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After a small ($210) price adjustment across its Qashqai range in August, this month Nissan Australia has dropped the sporty N-Design grade from the small SUV’s local line-up.The out-going flagship was based on the mid-tier Ti spec, adding a panoramic glass roof, hands-free power tailgate, head-up display, 20-inch alloy rims and Alcantara trim on the seats, dash and door panels. It featured the same e-Power hybrid powertrain as the rest of the range, consisting of a 116kW/250Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine used solely to charge the car’s 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery/inverter and power the electric drive motor.Price at the time of the N-Design’s departure was $54,350, before on-road costs, with the top-spec role now taken by the Qashqai Ti-L e-Power at $53,850, BOC.A Nissan spokesperson told CarsGuide, “The decision was primarily linked to its wheels, which were a key differentiating feature of the N-Design grade and have now been adopted on the Ti-L from MY26.5.”Blind-spot monitoringRear cross-traffic alertLane-keep assistSeven airbagsLED exterior lightsDual-zone climate controlCloth seatsWalk-to/away central lockingAdaptive cruise control12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen12.3-inch instrument displayWireless Apple CarPlay/Android AutoPhone chargerNative sat-navSix speaker audioFront parking sensors360-degree camera view18-inch alloy wheels19-inch alloy wheels (black)Synthetic leather seatsEight-way power driver's seatHeated steering wheelHeated front seatsCustomisable ambient lighting20-inch alloy wheelsPremium quilted leather-accented seats10-speaker Bose audioPanoramic glass roof (with electric shade)10.8-inch windscreen head-up display 

The Polestar 4 has officially been revealed in its new SUV body style ahead of its Australian arrival in the fourth quarter of 2026.Compared to the existing ‘coupe’ model, this new Polestar 4 SUV most notably gains a longer roofline with a more upright tailgate. There’s also a proper rear window.As a result of these changes there is slightly more second-row headroom and extra cargo capacity. With the rear seats upright there is up to 655L of boot space, expanding out to 1665L with them folded.Additionally there are full-length roof rails that allow for a dynamic roof load capacity of 100kg.Polestar claims it only needed 48 new parts to create this new SUV body style and the rest of the existing car remains largely untouched.All Australian-specification examples of the 2026 Polestar 4 SUV are set to be manufactured in South Korea, unlike the coupe body style which will remain in production in China.Two variants are set to be offered and they are priced as follows:Polestar 4 SUV Rear motor: $73,900Polestar 4 SUV Dual motor: $81,750All above prices are before on-road costsThese new SUV versions of the Polestar 4 are $4600 more affordable than their coupe body style counterparts.A series of option extras are available and they are priced as follows:Comfort pack: $1200Plus pack: $6500Nappa upgrade (requires Plus pack): $6100 for Zinc, $5700 for CharcoalPerformance pack (requires Dual motor with Plus pack): $720022kW AC charging: $900Tailored knit in Mist with Zinc deco: $1400Electrochromic glass roof: $1000Digital rear-view mirror: $1000Privacy glass on rear-side windows: $700Electric retractable towbar: $4070The Polestar 4 SUV is built on the same SEA architecture as its coupe counterpart, plus there is still a choice of two all-electric powertrains.The Rear motor version is powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor that produces 200kW and 343Nm. Enough to send it from 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds.The Dual motor version, on the other hand, features a dual-motor, all-wheel drive set-up with a total system output of 400kW and 686Nm. Enough for a 0-100km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds.All SUV variants come with a 100kWh battery pack. The Rear motor is claimed to offer 630km of WLTP-claimed range, whereas the Dual motor is claimed to offer 600km of WLTP-claimed range. This is an increase of 10km over the coupe counterparts.All versions of the Polestar 4 SUV offer vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, like its coupe counterpart.Using the charging port with a certified charging adaptor, the V2L system can deliver up to 3.3kW of power. It can be used to power household appliances, camping equipment or any other powered electronic device.Additionally there’s a new ‘Camping’ mode that allows the climate control to remain active when parked. It also allows you to use the screens, ambient lighting, V2L port, as well as the USB-C and 12V outlets.Like the coupe version, there is a digital instrument cluster and a landscape-oriented touchscreen multimedia system. Both operate on Google Built-in with Google Gemini functionality.

