Volkswagen News

The global geopolitical climate is seeing significant pressures placed on Australia’s fuel infrastructure. Prices are rising and fuel availability is becoming more scarce, while EV sales numbers continue to climb.Does this make it the perfect time to take the plunge into the EV market?  Petrol pricesThe average price for Unleaded E10 petrol in Australia has risen beyond two dollars, with many prices hitting the $2.30s and beyond.Increasing demand and decreasing supply for fuel means it's not just more expensive to buy, but now it's harder to source as many stations run out of fuel ahead of schedule.There is speculation the Federal Government may pause the fuel excise in Australia, potentially providing temporary relief, but doing so is an internal solution to an external problem. There remains uncertainty as to how long oil supplies will continue to be impacted by the war in the Middle East, meaning the availability and price of fuel will continue to be volatile. EVs are getting cheaper The first New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) period has seen some brands hike the prices of its internal combustion models to account for the fines soon to be incurred. Further, the price of electric vehicles has also dropped significantly, making it more affordable than ever to step into the market. The cheapest EV on the market is the BYD Atto 1, which starts from $23,990, before on-road costs. BYD’s bigger hatch offering, the Dolphin also starts from under $30K. GWM’s Ora hatch currently has a $2000 cash-back offer, meaning it starts from $33,990 (drive-away) until March 31. If you are looking for an SUV, Chery’s Jaecoo J5 starts from $35,990 (before on-roads). Other brands are also dramatically reducing the prices of some EVs, such as Hyundai with its Kona compact SUV, which has seen at least $13K shaved off the price. The previous year’s Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV received a sizable discount, while the Volkswagen ID. Buzz van has also experienced a $15k price cut.  Top 5 cheapest new EVs on sale in AustraliaEV driving range is increasingRange anxiety remains one of the biggest obstacles in the uptake of EVs. EV driving range has increased significantly, with battery technology improving constantly. Chinese manufacturers are leading the way, with many brands now boasting upcoming or future EVs with more than 1000km of range. This year in China Chery will launch its Exeed Liefeng shooting brake model, which has a range of 1500km. Driving range for Australian market EVs is getting better, with many offering a range of 400km or more. EV charging is faster and more availableThe EV charging landscape has changed in Australia over the past few years, with more than 1000 charging locations across Australia. Charging operators and infrastructure will continue to increase over the coming years as the government moves towards its plan to have five million EVs on the road by 2035. Major brands are also in talks to introduce more chargers in the network, such as Chinese carmaker BYD, which is looking to establish its charging presence in China. Late last year, the New South Wales government announced a program to deliver 159 new chargers in 48 locations. 

Which car brands have the most models on sale in Australia?

In an address to workers at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg headquarters overnight, VW AG Chairwoman of the General and Group Works Council Daniela Cavallo showed a teaser silhouette image of the upcoming, ninth-generation VW ID. Golf.VW has flagged a mid-2027 shift of production location for the Golf 8.5 from Wolfsburg to its Puebla plant in Southern Mexico and Cavallo was keen to reassure the employees she represents that the move is designed to make way for ID. Golf manufacture in Germany.It’s the first tangible glimpse of the new model, which is set to adopt pure-electric propulsion as well as the brand’s ID. naming convention prior to launching in 2028.Previewed by 2023’s ID. GTI electric concept, the ninth-gen ID. Golf is clearly an evolution of the Golf 8, which arrived in late 2019 with the current ‘8.5’ update following in early 2024.Introducing the ID. GTI at the 2023 IAA motor show in Munich, Volkswagen Head of Design Andreas Mindt positioned the FWD hatch as “the first glimpse of the exciting GTI future because its series development has already been decided.”So, the production ID. Golf is likely to share the concept’s full-width front and rear illumination, more prominent wheel arches and simplified, screen-rich interior (albeit with additional physical controls for key functions).For reference, the ID. GTI measures 4104mm long, 1840 mm wide and 1499mm high with a 2600mm wheelbase, which makes it around 180mm shorter end-to-end, 50mm wider and roughly 35mm taller than the Golf 8.5 with the distance between the axles reduced by 36mm.And given the German giant now owns close to 10 per cent of US EV specialist Rivan, expect to see leading edge powertrain tech and software architecture, the latter including over-the-air updates.Model hierarchy is yet to be confirmed, but VW has already indicated publicly that internal-combustion power for the Golf is set to continue well into the next decade. Meaning further updates will keep an ICE Golf running in parallel with the ID. Golf EV, the two possibly moving towards shared variations of VW’s ‘Scalable Systems Platform’ to accommodate hybrid powertrains.

