SUV News

Cupra has officially unveiled the updated range for its sweet-steering Formentor small SUV in Australia, ahead of the start of deliveries late next month. The range has been consolidated for 2026, with a new mild hybrid variant starting the range off from $53,990 (drive-away). This means it is $7000 cheaper to buy into the Formentor range (before on-road costs), but elsewhere there have been some substantial price increases, particularly for internal combustion examples.The cheapest petrol-powered Formentor now retails from $57,490 (before on-road costs), which is up from $51,990, but it will be available with a drive-away offer of $61,990. The Formentor takes on other small SUV rivals across different powertrain choices, such as the petrol powered BMW X2 and up-spec versions of the Mazda CX-30. Plug-in hybrid variants of the Formentor have also experienced a decent price jump, starting from $68,990 (before on-road costs), up from $64,990, although it also has a drive-away offer of $74,490. The updated petrol version of the Formentor still features a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, which produces 150kW, up from 140kW.The juiced up petrol version has seen a slight power increase of 17kW and now produced 245kW, while getting other performance upgrades like a torque vectoring rear differential for added handling boosts.To compensate for the extra cost, the PHEV set-up has seen a more substantial increase in power, now producing 200kW - an increase of 90kW. It has also been given DC fast charging capabilities, as well as a boosted electric-only range up to more than 100km, according to Cupra.On the inside, there is a 12.9-inch central touchscreen, along with synthetic suede upholstery and a power operated and massaging driver seat. Cupra has introduced an optional ‘Extreme’ package which costs $6500 on the plug-in hybrid and $7000 on the more powerful ICE variant. This unlocks features such as carbon fibre-backed bucket seats in a grey upholstery as well as performance Akebono brakes on the ICE and Brembo ones on the PHEV.These variants complete the Formentor range for 2026, following the announcement of the high-performance variant of the car, which was announced last month. 2026 Cupra Formentor pricing Australia  

Toyota has priced its upcoming upsized electric SUV, the bZ4X Touring.A sister car to the Subaru Trailseeker, and one of a handful of larger mainstream electric SUVs, the bZ4X Touring starts at $69,990 before on-road costs, topping out a restructured bZ4X range.It's only available with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup with 167kW at each axle, outputting a combined 280kW, making it Toyota's most powerful SUV. The brand says it can sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds.It has a 74.7kWh battery pack which grants it a 488km driving range according to the WLTP cycle. It can charge at up to 150kW on a fast DC charger or an impressive 22kW on AC for comparatively fast slow-charging rates.While the Touring shares its underpinnings with the regular bZ4X, it is 140mm longer, increasing boot space by nearly 100 litres, from 452L to 550L.Standard features are set to include dual-zone climate control, eight-way powered front seats with both heating and ventilation, a digital rear-vision mirror, fixed panoramic sunroof, dual wireless phone chargers, a 1500W inverter for vehicle-to-load charging and a 14-inch touchscreen with a nine-speaker premium audio system. It maintains the same 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster as before.The Touring scores unique 20-inch alloys compared to the rest of the bZ4X range, with front and rear skid plates, roof rails, matt finished wheel arches, a contrasting bonnet insert and a rear window wiper.Meanwhile, the recently-updated mainline bZ4X range continues in two variants, either the front-wheel-drive version, priced at $55,990, or the all-wheel drive, priced at $67,990.Interestingly the Touring forms part of the regular bZ4X range, while Subaru’s equivalent Trailseeker is sold as a separate model in two grades, distinct from its bZ4X-equivalent Solterra range.Stylistically, the two Subaru models are more distinct than the bZ4X and its Touring variant, which share the same face.The pair share an even larger three-row fully electric model each, the Toyota Highlander EV and Subaru Getaway, however they have been announced in left-hand drive for the North American market only for now.2026 Toyota bZ4X pricing 

