Hybrid Reviews

As the great philosopher, Kermit the Frog, famously said: "It’s not easy being green."It is getting easier being a ‘green’ car company in Australia, as more and more motorists make the switch to electrification. And for Skoda, the Czech brand with the green logo, this is the perfect time to start leveraging its broad array of mild-hybrids, battery electric vehicles and, perhaps most timely of all, plug-in hybrids (PHEV).That’s what we’re reviewing here, the Skoda Kodiaq PHEV, which joins the local line-up at just the right moment. PHEVs are all the rage at the moment, with China leading the charge (pardon the pun), but with the European brands quickly catching up.PHEV sales are up ‘only’ 62.5 per cent in the first two months of 2026, which is noticeably down on 2025’s massive 130 per cent sales boom. It’s still a growing segment, coming off a low base, but it is clear that Australians are embracing PHEVs more than ever before.Only a few years ago many brands dismissed the technology as only a ‘bridge’ towards fully electric vehicles and therefore of limited appeal. But as some Australians remain reluctant to go ‘all-electric’ in a hurry, Skoda anticipates that PHEV will actually be a “long bridge” that could span a decade or more in this country.So with that in mind, is the Kodiaq PHEV the right car at the right time? Or another case of so close, yet so far for a brand that continues to find itself as a niche offering despite closing in on two decades in Australia.The on-paper specifications look promising. The Kodiaq PHEV system combines a 110kW turbocharged petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor (integrated into the transmission) to produce a combined output of 150kW, paired to a 25.7kWh lithium-ion battery. That battery provides enough energy for up to 110km of electric-only driving, according to Skoda, while helping it achieve a claimed fuel economy figure of 1.9L/100km.And it does all this in a large SUV capable of fitting a family of five in comfort. That's right, while the petrol Kodiaqs are all seven-seaters, the PHEV is a five-seat-only proposition. So if you need a third seating row, best look elsewhere.What typically sets Skoda apart from its rivals is its thoughtful design, with the so-called ‘simply clever’ touches, like the pop-out door edge protectors, cleaner for the touchscreen and rubbish bins in the door pockets.While these sorts of things may seem like small, inconsequential elements, they are often very helpful in the day-to-day life of driving a family vehicle. For example, there is an extra storage compartment in the rear, which gives your kids or friends a place to stow their bottles and other small items.From a technology and presentation perspective the Kodiaq does a nice job fitting into a space above the mainstream. There’s a 10-inch digital instrument display and a 13-inch multimedia screen and a pair of wireless smartphone charging pads.Also of note, despite most of the multimedia system being run via the touchscreen, Skoda utilises its ‘smart dials’ for easier, on-the-move, functionality for the air-conditioning and driving modes. For those unfamiliar, these ‘smart dials’ can perform multiple functions as they can change through different menus with a press and then you rotate them to adjust. As an example, you can switch between fan speed and drive modes by pressing the centre of the three dials.So, how does this smart new powertrain and clever interior stack up on the road? Well, there’s good news and some not-so-good news for Skoda.On the plus side, the Kodiaq drives with the sort of direct and responsive nature we expect from Volkswagen Group vehicles. They have a firmness to the ride that translates to a more dynamic and engaging driving experience compared to your average, mainstream large SUV. It’s certainly a cut above what you get from some Chinese-built PHEV rivals.The powertrain did a good job of seamlessly switching between the various options it has. Over more than 150km of driving, mostly on open roads to the south of Sydney, we saw a return of 3.8L/100km on the Kodiaq’s own trip computer. Obviously that’s a lot more than the official claim, but with more urban, stop-start driving, getting closer to, or even below, 3.0L/100km seems achievable, and would be a good result for an SUV of this size.As for the negatives, unfortunately for those who have driven previous generation Skodas (or Volkswagens) this new Kodiaq just doesn’t feel as solid and as refined as before. Most notable is the door rattles, particularly noticeable on bumpy back roads. It’s very uncharacteristic for Skoda, but it’s the same experience we had when we test drove the Volkswagen Tayron (the Kodiaq’s German twin) and it suggests there has been some sort of change behind-the-scenes that has impacted the build quality the brands were once renowned for.It’s especially disappointing when you consider the price, $63,490 plus on-road costs or a current drive-away deal of $68,990, which means it’s not a cheap car and should have a semi-premium feel to it.Still, that’s a competitive price amongst its direct rivals, the Mazda CX-80 PHEV starts at $75,750 (plus on-roads) and the Kia Sorento PHEV range kicks off at $71,130 (plus on-roads). But with the new BYD Sealion 8 arriving with a seven-seat option from $56,990 (plus on-roads) and the Chery Tiggo 8 starts at just $45,990 drive-away, it won’t be easy for Skoda to cash in on the PHEV fandom.