The number of Australians willing to buy an electric car has increased dramatically, with now only 17 percent of people stating they wouldn’t consider an EV according to a report by the NRMA.Australian tastes are rapidly changing when it comes to how we want our vehicles powered. And while combustion vehicles still rule our roads with the majority of new cars bought still have petrol and diesel engines, the uptake of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) is increasing.According to the NRMA’s latest Changing Gears report 31 percent of Australians in 2026 would consider a battery electric vehicle (BEV) compared to 20 percent in 2024.Additionally, consideration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) has increased from 41 percent in 2024 to 58 percent in 2026.The report also found that the number of Australians who would not consider an EV was now just 17 percent.The Changing Gears report found that lower prices of electric cars, better infrastructure and rising petrol costs were some of the main motivating factors for the change in attitudes towards EVs.“There’s no doubt 2026 has been the tipping point for EV adoption. More affordable vehicles, expanded charging infrastructure and government incentives have all helped move EVs into the mainstream,” NRMA CEO Julie Batch said.“At the same time, rising petrol prices and concerns about long-term fuel security have given consumers even more reason to consider an EV.” The NRMA report found several barriers, both real and perceived, were preventing Australians from considering an electric car.Of the 17 percent of people who would not consider an EV, the biggest concern was battery life with 60 percent saying this was a major barrier; 56 percent also felt that driving range was also a substantial reason not to buy an EV; 54 percent saw charging time as a factor that put them off; and finally 52 percent also felt fire risk stood in the way of them purchasing an electric car.“Some of the concerns we see around battery health and safety don't reflect the reality of modern EVs, but that doesn't mean they should be ignored. The challenge is helping Australians separate fact from fiction and to make decisions based on reliable information," Ms Batch said.“For example, independent battery testing is already widely available and can provide buyers with a clear picture of a battery's condition. When it comes to fires, EV battery fires are extremely rare and when charged correctly, there’s virtually zero fire risk.”The NRMA says that approximately 500,000 EVs are currently on Australian roads accounting for about three percent of the nation's entire number of registered cars.This number is expected to rise to approximately 10 percent by 2030, with CSIRO modelling  predicting that 97 percent of light passenger cars will be electric by 2050.Right now affordable Chinese EVs are proving hugely popular with Australians. Electric SUVs such as the BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5 and Zeekr 7X are now more popular than past Aussie combustion favourites such as the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester.

Lexus has unveiled an upgraded version of its NX mid-size SUV featuring subtle design tweaks, a revised hybrid system and new battery tech as well as improved body rigidity and better ride quality.Offered across 300h, 350h and 450h+ variants in Japan, it’s likely the same line-up will be offered locally when the new car hits Aussie showrooms in the first part of 2027.The 300h is a 2.0-litre, front-wheel drive series-parallel hybrid with an overall output of 145kW, the 350h is a 2.5-litre hybrid in front- or all-wheel drive producing 140-180kW, with the 2.5L AWD plug-in hybrid flagship 450h+ delivering 215-240kW (with an EV-only driving range of 140km in Japan). At 4690mm, the new NX is 30mm longer than the model it replaces with width (1865mm), height (1660mm) and wheelbase (2690mm) unchanged. An exterior design refresh includes integrating reshaped headlights and DRLs with a raised mesh grille which is claimed to improve aero and cooling performance. Car-spotters should also look out for exterior mirror covers in black rather than chrome and LED tail-lights featuring a ‘Double L Signature’ graphic.Inside, a 12.3-inch instrument display is joined by a 14-inch navigation/multimedia panel with a ‘Sensory Concierge’ combining ‘linear illumination’, music, air conditioning, seat temperature, fragrance and ‘indirect lighting’ to “create a calm and sophisticated atmosphere.”The new car’s compact ‘e-Axle’ which integrates the transaxle, motor and PCU (Power Control Unit) now uses silicon carbide (SiC) in the inverter's power elements to enhance efficiency and improve fuel economy.At the same time the flagship NX450h+ features a new battery pack boasting eight per cent higher output and a 30 per cent capacity increase for additional range and even faster DC charging.By changing battery cell orientation from longitudinal to lateral, body rigidity has been improved and the car’s centre of gravity lowered for improved handling dynamics.Torsional strength has also been improved across the board through “reshaping of the engine block and increased rigidity of the transaxle and engine connection using reinforcing materials.” This also contributes to reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).Floor rigidity has been improved by approximately 25 per cent and the suspension towers have been integrated more thoroughly with connected components.The claim is a 30 per cent improvement in overall rigidity “resulting in improved handling, ride comfort and reduced road noise.”In fact, Lexus said the new NX’s performance characteristics have been fine-tuned at the Toyota Technical Centre Shimoyama, west of Tokyo and Germany's Nürburgring.New dampers feature ‘ultra low-speed valves’ for a better balance between handling response and ride comfort.The variable-ratio steering set-up has been recalibrated to adjust to changing demands faster and accelerator control has been revised for a more linear response. The steering wheel itself is also 10mm smaller in diameter.Standard wheels are 18-inch alloy shod with 235/60 rubber with F Sport grades stepping up to 20-inch rims and 235/50 tyres.Active (crash-avoidance) safety has also been “evolved to recognize objects more broadly and from a greater distance, expanding the range of accident scenarios it can address.”Other safety systems have also been upgraded, including:Active cruise controlLane-change assistPre-collision safetyDriver monitoringAdaptive high-beamBlind-spot monitoringPanoramic overhead 3D view Pricing and exact specification will be confirmed closer to the new car’s launch date but for reference the existing line-up starts at $71,830, before on-road costs, for the 350h 2WD Luxury and tops out at $96,090, BOC, for the 450h+ F Sport.  

