MG News

The cheapest MG ZS grade has just been re-introduced, with the base Vibe back on sale in Australia.

There can be only one winner in the CarsGuide Car of the Year – Best Small Car Starting Under $50K category.But luckily for a couple of models there’s also room for two runners-up on the podium.The category’s shortlist featured some strong competition, with the two runner-up models the result of some debate in the COTY War Room over a few front-runners.But unlike the other categories in the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, the winner in this category was unanimous.Read on to find out which model impressed each judge more than the other nine entrants.Make no mistake, the MG S5 EV falling short of the category crown shouldn’t be seen as disappointing.MG’s cars have been handed mixed reviews by CarsGuide journalists since the brand relaunched in Australia a decade ago, and even recently some models have arguably leant on the low price as a selling point.But the MG S5 EV is changing opinions. A significant jump in quality, ergonomics and driving ability put the small electric SUV close to the front of the pack in terms of buying propositions – plus it’s a $40,490 drive-away ask.“The MG S5 EV gives everything such a run on the value front. It changed my mind about MG’s EVs in that segment,” said CarsGuide Deputy News Editor Tom White in the COTY War Room discussion.Our Deputy Editor James Cleary summed the S5 EV’s strengths up with an economical number of words: “Looks, dynamics, practicality, space, reasonable range and its warranty.” But while the S5 received near-universal praise in the War Room discussion, Senior Journalist Laura Berry mentioned its price as being a strong reason to consider the S5 EV, even if the winner in this category has it covered in all other areas. “Being $7000 less than the winner, it’s a really compelling argument. It’s fantastic value and a great car,” she said.Could the Qashqai be Nissan’s best current offering in terms of broad appeal? After a new generation was quickly followed by a design refresh, the small SUV now looks stunning, and its interior has been updated to feel properly modern. When judging took place at the end of last year, the $34,665 starting point for its entry petrol ST grade was the cheapest way into the model, though Nissan has since announced that the Qashqai is hybrid-only going forwards.But soon the e-Power hybrid will start from $45,640 before on-roads, but its quality and smooth on-road performance still impressed judges in the pricier e-Power hybrids.“Qashqai as a range has some of the widest appeal and most versatility,” said Deputy News Editor Tom White. “It won the comparo it was in for us, too.”That comparison was with the Qashqai ST-L, the Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 and the Subaru Crosstrek R back in 2023, and that was before the facelifted Qashqai arrived.While judges also praised its e-Power hybrid variants for their driving feel (“that e-Power system is amazing,” said Senior Journalist Laura Berry), there was another huge win when it comes to considering the Qashqai.Contributing Journalist Byron Mathioudakis pointed out that it “also has a very useful 10-year warranty”.The EV3’s place atop the podium isn’t a massive surprise to me, but to have each of the other judges call it their pick of the bunch was heartening.I’ve spent the most time in the EV3 compared to the rest of the panel, after its international launch in Seoul, its Australian launch through the Gold Coast hinterland and some more time living with the small electric SUV.CarsGuide Managing Editor Tim Nicholson praised the EV3’s combination of clever packaging and fun from behind the wheel. "There is not much the Kia EV3 gets wrong. It has an edgy, modern design and a visually appealing and surprisingly spacious interior,” he said. “And you also get punchy EV performance and excellent ride and handling. It's an exceptional overall package." A lot of thought has clearly gone into the EV3, and while it’s not as dynamically keen as the Kia EV6, its stablemate in the brand’s ‘EV’ range, it shines far brighter than the Kia EV5 in terms of its on-road manners.Contributing Journalist Byron Mathioudakis voted for the EV3 due to “all the reasons we’ve already said, plus the fact it’s got a bit of an ‘It Factor’”.“The design, its proportions, just the level of detail that thing has is outstanding,” he added.It’s one of the more expensive entrants in the category, with its entry Standard Range Air variant starting from $47,600 before on-roads, but News Editor Dom Tripolone’s experience with the EV3 puts any ‘too expensive’ arguments to rest in the eyes of the judges.“I was able to put two child seats in the second row with a pram in the back very easily,” he said.“It’s a small car, but it feels like I’m buying a car a size above on the inside. That changes the value proposition in my book.”You can spend up to $63,950 for a top-spec GT-Line, but sticking with the entry grade is not only the best value, it’s also not missing anything important for the EV3 to be a fabulous step into the EV space.

