SUV News

Hyundai has confirmed its incoming ute is part of a "ladder-frame strategy" that will see multiple models take the fight to brands like Ford and Toyota in the off-road space. That's the word from the brand's Product Development Manager Tim Rodgers who says the brand's ute will be just the beginning. "It's not a model. It's a body-on-frame strategy," he says. "There's multiple models and paths that this can take and we're exploring all options." "(A ute-based SUV) is a strong focus from the global team." That would put the brand on a collision course with established off-road SUV players, like Toyota with the LandCruiser Prado, Ford with the Everest and even Mitsubishi with the new Pajero. Asked whether the brand could overcome that legacy as a new player.  "How do you value legacy? It's such a powerful thing," he says. "Ultimately we're going to come head-to-head with them, but we've done that. We've done that with N. We're going to explore more of that with XRT. We've done with that with just the Hyundai brand as well. "So we're not afraid of that challenge. And I'd say the product qualities will be ready to meet that kind of challenge." All will be revealed soon enough, with Hyundai's first ute tipped to enter production in 2028 with a petrol-electric powertrain. Its vision was previewed by the Hyundai Boulder Concept, revealed this year in New York. "That kind of speaks to it a bit, but again, we're trying to simplify a very complex internal business discussion," Mr Rodgers says. "It's got multiple layers and paths and options."

BYD’s Ti 7 has just been approved for sale in Australia, but Jaguar Land Rover has taken issue with the boxy hybrid SUV’s design, seeking to drag its Chinese rival through the courts in Europe. According to media outlets including the UK’s Telegraph and The Guardian, bailiffs acting on behalf of Jaguar Land Rover conducted a raid of BYD’s offices in the Netherlands ahead of an intellectual property court case in The Hague. According to several UK media sources, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) had the court-ordered raids conducted to secure the digital records of the alleged intellectual property theft before BYD had a chance to destroy them. JLR is said to suspect BYD has reverse engineered some of the technology used in its Ti 7 from the Land Rover Defender. The brands faced-off in a court recently, with procedural details of the case being worked through, like how much documentation JLR will be allowed to use, and whether the case even has enough merit to proceed. The case comes as Land Rover seeks to stop BYD from selling the Ti 7 on its home turf in the UK. The car is slated to go on sale in January in the UK, adding to the brand’s existing range which has seen it achieve a similar level of success as it has had in Australia. Without the same protectionist policies as the EU, the UK has seen a mass influx of Chinese automakers, transforming its best-selling vehicle charts. While BYD has experienced explosive growth, so too has Jaguar Land Rover’s joint-venture partner Chery. Chery Group (including its sub-brands Omoda, Jaecoo and Lepas) has captured 8.9 per cent of the UK market in 2026, with the Jaecoo 7 (known as the Jaecoo J7 in Australia) becoming the country’s best-selling new car. Many have likened the design of the Jaecoo J5 small SUV and J7 mid-sizer to Range Rover products, with the J7 attracting the colloquial name of ‘Temu Range Rover’. Chery Group has officially teamed up with Land Rover on the re-booted Freelander marque, now as a separate sub-brand. The Freelander brand, which uses British JLR design mixed with Chinese production, is set to launch in international markets, including Australia in 2027. The BYD Ti7 joins the upcoming Freelander 8 in cashing in on the ‘boxy SUV’ trend taking over China. As Chinese companies seek higher profit margins in global export markets, they have been building larger, more competitive and more aspirational vehicles which they can sell at a higher price-point. And yet still that price-point undercuts many established names from the world’s biggest ‘legacy brands’. Even Zeekr's next move will be to come after the Defender's success specifically with an as-yet-unseen future off-roader. While it’s hard to say the Ti7 doesn’t borrow at least some inspiration from the Defender, so too do vehicles like the Geely Battleship 700, GAC Yue 7, and iCaur V27 (the latter of which being another Chery Group offering). Meanwhile other popular new off-road options in the market, like the GWM Tank 300 and Tank 500 have designs clearly influenced by the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota LandCruiser respectively. Even more established brands have drawn inspiration from Land Rover’s iconic design, with Hyundai’s CarsGuide Car of the Year award-winning Santa Fe clearly paying homage to the British brand’s Discovery 4x4. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it is also an existential threat for Jaguar Land Rover. The historic British brand is embattled on multiple fronts. Not only are new and much more affordable rivals eating into its market share across the world, it has also suffered from a debilitating cyberattack, slowing sales in the lucrative Chinese market, increasing tariff barriers around the world, and delays in bringing new models to market to replace once-popular but ageing nameplates. The Defender 4x4, which many rivals are specifically seeking to emulate, is by far the company’s best-selling vehicle, accounting for 33.9 per cent of the company’s total sales in the 2026 financial year. Ironically, recent developments may push JLR further into the embrace of its Chinese Chery partner, which is busy establishing its own manufacturing footprint across Europe and the UK.

