Kia News

Believe it or don’t we’re almost halfway through the year and that calls for a round up of the cars that have stood out to us in 2026.So, we’ve asked our fellow test pilots around the CarsGuide office which new car has impressed them the most so far. Here’s our half-year top 5, in no particular order.Honda PreludeHonda’s reborn Prelude sports car is a reminder of the magic this iconic Japanese company can perform at a time when new Chinese brands are drawing our eyes away.A rival to the Toyota GR 86, Nissan Z and Mazda MX-5 the Prelude arrived in May with a hybrid powertrain and a drive-away price of $65,000.Based on the Honda Civic, the Prelude has a 2.0-litre four cylinder engine and an electric motor. Combined output is 149kW.CarsGuide contributor Byron Mathioudakis attended the Australian launch.“Firstly, the performance on offer goes far beyond the sum of its published numbers," he said."Secondly, the fluency of the chassis to communicate with the road and driver makes this a true enthusiast’s car. And thirdly, this leaves us wanting more."Long after the sensual lines are out of sight, your mind’s eye keeps looking back, yearning to return to the driver’s seat. All for $65K drive-away, folks."BMW M2 CSBMW’s new M2 CS arrived in May this year loudly announcing that angry performance petrol cars were still well and truly a thing - and a beautiful thing, too.The Competition Sport version of the mighty little M2 takes that little beast's straight-six turbo and squeezes out more grunt - 390kW and 650Nm.The M2 CS has been one of Senior Journalist Chris Thompson’s favourite finds of 2026 so far.“Small enough to still feel like a nimble sports car but it won't bite your hand too hard," Thompson said."Plenty of power and a healthy torque band, but enough compliance in the chassis/suspension that it doesn't feel entirely like driving a race car. Looks fully siq in Velvet Blue Metallic with Gold Bronze wheels."Denza B5BYD’s luxury brand Denza brought its Toyota Prado rival to Australia this year starting at a list price of just less than $75K.Production Editor Jack Quick drove this large super hybrid SUV at its Aussie launch and had this to say:“It rights the BYD Shark 6’s wrongs in terms of off-road capability and has undeniable value with the amount of high-end touches it has. Plus it’s ridiculously fast. However, it’s not perfect as it’s very heavy and has a busy ride.” Kia EV4 GT-LineKia’s fully electric EV4 sedan arrived in Australia in January looking slipperier than an eel.There’s a single motor making 150kW and 283Nm driving the front wheels and you can have it in three grades with the starting list price being $49,990.Deputy Editor James Cleary drove the EV4 and nominated it as one of the cars that impressed him this year."Polarising contemporary Kia exterior design... but I like it,” he said.  “Snappy, user-friendly interior. Strong performance and useful range. A $65K price tag for this flagship is in line with BYD Seal but $10K steeper than comparable Mazda 6e.” BYD Shark 6The BYD Shark 6 was awarded CarsGuide's Best Ute of 2026 and now it has returned with a more powerful engine (a 2.0-litre turbo petrol four cylinder) in the Performance grade.The new and improved plug-in hybrid ute addressed what was lacking in an otherwise outstanding vehicle - towing ability. Braked towing capacity has increased from 2500kg to 3500kg in the Performance.Dual motors (one at the front and one at the rear) combined with the petrol e engine make an impressive 350kW and 700Nm. Carsguide contributor Stephen Ottley was at the launch and said:“For grey nomads and others who have previously ruled it out, the BYD Shark 6 might suddenly be back on more shortlists.”

