Electric Cars

Tesla’s electric six-seater SUV has had a smashing start to life in Australia, but last month was its best sales return yet. The Model Y L registered 2429 sales in July, which is more than standard five-seat Model Y (2215), claiming the second-best selling EV for the month.The BYD Sealion 7 was the only EV that sold more units than the Model Y L last month. This was the first time Tesla has offered a sales split for its Model Y and Model Y L variants, providing an insight how successful its three-row SUV has been. The Model Y L launched earlier this year as a bigger, three-row six-seater variant of the standard Model Y mid-size SUV.It launched with great anticipation following significant interest and demand in other global markets.  It starts from $74,900, before on-road costs, representing a $6000 increase on the all-wheel drive long-range variant ($68,900), making it the second-most expensive model in the lineup.The Model Y L uses the standard AWD Model Y's dual electric motor set-up, producing 378kW and 493Nm, paired with a 78kWh battery offering 681km (WLTP) of driving range. Electric car sales are booming in Australia and the Model Y L joined at just the right time to take full advantage.The Tesla Model Y was already the best-selling EV in Australia, but a six-seater variant has opened up an increased buyer appeal. Its success in Australia is mirrored by its popularity in other markets such as China and South Korea. The Model Y L is a comparatively cheap electric three-row SUV in Australia, with the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9 both around the $100,000 mark.Tesla commented on the success of the Model Y L in June, when the Model Y was the best-selling car in Australia.“The Model Y L has resonated strongly with families, capturing a significant share of Model Y sales and reinforcing its position as a standout choice in the segment,” a spokesperson said.“These results reflect growing customer confidence in Tesla, from loyal owners and to those experiencing electric for the first time.”

BYD has confirmed some seismic changes to its Atto 3 electric SUV ahead of its September arrival.The Chinese giant confirmed price and specification details for the updated Evo version of its pure-electric Atto 3 mid-size SUV, featuring revised design inside and out as well as a new top-spec powertrain option.As per the out-going model, which launched here in 2022, the upgraded Atto 3 Evo is offered in two grades - Dynamic and Premium.The entry-level model (previously badged Essential) is fitted with a 60.48kWh LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery and a single electric motor in the nose sending the same 150kW/310Nm to the front wheels. Claimed WLTP driving range is 420km.But the big change comes under the skin of the Premium flagship which rides on the Chinese maker’s new ‘e-Platform 3.0’ chassis, instantly upping system capacity from 400V to 800V.In a similarly seismic switch, a larger 74.88kWh LFP battery is onboard with a more powerful (230kW/380Nm) rear-mounted motor sending drive to the rear wheels. Claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time is a decidedly snappy 5.5 seconds.DC charging capability is also doubled to 220kW, lowering the Premium’s zero to 80 per cent charge time to 25 minutes while WLTP driving range increases to 510km.The Atto 3 Evo’s dimensions, including its wheelbase, are unchanged but design tweaks include revised bumpers front and rear, daytime running lights extending across the nose, slimmer side skirts and the brand’s signature ‘Chinese‑knot’ LED tail lights covering the width of the car. The high-mount roof spoiler has also been reprofiled and each grade is fitted with a specific 18-inch alloy wheel design.Interior changes include the move to a space-saving column-mounted gearshift, a new steering wheel design and a larger 8.8-inch driver information display (up from 5.0-inch).There’s also redesigned door panels, a new grey interior tone, multi‑colour ambient lighting, more heavily sculpted seats along with the addition of a sunglass holder, rain-sensing wipers and more powerful wireless phone charging (15W to 50W).Standard equipment on the Atto 3 Evo Essential includes:Six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat Heated and ventilated front seatsEight-speaker audioWired & wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay V2L (Vehicle to Load) capabilityIntelligent voice assistant Remote vehicle functionsThe Atto 3 Evo 3 Evo Premium adds: Dual-zone climate controlDriver’s seat with four-way power lumbar adjustShifting to rear-motor/RWD in the Premium liberates an extra 56 litres of boot space (434L to 490L) and the absence of a front drive motor allows for a 101-litre frunk.Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) tech now includes a new Child Presence Detection function with in‑cabin sensors identifying an occupant in the vehicle after it is locked and a Driver Monitoring System. The Premium picks up Front Cross Traffic Alert and Front Cross Traffic Brake.Colour options are the standard no-cost Ski White, with Harbour Grey and Cosmos Black adding $600 on both grades, the Premium adding Atlantis Grey to its palette.BYD Australia said the Atto 3 Evo is available to order now with deliveries scheduled to start in September. 

