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The large SUV category (starting under $100K) in the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards brings together one of the most varied groups of models from the super modern, fully electric high-performance to the super capable, off-road beasts. But all have a family focus with practicality at an affordable price.Our shortlist saw entrants from Chery, Hyundai, Kia, Land Rover, Polestar, Skoda, Toyota and Volkswagen.Now it’s time to announce our final top three, including the winner. First up are the two runners up in alphabetical order, then the category winner.Seven-seat upper-large SUVs aren’t unique but fully electric ones are and the Kia EV9 was not just the first of its kind to come to Australia, but it is also a truly outstanding car and that’s why it has easily made it into our top three.CarsGuide reviewers love how the EV9 provides all the practicality and space that an upper-large SUV should with an advanced electric architecture and a package that feels high quality and stylish.“I think it’s one of the cars of the decade,” said CarsGuide Contributing Journalist Byron Mathioudakis.“I still look at it and it stuns me and I just think it’s beautifully packaged … it’s a Range Rover for Kia money. Korea should be so proud of that car.” While the EV9’s futuristic looks were loved by the team, some thought the high price might put people off. The Toyota LandCruiser helped spark the world’s fascination with SUVs decades ago with its ability to take families on adventures to places regular cars had no hope of ever reaching. But while there’s a multitude of other SUVs out there now, the latest-gen LandCruiser 300 Series is still one of the very best, which is why it’s here on our top-three list.    CarsGuide News Editor Dom Tripolone said the LandCruiser 300 was one of the vehicles that did its job well: “It does what it says on the box. It’ll last a long time.”The team mentioned the good resale value of the LC300, its reputation for reliability and that its intended buyer who wants to go off-road or go anywhere will absolutely love it.Hyundai’s new-gen Santa Fe shocked many with its wildly different look to the previous model when it arrived in late 2024.But, while the design was polarising, CarsGuide reviewers couldn’t deny that this was an outstanding SUV in almost every other way.  “It genuinely achieves everything it sets out to do,” said CarsGuide Deputy News Editor Tom White. “I also love the design of it – it’s superb.”With a choice of hybrid and petrol powertrains in both front- and all-wheel drive, the Santa Fe is comfortable and easy to pilot in the city or on long haul trips. Available in six- and seven-seat formats, the Santa Fe caters impressively well for families with its practicality and space, plus with its extensive features list and affordable entry price represents excellent value for money.

