Budget cars

Australia’s EV buying growth has just been put on a global scale. AutoNews has released its “Global EV Report” looking at electric vehicle uptake around the world. Combined fully-electric and plug-in hybrid sales in Australia grew from just one per cent in 2025 to 15 per cent by 2025. The report confirmed BYD as the world’s leading EV manufacturers, with Tesla and Geely also making major contributions, which is reflected in their sales performance Down Under. It’s forecast that more than 66 per cent of the world’s EVs will be built in China in 2026.  Australia’s EV sales grew by 14 percentage points between 2020 and 2025, according to the report, which is more than South Korea, the United States and New Zealand for the same period.  Australia’s EV uptake still lags behind many of the world’s biggest markets.  China’s EV sales have grown by 47 points, while EV sales in the United Kingdom grew from 11 per cent to 35 per cent.  This news follows the Electric Vehicle Council’s “State of EV’s” report that found one in four new vehicles sold in the first half of 2026 were either fully-electric or PHEV in Australia. The EVC noted sales must still increase tenfold to reach a targeted five million EVs on Aussie roads by 2035.  Australia’s market is well set up for large-scale EV uptake because it has limited import restrictions and associated costs compared to other countries.  This differs from Europe, for example, which has placed hefty tariffs on Chinese imported EVs as it aims to protect its local carmaking industry.  Australia's open market allows Chinese automakers to rapidly roll out new models Down Under, several of which have become top sellers. The predominantly China-built Tesla Model Y mid-size SUV is the best-selling EV in Australia, while the closely-rivaling BYD Sealion 7 isn’t far behind.  Other EVs, including the Geely EX5 and Zeekr 7X have also taken the market by storm in 2026, at the expensive of some Australia's previous petrol- and diesel-powered favourites. Nepal led global EV market share growth between 2020 and 2025 with a 58 percentage point jump, with electric and plug-in hybrid representing 68 per cent of all new vehicle sales.  Vietnam also saw substantial growth, going from no EV sales to 41 per cent in the five-year period.  Singapore saw a comparable surge, climbing from three per cent in 2020 to 40 per cent in 2025. Norway had an incredible 97 per cent of its new car sales that were represented by EV and PHEV in 2025. The United States has one of the worst EV uptake rates for the period, according to AutoNews.  It only grew from two per cent to 10 per cent across the five years, with only Canada and New Zealand recording less growth.  This slower uptake is due to trade barriers such as the US government’s 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made EVs, as well as national security and surveillance concerns restricting imports further.  While BYD, Tesla and Geely produce the most EVs, Volkswagen also registers a strong contribution, along with Leapmotor and Hyundai.

Mahindra isn’t going to be left out of the 4WD craze overtaking the globe, as it taps into its tough off-road heritage for a new Jimny-rivalling small off-roader. Design images Mahindra has filed with the Indian Patent Office preview a compact boxy 4WD frame, with all the hallmarks of something more capable than your average small SUV. Following in the footsteps of the Jimny, this new Mahindra model has short overhangs, a high ground clearance, an upright stance, and even a rear-mounted spare wheel and roof ladder accessory. It is expected to be less than four meters in total length, placing it firmly in small car territory. The design patent and recent sightings in the wild preview a production version of the Vision S concept, which Mahindra showed in August 2025 as part of its 2027 vision project. The patents adhere very closely to the design cues of the concept, suggesting the production car will be very true to the original look previewed in 2025, complete with the accessories the show car appeared with at the time. The car has also been spotted multiple times testing in India in the past few weeks, in closer-to-production guise, complete with proper wing mirrors. Images from spotted vehicles also show off a more tech-y interior than the Jimny, with large screens and a more modern design direction complete with fresh switchgear for the brand. Interestingly the spotted cars maintain a manual transmission (still popular in the Indian market), making it clear that it will continue to be offered with a more traditional combustion drivetrain, rather than a full hybrid system which generally requires a bespoke automatic transmission, or as a fully electric model. Inside, the small 4WD is expected to debut with Mahindra’s next-generation software suite, and it is also expected to launch with at least some of the modern active safety equipment it would need to pass the requirements for an Australian launch. Small cars like the Jimny, and other ultra compact combustion vehicles, tend to be limited in how well they can score in the local ANCAP testing regime. It is unclear whether this, or Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) emissions regulations, will put the brakes on the production Vision S for our market. As to what may power this boxy off-roader, Mahindra’s current engine family includes a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged unit in the more mainstream XUV 3XO, which is paired to a six-speed traditional automatic transmission. Producing 82kW/200Nm, it would be a suitable unit to challenge the Jimny. What we do know is Mahindra is on the cusp of a model range expansion for the Australian market, and has confirmed its upcoming Lifestyler dual-cab ute as a successor to its rugged Pik Up, which had a small but loyal following in Australia. The Lifestyler is expressly designed to be a mainstream rival to the likes of the Toyota HiLux and Mitsubishi Triton and is expected to use the related Scorpio SUV’s 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine. To offset these emissions-producing products, Mahindra is also expected to introduce its XEV 9e electric mid-size SUV before the end of 2026. The new model has already been spotted testing in Australia ahead of its arrival. As with the rest of Mahindra’s range, expect all models in this new product offensive to be competitively priced. While it may not be as headline-grabbing or as popular as Chinese competitors like Chery or GWM, Mahindra has enjoyed relative success since re-booting itself with cars like the XUV700, XUV3X0, and Scorpio 4WD. Expect to learn more about Mahindra’s new model plans for Australia before the end of 2026.