Chery’s in the middle of a rapid expansion and has no plans to slow down.Chery relaunched in 2023, but the Chinese automotive group has added Omoda and Jaecoo already, has confirmed Lepas will start sales in October and confirmed both iCaur and Freelander will follow soon.What makes it more confusing to many, is the company has a very different approach to its multi-brand strategy than most rivals, with a significant amount of crossover in terms of both vehicles offered and pricing.Lucas Harris, Chery Australia’s Chief Operating Officer, explained the thinking behind the company to CarsGuide.“ So I think one of the differences in our approach to the brands is that established brands' way of thinking, because there are established brands that have multi-brand arrangements, they typically stack them on top of each other,” Harris said.“This one's volume, this one's kind of premium mainstream, this one's luxury, this one's a supercar. And they segment them and separate them really just by price.”“So our approach is less about pricing and much more about trying to create a unique brand image and a unique brand feeling. And, product is a big part of that and you can see quite a big difference in the design of our products across the brands. The idea is to try and have different brands that speak to different sub-sets of consumers.”Freelander will be the first brand to break that mould, with the Jaguar Land Rover joint-venture to be a genuine luxury brand, priced above Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo and Lepas.“It's very much a luxury car and is going to be in that luxury segment and have fit and finish, and be priced accordingly. So totally different from our existing products,” Harris confirmed.The introduction of so many brands does have one major challenge - finding enough dealerships to sell them. Omoda and Jaecoo models may be similar to Chery underneath, the different design has seen the brands operate in separate showrooms.For Lepas, Harris said he hopes to add up to 50 new dealerships by the end of the year, which is changing the way dealers physically carve up the space they have available on the showroom floor.“ Look, when we launched with Chery three and a half years ago I think the timing we were fortunate with, in that there wasn't as many new brands competing for showroom space at that time and so that was good,” Harris said.“And Chery really has been the catalyst for our other brands to come through and have good support from our dealers. So if we look at Lepas, maybe two-thirds of it are existing dealers that want the additional franchise and they like operating and dealing with us. And so they're pretty enthusiastic to put their hands up to get the extra brand.“It is also quite good timing that whilst some of those established brands are now not what they once were. They can't command the same 800 or 1000 square meter showrooms that they used to. And it's becoming increasingly expensive for dealers to do business in Australia."The cost of everything's gone up from, the cost of wages and marketing, the cost of electricity, the property and rent costs are through the roof. So it's really hard for any brand, particularly a suffering established brand, to support those kinds of facilities anymore.”Which is why he’s confident he can find so many new dealers willing to sell Lepas, Freelander and potential future brands Chery Group could add.“ I would say at least every second day I get a phone call from a dealer that I've not dealt with who would like a franchise,” Harris claimed. “And I don't know, obviously they're getting my number from other dealers who are dealing with us. But yes, there's a lot of interest in working with us and it's very flattering.”

