Budget cars

MG is seemingly plotting an SUV version of its upcoming MG4 Urban hatchback, with a mystery new crossover SUV spotted in China.

Chery has officially unveiled its QQ3 small electric hatchback in China.Chery Australia could not yet confirm whether the QQ3 was destined for Australia, but we know the brand is keen on the prospect. Local Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris has already signalled his desire for an electric hatchback to launch Down Under.“I think having a very small and then a small hatchback would be a game changer,” Harris said.“I think there’s a huge amount of potential in those segments, and at the moment I think those segments are a little bit stale and not that interesting.“So if we could bring something like the QQ, I think it’d be a huge amount of opportunity.”The QQ3 sits as a rival to other small budget EVs, which in Australia, would be fellow Chinese competitors such as the BYD Dolphin, GWM Ora and MG4 - all sitting around the $30k price bracket. Expect Chery's hatch to sit in a similar price bracket, if not even more affordable, if it comes to Australia with it being positioned generally as a budget EV. It would likely need more power than its entry-level 58kW output from its single rear-mounted electric motor as debuted in China to be competitive in our market. There is also a 90kW set-up, but that also seems a touch under-powered compared to rivals.Its lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery options offer a driving range of either 280km or 401km, but that is calculated using the lenient CLTC testing cycle. More-accurate-to-real-world WLTP numbers are often noticeably less than that.On the inside, the car has a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and dual 50W wireless phone chargers. It will also be able to be optioned with heated and ventilated seats, as well as a heated steering wheel, following in the footsteps of other Chery models which offer high spec at a low entry price.The car gets the typical QQ bubble exterior design, with a segmented, round front and rear headlight design that houses diagonal strips. It rides on 17-inch wheels.Deliveries on the new QQ3 are scheduled to begin next month in its Chinese home market. Expect to learn more about Chery's range expansion as it follows up on the much-anticipated launch of its first dual-cab with a unique diesel hybrid powertrain later this year.

Hyundai has confirmed a new and cheaper variant of its Elexio electric mid-sized SUV will soon arrive in Australia to better combat the wave of cut-price Chinese electric vehicles in market.

BYD has unveiled its Linghui M9 plug-in hybrid people mover as a new rival in the growing segment, CarNews China reports.It is unlikely we will see any models from Linghui in Australia, with it primarily designed to target sales in China for ride-sharing and taxi services. Denza, another sub-brand of BYD, will launch its D9 people mover in Australia this year, effectively ruling out the M9's potential Aussie arrival.The D9 will be a competitor for the best-selling Kia Carnival, which comes in petrol and plug-less hybrid guise.The people mover market in China has become increasingly diverse in recent times with electric, hybrid and range-extender models.Geely unveiled its Galaxy V900 luxury range-extender people mover in late January, with the electric Xpeng X9 also competing for sales in the space. There's also the recently launched GAC M8 and Zeekr's 009.The M9 features a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which produces 115kW and an electric motor, producing 200kW. This set-up is derived from the one found on the BYD Xia DM-i people mover, which launched last year. If it employs the same 20.4kWh battery, it can be expected to offer an electric-only driving range of around 100km, according to the CLTC testing cycle, but in the real world, it will likely be around 80km. The M9 is slightly longer than the Xia DM-i, but otherwise, it is dimensionally identical, and has a wheelbase of 3045mm.It also looks much like the DM-i with the same overall design, including a similar grille and front light cluster.It is anticipated the car will be a high-specification model like many of its rivals, with single and double sunroofs, as well as rear cameras available. The M9 is one of four models recently announced from the brand, which are re-skinned versions of already-existing models in China.The other three models from Linghui are all-electric sedans known as the e5, the e7 and e9. 

Chinese brand LDV has slashed the price of its D90 seven-seat family SUV.The range now kicks off at $39,990 drive-away for the two-wheel-drive Mode grade, which is a saving of about $4000.That new entry price undercuts newer Chinese rivals such as the MG QS ($46,990 drive-away), but it is pipped to the post by the Chery Tiggo 8 ($38,990 drive-away).It is also significantly cheaper than big name rivals such as the Kia Sorento ($51,630 before on-road costs) and Toyota Kluger Hybrid ($62,410 before on-road costs).Other off-road-focussed cut-price rivals like the Mahindra Scorpio (from $48,990 drive-away) and KGM Rexton (from $52,000) are also pricier.The rest of the D90 remains priced the same, with the better equipped two-wheel-drive Executive grade priced at $47,884 drive-away and the range-topping 4WD Executive variant costing $51,568. ABN holders can shave about $2500 off the price of those two.All models are powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that makes 184kW and 410Nm. It is matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.LDV claims it has a braked towing capacity of up to 3000kg.All D90s get a heavy dose of interior tech and active driver aids. This includes dual 12.3-inch displays - one for the multimedia and the other for the driver’s instruments - and rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitoring and auto emergency braking.LDV covers its vehicles in Australia with a seven year/200,000km warranty and a five year/unlimited km roadside assistance package is included.The D90 requires its first service at six months/5000km with the following intervals stretching to 12 months/10,000km.2026 LDV D90 price

