SUV News

Sometimes car companies just get it wrong. Despite all the market research, focus groups, design studies and marketing programs, some cars just don’t sell. Sometimes it’s a case of being the right car at the wrong time, arriving ahead of the curve or after the boom.  We looked at that recently with the Holden Volt, a plug-in hybrid that arrived too soon (and for too much money) to be successful, even if the concept was right. But then there are some cars that are just a complete miss, arriving as an undesirable product. They are, to be blunt, the wrong car at the wrong time. Here are some examples of what happens when carmakers get it wrong. The decision to end local manufacturing for Holden cannot have been an easy one for General Motors management, but it was probably an inevitable one. The decision they did not have to make was to destroy the brand equity, not to mention the national pride and love, in the Commodore badge. While most of the cars on this list are obviously bad choices with the benefit of hindsight, the ZB Commodore was an obviously bad choice at the time. It was meant to soften the blow of the departure of the brilliant and beloved VF Commodore, but it only served to rub salt into the wounds. To the nice folks at Opel, GM’s German division, who developed the car (which was known as the Insignia in Europe) this was like having your glass of beer taken away and replaced with water from a muddy puddle with ‘beer’ written on the glass. It wasn’t a ‘Commodore’ in any way, shape or form, despite what Holden PR tried to spin at the time. Holden and GM should have followed the example Ford set with the Falcon and retired the name with dignity rather than slapping it on a sub-par import. Sometimes in life you’re faced with a 50-50 decision to make and the difference it makes in the long run can be enormous, or even catastrophic. That’s the case with Ford Australia and the Territory Turbo. The Territory was an inspired decision, a great example of delivering the right car at the right time. Ford managed to get in on the SUV craze just as it started to rise in the early 2000s, offering buyers who were starting to look for something taller than a Falcon an in-house alternative. The problem was, in 2006 they decided to expand the line-up and made the wrong call on that 50-50 decision. Legend has it that Ford Australia only had the funds to develop a Territory Turbo OR a Territory diesel, but not both at the same time. In the words of the Knight at the end of that Indiana Jones movie: “They chose poorly.” Thankfully they didn’t shrivel up and die in an instant, like the Indiana Jones’ nemesis, but it was a decision that didn’t help the future of Ford’s local models. By the time the Territory diesel did arrive in 2011, along with a facelift, Ford had lost too much ground to imported rivals and by the end of 2016, the Territory was done.  While Ford’s decision to add the turbocharged ‘Barra’ engine to the Territory seemed logical, given the high demand for that engine in the Falcon XR6 Turbo, it highlighted the difference between the Falcon and Territory buyer. In the same way a diesel Falcon would have been a terrible idea in 2006, so too did the Territory Turbo prove a costly mistake. The Evoque was a brilliant addition to Range Rovers’ line-up, another demonstration of reading the market to perfection and adding a smaller model when that’s what luxury SUV customers were looking for. Unfortunately, the Evoque Convertible was as bad an idea as the Evoque was a good one. And this was one of those ideas that you really could tell wasn’t brilliant at the time. Sure, the SUV market was rapidly changing at that point and there were some unlikely sales hits, namely Audi’s turbo-diesel SQ5. If a diesel SUV can be a popular performance car, surely a convertible would be appealing, right? Wrong. Very, very wrong. Introduced in mid-2016, the final Evoque drop-top rolled off the production line in 2018. A footnote in the history of Range Rover, and one they’d probably like to forget. As Mazda prepares to launch its second and third EVs, the sharply-priced 6e and CX-6e, it can be easy to forget its first attempt. And they might prefer you did. The MX-30 was a bolder-than-average design, with ‘suicide doors’ that were actually more like ‘choke the front seat occupants if you opened the rear doors’, but it fit nicely into the popular Mazda line-up. The problem was what was powering the MX-30. For starters, Mazda hedged its bets, offering its much-hyped EV with a mild-hybrid powertrain option, just to confuse the issue.  Which was needed because the EV only had a small battery and a theoretical driving range of only 200km, but a big price tag of over $66k. While EV sales were starting to increase at this point, so seemingly the time was right, Mazda was behind the times in terms of both capability and cost. It was destined to fail and that’s what it did, quietly pulled from sale after only three years. The American brand’s attempt to crack the lucrative ute (or ‘truck’ if you’re American) market was over before it began. On the one hand you have to give credit to Tesla for not trying to take on Ford, Chevrolet and Ram head on. But, on the other hand, what the heck were they thinking? The Cybertruck was always going to be a niche offering, with Tesla frontman Elon Musk's 250,000 annual sales claim being wildly optimistic (to put it very delicately). As the flop of the F-150 Lightning demonstrated, there is simply not a market for electric utes, whether they look like a traditional ute or something created by the work experience kid after a lot of caffeine. Where Musk and the rest of Tesla management thought they’d find 250,000 people who wanted to look like they just drove out of a 1990s computer game remains a mystery to equal the lost city of Atlantis. Electric utes may seem like a good idea, but their time has simply not come year, but certainly the Cybertruck is not what people want.

