Car News

Japan’s carmakers are finding ways to fight back against the growing might of Chinese auto brands.Outside of Toyota most Japanese carmakers are not big enough, or rich enough, to balloon out to the size of some of the new Chinese powerhouses.Relatively small manufacturers such as Mazda, Mitsubishi and Subaru don’t have the resources to overhaul their collective ranges and invest in electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid technology all at once.Instead they are borrowing from others. Subaru joined forces with Toyota to build EVs, Mazda with China’s Changan and Mitsubishi with Taiwan's Foxtron, the latter is part of the company that builds iPhones.They now have the tech but predicting demand for electric cars is proving difficult for all manufacturers.Mazda and Subaru have found the solution.Mazda is developing a new way of producing cars that would allow one production line to make internal-combustion engined vehicles, hybrids and electric vehicles depending on demand.Subaru is also working on flexible production lines to help it make the most of its modest production resources, without having to build new factories or re-tool old ones.This would help the pair adjust to lulls in EV demand without having to mothball production lines, which has impacted other major makers such as Ford and Volkswagen.Subaru Managing Executive Officer Ikuo Watanabe told US outlet Autonews it would be able to adapt to changes in tariffs of exchange rate fluctuations to shuffle production between factories around the world.“Demand trends are uncertain and we cannot predict which powertrain, battery-electric, hybrid or internal combustion engine, will sell well and when,” Watanabe said. “Making an investment decision on one specific technology poses the greatest risk.”Mazda has pushed back its own in-house developed electric cars until 2029, with it instead relying on Changan’s production to deliver its reskinned EVs. Hybrid versions of its CX-5 SUV won’t arrive in the US until late 2027 before rolling out to other markets, including Australia.But it already has a plan in place to build all its different powered vehicles on the same line when they are available towards the end of the decade.Former Toyota boss and now head of Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Koji Sato recently called for the country’s carmakers to join forces or risk oblivion, according to Autonews.“Unless things change, we will not survive,” Sato said. He is calling for all brands to have uniform parts to help reduce costs and complexity across the industry.Japan’s automakers believe this will help them tackle China’s scale and speed.

It’s no secret that Chinese car brands have managed to undercut most legacy brands on price, helping their sales surge. This has led to off-the-record accusations these prices are only possible thanks to subsidies and other financial assistance from the Chinese government.Chery is one of the fastest growing Chinese brands in Australia and also one of the most-affordable, offering some of the cheapest new cars on the market today.This includes the Tiggo 4 Pro, which is priced from just $23,990 drive-away and has already become the best-selling small SUV on the market.But any suggestion that these sorts of prices are unsustainable and only possible thanks to government subsidies is quickly dismissed by Chery Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris.“ I think if you account for inflation the short answer's, yes, I think it is sustainable,” Harris told CarsGuide.“If you work out and factor inflation on new car prices over the last 15 or 20 years actually, there hasn't really been a huge shift."The challenge, I think, that we've got at the moment is inflation's out of control. But I think cars in Australia are still quite affordable generally across the board, particularly if you compare to most countries in Europe.“Is it sustainable? I think so, yes. You hear all of these accusations around dumping and government subsidies I would love to see some actual evidence. I'd love a government subsidy, it would certainly help us out.”Instead, Harris said the Chinese brands are attracting Australian buyers not simply on price, but also a significant focus on technology.“ They just want everything to improve and to be better, and there's no sleeping or sitting on their hands and waiting for the next thing,” he explained.“They want to create the next thing. And so there's a huge amount of effort put into trying to understand the customers better and understand what the customers want and push the technology as far as they can. And there's certainly a lot of the reasons you gave before around why people are buying Chinese vehicles, it's not just about the price. I think it's largely driven by technology."I think it's fairly fair to say that if you want a car that is on the leading edge of technology, then you buy a Chinese car. The Chinese brands happen to make it more affordable and more attainable than some others.”In the same interview Harris also hit back at other off-the-record criticism that Chinese car brands are ‘dumping’ vehicles in Australia.“ I would be reluctant to speak poorly about any other particular brands or countries of origins,” Harris said.“And the only explanation I could think of why someone would want to do that is if they were fighting for their lives, and they knew that they couldn't win in a fair fight.” Unfortunately, the complexity of the Chinese car industry and its integration with various levels of government means only time will tell if Harris is right or if they will follow the same trend as their Japanese and South Korean rivals and increase prices over time.

