SUV News

Nissan may have finally bounced off rock bottom as the embattled Japanese giant executes its turn-around plans and posts promising results off the back of new model launches.Its grand turn-around plan, dubbed Re:Nissan has seen the company need to take drastic measures to reverse a financial slide into oblivion, including shuttering some of its factories, and turning more than ever to its Chinese joint-venture with Dongfeng for new model launches.It is not just the exciting new Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute and successful N7 sedan from China that have shown promising results for the brand. It also posted smaller declines in the last quarter of its financial year both in Japan and North America.Europe and the rest of the world didn’t perform as well for the brand, but make up a smaller portion of its overall sales. The brand also noted that US tariffs had a huge impact on its bottom line for the financial year.The company is predicting a return to an operating profit off the back of new and refreshed model line-ups across all the markets it plays in, predicting a 20 billion yen (a little over 175 million AUD) net income off the back of a brutal A$4.7 billion dollar loss to the end of this Japanese Financial Year, described as “extraordinary non-recurring losses” related to the brand’s realignment according to the company’s CFO George Leondis.CEO Ivan Espinosa said the company was tracking ahead of its goals for the end of the year, as it enters the “final year of Re:Nissan”.The brand is banking on higher demand for its range of incoming new-generation offerings, which in the financial year 2026 will include the NX8, N7, and Frontier Pro as export models from China, new models also from China based on the Terrano PHEV off-road concept and Urban PHEV concept small SUV (many of which are likely for an Australian arrival).Outside of that, the brand will also launch the new Tekton in India, Infiniti QX65 in the US, Elgrand people mover in Japan, as well as the Rogue e-Power in the US and Kicks in Japan.The confirmation of the Kicks launching in Japan opens the door to the previously overseas-only model launching in Australia thanks to its availability in right-hand drive. It could potentially serve as a replacement for the recently-discontinued (and relatively unpopular) Nissan Juke as the brand’s new entry-level SUV.Meanwhile the new-generation Leaf, which has undergone a radical transformation to a crossover SUV instead of a hatchback, has been delayed indefinitely for an Australian arrival, with the brand earmarking competitiveness issues in the small EV space and a focus on mass-market e-Power hybrids going forward. It leaves the mid-sized Ariya as the brand’s sole fully electric offering in Australia.Other new products to look out for from Nissan for the our market include the next-generation X-Trail, due in 2027, which will ride on an updated platform, feature a wider track width and new suspension, as well as feature the latest and more efficient version of the brand’s e-Power plugless hybrid tech.Nissan continues to take a battering in the Australian market, with the brand down 32.2 per cent year-on-year. It has seemingly permanently dropped out of the top-10 in Australia, making way for new entrants like BYD and GWM.By the end of April 2026, Chery was also now in the top-10, ranking eighth, leaving just Mazda (6th), Isuzu (10th), and Toyota (1st) the only remaining Japanese players in the list.

BYD is about to deploy the ace up its sleeve.The Chinese behemoth recently confirmed it would be building its own Flash charging network in Australia, with the first sites at Denza dealers in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide ready to go at the end of the year.BYD’s flash chargers are capable of delivering up to 1500kW of juice to electric cars and replenishing batteries from 0 to 97 per cent in nine minutes.That’s almost four times the power of the most powerful electric charger in Australia, with the first of Ampcharge’s 400kW pylons recently installed at Sydney’s Eastern Creek and Evie's 400kW chargers also being installed in Sutton Forest between Sydney and Canberra.BYD said it would be building the network in major cities, not rural areas.Now BYD — and its Denza sub-brand vehicles — are rolling out flash charging compatible versions of popular models in China.The latest to break cover overseas is flash charging compatible versions of the Denza B5 and B8 plug-in hybrid 4WDs. These models are known as the Fangchengbao B5 and B8 in China.This would give the Chinese brand a big advantage over conventional 4WDs such as the Toyota LandCruiser, incoming Nissan Y63 Patrol and new Mitsubishi Pajero.The plan is for BYD and Denza branded models to all get flash charging capabilities when they are available for Australia. Denza Australia wouldn't confirm when that would be for the B5 and B8.These updated models also come with bigger batteries, according to Chinese reports.The pair gain a new circa-46kWh battery that can help deliver a total driving range of close to 1400km when the battery and fuel tank are drained.More powerful electric motors, one front and one rear, boost combined power to 505kW/760Nkm for the B5 and 550kW/760Nm for the B8.Styling remains the same, with the rugged boxy shape staying put. Chinese models gain a range of Lidar tech that will assist autonomous driving, but this upgrade is unlikely for Australia where the tech isn’t as desirable.The rollout of ultra fast charging vehicles would remove the final hurdle for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles in Australia.The ability to quickly charge makes travelling around this vast nation less of a mental barrier for many motorists considering making the switch. 