A new more affordable variant of the Chery Tiggo 9 plug-in hybrid family seven-seater SUV has just been unveiled.It will start from $52,990 (before on-road costs), which is $7000 cheaper than the only other Tiggo 9 variant on the market and will be available in showrooms from the start of next month. This price drop makes it cheaper than a comparative BYD Sealion 8, which has a starting price of $56,990 (before on-road costs).It also cements the Tiggo 9's comparative cheapness to a seven-seater example of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which recently increased in price, now starting from $66,790 (before on-road costs). Although the Outlander PHEV comes as standard with AWD.The main difference on this cheaper Tiggo 9 is it is front-wheel drive as opposed to the all-wheel drive system on the up-spec model.There are some other compromises buyers will have to make, including only two electric motors instead of three, producing a combined 225kW and 450Nm, as opposed to 315kW and 580Nm. There is a 19kWh battery, down from 34kWh, which nearly halves the electric-only driving range to 90km, according to more generous NEDC testing.On the inside, the FWD version gets much of the gear found on the AWD, such as heated front seats as well as a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital driver display. The FWD swaps leather seats for a synthetic-based material, with massage function only available on the driver’s seats, and neither front seat is ventilated.Other omissions include a heated steering wheel as well as heating and ventilation for the rear outward seats.From the outside, the Tiggo 9 FWD looks much the same, keeping the panoramic sunroof, but it does ride on smaller 19-inch wheels, down from the 20-inch ones on the AWD. The Tiggo 9 launched in Australia late last year and has managed 420 sales so far in 2026, trailing the likes of the BYD Sealion 8. 2026 Chery Tiggo 9 pricing  

Toyota’s new-gen Corolla Cross will be here in less than two years and it’ll look exactly like a baby RAV4, according to the almost-always-right Japanese motoring publication Best Car.Sure, Toyota has only just given the current Corolla Cross an update with a redesigned grille and upgraded cabin features, but Japan’s Best Car magazines’s latest issue reveals the totally new next-gen will arrive in 2028 and look just like it’s big sister - the RAV4.Dubbed "Baby RAV4" by Best Car, it adopts the new RAV4’s C-shaped LED headlight and daytime running light styling and grille treatment along with other exterior design elements.The magazine’s front page shows an artist's impression of the Corolla Cross looking a bit sleeker than the taller and larger RAV4 but the resemblance is striking — from the grille, which varies depending on the grade, to the tough looking black moulded wheel guards and sloping rear pillar.Best Car got word from those in the know that the new Corolla Cross will be slightly longer and wider. Currently the little SUV is just 4460mm long, 1825mm wide and 1620mm tall, or about the same size as rivals like the GWM Haval Jolion or Kia Seltos. Best Car says the next-gen Corolla Cross will be 4650mm long and 1850mm wide tall, but a smidge shorter in height at 1600mm. These new dimensions will give the Corolla Cross a sleeker, beefier, more planted look, and apart from having more visual appeal could help handling and dynamics, but what would it do to headroom inside?Best Car also hears the next-gen Corolla Cross GR Sport will have a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a plug-in hybrid system and share the same suspension as the new Corolla GR Sport with front struts and rear double wishbones.All new-gen variants of the new Corolla Cross will also use an upgraded version of the TNGA-C platform, with a sixth-generation hybrid system.The Corolla Cross is one of Toyota's best-selling models with 1687 sold in march this year, but that’s not enough to put it ahead of cheaper rivals such as the GWM Haval Jolion, Chery Tiggo 4 or Hyundai Kona. A new sportier look for the Corolla Cross and more fuel efficient powertrains would possibly go a long way to closing the sales gap.So when can we expect to see the new gen Corolla Cross in real life? Well Best Car reckons it will come not long after the arrival of the next-gen Corolla which we might see in late 2027. Best bet is 2028 and of course, we’ll only truly start to know what it looks like when Toyota starts testing it out in the wild.