BYD’s new tough-looking SUV is one step closer to Aussie buyers. The BYD Ti 7 has just been approved for sale Down Under, as it gears up to tackle the large SUV segment in Australia. The Ti 7 is the giant Chinese brand’s off-road-styled three-row family SUV. It’s a size-up on the popular Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento. BYD Australia has not officially confirmed Ti 7’s arrival, but it’s rare for a car to go through the expensive sales approval process to then not hit showrooms. This news follows the Ti 7 going on sale in the United Kingdom, which often represents the final step before a new car arrives on Aussie shores. The Ti 7 is available in two variants that both use a PHEV set-up. The base car is two-wheel drive, powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors that make 200kW. The top-spec grade also uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, but has a more powerful dual-motor set-up and all-wheel drive that boosts performance to 300kW. It’s unclear what battery choices BYD will equip the Ti 7 with in Australia, but overseas variants have either a 36kWh or 50kWh unit. In the UK, the Ti 7 has an electric-only driving range of 102 miles (or about 164km) in city conditions and a WLTP range of 74 miles (or 119km). The Ti 7 is bigger than its other family rivals the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, with dimensions of 5146mm long, 1995mm wide, 1865mm tall and a 2920mm wheelbase. BYD only sells the car as a seven-seater and it's bigger dimensions mean it boasts plenty of interior space. It sports a tough exterior look, with bulky roof rails and generally boxy proportions, as well as an externally mounted spare tire. The Ti 7 is not designed to be a heavy-duty off-roader, riding on a car-based monocoque chassis and missing out differential locks. Inside, UK examples have a 15.6-inch central touchscreen display, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a wireless phone charger. It's also available with an optional panoramic sunroof for added natural light in the cabin. The Ti 7 has vehicle-to-load capabilities, so its high-voltage battery can power devices and tools. It’s unclear when the BYD Ti 7 will launch in Australia, with the local branch still to officially confirm its arrival. Buyers can expect more information on the Ti 7 in late 2026, with a launch date likely to be some time in 2027. BYD will reveal pricing closer to the Ti 7’s announcement, but in the UK, the car starts from 47,995 pounds (or roughly $93,000). New cars in the UK are generally more expensive than in Australia, so buyers can anticipate a price closer to $60,000 (before on-road costs) here.

Honda says it wants to grow its sales by nearly 50 per cent in Australia despite its local boss saying “business as usual” is dead in our market’s extremely competitive environment. The brand’s CEO Jay Joseph told CarsGuide Honda plans to hit 20,000 units a year, declaring that is a “healthier place” for the brand to be in the long run. Honda sold 15,383 units in Australia in 2025. Joseph earmarked an evolved product portfolio as an opportunity to grow sales, as the brand had done with its recently-launched Super One city hatchback, which he added had exceeded expectations. Honda has expanded its line-up recently by re-introducing the Prelude sports car, after spending years with a largely SUV-only line-up of the HR-V, ZR-V and CR-V alongside the expensive Civic hatch and Accord sedan. In the future, this expanding line-up may include next-generation products from America, with Joseph earmarking Honda’s next-generation large vehicle platform which underpins the Ridgeline ute and Pilot SUV as possibly being built in right-hand drive. Ironically given the changing market, this may also mean sourcing cars from Honda’s Chinese joint venture, which the company recently re-committed to at a global level. “When I say ‘scan the globe’ I really mean scan the globe,” he said of sourcing Hondas from China, “the economics of that are of course a little different, because for every car maker, except Tesla, the products which come out of China are developed with a joint-venture partner and the best we could do is reap half the profits of that, so we have to be careful about it.” His comments are in stark contrast to some brands that have been far faster to accept Chinese joint-venture models into their line-ups, such as Mazda (6e, CX-6e), Kia (EV5) and Nissan (Navara Pro PHEV). “They start off with a disadvantage, but I would never say never either,” continued Joseph. “If we have the opportunity to bring the right product, which meets customer’s needs, we’d certainly consider it.” “We’ve already done it in Japan, the new Honda Insight is China-sourced, so we’re not opposed to it as a company.” Other automakers turning to Chinese-built low-emissions vehicles is no accident. In the case of Nissan and Mazda in particular, there is an urgent need to bring down their emissions footprint thanks to Australia’s recently implemented New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). It’s proving prohibitively expensive to solve with models built in Japan or South East Asia where emissions laws are comparatively lax. It also exposes a glaring hole in Honda Australia’s current line-up, a fully electric mid-size