Adventure

Ford Ranger's beefy new V6 engine
By Jack Quick · 21 Oct 2026
Ford will upsize the V6 engine the regular Ranger receives in the USA, though it won't be coming to Australia. As reported by Autoblog, the standard, non-Raptor version of the Ford Ranger will be gaining a larger and more powerful 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 petrol engine. This will reportedly replace the 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 petrol engine that’s optional on certain Ranger grades in the USA. A Ford Australia spokesperson has confirmed the core Ranger line-up will remain diesel-only in Australia, excluding the Ranger Hybrid and Ranger Raptor. The US-specification Ford Ranger is produced domestically, whereas the Australian-specification models are produced in Thailand. In the US this standard Ford Ranger with the 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 engine will be paired exclusively with a 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. This mirrors the Ranger Raptor. The exact power and torque figures haven’t been confirmed yet. It’s unclear whether they will remain unchanged from the Ranger Raptor, or if the engine will be detuned. For reference, the 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 engine produces 292kW and 583Nm in the Ranger Raptor. The standard 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is set to continue in the US, especially in the entry-level XLT trim. No turbo-diesel or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain is offered in the US, like it is in Australia. In the US the Ford Ranger receives a few other specification changes for the new model year. These include blue badging instead of black, updated alloy wheel options, revised front and rear fascias, new exterior paint colours, the availability of a power-sliding rear window and tweaks to the off-road-oriented FX4 package. It’s unclear whether any of these changes will inform future updates for Australian-specification Ranger. Some of the aesthetic changes may eventually come. The Ford Ranger has been Australia’s best-selling car for the last three consecutive years and it appears to be on track to achieve this again in 2026. A total of 37,858 have been sold until the end of September this year, which is narrowly ahead of the Toyota HiLux (36,616).
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Reborn British off-roader detailed in China
By Chris Thompson · 20 Oct 2026
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Chery have confirmed the global plans for their joint-venture, the Freelander 8. The 2027 Freelander 8 has now been shown to international media in the global-market spec that will first make its way to the UAE, then to Australia and New Zealand, before it heads to Europe and the UK. The British-derived and Chinese-built model draws on the heritage of the original off-roading SUV from Land Rover, but is being developed and built in China with input from JLR. While not fundamentally different in many ways, the left-hand-drive (LHD) global specification features a 2.0-litre twin-turbo petrol engine paired with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system instead of the 1.5-litre engine range-extender EV drivetrain in China. With specifications for right-hand markets yet to be confirmed, Australian details for the Freelander, including its price, will be confirmed closer to its launch date. Given the timing laid out by Freelander International CEO Lucia Mao, Australia should expect details of the model sometime ahead of its Australian launch, which will follow the UAE’s Q1 2027 launch. The Freelander 8’s LHD global drivetrain boasts a 460kW/662Nm output that allows the large SUV to hit 100km/h in a claimed 5.8 seconds. Clearly speed isn’t the goal, but the 110km electric-only driving range and its 886km total driving range with a fully charged battery and fuel tank (under CLTC testing) join what the brand calls a ‘world-first’ intelligent off-road system in a luxury adventure vehicle. Compatriot rivals like BYD and Geely have also used similar terms for describing their tech-forward off-road systems before. Its 34.12kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery can be charged from 20 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes or less according to Freelander, though again these specifications apply to the UAE with Australian details to be confirmed. Head of Freelander for Australia and New Zealand Kym Mellow spoke to international guests at the reveal of the global Freelander 8 in Wuhu, Chery’s home city in China. His short speech detailed two potential customers he spoke with about Freelander 8 who were looking for a more tech-forward off-roader. “They don’t want to give anything up,” Mellow said, “they want to keep the design and the capability they love and add the intelligence and comfort they’ve been missing.” The tech in the Freelander 8 is certainly a statement, with a huge 1.2-metre long 46.3-inch 8K LED screen and a 15.6-inch centre display in the front, as well as a 17.3-inch optional entertainment screen for rear passengers. Zero-gravity seat options, the choice of a five-seat or plush six-seat layout and the use of Nappa leather and real wood aim to make the cabin feel a step above other compatriot premium brands.