Chinese players in Australia look to get even more aggressive as the country's automotive giants try to offset sales slumps in their own market with an aggressive export strategy to help shift excess metal.That's the latest analysis from automotive experts, who point to falling profits or soaring losses in China's saturated new-car market.To put the market there into perspective, there are now more than 130 brands, and there were more than 500 new models launched in the first six months of 2026 alone.“Such an aggressive rollout of new products was far beyond what the market was able to accommodate,” said Fu Bingfeng, secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, at an industry forum in July.New analysis from the US's Automotive News details the challenges facing some of the now-biggest car brands in the world. Many are booming in Australia, but it's a different story in their home market, where oversupply is crippling sales.According to the US site, July marked the seventh consecutive month of market decline in China, with sales down 24 per cent compared to the same period last year. The July result was even more stark, with month on month sales down 25 per cent.Several auto giants have released their six-month financial results, with Geely benefiting from a massive 158 per cent increase in exports to protect profits, which still dropped two per cent. BAIC, which partners with Hyundai on the Elexio, reported a net loss of 1.65 billion yuan (345m), while GAC is forecasting a potential full-year loss of 4.6 billion yuan ($958m).Changan, which will soon launch in Australia, and already has a footprint here through Deepal, says its first-half profit could slip by 68 per cent, while Great Wall Motor reports a similar, though slightly smaller, figure.Domestic pressure is fuelling an export boom, with a total 5.35 million vehicles shipped overseas from January to July, up more than 70 per cent on the same period last year.The export boom will likely increase competition and sharpen prices in Australia, which will be good news for consumers, and the opposite for legacy OEMs battling ever increasing Chinese headwinds.

Geely’s new hybrid family SUV is getting closer to Aussie buyers. Geely Monjaro is a plug-in hybrid mid-size family SUV that has just been confirmed for the United Kingdom.This means the car is now available in right-hand drive, smoothing its path for an Australian launch.The Monjaro is on the large end of the mid-size SUV scale at 4770mm long, making it a size up on the Toyota RAV4. It will still be a rival to the RAV4 when it gets here, as well as everything from the MG HS to the Kia Sportage . It is considered Geely’s flagship SUV, indicating it will sit at the top of the brand’s SUV line-up globally. The Monjaro is available with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and conventional hybrid power, but it is unclear what Geely will offer Down Under. The PHEV set-up is the same as the Starray EM-i that combines a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor to produce 160kW and 262Nm. Hybrid power also comes from a four-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor, making 111kW and 225Nm. The Monjaro is available with standard 2.0-litre petrol engines in some markets, but don’t expect them in Australia as they would incur fines under our emissions regulations. It is more likely Australian examples will boast the PHEV set-up as it provides greater performance.The Monjaro hasn't been officially confirmed for a launch in Australia, but it is widely expected to arrive in 2027. It will likely hit Aussie shores after its UK launch that is scheduled for some time next year. Pricing details remain a while away, but Geely has confirmed it will sit above the Starray EM-i PHEV that starts from $37,490 (before on-road costs).Expect more details from Geely Australia on the Monjaro’s future in the coming weeks.  

