SUV News

Toyota has lifted the lid on a new Yaris Cross with a fresh design that should breathe life into the ageing light SUV.However it looks like we won't see this update Down Under according to a Toyota Australia spokesperson."We are always reviewing opportunities to enhance our local line up, however, at this time, there are no current plans to introduce the updated European variant of the Yaris Cross in Australia."The facelift for the UK and European spec Yaris Cross introduces a new front-end design with a honeycomb mesh grille finished in the body colour, integrated into the front bumper.New LED headlight and daytime running light signatures also feature, as does a lower black cladding section, giving the light SUV a more modern look than the current Australian-spec model.Fresh 17 and 18-inch wheel designs and two new paint options - Precious Bronze with black roof and pillars as well as Persian Salt - are also available.Changes are more subtle inside where the Yaris Cross gains platinum coloured door trim and new sports seats on some grades.No changes have been made under the skin. It retains Toyota’s 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain outputting 96kW/185Nm for a 10.7-second 0-100km/h time.The Australian Yaris Cross also uses a 1.5-litre hybrid setup but it has a lower system output of 85kW and 141Nm.Toyota launched the Yaris Cross in late 2020 as a rival to the Mazda CX-3, Nissan Juke and Ford Puma.It was last updated for Australia midway through last year, gaining additional safety tech and some comfort features.Sales of the Yaris Cross are down by 18.5 per cent in the first quarter of the year, but Toyota has still managed to sell 2456 examples.It is running second in the light SUV sales segment behind the ageing Mazda CX-3 (3489), but it is ahead of the Suzuki Jimny 4x4 (1958), Koia Stonic (1437) and Hyundai Venue (1352).

Leapmotor has detailed its D19 large SUV, a battery-electric (BEV) and extended-range hybrid (EREV) the Chinese maker is positioning in the domestic market as its “flagship luxury SUV”, the latter version fitted with what is claimed to be the world’s largest EREV battery.With a maximum 80.3kWh capacity, the D19 EREV is able to cover up to 500km (CLTC) in pure-EV mode.Measuring just over 5.2 metres long, a fraction under 2.0m wide and close to 1.8m tall with a 3110mm wheelbase, the six- and seven-seat D19 is a potential challenger to the likes of the BYD Sealion 8, Chery Tiggo 8, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-80, Omoda 9, Skoda Kodiaq and Toyota Kluger.The D19 EREV is a 300kW dual-motor AWD with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine operating purely as a generator to charge one of two (CATL-sourced) battery options - 63.7kWh and 80.3kWh.The car’s 800-volt electric architecture means it can be charged from 30 to 80 per cent in a claimed 15 minutes.Offered in (410kW) two- and (540kW) three-motor variants, the D19 BEV runs a 1000V system and also offers two battery options - 99.6kWh and 115 kWh. Range varies from 620km to 720km (CLTC) and claimed 0-100km/h acceleration in the tri-motor version is “under three seconds”.Included features across the seven-model range (three EREV grades and four BEVs) include 21-inch rims, a 17.3-inch central media screen, 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, a 21.4-inch entertainment screen (with 6.0-inch control screen) for second- and third-row passengers, dual glass sunroofs, 23-speaker audio, an oxygen generation system (!) and an 8.1-litre fridge. ‘Digital Clock’ megapixel DLP projector headlights incorporate one million pixels and are able to project complex welcome animations (including a swimming whale) in front of the car, while a ‘Happy Pixels’ interactive screen at the rear not only incorporates the full-width tail-lights but can be set to deliver animations or a battery charge read-out.Soft-close doors, multi-way power seat adjustment, semi-aniline leather upholstery, wood grain trims, configurable ambient lighting and “velvet ceiling material” are part of a premium interior treatment.All D19 versions boast 337 litres of boot space with all seats upright and up to 2677 litres with the second and third rows folded in seven-seat models. A 176-litre front trunk includes a 220V outlet. Active crash-avoidance tech includes “28 assisted driving sensors” (including a Lidar on the roof) and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) operating between four and 150km/h.Suspension is alloy dual-wishbone at the front and five links at the rear with ‘Dual-cavity’ air-suspension providing continuously variable damping.Chinese-market D19 pricing ranges from ¥219,800 (~$45,000) for the entry-level 400 Premium Edition EREV to ¥269,800 (~$55,000) for the 680 Tri Motor Performance Edition BEV.Leapmotor’s local line-up currently consists of the pure-electric B10 small SUV and C10 BEV and plug-in hybrid medium SUV. And when contacted for comment on the D19’s potential for the local market a Stellantis Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide the newcomer is “on its radar” adding the brand will be “able to hopefully confirm new product in the near future.” 

