SUV News

Toyota’s new CEO has only just stepped into power but is already looking to streamline the brand’s line-up of vehicles in a bid to reduce costs.As reported by Automotive News, Toyota CEO Kenta Kon officially joined the board on June 17 and has been touring facilities and looking for areas to improve efficiency.“We’ve become increasingly able to identify things that don’t seem quite right, areas where operations have become somewhat inefficient, or where the amount of work that doesn’t directly add value has increased,” said Mr Kon to Automotive News.“We’re now at the stage where we can really start addressing them – making corrections and implementing improvements.“If you go to a development division, you see issues such as an increasing number of different specifications and variants being created, which in turn is driving up costs.“If there are areas within those activities that aren’t truly value-adding work, or where work isn’t being done efficiently, then we need to take a closer look at them.“We need to start addressing those issues now and begin making improvements.“Some changes may be relatively straightforward, but honestly, there aren’t many that will be easy. Many of them may take time.”At this stage Mr Kon hasn’t identified any specific vehicles or variants that the brand is looking to cull to minimise costs and maximise efficiency.However, the Japanese carmaker recently scrapped the production version of the Lexus LF-ZC concept, which was an electric sedan. It reportedly did this due to a global slump of electric vehicle (EV) sales.This all follows Toyota losing the title of Japan’s most valuable company by market capitalisation, marking the end of a 22-year streak.Mr Kon was previously the CFO of Toyota Motor Corporation and has dealt with tariff burdens in the US and the threat of new and emerging Chinese carmakers on a global scale.Toyota is also reportedly expecting a 20 per cent drop in operating profit this fiscal year, which will mark the third year straight of declining earnings.In Australia, Toyota is still on top of the sales charts but experienced supply constraints on some of its top-selling models, including the RAV4 and HiLux.It has since locked in 10,000 more vehicles which will reduce wait times.The Japanese carmaker is now expecting to sell a total of 220,000 vehicles in Australia during 2026.

An affordable 4WD has been given some special edition flair in Australia. Suzuki has confirmed the Jimny Rhino will launch Down Under as a special version of the XL five-door small off-roader.It will start from $44,990 (before on-road costs), which makes it $4000 more than the current range-topping five-door variant. The news comes after the brand opened an expressions of interest portal for the car last month.The Jimny Rhino features “Kinetic Yellow” exterior paint work, which is usually a $1345 option for the three-door variants of the car.The exterior look features painted black and grey stripes along the sides with an image of a rhino on the front doors.The roof is painted in a shiny black colour, giving a two-tone effect. The Jimny Rhino rides on 15-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, with a different design to other Jimny models. Satin silver panels and air vent surrounds continue the new design elements inside the cabin. There are black leather-wrapped door handles with yellow stitching and a ‘Rhino' logo.Customisable interior footwell lighting has eight different colours, including Kinetic Yellow.The Jimny Rhino further receives an upgraded premium Pioneer sound system.The car also comes with a range of accessories, such as a large portable speaker and metal presentation box for the key. It will continue to be powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 75kW and 130Nm. The Jimny Rhino will be available with a manual and automatic transmissions like the rest of the Jimny range. The Jimny is Suzuki’s best-selling model in Australia, offering a cheap and compact off-roading alternative to the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol.It lines up as a rival to the also budget-oriented GWM Tank 300, starting from $47,990 (drive-away). Suzuki’s Aussie special edition Jimny mirrors the brand's other global markets in introducing Rhino versions of its models. Order books for the Jimny Rhino are now open, with deliveries beginning on the 1st of July.  