Audi has dropped the price and beefed up the standard kit for its enticing new compact electric SUVThe Audi Q4 e-tron line-up has been tweaked with the addition of a 150kW entry model, updated interior design, tech enhancements and additional equipment.The new entry-grade Q4 e-tron is offered in traditional SUV wagon and swoopy Sportback form from $71,650, before on-road costs.That's more than $13,000 cheaper than the previous base model.All-wheel drive examples are now up to $24,000 cheaper, starting at $81,650.Crucially for buyers that means all Q4s now slip under the Fringe Benefits Tax exemption threshold, so they are even more enticing when sourced through a novated lease. Buyers will pay no Luxury Car Tax either, with the previous all-wheel drive versions slugged 33 cents per dollar over $90,000.Powered by a single electric motor sending 150kW/350Nm to the rear wheels it carries a 63kWh battery that supports DC fast charging of up to 160kW, delivering a 10 to 80 per cent in what Audi said is “as little as 27 minutes.”19-inch Aero Black alloy wheelsMatrix LED headlightsDigital DRLs (daytime running lights)Heated, auto-dimming and folding exterior mirrorsKeyless entry and startPower tailgate (with gesture control)Alloy roof rails (SUV only)Contrasting paint finish in blackBody colour wing mirror housingsLeather-trimmed steering wheel (with regen paddles)Leather-appointed upholsteryPower-adjustable, heated front seatsThree-zone climate controlAmbient lighting12.8-inch multimedia touchscreen11.9-inch digital driver displayEight-speaker audio (plus subwoofer)Digital radioApple CarPlay / Android AutoThree new exterior colours - Tambora Grey, Plasma Blue and Sage Green - have been added to the Q4 e-tron palette, joining the existing Pebble Grey, Mythos Black and Glacier White, while the interior features brushed aluminium inlays and door sill trims (illuminated at the front) and cooled inductive charging pads for mobile devices..Adaptive cruise controlSide assist (with exit warning and rear cross-traffic assist)Front cross-traffic assistSwerve and turn assistFront emergency brake assistTraffic sign recognition360-degree camera viewAt the same time the all-wheel drive Audi Q4 e-tron quattro features new electric motors claimed to deliver greater range and torque.Overall power output rises to 250kW with peak torque of 134Nm from the front motor and 545Nm at the rear, for claimed 0-100km/h acceleration in 5.4 seconds.A larger 82kWh battery can now accept 185kW fast charging (up from 175 kW) for the same 27 minute 10 to 80 per cent charge claim as the single motor version. Claimed range is 494km for the SUV and 509km for the Sportback.S line exterior package (new bumpers, body colour grille with black mask and matt silver aluminium inlays)20-inch Audi Sport wheelsLeather appointed Sport front seatsBlack headliningStainless steel pedal coversAudi drive selectAugmented reality head-up displayA 12-inch passenger side screen is optional, giving the co-pilot access to navigation, media and entertainment functions. The new Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron quattro models are scheduled to hit local showrooms in the first half of 2027 and if you place an order for one of these new models before the end of 2026 Audi is including a six-year/90,000km service plan to sweeten the deal.Announcing the upgraded Q4 e-tron range Audi Australia Director Jeff Mannering said, “These new models see compelling pricing designed to provide customers with an unmatched offering in the premium segment, while still allowing them to take advantage of government EV incentives.”