SUV, which could only be filled by the Chinese-built Honda P7. The P7, which is built alongside joint-venture partner GAC, has struggled for market share in China, with some speculating the tie-up wouldn’t be renewed past its expiry date. Honda re-committed to the deal earlier this year. It also partners with Dongfeng on the similar S7, as well as the more mainstream and affordable e:NS2 crossover. Honda’s own in-house plans also feature electric vehicles too, despite its widely-reported cancellation of three new models, which were planned for a US market entry. The brand said its Alpha 0 concept, which adopts the company’s “Thin, Light, and Wise” design philosophy would still go to production, with the concept appearing as a small SUV and electric alternative to the current HR-V. Interestingly it will be built in India (a fellow right-hand drive market) and exported for a global audience to keep costs low. The new model is expected to be revealed early next year. Joseph also earmarked the CR-V in particular as a model he thinks should be performing better in the sales charts. “For the life of me I can’t understand how that isn’t a top-10 vehicle in its segment,” he said. “The product is absolutely as good if not better than the competition so there has to be something else. We’ve got to tell more people about it. We’ve got to win that upper funnel of awareness and consideration better than we have been. “Because, we convert really well. Every Honda dealer tells me the same thing: Once we get buyers into a test-drive, we win. Once they drive the Honda, they like it better, but it’s a matter of getting them into that test drive.”

Things are about to get interesting in Australia as rising superstar Chinese brand, Xiaomi, prepares to launch locally, and if early indicators are anything to go by the newcomer could blow Zeekr, Chery and BYD away. Much like other Chinese brands that started off as a tech company only to switch to EVs, Xiaomi is new to building vehicles, but that inexperience hasn’t stopped it from impressing those who have mastered cars. Despite Xiaomi having never built a car before 2024, it’s making arguably the most desirable cars in China. This is down to the design of the cars - which look frankly beautiful - along with the affordable pricing and the high performance appeal of the vehicles. Xiaomi is known as the “Apple of China” due to its enormous presence in consumer electronics, but in October this year the brand entered its homeland’s top 10 best selling carmakers. The company’s CEO Lei Jun has the approachable geekiness of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs. He has taken a very high profile approach to the automotive side of the business, leading keynote addresses and live streams talking directly to customers. With Xiaomi’s electric cars getting such attention Ford’s global boss Jim Farley imported one of the brand's vehicles - an SU7 - to drive back in 2024 so he could see what the hype was all about. Farley was so taken by the car he was reluctant to hand it back. “I don’t like talking about the competition so much but I drive the Xiaomi – we flew one from Shanghai to Chicago and I’ve been driving it for six months now and I don’t want to give it up,” Farley said on the Everything Electric show podcast. Now Xiaomi is poised to take the next step - the world. First Xiaomi will launch in Europe next year. Then in 2028 it will likely be Australia’s turn. Xiaomi hasn’t officially confirmed the Aussie arrival, the signs are clear. CarsGuide recently reported Xiaomi was hiring in Australia, with advertisements appearing for a financial product manager and legal counsel. That not only indicates Xiaomi is assembling a local team, but that it plans to handle business in Australia itself rather than through a separate distributor. Xiaomi’s most popular car is the SU7 sedan followed by the YU7 mid-sized SUV. The SU7 is a rival to the Tesla Model 3, but more luxurious and with an enormous range. We’re talking up to a claimed 900km (CLTC) depending on the battery and the grade. The SU7 Ultra has a ‘shorter’ 620km range, but that’s because its energy priorities are performance focussed, with this grade about to sprint from 0-100km/h in less than two seconds. Only a handful of production cars in the world can boast this kind of rapid acceleration. The vehicle the brand is likely to lead with is the YU7 SUV, which will rival the Tesla Model Y, Zeekr 7X and BYD Sealion 7. In China the YU7 comes in several grades, with ranges of up to 835km (CLTC), and of course there’s a GT performance grade as well that can sprint from 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds. Australia has become a lucrative market for Chinese carmakers thanks to the country’s lack of tariffs and buyers willing to try a new brand in order to own an affordable EV. When it comes to year to date sales in Australia four of the top 10 brands are now Chinese - those being BYD, GWM, Chery and MG. All will be watching Xiaomi’s European entry carefully and preparing for the brand’s Australian arrival. It can really only mean good news for Australian car buyers - not only are Xiaomi’s vehicles cutting edge and stylish but the affordable pricing that will likely be offered will see the rivals try to tempt you away with better deals.