Mitsubishi has admitted the new-generation ASX is not living up to expectations as the brand loses ground to aggressive Chinese rivals in the small SUV space.“It’s not desirable,” Mitsubishi Australia GM of Product Strategy and PR Bruce Hampel said of current ASX sales.“We never set the target for the new model to be at the same level. It’s positioned to target a different kind of customer compared to the previous one,” he recently told CarsGuide.Before the new ASX launched Mitsubishi said its targets were lower, but the volume has taken more than a significant hit.The new Renault Captur-based version is doing roughly 10 per cent of the volume of the previous model year-on-year. So far in 2026 the nameplate has racked up just 513 registrations, while at this point last year it had managed 4484.So what does the company plan to do about it?“The volume isn’t meeting our expectations. Is it just overpriced? That’s the easy thing to say. With the end of financial year offer we’re dropping the entry price down and hopefully that will get people actually experiencing the car,” Hampel said.But with an entry point of $34,990 even on discount for the current base LS grade, an entry-level version of the top-selling Chery Tiggo 4 is still more than $10,000 cheaper at $23,990 drive-away.Chery has managed to sell nearly 10,000 Tiggo 4s in 2026, while the previous price-leading Chinese challenger, the MG ZS also continues to perform well, racking up 6021 registrations so far this year.Hampel seemed aware of this stark reality facing the brand.“Go back five years and the ASX was the entry point to the Mitsubishi brand but there are customers looking for just cheap vehicles so that’s where that cross shopping happens.“What we’re trying to do with the Mitsubishi brand is offer value, and we’re trying to hold on to those loyal customers with things like the Diamond Advantage [10-year warranty and capped price servicing].”One seemingly obvious answer to Mitsubishi’s price-related woes lies overseas in the shape of the successful XForce. A ‘true Mitsubishi’ which uses an updated version of a dated in-house platform, the small SUV is available in both combustion and plugless hybrid forms.Recently, this model was confirmed to join the line-up in New Zealand, where it will be named the Outlander Sport and sold exclusively as a hybrid.Sadly though, the tough Australian Design Rules (ADR) will rule it out for a local launch, even if the Australian division wanted it.“They’re lucky they can import that vehicle,” Hampel said of Mitsubishi New Zealand. “We’d love to have it, but it was never designed to meet Australian requirements.“But we’re working hard with Mitsubishi to offer a similar product,” he said.“We’re pushing for a full range of electrification and we’re part of the alliance - Renault, Nissan, and now Foxtron . The business case is a big part of the challenge.“There are various options we can source, but it becomes challenging, so we have to be careful with what we select.”Hampel added a mid-term plan will be announced in the coming months, and the company needs to navigate Australia’s tough emissions laws once its full range of new products has arrived.Before the end of the year, Mitsubishi confirmed the fully electric Foxconn-based small SUV will go on sale, as will the next-generation Pajero, which promises to be a volume seller that replaces the Pajero Sport.Still, with that model more likely than not to be a turbo-diesel, at least at launch, it creates a short-term issue for the Japanese giant in terms of racking up fines under the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).“Customers are still preferring diesel in a lot of cases,” Hampel said. “They’re not quite ready to embrace PHEV (plug-in hybrid) in certain vehicle classes. There isn’t really an easy answer for how we’re going to get a lot of credits, but we’re trying to work within what the government wants.“The need for battery electrics is one element, but you need enough volume and to get it, customers have to actually want to buy those products,” he said.

Driving range is the biggest talking point with electric cars. Range anxiety remains a prevalent road block to potential EV buyers, despite ever-increasing claimed figures.Figures are measured using many different testing cycles, which all have varying degrees of perceived accuracy.  The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) is viewed as the most accurate standard available.Its testing figures often come in noticeably lower than the older New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and the even more generous China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC). As much as these systems do their best to mirror real-world driving, they can never be truly accurate because of the different ways people use their cars.The Australian Automobile Association’s Real-World Testing Program has done the ground work to see just how accurate these figures are when they are put to the test on the roads. The testing was completed in Victoria, with each vehicle travelling a route of 93km.We’ve compiled the most- and least-accurate EV driving ranges, according to what is reported and what they actually did on the road.The figures used for this data are the quoted Australian Design Rules figures used for sales approval.Brands base these figures on the various testing standards, and this means the difference in accuracy between reported and actual figures may not be as dramatic as portrayed by the raw numbers. This is particularly apparent for Chinese brands that register a more lenient testing method (NEDC) than other brands, which represents an exaggerated difference compared to real-world figures than what WLTP would show. Topping the list for the most inaccurate figure is the 2023 MG4 all-wheel drive hatchback. The quoted figure for this car is 405km, but it was more than 100km off that calculated in the real world. It only managed 281km, which was a 31 per cent difference. The MG4 has a WLTP range of 350km, making it a less egregious roughly 19 per cent inaccuracy. The theme of Chinese brands continues down the list, with three of the other four cars in the top five all being made by BYD. The BYD Seal sedan has a claimed driving range of 650km, but in the real world it only reached 488km, resulting in a 25 per cent decrease, but that dropped to 14 per cent based on WLTP figures. BYD’s Dolphin hatchback had a 24 per cent drop-off on its ADR figure of 410km, only capable of travelling 313km, but that was only an eight per cent decrease based on WLTP. The Kia EV6 mid-size SUV registered an eight per cent shortfall on its WLTP figure, travelling 484km instead of 528km. Kia's EV5, EV6 and EV9 SUVs also represent 11 per cent shortfalls on their WLTP range figures. The BYD Atto 3 small SUV was also in the top five and had a 20 per cent shortfall on its ADR figure of 410km, only reaching 328km. That was only a 5 per cent decrease based on its WLTP figure. Finally, the Tesla Model 3 had a 14 per cent drop off on what was expected based on WLTP numbers. The Kia EV5 is joined by the Tesla Model Y, with ADR and WLTP figures only representing a three per cent difference at the other end of the scale.The BYD Sealion 7 is one of the more dramatic examples of the inaccuracy of the NEDC system. Its 17 per cent shortfall based on NEDC standards is reduced to just three per cent when based on WLTP. While this data demonstrates how EVs perform in real life, it also provides important insight into how differing testing standards can dramatically alter driving range expectations. WLTP figures remain the most accurate mainstream testing regime, with NEDC and CLTC testing exaggerating potential driving range.