China’s MG is in dire need of reversing its slowing sales in Australia and although peak ute may have already passed, its savour deserves to be its new dual-cab ute.Thankfully the MG U9 already has a lot going for it. It’s the Chinese carmaker’s first dual-cab ute in Australia, although it does share its underpinnings with the LDV Terron 9, which is another brand from Chinese state-owned SAIC Motor.Compared to the Terron 9, the U9 is a much more premium-looking proposition but its price tag doesn’t reflect this.The entry-level Explore grade starts at $52,990 drive-away, and extends to $60,990 drive-away for the fully loaded Explore Pro. This will barely get you a mid-spec HiLux or Ranger.It features a humongous grille and has a menacing presence that’ll make a HiLux or Ranger look small in comparison.You’re almost guaranteed to get people craning their necks to get a look at what this ute is. It's certainly one way to get your brand back out on the forefront.The U9 is also filled to the gills with high-end tech and finishes that ooze flash, which sets it above your everyday dual-cab ute. Depending on the trim there is a panoramic glass sunroof, large digital screens, digital rear-view mirror, plush leather seats with front-seat heating and ventilation, and a suede-like headliner.This is before mentioning the wild electric-folding mid-gate which extends the tub into the cabin and allows you to carry items up to 2.4-metres long. It’s an extremely unique offering in the dual-cab ute market, though it does come at a hefty cost – $5490 extra, and it's only available on the top-spec U9 Explore Pro.As standard however is rear multi-link suspension set-up which is much more passenger comfort-oriented than the typical leaf sprung ute. As a result payload is slightly down over other dual-cab utes.Despite the fluff, it’s worth calling out the U9 still stacks up where it counts most. It has a four-wheel drive system with a low-range transfer case and, depending on the trim level, front and rear diff locks. It also has a segment-meeting 3500kg braked towing capacity.However, like virtually every car, the MG U9 isn’t perfect. Although it’s only marginally larger than regular dual-cab utes, it certainly feels much bigger from behind the wheel, especially when doing tight manoeuvres in carparks or U-turns.Additionally, the 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine has healthy outputs on paper of 160kW and 520Nm, but it feels lethargic in reality and needs to be pushed to keep up with traffic. It doesn’t help that the car defaults back to ‘Eco’ mode every time it’s switched on.Even with this, I still achieved a rather disappointing average fuel consumption of 11.0L/100km during my urban driving testing. That’s not great, especially when you can get much less in the similarly-priced BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute.Even with these flaws, the U9 is a more deserving and a much better flagship for the MG brand, especially from an Australian perspective given how popular utes are still, than the niche Cyberster electric convertible.We’ll have to wait and see whether the Australian public latches onto the idea of the U9 but for now it’s a great step in the right direction of localising and understanding what a specific market needs and wants.

MG has teased its new all-electric sedan, as per a report in Car News China.The car could be MG’s latest efforts to break into the electric sedan segment in China and export markets. The image shows a blurred shot of the car in purple paintwork, with four doors and a coupe-like sloping roofline.Its overall design is sleek and sporty, but eerily similar to many of its potential rivals.It looks very similar to the Xiaomi SU7 electric sedan, meaning it is likely to be a rival for that car, which is rumoured to be heading to Australia within the next couple of years. The design also resembles the MG7 sedan, which recently launched in Australia with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 170kW and 380Nm. This lends weight to the possibility that this new sedan is an electric MG7 variant, as does eagle-eyed reporting that spotted a small badge on the side of the car, reading '07'.   There is no confirmed information about the car’s potential specifications or price, nor whether we might see it in Australia. If it does come to Australia, its closest rival will be the BYD Seal pure-electric sedan, with a starting price of $49,888, before on-road costs. It could also take on the China-built Tesla Model 3, which remains one of the best-selling EVs in Australia. MG currently has the electric IM5 on sale in Australia, starting from around $57,000, before on-road costs.So far, 164 examples of the IM5 have been sold Down Under, since it went on sale in June and it was one of the best-selling premium electric sedans in December. The IM5 competes with European electric sedan rivals like the BMW i5 and Porsche Taycan. MG is expected to bring across several new models in 2026, including the MG4 Urban, shaping as a more budget-oriented EV hatchback. 