A new variant for the GWM Ora 5 has appeared in Chinese government filings.Dubbed the Ora 5 GT, it is a plug-in hybrid wagon sibling to the budget electric Ora 5 SUV already on sale in Australia.The car was spotted undergoing testing in China in June, and is GWM's latest addition to its busy Ora lineup.It is bigger than the Ora 5 electric SUV, measuring up at 4758mm long, up to 1844mm wide, 1630mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2720mm.There are no direct rivals for the car in Australia, with the BYD Seal 6 PHEV wagon ($34,990) a size up.The Ora 5 GT will be powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and electric motor set-up, making 115kW. The car will be fitted with a lithium-iron-phosphate battery from Chinese giant CATL, but there is no official driving range figure yet.GWM Australia hasn't officially confirmed the arrival of the Ora 5 GT yet, but the local branch is considering it.The car won't launch this year, with it more likely to hit the market in early 2027 if it does come here.The brand axed its Ora hatch EV Down Under earlier this year, effectively replacing it with the Ora 5 SUV.A hatchback variant of the Ora 5 will launch in Australia before the end of this year, with a hybrid SUV variant not too far away either.Hybrids are on the agenda for GWM, with the brand plotting to bring across more Ora variants to Australia. "In terms of the levels of adoption that we expect to see within this market, within the coming years, we expect (hybrids) to accelerate more quickly," GWM Australia Head of Marketing and Communications Steve Maciver told CarsGuide in late 2025. "We think we can do a lot more with Ora… with plug-in hybrid, but EV will certainly come behind that as well, for sure."

Toyota is working on a new strategy to cut down wait times for buyers. The brand introducing a new lithium-ion battery to expand production capacity for its cars, according to AutoNews. These batteries will cut costs by hundreds of dollars per vehicle and improve overall performance in a shift away from nickel-metal hydride unitsThe Japanese giant is targeting a surge in hybrid car sales over the next two years.It wants to convert battery capacity for 600,000 of its Japanese-built vehicles to the next-generation battery from 2027.There is no official news on the performance specifications for the new battery, but it will be more efficient.It could be a variant of Toyota's 2023 concept that offered more than 800km of driving range.A more efficient battery manufacturing process could accelerate production significantly and shift cars to buyers faster.Wait times on Toyota vehicles have been an ongoing talking point in Australia, especially for popular models the RAV4 SUV and Camry sedan hybrids.The brand appears to still be picking up the pieces from its ravaged supply chains during the COVID-19 lockdowns.  Its much-anticipated new-generation RAV4 was subject to significant delays of almost a year in part due slow production progress.Toyota sales slid substantially in the first half of 2026, with the carmaker desperate to get its hands on new RAV4 to turn it around. Units have finally started to ship in significant numbers for Toyota, and the RAV4 took its place as the best-selling car in Australia for July. A more efficient production process would help the brand to maintain its hold of the Australian market.Cheaper batteries could also mean lower price tags for buyers, after Toyota hiked the price of the new RAV4 this year.Toyota is facing increasingly tough competition from Chinese automakers like BYD and Chery that have huge production capacity and are already shifting plenty of units Down Under. Toyota is now planning to source batteries for up to 200,000 cars from external suppliers, including Chinese behemoth CATL. The carmaker's battery plans don’t stop there, with another new lithium-ion battery due in 2028 boasting 1000km of range and a 10 per cent cost reduction. 