Nissan has revealed a re-booted version of its Juke small SUV, as a purely electric vehicle.The next-generation Juke is described by Nissan as a core model for the European market and was revealed as part of Nissan’s new long-term direction strategy announcement.This announcement also saw the introduction of the next-generation X-Trail mid-size and Rogue small SUVs, both primarily as e-Power hybrid models.Aside from its size-category, the new Juke is a total departure from the previous model, debuting a new distinct design direction which separates it from the rest of the mainline Nissan range.Up front, this includes blocky light fittings and an LED light bar with an illuminated Nissan logo, as well as chunky rhomboid design motifs. Powertrain details are yet to be announced and the interior is yet to be shown.The Juke will live alongside the next-generation Leaf in Nissan’s fully electric line-up, although as they overlap significantly with the Leaf morphing into a crossover, both cars won’t be offered in every market.To that end, Nissan confirmed the new-generation Juke would not be offered in Australia, following its earlier announcement that the existing combustion car will be culled from the line-up.The outgoing Renault Captur-based Juke was one of the least popular options in the small SUV segment, moving just 90 units year-to-date, outselling only the Alfa Romeo Junior and Jeep Avenger in its category.It seems Australia may not even receive the next-generation Leaf for the time being either, with the brand also confirming it has put its plans to introduce the next-gen crossover to our market on hold as Nissan struggles for competitiveness of its electric models in the face of cut-price Chinese rivals.The new Leaf wasn’t all-out cancelled, with the car being described to CarsGuide previously as “indefinitely delayed.”According to the brand the scaling-back of its EV ambitions in Australia is to focus on hybridising its passenger car line-up, where it says 75 per cent of all registrations are, in order to “future-proof” its local line-up.However, with the nameplates being cancelled, this sees Nissan’s line-up reduced to six models for the time being, including the Qashqai small SUV, X-Trail mid-sizer, Patrol off-roader, Navara ute, Ariya mid-size electric SUV and the Z sports car.The future may have more in store for Nissan as it globally re-focuses, and brings more of a spotlight on its thriving range of Chinese joint-venture models, which are imminently earmarked for export across the world.This includes the N7 sedan, but more interestingly for Australia - the Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute as an electrified alternative to the Navara and NX8 large SUV, which could serve as an electric and hybrid replacement for the outgoing Pathfinder.Nissan is embattled on two fronts in Australia - facing hefty fines under the recently-introduced new vehicle efficiency standard (NVES) which burdens it with up to $10.76 million in potential fines if it doesn’t buy emissions credits or sell less polluting vehicles before the end of this year.The brand is also facing a sales down-turn as it struggles to find footing with its increasingly expensive range in a more-competitive-than-ever Australian market.Nissan is down 31 per cent year-on-year to the end of March while more value-focused rivals like GWM (up 28.5 per cent), Chery (up 93.8 per cent), and BYD (up 100.1 per cent) and other newcomers like Geely and its Zeekr premium arm, as well as Omoda Jaecoo eat into its market share.Stay tuned for more on Nissan’s plans for the remainder of 2026.

A new hybrid family SUV war is heating up.Nissan has revealed its new X-Trail e-Power hybrid mid-size SUV to challenge the existing Honda CR-V and new Toyota RAV4 which is due to land in showrooms imminently.The Japanese brand lifted the lid on the new family-hauler during the company’s announcement of its global strategy today.Nissan has flagged the X-Trail as a core product for the brand and will heavily promote its 'e-Power' hybrid tech.The e-Power system works more like an extended range hybrid, where the engine is used purely as a generator for the battery and electric motors drive the wheels only.This means it drives in similar fashion to an electric car, but without the range anxiety and mimics the fuel use of conventional hybrids such as the Toyota RAV4.Nissan revealed images of the updated X-Trail, which brings it inline with newer vehicles such as the updated Qashqai small SUV.It features a large lattice work grille with dynamic headlights and lots of label creases down the side.The makeover gives the X-Trail a more modern look compared to the ageing design of the current version.Nissan hasn’t provided any mechanical details of the next-gen X-Trail yet.The current X-Trail e-Power has been on sale in Australia for several years and has found success, but a new design and increased tech could catapult it up the sales charts.It is also likely the next-generation X-Trail will be hybrid only, with purely petrol-powered versions deleted.Carmakers will soon face fines for selling purely petrol powered cars in Australia due to the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Scheme (NVES), which requires cars to emit CO2 below a certain threshold. This threshold gets lower every year until 2030.