Renault has announced the Duster small SUV is returning to the Indian market in new-generation guise.This Indian-built version of the Renault Duster features some notable differences over the European-built, Australian-specification version.Most notable is slightly different exterior styling, including altered front and rear fascias, revised LED headlights, LED tail-lights that are connected by a rear light bar, ‘Duster’ script written out on the grille instead of ‘Renault’, all-black 18-inch alloy wheels, plus the availability of a panoramic glass sunroof.This Indian-specification Duster is launching in a special Launch Edition guise, which features green exterior paint with yellow highlights.Inside there is a larger 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch touchscreen multimedia system that has Google Built-in, interior ambient lighting, plus synthetic leather upholstery with front seat ventilation.Additionally there are new safety features such as adaptive cruise control with stop and go and a proper surround-view camera are offered. This is on top of the standard autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist and traffic sign recognition.In India three powertrains are set to be offered. A 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 74kW and 172Nm is mated with a six-speed manual transmission, a 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 119kW and 280Nm is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, as well as a 1.8-litre hybrid engine.It’s understood all three powertrains offered in this Indian-specification Duster are front-wheel drive only.In Australia the Duster is currently offered with a 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch and front-wheel drive, or a 1.2-litre three-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine with a six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive."Renault Australia sources Duster from Europe," said a Renault Australia spokesperson. CarsGuide understands there are no foreseeable changes on this. The European-built Renault Duster only launched in Australia in the middle of 2025. Two trim levels are offered – Evolution and Techno – with both powertrains offered on each.Until the end of 2025 a total of 207 examples of the Duster were sold. While this does place it at the lower end of the small SUV segment in terms of outright sales, it did outsell the Jeep Compass (147 sales) and almost the Renault Arkana (226 sales) even with only around six months of sales.

Another city-centric, entry-level electric vehicle (EV) has been confirmed for Australia.China’s GAC has confirmed it’s launching the Aion UT small electric hatchback in the second quarter of 2026.Pricing, technical specifications and the full equipment list for Australian-specification models will be detailed closer to the launch, but when it arrives it’ll go up against rivals like the BYD Atto 1 and Dolphin, plus the Geely EX2, GWM Ora and MG4 Urban.All of these models have been vying for the title of cheapest EV in Australia. This title currently goes to the BYD Atto 1 which starts at $23,990 before on-road costs.Globally the Aion UT is offered with either a 100kW or 150kW front-mounted electric motor, which is fed by a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery ranging from 34.8kWh to 60kWh.Measuring in at 4270mm long, 1850mm wide and 1575mm tall with a 2750mm wheelbase, the Aion UT is sized between the Toyota Yaris and Corolla hatchbacks.The Aion UT will slot under the Aion V mid-size SUV in GAC’s EV model line-up locally and features similar design cues.Inside there’s a 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch central touchscreen multimedia system.GAC only arrived in Australia late last year but in a few months it will already have four vehicles on sale locally – the Aion V mid-size electric SUV, Emzoom small petrol-powered SUV, M8 PHEV people mover and the Aion UT electric hatchback.GAC Australia President Kevin Shu has confirmed plans to bring “more than 10 models” to the Australian market in the next five years.There are also plans to have a total of 100 GAC dealers around Australia by the end of 2030.“Our strategy of ‘In Australia, For Australia’, will see GAC bring more than 10 models to the Australian market in the coming five years,” said Shu.“The GAC Aion UT showcases the strength of GAC’s product portfolio, combining elegant design with clever technology that genuinely enhances the daily lives of its owners.“I have no doubt this model will resonate strongly with Australians seeking an intelligent, city-focused vehicle to navigate the nation’s iconic urban landscapes.“We look forward to continuing to grow along with our customers here in Australia.”

Hyundai has announced the pricing and specifications for its Elexio all-electric mid-size SUV. The Elexio comes in a single variant and is priced at $59,990 drive-away as a launch introductory offer. It will compete against the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5, XPeng G6 and the Geely EX5.The Elexio is similarly priced to the XPeng G6, which ranges from $54,800 to $59,800 (before on-road costs).It is more expensive than the Geely EX5, which starts at $40,990, before on-road costs, but cheaper than the Tesla Model Y that starts at $58,900 (before on-road costs).Its single electric motor produces 160kW and 310Nm and there is a range of 546km (WLTP) from a 88kWh lithium-ion-phosphate battery.DC charging from 10-80 per cent takes 38 minutes.The Elexio will only launch in Australia with the 'Elite' single motor variant and not the dual motor all-wheel drive variant available overseas. When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for Hyundai Australia said the Elite grade will be the only option for buyers in the future at this stage.The Elexio is built in China as a product of Beijing Hyundai, which is a joint venture between Hyundai and BAIC Motor.  The car has undergone an Australian-specific tune, with suspension and steering tweaked to tackle demanding roads.The Elexio has been edging towards an Australian launch over recent months, with Carsguide spotting the SUV on the back of a truck in December 2025. It will join Hyundai’s increasingly growing electric SUV range in Australia, sitting in between the smaller Kona and the bigger Ioniq 5.Hyundai said it expects the Elexio to launch in Australia in the first quarter of 2026. 2026 Hyundai Elexio pricing Australia 2026 Hyundai Elexio electric motor and efficiency 2026 Hyundai Elexio standard features20-inch alloy wheelsHeated and power folding side mirrorsPower tailgate4-spoke leather steering wheelHeated steering wheelLeather appointed seatsHeated and ventilated front seatsKeyless entry and startWireless phone chargingRain sensing wipers27-inch digital driver and central touchscreen displayHead-up display6-speaker audio system2026 Hyundai Elexio safetyThe Hyundai Elexio has not been crash tested.9 airbagsLane keep assistBlind spot assistHigh beam assistHighway driving assistLane departure warningForward collision avoidance assistIn-cabin camera for driver monitoringParking collision avoidance assist2026 Hyundai Elexio dimensions  2026 Hyundai Elexio warranty and servicingThe Hyundai Elexio comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which can be extended to seven years if all servicing is with Hyundai and on time. There is an eight-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty for the high-voltage battery. Hyundai's 'Genuine Service Plan' is available with the car. Pricing has not been disclosed yet.

A budget small SUV's active and passive safety performance has been put under the microscope by Australia's independent crash testing authority, ANCAP, ultimately receiving a one-star safety rating.

MG Australia has confirmed the pricing and specifications of the new MG7 mid-size liftback.