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New car brand edges closer to Australia
By Tim Gibson · 20 Oct 2026
A new brand is edging closer to Aussie buyers.  Two models from Chery sub-brand Jetour have just been approved for sale Down Under.  The brand’s T1 mid-size and T2 large SUVs look likely to be Jetour’s first models to hit showrooms from 2027.  The pair will provide competition for two of the most fiercely contested SUV segments, tackling everything from the Toyota RAV4 to the GWM Tank 300. The T1 and T2 will be the newest affordable SUVs to hit the Aussie market.  The T1 is a size up on the hugely popular RAV4, with dimensions of 4700mm long, 1967mm wide, 1840mm tall and a 2800mm wheelbase.  It will be available with standard petrol and plug-in hybrid set-ups.  The petrol-powered model uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine, producing 180kW paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission.  Jetour has opted against selling the 125kW/270Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine variant available in other markets.  Plug-in hybrid grades are fitted with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that makes 255kW in front-wheel-drive guise and 430kW in the all-wheel drive.  Other details remain scarce at this stage, but buyers can expect more information ahead of their anticipated launch in 2027.  The T2 is 4827mm long, giving it similar proportions to the BYD Sealion 6 and the Kia Sorento, but it’s more adventure-focused than those rivals.  It will be a more direct boxy hybrid competitor to the larger BYD Ti7 that is strongly linked with an Australian arrival, with ‘Ti7’ already trademarked.  It will be a different rival to the strong-selling GWM Tank 300 as well. It uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 105kW and three electric motors, boosting power to 445kW. The car also has an electric 4WD system, giving increased off-roading potential, even if it rides on a car-based monocoque chassis. Approval documents don’t show the battery size in the T2, and it’s unclear whether it will receive the recently updated choices available. The T2 has just been updated in China with 27kWh and 45kWh battery options, offering driving ranges of 140km or 251km, calculated under generous CLTC standards. The previous generation T2 has 18kWh, 27kWh and 43kWh units, with an electric-only driving range of up to 161km (WLTP).   Jetour will launch in Australia in 2027, but the brand will reveal further details ahead of its arrival.  Buyers can expect these models to be available from an affordable price point, given the T1 starts from 110,000 yuan (about $A15,000) and the T2 from 140,000 yuan (A$29,000).  They are likely to be 20-to-30 per cent more expensive in Australia to account for import costs and other related taxes. 
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'Robust pipeline' of new Nissans incoming
By Chris Thompson · 19 Oct 2026
Nissan’s new local boss has outlined the direction the brand will take in the face of increasingly strict emissions regulations and changing market forces. Nissan’s Managing Director for Oceania Steve Milette says the first priority for new models won’t be to simply meet emissions targets, but to provide products that customers are asking for. The brand has just confirmed it will launch the (already expected) Nissan Navara Pro PHEV ute in 2027, there’s also a new-generation Nissan X-Trail on the way for 2027. The pressure is on for Nissan to sell more efficient cars to customers, too, as it reached the second-highest place for NVES (New Vehicle Emissions Standard) fines in 2025, an amount totalling $10,763,050. CarsGuide asked if there’s a path out of the NVES challenges facing the brand and if a refresh of the brand’s line-up is on the cards as part of that. “In terms of product introductions, yeah, yeah, for sure,” Milette told CarsGuide. “We have a pipeline, a robust pipeline.” “We can't talk about the details of those products, but all I can say is, it's going to be positive for us because the product resonates with the needs of Australians, and especially from a diversity of powertrain.  “Not just the vehicles themselves and the segments they play in, but the diversity of powertrains.” With the new X-Trail and the Navara Pro, Nissan isn’t confirming a move into any new (or previously served) segments, meaning passenger cars may still not be part of Nissan's plan. “There's some dominant segments: medium SUV, obviously. The utility market, the ute market, is huge. And traditionally, we've been, you know, we've been pretty strong at the SUV segments in general, like from smaller to to Patrol size,” Milette said. “And so I think for us, you can expect that we're going to be introducing products in the big segments that really are aligned with our history in terms of what we stand for, like very capable SUVs, very capable four by fours, innovative in terms of powertrains.  “That's where we're going.” This could point to the Nissan Terrano plug-in hybrid 4WD, and several electric and range-extender or plug-in hybrid SUVs from China, such as the NX7 and NX8. This would give Nissan an answer to the Denza B5 4WD and Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid. Nissan’s new addition to the X-Trail line-up, a more efficient front-wheel drive version of the e-Power hybrid system, could be considered a move in the right direction for its daunting NVES fines, but Milette says that wasn’t the primary reason for it. “Two-wheel-drive e-Power is a positive contributor to NVES, but its main purpose is to meet a need of the market,” Milette told CarsGuide. “I mean, 25 per cent of the sales in Australia so far this year are hybrid. Half of those are two-wheel drive, so we've only participated in half of that.  “So I think from a consumer preference, now we're in all of that segment.” “But from an NVES perspective, I think the north star is that as a brand we become self-sufficient… the portfolio that balances the negatives with the positives, if you will.” If Nissan sells more low-emission hybrids and electric cars, it will reduce the total amount of fines brought on by its ‘dirtier’ models like its Navara ute and its petrol SUVs. For reference, its second place ($10,763,050) in the 2025 list of brand fines saw it behind Mazda’s whopping $25,425,850 but well ahead of Subaru's $6,981,750. “But until we get there, we're well aware that we'll have to trade for credits, and there are published numbers. Like you saw, it was a public number in 2025.  “All I can say is that that's not the real cost.” Brands that find themselves with credits (likely through selling mostly EVs) rather than fines can agree to sell those credits to brands that have racked up fines, though Milette didn’t specify where those credits would come from. “For us, it's ‘what does the consumer want?’ We have a very powerful brand in Patrol as an example. If consumers want to buy Patrols, and they do, we're going to sell them Patrols. “No matter what the NVES impact there might be.”
