SUV News

An unexpected carmaker is poised to achieve a historic first in Australia and it may happen as soon as next year.In a first for a legacy – or long-established – carmaker of volume, Skoda is set to have its best seller switch from an internal combustion engine (ICE) model to an electric vehicle (EV).This will beat out other much-larger manufacturers to the punch in this country like Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai.Speaking to the Australian press at a snow/ice-driving event near Queenstown in New Zealand, Skoda Australia Brand Director, Lucie Kuhn, revealed that the Enyaq mid-sized SUV is closing in fast on the venerable Kodiaq seven-seater large SUV for the firm's number one slot.“The Kodiaq still remains our best-selling (vehicle),” she said.“But I’m quite sure Enyaq will join it on stage in this electric era, and we will most likely have two heroes… (Skoda is currently) selling 700 units together year-to-date.”Pitch-perfect timing has played a big role in the rise of the European EV, not just in Australia, but also in many other parts of the world, with Skoda essentially relaunching the Enyaq at facelift time to appeal to a far-wider audience than before.For Australia, that happened when the extensively upgraded Series II models arrived near the end of last year, brandishing a broader model range as well as a long list of improvements.Among these has been the addition of a more-conventional SUV Wagon shape to the earlier, higher-spec-only SUV Coupe series.Along with providing a more-practical and some-say prettier alternative, that also included the arrival of a new entry-level grade with a smaller battery known as the 60 Select, which started from around $55,000 drive-away.Aided by the closely related Elroq EV, which is essentially an Enyaq but with a shorter rear overhang for a more-compact SUV-style appearance, the order influx that Skoda has experienced since the beginning of the Middle Eastern war in March caught it short on stock.In fact, that record could have been broken this year had production supply kept up with demand for the company’s EVs.“(Our sales in Australia) would have been more if we had a better supply of EVs during the little surprises dating from March to June, let’s say,” Kuhn revealed.“It would definitely have been better than last year overall and better than (today’s) numbers.”Kuhn added that, in the second quarter of this year when oil prices spiked to record-highs, the order banks for its two EVs ran as high as 80 per cent, though that has since settled to around 45 per cent.However, the continuing geo-political uncertainty means that demand for electric Skodas may skyrocket soon.“I think every brand that has a mixed portfolio (of ICE and EVs) faced this customer behaviour changes,” Kuhn explained.“The same of course, applies for us, particularly during the period of March to June, let's say, when our EV share boomed up to 80 percent almost, which, of course, caused empty stocks and longer waiting times for fresh production (of EVs).“Now it's stabilising across the industry, and it's stabilising also for Skoda.“So currently we are around 40 to 45 per cent.”Skoda will double the number of EVs it sells in Australia from next year.Already confirmed is the Epiq, which will be its cheapest-ever EV in this country (and likely a brand best-seller contender), as well as the Peaq seven-seater SUV, earmarked by 2028. 

The new Nissan Patrol Y63 has given Aussie 4WD buyers some serious thinking to do. Nissan recently revealed pricing and key specifications for the new-generation Patrol.There are some huge changes for the Patrol in 2026, but Nissan has done its best to trump the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.So, how does it shape up its sparring partner on the numbers?2026 pricing (before on-road costs)Pricing is pretty close, with both models skirting on the edge of the $100,000 mark to start, despite the Patrol being about $2500 more expensive than its outgoing V8 sibling. The Patrol undercuts the LandCruiser across the range, with Nissan’s 4WD kicking off from $350 less.The biggest gap comes in the sport-focused variants, where the Patrol Pro-4 X is more than $10,000 cheaper compared to the GR Sport grade of the LandCruiser. Hybrid LandCruisers are the most expensive, with a near $11,000 gap on the most expensive Patrol variant.  This round goes to the Patrol, but there might not be much in it for buyers on base price.Nissan made the big decision to ditch its much-loved naturally-aspirated 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine for a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 unit.The good news is the Patrol’s petrol V6 boasts even more power than the V8, producing 317kW, compared to 298kW on the outgoing model. This blows the LandCruiser 300’s twin-turbo diesel V6 engine out of the water on power because it only produces 227kW.It's debatable how much difference this will make in the real world as torque often proves more important for 4WDs when it comes to off-roading and towing capacity.Both the Patrol and LandCruiser 300 pack 700Nm in a dead heat.The LandCruiser 300 Series Hybrid edges