It comes down to this. Seven category winners, seven exceptional cars. But only one can take the crown of CarsGuide’s 2026 overall Car of the Year.The final shortlist for the overall Car of the Year award is made up of the winners of each of our seven categories.This impressive list includes high-end performance SUVs from Germany, new contenders from China, a game-changing ute, family friendly hybrids and top-notch EVs.As a reminder, here are the category winners that make up this final shortlist.Best Small Car Starting Under $50,000 - Kia EV3The Kia EV3 proves small EVs don’t have to be boring. A striking design combined with an engaging drive experience, visually appealing and surprisingly spacious cabin and high levels of standard equipment make for a winning package.Best Small Car Starting Under $80,000 - BMW X1It might not be the newest model on this list, but punchy petrol powertrains and a well-calibrated electric version elevate the BMW X1 above all of its premium small car rivals.Best Medium SUV Starting Under $60,000 - Zeekr 7XThe newest car on this list, the long-awaited Zeekr 7X is a deeply impressive electric family SUV in all grades and proves Zeekr means business.Best Medium SUV Starting Under $130,000 - Hyundai Ioniq 5Perhaps a surprising win against some impressive premium players, but the Hyundai Ioniq 5 deserves this award as it remains one of the most impressive electric medium SUVs money can buy.Best Large SUV Starting Under $100,000 - Hyundai Santa FeA massive step up from the previous model, the new Hyundai Santa Fe has a bold design and a spacious and flexible interior with the choice of two excellent powertrains.Best Large SUV Starting Under $220,000 - Porsche CayenneOutpacing a range of mostly German rivals, the Porsche Cayenne has the performance and prestige to make it the clear standout in the category.Best Ute Under $85,000 - BYD Shark 6A truly game-changing ute, the BYD Shark 6 has brought plug-in hybrid power to the masses in a big way.Such a solid list of winners means the car that took the crown is a special vehicle indeed.Without further ado, the winner of CarsGuide’s overall 2026 Car of the Year award is… the Hyundai Santa Fe!The Santa Fe won over the CarsGuide Car of the Year judges for a variety of reasons.The six- or seven-seat large SUV is hard to fault. It’s a phenomenal family car with acres of occupant space across all three rows and decent cargo space as well. There’s also enough to keep kids occupied in the rear two rows while offering high levels of comfort and refinement up front.Interior design and layout is modern, with a retro twist, and the materials used throughout are second to none. Hyundai has used eye-catching seat materials, while the various touchpoints look and feel like they belong in the premium segment.A Santa Fe highlight is the fact that even the entry grade (simply called ‘Santa Fe’) feels nothing like a base model. In fact, it feels more high-end than top-spec versions of many of its rivals.The availability of two excellent powertrains further boosts the Santa Fe. The 1.6-litre turbocharged hybrid is not just the best choice for efficiency and refinement, it’s also a punchy, engaging engine. But the 2.5L four-cylinder turbo-petrol version is also an absolute hoot.Both are available in front and all-wheel drive, and they come with a full-size spare wheel. Not something every hybrid can claim.Value for money was also a one of the Santa Fe’s biggest strengths. Pricing ranges from around $54,000 for the entry petrol grade and it tops out at $77,000 for the fully kitted out Calligraphy hybrid. Even at the entry point, the Sant Fe is packed with comfort and safety features.Finally, while its exterior design is undoubtedly polarising, the judges agree that it’s a standout among a largely vanilla bunch of family SUV rivals.Not only is the Hyundai Santa Fe CarsGuide’s top pick for a family car in 2026, but we reckon it’s the best car money can buy.A well deserved win for a brilliantly executed car.

The best ute in Australia? Wow, this is the big award in the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards programme. Let's get into it, shall we?Our 10-strong shortlist for one of the most competitive segments has been whittled down to a top three, and – of course – a winner. But not before plenty of healthy and sometimes pretty vibrant debate between the members of the CarsGuide Editorial team.In the end, though, the choice seemed obvious, and overwhelming. So read on to find out the winner of the 2026 CarsGuide Car of The Year – Best Ute Starting Under $85K category.But first, a note. The runners-up are listed in alphabetical order based on the model name. There's no traditional podium here, just three finalists and a winner. Now, on with the show.Want to know just how strong an offering the Ford Ranger is? Every single CarsGuide judge voted for it in one way or another. It didn't score enough first-place votes to take the top prize, but it was in every single judge's top three.Our judging panel praised its capability and the breadth of its offering (especially now with Super Duty and plug-in hybrid variants).Admittedly, some suggested the plug-in Stormtrak variant felt a little "cynical" for its underwhelming EV performance, while others loved it, but all agreed the Ranger remains among Australia's best utes."It might no longer be the outright benchmark, but it is superior to almost every other ute in lots of ways," said Managing Editor Tim Nicholson.First year on sale and first appearance on the CarsGuide COTY podium! Not a bad effort for Kia's first-ever dual-cab offering, the Tasman.Our judges agreed that while the styling might be controversial, there is nothing opinion-splitting about the way the Tasman drives, or the attention its designers have paid to its cabin, which is by far the best in the business."It does the workhorse thing really well, and with a long warranty. It's big inside. It has got a stunning interior. It has a big tub. Kia has come from nowhere and they have swung really hard at this," said CarsGuide Contributing Journalist Byron Mathioudakis.No single ute had a more significant impact on Australia's dual-cab market than the BYD Shark 6 last year, which not only attracted more than 18,000 customers across 2025, but did it without some of the key weapons in the traditional ute arsenal.To succeed in Australia, utes must be powered by a diesel engine. They must be able to tow 3.5 tonnes. And they need to be able to carry a tonne. But it seems nobody issued these three commandments to BYD, because the Shark 6 can't do any of that, and it was the fourth best-selling ute in the country last year – with, it must be pointed out, just the one body style and trim. In place of the diesel donk is a plug-in hybrid petrol powertrain that has seriously resonated with Aussie consumers – forging a path other manufacturers far more established in the ute scene are now scrambling to follow – and it scored big on style and technology with our judges, too."The big thing for me is the ambition of the product, and the way that it's just turned the segment upside down," said CarsGuide Deputy News Editor Tom White."You could argue the segment had become a bit stagnant and boring, and I think Shark 6 just overhauls it completely."

