7 seater

Toyota has revealed prices for the new Prado 4WD ahead of its arrival in showrooms later this year.The rugged off-roader range kicks off at $72,500 (before on-road costs) for the entry-level GX grade. This is a jump of $10,000 compared to the outgoing version.It rises to $79,990 for the GXL variant, $87,400 for the VX grade, $92,770 for the off-road focused Altitude and tops out at $99,990 for the Kakadu.Toyota Australia’s Vice president of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said the new 4WD is a big improvement over the outgoing model.“Customers in this segment are continually upgrading their expectations and will appreciate the inherent value in the new range with its head-turning looks, impressive technologies, latest off-road features, optimum blend of performance and efficiency, and even greater creature comforts,” Mr Hanley said.“The 2024 LandCruiser Prado will build on the model’s reputation as one of Australia’s best-loved vehicles, equally capable and comfortable whether taking owners across the outback or on the school run,” he added.The new Prado brings butch looks to match its rough-and-tumble capabilities.It’s a big square-jawed rig, with black cladding on the hardwearing external surfaces, chunky wheel arches and big blocky T-O-Y-O-T-A badging. It’ll be hard to miss when it lands on our roads.All variants will be powered by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine paired with 48-volt V-Active technology (that Toyota does not call a mild hybrid) matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.The same set-up is found in this year’s HiLux where it makes 150kW and 500Nm.Unlike Toyota’s other hybrid vehicles the small electric motor never drives the wheels, instead it’s used to power the starter motor and other electrical components.Every model has full time four-wheel drive with low-range transfer case, a locking centre differential and a 3500kg braked towing capacity.Prado GX buyers can expect 18-inch alloy wheels, LED head lights and a glass hatch on the tailgate.A big 12.3-inch multimedia screen is paired with a 7.0-inch digital information screen for the driver.GXL variants add a third row of seats, roof rails and silver exterior highlights on the front and rear bumper.There are luxe items such as a power adjustable driver’s seat and heating and ventilation for front passengers. Connectivity is boosted with a wireless device charger and extra USB charging ports.The Prado VX builds on this with synthetic leather upholstery, 20-inch alloy wheels, fully digital driver display, 14-speaker JBL stereo and a refrigerated centre console box among other items.An off-road focused Altitude variant is new to the Prado range and is five seats only. The Altitude's 18-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in beefier all-terrain tyres and it includes hardware upgrades such as a locking rear differential and a new sway-bar disconnect feature that allows for increased wheel articulation when covering rough terrain.The Kakadu dials up the luxury with a panoramic moon roof, heated and ventilated rear seats, heated steering wheel, digital rear vision mirror, head-up display and limited-slip rear differential. 

The flagship GT-Line ($70,680 petrol, $72,910 diesel) sits atop the Kia Carnival range in Australia, and such builds on the other models’ equipment list with dual-projection headlights, a heated steering wheel, a 12-speaker BOSE sound system, ventilated seats up front, a big head-up display and a digital rear-view mirror, along with a slightly better interior treatment and the return of the auto window and powered seat to the passenger side of the car.There is seating for up to eight, and at 175cm, there was ample room for me in the middle row, and you can configure the cabin to your liking, too. You can slide the row on rails, for example, to prioritise leg room where you need it, and the middle seat folds down to reveal cupholders in a kind of hard plastic travel tray.But even in the third row I could easily get comfortable, though head room begins to get a little tighter. There are cupholders and USB connection points, too, and I can honestly say you could send full-size humans back there and not feel overly guilty about it.The petrol engine is what I reckon is the lesser of the two ICE options — a 3.5-litre petrol V6, producing a rev-happy 216kW and 355Nm. The better option, I think, is the 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel, which makes 148kW and 440Nm, and just suits the nature of the car a little better.Both pair with an eight-speed automatic, and send their power to the front tyres.