Electric vehicles are hot. Last month, almost one in four registrations were EVs. That’s more than three times the rate from the previous October. Whether it is because of soaring fuel prices, more government incentives, greater choice or better charging infrastructure, Australia currently sits in seventh place for EV sales, up from 19 last year. But not everybody wants a BYD Atto 1 Essential, even at $19,990 drive-away. And not everybody can afford (or wants) a Tesla Model Y (from $59,000), Zeekr 7X (from $58,000), BYD Sealion 7 (from $55,000) or Geely EX5 (from $42,000). Luckily, the early adopters from the first half of this decade that took the plunge when sales of EVs were just a trickle have moved to newer pastures, presumably with bigger batteries and better range. Here are our top six cheap used EV buys under $25,000. Note that while all can be had with fewer than 80,000km, none come with a spare wheel. Boo! Don’t laugh. The MX-30 makes a great used-car buy, especially if you’re seeking something different, refined and luxurious. Revealed in 2019, the MX-30 was essentially a coupe version of the far-more successful CX-30 small SUV. The thinking behind the E35 EV version was sound: a small, “right-sized” battery that traded long-distance range for faster charging, lighter weight for optimised efficiency and better driveability. With just 200km of WLTP range as a result, buyers stayed away. Barely more than 100 units were said to be sold in Australia. Low-range aside, the Mazda stands out with off-beat styling, featuring clap-hand doors, RX-8 sports car style. With a motor up front driving the front wheels, the MX-30 EV’s performance is modest but ultra-smooth, the steering’s sweet and the ride is supple. And there’s even decent practicality in the beautifully crafted interior, once you get past the fiddly rear-hinged back doors and hemmed-in (though sufficiently spacious) back seat. The boot is reasonably roomy, too. All local MX-30 E35 models are in Astina specification, meaning high equipment levels, including Bose audio, sat-nav, a leatherette/suede-like upholstery with beautiful textile trim, a head-up display, sunroof and a full suite of driver-assist safety for a five-star crash-test rating. Most people bought the far-cheaper G20e instead, with fewer frills and a conventional 2.0-litre four-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine version. Today, with a $25,000 budget able to secure a clean, fairly low-kilometre example of Mazda’s first global EV, the smart money’s on the MX-30 E35. A quality, quirky curio whose time has finally come. Still arguably one of China’s most accomplished cars, the MG4 was designed and engineered in the UK for European tastes, and it shows. Leagues ahead of the brand’s awful original ZS EV SUV, this small five-door hatch isn’t just about sleek good looks. Underneath is a sophisticated, dedicated EV architecture, with the electric motor over the back axle, driving the rear wheels. At our price point, battery sizes will be either the base 51kWh (350km WLTP) or mid-spec 64kWh (452km WLTP). Clever aerodynamics really help with efficiency here. In keeping with the MG’s sporty past, acceleration is punchy, the steering sharp, the handling direct and the ride firm but forgiving. This is a spirited car to chuck around. The big interior is pared back but functional, though the climate control’s lack of physical buttons is frustrating, while the back seat is fairly basic. Yet, falling within our budget, the MG4 is a smart, fun drive that has yet to be matched by newer Chinese alternatives. Great value from about $22,000. Sadly not the ground-breaking Ioniq 5, but the earlier, five-door hatchback series that looked like a 2010s Toyota Prius. Available in a hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and Electric guises, the original Ioniq was a taster of the formidable global presence that the Hyundai Motor Group would become heading into this decade. Though the Series 1 Electric was only launched in Australia in late 2018 (two years after the rest of the world), we’re only interested in the Series II facelift from late 2019, since it gained substantial improvements, including a water-cooled battery pack than the earlier air-cooled item, promising dramatically better longevity. Range from a larger battery (up from 28kWh to 38.3kWh) jumped up from 204km to 311km WLTP, aided by single-pedal regenerative braking driving, whilst performance aspects were also updated, along with a now far-more modern interior. Unexciting to look at and smooth but dull to drive, the AE2 Ioniq Electric nonetheless makes for an accessible, versatile, dependable and low-cost EV runabout. Prices start from about $20,000. Much the same applies to the related first-gen Kona Electric small SUV of the same era. However, the small SUV brought a larger, 64kWh extended range battery option, which pushed the WLTP figure out to a 449km in the first versions and a handy 484km in the facelifted Series II models from mid-2021. That typically adds about 20 per cent to the price, just making our budget cap. Cheaper as a used car nowadays than the older BMW i3 that donated some of its progressive EV technology, the Cooper SE is a cracker of a runabout. A gutsy (135kW) electric motor delivers plenty of power to the front wheels, while the terrific little chassis (derived from the petrol previous-gen Mini) is tuned for zippy agility and fun. Underneath is a compact 32.6kWh battery, providing a sufficient 233km of WLTP range. As with all BMW-era Mini three-door hatchbacks, the Cooper SE’s snug four-person interior is a mish-mash of ‘60s-era retro pastiche and high-tech luxury, with bucket seats up front, a tight second row and tiny boot area. This is about as enjoyable as EVs get at our price point, starting from about $23,000 nowadays. Building on from the historic ZE0 original that became history’s first modern production EV (as well as its best-ever seller until the Tesla Model 3 usurped it by the end of last decade), the second-gen Leaf drives better than its homely styling suggests. Nissan’s experience and smarts translates to an easy, friendly and likeable EV. WLTP range is reasonable at 270km, but the sportier and better equipped Leaf e+ ratchets that up to 385km. It’s a shame that the battery remained air-cooled, meaning it may suffer from premature degradation in hot climates. Yet, from comfortably under $20,000 for a low-kilometre example, the Japanese EV deserves a look-in if it’s a cheap EV you seek.

A new family SUV from Honda could be headed to Aussie shores. Honda Australia has just teased the Avancier, which is a hybrid large three-row SUV.  While the local branch has not officially confirmed its arrival in showrooms, the announcement is a strong indication that it will.  The Avancier would provide competition for other hybrid three-row SUVs the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Toyota Kluger. It’s expected to be revealed globally in the coming days, but CarsGuide has contacted Honda Australia to find out about the car’s local future.  Honda has revealed limited details on the Avancier, with more information likely to be forthcoming at its official announcement.  The Avancier is a globally targeted model that will feature the brand’s next-generation hybrid technology.  Production on the car is rumoured to begin in early 2027 in Thailand and China, with sales to begin soon after.  Honda will fit the Avancier with three rows of seats, as it targets family buyers. Honda Australia said the Avancier will feature the brand’s new design direction, emphasising "elegant and progressive styling with innovative technology."  It said the car has a bold silhouette, distinctive lighting signature and a confident presence.  Honda Australia has not officially confirmed the Avancier for local launch just yet, but there are strong signs it will arrive. The car will be built in Thailand, which is another right-hand drive market, while importing the Avancier is also more viable because Thailand is relatively close to Australia. The brand will reveal more details in due course.  The Avancier would provide Honda with a dedicated large seven-seater SUV choice in Australia - a segment it currently doesn’t compete in.  Its hybrid status could also provide relief from potential fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).  Pricing remains a while away for the Avancier, but buyers can expect it to be more expensive than the seven-seater CR-V ($54,900, drive-away).  It would also need to be competitive with the Kia Sorento ($51,630) and Toyota Kluger ($62,410), both before on-road costs. 

