SUV News

GWM’s Ora band confirmed in early March this year it was moving from making just electric cars to hybrids (HEVs ) and pure combustion vehicles, and now three weeks later the Ora 5 hybrid has debuted at the Bangkok motor show. The Ora 5 HEV is the same size as the electric version of the small SUV at 4471mm end to end and 1641mm tall, but is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine combined with an electric motor.The four-cylinder engine and motor produce a combined 164kW and 476Nm. According to GWM the combined fuel consumption is a low 2.3L/100km.Now on sale in fellow right-hand drive market Thailand, which oopens the door to an Aussie expansion.The Ora 5 HEV has the same suspension tune as the EV and comes in two grades.Standard features between the HEV and EV are identical with the top-of-the-range Ultra coming with LED headlights and daytime running lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof, power tailgate and proximity unlocking. Inside, there’s power adjustable front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, air-conditioning, 14.6-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless phone charging.The electric Ora 5 will come to Australia in mid-2026, but GWM Australia wouldn't confirm if it would be joined by the hybrid variant, too. “HEV represents a new addition to the ORA range expanding beyond its existing BEV offering,” said a GWM spokesperson. “At this stage, the only information we can share is that all options remain under investigation for the ANZ region.”Currently GWM has the Ora small five-door hatch on sale in Australia, having arrived in 2023, and the Ora 5 EV SUV version will be sold alongside it.Pricing for the Ora 5 EV in Australia has yet to be announced, but it will be more than the smaller Ora hatch's $32,990 drive-away starting point.Buyers can expect the Ora 5 EV to come in closer to the Leapmotor B10 and Chery E5, both from $38,990.A hybrid version could drop below the $30,000 mark.GWM has been open about expanding the Ora brand even as it struggled with just the small and aging Ora hatch doing all the heavy lifting.GWM Australia Chief Operating Officer, John Kett, told CarsGuide in 2025 that Ora will grow in Australia and even thrive in the years ahead.“From our perspective, and without announcing our (future) portfolio, we have Ora sitting in the small car segment, and we will have a small SUV next year,” he revealed.“And, we're still considering a mid-size SUV also coming out of the Ora line-up (for Australia).”

Aussies have just been shown what they are missing out on with the Toyota LandCruiser FJ.Four new concepts on the LandCruiser FJ have been revealed as part of a showcase at the Thai motor show. The concepts are named Meridian, Nature Explorer, Legendary and Street Cruiser.They are designed to demonstrate the potential uses for the car and they show just how at home it would be in Australia.The LandCruiser FJ has already been ruled out for an Australian launch due its 2.7-litre petrol engine not meeting Australian regulations. It may be an option for Australia down the line if it adopts a cleaner engine.Meridian is shown in a swamp-like environment, featuring roof racks holding bags, a shovel and outdoor equipment. It highlights the FJ’s off-roading potential and living in rugged environments.Nature Explorer builds on this by adding a set of spot lamps on the front of the car and a roof top tent and awning, boasting that the car can be used for weekend camping trips.These first two concepts of the LandCruiser FJ would fit in perfectly with Australian life, given the popularity of off-roading and camping and the countless perfect locations available.Street Cruiser develops a new lifestyle to the previous two concepts, swapping the wilderness for the city. It is featured with roof-mounted spoilers and a sleek pattern design of black and grey paint. The car also has a bike rack installed at the back of the car, carrying an e-bike.Legendary has plenty of the previous FJ Cruiser’s character, with a similar yellow colour to the car that launched in the 2000s. The black exterior cladding has been painted the same colour as the body work. It is a retro recreation of its predecessor.These concepts were designed to show off a range of accessories available on the LandCruiser FJ. There are three option packages all priced at around the equivalent of $1500.The Unbound Explorer package includes underbody protection, mudguards and a snorkel, while the Freedom Journey pack adds a roof platform. The Urban Unique pack has a grille garnish, spare wheel cover, side door mouldings, fuel tank cap, side visitors and dash cams.These concepts will only fuel demand for the LandCruiser FJ in Australia, but it seems like it will be several years before it becomes an option.