News continues to filter in about the incoming Mitsubishi Pajero, including the axing of an iconic body style and the off-road icons the brand will be targeting with its potentially make-or-break 4WD.The latest news comes from Japan, where Best Car reports the iconic short-wheelbase Pajero will not feature in this new generation, marking the first time a Pajero generation hasn't offered a 'shorty' at some point in its lifespan.Now something of a collector's item, the three-door Pajero (which was removed from sale in Australia in 2011) would likely look out of place today, where it would be a more luxurious answer to something like a Suzuki Jimny.Instead, the Pajero will reportedly be full-size, five-door only – in fact, it will be the biggest in its history – with its length expected to exceed five metres.Expected to be Triton-based, and to use the Mitsubishi ute's powertrain, the Pajero will be bringing 150kW of power and 470Nm of torque to the off-road party. It should also match the ute's 3500kg braked towing capacity, and off-road capability and on-road comfort are clearly a focus.In fact, Japanese media has already spotted a camouflaged Pajero alongside a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, presumably for benchmarking purposes, suggesting Mitsubishi has the king in its sights.Legacy is a point not lost on Mitsubishi, which says any new model has to live up to the badge's heritage.“For me, the Pajero is an object of admiration,” Mitsubishi's president, Keisuke Kishiura Kishiura has told Automotive News.“Thanks to its off-road capability, allowing it to tackle any weather or road surface with confidence, its reliability, which withstands even the harshest conditions, and its ride quality and comfort that minimise fatigue on long drives, the Pajero has been cherished by customers around the world.”The Mitsubishi Pajero is expected to launch in late 2026.

A game-changing ute from Toyota might be back on the cards, according to the latest reports out of the United States. The ute rumoured to be in the works is based on the best-selling RAV4 small SUV, putting it up against the hugely popular Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz in the US. This new ute has been considered by Toyota for some time now, with several senior executives hinting at its development. A lifestyle concept ute was unveiled from the brand in 2023, which was said to be hybrid-powered. The most recent news indicated it remains a while away from entering production, with the brand waiting for the right moment to strike in the segment. Timing has been a key theme from executive comments on the ute, with other global factors such as trade deals and tariffs also impacting its viability. It now appears the right time might be approaching, as Toyota’s North American Chief Executive Officer Tetsuo Ogawa provided more details on the ute. This included the RAV4 forming the basis for it. “But for the compact truck? Definitely, we have such demand,” Ogawa said in an interview with Auto News. “A RAV4-based pickup is an opportunity for us, and the dealers are waiting. “Maybe they say we need today or tomorrow, but it takes time.”This latest update confirms the ute is on the radar and even potentially in development, but it looks to still be several years away from becoming official. It also confirms the ute would be built on the RAV4’s monocoque chassis, differing from other Toyota utes such as the HiLux built on a ladder frame. It remains too far away to ponder an Australian future for it. Expect it to be primarily built in left-hand drive given North America is the target market at this stage.