Nissan has teased a new off-road SUV to be built in China as a new global model, essentially confirming an SUV version of its well-received Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute.

Although there are some swings and roundabouts in the equation there’s no denying Tesla’s strong sales performance in the first quarter of 2026.According to Electric Vehicle Council data, local year-on-year sales for the pioneer EV maker are up no less than 40.7 per cent to 7260 registrations to the end of March 2026 versus 5160 for the same period in 2025.And Tesla was knocking on the door of the top 10 sellers for March, its 3485 total for the month within sniping distance of MG in tenth (at 4218 units).But there’s a distinctly different story for the two models the brand currently offers in Australia, with the long-serving Model 3 sedan down 33.4 per cent for the first three months (1363 units vs 2046) and the Model Y medium SUV up a whopping 89.4 per cent (5897 units vs 3114).While steep fuel price rises have significantly lifted overall EV sales, Tesla’s turnaround marks a solid comeback from a less than stellar 2025, during which the brand’s local sales fell by just under a quarter compared to 2024 (28,856 units vs 38,347).And it’s worth noting that 2024 Tesla figure was itself down just under 17 per cent from 2023’s 46,120 unit total. Tellingly, established Model 3 competitors are down from their relatively modest base sales; the BMW i4 20.4 per cent behind for the first quarter (246 vs 309) and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 down 61 per cent (17 vs 44).But the big clue to the Model 3’s decline comes in the shape of the BYD Seal, up a staggering 209.3 per cent (934 vs 302) with the Polestar 2 13 per cent ahead (139 vs 123).Alternately, several of the Model Y’s key rivals declined in Q1 with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 down 54.5 per cent (115 vs 253) and the Kia EV5 1.6 per cent behind (1148 vs 1167).But others (operating from much smaller bases) have eclipsed even the Model Y, including the Cupra Tavascan up 366.7 per cent (112 vs 24), Skoda Enyaq up 129.1 per cent (126 vs 55), Subaru Solterra up 246.5 per cent (149 vs 43) and Toyota bZ4X up 300 per cent (840 vs 210) as well as the VW ID.4 up 243 per cent (429 vs 125) and ID.5, 101.4 per cent ahead (143 vs 71).With the current shipping blockade in the Strait of Hormuz further unsettling global oil supply and impacting local fuel prices, it will be interesting to track what is set to be Tesla’s strengthening performance as the year progresses. CarsGuide contacted Tesla Australia for comment on the brand’s sales performance.