The MG4 Urban electric hatchback has just been priced in the United Kingdom, offering a new budget option in the EV space. It will start from £23,495 (about $46,000), but it is expected to be significantly cheaper when it comes to Australia, potentially around $30,000.This MG4 Urban differs from the MG4 hatch Australia currently gets, particularly as it is front-wheel drive instead of rear-wheel drive, but is also noticeably bigger.The Urban measures at 4395mm long as opposed to 4287mm with the MG4 hatch.The MG4 Urban will offer MG a more affordable and more direct competitor to other budget EV hatch rivals, lining up with front-wheel alternatives such as the BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora and the coming Geely EX2.With a current starting price of $36,990, before on-road costs, the current MG4 is more expensive than the Dolphin and the Ora, but this FWD Urban could close the gap.The MG4 was the ninth best-selling electric car in Australia in 2025, despite suffering a more than 50 per cent drop in sales year-on-year. We can expect the Urban to come to Aussie shores some time in 2026, but MG Australia did not state an official launch date when contacted for comment. "We do not speculate or comment on future models or product details. We are always evaluating and looking for different powertrain options across our line up - MG Motor Australia will update as models are formally confirmed," an MG Australia spokesperson said. The Urban features a neat interior, including a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and 7.0-inch digital driver display. In the UK, it comes with two single elector motor choices, producing 109kW and 117kW, respectively. It is expected Australia will get a different version of the car, which has a more powerful electric motor, producing 120kW and 250Nm. The UK variants either have a 43kWh battery, offering 323km of WLTP driving range or a 53.9kWh battery, extending the range to 415km.According to MG, the Urban’s battery can charge from 30 to 80 percent in 20 minutes. 

IM, the luxury arm of MG’s parent company SAIC Motor, has revealed details of its flagship LS9 Hyper large SUV.The nearly five-and-a-half meter long luxury hybrid SUV pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with, not two, but three electric motors in a range-extender set-up (where the engine has no connection to the wheels but is used purely as a generator for the battery). It has enormous power figures with the front motor producing 165kW and the two rear motors producing 195kW each, while the engine is capable of producing 114kW to power the battery. The plug-in hybrid LS9 is equipped with a 65.9kWh Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery pack, which grants it up to 308km of pure electric driving range, according to the more lenient CLTC testing procedure.It is also equipped with a fully independent four-wheel electric steering system with the wheels able to turn a total 24 degrees, bringing its turning radius down to just 4.95 meters, less than the total length of the vehicle.It is also equipped with dual-chamber adjustable-height air suspension, which has 150mm of travel, and features a new regenerative braking system that can allow for 100 per cent energy recovery.It features the brand’s latest design language with LED strips front and rear, as well as between 20 and 22-inch wheels. Inside, it scores a dash-spanning tri-screen layout, which measures a total of 27.1-inches, with a separate passenger screen measuring 15.6-inches on its own.The massive IM9 is a three-row SUV, although it is offered in China as a six-seater rather than the more prevalent seven-seat layout usually seen in Australia.The seats can fold fully flat, and IM claims the LS9 has an 86 per cent usable interior space.The details on the LS9 Hyper model come after the brand recently revealed the smaller LS8, which has a similar approach to its styling and performance.Chinese automakers are pushing into the space usually occupied by the Range Rover or Range Rover Sport, Volvo XC90, BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.IM’s LS8 and LS9 will face off in China against a wide array of rivals, including the Leapmotor D16, Denza’s D9, Zeekr’s 8X, as well as an upcoming flagship SUV from GWM.The explosion of activity in this large luxury SUV space has also caused BYD to delay its incoming Tang 9 flagship in the same category as it seeks to improve the model to stay ahead of its competitors.SAIC’s luxury IM arm is sold via MG in Australia and it currently offers two models, the LS5 and LS6 electric sedan and SUV.