Kia’s big plans have just been exposed.  Korean Car Blog has just revealed key details about Kia’s upcoming product line-up, with some of these models expected to land Down Under before 2030.  The leaked roadmap shows an all-new Kia EV7 electric mid-size SUV as well as a next-generation Sorento large SUV and Carnival people mover, among other models.  These models are all anticipated to hit showrooms globally from 2028 to 2029.  The document is from the Kia Employment Stability Committee, which is a body that negotiates and approves production investments and factory volumes.  The document shows Kia will begin production of an electric mid-size SUV called the EV7.  Details are scarce, but logically, it would sit between the EV6 and EV9 SUVs.  This could put it into competition with the very popular BYD Sealion 7 ($54,990) and the luxury-pitched BMW iX3 ($89,900), both before on-road costs.  The EV7 is likely to have a similar footprint to the Kia Sorento, meaning it could even be a three-row SUV.  We don't know whether the EV7 is related to the Hyundai Ioniq 7 that is rumoured to arrive in the United Kingdom in 2027. Production on the EV7 could begin as early as 2028.  Kia is also planning to overhaul its Carnival people mover. Leaked documents confirmed a “completely redesigned” Carnival hybrid is on the way and will launch in 2028.  The Carnival is the runaway sales leader of the people mover segment in Australia, available in diesel- and conventional-hybrid-powered set-ups.  It comfortably outsells the Hyundai Staria as well as the BYD M9 and Denza D9.  The first hybrid Carnival launched in mid-2024 as an electrified alternative to the diesel-powered variant.  Kia isn’t just stopping at a new-generation Carnival, with the Korean brand also rumoured to be pursuing a hydrogen fuel cell variant by 2029.  This would be Kia’s first hydrogen-powered production model, and it’s likely to lean on fuel cell technology from sister brand Hyundai.  It’s unclear whether the local branch would consider bringing a hydrogen Carnival to Australia, given the lack of usable infrastructure.  Plans show Kia is working on a new hybrid Sorento that will begin production in 2028.  The Sorento remains an important model for Kia in Australia, sitting below the brand’s best seller the Sportage.  It currently has a very broad set of variants in Australia, featuring petrol, diesel, conventional hybrid and plug-in hybrid choices.  It’s possible Kia will go hybrid-only Down Under as it has done with the Seltos, and is expected to do with the larger Sportage when it arrives in 2027.  Kia is preparing to give the Tasman ute a major makeover. Production will begin in 2028 and will spawn derivatives, including a ladder-frame SUV to compete with the Toyota LandCruiser Prado.  There’s also potential for a plug-in hybrid or even fully electric variants of the Tasman to launch in the coming years. 

Is Range Rover planning to go even more upmarket and price out a big chunk of its current buyers? It sure seems that way, with Range Rover’s global boss announcing the removal of the brand’s most affordable models - the Evoque and Velar - from its line-up. Welcome to a new era where high end vehicles could become even more out of reach for most. The news of the Range Rover Evoque and Velar’s end came during an interview Range Rover boss Martin Limpert was giving to British motoring publication Autocar. “The Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Velar will not be replaced when production of the pair ends later this decade,” Limpert confirmed to Autocar. Not replacing them is a seriously strong clue as to Range Rover’s business model for the coming decade. The 2010s and 2020s saw luxury brands such Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and even Range Rover offer affordable entry models into their ranges. For Mercedes-Benz it was models like the CLA small sedan and GLA small SUV for about $60K - expensive for a small car, cheap for a Benz. It was a great way to top up the brand’s annual takings, with the larger more expensive models bringing home the big bucks. Range Rover did the same with the Evoque and Velar. It was a prestige badge on a budget - in this case less than $100K, which is lots, but compared to the $300K starting price of a full-fat Range Rover, it’s nothing. Sales of the Evoque and Velar, which launched in 2014 and 2017 respectively, have tanked in recent years.   The Evoque’s sales fell 78 per cent from a peak of 2732 in 2016 to 614 in 2025. Why did this happen? I think you know why. Well, I think I know why, and it starts with BYD and ends in Zeekr. Yep, one of the common bits of the feedback we’re getting from our readers is that the most desirable cars now for those looking to spend $50-60K are models such as the BYD Sealion 7 and Zeekr 7X.  