Toyota’s RAV4 hybrid was the best-selling vehicle in July and is on target to be the best selling non-ute in the nation in 2026. But there is a stylish RAV4-based alternative held back from Australia.Dubbed the Toyota Harrier, the coupe-style mid-size SUV is based on the RAV4 and sold in Japan and some other Asian right-hand drive markets. It - unlike the RAV4 - hasn’t been updated yet and is due for a makeover in the next 12 months to bring it inline with the new RAV4.The Harrier is built on Toyota's TNGA-K platform, which spawns the RAV4, Camry and several Lexus models, including the NX and RX.This means it’ll likely follow in the RAV4’s footsteps and have conventional hybrid and plug-in hybrid power.Hybrid versions use a 2.5-litre petrol-electric combo to make 143kW in both front- and all-wheel drive layouts. Fuel use is a miserly 4.5L/100km, or 0.1L/100km more for heavier AWD examples.Plug-in hybrid versions add a bigger battery, a more powerful electric motor for a total of 272kW and an electric-only driving range of up to 121km calculated via the benchmark WLTP standard.Fuel use is a claimed 0.7L/100km, but this requires owners to constantly have the battery with a substantial amount of charge, as fuel use rises dramatically when the battery is depleted.Toyota has form selling two SUVs in the same category, with its conventionally-styled Corolla Cross SUV and design-focused C-HR.The Corolla Cross is by far the more popular, but the C-HR pulls in a different demographic.Toyota could apply that same logic to mid-size SUVs that demand a bigger slice of the Australian car buying pie.SUVs account for 65 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Australia, and is the only body style growing in popularity in 2026. So brands are investing more in SUVs and expanding line-ups.Toyota hasn’t officially revealed the Harrier yet, but expect it to borrow heavily from the RAV4 and the new Corolla Cross.Unofficial digital renders published online show the Harrier wearing the same lattice work grille as the new RAV4 and Corolla Cross, as well as sharp LED headlights and body character lines seen on several new Toyotas.The big difference is the coupe-style rear end with a floating roofline, which is in a similar vein to the smaller C-HR.Full length tail-lights could be an option, too.

Aussie buyers will soon have a new electric people mover to choose from.The Kia PV5 Passenger has been approved for sale, according to a filing published by the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. This is one of the car’s final steps before it hits Aussie showrooms in the fourth quarter of this year, joining the PV5 Cargo variant already on sale.It provides Kia with an electric option to complement the bigger, segment-dominating diesel- and hybrid-powered eight-seater Carnival.Electric people movers are on the rise in Australia, with luxurious Chinese rivals the Denza D9 and the Zeekr 009 giving Kia something to think about. The PV5 is much smaller than these competitors, but it should compensate with a much cheaper price point. The PV5 people mover will be exclusively sold as a seven-seater, meaning buyers won’t be able to purchase five-seater variants sold overseas. It will be offered in a single ‘Long Range’ variant powered by one electric motor, producing 120kW and 250Nm - matching the PV5 Cargo. It is also equipped with the same 71.2kWh battery, and should offer 416km of WLTP driving range like the PV5 Cargo. The PV5 Passenger sizes up identically to the Cargo with dimensions 4695mm long, 1895mm wide, 1899mm tall, with a 2995mm wheelbase. The PV5 people mover has a braked towing capacity of 750kg. Kia will reveal official pricing closer to its fourth quarter launch, but the Cargo’s $55,990 (before on-road costs) provides a rough indication of where it could land. People mover variants usually incur a decent price hike over their cargo siblings, so expect the PV5 Passenger to sit between $60,000 and $70,000. Kia’s PV5 should provide a cheaper option to bigger luxury-pitched alternatives the Denza D9 and Zeekr 009.

It has never been a better time to buy an SUV with seven-seats, with a range of options across all price ranges.But if you're looking for a seven-seater, but don’t want to spend any more than about $45K? We’ve got you covered.Here are the five most affordable seven-seater SUVs on sale in Australia.The MG QS is last on our list for affordability but first on our list for practicality thanks to its giant five-metre length, which offers more third-row room than the others here. The QS is a proper larger SUV, while the others here are on the smaller side of large.The price of $46,990 is a drive-away offer too, so the value is still outstanding. We have tested the MG QS and liked the roominess, the hefty list of standard features and the 10-year warranty.  Things we didn't like include the fairly small petrol engine, which has to work hard to carry this big car around. We also felt the cabin stying looks great, but some of the materials felt a bit cheap. The Mitsubishi Outlander has been around for decades and has been a stalwart in driveways of Aussie families. A low list price of $42,540 for this entry grade is also good to see. We tested the Outlander and liked its value for money and good looks, but found the third row to be cramped and the CVT transmission to offer lacklustre performance. The Nissan X-Trail is not only one of the original mid-sized SUVs that’s been around for more than 25 years but for a long time it was one of just a few that offered seven seats.The new X-Trail is one of the best SUVs here and it's wonderful to see it priced so affordable at a list price of $41,305.Of course we have tested it and liked the ride comfort and good handling, but we noted that the spare wheel is under the third row seats and little things like the sound system quality weren’t as good as some rivals.Chery has returned to Australia with an array of excellent vehicles and the Tiggo 8 is no exception. At just over 4.7m long the Tiggo 8 is classed as a large SUV, although that’s still not huge.We’ve tested it and liked the quality of the interior, the amount of features for this $41,990 drive-away price and the good ride. We prefer the super hybrid version of this SUV, which offers better fuel economy although the price tag is more than this petrol version.Indian car maker Mahindra makes a pretty compelling proposition here with the XUV 700, which is our cheapest seven-seater SUV at $36,990 drive-away for the AX7 entry grade.The AX7 is considered a mid-sized SUV at just under 4.7m long.We’ve tested it and liked the punchy 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, the mountain of standard features for the price, but felt the interior quality could be better and the ride and handling wasn’t exactly great.