If your next car isn’t electric, you need to ask yourself why.The days of choosing petrol or even hybrid by default should be consigned to history. I’ve just experienced one of the least popular electric vehicles (EVs) alongside one of the most popular hybrids, and I’ve come away convinced the EV is the better choice.Sales of EVs are up enormously in 2026, in part thanks to the on-going concerns about fuel prices due to the Iran War, but even if petrol prices go back to ‘normal’ levels and fuel security is resolved, it would be foolish for so many of us to revert back to our old way.You see, I just spent a week with both a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the Hyundai Elexio and the abiding takeaway from those seven days is that I - a petrol-loving, race-car-obsessed, motoring journalist - favoured the Elexio.To be candid, the Elexio is not the best EV on sale, by far. It has its quirks and foibles and yet its strengths as an EV made me choose it more often than I intended. This isn’t a direct comparison between the RAV4 and Elexio, to be clear. The RAV4 is an excellent SUV in its own right and it isn’t surprising to me that it comfortably out-sells the Hyundai.But having the choice between two similarly sized SUVs, but one that runs near-silently and has a smooth, uninterrupted flow of torque whenever I push the accelerator, made the choice easier than I expected.EVs are having their moment in 2026, in large part because of the cost-of-living pressures and fuel price fluctuations. According to the latest sales data (up to the end of July, at the time of writing), EVs have surged to account for one-fifth of all new cars sold in July.Four of the 10 best-selling vehicles in July were EVs, and a relatively diverse quartet too - the obvious Tesla Model Y, the surging BYD Sealion 7, the budget-friendly Geely EX5 and the luxury Zeekr 7X.The Geely starts as low as $41,990, less than many similar-sized petrol SUVs, the BYD sits comfortably in the middle of the broader SUV market at $54,990 and the Tesla and Zeekr both start below $60k but stretch into premium territory.And these four aren’t the only EVs that Australians are buying, year-to-date to July EVs now account for more than 17 per cent of the total number of new vehicles sold. That is a big jump from the previous figure that had hovered around 10 per cent for more than a year.It underlines the growth and evolution of the EV market, with more models available across a wider span of prices meaning that are both more affordable to Australians but also more choices that better suit our diverse lifestyles and needs.There are now choices from the pint-sized BYD Atto 1 all the way to the super-sized Kia EV9 and everything in-between. And the more I drive them, especially in direct comparison to a petrol or diesel-powered equivalent, like I did this past week, the more I feel like EVs have turned a corner in this market.It has been a long time coming, but I feel like now that people have been exposed to them, word-of-mouth will spread and EVs are likely to grow. Yes, we still have work to do on improving infrastructure and there are question marks over the long-term affordability of some models, but overall we may have finally reached a tipping point for EVs.They obviously aren’t for everyone, I do understand that, and I’m not suggesting EVs will account for 50 per cent of the market any time soon, but I do feel like enough people have been exposed that we won’t revert back to our previous EV skepticism.This past week with the Elexio has driven home just how far EVs have come and why there is no reason, even if cost-of-living pressures and fuel prices ease, that we should all rush back to the internal combustion engine.

Electric cars are back in Honda's plans.Honda has chosen giant engineering and IT firm Tata Group subsidiary Tata Technologies to help develop a future EV and hybrid platform, according to NikkeiAsia.Tata Group owns Jaguar Land Rover and deals with a range of automotive and aeronautical projects, and its Technologies arm specialises in platform development.This will reduce costs for Honda as it grapples with heavy financial losses, expecting to lose $3.29 billion (or nearly $5 billion in Australian currency). Its new EV direction could have huge implications for Australia. This new platform is expected to be used on several new hybrid and fully-electric Honda models.These vehicles are earmarked for sale in Asia and other regions, but not North America.The brand has been undergoing a serious reshuffle of its future product lineup globally, ditching an EV strategy to focus on hybrid cars.The platform could help Honda get into the mainstream EV space at a cheaper rate than its now cancelled ‘0 series’ electric car plans.There is no news on what models will spawn from the platform, but don't expect official announcements anytime soon.The models developed from Honda’s Tata Group partnership will specifically target Asian markets and other non-North American regions, so Australia is a firm possibility.It is likely some of these cars will be built in right-hand drive, smoothing the path for any potential future launch Down Under.Honda is eager to obtain further electrified models in Australia as it faces substantial fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). Honda’s CR-V, HR-V and ZR-V SUV range now features hybrid set-ups, with electrified sales offsetting fines under the NVES emissions scheme. The brand released its Super-One electric city car as its first EV in Australia recently.Models will launch in Asia before feasibly entering Australia, but it is unclear when that might be.

The 2026 Geely EX2 hopes to come to Australia and take the lead in the small EV space. In fact, it sold in enough numbers in China last year that it alone would make up close to half of Australia’s total annual new car sales. We took the EX2 for a first-impressions drive around Sydney's northern suburbs to see if the little EV has what it takes.