Chinese cars are not only fitted with the best electric vehicle tech but they’re now among the most beautifully styled high ending things on the road. The upcoming Range Rover GT is a low-slung-wagon-styled SUV and it will be fully electric, but at an expected $175,000 and an arrival date of 2028, it’s probably too much and too late for previous Evoque buyers who are now in a Zeekr. It’s not like Range Rover should care. The strategy of having a car for (almost) everyone is dead - the Chinese have thwarted that plan, so the way forward is to go where those brands can’t - stratospherically high end. Range Rover knows this and will retreat to make big money through the models its core base is buying. Range Rover’s rugged sister brand Land Rover will offer some affordability with models like the Defender Sport. That’s because the off-road niche of Defender is protected by a whole lot of iconic nostalgia that Evoque and Velar don’t have, plus there aren’t any Chinese models that can do what a Defender can with the iconography to go with it. So it’s a strategic retreat by Range Rover out of an area it can’t compete in and doubling down in the places the Chinese brands can’t get them. What will happen to the Land Rover Discovery model? Sales for this once hugely popular model started at a peak of 2470 in 2016 when the new-generation model launched in Australia and fell by 83.3 per cent in a decade with just 413 sales in 2025. The result is worse than Evoque’s numbers for the same period and yet JLR has confirmed work is underway on a new-gen Discovery. Discovery is also a separate sub brand along with Range Rover and Defender. So along with Discovery there’s also the smaller Discovery Sport.  JLR obviously still thinks there’s a place for the Discovery brand, which it presumably sees filling the role of more family focussed suburban duties, while Range Rover fulfils the glamorous high society ones and Land Rover is for the muddy fields. And that leaves no place for an Evoque or Velar, and not really any budget focussed entry point into what will become a more exclusive group. But that’s probably exactly what JLR wants - exclusivity. For now other prestige brands are still selling more affordable models but as consumers migrate to new brands from China they may follow JLR’s move to higher priced ground to save themselves.

A very busy 12 months approaches for GWM, with 14 new car launches planned for 2027. One of those launches will see the company’s Wey brand launch, a premium offering to rival BYD’s Denza or Geely’s Zeekr. The Wey G9, a people mover positioned against the Denza D9 and Xpeng X9, will likely be first with SUVs to follow. With Wey joining Haval, Tank, Ora and Cannon in GWM’s line-up, the brand insists it won't follow rival Chery and saturate the market with sub-brands, according to GWM Australia Managing Director Andrew Gao. “We insist on ‘one GWM’,” he CarsGuide. “Our strategy is different… We will not have five or six or seven or 10 networks. No.” Head of Communications and Marketing Steve Maciver added some clarity around branding - everything will still fall under the GWM banner and in the GWM  “We’re trying to base everything around a structure which is GWM.  “We're trying to build an identity and a role to each of those sub brands which makes sense, gives us delineation, but also connects back to GWM. And there's still some work to be done on that.” After the Wey G9, it’s likely we’ll see the Wey V9X SUV land, though timing on that is unclear.  At 5.3m long and with a six-seat configuration, the V9X is focused on moving passengers in top-level comfort. In other large model news, GWM is also set to bolster its line-up with a new large, seven-seat SUV, likely the Haval H10 that was described as “very appealing” as a prospect for Australia by Maciver. The new Haval H7 is also available as a seven-seater, though its mid-size categorisation would limit GWM’s extra market share. The Ora brand is also set to expand with new models based on the Ora 5’s platform - a larger SUV (confirmed as the Ora 5 Plus) and likely a smaller hatch will join the small SUV. GWM has also confirmed a new mid-size SUV in the form of the Jolion Max, which is on the smaller end of the category and will be available in EV or PHEV guise. That will arrive in Q1 along with the Ora 5 Plus. GWM’s aims to become a top-five brand in terms of sales volume in Australia, and eventually top-three, aren’t based in dominating any single segment - despite GWM’s five mid-size SUVs in the line-up from 2027. “Regardless of who we're taking share from, if we want to become the top-five and then the top-three brand that we aspire to be, we're going to have to take share from those above us,” said Maciver. “We're not targeting domination in any one segment. We think we've got a chance to take much more share in many segments.  “If you think about medium SUV and you think about dual-cab ute, if we want to be, ultimately, a top-three brand… driving share in those two segments is absolutely crucial. “We think we've got the right weapons, the right value, and the right tech to deliver volume there. But that's on us.  “We haven't delivered and realised that volume yet, and that's one of the big tasks for us for next year.”