Kia’s head of global product planning has fired a cheeky shot at rival brands, said he believes no brand is as well-prepared as Kia for the world’s unpredictable automotive market.Spencer Cho, Kia’s Senior Vice President and Head of the Global Business Planning Subdivision, said it’s impossible to know what the industry might look like in the future, but being prepared for as many possibilities as reasonable is the best answer.Speaking with Australian media at the launch of the new-generation 2026 Kia Seltos, Cho said that he thinks no one can know how global events will affect the industry.Trying to predict the events that might change the way brands need to operate is impossible, he said, but understanding what needs to be done to respond can’t be known until after the fact.“Let me put it this way. If I can say that I can expect everything… that's not possible,” Cho said.The US-Israel war in Iran and the effects it has had on global oil shipping is front-of-mind for Cho.“No one can expect this kind of war will happen, and also a couple years ago for Russia and Ukraine, no one can expect that kind of thing.”"But what we are doing is we carefully monitor the market demand or market changes. And development of product takes quite some time. We should create very sound product strategies, and we have to maintain those strategies in a consistent manner.”Rather than scrambling to respond to changes in the industry, Cho said Kia has built enough options to be able to react quickly in a ‘here’s one we prepared earlier’ manner.“Thankfully, we studied the EV transition quite earlier than any other brand. There are also some ups and downs, but the transition and the trend stays the same, just the differences are a little bit of this slow down. So speed might be the difference.”He says the key is not drastically changing for short-term gain, rather slightly adjusting without removing options for the future. Essentially, giving EVs a boost shouldn’t mean forgetting to continue ICE development, he said.“But we stay in the course to maintain the development of the planned EV models entering each global market, step by step. Yet we're still developing the all new ICE models as well as you see in the new Seltos. “So one of the key strengths we have is all the technologies, the diesel or gasoline or hybrid and plug-ins and EVs.”“So we have all the options in our hands. “Certain market ups and downs… hybrid is rising, we can provide hybrid models. If EV is coming, we can provide EVs. So thankfully, we have all the technologies in our hands, and we have the all the product lineup as well.”Cho took a cheeky swipe at rivals, too, rare for a senior executive. He said Kia’s strength globally is its range of cars available from the budget end, Picanto for example, through to hybrids, plug-ins, and more expensive performance cars or large electric SUVS.“So that's probably one of the strengths Kia has compared to other brands. I don't know whether you can name any other OEMs better than us in the case of the product line-up as of today.”

Kia’s global product planning boss confirmed the brand has pumped the brakes on two rumoured models, a small EV and a new SUV.While many anticipated an even smaller electric SUV to join the brand’s line-up below the Kia EV2 - something as a twin to the Hyundai Inster - it’s been confirmed the brand won’t be adding any new model lines in the near future.This also means the potential for an SUV sibling to the Kia Tasman, which would follow the popular trend of ute-based SUVs, is off the cards.Spencer Cho, Kia’s Senior Vice President and Head of the Global Business Planning Subdivision said adding more products to the range wouldn’t be useful when the brand’s line-up is “big enough” already.When asked about the rumoured Tasman-based SUV, which CarsGuide had been told had been discussed within Kia Australia at a conceptual level, Cho told journalists the focus is solely on options within the existing line-up at the moment.“Well, there might be options, but at this point, we are trying to focus on what we can and what we can do better, and of course, we can give much more choices to the customers,” he said. “At this time, as you know, we have the ICE line-up, and we also have close to the full EV line-up as well.“So our model line-up itself is big enough. “Instead of adding other model lines, we try to focus on product improvement and also improve our competitiveness with what we have in our hands right now.”Cho’s comment about Kia having ‘close to the full EV line-up’ might seem to point to the potential for a smaller EV to sit below the EV2 (which won’t come to Australia at this stage).The idea of a Kia EV1 has been floated by Kia representatives in interviews with media, especially in Europe, but Cho said the current line-up of EVs needs the brand’s attention for the foreseeable future.“We will consider any opportunities for the new segment, but at this moment, we are very much focused on the EV line-up we have right now. “As you may know already, we have almost a full range of the EV line-up in this moment. We recently launched EV2 in the European market, and EV3 is the one of the global success models we have. Cho pointed out the series of EV models Kia has now spans EV2 through EV3, 4, 5, 6, and 9, with the chances of anything extending that on either side of the smallest and largest models unlikely.“We already have the full range of the SUVs, so we are open to develop any spaces or any market demand for new products, but we already have good choices of the line-ups, so we will focus on what we have today.“We will keep an eye on any opportunities in the marketplace, smaller than EV2, but probably the chances are quite less, because the EV1 or whatever, smaller than the EV2 target market is not that much bigger than the global market. “So a simple answer is, we will focus on what we already have in the BEV lineups, even just the EV models.”