Chery’s International User Summit in its home city of Wuhu, China, has resulted in many surprises thanks to its many, many sub-brands, but the Chery brand’s own reveal night proved one of the more surprising. Beyond the AI-generated videos shown to attendees and the Chery-owning families who had been flown in to chat on stage in front of the crowd talkshow-style, the brand revealed two new models - an allegedly all-new 2027 Chery Tiggo 7 mid-size SUV, and a rugged version dubbed X7. As sure as we are it’s raised a few eyebrows at BMW HQ, the Chery Tiggo X7 also raised eyebrows in the theatre chosen as the venue for the event - it looks more like a (smaller) budget rival to the Toyota Prado or Land Rover Defender than the Toyota RAV4 it normally aims for. Little tangible information about tech or spec was given in the presentation, and the X7 currently has only a ‘coming soon’ page on the brand’s international website, but the model is apparently intended for a global audience, which means Australia should be on the cards given our importance to the brand. Chances are it will be available with a hybrid or plug-in hybrid drivetrain, and with the brand’s renewed interiors all seeming to get an upward move in terms of premium vibes, the new Tiggo 7 and X7 could easily cost a little more than the current hybrid model’s near $30,000 starting point before on-roads. Alongside the X7, the new Tiggo 7 was dubbed ‘all new’ but looks remarkably similar to the car it’s set to replace. Noticeable changes include tweaks to the front-end where the panels flank the now-recognisable Tiggo grille, a new LED headlight signature, and a new lower-lip shape. Inside, the interior step-up includes more premium features like massage seats and footrests, though an exhaustive list of changes hasn’t been published at the time of writing. It’s also unclear what exactly will power the Tiggo 7 (or its X7 sibling), given Chery’s move towards electrification. The current Tiggo 7 is available with a non-hybrid turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine or with a plug-in hybrid variant, also using a 1.5-litre turbo engine but with an electric motor drawing from an 18.3kWh battery. It’s unclear if petrol-only will remain an option for the cut-price RAV4 rival, but given Chery’s currently testing a new hybrid system with a 5kWh battery, it’s possible the end of Chery’s petrol-era is in sight.

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. 

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.

There is plenty of affordable Chinese car choice for buyers in Australia, and we’ve just learnt why. Chinese brands can build an EV for $11,000 less than European legacy automakers, according to a report in AutoNews.  Manufacturers aren’t just winning on price, they’re winning on speed as well.  Chinese automakers develop cars more than two times faster than their European rivals. These advantages are seeing Chinese manufacturers surge up the sales charts globally, and there’s more than 100 EV models on sale in Australia.  Chinese carmakers can build and sell cars faster.  European carmakers take up to five years to bring a new model to market, while Chinese rivals can do it in only two years.   When these models do finally hit the market, they aren’t as prolific as Chinese ones, with less than a third of sales from vehicles introduced in the past three years.  New Chinese models account for up to 100 per cent of a brand’s sales within the first two years by contrast.  These factors have contributed to European car brands’ pre-tax profit dropping from 13.2 per cent in 2021 to 6.9 per cent in 2025, which in turn limits their ability to innovate.  The European Union has resorted to hefty tariffs on Chinese EVs coming into the region to protect its car industry, but it’s not stopping buyers choosing them.  These brands have now started building their cars in Europe to avoid tariffs, while taking advantage of under-utilised European automaker factories.  Consultancy firm AlixPartners told AutoNews the way Chinese brands are operating in Europe has fundamentally reset consumer expectations on price and technology. “A gradual response isn’t an option,” AlixPartners co-head of automotive for Germany, Austria and Switzerland Xing Zhou said.  “Manufacturers need to restructure, support their suppliers and move faster on technology partnerships than most have been prepared to do so far.” European carmakers need to aim for two-year development cycles and lean into artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce costs and increase production and development speed, according to the firm.  “The window to act from a position of financial strength is closing, and closing faster than most boardrooms and governments assume,” global co-leader for automotive and industrial practice at AlixPartners Andrew Bergbaum said.