Subaru just got serious about its EV game in Australia, with pricing for its new Uncharted small SUV released. It will start from $59,990, making it $2000 cheaper than its mid-size Solterra electric sibling. The Uncharted will take on popular, but cheaper rivals in the segment such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Kia EV3. The Uncharted comes as standard with an all-wheel drive system as opposed to the front-wheel drive exclusive Kona and EV3. The 211mm of ground clearance on the Subaru aids the car’s all-terrain capabilities further. Its dual electric motor set-up produces 252kW to offer a sharp 0-100km/h time of five seconds. It is equipped with a 75kWh battery and a total driving range of 522km, according to WLTP standards. It takes roughly half-an-hour to charge from 10-80 per cent at DC speeds. It also supports vehicle-to-load, allowing for external appliances to be powered through the car’s battery.The car’s interior boasts a 14.0-inch central touchscreen and 7.0-inch digital driver display, along with dual wireless phone chargers. The Uncharted is the latest in a sustained EV push from Subaru with the Trailseeker large SUV also on sale.  More EVs will help the brand fight off potential fines, following the first performance period of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), where Subaru incurred the third-most penalties of any brand. Pre-orders on the Uncharted are now open, ahead of its official launch in the coming weeks, with customer deliveries beginning in July. 2027 Subaru Uncharted pricing Australia 2027 Subaru Uncharted motor and efficiency  2027 Subaru Uncharted standard features Other standard features include: Power adjustable front seatsMemory driver seatHeated front and rear outboard seatsReclining rear seatsHeated steering wheelDigital rearview mirrorPowered tailgateOptions packages 2027 Subaru Uncharted safetyThe Subaru Uncharted does not have an ANCAP rating yet, with testing and results still in progress. Standard safety features: Front and rear parking sensorsBlind spot monitoringRear cross traffic alertAdaptive high beamSafe exit assist360-degree camera2027 Subaru Uncharted warranty and servicingThe Subaru Uncharted is covered with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. There is an eight-year/160,000-kilometre warranty for the high-voltage battery.There is five-year capped price servicing available on the car, with intervals every 15,000km or 12 months. 

The expanding electric car price war has a new entrant.Subaru has just announced it has slashed thousands off the price of its Solterra and Trailseeker electric SUVs.The Solterra range now kicks off at $61,990 (before on-road costs) for the base variant, a reduction of $2000. The range-topping Touring grade gets a similar price cut to $67,990.Subaru already cut the price of the Solterra by $6000 late last year, while adding improvements.The regular Solterra has a driving range of 566km and the Touring 517km. Both use a dual-motor setup that delivers all-wheel-drive grip and pumps out 252kW and 337Nm.Subaru’s big five-seat all-wheel-drive Trailseeker EV has had $4000 ripped off the price tag before it has even gone on sale. Subaru’s website is still asking for expressions of interest for the Trailseeker.The Trailseeker now starts at $63,990, and rises to $69,990 for the Touring grade.It brings dual-motor grunt, which delivers Subaru’s trademark all-wheel-drive grip. The two electric motors combine for 280kW and 537Nm (according to US versions), which allow it to sprint to 100km/h from a standstill in about 4.5 seconds.At its heart is a circa-75kWh battery that delivers 533km of driving range in the base version and 488km in the Touring.The prices are effective from May 14th and Subaru urges customers who have already placed an order to contact their dealer to see if the update applies to them.Subaru also announced the arrival of its Uncharted compact electric SUV, which is its cheapest EV at $59,990.All three SUVs have been co-developed with Toyota, with the bZ4X the equivalent of the Solterra and the Trailseeker and Uncharted are the twin to the bZ4X Touring and C-HR+ EV. The latter is not on sale in Australia yet, but has been confirmed for launch here in 2027.Subaru isn’t alone in rushing to sell EVs, with Hyundai, Cadillac, Volvo and Zeekr all cutting the price of some of their electric cars in recent months.A wave of new Chinese models, such as the GWM Ora 5, MG4 Urban and BYD Atto 1, are all lowering the entry price to electric motoring, which is forcing other makers to be more competitive.Subaru's electric vehicle sales are flat compared to rivals, with the Solterra moving just 324 units through the first four months of the year. Tesla's Model Y is the best-selling EV so far this year with more than 6700 finding a new home. 

A new budget hybrid SUV from Mitsubishi has just arrived in New Zealand, but do not expect to see it in Australia any time soon. The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, known as the Xforce elsewhere, is a popular option in the small SUV segment and is a rival for the Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Kona and Honda HR-V. The Xforce was not on the radar for Australia due to design regulations, but its New Zealand announcement reignites rumours for an Aussie future.It could have significant benefits for Mitsubishi in Australia. Its hybrid status would ease potential future New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) fines for the brand. The hybrid Xforce would compliment the petrol-only ASX in Australia.Mitsubishi’s Australian lineup is almost exclusively made up of petrol- and diesel-powered models, with the plug-in hybrid Outlander mid-size SUV the only exception.The brand only has plans for one fully-electric model at this stage, which is a joint-venture compact SUV with iPhone manufacturer Foxtron.The Xforce faces regulatory challenges to its launch in Australia, with it unlikely to meet the more stringent design rules, which forced the previous ASX model to be dumped.A spokesperson for Mitsubishi Australia said the brand expressed interest in bringing the Xforce to Australia, but design rules restrictions prevented it from launching. The New Zealand Outlander Sport is powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor, producing 85kW and 255Nm in overseas examples.There is a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and digital driver display in the cabin, along with wireless phone charging and a panoramic glass roof as standard. It will arrive in showrooms in the third quarter of 2026.