I once attended a car launch where they enlisted the help of one of Australia’s leading designers to tell us that ‘good design requires no explanation’.Which made it awkward when the car company executive then spent 30 minutes explaining the design of the newest model…While it was awkward and undercut the whole point of the design-led presentation, at least it made sense, because it was not a good looking vehicle. And that’s because despite all the concept sketches, clay models and focus groups, sometimes car companies just get it wrong.Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and looks are very subjective, but sometimes you just need to call a spade a spade. And, more importantly, there have been some models that have clearly been impacted by their looks.For example, Ford’s AU Falcon is a cult icon now, but at the time it was released it was widely considered a case-study in getting design wrong. In fact, you can probably trace the decline of the Falcon (and arguably the locally-made large sedans) to the looks of the AU.Another example of design having a major impact on a vehicle’s performance is the divergent fates of the 2011 Mazda BT-50 and Ford Ranger. Both utes feature the same Ford-developed underpinnings, but whereas the Blue Oval went down a design path of ‘boxy, tough, truck’, Mazda went a very different way. It tried to carry across the design ethos of its then-popular CX-7 and CX-9 SUVs, which arguably made sense given the gentrification of utes. But as history has proven, ute buyers prefer boxy, tough and truck-like design. Within a few years Ford had more than doubled Ranger sales, while Mazda had grown only marginally.So, what are some of the other most ‘visually challenging’ vehicles on the market today? Below is our list, but we’d love to know what you think, so let us know in the comments or on social media which new vehicles have a face only its designer could love…Tesla CybertruckThankfully Australia has been spared the sight of the ‘dumpster-on-wheels’ on our roads. Clearly the American electric brand wanted to stand out from the pack when it entered the ute/pickup market. Unfortunately, it stands out the same way you might stand out in a crowd if you wrap yourself head-to-toe in tinfoil.It has become a symbol of Tesla the brand: unorthodox, but not necessarily in a good way.Kia EV4When it comes to Kia the Tasman is the easy whipping boy of the brand. But that would be a cheap shot to hit it again, especially as the design was deliberately created to help the Tasman stand out in a very crowded ute market. It was a swing and a miss.The more unusual car in Kia’s otherwise very attractive line-up, is the EV4. The electric mid-size sedan is the definition of ‘form over function’, shaped by the wind tunnel for maximum aerodynamic efficiency.It works, with the long range models capable of more than 600km of driving on a single charge (according to Kia’s claim), but that doesn't change the fact it is an odd looking vehicle.Mercedes-Benz C-Class EVIt’s not just the mainstream brands that occasionally strike design trouble. The German luxury brand’s latest addition is unlikely to go down as one of the brand’s most iconic creations. Memorable? Yes, just not for the right reasons.The front grille is as subtle as a Las Vegas casino and looks like you crashed into a diamante shop. While the rear has so many three-pointed stars stuffed into the design nobody should be in any doubt that you’re trying to ram down their throats you have a Mercedes-Benz.And then there’s the interior…I know the full-width ‘Hyperscreen’ is an optional extra, but it’s 39.1-inches of technology over-riding classy, sophisticated design.Subaru OutbackSubaru has taken a big gamble on its latest-generation Outback, abandoning its wagon roots for an SUV design… sort of. Actually, what they’ve done is try to splice the two concepts together and the result is neither a good-looking wagon nor a stylish SUV.Instead it looks awkwardly proportioned, with a grille that wouldn’t look out-of-place on a US pickup truck. And the new Wilderness addition only adds more stuff to make it look even more bulky and awkward.Hyundai Santa FeLike I said earlier, design is purely subjective and there’s every chance you disagree with every car I’ve put on this list. I say that with confidence because I don’t think the Santa Fe should be on this list, because I think it’s a fantastic looking SUV.But, ever since it has launched I have had people tell me they think it’s hideous. In particular, the rear-end styling, with the lights mounted too low on the body, seems to be a sticking point.Personally, I love the boxy, almost-Land-Rover-Defender looks, but I can understand why it polarises opinion.And that’s the same story for any car, because everyone sees design strictly through their own eyes. So let us know in the comments what you think are the cars that get it wrong on the styling front.