Toyota is currently experiencing a rare sales dip in Australia, but is it a longer-term issue or just a temporary blip?As the world’s biggest carmaker - and Australia’s number one brand for the past 23 years - you can bet the Japanese giant isn’t just sitting back and waiting for new and old rivals to pounce.Toyota sales were down by 19.3 per cent in March, compared with the same month last year. It still sold 16,574 vehicles, more than double that of second-placed Kia (7320).Brand T finished quarter one with 44,490 units sold, which is a hefty 23 per cent down on the same quarter in 2025.But before you start writing Toyota’s obituary, there are some clear reasons for the drop. The changeover of its two biggest sellers is the main reason. The new RAV4 is now officially on sale but Toyota sold so many of them at the end of last year they didn’t have enough old stock to cover the gap to the new model.That’s why RAV4 sales are down a whopping 72.2 per cent in the first three months of the year.Similarly, Toyota was waiting on some variants of its heavily revised new HiLux ute to come on stream and that’s only just happening now. Sales of the ute took a while to ramp up following its introduction late last year, but it’s now steady, with 4x4 versions only down by 3.3 per cent year to date.Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, John Pappas, said that official VFACTS sales figures don’t tell the whole story, and painted a better picture for the rest of the year.“Looking ahead to the remainder of 2026, as HiLux and RAV4 volumes increase, our monthly results will begin to increase as the year progresses. And whilst VFACTS tells you what has been delivered, it doesn't tell you the full story. What VFACTS doesn't show is customer demand, which remains very strong across the range, particularly with vehicles like LandCruiser 300, HiLux, LandCruiser Prado and, of course, the RAV4.”April will be the new-generation RAV4’s first full month on sale so we will wait and see what the sales figures are come the end of this month.Other popular models with big sales declines include the Kluger (-33.3% YTD), Prado (-46.5%) and Yaris Cross (-18.5%), but other models are enjoying renewed interest.The LandCruiser is up a massive 216 per cent year on year, while the Corolla Cross SUV and HiAce van are in positive territory too. But the biggest surprise is the bZ4X.Toyota's first fully electric car benefited from an update that rolled out a couple of months ago and it has helped turn its sales fortunes around. Following the original version’s launch in early 2024, the EV has been a middling seller, playing second fiddle to a bunch of cheaper, largely Chinese EVs of a similar size.But in March, Toyota sold 447 units, a 598.4 per cent increase. It’s up 300 per cent year to date.Pappas said the updated car had been very well received and added that Toyota expected to sell 5000 examples in 2026. That’s a massive increase from the 1041 it sold for the entirety of last year.The bZ4X will get a further boost from the ‘Touring’ wagon version that is expected to land later this year. Other new low-emission vehicles include the HiLux BEV in quarter two and the RAV4 plug-in hybrid later in 2026.Other new models like the electric C-HR won’t arrive until mid-2027, while Toyota is still yet to confirm if it will launch the all-electric Highlander in Australia. The seven-seat SUV could be a rival for the Kia EV9, if it gets the green light.Other models that Toyota has not confirmed but could be on the radar include the Grand Highlander, which could replace the ageing Kluger, as well as the US-sourced Tacoma pick-up to fill the gap between the HiLux and upper-large Tundra.Toyota also builds a number of EVs in China with joint venture partners GAC, FAW and even BYD. Models like the bZ3 sedan, bZ7 and bX3X crossover are comparatively more affordable than Japan-sourced electric models.Pappas did not rule out importing Chinese-made Toyota models for Australia,“The beautiful thing about being such a global organisation, where you’re represented in 190 countries, and you've got so many manufacturing sources around the world, it really does open us up to having those options available if they become available to us,” he said.“So we're always looking at those types of things. And… I go back to making sure they suit the requirements of the customer. And if they do that, then we're open to looking at those types of avenues.”Japanese rival Mazda has just launched two EVs built in China with its joint-venture partner Changan, while Mitsubishi will offer the Foxconn EV in Australia soon. Nissan is also believed to be considering a number of models for Australia from its partnership with Dongfeng.

Nissan has officially teased two new vehicles following the reveal of the new-generation X-Trail and Juke EV.These new vehicles are a new-generation Nissan Skyline sedan and Xterra body-on-frame Toyota Prado-smashing SUV. These models will be focused at the Japanese and North American markets, respectively. This therefore makes an Australian launch for both unclear.The Nissan Xterra has traditionally been an SUV version of Navara and Frontier utes.Despite the very brief teaser video, this new Xterra appears to be a different beast altogether. We only get a brief look at the grille which has ‘Nissan’ scripture and three slashes.Power will come from a V6 or V6 hybrid. The displacement, or exact power and torque figures haven't been detailed yet.Nissan has made a point of saying it’s reducing its model count and is strategically grouping model families together to reduce complexity and costs. This therefore opens the door for more variations of vehicles, meaning more body-on-frame vehicles based on the Xterra are likely.Similarly with the new-generation Skyline, it’s understood an Infiniti version will be offered in due course.According to the short teaser video, this new Skyline will have design touches that are inspired by the original model. This includes ‘Skyline’ badging on the rear three quarter panel, as well as quad circular tail-lights.It’s worth noting this new Skyline is unrelated to the GT-R and will likely remain a four-door sedan.The current-generation Skyline sedan hasn’t been offered locally as a Nissan model but it was as the plusher Infiniti Q50 from 2014 to 2020.Nissan has confirmed there is a new GT-R in the works but what form it will take and when it will launch is still up in the air.No further details on the new-gen Skyline have been confirmed yet, however it’s expected the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine from the current model will carry over.More information on both the new Skyline and Xterra, including when they will be fully revealed, will be announced in due course.

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.