Audi wants to have it both ways. The German brand is planning to expand its new Q3 range with both a flagship, high-performance RSQ3 and a more frugal, budget-helping plug-in hybrid.Speaking at the launch of the new Q3 range, which is rolling out with 110kW, 150kW and 195kW variants initially, Audi Australia management have made it clear that more options are on the way.Officially Audi hasn’t confirmed plans for an RSQ3, but Matthew Dale, National Product Manager for Audi Australia, leaves no uncertainty what the local position would be when plans are announced.“ We'd love one tomorrow,” he told CarsGuide. “Definitely put our hand up for one.”While Audi is almost-certain to revive the RS badge for this latest generation Q3, exactly what form that takes remains to be seen. The previous generation was powered by the brand’s iconic five-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, but Europe’s strict emissions laws have put its future in doubt. That means Audi is likely having to develop a new powertrain for the RSQ3, which will need to balance performance with efficiency and emissions requirements both in Europe and around the world.Given the RS model accounted for up to 15 per cent of total Q3 sales in Australia with the previous generation, the local demand is expected to be high - five-cylinder engine or not. So the most likely scenario is Audi Australia is simply waiting for head office to confirm its existence and timeline before committing publicly.On the flip side, the finishing touches are being made to the arrival of the all-new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of the Q3. Its omission was obvious, as the new Q3 launches at a time of sky-high petrol prices and an increased demand for electric vehicles.Officially the Q3 PHEV is under ‘evaluation’ but all signs point to its arrival in the not-too-distant future.“ The main reason for that is, obviously, the latest generation Q3 we locked in all of our ICE models,” Dale said. “We just want to make sure that, one, the product that's available in Europe is fit for the Australian market and Australian consumer. Two, it's been tested for Australian conditions as well. And three, it’s the latest generation of the product. So it's close to getting to the end of its evaluation and getting a decision, but we just want to make sure that all three of those areas are ticked prior to bringing a product to market.”Asked if he foresees any of these issues holding the PHEV back, Dale was confident the latest model, which reportedly boasts up to 100km of EV-only driving range, will be a good fit for Audi Australia. “No, the big thing is that space is moving so, so quickly with, say, battery technology,” he explained. “Not necessarily the hardware components of the actual PHEV itself, but with battery technology, it's moving so, so fast, and that's something that we've obviously shown in, say, A5 and Q5, is the latest generation products. We've moved from having, say, 30-40km range in a battery pack that is essentially the same size as today, up to closer to 80km of pure EV range. And that shows that, we're using the same hardware size, but the hardware inside and the software has been increased exponentially over that period of time to offer the latest products to Australian consumers, and I think that's where we're looking into to ensure that if we position a vehicle in the market, that we're bringing the latest product to Australia.”The addition of a Q3 PHEV would help expand the appeal of the popular small SUV to people looking to save money at the petrol pump. The recent surge in fuel prices has seen interest in EVs dramatically increase, which is good news for Audi, as it was one of the first luxury brands to make a major commitment to EVs.“ Definitely ,” Dale said. “We've seen, even through our dealer network and our partners that invest in our Audi dealerships, they're basically saying that just inquiry on electric vehicles alone has been astronomical and it's doing quite well. Hopefully we continue that momentum. But yeah, you can see based on, consumables like fuel prices and things like that, where the consumer pivots to alternative solutions and with our broad portfolio of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles as well, even mild hybrid pluses and mild hybrids that we've got in this car as well, there's quite a broad range of products where consumers can pivot and have broader options.”