Hyundai has established Ioniq as a sub-brand in China, elevating the South Korean maker’s EV line-up to stand-alone status in a bid to outflank the increasing number of pure-electric competitors it faces in the critical Chinese market.In announcing the move, Hyundai said, “In China, Ioniq will evolve beyond a product line-up into a broader mobility ecosystem tailored to local customers. “While maintaining Hyundai Motor’s globally proven standards in safety and quality, Ioniq is being redefined through localised technologies, services and user experiences for China’s fast-evolving NEV market,” it said.Ioniq’s initial China market-specific initiatives include introduction of autonomous driving systems developed with local partners, and for the first time, an Ioniq incorporating an internal-combustion engine in upcoming Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs). Hyundai is also introducing a unique naming convention for Ioniq in China with future models named after planets, “symbolizing how each vehicle orbits around the customer, the central focus of this new Ioniq universe.”To that end, Ioniq has revealed a pair of pure-electric concept cars to “highlight Hyundai Motor’s readiness for China’s new energy vehicle market.”Previewed before their first public appearance at this month’s Beijing Auto Show (April 24 to May 3), the Venus Concept sedan and Earth Concept family SUV are positioned as “two ‘planets’ in a new ‘universe’ of models.”Finished in ‘Radiant Gold’, the Venus sedan features a ‘one-curve silhouette’, lightweight, frame-structured roof and a transparent spoiler, while the wrap-around cockpit is designed to “evoke Venus’s glowing atmosphere with layered mood lighting.”The Earth SUV has been conceived to “embody the vitality and biological balance of our home planet” blending “sharp edges and sculpted volumes” with details including skid plates and exposed bolt accents. ‘Air-hug’ seats are made of soft air modules and mood lighting is structured to mimic tree shadows.Speaking at the Ioniq brand announcement, Beijing Hyundai Motor Company President Li Fenggang said, “Starting with the two concept cars unveiled today, we will continue to present products that reflect deep insight into Chinese customers and our genuine commitment to this market. “Built on Ioniq’s uncompromising principles of world-class safety and quality, we will soon introduce production models that seamlessly combine the smart driving and smart cabin experiences that Chinese consumers demand,” he said.

Recent reports out of the US are pointing to an all-new, more affordable Tesla compact SUV entering the early stages of formal pre-production.According to Reuters, “four people familiar with the matter” have confirmed the company “has contacted suppliers in recent weeks to discuss details of the plan for the compact SUV – which would be a new vehicle and not a variant of Tesla’s current Model 3 or ​Y.”Members of the insider group said the new model would be produced in Tesla’s Shanghai factory in China while noting the brand is also aiming to later expand ‌production to the United States and Europe.Details including overall length were also shared, the new car said to measure 4280mm end-to-end; appreciably shorter than the Model Y at 4794mm. It is a similar size to new Chinese small SUVs such as the BYD Atto 2, GWM Ora 5 and MG4 Urban.The report questioned whether this decision effectively reanimates Tesla’s low-cost EV program, famously vetoed by CEO Elon Musk in 2024 in favour of a focus on the Cybercab robotaxi and robot technology.In 2020, Elon Musk publicly stated Tesla’s aim of selling 20 million vehicles annually by the end of the decade, close to double current global sales leader Toyota’s world-wide output. And a US$25,000 EV widely referred to as the ‘Model 2’ was expected to drive massive sales growth.So, would the new, cheaper EV represent a “strategy shift back to mass-market human-driven EVs or would it align more with Tesla’s vision for fully autonomous vehicles”.It’s worth noting that in 2024 Musk said it would be “pointless” and “completely at odds with ​what we believe” for Tesla to produce a $25,000 EV for human drivers because the company would “soon offer driverless vehicles”.According to one of the report’s sources and a current Tesla employee “with knowledge of its current product philosophy” in general, the automaker now aims to build models that would be driverless but offer a human-driven option.That appears to be because the company has acknowledged many global markets won’t see “meaningful adoption or regulatory acceptance” of driverless vehicles for some time to come. Interestingly, the report also quoted market analysts predicting a third-straight year of declining sales for the traditional EVs that provide the vast majority of Tesla’s revenue.And so far, Tesla only operates a small number of robotaxis in Austin, Texas, many with human ‘safety monitors’ in the passenger seat.The main group referenced in the report claimed Tesla is aiming to offer the new SUV at a “substantially lower price” than its entry-level Model 3 sedan, a move driven by intensifying global competition from Chinese EV makers.Cost-saving measures allegedly include a smaller battery and RWD-only configuration, which would presumably mean a lesser driving range than the 520km offered by the Model 3 RWD and the Model Y RWD’s 466km (both WLTP).That said, the new car is set to weigh in at around 1.5 tonnes compared to the Model Y’s roughly 2.0-tonne kerb weight.Timing for the new EV’s ramp up is unclear, although Reuters sources said “production is unlikely to begin this year”.