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Cut-price Jimny rival due soon
By Byron Mathioudakis · 18 Oct 2026
Renault is preparing an affordable and electrified urban SUV with the promise of high appeal and a low price. Based on the Bridger concept unveiled back in March, the boxy yet compact crossover is set to enter production later next year for the 2028 model year, with India, Africa and the Middle East targeted as priority destinations. Sitting in the small SUV category, it should lure smaller families seeking an easy yet manoeuvrable five-seater runabout with plenty of rear-seat space and a big 400-litre-plus boot. Better still, the Renault’s angular lines, deep glass area, generous 200mm ground clearance and robust engineering necessary for its prime market in India should also make the newcomer an interesting, efficient, more-economical and cheaper alternative to the Suzuki Jimny. There’s even a spare wheel mounted on the side-swinging door, as per the Japanese 4x4 icon. According to Francois Provost, Renault Group CEO, the French brand is on the rise around the world and it has a road map in place to meet all competitors head-on, including those from China. “We are in also accelerating our third phase of international expansion,” he told the press at the Paris Motor Show this week. “In India, Bridger will be our flagship, designed and developed in India for India, with a distinctive design, electrified powertrains and global potential.” Whether that includes Australia is uncertain, with one Renault spokesperson at the Paris show declining to divulge any more details about the production version of the Bridger’s international ambitions, beyond saying that ‘it will be available in many markets around the world’. However, with a native right-hand drive production base and exports expected to the United Kingdom, the Bridger will have to be engineered from the onset to be compliant with current and future stringent safety and emissions standards. Based on the Renault Group’s R-GMP Group Modular Platform that is it will share with the Dacia Duster that is sold in Australia as the Renault Duster, there will be a choice of powertrains. Details remain scant, but overseas reports say that the Bridger will include a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, a strong hybrid version and electric vehicle grades offering 35kWh and 55kWh battery options. Underneath, the four-metre-long crossover should possess chassis components common to the Duster and other Renaults, including the MacPherson strut front end and torsion beam rear suspension set-up. Stay tuned for more information on the production version of the Bridger coming soon.
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Honda's HiLux hunter takes shape
By Tim Gibson · 15 Oct 2026
Honda is preparing a Toyota HiLux hunter.  The brand is gearing up to launch a new ute in 2028, according to a report from Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun.  It will take aim at the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux in a ute market that remains one of the highest-volume segments globally. It will mirror the Nissan Navara in using the Mitsubishi Triton as the basis for its mechanical DNA.  It could be the first model in an expanded collaboration between Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi.  There are limited details on the new Honda ute at this stage, as it's still under development, but it will reportedly be built in Thailand.  It will sport the same ladder-frame chassis as the Triton, so buyers can expect Honda’s ute to provide some rugged off-roading and adventuring potential.  The current Mitsubishi Triton uses a 2.4-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine, making 150kW and 470Nm.  Mitsubishi has plans to offer hybrid power in its future ladder-frame models and Honda's ute could benefit from this.  This comes as Honda too shifts its focus from fully electric cars to invest heavily in hybrid power from 2027. Mitsubishi’s Chief Product Specialist Itagaki Kunitoshi said in September 2026 the carmaker is developing hybrid set-ups for its future Pajero 4WD and Triton ute models. “Mitsubishi Motors is actively conducting research and development in electrified ladder-frame vehicles, including hybrid vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicle technologies for products such as Pajero and Triton in the future,” Kunitoshi said. Hybrid power could help Honda steer clear of fines under Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). It’s too early to say whether the incoming Honda ute will go on sale in Australia, but it's becoming increasingly likely.  The ute will launch in South-East Asia in 2028, a region with many right-hand-drive markets. While a RHD build improves its chances of an Australian arrival, the local branch hasn't officially confirmed it will land in showrooms. A spokesperson for Honda Australia told CarsGuide in October 2026 there was nothing to confirm yet.  “While Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors are discussing various potential collaboration opportunities under the framework of our strategic partnership, there is nothing specific to share at this time,” they said.    Honda already sells a Ridgeline ute, but it is exclusively sold in North America. This means it’s built in left-hand drive, while it also uses a thirsty V6 engine that would incur fines under Australian emissions rules, essentially ruling it out Down Under.