Xiaomi’s updated SU7 electric sedan launches this April in China and while the order numbers are enormous there’s another huge figure grabbing people’s attention - its 900km-plus driving range.The order books for Xiaomi’s new SU7 opened on January 7, 2026 and within two weeks nearly 100,000 pre-orders have been taken. That’s big even for the Chinese market, which sees 34 millions cars sold in a year. But part of the drive in sales is the massive leap in spec for the SU7 particularly when it comes to driving range.Pricing in China for the entry grade SU7 starts at the equivalent of A$46,500, an increase of $2800 over the hugely popular outgoing model.The SU7 now has a range of 902km (CLTC), up from 830km in the previous model. CLTC (China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) criteria isn’t as strict or real-world applicable as the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Duty Vehicle Test Procedure) rating which is generally about 18 per cent less. Still, even if the SU7’s WLTP range is about 750km that would still see it beat the best electric long-haulers the world currently has to offer including the Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor with its 706km and Tesla’s Model 3 Long Range AWD with 629km.The longer range of the new SU7 is reportedly not due to a larger battery (a 101.7kWh battery capacity remains in the top grade model), but is down to a new silicon carbide platform in 752V and 897V forms which return improved efficiency.Other upgrades for the new SU7 include more advanced driving assistance systems, laser radar, and 700 TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second) AI computing power for autonomous driving functions.Xiaomi has yet to launch in Australia with the company likely to enter the European market first in 2027 and then the rest of the world including Australia. Right now, the fledgling tech-brand-turned-automaker's factory capacity is exceeded for over a year with back orders for both the SU7 and its YU7 SUV sibling, both of which have created massive hype in China's domestic market.If and when Xiaomi makes it here, the sporty Chinese marque would join a multitude of new brands in Australia with electric vehicles over the past two years.The SU7 would go up against rivals such as the BYD Seal and MG’s IM5, as well as the ever-popular Tesla Model 3.Xiaomi isn’t the only brand coming up with super long-range EVs with Chery also recently announcing progress on solid state batteries which it claims will offer up to 1500km of driving range on a single charge.

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:  

MG’s luxury division, IM Motors, has revealed another ultra-luxury large SUV, which will join its range in the coming year.The LS8 is a large three-row SUV, which will sit above the IM6 that is currently sold in Australia, but below the flagship LS9 revealed in 2025.Information recently filed with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), we know the LS8 is more than five meters long, exactly two meters wide, and 1817mm tall with a 3060mm wheelbase.The LS8 will be a range-extender plug-in hybrid, combining a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine acting independently of electric motors on each axle. IM models currently sold in Australia are electric-only.The MIIT information shows IM is planning two massive battery sizes, either 52.1kWh or 65.9kWh, for an electric driving range between 268km and 335km according to the more lenient CLTC testing cycle.The new exterior pictures show a boxy large SUV design, which is distinct from the more curvy design language on the IM5 and IM6 sold in Australia.It shares many similarities to other upcoming luxury large SUVs from rival brands, like the Leapmotor D16 and Denza N9 from BYD’s luxury arm, suggesting strong demand for luxury hybrid SUVs in the Chinese domestic market.It features a contemporary light strip and Kia-style vertical LED fittings at each corner in the front, and a matching light strip across the rear. It has a raked roofiline with contrasting black panels in very similar style as popularised by cars like the Range Rover Sport and Velar.The interior is yet to be revealed, but is expected to mirror the designs seen in the LS9No Chinese brand has yet launched one of these luxury large hybrids in Australia.The closest option currently comes from BYD’s Denza, which offers the more off-road focused Denza B5 that is roughly Prado-sized, or the Denza B8 flagship that is more LandCruiser 300-sized.IM Motors has previously told CarsGuide that every new model developed by the luxury arm are aimed at global markets, so the LS8 and LS9 could very much be on the cards for an Australian launch.The brand’s previous CEO Peter Ciao said the company is planning a strong line-up for 2026, with IM Motors forming a part of that planning, so expect an expansion on the range soon.

