Electric Reviews

Six months after the VW ID.Buzz and its commercial cousin the ID.Buzz Cargo arrived in Australia, a sportier more premium version of the ultimate retro-futurist machine has joined them. The ID.Buzz GTX 4Motion is a dual-motor, long-wheelbase, seven-seat-only model that takes this pure-EV formula into new territory.

When is an EV no longer an EV? Leapmotor's new C10 REEV gains a petrol engine that acts purely as a generator, like the defunct Holden Volt and BMW i3 REx. It goes up against fierce plug-in hybrid rivals like the BYD Sealion 6, Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV, Jaecoo J7 SHS and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

The small electric SUV segment is ramping up. The Kia EV3 is making waves and so is the freshly launched MG S5 EV. But could this perky BYD Atto 2 be their biggest rival yet?

The BYD Sealion 7 and the Xpeng G6 are both alternatives to the Tesla Model Y with comparable specs but a slightly lower price.If you're a bit apprehensive about that particular brand, these two could end up on your shopping list so we're finding out if one, both, or neither are up to the task.

The 2025 Kia EV5 GT-Line has a lot going for it in the fully electric mid-size SUV segment, but it has one key flaw that some buyers might not be able to see past.

The Inster Cross, which is $45,000, lists at the top of the Inster tree, above the entry-level model, which comes as a Standard Range for $39,000, or an Extended Range for $42,500.The Inster nabs 15- or 17-inch wheels, dual 10.25-inch screens (one for the infotainment, another for driving info, a six-speaker stereo, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cloth seats, two V2L connectors (one inside the cabin, the other outside), a wireless charging pad and rain-sensing wipers. The equipment list for the Extended Range is the same, but it rides on 17-inch alloys.Stepping up the Inster Cross scores you a unique and off-road-inspired look, but also leather trim inside, a unique design for its 17-inch alloys, heating and ventilation for the front seats and heating for the steering wheel, some extra safety kit and practicality perks, and the option of a sunroof or an exterior roof storage box, the latter of which seriously eats into the driving range.Both the Extended Range and the Cross get a bigger 49kWh battery, increasing the range to 360kms. But, that roof box… It does look cool, but you’re going to really need to carry stuff to choose that option, given it increases energy consumption by 25 per cent, reducing the Cross’s range to just 293km. 

The small electric SUV segment is growing fast in Australia, and MG has just launched a model that could not only undercut more established rivals, but even beat them on the road.

The Hyundai Inster Extended Range ($42,500) shares mostly the same equipment list with the cheaper Standard Range, but scores a slightly more powerful motor, along with bigger battery, unlocking a better driving range. Standard Range cars get a 42kWh lithium-ion battery, producing a driving range of 327km.The Extended Range gets a bigger 49kWh battery, increasing the range to 360kms. The front-mounted motor’s outputs have been ticked up slightly, too, now producing 84kW and 147Nm.The Inster Extended Range nabs 17-inch wheels, dual 10.25-inch screens (one for the multimedia, another for driving info), a six-speaker stereo, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cloth seats, two V2L connectors (one inside the cabin, the other outside), a wireless charging pad and rain-sensing wipers. 

Tesla may grab lots of headlines - for better or worse - but there is another electric car company on the rise. We headed to Los Angeles to drive the Rivian R1S, an all-electric premium SUV designed to take on the best from Audi, BMW and more.Is it the next big thing in electric vehicles? And would it suit Australia? We have the answers...

The Inster is a bold new play for Hyundai - an all-electric micro SUV that packs plenty of practicality into its bite-sized dimensions. And with it, the Korean brand wades into waters currently patrolled by plenty of cheap Chinese rivals. So, does the Inster have what it takes?