An unknown brand specialising in hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) from China will arrive in Australia next year to take on BYD, Chery, GAC, Geely, Haval, MG and others. This may sound like every other Tuesday, nowadays, but the difference here is that the latest nameplate arrival, Nevo, will represent Changan Automobile – the state-owned carmaker that has been making vehicles in China since 1959. And that’s the longest of the lot. According to Changan Australia Head of Brand and Marketing Andrew Haurissa Nevo is now locked in for our market. “The first one (after luxury brand Avatr) will be a Nevo vehicle,” he revealed. “Whether it comes here as Nevo or Changan Nevo, that’s yet to be confirmed.” While only existing since 2023 in its home market as a Qiyuan, Nevo has been a runaway success, and so will be set up as the public-facing mainstream entity, likely in lieu of the Changan brand in Australia, at least for the time being. Which Nevo arrives first is not yet clear. It is believed that the Q05 small SUV hybrid and the Q06 mid-sized SUV EV with range-extender EV option may be at the head of the queue. Taking a page out of the Geely EX5 playbook, these should give Changan Automobile two strong players in the $30,000 to $50,000 price range, capitalising on the booming electrification growth areas in Australia, to put it in the thick of the action. Interestingly, Australians already have been exposed to Changan and Nevo models already. The Mazda 6e and CX-6e EV sedan and SUV are part of a joint-venture project using two respective Deepal models as a base - the L07 and S07 respectively. Plus, there is the E07 Multitruck, the strange SUV/pick-up truck mash-up EV marketed in Australia by Subaru importer Inchcape as a Deepal, alongside the more-conventional S07 mid-sized SUV coupe sibling that isn’t sold as a Nevo in China. Here’s how the strategy should play out in Australia. Nevo will sit at the bottom of the rung under the Changan Automobile parent-company umbrella, coming in after Avatr launches in the first half of next year, as the flagship luxury brand. To that end, the latter will take on BYD’s Denza, Geely’s Zeekr, MG’s IM and GWM’s Wey models, beginning with the Zeekr 7X-chasing 07L large-sized premium SUV EV, followed by the 06T sports wagon/crossover EV due towards the end of 2027. If that seems like a big gap, in China, Deepal is the premium brand positioned in between. Right now, there’s no talk about Changan Australia taking over Deepal distribution from Inchcape, but that may change once the contract ends in the future. “Some products coming from the Nevo stable might seem better than Deepal, but from a brand hierarchy perspective, Deepal sits above Nevo,” Haurissa revealed. “In Australia, we are quite unique in that we will be managing both (Nevo and Avatr together). “However, the brands will sit quite separately. They’re structured separately now, but they are conforming in the back end. “Think of how Volkswagen (and Skoda, Cupra, Audi) and Porsche are. Similarly, we will have a joint back end to support the brands, but will be marketed very differently.”

Hyundai is entering the EV price war as it makes its smallest EV cheaper and culls the most expensive versions. There are now just two Hyundai Inster variants to choose from, down from four.  Hyundai has culled the Extended Range variant of the Inster and the tougher-looking Inster Cross with roof basket. This leaves the Standard Range Inster and the regular Inster Cross as the only two options. The range adjustment coincides with the 2027 model year car, examples of which have now started to arrive in Australia. Hyundai has also shaved $1500 off the price of the Inster Standard range to $37,500, before on-road costs, only about five months after the brand ripped more than $4000 off its price tag. The Inster Standard Range comes with a few less features now. There is no interior V2L (Vehicle to Load) port, portable emergency charging cable or heat pump. The latter is important as many carmakers have put heat pumps in to help improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems and use less of the battery’s energy, which helps improve driving range. The Standard Range comes with a 42kWh battery that delivers a driving range of up to 327km, with power coming from a single electric motor making 71kW. The Inster Cross is also $1500 cheaper at $43,500. It comes with the bigger 49kWh battery and effectively fills the void left by jettisoning of the Extended Range version. It has had the same items removed as the Standard Range to help lower the price. At its heart is a 49kWh battery that provides a driving range of up to 360km and has a more powerful 84kW electric motor. Competition is heating up at the entry-level of the electric car market, as new budget-friendly models arrive in increasing numbers to take advantage of the increased demand due to high fuel prices BYD cut the price of its entry-level Atto 1 to $19,990, drive-away, until the end of the year. The Geely EX2, GAC Aion UT, GWM Ora 5 and Leapmotor B03X have all lobbed in the past few months with price tags at about or less than $30,000. Tesla slashed $9000 of the price of entry into its Model 3 electric sedan, with a new based rear-wheel drive (RWD) variant priced from $45,900, before on-road costs.

