Electric Reviews

The starting point in the electrified Ford Transit Custom range, the Trend PHEV (plug-in hybrid) costs $67,590 and is available only in long-wheelbase form with a three-seater layout. Standard on the Trend is full wireless connectivity including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, embedded sat-nav, twin info screens and wireless phone charging. Steel 16-inch wheels are fitted.The PHEV driveline consists of a 2.5-litre petrol engine teamed with an electric motor and an 11.8kW battery that gives up to 54km of EV-only running. Selectable modes allow the driver to generate or save battery power, but the EV range is poor compared with the competition. Power is 171kW and torque is 400Nm, but the PHEV Transit can’t use commercial fast-chargers. The PHEV Transit Custom is front-wheel-drive.The pure EV version of the Trend costs $77,590 and includes the same equipment and dimensions, and uses a rear-drive layout with a single electric motor and a 64kW battery pack under the floor. Power is 160kW and torque is 415Nm and Ford claims a range of 301km. Charging should take the vehicle from 15 per cent to 80 per cent charged on a DC fast-charger at 125kW in 32 minutes, but the vehicle can also be charged at home from fully discharged to fully charged in 10.1 hours on a household socket.The cabin of the electrified Transit Custom is well thought out and designed as a workspace as well as a cockpit. It features five USB-C charge ports, plenty of bottle and phone cubbies and even space under the passengers seat for bulky items.The cargo area in both PHEV and EV forms is accessed by a single sliding door (with the option of double doors) and barn doors at the rear which open wide enough for fork-lift loading. The cargo bay walls are lined and a tough plastic mat covers the floor. There are tie-down points, LED lighting and an illuminated step and there’s also a space-save spare tyre.Six airbags including front, side and side curtain are standard and the Transit Custom PHEV also boasts the latest driver aids including auto emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, a 180-degree rear camera system and on-board tyre pressure monitoring.Servicing is every 12 months or 30,000km and the Transit Custom is covered by Ford’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty as well as eight years/150,000 on the PHEV battery. Capped-price servicing is also offered.

The Ford Transit Custom Sport variants include both plug-in hybrid and full electric drivelines. Compared with the lower-spec Trend specification of the same vehicle, the Sports adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a body kit including a rear spoiler, external stripes, a 10-way powered driver’s seat and dual-zone climate control. The Sport PHEV costs $69,990 and the EV variant costs $79,990.Mechanically, the Sport is identical to the Trend versions, apart from a shorter wheelbase for a 400mm shorter overall length.The PHEV variant of the electrified Transit Custom comes with a 2.5-litre petrol engine teamed with an electric motor and an 11.8kW battery that gives up to 54km of EV-only running. Selectable modes allow the driver to generate or save battery power, but the EV range is poor compared with the competition. Power is 171kW and torque is 400Nm, but the PHEV Transit can’t use commercial fast-chargers. The PHEV Transit Custom is front-wheel-drive.The EV version, meanwhile, switches to rear-wheel drive with a single electric motor between the rear wheels and a 64kW battery under the floor.The cargo area is accessed by a single sliding door (with the option of double doors) and barn doors at the rear which open wide enough for fork-lift loading. The cargo bay walls are lined and a tough plastic mat covers the floor. There are tie-down points, LED lighting and an illuminated step and there’s also a space-save spare tyre.Six airbags including front, side and side curtain are standard and the Transit Custom PHEV also boasts the latest driver aids including auto emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, a 180-degree rear camera system and onboard tyre pressure monitoring.Servicing is every 12 months or 30,000km and the Transit is covered by Ford’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty as well as eight years/150,000 on the PHEV battery. Capped-price servicing is also offered.

It was a matter of time, but Ford has now extended electrification to its popular Transit Custom range. But instead of a single model, there are two distinct drivelines; a pure EV and a plug-in hybrid. There's also a choice in specification and even wheelbase, and we reckon there are more variants to come. But for now, which of the sparked-up Transit Customs does the best job?

Tesla's FSD (Supervised) is rolling out to Australian customers. We find out whether it has been worth the wait and most notably if it can do a hook turn!