Volkswagen Group’s rebooted Scout Motors has generated a massive amount of interest since it opened pre-orders in its North American launch market, garnering over 160,000 reservations.This is according to a VW Group executive, who also said the brand’s greatest success was pivoting to range-extender hybrid technology. The hybrid versions of the Scout range made up 87 per cent of pre-orders.Scout, which from the 1959 through to the 1980s was the lead product of American engineering company International Harvester’s passenger vehicle line as a domestic rival to the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler. It has maintained a cult following since as an iconic 4x4.Volkswagen Group acquired the rights to the Scout name in 2021 and announced it would launch a new model line of rugged off-roaders, including the Terra American-style pick-up truck, and the Traveler SUV.At 5821mm long, 2029mm wide, and 1974mm tall, the Scout Terra is firmly in the domain of American-sized pick-ups rather than dual-cab utes, looking to shake up the Detroit hegemony of the Ford F150, Ram 1500, and Chevrolet Silverado.Scout has promised entry prices starting under the equivalent of A$85,000 at launch in the US, although the official arrival date has been pushed back until 2028 as the order banks build up.Originally billed as an EV like the Rivian R1T, Volkswagen’s pivot to a range-extender-style hybrid system with dual electric motors on each axle and no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels has clearly been well received based on the pre-order figures.Details on this powertrain are yet to be revealed, although Volkswagen’s recent pivot to range-extender hardware for its Chinese line-up may give us a clue.The brand recently launched its new flagship SUV in China, the ID.Era 9X, which also uses a range-extender hybrid powertrain. This consists of an updated version of VW Group’s long-serving EA211 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine. It produces 105kW, supporting a 51.1kWh battery pack and either a 220kW motor in the rear-wheel drive version, or dual electric motors in the all-wheel drive version with a combined output of 380kW.Interestingly though, the Scout system looks to be even more powerful, with the brand claiming its dual electric motor set-up will have in excess of 1000Nm of torque, and its electrical architecture will be an 800-volt set-up. Combined range for the range-extender variants is plotted to be nearly 1000km.As for Scout’s chances for an Australian launch? It’s possible, but likely not imminent. The brand’s local executives told Australian media in 2025 that the Scout brand would make a good fit for our market and its desire for hybrid 4x4s with body-on-frame construction.However, with the amount of pre-orders for left-hand drive markets in the US and Canada, it is doubtful right-hand drive markets like Australia will be prioritised before the end of the decade.

Volkswagen’s new ID. Era 9X range-extender luxury three-row SUV has reportedly begun mass production in China, and will launch this month.It is unlikely the ID. Era 9X will come to Australia, given it is currently targeted towards the Chinese market. The luxury range-extender segment has been growing rapidly in China, with several major local manufacturers launching models.The ID. Era 9X is similar in size to the Zeekr 9X SUV, which is also uses an electrified powertrain and launched in China in late 2025. It is expected we will see the 9X in Australia some time this year, sitting in the $100k-plus bracket.VW’s new SUV will also take on BYD’s Great Tang large luxury SUV, the launch of which in China was delayed until the second quarter of 2026, with the brand further refining the car as competition in the space intensifies. The ID. Era 9X is a product of a partnership between VW and Chinese juggernaut SAIC, which also owns MG and LDV. The car comes in single and dual electric motor variants in the currently sought-after range-extender hybrid layout.The single motor version is rear-mounted and produces 220kW. The top-spec version has two electric motors, which combine to produce 380kW. There are two battery choices, which are 51.1kWh and 65.2kWh, with the latter offering an electric-only driving range of up to 340km (WLTP).Combined driving with the bigger battery is more than 1000km, keeping the car in line with many other range-extender rivals. All variants of the ID. Era 9X are fitted with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 105kW, which solely charges the battery as opposed to driving the wheels. With high-end technology and specifications a key point of difference for these luxury SUVs in China, VW’s car features some standout features. There is a 21.4-inch TV-like roof-mounted display, along with dual 15.6-inch displays mounted on the dashboard.The six-seat layout of the car is in 2-2-2 configuration, swapping the middle seats for extra rear passenger room to give an increased luxury and roomy feel.The ID. Era 9X will be one of Volkswagen's largest cars globally, and could potentially serve as a replacement for the Touareg if it headed for export marekts. The German brand has been vocal about expanding the use of range-extender plug-in hybrid powertrains for larger vehicles which aren't as well suited to being fully electric.The company's upcoming off-roaders for the US market from its Scout subsidiary will also use range-extender hybrid powertrains.

Battery recycling will take on an increasingly important role in electric vehicle production and sustainability as more EVs hit the roads. 