Nissan Australia has shown just how good hybrid cars are after completing a 1300km lap of Tasmania on a single tank of fuel in its Qashqai e-Power hybrid.It’s a shot across the bows of $40-55K hybrid rivals the Honda HR-V e:HEV, Hyundai Kona Hybrid, MG ZS Hybrid, Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and Toyota Corolla Cross, which all deliver a driving range of 1000km or less.  The Qashqai e-Power is a Range Extender Electric Vehicle (EREV), with its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine operating as a battery generator only.Its official fuel consumption figure of 4.1L/100km and 55-litre tank convert to a theoretical range of 1341km, so the Tassie lap confirms that distance between fills as a real-world possibility.Nissan said the journey began with the car brimmed in Geelong, Victoria before boarding the Spirit of Tasmania car and passenger ferry for the trip to Devonport on Tasmania’s north coast.According to Nissan no ‘hypermiling’ techniques were applied, with the subsequent fuel stop-free clockwise lap including a mix of open road running, urban congestion “and a number of challenging hillclimbs” all covered in accordance with posted speed limits.Highlights included Launceston, the Bay of Fires and Freycinet to the state’s capital Hobart, the Huon Valley on the southern tip and a return to Devonport via the wild west coast.The Qashqai e-Power’s trip meter sat at 1209.2km when it arrived back in Geelong and ultimately travelled 1303km before refuelling. Indicated average fuel consumption was 4.5L/100km (which can vary from an actual pump-to-pump figure).Commenting on the exercise, Nissan Oceania Managing Director Steve Milette said, “This trip isn’t laboratory testing, this is the real world and real conditions.“Now more than ever Australian drivers are looking for fuel efficiency that doesn’t compromise driving enjoyment, and this 1300km real-world journey shows the Nissan Qashqai e-Power delivers,” he said.

As part of its end-of-year financial results, Mazda has revealed exactly when its next-generation CX-3 will launch.Buried pages deep on the company’s presentation materials, the confirmation shows the CX-3 arriving in 2027. It will be built in Mazda’s Thailand facility and will account for a significant part of the company’s volume aspirations going forward.It will launch in Thailand first in 2027, and Mazda earmarks it as an important part of the brand’s strategy to lean further into its Thai factory as an exporter to both Japan and the South East Asian region.The company didn’t reveal any more details about the incoming CX-3, although it notes a plan to expand its hybrid offering from one to four models (which leaves at least two models to be electrified, after the existing CX-50 and planned hybrid CX-5), although does note that this electrification plan will be focused on its larger vehicles.Expect it to follow a similar design theme to the Vision X-Compact concept the brand displayed at the 2025 Tokyo motor showMazda’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Guyton told CarsGuide at the 2025 Tokyo show that the next-generation small cars were the next priority after the brand finishes its hybrid development.“It comes to being a modestly sized company, our return on sales isn’t good enough from a business standpoint,” said Guyton.“Our highest priority has been our large platform products, and finally getting those right, and using those to make some money.“Next priority is the CX-5, which will come to your market soon, and soon-ish thereafter is the hybrid version of that car with Mazda’s own hybrid.“Soon after that next priority is smaller architecture cars,” he said.Mazda also recently told CarsGuide the current version of the CX-3 and 2 hatchback would get a stay of execution until 2027.The information in the brand’s EOFY presentation does at least confirm the existence of the next-generation CX-3 and that it won’t be called the CX-20 as previously speculated.Mazda has long said it won’t abandon its “smaller architecture cars” after its all-important and best-selling CX-5 plans are complete.One thing which could put a spanner in the works for the CX-3 replacement in Australia is both our tough new emissions laws and our stringent safety requirements, which often see models designed for the South East Asian market nixed for an Australian launch.The CX-3’s current 2.0-litre petrol engine (110kW/195Nm) mated to a six-speed traditional torque converter automatic transmission won’t be able to continue in Australia, with Mazda already attracting eye-watering penalties under the new emissions scheme.What this could mean is a delay in the CX-3 launching in Australia if it launches in Thailand without a hybrid system initially.To ease its emissions burden going forward, Mazda noted in its EOFY presentation that it would continue to lean on its Chinese-built joint-venture models, like the Mazda 6e and CX-6e which will launch in Australia imminently.With aggressive pricing, both cars are set to compete with not just traditional rivals, but also Chinese newcomer brands in an attempt to put Mazda in the volume space for low-emissions vehicles.This will no doubt help it offset some of the emissions burden the brand will carry along with the incoming CX-5, which will have a carryover 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in all-wheel drive only.