Electric Cars

Volvo has a history of making boxy, unexciting sedans - the ES90 does not follow that path. This all-new electric sedan (or liftback, technically) is the SUV alternative for those willing to think outside the box. We drive the new-for-2026 ES90 to tell you about its performance, range, value, design and practicality.

Electric vehicle sales are booming in a way they never have before in Australia. Buyer options have increased significantly in 2026, with more affordable choices also appearing more regularly. There were 15839 electric vehicle sales for March in 2026, up from 8385 compared to this time last year, representing a near 89 per cent year-on-year growth. Established SUV players such as the Tesla Model Y lead the way with 2818 sales, along with the BYD Sealion 7 (1970). There are also some new competitors climbing up the sales charts, such as the Zeekr 7X performance SUV, which managed 679 registrations for March, having launched late last year.The Tesla Model 3 sedan (667) continues to be present among the top sellers despite its prolonged downturn.The SUV trend continues as Geely’s EX5 (606) and the Kia EV5 (587) are next on the list, before BYD’s presence resumes with the Atto 2 small SUV (572). Another new EV making an early impression is the Jaecoo J5, which launched at the start of this year and achieved 569 sales last month. The BYD Atto 1 (488) and Atto 2 (466) also make the list along with the Kia EV3 (461). Hatchbacks are proving popular amongst EV buyers as well. The MG4 (451) remains among the strongest selling EVs, as does the BYD Dolphin (373). The Toyota bZ4X is also experiencing an upturn to 447 sales for March and BYD is represented again with its Seal sedan (337) to round out the top 15. Top selling electric cars Australia March 2026

BYD Chairman and Executive Director Wang Chuan-fu has said competition in the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) industry “has reached a fever pitch” and is entering a “brutal knockout stage”.Speaking at the company’s 2025 Annual Results Announcement in Shenzhen, China, Mr Wang said, “In 2025, as the global landscape evolved at an accelerated pace, the century-long transformation of the global automotive industry entered a critical phase."“We also recognise that competition in the NEV industry has reached a fever pitch, and is undergoing a brutal knockout stage,” he said.The Chinese giant is widely perceived as the instigator of an intense price war in the domestic new car market, designed to apply pressure to newer, more vulnerable players.It’s worth noting XPeng Founder and Chairman He Xiaopeng is on the record with a prediction that the squeeze play to eliminate smaller EV makers “could last up to five years and leave just five survivors” from the 100-plus brands currently active in China.But BYD’s aggressive strategy has impacted its own results with year-on-year sales down 7.8 per cent to 3.55 million vehicles.As a consequence, net profit also fell ¥33 billion (~$6.8 billion) in the financial year to December 31, 2025 and the company’s net profit margin shrank to 4.1 per cent compared to 5.2 per cent in 2024.And a clue to the risky nature of the brand’s brutal discounting tactics is that fall in profit arriving in parallel with a 3.5 per cent increase in revenue to ¥804 billion (~$166 billion).For reference, China’s total automobile production and sales in 2025 reached a staggering 34.53 million and 34.40 million units, representing year-on-year increases of 10.4 per cent and 9.4 per cent, respectively.NEV production and sales hit 16.626 million and 16.49 million units, surging 29 per cent and 28.2 per cent year-on-year.With high tariffs effectively putting the US market off limits for now, Mr Wang noted the company’s growing export presence elsewhere with BYD now represented in 119 countries across Latin America, The Middle East, UK, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.He also pointed to completion of a US$5.6 billion (~A$7.9 billion) round of revenue raising “attracting participation from top-tier global long-term investors, sovereign wealth funds and strategic investors from the Middle East.”And in terms of product research and development across BYD and its Fangchengbao, Denza and Yangwang sub-brands, Mr Wang referenced the Group’s ‘Technology Dream Team’ comprising over 120,000 engineers with recent innovations including the ‘Super e-Platform’, claimed to be “the world’s first mass-produced, full-domain 1000V high-voltage architecture for passenger vehicles”.He also highlighted 'DiSus’, the Group’s proprietary intelligent body control system for NEVs and the second-generation ‘Blade’ battery including ‘Flash Charging Technology’ taking five minutes to charge from 10-70 per cent, nine minutes from 10-97 per cent at normal temperature and 12 minutes to charge from 20-97 per cent at -30 degrees C. The latter is claimed to set a new global record for the fastest charging speed in mass-produced EVs, in the process “overcoming the global challenges of ‘slow charging’ and ‘difficult low-temperature charging’ that have characterised the first half of the electrification race.”