A smaller version of an iconic 4WD is no longer set to be EV-only, as new plans reveal hybrid drivetrain options have become a larger part of JLR’s future.The Land Rover Defender is going to spawn a smaller version of the nameplate, possibly called the Defender Sport if reports including those from Autocar in the UK are accurate.All signs pointed to an EV powertrain for the smaller Defender, based on Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) plans to roll out its new Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) as an EV-exclusive platform, but now the company has shifted strategy to include hybrids.Likely good news to many traditionalists in the JLR customer base, the brand confirmed the new Defender model would indeed go hybrid rather than EV-only.“A new model from the Defender family has been confirmed as the second vehicle to be launched on the EMA platform, which will now include the option of HEV as well as BEV in the future,” JLR said in a statement.According to JLR’s Managing Director for Defender and Discovery, Mark Cameron, plans are already looking well into the future for ‘Defender’, which now stands as a sub-brand rather than a single model under JLR’s ‘House of Brands’ strategy alongside Range Rover, Jaguar and Discovery."We've got a portfolio of one model with several variants,” he told Autocar on his plans for Defender, “but I'm working seven to 10 years ahead to build out this whole brand portfolio."We've got to make sure everything we do as Defender has the DNA of the brand: epic built-to-last, go-anywhere capability."While development is well on its way, details short of the inclusion of hybrid drivetrains in the so-called Defender Sport are scarce.Cameron has said while the new model likely won’t have the same capabilities as a Defender due to the platform’s electrification limitations, the model will still be “class-leading in the attributes that make it a Defender”.Importantly, JLR also has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Stellantis to work on hybrid technology, which could even result in the new model from Defender sharing some DNA with its historic rival.The new Defender model will be the second to launch on the new EMA platform after the Range Rover brand is to launch a new “full hybrid-electric vehicle.”“The HEV will be a unique new addition to JLR’s propulsion portfolio, offering more choice alongside mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV), plug‑in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and full battery electric vehicle (BEV) options.“JLR will reveal more on its first electric model built on its EMA platform at Halewood, Merseyside, later this year.”

The Leapmotor C10 Long-Range electric family SUV has just been given a serious overhaul in Australia as it looks to hunt down the Geely EX5 in Australia. The 'Design' grade will continue to be priced from $49,888 (before on-road costs), sitting at the top of the standard C10 range. The C10 has undergone some big changes in Australia, including the addition of the special edition performance variant targeting Tesla Model Y.It comes after the C10 was updated in China to receive a redesigned exterior and cabin, including elements like a panoramic head-up display and 17.3-inch central touchscreen.These updates are not included as part of the model year improvements for the Design grade in Australia.A spokesperson for Leapmotor Australia confirmed this more significant update was only for the Chinese market, for the time being.The main change for the updated Australian C10 is the addition of a bigger 82kWh battery, boosting driving range to 510km, according to WLTP standards. This is a step up on the rest of the standard C10 range, with its 70kWh battery offering 425km. This is the same battery as what is found in the special edition AWD variant of the C10, starting from $53,888. It is also now able to charge at 180kW via DC fast charging, with a 30 to 80 per cent juice-up taking roughly 22 minutes, courtesy of an 800-volt platform. Its electric motor set-up has also received a tweak, with power increased to 220kW from 160kW, while torque is now at 360Nm from 320Nm. The sprint from 0 to 100km/h now only takes 6.2 seconds. The car now also rides on Yokohama sport tires to improve handling and grip, with two entry key cards coming as standard instead of one as was previously the case. Interior options now include a ‘Camel’ brown interior as well as a black colour.The C10’s main competitos is Geely’s EX5 (starting from $41,990), which has experienced a strong sales run in 2026 and was the third best-selling EV for May in Australia. The EX5 is cheaper than this updated C10, but the latter has a better driving range than Geely’s example as well as better performance. The C10 will also tackle the BYD Sealion 7 (starting from $54,990) and rivals from more traditional brands like the Kia EV5 (starting from $56,770). It continues to be available in range-extender hybrid and fully-electric set-ups.