Subaru has confirmed it will unveil a first-ever hybrid version of one of its Wilderness models at this week’s New York International Auto Show and the brand’s current US line-up suggests it will be based on the Forester Wilderness.That spells big trouble for rivalling family favourites - the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson - which can't match the Forester Wilderness' ruggedness.Initially developed for North America, there are currently three Wildnerness varieties - the Outback Wilderness launched in early 2021, the Forester Wilderness that followed later the same year and the Crosstrek Wilderness, which arrived in 2023.Typical upgrades include increased ride height with extra ground clearance, greater roof load capacity, revised transmission gearing and all-terrain tyres to optimise low-speed traction, matt black wheels, retuned ‘X-Mode’ off-highway settings and a transmission oil cooler.All are produced at Subaru’s US manufacturing plant in Lafayette, Indiana. But the US-only factor was side-stepped when the Subaru Outback Wilderness hit Australian off-road tracks in February this year. And Subaru Australia General Manager Scott Lawrence  has previously told CarsGuide to “watch this space” on further Wilderness developments.Subaru currently offers Crosstrek and Forester Hybrid models in the USA, and a Wilderness Hybrid version of the latter is more likely as the Forester Hybrid is built in America while the Crosstrek Hybrid is produced in Japan. If the new Wilderness variant is indeed based on the Forester it’s likely to feature the current Forester Hybrid’s powertrain that combines a (121kW/212Nm) 2.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors (90kW/276Nm) integrated into the car’s continuously variable transmission (CVT) for total system power of 145kW.You could also expect miserly 6.2L/100km fuel consumption on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle and a 1000km-plus range from every 63-litre tank of fuel.Over and above the upgrades detailed above, the Forester Wilderness features a specific nose treatment including a unique grille, skid plates, fog lights, anodized copper accents, and a glare-reducing matt black bonnet decal.Subaru has also confirmed it will unveil an “all-new, all-electric SUV” in New York, positioned under a theme of “Fast. Family. Fun.” and likely based on the recently released pure-electric Toyota Highlander (Kluger).

China is starting to flex its off-road muscles.Geely is the latest Chinese brand to launch a rough and tumble four-wheel drive in the form of the Battleship 700.It follows the classic 4WD design formula, with a big blocky shape, square shoulders, prominent retro roundish headlights, monster wheels and a spare tyre on the tailgate.There are hallmarks of the Defender, 70 Series and some GWM Tank models in its looks.Geely, like all Chinese 4WD brands, is betting big on plug-in hybrid power to usurp diesel’s dominance in the heavy off-roader segment.Geely’s set-up uses three electric motors, but it hasn’t provided full details.We can look at some of its siblings from Geely's other brands, such as the coming Zeekr 9X.It uses a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and three electric motors to make a whopping 1000kW sent to all four wheels, which enables it to sprint from zero to 100km/h in 3.1 seconds.That’s double the Land Rover Defender Octa Black, which is a beefy off-road monster that pumps out 457kW and 750Nm from its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and mild-hybrid assistance.It also dwarfs the Toyota LandCruiser’s 227kW/700Nm 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel six-cylinder engine and the coming Nissan Patrol’s 317kW/700Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6.With that much electric grunt, you need a big battery.The 9X can be had with either a 55kWh and a 70kWh unit, with electric only driving range of up to 380km via the more lenient China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC).The 9X — like the Battleship 700 — is built on Geely’s 'SEA-S' platform, which uses 900V architecture.This means it will be incredibly fast to charge, with the 9X claiming a 20-80 per cent refill in 8.5 minutes. UK outlet Autoexpress has also confirmed the battleship 700 is planned to land there in 2028.This puts it clearly on Australia’s radar as it is another right-hand drive market, is closer to China and has a large 4WD buying pool.The report said it has a wading depth of 800mm, has big ground clearance and the brand is considering expanding its off-road modes.