Chery Australia has introduced a sharp drive-away deal for its E5 electric compact SUV, while discontinuing the previous entry level variant.The E5 will now start from $37,990 (drive-away), coming in a single variant called the Ultimate, which used to top the range, meaning the base Urban grade is no longer available. Despite the entry level grade being cut from the range, the new price represents a substantial saving on previous $40,990 before on-road cost pricing for the range-topping variant.The new E5 drive-away deal will be available until the end of the financial year. The deal means the E5 is now more affordable than many of its rivals, including the BYD Atto 3 and the Geely EX5, with the latter recently experiencing a small price bump. The E5 now comes as standard with all off the model’s premium features such as a sunroof and synthetic leather upholstery along with heated front and rear seats.Other upgrades on the Ultimate include a heated synthetic leather steering wheel, ambient lighting and a 50W wireless phone charger as well as a premium sound system.It is powered by a single electric motor, which produces 155kW and 288Nm, along with a 68kWh battery offering a driving range of 430km. DC charging on the E5 from 30-80 per cent takes less than half an hour. Chery pulled a similar pricing move with its luxury sub-brand Jaecoo on the J7 SUV, which was offered with a cheap drive-away price until the end of February, following the base variant being cut.The brand has had a bumper start to 2026 climbing into the top 10 selling brands for March 2026, led by the success of the Tiggo 4 compact SUV.Chery will launch several new models in Australia in the coming months, including the much-anticipated diesel plug-in hybrid ute codenamed the KP31.

Plug-in hybrids are here to stay. That’s the opinion of Skoda Australia director Lucie Kuhn, who believes that while plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) may be a so-called ‘bridging technology’ towards fully-electric cars, the ‘bridge’ could last at least a decade.PHEV sales have risen sharply in recent years, making a comeback after many brands that previously offered the technology abandoned it in favour of a focus on fully-electric vehicles (EVs). But PHEVs, which use an internal combustion engine to support an electric powertrain, have been given a second chance thanks to longer electric-only driving range and a push from Chinese brands, such as BYD and Chery, that have made them more affordable.Under Kuhn’s leadership, Skoda Australia has introduced the Kodiaq PHEV with plans for the Superb PHEV wagon to follow soon. She believes this is the right time to introduce PHEV options, primarily because of the slow uptake of EVs in Australia.“Yes, I think so, and we actually had this observation also from Europe, where time has shown that the transformation hasn’t proceeded as fast as we all expected. And it's actually the same situation we observe here also in Australia,” Kuhn said.“Especially in a country with some relatively high geographical distances, I think we still will have a relatively big portion of customers still not being fully ready to go on their fully electric journey and rather go for some interim solution, a kind of solution that provides them a confidence that they can drive the car on a daily basis, on an electric mode, and when they go a little bit more further for some holidays or longer trips, then they can simply switch on the combustion engine and keep going.”Skoda has managed to, unintentionally, coincide the launch of the Kodiaq PHEV perfectly with a sudden spike in fuel prices, further enhancing the appeal of the large SUV that can drive up to 110km on battery and return a claimed fuel economy of just 1.9L/100km.But Kuhn still believes there is a barrier for buyers to overcome with EVs, and the introduction of more PHEVs will help bridge the gap between pure internal combustion engine options and the electric future. Exactly how long the bridge will be is unclear, but Kuhn is confident it won’t be a short-term solution. Instead she said it could last a decade or longer, assuming the Federal Government remains supportive of the technology.“ I think it's first a mental barrier, to overcome this and change this way of thinking and go fully electric. But it might also be driven legally. So the legislation is also something what will decide finally if the PHEV will be a long term technology,” Kuhn said.“Right now we consider it as a bridging technology, but we are speaking a long bridge, like 10 years at least. This is how long it will be minimally. But of course if at some point the government says I don't know, like Europe said, from 2035, no more combustion engines at all, or actually nothing that produces some pollution, then of course it's logically the end of the PHEV technology as well. But currently we don't have this, let's say, kind of global statement, it's currently only in Europe, but also Europe might reconsider, this kind of decision and maybe even bring it a little bit more forward there. The time will show, but the bridge in Australia is really long, at least 10 years.”Currently PHEV models generate credits for car makers under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard and will continue to do so for another five years. Whether the government chooses to extend that stance will ultimately determine the viability of PHEVs in the Australian market.