The Polestar 4 is the mid-size SUV that is supposed to put the Polestar brand on the map globally. Its design definitely turns heads. And if you get behind the wheel of the fully electric vehicle, there's even more to love – but it might drive you mad if you don't specify it correctly.

When the BMW iX showed up a few years ago, it was a promising look at what BMW seemed capable of when it comes to electric cars. But in the time since the iX launched, there have been big strides in the premium electric SUV space, including new arrivals from European opposition like the Polestar 3 or even a new American in the form of the Cadillac Lyriq.

The entry-level Zeekr 7X model misses out on some of the good stuff, with less power than the AWD, and a smaller battery than the Long Range model. It is the fastest-charging of the lot, though, with up to 450kW DC charging possible.It's $57,900, before on-road costs, and standard kit is pretty impressive across the board, with the entry-level model scoring 19-inch alloys, LED lighting all around, a powered boot and a glass roof with a powered shade. and ambient interior lighting, too. Tech is handled by a 16-inch central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there are two 50W wireless charge pads. You also get a digital dash, tri-zone climate and a 10-speaker stereo.It gets a 75kW LFP battery, which should deliver a 480km driving range on the WLTP cycle.

The Skoda Enyaq Coupe 85 Sportline for 2026 continues from the original, pre-facelift version released in Australia in September, 2024, introducing a new look as well as a second body style that should appeal to family-orientated consumers – a more-practical SUV wagon shape.Like the base 60 Select, both versions are only available with a rear-mounted electric motor driving the rear wheels.Starting from $59,990 before on-road costs, the new 85 Sportline SUV wagon is competing head-on with the likes of the BYD Sealion 7, Kia EV5 and Tesla Model Y.It also lines up against closely-related cousins within the Volkswagen Group riding on the same 'MEB' platform – the VW ID.4, Cupra Tavascan and Audi Q4 e-tron. Going for the Enyaq Coupe 85 Sportline from $65,990 means you’ll need to fork out another $6000.Unlike the base 60 Select, the 85 Sportline scores a larger battery at 82kWh for more WLTP range and stronger performance from its electric motor.The 85 Sportline shares the entry-level Enyaq’s advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) technologies like autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control are included.There are also seven airbags, a reversing camera, a 13-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a wireless charger, digital radio, heated front seats, three-zone climate control, a powered tailgate, charging cables, a seven-year warranty and an umbrella.Then the 85 Select brings matrix LED headlights, leather with synthetic-suede trim, powered, heated and massaging front seats, heated rear seats, regenerative-braking paddles on the steering wheel, 20-inch wheels and more.For goodies like a surround camera view, a head-up display, premium audio, adaptive dampers and 21-inch alloys, you’ll need the Ultimate pack as a $5000 option.Note that the Enyaq Coupe 85 Sportline adds a glass roof, but the SUV wagon buyer must fork out another $2000 for a panoramic sunroof with sunshade.Neither versions come with a spare wheel, sadly, just a tyre-repair kit.The 85 Sportline’s electric motor delivers a healthy 210kW of power and 545Nm of torque, propelling it from zero to 100km/h in 6.7 seconds on the way to a 180km/h top speed. Underneath is MacPherson-strut suspension up front and a multi-link rear end.The combined energy consumption figure is 15.9kWh/100km on average for the 85 Sportline SUV wagon and 15.5kWh for the Coupe version, due to the latter’s superior aerodynamics. Their WLTP ranges differ as a result, coming in at 547km and 561km, respectively.Charging to 100 per cent full using a normal power socket could take 40 hours, or about 12 hours with an optional 7.0kW Wallbox, while a 20-80 per cent top-up on a 50kW DC fast charger needs about 80 minutes, or half that with a 100kW charger.

The Zeekr 7X is the mid-size Tesla Model Y rival the Chinese brand has been waiting for. In fact, this model alone has already tripled the brand's sales, and it hasn't even arrived yet. The question is, does it live up to the hype?

Skoda's first EV might be five years old in Europe, but this year's facelift means the Enyaq is now a fierce alternative to the BYD Sealion 7, Kia EV5 and even Tesla Model Y. Related to the VW ID.4 and Audi Q4 e-tron, the electric Skoda's affordable pricing and smart specification hark back to earlier brand values, making the Enyaq one of the most compelling and enjoyable family EV SUVs, period.