the Patrol, making 341kW and 790Nm, although it does come at a price premium as covered above. The Patrol’s engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, while the LandCruiser 300 uses a 10-speed unit. Nissan claims its new Patrol can tow 3700kg, which is 200kg more than the industry standard and what is offered for its Toyota rival. Nissan has not revealed the fuel efficiency of the Patrol, so it cannot be compared with the LandCruiser 300's 8.9L/100km. The Patrol’s fuel tank is 13L smaller than the LandCruiser 300, and is a noticeable step down on the Y62 model, impacting how far it can travel between fill-ups.Fuel efficiency will be an important point to compare, especially with fuel prices continuing to surge.The Y62 returned claimed fuel consumption of more than 14L/100km, so the Y63 will need to offer a substantial improvement to remain competitive.The Patrol trumps in power numbers and has superior lugging capacity, so it is the winner on the figures for now.The Patrol features much of the equipment and interior luxuries available on the LandCruiser 300 as standard.All variants are equipped with a joint 12.3-inch central touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital driver display.By contrast, buyers need to upgrade to higher grades of the LandCruiser to receive a 12.3-inch digital driver display. The Patrol also rides on 18-inch wheels as standard, compared to the LandCruiser 300's 17-inch examples.The Patrol edges the LandCruiser 300 when it comes to standard equipment, but there’s not much in it again.Nissan’s 10-year/300,000 conditional warranty is hard to go past, but services must be completed at an authorised Nissan dealership to be eligible. Toyota offers a similar deal, adding an extra two years of warranty for the car’s engine and driveline when serviced at dealerships. Nissan offers capped price servicing at $499 per visit for the first five appointments, working out roughly $2000 less than the LandCruiser over its first five years. Without authorised dealer servicing, the Patrol’s warranty reverts to a five-year/unlimited kilometre promise, which matches the LandCruiser’s standard one.Nissan’s stacks up a better deal than Toyota’s seven-year engine and driveline alternative, and it’s also cheaper.If buyers don’t opt for capped price servicing, the pair can’t be separated.  Nissan has put forward a compelling proposition for its Y63 Patrol. It’s cheaper, more powerful and better equipped as standard than the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series. The Patrol’s real test will be whether it can match the LandCruiser’s reliability record, but a 10-year/300,000km conditional warranty shows Nissan is backing its 4WD to do the business. Only time will tell whether the Patrol can provide a serious threat to Toyota’s iconic name. It’s undeniable it's already doing so on paper. 

Plug-in hybrids aren’t the future - they’re the present.That’s the view of one car company leader, which is backed up by new car sales data from the first half of the year. Audi Australia Director Jeff Mannering believes the time is right for plug-in hybrids (PHEV) to take over from traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. It has started already, with Mannering pointing to the latest A5 Avant, with the PHEV accounting for 85 per cent of all sales of the wagon.“ So the consumers answered your question,” Mannering told CarsGuide. “They're actually moving to that car because it’s a better customer outcome.” Industry-wide, PHEV sales are up 118 per cent in the first half of 2026 with more than 64,000 sold.Unsurprisingly, and despite Audi’s positivity, it is the Chinese brands leading the way.BYD, Chery, GWM and Geely lead the way in terms of PHEV volume sold. BYD has the three best-selling PHEV models - the Shark 6 ute followed by the Sealion 8 and Sealion 6 SUVs. Mannering is also seeing a change at the top end of the market. Audi Australia has also achieved price parity between its latest Q5 ICE and PHEV models, showing the closing gap between the two technologies.Mannering admitted the petrol-engined Q5 is likely to be dropped in the near-future, as it no longer makes as much sense to customers when you can by a more powerful but more efficient PHEV for the same money.One of the primary reasons for this is the impact of the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES), which has pushed car makers to offer more affordable low emissions vehicles, like PHEVs and electric vehicles (EVs).“ Yeah and that's why we fought for the price parity, and it was with NVES because we, as a brand, want to be NVES compliant because we don't want to be in a position of paying fines; it's not a great look,” Mannering said.“And we've got our directive to be compliant, and currently, because the levels go down it will automatically change. Now, what happens in the next five years with the government, who lobbies the government on if there's any changes to, what the level is, will determine the mix of all the segments or the mix of the powertrains.”Audi will also continue to push its EV offerings, with the refreshed Q4 SUV to launch in Australia in September.