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How this car makes you a better driver
By Byron Mathioudakis · 13 Oct 2026
How confidently can you drive on hardened snow, or in icy conditions? And what about electric vehicles (EVs)? Are they better or worse? The answers very much depend on the model of vehicle in question, as well as the level of advanced driver assistance technologies (ADAS) fitted. That’s because modern vehicles are immeasurably better at steering and braking control on very low grip surfaces, and are able to react far quicker than a human ever can. A high-grip or sticky road (usually dry and warm) has a high mu (denoted by the Greek letter m), while low mu represents a low-grip, low-friction surface like ice, snow or on a wet steel plate. Before the advent of safety aids like traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock brakes, ADAS and all-wheel drive (AWD), vehicles in low mu situations required exceptional driving skills just to keep it from veering off uncontrollably into the scenery. Basically, the driver would often become the passenger. Now, in concert with advances in tyres and chassis engineering tuning, an electronic driving mode can be chosen according to the prevailing environment and conditions, for far-safer travel. It’s all the difference between progress and ploughing into something. Just as importantly, there are degrees of electronic intervention to allow for a variety of different ways to travel over low-mu surfaces, according to the level of driver skill. Here’s where Skoda steps into the picture. To demonstrate just how far modern vehicles have come, the Volkswagen Group brand organised a demonstration for a small number of Australian motoring media on a special closed circuit on an ice field in New Zealand. To keep it interesting, both vehicle types were performance-orientated grades of popular family-sized AWD SUVs that people might reasonably be expected to drive up to snowy regions during a ski season. Or navigate an ice-storm in on a freezing night on the other side of the globe. You never know. In this case, they were the 2026 Skoda Kodiaq RS 4x4 from $70,590 (all prices are before on-road costs) and a 2026 Skoda Enyaq RS 4x4 from $76,590 – with the latter being the go-faster EV version that is also known as the vRS in other markets. They wore winter tyres, a common addition in Europe, North America and other cold-climate regions, but not so in Australia due to our temperate climate. Several revealing demonstrations were prepared, and all on ice that looked like soft snow due to flurries but, in reality, revealed a mu surface as slippery as you’ll ever likely to experience out in the real world. Here we were shown the most basic level of ice-driving car control: attempting a low-speed cornering manoeuvre, without spearing off into a snowbank, and with limited ESC intervention. This introduced us to the three basic rules we would always have to adhere to: easing in intricate steering inputs, precise throttle control and very gentle tapping of the brake pedal, to allow momentum and the laws of physics to take the vehicle through the turn. Super difficult to achieve at first, and barely at walking pace initially, the speed was increased slowly over repeated exercises, until the balance and behaviour of driver and vehicle were in unison with the road and environmental conditions being negotiated. During these, we learned to importance of understanding and controlling ice-driving understeer (where the vehicle’s front wheels lose grip and then ploughs ahead whilst cornering regardless of steering angle) and ice-driving oversteer (where the rear wheels lose grip and the vehicle’s tail slides out to eventually spin out of control). After that, there was more of the same, but this time with a series of road twists and sharp turns combined with long straight pathways, with the goal of inducing controllable oversteer where possible in order to achieve the smoothest and cleanest route through a particular driving course. Note that understeer in such conditions is never desirable as it impedes progress. Sounds fun, is cool, but not as easy as the professionals on hand make it look. Especially at higher speeds Here’s the exception to the general rule of gently-gently car control. Sat in the Enyaq RS with nothing but icy snow behind, we were instructed to straighten the wheel, select