While utes and family SUVs dominate the top ranks of the sales charts, small, affordable cars remain extremely important to anyone who doesn’t need so much car.That’s why it’s one of the key categories we’re paying attention to in the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year (COTY) awards, in this case specifically those models with entry prices below $50,000.Rather than just hatchbacks and small sedans, we’re including small SUVs in the category given the dwindling number of hatches on sale, and consumer tendencies to opt for a small SUV, even as a first car.Based on review data from our team of journalists, our shortlist of 10 finalists below (in alphabetical order) is a broad group with some interesting variety in their offerings.And, as you’ll notice, the cars eligible for the award don’t necessarily have to be new as of this year - they just need to be on-sale as of January 1, 2026, with a variant under the $50K mark.This category's winner and two runners-up will be announced on February 6, 2026. The Hyundai i30 has been a favourite for years, with its current-generation hatch nearing a decade old. From first cars to fleet cars and hire cars and even sports cars, the offering is broad.But there’s a recent development that judges have strongly considered, and that’s the discontinuation of the standard i30 hatchback in Australia. The well-liked but less popular sedan and the spicy N versions in both hatch and sedan have all been enough to secure the i30 a place amongst the finalists, though.We’re fans of the i30 Sedan, formerly the Elantra, for its packaging and its efficiency in its hybrid form, and the N version has been widely regarded as one of the best-value hot hatches in the world. With pricing from $29,250 before on-roads and the hybrid only $4000 more expensive, the i30 Sedan offers up decent value for money. Even the N only just sits over the $50K mark with its $52,000 starting price. Extremely strong points for the judges to consider.Well-loved by the CarsGuide team, the Kia EV3 is as good as we wish the larger and better-selling EV5 was. But Kia’s small electric SUV faces strong competition from cheaper entrants from China that offer strong showroom presence.Starting from $47,600 before on-roads, the EV3’s line-up stretches to a hefty $63,950, but most agree the base model is the smartest buy as well as the nicest to drive. Key points that have drawn judges to the EV3 are its cute (but not tacky) styling, its clever packaging, and the useful but not extravagant features.It’s one of the more expensive competitors in our finalists, and it’s being outsold by rivals quite convincingly, but the CarsGuide COTY doesn’t reward showroom figures. Game on.Like the i30 earlier in this list, the Mazda3 is a veteran of the new small car market, with its current generation having been unveiled in 2018.Once seen as pricey compared to rivals, the Mazda3 is now a rather budget-friendly option as cheaper cars have disappeared over the years - and its sleek styling has held up nicely to boot.Starting from $31,310 before on-roads, the Mazda3 has gradually changed with the times, having been through a couple of tech and line-up changes. The hatch and sedan both offer up a competitive front-row environment and engaging dynamics, and despite its age is still one of the best-selling small cars alongside the i30, both trailing the ever-popular Toyota Corolla.Judges have always noted its small boot and lacklustre rear seat, but the former still beats the Corolla and there aren’t many truly spacious second rows in hatches. Is standing out where it matters enough for the judges?Furthering the mix of old and new in the finalists for the category, the MG S5 EV has found favour with judges for backing up its excellent first impressions.Newcomers in the field of budget small SUVs have tended to disappoint, especially dynamically, but the CarsGuide team was impressed by not only how the MG S5 fares compared to the brand’s earlier efforts, but also how it performs even without comparing it to other MGs.Available from $40,490 drive-away and costing just $47,990 for its top-spec variant, its extremely competitive price and solid list of features bolster an already strong offering.Scoring highly in every category across CarsGuide’s review format, the MG S5 EV shouldn’t be considered an underdog in the COTY fight. Mini, even with its less traditional models, is near-universally loved. So it should be little surprise that