Renault has unveiled a surprise new model, a military tactical vehicle developed in collaboration with French defence firm Thales.Underneath, the ‘4 Troop’ is actually a 2026 Renault Rafale plug-in hybrid SUV that uses its vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability to power a drone operation system.The unlikely military tool is fitted with equipment for data processing and operation of both unmanned aerial and ground vehicles, though imagery would suggest the drones are primarily the kind you’d see photographers and videographers use.“It provides land forces with a fully functional mobile command centre that can be configured to match the exact requirements of land forces missions and provide effective mission capabilities thanks to Thales's Combat Digital Platform,” Renault says.The announcement for the 4 Troop reads more like a sales pitch at potential investors or buyers and operators than a detailed specification run-down, though that is often the case with any automotive partnership with a defence or security firm.Renault spruiks the all-wheel drive system and hybrid drivetrain as a combination suited for differing terrains and efficient operation, with the option for a combustion engine if needed.The auto giant (which is part-owned by the French government) also published images of soldiers with a Master van using what appears to be similar drone operation hardware.The reveal comes alongside an announcement from Renault and Thales that the automaker will begin building as many as 1000 combat drones (not the kind you’d see photographers and videographers use).The rather more confronting announcement from Renault on this deal uses phrases like “mission-configurable warhead” and “requirements of the wartime economy”.While it’s not unusual for auto brands to assist in building military equipment (Mitsubishi famously built planes in WWII, and Ferdinand Porsche designed tanks, for example), the joint statements from Renault and Thales are certainly at odds with the French carmaker’s usual recent announcements about reviving classic models as EVs and developing new in-car tech.

Nissan’s new mighty 4WD is a step closer to Australia.The Japanese brand revealed production of the current Nissan Y62 Patrol will cease in August, with the Aussie-tuned Premcar versions wrapping up soon after.This draws to a close the Patrol’s V8 era, with the Y62’s 5.6-litre eight-cylinder petrol unit to be replaced by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol making 317kW and 700Nm, or 19kW and 140Nm more than before.“The Patrol has been a constant presence in Australian motoring, and the Y62 has played a defining role in that legacy. Its 5.6-litre V8 is part of what has made this generation so beloved by enthusiasts, families and adventurers alike,” said Nissan Oceania Managing Director Steve Milette. “As we look ahead to the all-new to Australia Y63 later this year, the run-out of the Y62 represents a genuine ‘last chance’ moment for Australians who want to add a new V8 Patrol to their garage.”The move to a twin-turbo unit follows the Toyota LandCruiser, which ditched its V8 diesel for a twin-turbo V6 unit when it switched from 200 to 300 Series several years ago.The last V8 Nissan Patrol is likely to draw similar levels of demand to the final LandCruiser 200 Series models, where buyers were quickly on-selling for huge profits.The Y63 Patrol is built on a new platform and is bigger in almost every way. It is now 5205mm long (+35mm), 2030mm wide (+35mm), though the 1955m height remains unchanged.It’s also bigger in the third row, thanks to the rear section and boot being 30 per cent wider than in the Y62.It’s got some hi-tech suspension too, with the new Intelligent Dynamic Suspension system complete with air suspension that can give you another 7cm of lift. This also helps improve approach and departure angles when tackling properly tough terrain.The Y63 Patrol has already been on sale in left-hand-drive markets such as the US and Middle East for some time, but Australia is claimed to be one of the first right-hand-drive countries to get the new model when it arrives late this year.The Y63 Patrol will face a new breed of enemies when it lands.The scope of the large 4WD market has grown beyond the LandCruiser 300 Series to include the Denza B8 plug-in hybrid and incoming models such as the GWM Tank 700 plug-in hybrid and Geely Battleship 700.