The GT-Line Lite is the second-from-top variant in the Carnival range, sitting below only the flagship GT-Line.As such, the GT-Line Lite ($66,350 petrol, $68,580 diesel) is fitted with bigger 19-inch alloy wheels, scores LED interior lighting, gets a dual-pane auto sunroof and some chrome embellishments on the exterior. The trade-off, though, is that the powered windows are now for the driver only, as is the powered front seat. It also gets the twin 12.3-inch screens taking care of multimedia and driving info duties.The key practicality perk here, though, is space, and lots of it. At 175cm, there was ample room for me in the middle row, and you can configure the cabin to your liking, too. You can slide the row on rails, for example, to prioritise leg room where you need it, and the middle seat folds down to reveal cupholders in a kind of hard plastic travel tray.But even in the third row I could easily get comfortable, though head room begins to get a little tighter. There are cupholders and USB connection points, too, and I can honestly say you could send full-size humans back there and not feel overly guilty about it.Part of the change package for this update Carnival is in its safety kit, some of which simply wasn’t available when Kia launched its predecessor.Which is why every model now gets a centre side airbag, Forward Collision Assist AEB, Rear Occupant Alert, Trailer Stability Assist and front parking sensors, joining the rear ones that were already there.Sport+ Models and up now add a Blind Spot View Monitor and rain-sensing wipers, as well as rear AEB through the Parking Collision Avoidance function.Also standard are Lane Keep Assist, with Lane Follow Assist, multi-collision braking, a speed-limit warning (which you will turn off) and a reversing camera.

Chery’s Tiggo 8 Pro Max is its mid-size seven seat SUV, which competes with mainstream rivals like the Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Trail, and Honda CR-V.

The Sport + is exactly middle-order in the Kia Carnival range, above the S and Sport and below the GT-Line Lite and GT-Line.The Sport+ ($62,380 petrol, $64,610 diesel) gets a whole host of new safety equipment, including a Blind Spot View Monitor and rain-sensing wipers, as well as rear AEB through the Parking Collision Avoidance function. It joins the rest of the new stuff across the range, including a centre side airbag, Forward Collision Assist AEB, Rear Occupant Alert, Trailer Stability Assist and front parking sensors, joining the rear ones that were already there.You also get a powered tailgate, automatic sliding doors and auto windows, and heated seats in the first and second rows. It also ups the tech, with twin 12.3-inch screens taking care of multimedia and driving info duties.The petrol engine is what I reckon is the lesser of the two ICE options — a 3.5-litre petrol V6, producing a rev-happy 216kW and 355Nm. The better option, I think, is the 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel, which makes 148kW and 440Nm, and just suits the nature of the car a little better.Both pair with an eight-speed automatic, and send their power to the front tyres.The key practicality perk here, though, is space, and lots of it. At 175cm, there was ample room for me in the middle row, and you can configure the cabin to your liking, too. You can slide the row on rails, for example, to prioritise leg room where you need it, and the middle seat folds down to reveal cupholders in a kind of hard plastic travel tray.But even in the third row I could easily get comfortable, though head room begins to get a little tighter. There are cupholders and USB connection points, too, and I can honestly say you could send full-size humans back there and not feel overly guilty about it.

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max launches in Australia in three variants, and the Urban is the entry-level version.

The Sport ($56,050 petrol, $58,280 diesel) is the second-cheapest way into the Carnival family — though all models are now more expensive — sitting just above the entry-level S.It builds on the S model’s LED headlights and DRLs, heated mirrors, cloth seats, smart key with push-button start, and integrated 4.0-inch driver display, and a new 12.3-inch central screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, linking with an eight-speaker sound system, now with a surround-sound function.It adds 18-inch alloys, rear LED combination lamps, a leather steering wheel and shifter, and dual-zone climate up front with single-zone temperature control in the second row. New for this updates are AeroBlade wipers, wireless charging and artificial leather seats. The petrol engine is what I reckon is the lesser of the two ICE options — a 3.5-litre petrol V6, producing a rev-happy 216kW and 355Nm. The better option, I think, is the 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel, which makes 148kW and 440Nm, and just suits the nature of the car a little better.Both pair with an eight-speed automatic, and send their power to the front tyres.The key practicality perk here, though, is space, and lots of it. At 175cm, there was ample room for me in the middle row, and you can configure the cabin to your liking, too. You can slide the second row on rails, for example, to prioritise leg room where you need it, and the middle seat folds down to reveal cupholders in a kind of hard plastic travel tray.But even in the third row I could easily get comfortable, though head room begins to get a little tighter. There are cupholders and USB connection points, too, and I can honestly say you could send full-size humans back there and not feel overly guilty about it.