one of its new models sits in this list.The Countryman is now available in both petrol and electric, though its starting price is a hefty $49,990 before on-roads for the base Countryman Core. That means it just sneaks into this COTY category, even if getting into its EV version starts from $64,990.Still, Minis are rarely on shopping lists for their value offering, and the Countryman offers impressive tech and features, plus dynamic driving and of course that fun Mini styling.In a category where value and convenience are key, it’ll be a hard sell, but the current Countryman is essentially a BMW for less money, and arguably more interesting. Take that into consideration, and things are looking up.It’s been a big couple of years for the Qashqai, with Nissan’s small SUV scoring a big facelift quite quickly after its current third generation showed up. In early 2026, the Qashqai will go hybrid-only and start from $45,640 before on-roads with its front-wheel-drive-only, 140kW e-Power hybrid the only option. But its petrol offerings fell within the bounds of the COTY judging timeline, and so are also part of the consideration.Attractive styling, smooth power delivery and handling, and a now up-to-date interior with practical features all contribute to a convincing package, but the imminent loss of its petrol-only models will mean the Qashqai is set to become around $10,000 more expensive than before at its base level.Nissan’s extremely competitive ownership offering (the warranty is 10 years and 300,000km if you service with Nissan, five-year/unlimited kilometres otherwise) makes the Qashqai even more tempting. Ticking a lot of boxes there.Stylish, niche, quirky… French. The Peugeot 308 in its current generation leans in hard to all of these things, not least because it’s only available in a single, high-spec hybrid variant for $48,990 before on-roads.It’s gorgeous inside, outside, and to drive, but it’s cursed with limited commercial and perceived value appeal - only 88 were sold in 2025.The 308’s features list is strong enough to rival much more expensive alternatives, and its strongest points in terms of dynamics are most likely to appeal specifically to driving enthusiasts.There’s a lot to like about the Pug 308, it’s just that most people forget it exists. A CarsGuide COTY trophy in the cabinet would surely help with the latter issue…Toyota’s baby icon has gone through some changes lately. In the last few years, we’ve seen it grow up from the simple, affordable ‘first-car’ option it once was to be a simple, much less affordable option. Oh, and now there’s a version of it that’s basically a rally car for the road.A Yaris used to be something you could reasonably buy new as a teenager if you were thrifty, now it’s a $28,990 (before on-roads) option at its entry level thanks to its increased level of safety kit and having gone hybrid-only,Fortunately, it’s still an excellent light car, and even though it’s outsold by all its rivals it still does exactly what a city car should do - getting you around efficiently and with no fuss.In terms of how it snagged a spot in the finals for this category, it helps that the GR Yaris hot hatch is one of the two best drivers’ cars Toyota currently builds.Getting into a German SUV doesn’t have to be an expensive operation, and the $34,990 starting price (before on-roads) for the VW T-Cross is proof. Even the top-spec R-Line comes in at $41,490, and the features list is healthy.To boot, the T-Cross is fun to drive, and judges enjoy its practicality inside, plus the sharp styling outside.While not as efficient as some in its class, nor as cheap to own in terms of servicing, the T-Cross offers a step-up from rivals in the class that are seen as practical budget offerings.Still, its last update was in 2024, so it’ll have some work to do to convince judges it’s still up to date.Alphabetically, and probably in terms of public familiarity, the last to make the shortlist is the Zeekr X, a small electric SUV designed in Sweden but built in China.Cousin to the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1, the Zeekr X has good pedigree and the performance to back it up.Liked by judges for its value, bold style and on-road performance, the Zeekr X is one of the bigger unknown quantities in this COTY category.A recent price cut makes it a $49,900 offering before on-roads, meaning it only just slips into the sub-$50K contest, but with its list of features it should prove a compelling contender.