The potential new generation of Hyundai’s popular i30 sedan is one step closer to Aussie shores. The brand has priced the new Avante sedan in its local South Korean market ahead of its Australian arrival in 2027.The current i30 sedan sold in Australia is called the Avante in South Korea, so this is likely to be the case for its new generation.It starts from 23,980,000 won (about $24,000), with prices ranging up to 31,520,000 won (roughly $32,000). There is also a high-performance Avante N variant that starts from $33,560,000 won (about $34,000). The i30 lines up as a sedan rival to the Toyota Corolla ($32,585) and Kia K4 ($32,090), both before on-road costs.The Avante is available with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 111kW, and a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, making 117kW.It is expected the car will only be offered with the hybrid set-up here to appease stringent emissions regulations. The new-generation features a bold, outgoing design, with boxy proportions and distinctive body panel creases, matching up with Hyundai’s current design language. The car has a large central touchscreen and pop-up digital driver display instead of a traditional unit embedded into the dashboard. Hyundai confirmed its in-car software has undergone major changes, including Over-The-Air (OTA) updates, and a Gleo AI voice assistant for navigation and climate control. There is no official word from Hyundai on when the new Avante will launch in Australia as the next i30 sedan, but it is expected to arrive in the first half of 2027. There is likely to be more information about its Australian future towards the end of 2026.The i30 sedan currently starts from $30,000 (before on-road costs), but its predicted hybrid-only status will push that price up. Korean pricing can provide a rough indication on where it might land in Australia. Its 23,980,000 won (about $24,000) price tag will probably receive an extra 30 to 40 per cent bump here to account for shipping, import and distribution costs.This means it could be offered from the region of $35,000-plus. 

The Jaecoo J7 just got more expensive for Australian buyers. Jaecoo has trimmed its J7 variants from five to three, with the cheapest ‘Ridge’ petrol grade now $39,990, drive-away - a $5000 jump on the previous ‘Core’. However, petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power are both available from $39,990. The range-topping plug-in hybrid Summit is now the only grade available with a choice of two or all-wheel drive, starting from $47,990. The petrol and range-topping PHEV variants are available in showrooms now, with the mid-spec Track arriving in October. The J7 is the larger sibling of the smash-hit J5 small SUV.It takes on popular family SUVs like the petrol or conventional hybrid-powered Hyundai Tucson ($39,100) and petrol-powered Mazda CX-5 ($39,990), both before on-road costs. The base Ridge grade is powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine, making 137kW and 275Nm. The first of two PHEV set-ups uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and single electric motor to produce 205kW and 365Nm. The top-spec PHEV adds a rear electric motor, boosting total power up to 260kW and 490Nm. Both PHEV variants are equipped with an 18.4kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, with J7 capable of travelling as much as 100km on electric-only power. The J7 PHEV has a total driving range of up to 1200km when the battery is fully charged and the fuel tank is at capacity. DC charging from 30 to 80 per cent at 40kW takes 20 minutes. The J7 comes as standard with a 10.25-inch digital driver display, but other equipment depends on what grade you buy. The base and range-topping variants have a 14.8-inch central touchscreen, while the mid-spec PHEV has a 13.2-inch unit.You get synthetic leather seats in the Ridge petrol and Summit PHEV grades, with the front seats heated and ventilated. Those grades also receive an electrically operated panoramic sunroof and power tailgate as well. All grades ride on a variant of 19-inch wheels and feature Jaecoo’s waterfall grille as on all its petrol- and hybrid-powered models. 

Geely’s Starray plug-in hybrid mid-size SUV will soon be available with all-wheel drive for Aussie buyers.The increasingly popular Chinese brand has confirmed it will add a new ‘Inspire’ AWD grade to its growing line-up. Starting from $44,990, before on-road costs, it will be $3500 more expensive than the top-grade two-wheel-drive variant. This means it will undercut the smaller Toyota RAV4 AWD PHEV by nearly $20,000.The new variant provides competition for the BYD Sealion 6 AWD ($52,990) and the 2WD-only Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV ($49,990, drive-away).It will arrive in dealerships in mid-September 2026 as the brand’s third Starray EM-i variant, with increased popularity encouraging the brand to broaden offerings.It went on sale in Australia in September 2025, following on from the fully electric EX5 earlier in the year.The AWD Starray uses the same 29.8kWh battery as the 2WD top grade, capable of travelling 130km (WLTP) on electric-only power. This is marginally less than the Inspire 2WD, but Geely has given the AWD a 60L fuel tank (up from 51L), boosting total driving range to 1065km from 996km. This variant boasts the most powerful set-up in the range.It adds a rear motor to compliment a front motor and 1.5-litre petrol engine, to make a combined 220kW and 412Nm.The new set-up means the car can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds, down from 8.2 seconds.It is slightly more thirsty than its 2WD sibling, registering 1.7L/100km for fuel efficiency, as opposed to 1.6L/100km.  Geely has added a five-link rear suspension compared to the four-link unit on other variants for improved comfort and handling, according to the brand. It also has two new all-terrain-focused driving modes called ‘Snow’ and ‘Off-road’.