reverse and floor the throttle, before tugging the wheel left or right once reaching 60km/h, then tapping the brake as the vehicle spins around 180 degrees backwards and slows to a momentary halt, before selecting drive and powering forward. The aim here is for a seamless transition turning the car from reverse to forward in a rapid getaway situation, as per every action movie involving a heist of some sort ever made. This was the highlight of the day. After countless exercises learning to control a vehicle better on ice than we ever thought possible thanks to the advances in electronic technologies like ADAS, we were driven to another location with two Skodas with all electronic systems switched off and instructed to temporarily forget about everything we had learned that day about smart, safe yet speedy ice driving. No ESC. No traction. No ADAS. And no safety net. Instead, we were told to drive around a point in the centre of a large field, but in a constant oversteer motion where the rear was sliding out to help pivot the vehicle around. In other words, we were told to drift our hearts out! With a cool and collected professional our only safety net in the seat next to us, the only instruction was full throttle and eyes fixed on the centre point. Doing that, with foot planted firmly down on the accelerator, resulted in a long, continuous circular drifting, yet within a chosen path and without losing control. This was the culmination of very particular steering and throttle inputs, designed to create spectacular drifting manoeuvres. Since these instructions require to do the very opposite of the extremely precise steering and throttle inputs that are the core of safe modern-vehicle ice-driving techniques, we do not recommend you try this on public roads. But, in the off-chance you have a private circuit away from danger for you or any other road user, it might be the most fun you’ll ever have on ice. And the Skodas behaved exactly as instructed, without missing a beat.
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Inside Isuzu's fight for survival
By Andrew Chesterton · 13 Oct 2026
Isuzu says it will look to trade emissions credits with other manufacturers and attempt to share the extra cost between dealers, its local head office and its international HQ to keep selling the diesel D-Max and MU-X in Australia without jacking up prices. The brand is in a tough spot when it comes to the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) in Australia, with two models sharing diesel engines, and no form of electrification either here or coming in the immediate future. But it also says the segments it competes in – namely the ute and off-road SUV spaces – aren’t embracing electrification, even if it had powertrains to offer. That leaves it with little option but to buy credits from other lower-emitting manufacturers. Part of the government’s NVES policy is that manufacturers who exceed their fleet emission target end in credit, while those who miss theirs end with a deficit, but brands can trade to balance their ledgers. “The strategy is that we’ll do everything we can to make the impact as low as possible on the end user,”  says  Rod Caldwell, Executive General Manager - MD Office and Internal Audit Office. “If that means we need to buy credits, we're not saying that we won't do that. "If that means that it protects the consumer from any excessive price increases or whatever, but it gives them the lowest impact, then that's what we'll do. Some brands say they won't, we're saying that's an option we will seriously consider.” Caldwell says the brand would attempt to share any cost increases across the vehicle suppliers, rather than pass them onto the customer, though he concedes that might not be entirely possible. “We're trying to trim expenses at the same time, and we've got a number of parties involved in our process,” he says. “We've got the manufacturer, we've got our owner, we've got us. So we’ve all got a job to do to make sure that the customer doesn't have to wear the brunt of it.  “We want to minimise the impact. We will have to absorb some, the factory will have to absorb some. At the end of the day, the factory is the one responsible for the penalty, not us, but we've got to come to an arrangement on how we share this burden. “It's not going to be long term. We are going to have new technology in the future, for sure.”