Mazda’s next-generation CX-3 is confirmed for production as soon as 2027, and is an important part of the brand’s turn-around strategy.The CX-3 is part of a wide-ranging renewal strategy for Mazda which kicked off with the latest CX-5 and China-built 6e and CX-6e.It most recently appearing in a shadowy preview in a slide deck accompanying the brand’s latest (and somewhat dire) financial figures.Now, this shadowy preview has been brought to life thanks to YouTube channel AutoYa, which frequently posts renders of upcoming new models based on available imagery.It combines the shape of the shadowy preview with the design cues of the existing Vision X Compact concept shown in 2025 to preview the new small car family, as well as including elements of the CX-6e and new CX-5.The channel has also taken the liberty to imagine the interior as a shrunken down version of the new CX-5’s interior, albeit with a smaller set of screens.What we can tell you about the CX-3 is that it will be built in Thailand (like the current model), which is an advantage for the Australian market as it will be cheaper to build and ship here and will naturally be in built in right-hand drive.It will be the first new-generation CX-3 in 12 years after a long run of facelifts and model year updates for the still-popular crossover.It will also be an important model for Mazda as it fights off newer competition, including an upcoming next-generation Hyundai Kona, and aggressive new manufacturers from China like Jaecoo with its J5 and BYD with its Atto 2.As per the brand’s current new model strategy, it is expected the new small SUV will be available in both combustion and plugless hybrid forms. It is expected to use Mazda’s new in-house SkyActiv-Z technology, as opposed to using a Toyota-sourced system like the US-market CX-50.This system will debut on the CX-5, although the company has said it is not due in Australia until 2028.By then, the lack of electrification across Mazda’s range will be causing the brand significant issues with Australia’s new vehicle efficiency laws (NVES), which impose fines on automakers whose fleet CO2 emissions are above a certain threshold.Mazda is one of the most exposed manufacturers under the new rules. It is a big part of the reason the company has been so quick to the market with its Chinese joint-venture 6e and CX-6e, and plans to offer them with very competitive pricing.Meanwhile the company told CarsGuide in 2025 that its ‘small architecture cars’ like the Mazda 2 and CX-3 would be its next priority after its CX-5 plans come to fruition.The current Mazda 2 and CX-3 are slated to continue in Australia, at least until the new CX-3 debuts in 2027. The future of the related Mazda 2 remains uncertain, although the Vision X concept shown in 2025 at Tokyo was notably a hatchback, not an SUV.In other recent news from Mazda on the small car front, reports out of Japan claim the next-generation CX-30 is set to debut in 2030, 11 years after the current and original version launched.Little is known about the upcoming CX-30 replacement, other than it is also slated to adopt SkyActiv-Z hybrid tech, and that CEO Katsuhiro Moro said the car will adopt cost-saving measures first introduced in the CX-5 for the new model to keep it price competitive.