Hyundai’s bold looking seven-seat Santa Fe family SUV is preparing to land in Aussie showrooms.The popular car brand has already confirmed the hybrid version of the Santa Fe will arrive this month but we now know the petrol version will arrive later this year.Hyundai says the Santa Fe will arrive in the final quarter of this year, we expect the turbo-petrol SUV to land in dealerships around Christmas time.Petrol versions use a 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that makes 206kW and 422Nm and is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. It is available in either front- or all-wheel drive layouts.Hyundai hasn’t confirmed prices for the petrol variants but the outgoing model is priced from about $46,000 (before on-road costs), so it is likely to arrive in the low-$50,000 range. The new hybrid range kicks-off from $55,500. The petrol range will mimic the hybrid line-up: starting with the simply named Santa Fe, moving up to the Elite and then to fully-loaded Calligraphy.Base example buyers can choose between front- and all-wheel drive with all-paw grip costing an extra $3000.The Elite and Calligraphy are all-wheel drive only.The Santa Fe is a bold looking SUV with dynamic H-shaped headlights and a light bar across the front grill. It has a boxy silhouette similar to older Land Rovers.Buyers of the entry Santa Fe can expect 20-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting front and back and rear privacy glass.Inside, there are dual 12.3-inch digital displays – one for the multimedia and one for the driver’s instruments – and cloth seats.Safety is comprehensive with 10 airbags and a mass of active driver aids.There is plenty of in-car tech including the brand’s connected Bluelink app, over-the-air update capabilities and smartphone mirroring paired with a wireless device charger.All-wheel-drive versions get multiple driving modes including Snow, Mud and Sand.Elite versions up the level of standard kit with synthetic leather-appointed seats, a heated steering wheel, a power-adjustable driver’s seat and a second wireless device charger.It ditches the base versions’ six-speaker stereo for a premium Bose sound system.Full fruit Calligraphy variants up the luxe factor with plush Nappa leather upholstery, sunroof and power adjustment for the front-seat passenger.

Chery has a task in front of it shaking its rivals new and old, but is it putting its best foot forward with the Tiggo 8 Pro Max?

The Kia Carnival range opens with the entry-level S ($50,150 petrol, $52,380 diesel), which scores 17-inch alloys, LED headlights and DRLs, heated mirrors, cloth seats, an electronic parking brake, and a smart key with push-button start, which is new for this update.On the tech front, there is a new integrated 4.0-inch driver display, and a new 12.3-inch central screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, linking with an eight-speaker sound system, now with a surround-sound function.The petrol engine is what I reckon is the lesser of the two ICE options — a 3.5-litre petrol V6, producing a rev-happy 216kW and 355Nm. The better option, I think, is the 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel, which makes 148kW and 440Nm, and just suits the nature of the car a little better.Both pair with an eight-speed automatic, and send their power to the front tyres.The key practicality perk here, though, is space, and lots of it. At 175cm, there was ample room for me in the middle row, and you can configure the cabin to your liking, too. You can slide the row on rails, for example, to prioritise leg room where you need it, and the middle seat folds down to reveal cupholders in a kind of hard plastic travel tray.But even in the third row I could easily get comfortable, though head room begins to get a little tighter. There are cupholders and USB connection points, too, and I can honestly say you could send full-size humans back there and not feel overly guilty about it.