It is that time of the year again when car brands target a last flurry of sales before the end of the financial year. These deals often tell a story of what stock brands need to move, and in a time when electric vehicle sales are more important than ever there are some strong deals on show. Here is a look at some of the best ones going around in 2026.Kia is offering discounts across many of its models, with the most noticeable one being for its struggling Tasman ute. The range-topping X-Pro Tasman now starts from $64,990 (drive-away), equating to a more than $10,000 discount on before on-road costs pricing. The deal is available until the 30 June 2026. Kia’s strong-selling EV3 and EV5 have also picked up sizeable drive-away discounts ending 30 June 2026. The EV3 is available from $46,990 (drive-away), which equates to free on-road costs, as well as a further small discount.The EV5 has received an even more substantial discount, starting from $49,990 (drive-away), with it previously available from $56,770, before on-road costs. Hyundai has also put out some standout deals, especially on its electric range. But you'll need to move fast, with the offer ending on May 31, 2026.The brand’s Kona Electric range all have substantial discounts, with a starting price of $45,990 (drive-away).The recently-launched Elexio SUV is available from $57,990 (drive-away), with it previously on sale from $58,990, before on-road costs. The Ioniq 5 is another of Hyundai’s models being offered with a noticeable discount, starting from $71,990 (drive-away) until 31 May 2026. MG is currently offering discounts across its range to conclude the financial year, with all deals running until 30 June, 2026. One of the biggest deals offered by the brand is a $6000 cashback offer on plug-in hybrid variants of its mid-size HS SUV.Petrol and plug-less hybrids examples are available with a $3000 cashback offer, which is also available on the QS large SUV and the U9 ute. Additionally, these $3000 cashback deals include five years of free servicing on the vehicles. There are also minor conditional discounts on the ZS small SUV and MG3 hatch currently. BYD is offering $3000 cashback on several of its models in Australia for vehicles delivered by 30 June 2026. The Premium variant of the popular Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute gets the deal, and is now available from $54,900 (before on-road costs). Both variants of the Sealion 5 PHEV mid-size SUV, are also eligible, meaning it starts from $30,990 (before on-road costs). The Sealion 6 and Sealion 8 PHEV SUVs are available with the $3000 cashback offer. Chery is another brand to get in on the end of financial year deals. Its Tiggo 7 plug-in hybrid large SUV has discounts of $5000, now starting from $34,990 (drive-away). The hugely popular Tiggo 4 small hybrid SUV and Tiggo 8 plug-in hybrid large SUV are being offered with a $2000 factory bonus discount. Offers run until 30 June 2026.Ford has substantially reduced the price of its plug-in hybrid Ranger lineup, with it now starting from $62,000 (drive-away) down from $71,990 (before on-road costs) until 30 June 2026. This price cut brings it closer to the price of the rival BYD Shark 6, which retails from $57,900 (before on-road costs).Some variants of the diesel Ranger are also being offered with sharp drive-away deals. Toyota’s full-size Tundra hybrid ute has received a more than $10,000 discount for models from 2025 as part of a deal to remove on-road costs and add a cashback offer. This means the ute is now available from $145,990 (drive-away). The offer lasts until June 30 2026. 