Skoda has indicated two key SUV electric vehicles (EVs) slated for Australia may have their release dates pushed back.With booming demand for EVs in Europe against a backdrop of war in the Middle East and subsequent spiking oil prices, buyers in Australia may have to wait until the end of next year before they can get behind the wheel of the Epiq small SUV.Likewise, the recently announced Skoda Peaq seven-seater large SUV EV, a companion model to the popular Kodiaq and the stated flagship – or peak – of the Czechian brand’s extensive range, might still be up to two years away from a local launch.According to Skoda Australia Brand Director, Lucie Kuhn, there are a number of factors at play putting pressure on the availability of these two important electric models.“Here in Australia, we are trying to fight to get the launch of global models, the Epiq and Peaq,” she said. “We are awaiting final confirmation.”With sales of EVs expected to eclipse internal combustion engine models for Skoda in Australia, the importance of the Epiq in particular cannot be overstated.Closely related to the just-released VW ID. Polo light car supermini and ID. Cross electric crossover version that are already creating a buzz with strong pre-orders in Europe, it is a key player in the Volkswagen Group’s retaliation against the wave of cheap EVs from China.More specifically, the Epiq uses a modified version of the MEB electrical architecture known as MEB+ designed to slash engineering and production costs.Developed by Seat in Spain (where all models including a Cupra Raval version will be built), it switches from a rear-motor/rear-wheel-drive (RWD) configuration to a front-motor/front-drive layout.Along with a simpler torsion beam rear suspension set-up and the choice of two modestly sized battery packs of 39kWh (for 310km of WLTP range) and 55kWh (for about 440km WLTP) sizes, the goal here is to save money.Speaking of which, while pricing and specification details have yet to confirmed for our market, the entry-level version is expected to kick off from somewhere in the mid-$30,000 region.This would take the fight up to the BYD Atto 2, GWM Ora 5, Jaecoo J5, Leapmotor B10 and Chery E5.Crucially, at the time of publishing, neither VW has been confirmed for Australia as yet.The Peaq, meanwhile, employs a stretched version of the Enyaq’s MEB architecture, and will offer 60 RWD, 90 RWD and 90X all-wheel drive powertrains.Globally unveiled in late June, Skoda has yet to reveal many details about this model, but it is anticipated that the main target will be the successful Tesla Model Y L, which currently retails from around $75,000 and $90,000 before on-road costs in Australia.If the brand can achieve similar pricing to the latter, it would undercut a host of electric alternatives, including the Kia EV9, Volvo EX90, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Mercedes-Benz EQS.Both models represent strong opportunities for conquest sales for the company.“We are hard at work now, working on Epiq and Peaq,” according to Skoda Australia Head of Product and Marketing, Kieran Merrigan.“The feedback is really awesome, and we can't wait to see the work on them and bring them to market – 2027 for the Epiq, and then late 2027 or 2028 for the Peaq.”

Hyundai has officially confirmed the first models that will receive its new range-extender (REEV) hybrid powertrain technology.The Hyundai Santa Fe and Genesis GV70 will be the first models. They both will launch in global markets from the first half of 2027.Hyundai has confirmed that REEVs are coming to Australia, but it won’t confirm an exact timeline or which models yet.REEV hybrids have a petrol engine but they don’t directly power the wheels. They instead act as a generator to charge up the high-voltage battery pack. This means all the driving power is done by electric motors, like an electric vehicle (EV).Hyundai has confirmed its Santa Fe REEV is launching in global markets in the first half of 2027. It’s unclear if or when it will come to Australia.The South Korean carmaker will manufacture this new REEV version of the Santa Fe in the US at its Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant. It already produces standard petrol and series-parallel hybrid versions of the Santa Fe for the USA.Few details regarding the Santa Fe REEV’s powertrain have been confirmed yet. It will have a dual-electric motor set-up, likely meaning one on each axle and all-wheel drive. It’s unclear which petrol engine it’ll have.There’s also a new ‘high-performance’ battery, which has been designed in-house, allowing for a total range of over 965km.Hyundai has been readying a facelift for the Santa Fe for a while now following the middling feedback to the exterior design and this new REEV powertrain may launch in conjunction with it.Following Genesis launching the GV80 Hybrid, which has a parallel hybrid set-up, the GV70 REEV will be the brand’s first range-extender hybrid when it launches in early 2027.Few details about the GV70 REEV’s powertrain are confirmed yet, however it will feature an in-house designed ‘high-performance’ battery pack, like the Santa Fe REEV.Genesis claims the GV70 REEV will offer a total range of over 1030km.This new powertrain option for the GV70 will add to the standard petrol and all-electric configurations.The confirmation of these new REEV models were announced as part of Hyundai’s latest Investor Day.The South Korean carmaker plans to launch over 100 new vehicles across its Hyundai and Genesis brands by 2030. The Santa Fe REEV and GV70 REEV are just two of these models.Other highlights include the new-generation Tucson, a series of body-on-frame vehicles, new EVs and a number of vehicles especially for the Chinese market, like the Ioniq V.Among the other things confirmed at the event, another key point is Hyundai plans to launch a new ‘high-volume performance’ segment by 2030 to sit between N and N Line.It will apparently feature carryover powertrain and parts from Hyundai N, with a focus on value features for daily high-performance driving.