While several big name car makers walk back their all-electric plans, the suggestion that electric vehicles are yesterday’s news doesn’t tally with growing sales.Electric vehicle (EV) sales still only account for 8.3 per cent of the total market, but grew significantly in the key SUV and light commercial vehicle segments. Notably, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) have also grown significantly in recent years and combined EV and PHEV sales accounted for more than 13 per cent of the overall market.While there is still clearly a long way to go, there are also some clear signs that Australians are slowly starting to embrace EVs as they become more diverse in both price and type. Until last year, the market was dominated by Tesla, with the American brand often accounting for more than half the total EV sales.In 2025 the Tesla Model Y remained the best-selling EV, but the BYD Sealion 7 was its closest rival and the Kia EV5 and Geely EX5 also sold in good numbers. In total there were 10 EVs in the top 100 selling vehicles last year, underlining the increasing variety that is attracting new customers.BYD is the leading in this regard with four of the most popular EVs coming from the Chinese brand, and each very different propositions appealing to different buyers. These are the Sealion 7 mid-size SUV, Atto 3 small SUV, Seal sedan and Dolphin hatch.The arrival of the $23,990 Atto 1 will open up the EV market to even more customers too, as it will be amongst the most-affordable new cars on sale this year. In many respects, this is the moment the market has been waiting for, with EVs effectively achieving price parity with conventional petrol and diesel models. While not every EV is as price-competitive as the Atto 1, the increasing cost of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles only helps make EVs more appealing to buyers looking to save on their fuel bill.The growth of PHEVs will only further accelerate the electric future, as the long-touted ‘bridging technology’ will introduce more motorists to electric performance, while still allowing for the ICE back-up.PHEV sales have been on a sharp upward trajectory the past two years, growing more than 130 per cent in 2025 off the back of the BYD Shark 6, BYD Sealion 6, Mitsubishi Outlander and GWM Haval H6 GT. PHEV sales are expected to grow in 2026 and beyond, as more established brands, including market-leading Toyota, join the race. This will only accelerate the electrification on Australian roads, adding to the significant volume of hybrids already sold.While there is still some way to go before EVs become a majority on the roads, a reminder they account for less than 10 per cent at present, it’s clear that despite a slowing down of interest from manufacturers, electric cars are here to stay.Best selling electric cars 2025