Chinese manufacturer Deepal calls its new full-electric large SUV a 'multitruck' but does the E07 offer sufficient load-hauling and towing capabilities to validate such a claim?

Chery is popping out new brands in Australia left, right and centre. While originally part of the model name that marked the Chinese carmaker’s re-entry into the Australian market, Omoda has now been spun off into its own brand under the Omoda Jaecoo umbrella.The 2026 Omoda 9 is the brand’s flagship model and is currently the most expensive Chery model offered locally.It’s only offered in one trim which is priced from $61,990 before on-road costs. This puts it on par with the likes of the BYD Sealion 8, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, as well as the related Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid.Notably however, the Omoda 9 only comes with five seats, making it more of a budget alternative to the likes of the Lexus RX and Volkswagen Touareg.Available as a sole range-topping grade, the Omoda 9 is filled to the gills with kit. Highlights include 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, power tailgate, dual 12.3-inch screens, 12-speaker Sony sound system, head-up display, 50W wireless charger and black synthetic leather upholstery.If this isn’t enough there are luxurious features like a built-in fragrance system as part of the climate control, retractable door handles, walk-away locking, plus heated and ventilated front and rear seats. Now that’s flash for a car that’s under $70K.While there is lots of tech, there is no real defining feature that makes this car uniquely an Omoda. The same can be said for the exterior design, which from some angles can be generic and others it borders on tacky.This extends to the cabin where there's a smattering of interior ambient lighting that can strobe along frenetically to your music if you’d like.While it’s nice having some physical switchgear for features like the climate control and drive modes, it’s frustrating having to tell new passengers where the button is to open the door every time they hop in. The gloss black finish of the steering wheel button sections also get smudgy and gross quickly.Under the bonnet there’s a complex plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and no less than three electric motors – two on the front axle and one on the rear.Total system output is a massive 395kW, which is arguably too much for a car like this. It allows for a 0-100km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds. Pretty wild for a 2.2-tonne SUV.Making up a fair portion of this heft is a ginormous 34kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Omoda claims this allows it to travel up to 169km on electric power alone, which is around the same as what the original Nissan Leaf EV offered. Adding the 70L fuel tank, it’s claimed this SUV can travel up to 1100km, which is useful on long-distance journeys.I took this car on a long-distance trip to my family’s farm, around 350km north west of Melbourne. I could have made it there and back on a full battery charge and tank of fuel, but I ended up refuelling just as I neared Melbourne as I was testing how the engine charges the battery on the move.My sister, who was a passenger for the journey, enjoyed the comfort and plushness the Omoda 9 provides. However, we both noted how high the front seats are positioned and how pinched the seat bases are.If you’re not a car person and view a car purely as a means of transportation, you’ll likely enjoy the driving characteristics of the Omoda 9. It’s insulated, quiet and disconnected from the road, allowing you to be in your own bubble.However, this also means that the Omoda 9 has little feel from behind the wheel. It has some of the lightest steering I’ve experienced. It feels like I’m driving in a video game rather than real life as there’s virtually no resistance.The same can be said for the ride. While wafty and soft, there is a lack of body control and it can get bouncy in the cabin. You do need to remember how heavy this big SUV is, though.In order to counter this there are adaptive dampers as standard. In ‘Normal’ mode it rounds off speed bumps nicely but it takes the car multiple movements to settle over high-speed undulations, whereas in ‘Sport’ mode it’s a little more controlled, but still not enough.The Omoda 9 received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2025. Standard kit includes eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, as well as a surround-view camera.A lot of the safety features work well and stay in the background, only activating when required. The only outlier to this is the driver attention monitor which struggles to detect your eyes when wearing sunglasses. This needs to be turned off using the touchscreen every time you drive the car.Owners are covered by an eight-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with eight years of roadside assistance. Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km and the first eight services totals $3343, which averages out to about $418 per service. Not too bad for a big, plug-in hybrid SUV.

The enduring family workhorse of the small SUV segment, the ageing Suzuki Vitara finally goes hybrid for its second facelift, adopting a mild-hybrid 48V ISG (Integrated Starter-Generator) set-up similar to the one proven on the smaller Swift supermini, to bring consumption down whilst keeping prices reasonable. But, has the Japanese engineered and European-built small SUV changed enough?

The third-generation Mitsubishi Outlander mid-size SUV was popular in Australia for good reason, with it offering buyers the choice of five or seven seats, and plug-in hybrid, petrol or diesel powertrains. As a result, it can also make for a good used car.