Polestar has announced a huge battery recycling initiative on some of its key models. Some Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 models will be fitted with batteries that include at least 50 per cent recycled cobalt. As part of its partnership with Volvo battery centres, Polestar 2 and 3 models requiring a battery replacement will be installed with a refurbished unit as opposed to a new one. Cobalt is a key material in many types of car batteries, such as lithium-iron and Nickel-Managenese-Cobalt (NMC). Polestar uses NMC batteries across its range, meaning mined cobalt is integral to the brand, but this latest initiative demonstrates it is trying moving away from that reliance.The majority of all mined cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is said to have half the world’s reserves.The extraction of cobalt in the DRC has given rise to concerns over the health and safety of people involved as well as the legality of the process itself. Extracting cobalt releases fine dust particles and dangerous chemical byproducts leading to contamination.There have also been substantiated reports of illegal working conditions, including broader African mining practices. Cobalt carries with it a heavy price tag as well.These issues have seen some car manufacturers move away from cobalt-dependent batteries, opting for different make-ups such as lithium-iron-phosphate, which are cheaper, but not as efficient. Polestar said it aims to reduce reliance on virgin materials, such as cobalt, and keep resources in use for longer. “... a key focus is to extend battery life and retain the battery’s value for as long as possible, which benefits both the environment and the customer experience,” the brand said.Polestar is also looking into developing recycling initiatives in other global markets, which is in line with many other manufacturers. The European Union has already introduced increasingly tough battery recycling mandates for car makers. This includes a 90 per cent cobalt reduction mandate by 2027, shifting to 95 per cent by the end of the decade. In Australia, Nissan is re-using a few of its first generation Leaf NMC batteries to power part of the company’s part manufacturing plant.BMW has a similar recycling initiative for its i3 batteries in Australia.

The Toyota Prado and LandCruiser have largely been the default choices for family SUVs in rural and remote Australia for decades now but as fuel prices crunch, some alternatives are seeming more desirable than ever.BYD’s premium spin-off brand, Denza, launched in Australia earlier this year with the Prado-sized B5 and LandCruiser 300 Series-rivaling B8 SUVs.Both offer a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) set-up, which combines dual electric motors (one on each axle) with a turbocharged petrol engine that generally acts as a generator to top up the battery pack but is also capable of directly powering the front wheels.Denza claims the B5 and B8 can travel up to 100km and 115km on electric power alone, respectively, according to NEDC testing.If you have the capability to charge at home, whether that be with or without solar, and have a commute of around 100km or less, you can theoretically travel on electric power alone and save massively on fuel costs.Using an electric price of 35c/kWh as a frame of reference, fully charging the B5 and B8’s battery costs $11.13 and $12.88, respectively.For many rural and remote Australians their commutes are considerably longer than 100km and this is where the peace of mind of the petrol engine comes into play.Denza claims the B5 and B8 have a combined range of 975km and 1040km, respectively, both according to the more lenient NEDC testing.The diesel-powered Toyota Prado and LandCruiser 300 Series have theoretical ranges of up to 1392km and 1236km, respectively, when using their ADR 81/02 claimed fuel consumptions.Sure the Denzas offer less overall range on paper, but previous experiences with the Prado and LandCruiser have shown they both consume more fuel than they claim, so expect less overall range between diesel refills.The new Prado also requires AdBlue and, depending on driving style and conditions, consumes around one litre of AdBlue every 500km. This means a full refill could be required every 8500km.Denza claims the B5 and B8 consumes 1.9L/100km and 2.0L/100km, respectively, when the battery pack is between 100 and 25 per cent of charge, according to NEDC testing. These figures are largely arbitrary though as much of the test cycle is driven on EV power.Where the real story is how much fuel is consumed when the battery pack is under 25 per cent charge. Denza claims the B5 and B8 consume 9.5L/100km and 9.9L/100km, respectively.During the media launch for the Denza B5 and B8 where we drove both of these cars on remote highways in the Flinders Ranges locked at 70 per cent battery charge, we saw average fuel consumption figures between 8.0L/100km and 9.0L/100km according to the trip computer read-out.One consideration is that diesel is largely more readily available in remote Australia than petrol. However, both the Denza B5 and B8 only require a minimum of 91 RON regular unleaded petrol.In saying this though, Denza has noted it’s unclear how the B5 and B8 performs on Opal fuel, which is a low-aromatic fuel that doesn’t contain the properties that create a high when sniffed and is more prolific in central Australia.While fuel is a major consideration for budget-conscious car buyers right now, there are a number of other factors that off-road-ready family SUV buyers consider.The Denza B5 has a braked towing capacity of 3000kg, which is slightly under the segment benchmark, however the B8 has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg. The latter matches what the Toyota Prado and LandCruiser offer.Due to the heft of the battery pack, the B5 and B8 are much heavier than the Prado and LandCruiser. Instead of having a kerb weight about 2500kg, the Denzas weigh more than 3000kg.The B8 in particular has a kerb weight of about 3300kg, making it Australia’s heaviest SUV.Payload in the B5 is between 490kg and 600kg, depending on the trim level, which isn’t a great deal as the Prado offers between 580kg and 615kg, depending on the trim level.The B5 only offers a five-seat configuration, whereas the Prado does offer a five- and seven-seat configuration, depending on the trim level.While payload in the B8 is 702kg across the line-up which is more on par with the 650kg-785kg payload the LandCruiser 300 Series offers.The B8 has a six- or seven-seat configuration across three rows, depending on the trim level, whereas the LandCruiser 300 Series has either five or seven seats, depending on the trim level.Both Denzas offer four-wheel drive systems with a low-range mode and, depending on the version, rear and front-locking differentials.Then there’s pricing. The 2026 Denza B5 is priced from $74,990 and $79,990 before on-road costs, whereas the Prado costs between $73,200 and $100,690 before on-road costs.The 2026 Denza B8 is priced between $91,000 and $97,900 before on-road costs, whereas the LandCruiser 300 Series costs between $99,340 and $147,910 before on-road costs.Both Denzas offer a more premium level of specification on par with the likes of Lexus.Where Denza will be fighting an uphill battle against Toyota is with its dealer network. The former is still scaling in Australia and will lean on its connections with BYD to get wide service coverage.Toyota has the largest dealer network out of any carmaker in Australia. It has over 250 locations, whereas Denza is planning to have 25-30 dealers by the end of 2026.While this op-ed has largely focused on the new Denza SUVs, there are a few notable family SUV rivals that also offer PHEV powertrains.Examples include the similarly off-road-ready GWM Tank 300 and Tank 500 PHEVs, as well as more on-road-oriented rivals like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the Chery Tiggo 8 and Tiggo 9 Super Hybrids.

