly in the North American market they were expressly designed for.The company said the CX-60, however, had been performing notably well in Australia, up 13 per cent year-on-year, against the backdrop of a 22 per cent decline year-on-year.Mazda’s global operation described Australia as a “tough environment” citing strong demand for “low-priced battery EVs and HEVs amid rising fuel prices,” alluding to cut-price Chinese rivals leaping up the sales charts.Again, the company called out the 6e and CX-6e as a particular vector for “expanding sales” in Australia as models which meet “market demand and environmental regulations.”Australia has long been one of Mazda’s strongest markets globally, although our market’s influence looks to be waning as the Japanese brand’s share shrinks in the face of said “tough” conditions.For the first quarter of 2026, which this global report details, Mazda’s sales in Australia amounted to 19,000 units, down 22 per cent, while the brand’s sales in China were headed in the opposite direction, up one per cent to 18,000 units year-on-year.Meanwhile in Europe, which also depends on electric sales of the Chinese-built electric models, sales were up significantly to 43,000 units, more than doubling the brand’s tally in Australia over the same time period.With Mazda’s China operation soon to overtake Australia, and its European operation in significant growth, the company may shift its priorities away from our market as it senses growth to be had elsewhere.The USA, which is Mazda’s largest market, is also up but largely due to the domestically built CX-50 hybrid which does heavy lifting in dodging a challenging tariff environment and coming with an in-demand plugless hybrid drivetrain.After the launch of the CX-6e in Australia imminently which is priced from a competitive $53,990, before on-road costs, Mazda will bridge the gap to the long-awaited CX-5 hybrid with the next-generation CX-3 small SUV.The company reiterated in its financial results that CX-3 production will begin in Thailand before the end of the year and will go on sale in markets like Australia in early 2027.As to Mazda’s larger models, the brand acknowledged the need to put them back on track if it wants to replicate the success of models like the CX-7 and CX-9 which they replaced at a more premium price-point.The company’s North American CFO said the large SUV situation is “not acceptable” in comments reported by industry source Automotive News, adding deeper upgrades would be on the way to make the CX-70 and CX-90 specifically more competitive.Details on what these upgrades may include or when they might arrive for the Japan-built pair are yet to be confirmed.Locally, the CX-60 is down 7.0 per cent year-on-year according to more recent local VFACTs numbers, with Mazda introducing price tweaks and a new base G25 four-cylinder variant to the range in order to increase its appeal.The CX-80, the smaller of the two three-row options in the range is also performing decently after a significant price cut earlier this year, while the CX-70 and CX-90 are also languishing in our sales charts despite also receiving price adjustments.
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