It is official, high fuel prices are driving Aussies to ditch the bowser.Polestar Australia is the latest brand to claim interest in its vehicles has skyrocketed in the past few weeks as the Iran war causes massive pain at the bowser.It is claimed test drive bookings of Polestar vehicles have tripled in the past fortnight, which foreshadows a huge sales boost for the Chinese owned Swedish brand.Polestar Australia Managing Director Scott Maynard likened the surge in interested buyers to peak sales periods.“The vulnerable state of our nation’s fuel security has been exposed, and won't magically improve when the current crisis ends. There is a clear sense of urgency from customers, which is driving strong order volumes,” said Maynard."Demand is strongest for Polestar 4 in Australia, but we have seen increased interest across our range. Supply of Polestar 4 remains strong in Australia, including some pre-configured vehicles available for fast delivery through our Spaces network. Limited stock of Polestar 2 is also available for fast delivery.”This fits into the backdrop of surging EV sales in Australia in the past month.More than 15,000 electric cars found a new home in March, which is double what was sold in March, 2025. Electric cars made up about 14 per cent of all new vehicle sales in the past month.Tesla’s Model Y led the pack with 2818 sales, followed by the BYD Sealion 7 (1970), Zeekr 7X (679), Tesla Model 3 (667) and Geely EX5 (606).The brand also delivered a carrot for those considering the switch.Polestar detailed new research that showed buyers could expect to slash their fuel bills by about $100 a month by making the switch.The research from a survey of more than 1000 Aussie drivers — about 80 per cent petrol/diesel/hybrid motorists and 20 per cent EV users — showed the average cost of charging an EV was about $60 a month compared to $150 for others.The research was conducted before the current fuel crisis, so the difference between the two would have increased enormously since then.“Electric vehicles were saving Australian drivers money even before the current fuel crisis,” said Maynard.“Even with the recent federal government cuts to the fuel excise, the availability and security of Australia’s fuel supply remain a critical focus. Our vulnerability has been exposed, and won't magically improve when the current conflict ends.”Polestar Chief Executive Officer Michael Lohsceller said electric cars have a more stable refilling price than others.“What used to be range anxiety is quickly becoming pump anxiety. People are moving away from unpredictable fuel costs to predictable electricity,” said Lohscheller.

Geely sub-brand Zeekr has unveiled its ultra fast charger in China, which boasts some bonkers charging numbers as it looks to take on BYD.The brand’s official testing data reveals it can charge a vehicle from 10-97 per cent in under nine minutes. Charging from 10-80 per cent takes a little over five minutes, while 10-70 per cent charges are under five minutes.These numbers are better than those of BYD's ‘T’-shaped megawatt flash charger announced earlier this year, which can charge from 10-97 per cent in nine minutes and charge from 10-70 per cent in five minutes.According to Geely, the peak charging power registered at 1100kW, and maintained more than 500kW after reaching 80 per cent charge. It uses the same industry-leading liquid-cooled system as on BYD's unit.Maintaining such a high level of power in the latter stages of charging is a game changer, because most chargers slow down significantly due to the difficulty in locating spare cells.These figures were achieved using the 900-volt platform found on several high-end Zeekr models, such as the 007 GT wagon and the 9X SUV, both of which will be landing on Aussie shores.Geely is the latest brand to get in on the charging game in China, with it becoming the latest battleground for manufacturers in conjunction with expanding charging infrastructure territory.There is no official timeline for a commercial rollout of Geely’s new chargers, but the brand’s broader charging network had more than 2000 charging stations and more than 10,000 charging plugs as of February 2026. Only just over 1000 of these are ultra-fast chargers, which is behind many of Geely’s key rivals.BYD has been rapidly expanding its network in China to chase down the dominant player in Tesla, having already built 5000 of its megawatt charger at the start of this month. It aims to install 20,000 stations by the end of this year.Megawatt fast charging is still an emerging area in Australia, but BYD has already indicated its intention to bring across a version of its megawatt charger Down Under in the next 12-18 months.Charging infrastructure generally in Australia needs to be increased substantially in the next few years according to experts to accommodate greater numbers of EVs on the roads.