Leapmotor has unveiled its special edition C10 Sports+ all-electric mid-size SUV, which will shake up the performance EV space. It will be priced from $53,888 (before on-road costs), which is $4000 more than the previous top-spec model. Unlike the rest of the C10 range, the car comes with all-wheel drive, while all other C10s have rear-wheel drive. The main change on this special edition C10 is the addition of a serious power upgrade, with its dual motor set-up producing 440kW and 760Nm, shifting the car from 0-100km/h in four seconds. This is substantially more power than the standard C10, which produces 160kW and 320Nm. These figures mean the C10 has a similar power output to the range-topping Tesla Model Y Performance, with a starting price of nearly $90,000. It is also cheaper than the most affordable rear-wheel drive variant of the Model Y .The car has been given a bigger 81.9kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery, offering a driving range of up to 437km, according to WLTP testing. This is only a slight improvement on the standard car (425km) due to the extra weight and increased power of the dual motor set-up. This version of the C10 is built on a new 800-volt platform, allowing for DC charging at 180kW. It can recharge from 30-80 per cent in 22 minutes. The C10 appears better value on paper compared to pricier key rivals such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV5 and Zeekr 7X.On the inside, the car has a 14.6-inch central touchscreen and 10.25-inch digital driver display, along with synthetic leather seats. Other interior features on the special edition C10 include a panoramic glass roof, as well as electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats. It gets some cosmetic changes as well, like ‘Sports+’ branded cabin mats, rear badging and side decals. The C10 Sports+ Special Edition will arrive in showrooms next month. 

Fuel prices are soaring across the board whether it is petrol or diesel. Some drivers are being more affected than others as lower fuel efficiency contributes to higher refuelling costs. Here are the most expensive cars to run currently in Australia based on fuel efficiency. Other contributing factors to the high fuel costs on this list include the fact many of the cars have big fuel tanks and require premium fuel.Fuel prices have been calculated using the average prices for fuel in New South Wales and at an average of 15,000km driven per year. Among the heaviest guzzlers is the Nissan Patrol four-wheel drive, with its 5.6-litre V8 drinking fuel at a rate of 14.4L/100km. Its 140-litre fuel tank and requirement for premium unleaded petrol means it costs $364 per fill-up and a total yearly cost of $5617.28. The Patrol will move to a more efficient 3.5-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol, which is expected to reduce fuel costs. The Ford Mustang sports car is another V8 on this list, with its 5.0-litre unit registering average fuel efficiency at 13.6L/100km and a yearly cost of $5310.27.Ford’s other representative is the Ranger Raptor high-end ute, powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine costing $4482.76 per year. The Ineos Grenadier off-roader is the most expensive model to run and costs $5618.50 a year to run, in part due to it being diesel, which has been the fuel type that has increased the most. The Lexus GX550 has refuelling costs of $208 per fill-up currently, costing $4800 for the year, along with nearly $3000 for the Jeep Gladiator, which unlike many on this list can run off E10 fuel.The 6.2-litre petrol V8 found in the Chevrolet Silverado full-size pick-up has an economy of more than 12 litres per 100km, costing $4,356.30 over the year.  Genesis’ GV70 luxury SUV costs more $4400 per year in fuel, a similar figure to the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 variants of the Land Rover Defender. Highest fuel efficiency new vehicles on sale under $150,000 