Kia has just launched a cheaper hybrid version of its popular Sportage family SUV.A Sportage hybrid can now be bought in the entry-level S grade, with the front-wheel drive variant starting from $44,450 (before on-road costs), while the all-wheel drive starts from $47,450. The brand has been rolling out hybrid variants across its Sportage range since mid-2025, with this latest S grade hybrid completing the set.Hybrids have become an increasingly popular choice for buyers in Australia, as many manufacturers move add them to product lineups. The Sportage S hybrid gives Kia a more affordable rival to the other big-hitters of the hybrid segment. The most affordable hybrid before the new S grade was the SX, which is $2000 more expensiveThe hybrid Sportage is now cheaper than a comparative Toyota RAV4, which is one of the best-selling cars in Australia, starting from $45,990, before on-roads. A Sportage hybrid is still more expensive than its sister car, the Hyundai Tucson, with its hybrid variant starting from $42,850 (before on-roads). The Sportage trails the outgoing RAV4 and the Tucson in the sales charts.  The Sportage hybrid employs a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric motor, producing 169kW and 350Nm. The hybrid variants of the Sportage offer a big step up on fuel economy, with the FWD offering 4.9L/100km, while the AWD sits at 5.3L/100km.The Sportage was recently updated in Australia, resulting in a noticeable price increase across the range. Other purely internal-combustion options available on the Sportage are a 2.0-litre petrol, 1.6-litre turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines. This latest Sportage update, has been part of a broader push from Kia to introduce hybrid offerings across its product lineup. Late last year, Kia unveiled several new hybrid models for its Sorento SUV. The incoming Seltos will feature a hybrid set-up for the first time when it launches in late 2026. 2026 Kia Sportage hybrid pricing Australia (before on-road costs)

Kia Australia has confirmed it has asked its Korean HQ to deliver a new-look Tasman that will help revive the ute's slow sales in our market, with the brand insisting "it has to work".Tasman reviews often point positively to the vehicle's cabin, ride and capability, with the controversial exterior design proving the one lingering weakness.The Tasman is off to a slow-start in Australia, falling short of its 1666 monthly/20,000 annually target, though the brand is still confident of hitting that number as fleet agreements fall into place. In December 2025, just 480 units found homes.Asked when Kia in Australia would ask its Korean HQ to update the look, a spokesperson replied "you're assuming we haven't already"."We've been quite vocal, and we always have been with this car in particular," they said. "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 to when we could expect it, the model's mid-life facelift is the most likely timeframe, with the brand citing the costs associated with a "major redesign".Asked if we can expect an update, the spokesperson replied "I think you can"."But it's not necessarily going to happen at the speed at which you might feel the market might be thinking," they said. "Because a major redesign, it's not simple. And when you've already invested in tooling for sheet metal and tooling for plastics, it's a multi-million-dollar process."While the brand wouldn't be drawn on timeframes, it later pointed out that Kia's facelift windows can be two to three years, which – given the Tasman launched in 2025 – could see 2027 or 2028 as the potential window.

The new-generation Kia Seltos compact SUV has been officially priced in South Korea.The Seltos petrol starts from around 24.8 million Korean won, which equates to just less than $25,000.Kias in Australia tends to cost an extra 30-40 per cent compared to South Korean equivalents. Based on this, we can speculate a starting price of somewhere in the mid-$30,000s, so there will be a subtle price increase on the previous model.Hybrid variants of the Seltos will be more expensive and we can expect a start price of around the $40,000-plus bracket. This pricing would position the Seltos in a similar price range to the current Hyundai Kona, its sister car, which comes with petrol, electric and hybrid set-ups.The Seltos' base hybrid variant would be more expensive than the base Toyota Corolla Cross, which is a hybrid-exclusive model.The Seltos hyrbid will be the first non-petrol model available for the compact SUV, with just two petrol-only choices on sale in Australia at the moment.The incoming hybrid Seltos will help fill the void left by the axed Niro electric and hybrid compact SUV, with its new-generation model officially ruled out for an Aussie launch. The Seltos’ has four power set-up choices on the new model.There will be a 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol option, producing 110kW and 179Nm along with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 132kW/265Nm or 142kW/265Nm.The hybrid will have a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine and an electric motor, which produces 105kW and 265Nm.The car will continue to be available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive layouts. It will feature plenty of new safety gear onboard, including advanced collision avoidance systems for forward, blind spot and rear cross traffic.There will be a digital key, wireless phone charging and a revamped multimedia system, which has a single digital display spanning across the dashboard.Deliveries in South Korea will begin in the coming days. The new Kia Seltos will launch in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2026. 