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Honda's new ute on Australia's doorstep
By James Cleary · 12 Oct 2026
Mitsubishi’s Triton ute looks set to spread its mechanical DNA further than the underpinnings of its Nissan Navara sibling. Reports out of Japan point to a Honda-badged, Thai-built version of the ladder frame workhorse planned for sale in multiple Southeast Asian markets and beyond from 2028. Nikkei Asia has reported increasing competition from Chinese challenger brands in Asia has forced Honda to review its largely stand-alone product policy, tapping into Mitsubishi’s body-on-frame ute expertise as a pragmatic short-cut response. Honda already has the Alabama-built Ridgeline dual cab pickup in its North American portfolio, but that petrol V6-powered monocoque mid-sizer lacks the load carrying and hauling capacity of a traditional ute with a tough leaf-spring rear end. The report references collaboration talks between Honda, Mitsubishi and Nissan, which have been ongoing since August 2024 and notes the Triton’s reputation for durability and off-road performance; in-demand attributes for hard-working trucks in ASEAN countries. Honda entered into numerous model share arrangements with Isuzu through the 1990s (Passport, Horizon, Jazz), but has mainly operated solo since then, so a potential ute collaboration with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance partners represents a telling shift in the Japanese maker’s new product development model. The report notes that until recently, Japanese brands collectively commanded around 90 per cent market share in Thailand and Indonesia, that figure shrinking to closer to 70 per cent currently as buyers embrace EV passenger and commercial options from the likes of BYD, Chery, Geely, XPeng, Zeekr and many others. More specifically, the report said Honda's combined year-on-year sales in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have fallen 20 per cent (to around 110,000 units) for the first eight months of 2026. And it’s worth noting the potential arrangement would improve Mitsubishi Motors factory efficiency in Thailand, where a reported collective capacity of approximately 386,000 units resulted in only 170,000 vehicles produced in 2025.  With multiple right-hand drive markets scattered throughout Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, the possibility of a Honda ute in Australia is significant and CarsGuide contacted Honda Australia for comment on the prospect of a local introduction. A spokesperson told us, “This is not an official announcement made by Honda or Mitsubishi Motors." "While Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors are discussing various potential collaboration opportunities under the framework of our strategic partnership, there is nothing specific to share at this time. "We will make an official announcement at an appropriate time,” they said.
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Affordable big diesel 4WD incoming
By James Cleary · 08 Oct 2026
LDV has reintroduced turbo-diesel power to its large, seven-seat D90 SUV range with fresh availability of 2.5-litre four-wheel drive diesel models alongside existing 2.0-litre turbo-petrol variants. Diesel was deleted from the local line-up with the arrival of substantial D90 facelift in late 2024, but the new diesel SUV borrows its powerplant from the LDV Terron 9 ute, sending 163kW/520Nm to all four wheels, compared to the 160kW/480Nm of its prior-generation predecessor. All D90s are eight-speed automatic only. The D90 range now consists of three grades across five models (three petrol and two diesel), priced from $43,674 to $58,937, both before on-road costs, for private buyers. ABN holders save a minimum $2184 at the entry-level and close to $3000 on the diesel flagship while a launch offer slashes an additional $4500 off the recommended drive-away prices for private and business buyers until October 31, 2026 (while stock lasts). In 2025, the turbo-petrol D90 was boosted with Miller Cycle combustion tech (to improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption), variable valve lift, high-pressure direct injection and a balance shaft module to reduce engine vibration. Outputs of 184kW/410Nm lifted braked trailer towing capacity to 3000kg in two- and four-wheel drive form while the new 4WD-only D90 diesel models pushes that number to 3500kg. LED headlights & tail-lights Twin 12.3-inch displays (multimedia and instruments) Synthetic leather seats Apple CarPlay / Android Auto / digital radio / Bluetooth connectivity Eight-speaker audio Multi-zone climate control Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual gear selection 18-inch alloy wheels Steel spare wheel Sensor key and push-button start Electrically folding and heated power side mirrors Roof rails Side steps Fender flares Six airbags Adaptive cruise control Rain-sensing wipers Lane-keep assist Lane-change assist Lane departure warning Rear cross-traffic alert Blind spot warning Traffic sign recognition Fatigue reminder and attention assist Tyre pressure monitoring Hill descent control (off-road use) Hill hold assist Rear view camera Front and rear parking sensors The higher Executive grade feature additions like a sunroof, power tailgate, ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, rear privacy glass, a power-adjustable driver’s seat and more. And as its name implies, the new Luxe flagship diesel adds extra standard equipment including: Panoramic sunroof 360-degree camera view JBL premium audio Heated, ventilated & massaging front seats 20-inch alloy wheels (shod with Continental tyres) Front and rear differential locks Power tailgate (with kick sensor) All four-wheel drive models feature off-highway systems including Crawl Control, a rear differential lock and selectable terrain modes. Confirming the diesel D90’s reintroduction LDV Australia General Manager Dinesh Chinnappa said, “Customers have been asking for the return of diesel power to the LDV D90 ever since it was paused from our line-up two years ago.” “Customers have also been asking for a top-tier model, which is why we have introduced the LDV D90 Luxe diesel. “With the revised LDV D90 range we are offering a wider range of price points and giving customers the choice of petrol or diesel power,” he said.
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