Mitsubishi has finally confirmed timing and critical details surrounding the new Pajero, locking in a true off-road 4WD that will launch before the end of the year. The brand had only so far confirmed a new large SUV was coming, leaving plenty of guess work to be done as to whether it would be a monocoque road-focused vehicle, or a true rival to vehicles like the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Nissan Patrol – not to mention newcomers like the Denza B5 and B8. But now we know the latter is the case, with Mitsubishi's president, Keisuke Kishiura, confirming that 4WD capability will be at the heart of the Pajero's development. And in more good news, the brand's most senior executive also locked in a 2026 launch for the new 4WD. Camouflaged examples of the new model have already been photographed in Australia. The executive specifically called out the off-road prowess of the old Pajero to US outlet Automotive News, saying "the Pajero is a cross-country SUV that combines fully-fledged off-road capability with the ease of handling and comfort of a passenger car", before adding: “We plan to launch the new cross-country SUV within the year.” Whether or not that also confirms the new model will be called the Pajero – which we believe it will be – we'll leave up to you, but it certainly locks in the off-road prowess, and fuels reports the model will be built using the Mitsubishi Triton's ladder-frame chassis. If it gets the Triton's underpinnings, expect the Pajero to use a version of the ute's 150kW and 470Nm 2.4-litre bi-turbo-diesel engine.  “For me, the Pajero is an object of admiration,” Mr Kishiura 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.”

Zeekr is well and truly on the map after a slow start in Australia, largely thanks to its award-winning 7X , and the premium arm of Geely is no doubt hoping to double down on that success with its next product, the 8X. The 8X is an upper mid-sized luxury SUV that leans more into the grandiose styling of the 009 people mover than the futuristic and sleek 7X. With lofty ambitions and impressive specs, expect the Zeekr 8X to take aim at five-seat SUV rivals like the Range Rover Sport, Audi Q8, and Lexus RX, but perhaps not at the same lofty price points. With Zeekr keen to capitalise on the success of the 7X, does the 8X deserve the same hype? Take a look at what we know so far. How big is the Zeekr 8X and what will it compete with? The Zeekr 8X is a large five-seat SUV. It measures 5100mm long, 1998mm wide and 1780mm tall. This makes it slightly larger than a Range Rover Sport, Lexus RX, or Audi Q8, and firmly in the large SUV category with five seats. In Zeekr’s range it will sit above the mid-size fully electric 7X, but below the flagship three-row 9X. It forms part of a larger trend of big luxury SUVs launching from Chinese brands. Other options in this space include the Denza B5 and Jaecoo J8, but expect to see more before long. The 8X will move Zeekr into hybrid territory So far, Zeekr’s offerings in Australia have been purely electric, including the X small SUV, 009 people mover and the 7X mid-sizer. The 8X is unique in the range thanks to its headline-grabbing plug-in hybrid set-up. Pairing a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine (205kW/410Nm) to dual electric motors on each axle, Zeekr claims the standard versions of the 8X produce a combined 660kW/935Nm and can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds, making it faster and more powerful than the equivalent PHEV versions of the Range Rover Sport and Audi Q8. That’s not to mention the tri-motor flagship performance version, which produces a combined 1030kW/1410Nm thanks to double the output on the rear axle, allowing an even lower 0-100km/h sprint time of just three seconds. In addition, the 8X is equipped with either a 55kWh or 70kWh battery pack with a 900-volt architecture allowing ultra-fast charging and either a 320km or 410km EV driving range respectively (according to China's lenient CLTC testing procedure). Expect a pricey SUV, but it will still represent solid value compared to rivals We don’t know which variants of the 8X will land in Australia at this stage, nor do we know how much the large SUV will cost. We can speculate, however, based on information we know. Expect it to start north of the 7X, which currently ranges from $57,900 before on-road costs for the most affordable base variant, to $72,900 for the top-spec Performance grade. It could be significantly more expensive, too. For reference, the Chinese-market 8X starts from the equivalent of A$77,420, stretching to the equivalent of A$106,183, suggesting starting prices locally north of $90,000 for an entry-level 55kWh dual-motor version. This would well and truly move Zeekr into premium pricing territory, but even then, with at least double the electric driving range and double the power of its most direct rivals from Europe and Japan, there’s an argument for value. The new styling comes with new features The 8X moves Zeekr’s interior design up a notch, with a plush leather-clad interior covered in digital tech. The digital instrument cluster measures 13.02-inches, while there are dual screens spanning the centre and passenger side of the dash for the multimedia functions. It features a 44-inch holographic head-up display for the driver, and an 8.0-inch screen on the centre console for adjustment of rear climate features and seat controls. Some variants are also equipped with a roof-mounted 17-inch rear entertainment screen. Wheels are enormous, measuring from 20- to 22-inches, and the rear seats have electronic adjustment with footrests on the outboard positions. It also has a 9.5-litre drawer, which can either be a heating compartment or refrigerator, with a range between -6 degrees and 50 degrees. It is due in Australia during 2027 and is expected to be the brand’s next big volume seller Speaking to CarsGuide recently, the brand’s local Managing Director Frank Li said the 8X would be one of a slew of new models headed to our market in 2027, which is also set to include the Euro-flavoured 7GT electric station wagon and 9X flagship three-row SUV. He said the local division hadn’t received confirmation on when each of these new cars will arrive and in what order, but brands like Zeekr are quick to move on right-hand drive production once the Australian arm locks in its business case. Plus, Australia has been earmarked as an important stepping stone for Zeekr’s global ambitions. At any rate, we expect to learn more imminently, as the brand is expected to make more announcements around the Beijing Motor Show at the end of April.