Volkswagen has finally announced pricing for key plug-in hybrid versions of its strong-selling Tiguan mid-size SUV, and its larger Tayron spin-off.The German giant has made the new ‘eHybrid’ versions of each car available in two variants at two power levels for the mid-grade Elegance and top-spec R-Line.The eHybrid system consists of a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine, mated to an electric motor for combined outputs of either 150kW for the Elegance grade or 200kW for the R-Line.The system uses a 19.7kWh battery pack, which grants either car a fully-electric driving range of between 113-117km according to the usually more accurate WLTP measuring standard.On top of that, the Tiguan and Tayron eHybrids are equipped with DC charging at a maximum speed of 40kW allowing a charge time of around half an hour on a fast connector.Starting from $64,590 before on-road costs for the Tiguan 150TSI eHybrid Elegance grade, the plug-in hybrid represents a $3000 hike over the equivalent 150TSI 2.0-litre turbo-petrol AWD version or a $13,500 hike over the base 110TSI Elegance 1.4-litre FWD version.Meanwhile both the mid-size plug-in hybrid SUVs are available with a similar list of optional equipment as their combustion equivalents.The Tiguan eHybrid offers 490 litres of boot capacity, a significant reduction on the combustion version’s 652L capacity, while the Tayron’s boot capacity is reduced from 885L to 705L.See full pricing in the table below for the Tiguan and Tayron range but with pricing between $64,590 and $76,550, both mid-sizers are a way off the more affordable end of the spectrum, which is largely populated by newer Chinese brands.BYD, for example, offers its Sealion 5 from just $33,990, before on-roads, while the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid can be had from $39,990.However, the pair of plug-in hybrid Volkswagens will present more of a problem for more traditional brands, like Mitsubishi with its (outgoing) Outlander PHEV starting from $57,290, and Kia with its Sorento PHEV starting from $71,130.The PHEV mid-size space will also be shaken up later in 2026 with the highly anticipated arrival of the plug-in hybrid RAV4. It is also priced competitively for a mainstream brand, with the XSE 2WD from $58,840 before on-roads.Volkswagen was embattled locally over the course of 2025, ending the year down 20.6 per cent on 2024. It is facing increased competition from its traditional rivals as well as rising Chinese semi-premium and premium brands. The German giant was also awaiting many model updates over the course of the year which saw demand wane for outgoing versions of some of its most popular models.2026 Volkswagen Tiguan and Tayron eHybrid price (before on-roads)

Australia’s free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) appears to be only a matter of time, according to reports and it could have some serious implications for the domestic car industry. The Luxury Car Tax (LCT), which has been in place for more than 25 years, has been one of many key points of discussion in negotiations with the EU. A new car imported from another country that exceeds a fuel efficiency of 3.5L/100km is subject to a 33 per cent tax on every dollar more than $80,567 in price. For vehicles with fuel efficiency 3.5L/100km or less, the tax does not kick in until $91,387. While European luxury vehicles are impacted by many other factors that contribute to their higher prices, such as import costs to Australia and other fees and taxes, the LCT is a significant component of its price. European luxury cars in Australia are priced at a significantly higher point compared to other markets. Removal of the LCT could increase the affordability of cars from major manufacturers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as well as many models under the Volkswagen banner.The LCT was originally designed to protect Australia’s domestic car manufacturing industry from imported alternatives, but Australia stopped producing cars in 2017.It is worth more than $1 billion to the Federal Government each year, with European manufacturers a large contributor, meaning its abolition for Europe brands would need to be enticing.Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell and the EU commissioner's joint statement said talks were “constructive and positive”, allowing “the two sides to converge positions on a range of issues.”"Good progress was achieved in narrowing gaps on a small number of outstanding matters," the statement read. Whether the future of the LCT was one of those issues is unknown but the continued rumours regarding the potential for its abolition indicate the agreement is working towards that end. 