Nissan has launched a new small SUV in Japan that has previously been off limits and it could make its way to Australia.The Nissan Kicks is now being produced in right-hand drive in Japan for the domestic market. It’s also produced in Mexico and Brazil for North and South America, respectively.Given Japan is a right-hand drive market, this theoretically makes an Australian launch for the Kicks a step easier.There’s even more merit as the related Juke small SUV has been discontinued in Australia.Additionally, the new-generation, all-electric Juke is European-focused and not coming to Australia.This makes Nissan’s smallest model in Australia the Qashqai, which is now only offered with an e-Power hybrid powertrain.The most affordable Nissan model now locally is the entry-level X-Trail ST 2WD at $38,140 before on-road costs.“Nissan Australia continuously evaluates vehicles from across our global portfolio for the Australian market; however, we have no announcements to make regarding future product plans at this time,” said a Nissan Australia spokesperson.In Japan the Kicks features a new, third-generation e-Power hybrid powertrain, like the Qashqai. It’s available in either single-motor front-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive forms.All versions have a 1.4-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that acts purely as a generator to top up the battery pack.This second-generation version of the Kicks is much more upmarket than the previous version and features more American-like design cues.Inside there are dual 12.3-inch screens that are integrated into a singular housing and run on Google Built-in.Standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, as well as a surround-view camera.

Forthing has revealed pricing and specs for its Taikon 5 SUV ahead of its Australian launch.The new-to-Australia brand from China and imported by Ateco, which also distributes LDV,  is offering both fully electric and range-extender hybrid versions of the new small SUV, with prices starting from $36,990.Unlike LDV, which is produced by MG-owner SAIC, Forthing is part of the Dongfeng Motor Group - a large manufacturer that has partnerships with Nissan and Peugeot in China.Both powertrain options are available across two trim levels, the base Luxury and top-spec Exclusive.The new SUV will go into battle against some tough competition, including the fully electric BYD Atto 2, which starts from $31,990, the popular Jaecoo J5, which starts from $36,990 for the fully electric version, or the Leapmotor B10 that is $37,888 for the entry-level version in either hybrid or electric form.The Taikon 5 is priced to compete with these main rivals across its two-variant, two-powertrain line-up.See the drive-away price-tags for the range in the table below.Forthing takes an interesting approach with the fully electric version using a front-wheel drive layout and the range-extender hybrid a rear-wheel drive set-up.Hybrid versions are equipped with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 75kW/130Nm, which is not connected to the wheels and instead acts as a generator for its rear-mounted 120kW/240Nm electric motor.It is equipped with a 31kWh battery pack, allowing a 170km electric range according to the WLTP testing cycle, with a claimed/combined range of 937km with both a full charge and tank of fuel.The hybrid version can also charge on a fast DC pylon at a rate of 40kW for a charge time of 30 minutes, while the engine only requires entry-level 91RON unleaded for its 43-litre tank. In addition, both versions of the car are equipped with a vehicle-to-load discharging system at up to 3.5kW.The fully electric version is equipped with a front-mounted 150kW/340Nm electric motor and 64kWh LFP battery pack in both trim levels, which offers a WLTP driving range of up to 427km.It can charge at a rate of 80kW on a DC fast charger, allowing a 10 - 80 per cent charge time in 30 minutes.Efficiency figures for both powertrain options are yet to be revealed.The Taikon 5 Luxury in both powertrains features 19-inch alloy wheelsLED headlightsA 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoAn 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster10-way power adjust for the driver’s seat4-way power adjust passenger seatVentilation and message functions for the driver’s seatSynthetic leather interior trimA reversing cameraRear parking sensorsHeated side mirrorsFour-speaker audio systemThe Taikon 5 Exclusive grade in both powertrains addsPower tailgateFront parking sensorsRear window tintingPower folding side mirrorsWireless phone chargingLeather-trimmed steering wheel360-degree parking cameraPanoramic opening sunroofSix-speaker audio systemThe only option in the Taikon 5 range currently is metallic paints which carry a cost of $600.Notably, the Range-Extender hybrid versions and the Luxury EV are equipped with a tyre repair kit, while the top-spec Exclusive EV comes with a space-saver spare wheel.The Forthing Taikon 5 includes the following safety kit as standardAuto emergency brakingLane keep assist with lane departure warningBlind spot monitoringFront and rear cross traffic alertDoor exit warningAdaptive cruise controlTraffic sign recognitionSix airbagsTyre pressure monitoringAteco is offering the Taikon 5 with seven years or 200,000km of warranty coverage. It requires servicing every 12 months/15,000km for range extender hybrids, or 12 months/20,000km for full electric variants. Pricing is yet to be revealed.The Taikon 5 measures 4600mm long, 1680mm tall, and 1860mm wide. It features a wheelbase of 2715mm.Hybrid versions ride slightly higher than EV versions, at 1700mm tall, and the electric version weighs 100kg more than the hybrid, at 1920kg vs 1820kg respectively.The Forthing Taikon 5 is expected to hit dealerships before the end of June 2026.