Yet another Chinese car brand is soon set to arrive on Australian shores.Forthing, which is a brand within the Dongfeng umbrella, is set to launch Down Under in June 2026 initially with a mid-size SUV that’ll offer electric (EV) and range-extender (REEV) powertrains.The Forthing Taikon 5 is known as the Friday in China and is roughly the same size as the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail, among others.Full specifications on the Australian-specification powertrains haven’t been detailed yet but in New Zealand the following is being offered.The EV version is powered by a single electric motor that produces 150kW and is fed by a 64.4kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, allowing for a range of up to 400km, according to WLTP testing.The REEV version on the other hand has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a 120kW electric motor that’s fed by a 31.94kWh LFP battery. Forthing claims it has an EV range of 183km and a total range of up to 1150km, both according to WLTP testing.It’s unclear whether these will be the only powertrains offered in Australia. In China there is an EV version with a larger battery pack, as well as other hybrid and petrol powertrains.Full specification and pricing will be announced closer to the June 2026 launch.Forthing has also confirmed it will announce details on other models to join the local line-up. Globally it offers a range of people movers and sedans.Distribution of this new Chinese brand in Australia will be conducted by Ateco Group, which already oversees brands including LDV, Ram, Renault and Maserati, among others.Managing the Forthing brand in Australia will be Shaun Garrard who previously worked at Tesla and WM Motor, and more recently specialised in emerging brands at Ateco Group.“We see huge potential in the Forthing brand in this highly competitive market, with its comprehensive line-up of new-energy vehicles,” said Forth Australia National Manager Shaun Garrard.“Forthing has a range of compelling future models that have been confirmed for Australia, and we will have more information to share closer to showroom arrivals.“Despite the recent influx of new brands, Forthing has the credentials and commitment to earn its place in this market.“A lot of new automotive brands are making bold promises. With Forthing’s strong product portfolio – and the Ateco Group’s experience in introducing new brands to this market – we are well positioned for long term success.”

Subaru has confirmed a three-row, large electric SUV will launch later this year, with underpinnings borrowed from a model from common collaborator Toyota.The 2026 Subaru Getaway, a seven-seat electric car sharing its platform with the Toyota Highlander EV, was initially revealed on April 1 in the US.But it’s no April Fools’ joke, even though Subaru Australia General Manager Scott Lawrence had indicated to CarsGuide just weeks prior that the brand wasn’t looking to Toyota to make a Subaru seven-seat SUV happen.“I can't quite comment on that,” Lawrence said when asked about rumours that Subaru would use a rebadged version of the Highlander EV, the North American-built sibling to the Kluger.“I think there are some really exciting options in that space of seven-seat … That's not one of the priorities to get the seven-seat (across the line).”CarsGuide has contacted Subaru Australia for comment, but the international reveal of the Highlander confirmed the brand is indeed sharing a platform with Toyota.The interior of the Getaway, for a start, is a direct pull from the Toyota Highlander electric SUV. Its specs also mirror the Highlander in many ways, including the two battery options being a 77kWh or 96kWh unit. The long-range 96kWh version (technically 95.8kWh) will be the only one available from launch.Subaru claims the long-range version of the Getaway will be capable of an electric driving range of more than 480km, with a 150kW maximum DC charge rate for 10-80 per cent charging in about half an hour.The Japanese brand also confirms the Toyota-clone interior will have the same 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.0-inch multimedia touchscreen, plus as much as 1290 litres of luggage space with the third row folded. That last point is something Subaru of America is happy to claim is “more than the Kia EV9”, and on paper it’s correct.While Subaru claims the Getaway will have 313kW and a 0-60mph (0-97km/h) tim of under 5.0 seconds, the entry level’s specs are yet to be determined.It’s not known if the Getaway will ever land in Australia, given Toyota has nixed the idea of the Highlander EV, and the models are built in left-hand drive for North America."The latest Subaru global unveilings are exciting, and while they’ve generated plenty of interest, we’re unable to comment on future product," said a Subaru Australia spokesperson.

The iconic Smart car has been spied in camouflage ahead of its return in China.The Smart #2 is a tiny electric two-seater city car, and will be the closest thing to the iconic Smart ForTwo made by the brand since.The original Smart ForTwo was on sale in Australia in the mid-2000s, equipped with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine.It is expected to be officially unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show later this month, with a European launch scheduled for 2027.Smart Australia has confirmed there are no plans for the car to launch domestically at this stage, with an immediate focus on Chinese and European markets.If it ever did come to Australia, it would have to be one of the most affordable electric cars in the country to be competitive. It would need to challenge the BYD Atto 1, which has a starting price of $23,990 (before on-road costs). The budget EV space has been growing in Australia, with more offerings representing competitive deals around the $30K bracket.The incoming MG4 Urban and just-launched GAC Aion UT both start from $31,990, while the Chery QQ3 is anticipated to launch with a similar, if not cheaper, price tag. However, the Smart #2 is even smaller than these rivals. This means it would almost be in a league of its own if it were to launch Down Under.There is limited other confirmed information available about the car, but it is rumoured to have a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 30kW, according to CarNews China. It measures up at less than three metres long, with a wheelbase of less than two metres. The #2 is the latest of the brand's reboot, which has seen several vehicles spawn as the product of a joint venture between Geely and Mercedes-Benz. Smart currently has two models on sale in Australia which are the #1 hatchback and the #3 crossover. The more rugged #5 SUV is expected to join the range later this year.