Nissan’s decades old rivalry with the Toyota LandCruiser has been reignited and has hit DEFCON 1.The new Y63 Nissan Patrol will arrive in Australia at the start of 2027 after a two-and-a-half-year wait since its reveal.Now the Japanese brand has confirmed prices and confirmed its beefed-up six-tier Patrol range.Customers can now put down a deposit for a specific grade with their local dealer. Nissan hasn’t set a deposit amount as it will be up to the specific dealer, but expect something in the range of $500-$1000.The big news? Nissan’s Patrol is cheaper, more powerful and better equipped than the equivalent Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.The Ti grade kicks things off at $98,990 (before on-road costs), which is $2450 more expensive than the base Y62 Patrol grade. It is also $350 cheaper than the base LandCruiser GX. Full pricing table below.The Patrol continues to undercut the equivalent LandCruiser throughout its line-up, with the new-to-Australia off-road-focused Pro-4X grade severely cheaper than the LandCruiser GR Sport.The only other carry-over grade from the Y62 range is the Ti-L, which is about $14,000 more expensive than before but is complemented by the cheaper new Ti+ grade.It’s old news now, but the outgoing Patrol’s V8 petrol engine is no more. In its place is a twin-turbo 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine that makes 317kW and 700Nm. This is matched to a nine-speed auto, and a full time 4WD set-up that has low and high gears.The Patrol has an electronic locking rear differential and eight different drive modes.All grades also have some hi-tech off-roading features such as an invisible bonnet view, which gives drivers an idea of what is beneath them as they cross rough terrain.Nissan also promotes a scavenger oil pump, which helps keep lubrication on steep or off-camber climbs.Nissan has confirmed towing capacity is 3700kg, and trailer blind spot warning is fitted standard across the range. Higher grades build on the towing prowess with trailer docking support and electric brake controller.Payload, fuel use and details won’t be known until closer to the vehicle’s launch date.The addition of the Pro-4X grade also puts into doubt the potential for a locally tuned Warrior version.The Pro-4X is the brand’s new off-road hero with adaptive air suspension and auto damper control that reads the road ahead and adjusts suspension accordingly.It has all-terrain tyres, unique front bumper, trailer docking support and electric trailer brake controller.There is no locally tuned Patrol Warrior grade for now, with the brand stating it is actively investigating a Warrior, but it wouldn’t commit to the rugged 4WD.One of Nissan’s biggest selling points over the LandCruiser is its service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km, compared to six months or 10,000km. Nissan charges $499 per visit for the first five scheduled workshop appointments, which costs about $2000 less than the LandCruiser over the first five years.Nissan also backs its cars with a 10 year/300,000km conditional warranty, which requires owners to service their vehicle at a Nissan dealership or it reverts to a five year/unlimited km guarantee.All grades come with dual 12.3-inch displays, one for the multimedia the other for the driver’s instruments, Google built-in, which includes Google Maps, and Gemini AI assistant that can control certain car functions.The base Ti grade has:18-inch alloy wheels 360-degree cameraThree-zone climate controlSynthetic leather seats and leather Synthetic leather-wrapped steering wheelStepping up to the Ti+ gets you:Panoramic sunroofPrivacy glassPower tailgateRoof railsRain-sensing wipersDigital rear-view mirrorTi-L buyers can expect all that and more, including:14.3-inch dual screens12-speaker Klipsch stereoHead-up displayIntelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper) suspension, which continuously adjusts suspension to driving and road conditions20-inch alloy wheelsRotating view 360-degree cameraTi-L+ grade adds:Leather and synthetic leather seat upholsteryHeated and ventilated front seatsMassage driver’s seatHeated steering wheelCentre console cool boxBiometric Cooling with in-built pollen and particulate filterMulti-colour ambient interior illuminationPro-4X builds on the Ti-L grade with:Adaptive Air Suspension with Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper)20-inch black-painted alloy wheelsAll-terrain tyresPRO-4X unique off-road front bumper fasciaCentre console cool boxHeated and ventilated front row seatsHeated steering wheelTrailer docking supportElectric trailer brake controllerBiometric Cooling with in-built pollen and particulate filterRange-topping Ti-L Reserve boasts the Ti-L+’s kit and:Adaptive Air Suspension with Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper)22-inch step-machined alloy wheelsTrailer docking supportElectric trailer brake controllerDual 12.8-inch second-row entertainment screensDriver and front passenger massage seats