It’s no secret Kia’s entry into the ute market has been rocky.The Kia Tasman was introduced with a couple of goals: an annual sales target of 80,000 units globally, and about 20,000 in Australia.For 2026 up to the end of April, Kia Australia has sold 1658 Tasmans, bringing its total sales since launch to 5854.While the Tasman’s engine - a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel - doesn’t put it at a disadvantage amongst its peers, the ute’s design has been divisive to say the least.Just this week, Kia Australia pulled one emergency lever in the form of a massive price cut in excess of $10,000 for some variants.But that’s not all the brand has in mind, with its global executives paying close attention to the ute’s fortunes in Australia. Spencer Cho, Kia’s Senior Vice President and Head of the Global Business Planning Subdivision, didn’t mince words when asked about the ute’s global sales performance.“So the answer is clearly, we are not satisfied yet,” Cho said.“We have a lot of expectations, and we are still in the starting point, and we still have a lot of time… so we will carefully monitor the market.”Cho specified the Australian market’s tumultuous reception to the brand’s HiLux and Ranger rival was of particular interest to the global executive team, given Australia’s seemingly unending fascination with utes.“The reactions and early disappointment we have in the Australian market, that gave us a lot of good lessons, then we will provide the counter measures for the coming years.“We will have other power train choices, if we can, and also other design changes or improvements, or any other offerings for new features and content and technology.“Currently we are working on every area in which we can improve the performance of the Tasman, especially in the Australian market.”Specifically regarding new powertrains for the Tasman, he clarified “all the options are on the table right now”.A 2.5-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol-hybrid version of the Tasman has reportedly been testing, and flagged by Kia Australia as the most logical option if a new drivetrain is to be introduced.“With NVES currently in play, the priority would probably be more of an electrified hybrid, for example, to try and see us through to the longer term,” Kia Australia General Manager of Product Planning Roland Rivero has told CarsGuide.Kia’s top brass is further willing to do whatever it takes to bring the Tasman’s performance up to scratch, Cho said, once feedback is clear in terms of what needs to be improved.“As long as we have the clear market reactions to improve the initial areas, then we will go all the way.”“We are not just looking at the short term solutions right now. So we are working on, right now, the short term and the midterm solutions at the same time.”In terms of Kia’s measure of success for any changes made to the Tasman, feedback from Kia Australia and its customers is set to be a big part of the planning process.“Of course, we have the internal targets to position the Tasman in the right place, which we expected, and also we are monitoring the customer feedback and the market reactions, throughout digital media and also the customer voices. “And as we, as you know, Kia Australia is getting a lot of the feedback from the media and also the dealers and also the actual customers.”Kia Australia is also not shying away from the issues facing the Tasman, with a spokesperson telling CarsGuide earlier this year the brand has “been quite vocal, and been with this car in particular”."We're very vocal with our superiors, and up front. We're definitely being very deliberate in what we think might be hampering its sales performance."If we want to be a third of the total production volume, they've got to be receptive.”

Kia has sharpened the pencil on its slow selling Tasman ute.The Korean brand has knocked thousands off the price of most grades in the range until June 30, with some sharp drive-away deals.So far the Tasman has only mustered about 1600 sales, which is a long way behind its yearly 20,000 target. The segment leading Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux that have sold about 15,800 and 13,500 so far this year, respectively.There are some big deals to be had on top-tier Tasman versions.The range-topping Tasman X-Pro 4WD dual cab is now priced from $64,990 drive-away, which is more than $10,000 off the previous $74,990 (before on-road costs) price tag.The X-Line 4WD dual-cab variant is also more than $10,000 cheaper at $59,990. Similar big discounts apply to the mid-tier SX+ 4WD dual-cab.Entry-level S and SX 4WD dual-cabs also get some meaningful discounts that drop the price to $49,990 and $51,990, respectively.Kia has also wiped thousands off the price of hard working single cab chassis variants for ABN holders.The base S grade now starts at $39,990 drive-away for the two-wheel drive S with an alloy tray included. If you want 4WD it'll cost you $45,990. Both deals represent several thousands off the non promotional price.The Tasman is powered by a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel four-cylinder engine that makes 154kW and 440Nm.All versions can tow 3500kg and most can carry a one tonne payload.Kia Australia boss Damien Meredith told CarsGuide it needed to do more to boost sales and it had several ways to do that, which now appears to be sharp deals.The Tasman ute has been critically acclaimed for how it performs its duties, but Meredith said there were several issues holding back the new ute.