Subaru has confirmed it will unveil an “all-new, all-electric SUV” at this year’s New York International Auto Show, which kicks off on (no joke) April 1st.Positioned under a theme of “Fast. Family. Fun.”, the Japanese maker has previewed the upcoming arrival via a dark teaser image with the only hard specifications noted being a power output of 313kW (420hp) and all-wheel drive, both of which point to dual-motor propulsion.Visual clues include narrow six-point headlights similar to the existing Solterra and Trailseeker EV line-up, roof rails and an illuminated star-cluster badge on the nose.The emphasis on ‘Family’ could also point to a three-row configuration, which opens up the possibility of the new model sharing its development with the recently released pure-electric Toyota Highlander (Kluger).A connection makes sense with Subaru and Toyota confirming expansion of their model-share partnership with three electric SUVs in 2026-’27, Subaru on the record noting the Toyota connection will accelerate development of its EV portfolio.The three-row Highlander, Toyota’s first battery-electric vehicle for the US market, rides on the brand’s ‘Toyota Next Generation Architecture-K’ (TNGA-K) platform and is slated for assembly in the southern US state of Kentucky with batteries sourced from Toyota's recently opened battery assembly plant in Liberty, North Carolina.For reference, the Highlander measures 4950mm long, 1989mm wide and 1709mm tall with a 3050mm wheelbase.If Subaru follows the high-standard spec strategy it applies to other Toyota-shared models, it’s likely the new SUV will adopt the top-grade Highlander Limited’s 95.8kWh battery, for a 515km range.Other premium Highlander features like ‘Vehicle-to-Load’ (V2L) are likely to feature and although the flagship Highlander’s overall output is quoted at just over 250kW, it’s not hard to imagine Subaru putting its own, more performance-focused spin on the powertrain.Expect the interior to include a 14-inch multimedia touchscreen, 12.3-inch driver's display, a large-format head-up display and customisable ambient lighting.

Toyota’s mini LandCruiser FJ has finally launched overseas, with a very sharp price.The rough and tumble 4WD has launched in Thailand — where it is built — with prices starting at the equivalent of about $55,900 Down Under.That puts the mini 4WD on par with lower grades of the new RAV4 hybrid, which unlocks off-road adventuring at a bargain price.Toyota is still blocking the FJ LandCruiser for coming to Australia for now.Toyota Australia’s former Vice President of Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley told CarsGuide at the 2025 Tokyo Motor Show it would not be available to Australia because the 2.7-litre petrol engine only adheres to Euro 5 emissions regulations.“The LandCruiser name in Australia would be very appealing, but the hardcore reality we are facing in our country… variable regulations, new criteria, new vehicle efficiency standards,” said Hanley.“It’s not about NVES, it’s just about regulations.“We’re moving to Euro 6 emissions standards. That’s the reality,” he said. The culprit is a 2.7-litre petrol engine, which was previously found in entry-level HiLux variants, that makes 120kW and 246Nm in the FJ LandCruiser.There are rumours out of Japan Toyota may install the same 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine with mild hybrid assistance as the current Toyota HiLux ute and Prado 4WD.This would likely deliver a huge performance bump to a max of 150kW and 500Nm, but a detuned version could be used to further lower emissions.Any diesel FJ LandCruiser won’t be available until at least 2029, according to reports.Hanley said at the time if the FJ LandCruiser’s engine did meet Euro 6, which the HiLux’s engine with AdBlue does, the company would be more likely to consider it for Australia.“If it was Euro 6, I would reconsider it,” said Hanley.“If it does turn out to be a Euro 6 engine, and if it does turn out to be that way, which it could… then that’s something we could re-examine.”Pocket-sized off-roaders are the flavour of the month, with Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover working on a small G-Wagen and Defender, respectively.Both those are expected to be electric, with plug-in hybrid power a possibility depending on buyers’ tastes.BYD’s Denza has shown 4WDs are willing to embrace plug-in hybrid power for off-roading, with the recent launch of the B5 and B8 Prado and LandCruiser 300 Series rivals.