For 25 years and four generations, the Nissan X-Trail has been an okay mid-sized SUV choice. But the e-Power extended-range electric vehicle hybrid has been a standout since arriving in 2023. Fast, refined, sophisticated and fun, it redefined class standards, though buyers were slow to realise. Now, a minor facelift brings improvements, but are they enough for the Nissan to finally break through?

The new Jaecoo J7 PHEV offers efficiency and a sharp price point but does it nail everything else?

The 2026 Denza B8 7S is the entry-level version of the line-up and offers seven seats, as the name suggests.Priced at $91,000 before on-road costs, this notably just undercuts the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold. It’s also cheaper than the likes of the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, among other premium rivals like the Land Rover Defender, Lexus LX and Mercedes-Benz GLS.As a base there are 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, soft-close doors, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 17.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system, 18-speaker Devialet sound system, tri-zone climate control, leather upholstery, plus heated and ventilated seats in the first and second row.Total system outputs are a meaty 425kW and 760Nm. They need to be as the B8 has a kerb weight of 3.3 tonnes. Despite this, Denza claims it can still do the 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.8 seconds.Feeding the dual electric motors is a 36.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade battery. Denza claims it allows for an electric range of 115km, according to NEDC testing.Additionally, there’s a 91L fuel tank. Denza claims this allows the B8 to have a total range of 1040km, according to NEDC testing.The Denza B8 received a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted on the related B5 in 2025.There are 14 airbags which notably includes coverage for the third row, plus autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera.The Denza B8 is covered by a six-year, 150,000km warranty, whereas the battery pack is covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty. There’s also three years of roadside assistance.The first five years of servicing totals $3762, which averages out to just over $750 per service.

The 2026 Denza B5 Leopard is the top-spec trim level in the line-up.Priced from $79,990 before on-road costs, this undercuts many top-selling diesel-powered rivals like the Toyota Prado and Ford Everest. The slightly smaller GWM Tank 300 PHEV however is more affordable at $59,990 drive-away.As a base, the B5 is loaded with standard equipment. You get 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, a glass panoramic sunroof, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 15.6-inch touchscreen multimedia system, 16-speaker Devialet sound system, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with a massage function, plus heated outboard rear seats.If this isn’t enough, the B5 Leopard gets larger 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive hydraulic suspension, a digital rear-view mirror, a second wireless phone charger, Nappa leather upholstery and ventilated outboard rear seats.Power comes from plug-in hybrid set-up combining dual electric motors (one on each axle) and a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.It’s a similar set-up to the BYD Shark 6, but the B5 has more power. Total system outputs are a meaty 400kW and 760Nm.Feeding the electric motors is a 31.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade battery which Denza claims to allow the B5 to travel up to 100km on electric power alone, according to NEDC testing.There’s also an 83L fuel tank. Denza claims the B5 has a total range of 975km, according to NEDC testing.The Denza B5 received a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2025.As standard there are 11 airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention monitor, front and rear parking sensors, plus a surround-view camera.Denza B5 owners are covered by a six-year, 150,000km warranty, whereas the high-voltage battery is covered for eight years or 160,000km. Owners also receive three years of roadside assistance.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months of 20,000km, whichever comes first. The first five years of servicing totals $3542, which averages out to just over $700 per service.

The 2026 Denza B8 6S is the flagship version of the line-up and notably offers six seats, as the name suggests.Priced at $97,990, before on-road costs, this notably undercuts rivals like the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, as well as other premium rivals like the Land Rover Defender, Lexus LX and Mercedes-Benz GLS, among others.As standard there are 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, soft-close doors, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 17.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system, 18-speaker Devialet sound system, tri-zone climate control, Nappa leather upholstery, plus second-row captain’s chairs that are heated, ventilated and have a massage function.Power comes from a plug-in hybrid set-up combining dual electric motors and a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine.Total system outputs are a meaty 425kW and 760Nm. They need to be as the B8 has a kerb weight of 3.3 tonnes. Despite this, Denza claims it can still do the 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.8 seconds.Feeding the dual electric motors is a 36.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. Denza claims it allows for an electric range of 115km, according to NEDC testing.Additionally, there’s a 91L fuel tank. Denza claims this allows the B8 to have a total range of 1040km (NEDC).The Denza B8 received a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted on the related B5 in 2025.There are 14 airbags which notably includes coverage for the third row, plus autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and a surround-view camera.The Denza B8 is covered by a six-year, 150,000km warranty, whereas the battery pack is covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty. There’s also three years of roadside assistance.The first five years of servicing totals $3762, which averages out to just over $750 per service.