Hyundai could beat Kia to a Ford Everest-rivalling SUV, with the brand’s top executive already planning a petrol-electric powerhouse that could reshape Australia’s ute-based 4WD market.

Only a few years ago a budget-focused new car story like this would have well and truly dipped under the magical $20,000 threshold.But, the sad news is there’s just a single new car option left standing in the Aussie market wearing a five figure price tag that starts with a one.And that’s the entry-grade Kia Picanto Sport with a five-speed manual gearbox at $19,190, before on-road costs. Tick the box for the four-speed automatic transmission and all of a sudden you’re at $20,790, BOC.So, we’ve raised the new car budget bar to $25,000 and looked at the five most popular models with an entry-price under $25K from 2025 full-year sales.1) Chery Tiggo 4 Pro - From $23,990, before on-road costsTalk about an impressive entrance. Chery lobbed a hand grenade into the budget end of the small SUV segment in late 2024, with the Tiggo 4 Pro’s first full year sales exceeding 20,000 units in 2025.Two versions of the compact five-seater are offered locally, the Urban and Ultimate, each available in pure-combustion and petrol-electric hybrid form.2) MG MG3 - From $21,990, drive-awayWith competition from new challenger brands intensifying and the MG model line-up growing, the MG3 dipped in terms of year-on-year sales but still did enough to grab second spot under $25K with more than 8000 examples finding a new home.Three grades are offered here - Vibe, Excite & Essence - pure-petrol in all three with the option of hybrid in the upper two.  3) Hyundai Venue - From 23,000, before on-road costsNow a veteran of the ‘light’ SUV category the city-sized Venue remains a strong seller in Hyundai’s small car portfolio.In fact, sales were up a solid 14.1 per cent in 2025 to 7927. The range starts with the entry-grade at $23K, before on-road costs, with the Active and Elite above it. 4) Kia Picanto - From $19,190, before on-road costsA popular choice among city dwellers, the diminutive Picanto also ticked up in total year-on-year sales for 2025 to 7166.Sadly for micro car Verstappen wannabes the 1.0L turbo GT is a thing of the past, but the top-tier GT-Line Picanto brings some of its racy personality to the party. 5) Suzuki Swift Hybrid - From 24,490, drive-awayThe fourth-generation Swift has taken mild-hybrid form with its 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine featuring an enhanced starter/generator/electric motor picking up some of the slack in terms of powering the stop-start system and adding 60Nm of torque.Sales were down in 2025 to 3446, but there were still enough buyers to land the latest version of the city car icon in fifth spot.   Australian Top 5 sellers under $25,000:  

Kia's compact Niro electric and hybrid SUV has been discontinued in Australia, just as a new version breaks cover overseas.The brand already has diverse options in the compact SUV space, with the EV3 and soon-approaching Seltos hybrid offering a similar choice.The Niro EV’s comparatively high starting price at $66,590 (before on–road costs) saw it undercut by rivals like the Volvo EX30, starting from $59,990. Kia’s EV3 also starts at just $47,600. The Niro has received a new design, which is in line with many of Kia’s new models, such as the recently-unveiled EV2. It gets a sharper overall look with defined creases on the bodywork, along with a sloping roofline and rear spoiler.There are plenty of blacked out elements, including on the roof rails and on the lower door panels.The interior of the car has also been updated to feature thinner 12.3-inch digital driver and central touchscreen displays.It will continue to be available with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric set-ups overseas, but more details will become available in March. Production on the electric Niro for Australia was halted in April 2025. Dealer stock of all Niro variants is expected to last until the end of March. The Niro is currently available in Australia with 1.6-litre hybrid (104kW/265Nm) or electric (150kW/395Nm) power set-ups. Kia will continue to bring across electric models in 2026 with its EV2 small SUV and EV4 sedan and hatchback on the list for Australia. Kia’s electric PV5 people mover and van will also be available on Aussie shores this year.