SUV News

A best-selling SUV and van have retained their five-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety rating.

A new hybrid competitor could crack the 4WD market.

According to a new report from Autocar, which quotes industry insiders, Mercedes won’t be discontinuing its affordable range of A-Class hatchbacks when the current model ends production.As part of a wider reversal of electric-only plans by Europe’s automakers, a new A-Class hatch will be built on the same new MMA platform, which underpins the upcoming CLA sedan that was revealed in March of 2025, and is due in Australia in 2026.It was previously thought the A-Class hatch would be discontinued purely in favour of a GLA replacement based on the CLA, as the brand had aspirations to head more upmarket, chasing profitability over its more mainstream range of cars.However, these plans appear to have been reversed as Mercedes (among other European automakers) face multiple challenges both when it comes to electrification, and the threat of new China-based manufacturers challenging them on their own home turf and abroad.The MMA platform, which is said to be electric-first, will also be key to the model, as it offers both electric and hybrid drivetrain options (as opposed to a dedicated EV platform), which will broaden the model’s appeal.Locally, the A-Class is Mercedes’ most attainable model starting at $57,500 (A200) and remains a reasonable seller for the brand, moving 1329 units so far and only outranked by its GLA small, GLC mid-size and GLE large SUVs.The hatchback is down 12 per cent in an environment where Mercedes is up 14 per cent year-on-year.The brand’s expansive range of electric offerings in Australia only count for a few hundred units each, which may be of concern for the brand which is facing stiff competition not just from BMW and its well executed EV strategy and an almost entirely new line-up from Audi, but also new challengers in the form of Zeekr and Denza, the latter from BYD is due before the end of the year.While nothing is known about the A-Class replacement so far, don’t expect it to stray too far from the comparatively conservative design of the recently-revealed CLA sedan, as Mercedes seemingly doubles down on its current design direction. The CLA is slightly larger in every dimension than its predecessor, so expect that to continue, while larger screens adorn the interior.The fully electric CLA features an 800-volt architecture with a long driving range (up to 792km) from an 85kWh battery, with a 200kW/335Nm rear-mounted motor in the RWD version, with an additional 80kW on the front axle for total outputs of 260kW/515Nm in the all-wheel drive version.Meanwhile the hybrid version features a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, driving either the front or all four wheels.Stay tuned for more on Mercedes MMA-based roll-out plans in the near future.

If you’re in a market for a new Hyundai Ioniq 5, then act quickly, because the highly-acclaimed and ground-breaking electric vehicle (EV) is about to become $6400 more expensive to access, thanks to the deletion of the base Standard Range battery grade.Why? It is understood that Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) is making room for the coming Elexio/EO expected here sometime next year.This is the fresh mid-sized SUV EV fraternal twin to the popular Kia EV5, co-developed and built in China through the brand’s Beijing Hyundai joint-venture program with BAIC Motor.The number of Ioniq 5 grades for 2026 has been slashed, from 11 to just four, including the N flagship that now costs around $4600 more than before. The Dynamiq and Epiq variant names are also disappearing – perhaps due the Volkswagen Group’s coming Skoda Epiq EV SUV.“We have nothing to say about future product and nothing has been confirmed at this stage,” HMCA General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Bill Thomas, told CarsGuide.According to a dealer source, the slow-selling, entry-level 125kW single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) 63kWh Standard Range (SR) battery grade, starting from $69,800 (all prices are before on-road costs) is about to be dropped for the 2026 model year.This comes barely 15 months after the Ioniq 5 RWD 63kWh SR was announced, as part of a wholesale mid-cycle facelift in July, 2024.Stepping in its place will be the continuing, more-powerful 168kW RWD 84kWh Extended Range (ER) version, that is now $400 more expensive than before from $76,200, followed by the fresh Elite 168kW RWD 84kWh ER from $81,200, which usurps the previous Dynamiq 168kWh RWD 84kWh ER from $80,800.The upside of the ER is usefully more WLTP range compared to the SR (up from 440km to 570km in its most efficient specification wearing 19-inch wheels), as well as stronger performance, though – as before – torque remains the same in both motors, at 350Nm.Buyers will need to fork out an additional $6400 for a 2026 Ioniq 5 with the rousing 239kW/605Nm twin-motor and all-wheel drive (AWD) ER powertrain.This is because the current mid-spec Dynamiq 84kWh ER AWD from $85,300, its sportier Dynamiq N-Line 84kWh ER AWD from $87,800, up-spec Epiq 84kWh ER AWD from $88,800 and sport/luxury Epic N-Line 84kWh ER AWD from $91,300 will also soon be gone for 2026.All but the latter will be wiped out, to simplify a complex model-walk structure, and replaced by the newly-minted N-Line Premium 84kWh ER AWD grade from $91,700.While all the AWD versions also use the 84kWh ER battery, the added weight of the second motor plus other items means that its WLTP range drops compared to the RWD equivalents, from 570km to about 500km.Additionally, for 2026, all versions adopt the so-called Digital Key 2.0, enabling owners and users to operate their vehicle with a compatible smartphone, rather than having the experience the inconvenience of carrying a regular key fob.Meanwhile, the previously-optional Vision Roof – a fixed panoramic glass roof with an electric sunshade – is now standard equipment in the Ioniq 5 N, accounting for its circa-$4600 price hike. Whether that affects its 3.4-second (on boost) sprint-time to 100km/h from standstill is not yet known.Finally, the highly-controversial digital side mirror that forced drivers to rely on even more screens instead of an intuitive exterior-mirror glance has been discontinued.We understand that Australian production for the 2026 Ioniq 5 range kicks off next month, with cars reaching dealers possibly before Christmas.Stay tuned to find out more.