Genesis Australia has officially unveiled the updated version of its GV60 small electric SUV. It will start from $88,300, before on-road costs, which represents a substantial price drop compared to outgoing variants, wearing price tags of more than $100,000. The key reason for the reduction is the fact the GV60’s base model is rear-wheel drive, as opposed to all-wheel drive. It will closely rival the BMW iX1 and iX2, with those models also receiving substantial price drops, now coming in slightly cheaper than the GV60, and both have AWD. Price drops are a continuing trend in this segment with the Volvo EX40 now available from under $50K. It will also provide competition to the Zeekr X. There have been some significant upgrades to the new GV60, including an improved 84kWh battery, now offering a driving range of 561km (WLTP). DC fast charging for the car from 10 to 80 per cent now takes 18 minutes, courtesy of an 800-volt platform. There is also a new front bumper to reduce the drag co-efficient to a slippery 0.28 on the GV60, according to Genesis. The car’s single electric motor produces 168kW, which is somewhat of a downturn on the 234kW available on the outgoing base variant of the car. On the inside, the GV60 has a combined 27-inch digital driver display and central touchscreen as well as wireless phone charging capabilities. In addition to this new model of the GV60, there will be a performance-focused Magma version. Some details are confirmed for the Magma variant including outputs of 448kW/700Nm and an all-wheel drive driveline. This is substantially more than the outgoing Lux Performance variant's 360kW/700Nm. We also know it will have an electric limited-slip differential, drift mode and a virtual gearshift system, likely similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N's. More information on the Magma GV60 is expected to be revealed closer to the line-up’s official launch in June.

Honda has become the first Japanese car manufacturer to offer a Chinese-built model for sale in its domestic market. The all-new Honda Insight, a mid-size, pure-electric crossover has been produced in right-hand drive at the joint-venture Dongfeng Honda plant in Wuhan, China. Riding on the same ‘e:N Architecture F’ front-wheel drive platform as the Honda e:NS2 it’s based on, the Insight is powered by a 150kW/310Nm permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, the compact five-seater using a 68.8kWh NMC battery and boasting a WLTC-rated range of 535km. Claimed 20 to 80 per cent charge time is approximately 40 minutes on a ‘standard’ 50kW charger. At close to 4.8 metres long, a bit over 1.8m wide and just under 1.6m tall the fourth-generation EV is appreciably larger than its hybrid predecessor, last seen in Australia over a decade ago. Offered in a single variant, the Insight features an ‘Intelligent Heating System’ (coordinating cabin, seat and steering wheel heating), 12-speaker Bose audio, genuine leather trim, an aroma diffuser, ambient lighting, a 12.8-inch central media screen, 9.4-inch driver information display, an 11.5-inch head-up display, multi-view camera system, an integrated dashcam, a slide and tilt glass sunroof, LED active cornering lights, 18-inch alloy rims and ‘Honda Sensing’ active safety. Given the Insight’s RHD availability CarsGuide contacted Honda Australia for comment on the car’s potential for local sale and a spokesperson said, "We’re constantly evaluating options from Honda’s global line up which we feel would be suited to our Australian customers however we do not have any new models to announce just yet." Japanese pricing of ¥5,500,000 (~$48,100) means if it did come to Australia the Insight would offer an interesting alternative to premium mid-size EV SUVs like the Deepal S07 (from $53,990), Hyundai Elexio (from $58,990), KGM Torres EVX (58,000, drive-away), Leapmotor C10 EV (from $49,888), Renault Scenic E-Tech (from $55,990) and Skoda Elroq (from $47,990).  Speaking to Nikkei Asia about the car’s likely appeal to Japanese buyers, Honda Head of Development development Kunihiro Koike said, “We manage the Insight's quality according to global standards. "We will continue to consider introducing vehicles manufactured overseas into the domestic market," he said.