Road rage is such an ugly part of driving, but the type of car you own could be a magnet for bullies. Having driven thousands of cars over 15 years of testing, here are three of the best cars I think will help you avoid the wrath of other drivers and three that might attract more hate when on the road.Your guess is as good as mine as to why whenever I drive a D-Max ute I get treated with so much respect despite probably doing things that’d get me honked at in other cars. Honestly, all utes command respect, patience and better treatment from other motorists, but maybe it’s the less glitzy and more down to earth rural appeal of the D-Max that makes it one of the best cars to drive if you want others to cut you a bit more slack.On the flip side its ute drivers I find to be the most aggressive out there — this is all anecdotal of course, but I’m sure there are many out there who will back me up. So perhaps a wariness of utes drivers and not a respect for hardworking tradies is why they’re treated better.Perhaps it's because police forces all over Australia use the Kia Sorento to chase baddies or it could be that this large SUV just looks tough. Whatever the reason, if you want other drivers to let you merge into their lane this is your car.The Sorento is large and pretty menacing looking from the front and back. But then so too are lots of SUVs, but what I think what wins over other drivers is the Kia badge. It's a brand that’s established itself at a grass roots level in Australian sport and community. It’s more aspirational than Toyota, but still not pretentious.I should point out that Toyota Klugers also command respect, so too do other large SUVs, like the Mazda CX-90 and the Ford Everest.  The Volkswagen Multivan looks like a toaster, only five metres long and two metres tall. And while the sheer size of it makes other road users think twice about cutting one off in traffic, it's more than that. I think it's actually connected to the iconic Kombi van and the good feelings that van conjures. You know we grow up excited to see Kombis as kids, which still hits us with a sense of “awww” even now as adults when we see a van with a VW badge. The good treatment isn’t restricted to Volkswagen Multivans, all vans are treated incredibly well despite many of them carrying out manoeuvres that defy logic, like double parking, spontaneous U-turns and driving slow while searching for an address. And that’s because we know most vans are delivery trucks on a mission and the bad driving is not down to incompetence … most of the time.I’ve picked the Porsche 911 mainly because it’s one of the cars I’ve received the worst treatment in continually but I’ve found this goes for any high-end sports car.Perhaps it’s the sight of an expensive sports car that brings out some jealousy in other drivers but I’ve never been tailgated more by other drivers than when in an expensive sports car. As for being let into traffic — that’s also a problem.This behaviour, like all road rage, is dangerous and does nothing more than reduce safety and cause stress, unnecessarily.The Suzuki Swift is great in many ways — just not how some people treat you when you’re driving it. This seems to be a problem with most small cars and I can’t help but think that there are some drivers who assume the person in the Swift is young and inexperienced. Yep there is definitely some kind of automotive pecking order out there on the road and I can be in a ute I’m testing and then move into a small car and suddenly be honked for not moving the instant a traffic light turns green.If other motorists are ‘punching down’ on young drivers then this is a huge concern that could put the inexperienced under too much pressure and lead to a life-threatening mistake.Car reviewers joke that the answer to, “what car should I buy?”, is always “Toyota Camry’ because the value for money, reliability and comfort equation is almost impossible to match. But when behind the wheel of a Camry I’ve found I’m treated in much the same way as a small car, with other drivers seemingly becoming impatient and wanting to overtake rather than sit behind me.I can only speculate as to the reason but perhaps other drivers might think Camry drivers are older and in less of a hurry, or maybe that the person behind the wheel is a rideshare driver that could stop suddenly to let a fare out.Whatever the reason, road ragers should beware that  Australia’s police forces use unmarked Camrys and so the next one you bully, could land you a ticket.   

A new automotive battleground is forming, with brands such as BYD, Zeekr, Leapmotor and now even Volkswagen joining the fray.All are developing, or about to launch, mega petrol-electric SUVs in China that put US supersized family haulers to shame.Volkswagen has confirmed its new ID.Era 9X extra-large SUV for China, which is developed with its partner SAIC that also owns MG.It is pitched as a rival to the Zeekr 9X, Leapmotor D16, BYD Tang 9 and IM LS9, which all deliver luxurious interiors, premium looks and huge batteries than deliver massive EV driving range rangeThe ID.Era 9X is a monster, measuring 5207mm long, 1997mm wide and 1810mm tall, which would dwarf the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser.It also has a wheelbase — the distance between the front and rear axles — of more than three metres. This means it will have an absolutely cavernous interior with acres of space in all three rows.The ID.Era 9X uses an extended range hybrid set-up, which pairs a petrol engine and electric motors with a sizable battery.The petrol engine is used purely as a generator for the battery, with the wheels being driven by the electric motors only.This is unlike a plug-in hybrid, which has the same elements, but it can be driven by electric, petrol or blended power.The ID.Era 9X is available in three different set-ups.The first is a single 220kW rear motor paired with a roughly 51kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery that delivers 267km of electric range.Next grade up uses a more sophisticated and larger circa-65kWh Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery that delivers a 340km EV driving range.Range-topping examples use the same NMC battery but add dual-motor power, which ups power to 380kW and reduces EV driving range to 321km.All driving ranges are calculated via the WLTC test regime, which is more lenient than the benchmark Worldwide Harmonised Light-Duty Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) more commonly used in Australia.