“I think once you’re inside it, it's fantastic,” said Meredith. “I think you know the exterior of the car is very polarising. Some people love it, some people don’t. And that’s had an effect.“I think you’ve got to be upfront and honest that the competition that’s out there is quite dramatic. “When we were planning this six years ago, the competition wasn’t as great as what it is right now.“So did we plan correctly? We planned as well as we possibly could, but the competition is hot, and there’s a polarising look to the vehicle.“We’ve fallen short. We know the facts.“The fact of the matter is we’ve got to make Tasman a better success in Australia than it is at its current level,” said Meredith.2026 Kia Tasman deals 

Kia’s wild looking Vision Meta Turismo concept looks set for full production as a futuristic, pure-electric successor to the Stinger sedan.As reported by Autocar, the Korean brand’s Executive Vice President and Head of Global Design Karim Habib has said the only thing stopping Kia putting sleek the GT in showrooms is evolving model line-up strategy."At this point, it is more strategic. It's a pure EV and the price of doing a high-performance EV is what is slowing us down.“Hopefully, the upward movement of EVs keeps going. I think there will be more openness to this car. At least that's what we're betting on," he said. Kia said the Vision Meta Turismo has been developed around “three core experiences” - performance driving, lounge-like space and comfort and immersive digital interaction - expressed as ‘Speedster’, ‘Dreamer’ and ‘Gamer’.A production version of the luxurious four-door would likely be underpinned by the Hyundai Group’s dedicated Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).Its 800-volt electric architecture enables dual-motor performance and ultra-fast charging, with the current EV6 and EV9 charging from 10 to 80 per cent in around 20 minutes on a 350kW pylon.This would put it on a collision course with some of China's latest and greatest, such as the Xiaomi SU7 and Denza Z9GT performance sedans.On the car’s potential role as a Stinger replacement Habib added, “We have a small history of doing cars like the Stinger and that's something we don't want to give up on. “The Meta Turismo is our idea of a sports sedan for the gamer generation. A few years ago, we started thinking about what could we do beyond SUVs?“We do produce and sell a lot of SUVs, which is good, but we also believe that there's more than that," he said. Headline features from the concept car unlikely to make production reality in their current form include an augmented reality head-up display that “distorts the surrounding space as speed intensifies”, a slide-away steering wheel and a series of game-style controllers including a central unit integrated into the front console structure.

Electric cars are finally having their moment. As petrol and diesel prices soar, it appears everyone on the fence about buying an electric vehicle (EV) have taken the plunge.Having steadily hovered around the 10 per cent total market share for the past 18 months, EVs accounted for more than 16 per cent in April. That means approximately one-in-six cars sold last month were battery-powered.But perhaps even more interesting than just the total number of EVs sold, was who was selling them. The days of Tesla dominating the electric market appear to be over, with several new names emerging as popular options for Australians.Here are five of the most in-demand EVs in 2026.BYD Sealion 7For all the hype around BYD’s Shark 6 ute and cut-price Atto 1, the real star for the brand is its mid-size SUV. The Sealion 7 isn’t just a popular EV, it’s also one of the most popular SUVs on the market and was the seventh best-selling vehicle in April.Sales are up 342.2% year-to-date, but it isn’t just a sudden surge in the wake of the fuel crisis. The Sealion 7 has been a popular choice almost since it arrived. It was the eighth most popular SUV in its segment in 2025, behind some of the biggest names in the market - Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Sportage and Subaru Forester.So regardless of what happens with fuel prices in the coming months, the Sealion 7 looks set to remain a popular choice for anyone looking for a mid-size SUV, electric or otherwise.Geely EX5 If there is a biggest winner of the current surge in EV sales it is the Geely’s EX5. Sales