Cupra is adding plug-in hybrid power to its family SUV.The Terramar VZe is due to arrive in November with a starting price of $77,990 before on-road costs.This puts it at about a $10,000 premium over the purely petrol-powered Terramar VZ, snd slighly more expensive than the fully electric mid-size Tavascan SUV-Coupe.The Terramar VZe brings potent performance with the combo of a feisty turbo-petrol engine and electric motor, but with fuel sipping hybrid credentials and a long electric-only driving range.It is packed full of standard equipment with next to no optional extras.The Terramar VZe is a PHEV that combines a petrol engine combined with an electric motor.20-inch Hadron black and copper alloy wheelsLED headlights10.25-inch driver displayHead-up display12.9-inch media screenSat nav12-speaker Sennheiser stereoThree-zone climate controlHeated front seatsPower front seatsLeather upholstery in Deep BurgundyMultifunction steering wheelProximity unlockingWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoWireless phone chargingDigital radioPower tailgate with kick sensorPanoramic sunroof: $2000Auto emergency brakingBlind spot warningFront cross traffic alertRear cross traffic alertAdaptive cruise controlLane keeping assistanceTraffic sign recognition360 degree cameraFront and rear parking sensorsSeven airbagsGlacier WhiteTimanfaya GreyFiord BlueMidnight blackDark VoidGraphene GreyCupra covers the Terramar VZe with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty

It might still be two years away from a scheduled appearance in Porsche showrooms but the German maker’s upcoming ‘K1’ upper large SUV has taken a late turn away from pure-electric propulsion to include internal-combustion (ICE) in its powertrain portfolio.

Skoda Australia has added the finishing touch to its new, second-generation Kodiaq line-up with confirmed pricing and specification for the RS performance flagship version of the large, seven-seat SUV.

BMW has just revealed one of its most critical models in decades, the all-new iX3.

China’s new car brand onslaught continues.New brand Lepas has been confirmed to arrive in Australia in 2026.Lepas is part of Chery’s sprawling sub-brand portfolio, and promises to be more edgy than Chery’s existing brands, which include Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda.Chery Australia boss Lucas Harris said, “Australian SUV buyers have had practicality covered for years. What they’ve been missing is personality. Lepas delivers both.”Lepas was launched in China at the Shanghai motor show in May this year.Lepas displayed its first vehicle, the L8, which is earmarked for Australia in 2026.It is built on the same platform as several of Chery’s other SUVs, including the Chery Tiggo 8, Jaecoo J7 and Omoda 7.The L8 is a mid-size five-seat SUV, which measures 4688mm long, 1860mm and 1695mm tall with a 2800mm wheelbase.Lepas also has two smaller SUVs, the L4 and L6, which are the twins of the Chery Tiggo 4 and Tiggo 7.The L8 will have the same mechanical set-up as many of the other Chery vehicles, but will feature different styling and interior fit-out to help it stand out from its stablemates.Chery Australia hasn’t confirmed details yet, but it is in line for petrol and plug-in hybrid power. Full electric power is a strong possibility down the line, too.Chery’s plug-in hybrid set-up uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor to make a combined 255kW/525Nm. A circa-18kWh Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP) battery delivers a driving range of up to 93km on the more lenient NEDC test cycle.Chery will reveal full details of Lepas closer to the brand’s official launch in 2026.

Hot off the back of the BMW iX3 reveal, the German carmaker is expected to reveal a new 3 Series sedan and then a new X5 large SUV.