Audi has introduced a series of updates for model year 2026 (MY26) to the A5 and S5 liftback and wagon, as well as the Q5 and Q6 e-tron SUVs.All models now receive physical scroll wheels on the steering wheel with haptic feedback. These replace the touch-sensitive sliders.Additionally there’s a new-generation multimedia software with new digital instrument cluster views and enhanced functionality thanks to an app store, upgraded USBs, as well as the capability to connect to headsets and game controllers via bluetooth.On the safety front, all MY26 Audi A5, S5, Q5 and Q6 e-tron variants receive a new long-range radar, as well as the inclusion of active lane-keep assist and a lane-change assist. Audi claims this has been optimised for Australian conditions.Audi S5 variants also receive a new ‘dynamic plus’ drive mode that allows for controlled oversteering by altering the stability control, torque distribution, brake torque vectoring, and the engine and transmission calibration.The S5 also receives a factory-fitted dashcam, as well as enhanced parking features including trained parking, a reverse assistant, kerb protection and a car wash mode.The 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen is now added via the optional Premium package for the A5 e-hybrid. It was previously a standalone optional extra.Before on-road costs pricing for the 2026 Audi A5/S5 line-up is as follows:A5 Sedan e-hybrid quattro 270kW S line: $89,900A5 Sedan TFSI 150kW S line: $81,127A5 Avant e-hybrid quattro 270kW S line: $92,818A5 Sedan TFSI quattro 200kW S line: $89,827A5 Avant TFSI quattro 200kW S line: $92,827S5 Sedan: $116,827S5 Avant: $119,827After an initial batch of MY25 Q5 e-hybrid plug-in hybrid (PHEV) examples arriving in Australia, supply of the updated MY26 examples are now fully on tap.The Q5 is still available in TFSI 150kW, TDI 150kW quattro, TFSI 200kW quattro, e-hybrid 270kW, as well as the flagship SQ5 variants. Both SUV and Sportback ‘coupe’ SUV body styles remain on offer.Beyond the new multimedia and active safety updates, the optional 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen has been moved from the Tech Pro to the Premium package.Additionally, the Tech Pro package gains additional parking functions like trained parking, a reverse assistant, kerb protection and a car wash mode.A dashcam now comes standard on SQ5 variants.Before on-road costs pricing for the 2026 Audi Q5/SQ5 line-up is as follows:Q5 SUV TFSI 150kW: $83,627Q5 Sportback TFSI 150kW: $87,127Q5 SUV TDI 150kW quattro: $89,727Q5 SUV TDI 150kW quattro sport: $96,227Q5 SUV e-hybrid 270kW: $98,018Q5 SUV TFSI 200kW quattro sport: $98,027Q5 Sportback TDI 150kW quattro sport: $99,727Q5 Sportback TFSI 200kW quattro sport: $101,527SQ5 SUV sport: $110,027SQ5 Sportback sport: $113,527SQ5 SUV: $126,027SQ5 Sportback: $129,527For MY26 Audi has discontinued the mid-spec Q6 e-tron Performance trim, leaving only the entry-level Q6 e-tron and flagship SQ6 e-tron variants. Both are offered in SUV and Sportback ‘coupe’ SUV body styles.Range is claimed to have been "optimised" for all variants, plus there’s "optimised" regenerative braking, the addition of one-pedal driving, as well as additional charging information.The entry-level Q6 e-tron trims now get frequency selective comfort suspension as standard. This car previously had passive dampers.A dashcam comes as standard on all variants, plus there are additional modes for the augmented reality head-up display.Before on-road costs pricing for the 2026 Audi Q6 e-tron/SQ6 e-tron line-up is as follows:Q6 e-tron SUV: $101,017Q6 e-tron Sportback: $101,017SQ6 e-tron SUV: $152,517.81SQ6 e-tron Sportback: $157,517