are up 415.4% year-to-date, peaking with 1202 in April alone. That’s up from an average of just 328 sales per month in 2025 and its jump demonstrates that it is genuine demand in EVs, not simply availability, that is driving this current boom. The EX5 was already one of the most affordable EVs on the market, starting at just $41,990, so if it was simply price and choice creating this sales increase in electric options there’s no reason it wouldn’t have started last year.Instead, Geely is taking advantage of its appealing price and benefiting as Australian buyers look for a way to beat the pain at the pump.Zeekr 7X While it doesn’t have the sheer volume of others on this list, selling only 2698 examples so far in 2026, the 7X is proving to be consistently popular while growing in sales.It’s not surprising that it isn’t selling in bigger volumes like the BYD and Geely, as it is positioned as a more premium offering with a starting price of $57,900  that stretches to $72,900 for the flagship Performance AWD model.But averaging nearly 675 sales per month to start 2026, with a spike of 973 sales in April, it’s clear that the 7X is an EV with a growing following.Kia EV3 You may have noticed a theme with the previously mentioned models, as the newer Chinese brands have claimed the role of EV leaders. But one of the established brands holding its own is Kia.Not all of its EVs are proving a sales hit, with the larger EV6 and EV9 still returning relatively modest sales numbers, but the smaller EV3 is doing well. Sales are up 150.2 per cent year-to-date, helping it become the most popular small electric SUV in its price range.The EV3 has garnered critical acclaim and has been slowly building a customer base, likely appealing to those looking to make the electric switch with a brand they know and trust.Sales of the larger EV5 are also up in 2026, but nowhere near to the same level, increasing only 28.7 per cent as it competes directly against the Sealion 7, EX5 and even the 7X.Toyota bZ4XCompared to the other cars on this list the total 2026 sales of just 1323 looks a bit poor, but when you consider how the bZ4X has performed previously it is having a breakout moment.Toyota’s first EV averaged less than 87 sales per month in 2025 but in 2026 it is averaging 330 sales per month so far; peaking at 483 sales in April.This is likely thanks to a renewed marketing push from Toyota, the RAV4 changeover and the high petrol prices leading Australian buyers to give it another look. How long this continues remains to be seen, but given the struggle Toyota has had with this model so far, this is a definite bright spot for the bZ4X.

Kia is readying a major update to its Tasman ute to hopefully fix sales that have been softer than originally anticipated in Australia.The Tasman, which was revealed in 2024 and launched locally last year, was one of the most anticipated new vehicle launches for the South Korean carmaker to date, especially from an Australian perspective.The ute’s exterior design has polarised the public with some loving its boxy looks and plush interior, whereas others lament the awkward headlight placement, among other points.So far Australian sales haven’t met targets. Initially it was targeting 20,000 sales per year, but after the first four months of 2026 it’s on track to only sell around 5000 examples this year.Kia has already confirmed a mid-life update is in the works and this may be fast-tracked. No exact timeframe has been provided yet, but it could be as soon as next year.It’s unclear what exactly is set to change in terms of the design with this update, though the Tasman Weekender concept revealed at last year’s Seoul motor show could preview what’s coming.It featured custom front and rear bumpers with lime green accents, body-coloured wheel arches, among a litany of off-road accessories.As previously reported, focus groups and surveys have been sent out to Tasman owners in Australia on what they like and what they’d like to see improved."We've been quite vocal, and we always have been with this car in particular," a Kia spokesperson recently told CarsGuide."We're very vocal with our superiors, and up front. We're definitely being very deliberate in what we think might be hampering its sales performance."If we want to be a third of the total production volume, they've got to be receptive.”As it currently stands, the Tasman is only powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine in Australia. In South Korea there’s a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.It’s understood a hybrid is in the works and it could feature the aforementioned 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with dual electric motors.This ‘TMED-II’ engine already features in the Hyundai Palisade and is expected to roll out to other models within the Hyundai Motor Group.For now we’ll need to wait and see whether more information about this update to the Tasman arises in the coming months.