Xiaomi has revealed more details of its SkyNomad N70 ahead of its Chinese launch, and has detailed export plans as Chinese pre-orders exceed expectations.The N70 is the smaller of two SkyNomad large SUV models from Xiaomi, the tech brand became an automotive sensation thanks to its Porsche-challenging SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV.The new SkyNomad pair serve as the brand’s entrants into the large luxury plug-in hybrid market, which is currently taking the Chinese market by storm. The N70 is a five-seater, while the N90 is a six-seater.Both have flexible seating arrangements, with the middle or, in the case of the N70, front seats able to turn 180-degrees and face the rear creating a living space in the interior, giving the SkyNomad range a point of difference compared to many of their rivals.The new interior images show the fully swivelling front seats in the N70, which combine with a centre console, which transforms into a table, both move on a rail-based system on the interior.The SkyNomad N70 also scores the same dash treatment as the larger N90, with a trendy two-spoke steering wheel and plush materials, although the large centrally-mounted multimedia touchscreen and digital instrument cluster are noticeably restrained compared to the dash-spanning screens of many of this car’s rivals.That having been said, there is a noticeable lack of physical buttons for core functions, with the climate controls clearly screen-based.The N70 is also not as large as its Zeekr 8X rival, measuring in at less than five meters long, with total dimensions at 4690mm long, 1998mm wide and 1765mm tall, making it larger than a traditional mid-size SUV, but not as large as many of the five-meter plus SUVs trendy in China.On the pricing front, it is also more affordable than some rivals, with the N70 Max launch variant announced by the brand to start from the equivalent of A$55,000 (suggesting a retail price if it were to ever arrive in Australia of around $66,000 once the usual 20 per cent cost increase for Chinese cars is added). Xiaomi Auto Vice President Li Xiaoshuang said via the brand’s social media channels that the cars will hit the market in China as soon as September.Both the N70 and N90 are range-extender plug-in hybrids powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a large battery pack. The N70 Max has an EV-sized 76kWh unit, which grants it a pure electric range of 505km according to the more lenient Chinese measuring standards.Xiaomi says this is the longest electric driving range of any range-extended hybrid model. Combined range, with use of the engine, is said to be 1461km, with fuel consumption quoted at 6.1L/100km once the battery is at its reserve level.Xiaomi’s car division has remained a China-exclusive phenomenon, in large part thanks to its success which has seen orders in the hundreds of thousands of units across its growing model range, significantly exceeding its factory capacity. Wait times in China for new orders are still well in excess of a year, yet this hasn’t stopped the company from announcing it is targeting Europe as its first export market as soon as 2027. It has already launched a research and development centre in Munich, Germany ahead of the expected market debut, which is reportedly staffed by many ex-BMW engineers and led by an ex-BMW executive Rudolph Dittrich.As for Australia, a Xiaomi debut in our market is likely to be held back by right-hand drive engineering on top of the brand’s currently limited production capacity. That having been said, our market has proven to be an extremely attractive target for Chinese brands, as it offers relatively high profit margins with a low barrier to entry thanks to the lack of tariff structures and a market accepting of new challenger brands.Companies like Chery, BYD, and Geely have all earmarked Australia as an ideal testing ground for new models ahead of launches elsewhere in the world, while other brands, like Nio, have chosen a Euro-first approach.Xiaomi’s SkyNomad models are set to be finally revealed to the Chinese public at the Chengdu Auto Show from the 21st to the 30th of August.