Lexus has released the pricing and specifications for its RZ electric SUV in Australia, ahead of its official launch next month.The lineup starts from $84,500 (before on-road costs) for the 500e, which is substantially cheaper than the outgoing 450e variant that had a retail price of more than $120,000 before on-roads.This is a serious price drop that brings it closer to the price of many of its key rivals in the electric SUV segment.It is now cheaper than the Genesis GV60, which starts from more than $100,000 in Australia, while remaining a little more expensive than the Polestar 4.This updated RZ will also take on the incoming Volvo EX60, scheduled to launch in late 2026.The RZ has been given a boost in power of 50kW up to 280kW as standard from its dual motor set-up, with the higher spec model offering 300kW.The RZ lineup gets an upgraded 75kWh and 77kWh battery depending on the variant, which Lexus has said boosts charging times.DC charging on the RZ from 10-80 per cent takes around 28 minutes at 150kW, while AC charging from 0-100 per cent takes 3.5 hours at 22kW.Lexus also revealed more details about its incoming performance variant of the RZ called the 600e F Sport Performance. Pricing will be revealed closer to its launch in late 2026, but expect it to sit some way above the $100K price point.We know it has dual electric motors, with the front motor offering 167kW and the rear motor adding 268kW to provide a total system output of 313kW.Adding to the performance feel is the car sitting 20mm lower to give it a more poised centre of gravity.On the exterior there are 21-inch matte black alloy wheels along with enhancements such as a vented hood and a two-tiered rear wing spoiler.Other changes include a sharper front lip spoiler, rear lower bumper and lower rocker panels.It has also been given beefed up ventilated brake disks at 400mm x 28mm, which have larger six-piston blue calipers.2026 Lexus RZ pricing Australia 2026 Lexus RZ engine and efficiency  2026 Lexus RZ standard features Other standard features include: Heated front seatsElectrically adjustable steering wheelDual-zone climate controlPowered tailgate Sports Luxury grade adds20-inch two-tone machined alloy wheelsPremium fabric seatsWoodgrain interior elementsHeated and ventilated front seatsMemory drivers seatHeated rear outward seatsHeated steering wheelPanoramic roof13 speaker audio systemDigital rearview mirrorHead-up displayPremium digital driver displayAuto-levelling headlights F Sport grade addsYoke-style steering wheelGloss black alloy wheelsSimulated gear changesFront lip spoilerRear spoilerRear diffuserPainted brake callipersSuede sport-style front seatsAluminium pedals 2026 Lexus RZ safetyThe Lexus RZ received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2023.  Lexus said the RZ has a full suite of its ‘Safety Sense+’ features as standard. Standard safety features: Blind spot monitorRoad sign assistAuto emergency brakingAuto emergency steer assistRear cross traffic alertLane keep assistAdaptive cruise control 

GWM will axe its Ora electric hatchback from sale in Australia - at least for now.The Ora is GWM’s only EV currently on sale in Australia, with a starting price of $35,990 (drive-away). Up-spec models of the Ora start from $37,990 and $38,990, drive-away.The Ora has been subject to several price drops since its introduction to the Australia market in the middle of 2023 as it battled increasingly diverse budget rivals.There remains limited stock available on the outgoing Ora.It has tried to keep price parity with other cheap EVs, including the BYD Dolphin, but more competition in the form of the GAC Aion UT and MG4 Urban will arrive soon.The Ora comes with a single electric motor producing 125kW and 250Nm, with its 57.7kWh battery providing up to 400km of driving range.  It now appears GWM has decided to shift focus to its new EV.The Ora’s departure coincides with the arrival of the larger Ora 5 electric SUV, which will come in $2000 cheaper than the Ora, starting from $33,990 (drive-away). This might not be the last the we here of the Ora in Australia, with potential for the car to make a return in the near future.GWM currently sells plug-less and plug-in hybrid versions of the Ora overseas and it could line up with plans to diversify the range."In terms of the levels of adoption that we expect to see within this market, within the coming years, we expect (hybrids) to accelerate more quickly," GWM Australia Head of Marketing and Communications Steve Maciver told CarsGuide late last year."We think we can do a lot more with Ora… with plug in hybrid, but EV will certainly come behind that as well, for sure."It can be speculated the revamped Ora lineup in Australia could launch before the end of the year, and it would likely have fit under the $33,990 price tag of the Ora 5 SUV.While the Ora 5 is the GWM’s only confirmed future EV, the brand will continue to bring across new plug-in hybrid models, such as on the rugged Tank 300 and Tank 500 off-roaders.GWM is experiencing serious growth Down Under currently, with a near-enough 30 per cent month-on-month increase as per the latest numbers.