This family favourite three-row SUV has been given some serious off-roading credentials in Australia. The Hyundai Palisade will be available in a new XRT Pro grade from next month.It starts from $79,900 (before on-road costs), making it $3400 more expensive than the base variant, but $10,000-plus cheaper than the range-topping example.This off-road ready variant could provide the Palisade an edge for buyers over the popular Toyota Kluger three-row SUV.The Palisade XRT Pro still features a car-based chassis, but its upgrades bring it closer to the rugged ladder frame Ford Everest 4WD ($58,990). The new variant is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 207kW and 422Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.This differs from other Palisade variants that are also equipped with a 2.5-litre engine but have a conventional plugless hybrid set-up and six-speed auto, making a combined 245kW and 460Nm.The Palisade XRT Pro comes with a factory-fitted towbar. When fitted with the towing accessory kit, it boasts a braked towing capacity of 2200kg, up from 2000kg as standard.It has XRT-specific 18-inch alloy wheels and a distinct metallic grille, along with blacked out and 'XRT Pro' detailing.Hyundai said the debuting XRT Pro grade adds genuine off-road capability, with focused hardware and other physical components geared for rugged activities.It features an electric limited-slip differential (e-LSD), dedicated off-road displays and a ground-view monitor.It also has improved approach and departure angles compared to the standard Palisade, with ground clearance up to 212mm from 187mm. The car has been given a specialist 4WD-tuned suspension in addition to the Aussie-specific set-up on other variants.It has separate mud, sand and snow terrain modes designed to help tackle different challenges.The new variant is slated to arrive in dealerships from September. 

Chinese car maker Geely says it’s about to smash the 5.5-minute electric car charging time record with a battery breakthrough, but there’s a catch.Geely has announced it has developed a 1000V electric architecture for its vehicles which will allow charging from 10-80 per cent in less than 5.5 minutes, as it chases BYD and its advanced 'flash charging' technology.EV batteries can only charge as quickly as the vehicles electrical components will allow it to. Currently the standard is 400V and you'll find this in vehicles such as Tesla's Model Y and Toyota's bZ4X. Some car makers offer higher voltage systems with up to 800V architecture such as in the Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Zeekr 7X.Think of voltage like water pressure, the higher the voltage the quicker charge can be added to a battery with less current. Of course all of the pipes (electrical hardware) need to be upgraded to handle the pressure.Currently the limit is about 900V but BYD and Geely are racing to get to 1000V and beyond.Nobody likes to wait, and right now the long EV charging times are one of the main barriers for consumers looking at buying an electric car.The race is on to bring EV charging down to the same time it takes to fill up the tank of a petrol or diesel vehicle which is approximately two minutes using a standard service station fuel pump and 65L tank.Geely says its 1000V electrical architecture will allow cars to top-up from 10-80 percent in under 5.5 minutes. That’s a record for the industry. Currently BYD is the title holder with its flash charging technology which it claims can fill from 10-70 percent in five minutes.Sure, it’s not quite the two minutes it takes to fill up with petrol, but with both brands in this quick-charging dogfight it won’t be long before one of them, or another brand (Chery perhaps) is claiming the achievement.The catch is that achieving these record fast changing times requires more than just the car with 1000V architecture and EV owners already know what we’re talking about - the charger itself.Geely is beginning to roll out 1500kW chargers in China and it’s only by using these ultra fast chargers with the 1000V architecture that these cars can achieve the claimed charging times.Typically in Australia public fastest chargers range from 50kW-350kW with 400kW now also appearing.Even in China 1500kW chargers aren’t at very common and filling at under 5.5 minutes is not going to be accessible to everyone. Geely appears to be future-proofing its cars to ensure their cars can take advantage when the infrastructure arrives.  Currently in Australia Geely uses 400V architecture in the EX5 mid-sized SUV but it also owns Zeekr and the 7X mid-sized electric SUV has an 800V system.According to Zeekr the 7X will fill from 10-80 percent in 13 minutes if a 400kW charger is used.