Leapmotor has priced its BYD electric SUV smasher in Australia.  The Leapmotor B03X small SUV will start from $29,990 drive-away until December 31, 2026, making it the Chinese brand’s cheapest car on sale.  The range-topping ‘Design LR’ grade will start from $33,990 (drive-away). The B03X takes on the busy affordable EV segment. It's priced to compete with the BYD Atto 2 SUV ($31,990, before on-road costs) and the GAC Aion UT hatchback ($31,990, drive-away). It will arrive in showrooms in November 2026.  The base ‘Style’ grade uses a single electric motor producing 130kW, while its more powerful sibling delivers 145kW. Both make 200Nm. This roughly matches the BYD Atto 2 (130kW) and the GAC Aion UT (150kW), but the B03X loses out to these rivals in torque (290Nm and 210Nm, respectively).  Acceleration from 0-100km/h can be as fast as 8.6 seconds, with a top speed of 160km/h.  The entry-level car is equipped with a 39.8kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, offering up to 292km of driving range. The top grade relies on a 53kWh battery that has 382km of range, according to WLTP standards.  With DC fast charging at 133kW, a 30 to 80 per cent charge takes about 16 minutes, but the Style grade can only charge at 100kW, so it will charge more slowly The car can directly power devices and tools using its vehicle-to-load system that can supply 3.3kW.  There is a 14.6-inch central touchscreen and 8.8-inch digital driver display inside, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.  Design LR examples swap fabric seats for synthetic leather ones, while also boasting heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.  Buyers will need to choose the top-spec car for other useful features like a 360-degree camera as well as front parking and side collision sensors.  The base B03X has a six-speaker sound system, but its more expensive sibling has a 12-speaker unit, and rides on 18-inch alloy wheels compared to steel ones.  Leapmotor backs its B03X with a six-year/150,000km vehicle warranty and an eight-year/160,000km warranty for the high-voltage battery.  There is an eight-year capped-priced servicing deal, with intervals every 12 months or 20,000km, whichever comes first. 

Nissan has revealed a new light EV called the Pixo, built on the same platform as the new Renault Twingo. With a single grade confirmed but no pricing so far, the 2027 Nissan Pixo is “engineered specifically for European customers” according to the brand, and will be built at Renault's Novo Mesto manufacturing plant in Slovenia. Set to start European customer deliveries in early 2027, it’s unlikely the Pixo will head down under due to its low power output and relatively limited range. With a 27.5kWh LFP battery providing power to a 60kW front-mounted electric motor, the Pixo is capable of a 259km claimed range and is limited to 50kW on DC fast charging. It should take around half an hour to charge from 15 per cent to 80 per cent, according to Nissan. In terms of specification the Pixo almost mirrors the related Renault Twingo, which also has a 60kW motor and a range only a few kilometres longer. The Pixo also features 23 ‘easter eggs’ in the design and details, seemingly including a smiling face in the tail-lights. Nissan Global Design Lead Exterior Designer Masato Koyama said the Pixo’s diminutive design plays into its intention as a city car. “Pixo proves that great things can come in small packages.  “Its compact dimensions make it a natural fit for Europe’s cities, but we’ve worked hard to maximise the space within them, creating a cabin that feels open, practical and surprisingly roomy.  “I can’t wait to see how our customers embrace this bold and fun new EV – that is perfectly suited to urban environments.”  At just 3796mm long and 1790mm wide, the Pixo is properly small, though its surprisingly spacious boot offers up 356L of space with the rear seats up, and 1221L with the seats folded. Its relatively short wheelbase (2492mm) and minimal overhangs allow the Pixo to achieve a 9.9m turning circle, suitable for its intended purpose as a Euro-centric city car. Clíodhna Lyons, Vice President of Product, Brand and Marketing Strategy for Nissan AMIEO said the Pixo is about “giving customers practical alternatives that help reduce the cost of every journey”. "We believe the future of electric mobility isn't about building bigger vehicles with more technology, it's about building smarter vehicles that fit naturally into people's lives.”