GWM’s Haval SUV division has officially named its new boxy flagship off-road SUV ahead of its public debut at next week's Beijing Motor Show. Now called the GWM Haval H10, more details have come to light about the model thanks to its filing with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. These details confirm the H10 will be available with two plug-in hybrid powertrains based on either a 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine. EV driving range sits at around 180km on the more lenient CLTC cycle. In addition, the H10 will be available in two lengths; 5138mm long for the five-seat version or 5299mm long for a three-row six-seater, with additional space added to the very rear of the SUV’s body rather than an increase in wheelbase. Some off-road specs have also appeared, with the boxy off-roader having an approach angle of 24 degrees and departure angle of 30 degrees for the five-seater version. This new large SUV will ride on the brand’s new 'GWM One' platform, which also underpins the incoming Wey V9X luxury SUV and the as-yet-unseen Tank 900 to round out the company’s three main passenger car brands. While trim-by-trim specs are yet to be revealed, expect this new SUV to use an 800-volt battery architecture for ultra-rapid charging While the H10 may look like a stark departure from the Haval SUVs available in Australia, it builds on the blocky appearance of other models offered in China like the H5 mid-sizer, H9 large SUV and Raptor off-roader. GWM’s local division has said the Haval brand is aimed more at the passenger car side of the market, with some models, like the Raptor or H9 likely having too much crossover with the Tank range to make sense locally. This could mean the H10 may never see Australian shores, with more likely GWM One candidates being the V9X as a luxury flagship, or the Tank 900 as the brand’s most aspirational and capable off-roader. Expect to learn more about GWM’s future new model plans for the Australian market after the Beijing Motor Show before the end of April. For now, we know the brand is planning the launch of its luxury Wey arm later in 2026, and will launch the Ora 5 small SUV to bolster its electrified offerings. The brand has also suggested its incoming 4.0-litre V8 hybrid powertrain would be the perfect fit for towing and off-roading in Australia, but the launch product for it is yet to be determined. The Haval H10 arrives to help GWM defend its reputation as one of China’s favourite off-road brands. It is facing intense competition in this boxy hybrid 4x4 space from the likes of the Denza B5 and B8, Chery with its Jetour range and upcoming diesel hybrid ute as well as new offerings from Geely and GAC which have been teased in recent weeks.

XPeng has unveiled its latest flagship SUV to take on BYD and Zeekr.  The XPeng GX is an ultra-luxury large six-seater SUV, powered by a range-extender or fully-electric set-up. This puts it into direct competition with other high-end models in the Chinese market, such as the BYD Great Tang. It will also take on the Zeekr 9X, which is anticipated to launch in Australia over the next year or so.  It is unclear at this stage whether the GX will launch in Australia. The brand’s in-limbo distributor TrueEV had previously announced a G9 large SUV and X9 people mover, but that is yet to materialise.  The newly-formed XPeng ANZ has expressed interest in having the GX as a model on sale in Australia. The range-extender set-up in the new range-topping GX utilises a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 110kW to charge the battery combined with front- and rear-mounted electric motors, producing 210kW.  This variant has a 63kWh battery, offering an electric-only driving range of 430km, with a combined driving range of 1585km. Both of these figures have been calculated using the more generous CLTC system.  The all-electric variant also has dual motors, which produce a total of 270kW, along with a driving range of 750km (CLTC) from its 110kWh battery pack.   All variants of the GX have all-wheel drive.  The GX utilises an 800-volt platform to facilitate a 10-80 per cent charge in under 12 minutes for the large SUV, according to XPeng.  There is plenty of lavish luxury on the inside of the GX, with the usual large digital driver display and central touchscreen combo, accompanied by a 21.4-inch TV-like rear screen. Additionally, there is a panoramic head-up display spanning the width of the front windscreen.  All seats are wrapped in Nappa leather, with plenty of electric adjustment options, as well as heated and ventilated functionality.  The GX has been priced from just under 400,000 yuan, which is around A$80,000, but expect it to be around $100,000 if it ever makes it to the Australian market. 

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.