Genesis has officially revealed its new GV90 flagship electric SUV ahead of its Australian launch in the first half of 2027.The Genesis GV90 is based on a new platform called Electric Mobility Prime (eMP) platform. It also features a level of luxury that moves the brand’s positioning much closer to Bentley and Rolls-Royce.Two new world-first features include B-pillarless coach doors that allow for one large opening with both the front and rear doors open, as well as a roof airbag that’s designed to deploy during roll-over accidents and protect occupants.Other highlight features that are a first for the Hyundai Motor Group include 180-degree swivelling first-row seats, monotube-type electronic controlled suspension, metal-coated heated glass that operates on a 48V system, as well as a dual e-LSD system on both the front and rear motors.There are two versions of this car available – the GV90 and GV90 Neolun – and both are powered by a dual-electric motor set-up with total system outputs of 490kW and 800Nm.It’s enough to send it from 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds, depending on the variant. Top speed is 240km/h.The electric motors are fed by a 123.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is the largest fitted to any Hyundai Motor Group EV to date. It allows for up to 500km of range, depending on the configuration, according to internal testing.Peak charging rates haven’t been disclosed, but a 10-80 per cent charge is claimed to take as little as 22 minutes.The Genesis GV90 measures in at 5285mm long, 2030mm wide and up to 1825mm tall, with a 3245mm wheelbase. This makes it 225mm longer than the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and more on par with mammoth full-size SUVs like the GMC Yukon.Standard versions of the GV90 come with 22-inch alloy wheels, whereas Neolun versions come with larger 24-inch alloy wheels. A total of 16 exterior paint colours are available.At the front there is a V-shaped lighting signature as part of Genesis’ signature Two-Lines graphic motif, as well as a long bonnet.Around the side, beyond the large alloy wheels, GV90 Neolun variants receive the B-pillarless coach doors. Standard GV90 variants receive conventionally opening rear doors.At the back there are large body-colour sections, unique glass graphics and cutless rear lamps. There’s also a gooseneck hinge for the tailgate that conceals the mechanical parts when open.Standard versions of the GV90 come with either six or seven seats, whereas the Neolun variants come with either six or four seats. There are a total seven interior colourways, as well as multiple interior garnishes including real wood stone and wool cashmere trim.The Neolun versions receive 180-degree swivelling front-row seats, plus if you opt for the Executive Suite pack with four seats you get a built-in refrigerator, tables and a partition between the passenger and cargo sections.A highlight of the interior is a 23.6-inch OLED central display screen that can pop up an additional 90mm when parked, transforming it into a 24.6-inch display. There’s also a 25-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and interior ambient lighting.Additionally, the GV90 debuts Hyundai Motor Group’s new Pleos Connect multimedia software, which is based on the Android Automotive Operating System and allows for third-party apps to be downloaded via an app store.Other highlight interior features include a rotating crystal sphere controller, rotating shift-by-wire gear selector and a 25-inch head-up display.Genesis has confirmed the GV90 will launch in Australia in the first half of 2027.When it launches it won’t have any direct rivals that offer comparable levels of specification and an all-electric powertrain. The closest would be the likes of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS, Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan.At this stage it’s unclear how much the GV90 will cost in Australia. The most expensive model currently is the Electrified G80 Signature at $156,418, before on-road costs, but the V8-powered Mercedes-Maybach GLS starts at $424,900, before on-road costs.Only 222 examples of the GV90 Neolun First Edition are being offered globally and they come with exclusive exterior and interior colourways, plus bespoke detailing. It’s unclear if any of these will come to Australia.