Audi has introduced the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of its new-generation Q5 mid-size SUV in Australia and it’s claiming it will be more popular than ever.The German carmaker is expecting the new e-hybrid PHEV versions to make up to 40 per cent of the overall Q5 sales mix.Audi claims the previous-generation Q5 PHEV initially made up 10 per cent of the sales mix, but it then grew to around 20 per cent by the end of its lifecycle.This new-generation Q5 e-hybrid has launched much earlier in the lifecycle than the previous version, which was towards the end of its run.The Audi Q5 e-hybrid is the company’s PHEV version of the mid-size SUV. It’s available in both the SUV and ‘coupe’ SUV Sportback body styles.Power comes from a familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor. Total system outputs are 270kW and 500Nm, which is unchanged from the previous-generation model.What has changed however is there’s a larger 25.9kWh lithium-ion battery pack that allows for up to 88km of WLTP-claimed electric range.AC charging has also been upped from 7.2kW to 11kW, but fully charging the battery still takes 2.5 hours due to its larger size. There are now DC fast-charging capabilities.The 2026 Audi Q5 SUV e-hybrid is priced from $96,818, before on-road costs, whereas the Q5 Sportback e-hybrid is $3500 more at $100,318 before on-road costs.This brings price parity with the recently introduced Q5 TFSI quattro 200kW variants.It follows a similar structure Audi introduced when it launched the A5 e-hybrid last year.The previous-generation Q5 PHEV was around $17,000 more expensive than the equivalent petrol-only model. It was also more expensive brand new than the current, new-generation model.As part of Audi’s electrification strategy, it plans to offer combustion (ICE), PHEV and battery electric vehicle (BEV) options in key segments it competes in.With mid-size SUVs, for example, it has the regular Q5 and Q5 Sportback, the Q5 e-hybrid, as well as the Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron, respectively.The German carmaker is still scaling this strategy but other PHEV models it currently offers are the A5 e-hybrid, Q8 TFSI e, as well as the forthcoming RS5. The smaller Q3 e-hybrid is also under evaluation for an Australian launch.In addition to the Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron, Audi offers a number of other BEV models locally, including the Q4 e-tron and e-tron GT.

It was only a matter of time before Volkswagen introduced a factory camper version of its ID. Buzz pure-electric van, and now it’s arrived in the shape of the ID. California Cruise.Offered in short- and long-wheelbase form, the adventurous newcomer is equipped with a host of lifestyle-focused extras, including:2.0m x 1.2m (by 9.0cm thick) folding mattress extending out across the rear seatsLightweight folding table and chair set housed above the mattressVentilation grillesWindow black-out coversOptional panoramic sunroof with light-proof coverNo ‘pop-top’ roof or kitchen unit at this stagePower is supplied by the same rear-mounted single electric motor as the ID. Buzz Pro and Pro+ models, sending 210kW/510Nm to the rear wheels with a 79kWh lithium-ion battery in the SWB and 86kWh pack in the LWB likely to deliver similar range figures of 422km and 452km, respectively.But the electric California Cruise’s signature campsite party trick will surely be its V2L (Vehicle to Load) functionality with up to 3.6kW output to power equipment like lighting, cooking gear or a fridge/freezer box that would typically require a petrol generator.Another special feature up the new camper’s sleeve is ‘California Mode’, which keeps the air-conditioning or heating system as well as interior lighting and USB sockets up and running for 48 hours.Volkswagen has positioned the ID. California Cruise as “an important milestone towards an entirely new generation of all-electric campervans, which will be introduced step by step through to 2028.” Pricing is confirmed in the new model’s German home market at €60,761 (~A$98,300) with deliveries scheduled to start in early 2027.For reference, the current local ID. Buzz line-up starts with the SWB Pro at $75,990, before on-road costs and tops out with the LWB-only dual-motor GTX at $106,990, BOC.  CarGuide contacted Volkswagen Australia for comment on the ID. California Cruise’s potential for local sale and a spokesperson told us, "We are continually reviewing our product portfolio for the Australian market."While we recognise the interest in the Volkswagen ID. California Cruise, we are unable to confirm local availability or timing at this stage for Australia."