The Geely EX2 is already due for fresh competition in Australia. GAC has confirmed a cheaper variant of its Aion UT electric hatchback will be coming to Australia before the end of the year. The Aion UT launched in April 2026 as GAC’s affordable EV option, starting from $31,990, before on-road costs.It trailed cheaper rivals the BYD Dolphin ($29,990) and Geely EX2 ($26,490) on the sales charts in July.GAC has big ambitions in Australia, with a new base Aion UT expected to narrow the price gap on its closest competitors. The ‘short-range’ Aion UT will have a smaller 44kWh battery compared to the 60kWh unit found in the current grades on sale Down Under. It will offer a driving range of 320km, according to WLTP standards, compared to 430km available on its more expensive siblings. GAC has not revealed output figures for the car, but overseas variants have a front-mounted electric motor making 100kW/145Nm, down from 150kW/210Nm on current Aussie stock.  The cheaper Aion UT could also forgo some of the features on up-specs variants, but more details will be confirmed close to launch. The car has been officially earmarked for Aussie arrival in late Q4 2026, but CarsGuide understands it will launch specifically in December.There is no official news on how much GAC’s new Aion UT variant will cost, but the brand is eager for it to compete with the cheapest rivals on the market. We know it will be offered from less than the $31,990 price tag attached to car's current base grade.It starts in China from 102,000 yuan (or about $22,000), but models imported into Australia usually inherit a 20 per cent hike, so it is more likely to be priced from around $27,000-plus.

Despite an already huge year for new model launches, there are still some key mid-size SUVs slated for Australia in the tail end of 2026 which might be worth waiting for.So far this year, new-generation versions of top-selling mid-size SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 have arrived, among a swathe of new contenders from challenger brands.If you’re not a huge fan of what’s currently on the market though, there may be something coming that better suits your lifestyle, budget or tastes.Here is a rundown of the five best mid-size SUVs that are still to come. They’re in alphabetical order and span both the mainstream and premium mid-size SUV segments.The current GWM Haval H7 has flown under the radar since it launched in 2025 and the Chinese carmaker is planning to hit reset with a new-generation model.GWM has confirmed it will launch the new Haval H7 in the second half of 2026 and it will feature hybrid and all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power.Front and rear differential locks are also confirmed for the flagship variants, which is a major upgrade to the off-road capabilities compared to the current front-wheel drive hybrid model.Overall there’s a tougher and boxier look that’s more in keeping with the Tank models.Mazda is finally launching a rival to the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X in Australia.The CX-6e is the brand’s first electric mid-size SUV and it quickly follows on the heels of the Mazda 6e electric liftback launching locally.Both vehicles have been co-developed with Changan and are built in China. The CX-6e in particular is built on the same platform as the Deepal S07, which is already offered in Australia.Locally the CX-6e will only be offered with a battery electric (BEV) powertrain, however in other markets a range-extender (REEV) hybrid is available.Mercedes-Benz is set to launch a new-generation version of the GLB SUV in Australia. Final details haven’t been locked in yet.Globally the new GLB is offered with both mild-hybrid and BEV powertrains, like the new GLA and CLA it shares componentry with.This new GLB is larger in every dimension and notably features a 60mm longer wheelbase. It’s available with both five- and seven-seat configurations.Another highlight is the ‘MBUX Superscreen’ which comprises a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as dual 14.0-inch touchscreens for the central multimedia system and front passenger display.Skoda launched the regular Elroq electric SUV in 2025, but later in 2026 it’s readying the hotter RS version.Power comes from a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with total system outputs of 250kW and 545Nm. This is enough to send it from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds.The electric motors are fed by an 84kWh lithium-ion battery pack which allows for up to 550km of claimed range, according to WLTP testing.The Elroq is essentially a shortened version of the Enyaq electric mid-size SUV. It is already offered in RS form locally with both the typical SUV and ‘coupe’ SUV body styles.Volvo fans have been waiting for an electric counterpart to the top-selling XC60 mid-size SUV for years now and later in 2026 it’ll arrive in Australia.The Volvo EX60 is based on a new platform called SPA3 and it has an 800V electrical architecture.In Australia two versions of the EX60 will be offered initially, the Ultra P6 RWD and Ultra P10 AWD. They’re priced from $86,990 and $101,990, before on-road costs, respectively.It’s understood that the range-topping P12 AWD trim, as well as a more affordable, entry-level grade will arrive in 2027.

The new MG4 EV Urban offers an affordable entry point to electric car ownership but does it have the right mix of price, practicality and performance to be a standout for small car shoppers in the BEV market?