Electric Cars

Let’s get a couple of things out of the way here.First, we know electric cars are fast, Tesla fans haven’t stopped talking about this since the mid-2010s and there have been countless videos with evidence of the Model S leaving supercharged V8s in the dust at drag strips.Even ‘slow’ EVs feel quick due to their instant application of torque from stand-still. An electric car with a 0-100km/h time of 6 seconds can feel fast because of it.And since I’ve mentioned 0-100km/h, that’s the method we’ll be using to rank which of the electric cars available in Australia is fastest - not their top speed, given you’ll almost never be able to do anything with that.Finally, we are talking about production cars currently available through manufacturers in Australia, so hypercars like the YangWang U9 or anything Rimac is cooking up are off the list.Some of you will be happy to know this means you’re not seeing a photo of the Ferrari Luce here.Conveniently, this means we have five electric cars with a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration figure in under three seconds. Porsche’s frontiering Taycan might soon be on the chopping block according to rumours of an incoming VW model cull, but for now you can still get to 100km/h in a couple of smidgeons over two seconds. That’s if you have almost $300K to spare, given you’ll probably tick one or two boxes on the options list over its $419,000 before on-roads asking price.The Taycan draws power from a 93kWh battery, making 815kW and 1340Nm for all four of its wheels, and even without the Weissach pack removing some weight it’ll manage the run to the tonne in 2.3 seconds.Only second on this list because of alphabetisation, the top-spec Audi e-tron (the Audi RS e-tron GT Performance to give it the proper name) hits 100km/h in a claimed 2.5 seconds, on par with another Porsche.You won’t be surprised to know the e-tron shares a platform with the Taycan, though its most powerful version isn’t quite as vicious - 680kW and 1027Nm draw from a larger 105kWh battery, and it’s not quite as pricey either. A relative bargain at  $309,900 before on-roads, in fact.Tied for second place is this absolute unit, two-and-a-half tonnes of Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen (built in Bratislava, Slovakia, though) capable of hitting 100km/h in 2.5sec thanks to some frankly silly numbers.Its 850kW and 1500Nm outputs are available from even less than the two cars preceding it on this list, $272,100 before on-roads, and the 113kWh battery means the family SUV can travel up to 623km on a single charge, Porsche says.An oil-cooled rear motor, active aero, a drag coefficient of 0.25 and even the ability to tow 3500kg make the Cayenne Turbo a one-of-a-kind family car.England’s Lotus has ruffled feathers by ‘going electric’, likely something that would indeed upset founder Colin Chapman, but staying relevant in the 2020s probably required moving on from popping superchargers on Toyota engines and using them to power (extremely dynamic) cars about the size of shopping trolleys.Lotus claims the top-spec version of the Emeya, a $259,990 four-door grand-tourer with 675kW and 985Nm up its sleeve, can hit 100km/h in a very specific 2.75 seconds. It does weigh around 2.5 tonnes, so imagine how quick it would be if you took the classic quote often attributed to Chapman “simplify and add lightness” to the Emeya.Apologies to anyone hoping for variety in this list - we’ve got three Volkswagen Group cars and two Lotuses with essentially the same specifications.The Lotus Eletre R is two tenths slower to 100km/h according to the manufacturer, but the SUV uses the same 675kW/985Nm dual-motor drivetrain and 112kWh battery, it’s just a little heavier thanks to its SUV shape.It’s also a little more expensive, asking $20,000 more at $279,990 before on-roads.

Lexus launched its first fully-electric car in Australia back in 2023, but it’s fair to say the RZ has hardly made an impact on the electric car scene.Cursed at the time by high pricing, low driving range and a lack of features many EV adopters were looking for, the RZ seemed destined to sit at the bottom of the electric pecking order.Determined to turn its fortunes around, Lexus has refreshed the RZ for 2026 with drastically lower pricing and tweaked specs which it hopes will grant it a second look in the eyes of buyers.Does it have what it takes? I took a top-spec RZ 550e F-Sport for a week to find out.First things first, pricing. Lexus has slashed prices from the RZ range for its latest update to the point where this sporty top-spec one at $105,000, before on-road costs, is now more affordable than the base variant (which cost over $123,000!) when it first arrived in 2023.As a dedicated EV which shares its underpinnings with the Toyota bZ4X, the RZ’s closest rival is the Genesis GV60 from Korea, although comparisons are now difficult, because the GV60 in rear-drive form is $88,000. To get AWD like this RZ 550e you need to splash for the higher-performance GV60 Magma ($130,000).It also needs to face-off against the Audi Q4 e-tron (AWD from $99,818), BMW iX3 ($109,900 in AWD guise) and most problematically for Lexus, the smash-hit Zeekr 7X from China which costs from just $72,900 in Performance AWD trim.While the price-cut is welcome, and this top-spec car gets a bigger battery than before, it still feels like a let-down on range which remains a key consideration for many electric car buyers.Officially this higher-performance 550 e F-Sport version has 437km of driving range according to the WLTP measuring standard, on the back of an official 18.9kWh/100km energy consumption and a slightly larger 77kWh battery pack.My real-world test had the car’s computer reporting 410km of range, with the trip computer showing my most efficient trip being 18.8kWh/100km. It’s within a reasonable margin of error to the claim, but still disappointing in a market where many rival EVs will do 460km+ in the real world.There are other improvements. While the RZ maintains its somewhat middling 150kW DC charging capability for a half hour (10-80 per cent) charge on a compatible station, AC charging capacity has doubled from 11kW to 22kW.Power has also taken a jump, with total outputs now hovering at 300kW combined power for this 550e F-Sport. Unfortunately, though, all RZs are all-wheel drive, so range is a persistent issue no matter which variant you pick.On the styling front, the changes are also subtle, with this luxury mid-sizer maintaining a similar futuristic look to the pre-update version, complete with a grille-free face, and spiky aero coupe rear with twin protrusions on the roof and an interesting split spoiler atop the tailgate.The elephant in the interior is of course the 550 e F Sport’s yoke steering wheel. It’s strange to look at and bizarre to use.We’ll get to that in a moment, but the rest of the interior continues the futuristic theme with the asymmetrical stepped dash design, high beltline for the doors and weird little button door handles.The multimedia screen is a good size at 14 inches, and there’s a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster sunken into the dash complemented by a holographic head-up display for the driver.Despite its tech overload in the interior one advantage this Lexus maintains is physical dials for the dual-zone climate control and even an audio volume dial, with a handful of shortcut buttons, too.The steering wheel also features an array of initially very confusing buttons and controls which you get used to.Software in the RZ is pretty basic. While it isn’t burdened by some of the gimmicks of Chinese rivals, it’s also a bit too simple for a modern EV, not featuring some of the genuinely useful innovations of some of its rivals like pet mode or detailed energy consumption data screens.The back seat, while offering plenty of space behind my own (182cm) driving position, feels devoid of specific luxuries. The dark trim makes it feel small, but there are air vents and USB ports on the back of the centre console along with rear seat heating.The boot is a decent but not stellar 522 litres and there’s no spare wheel. Nor is there a vehicle-to-load system.Where this 550e variant shines, though, is behind the wheel, but it will take some getting used to.The yoke steering can’t turn a full 360-degrees, so the steer-by-wire control makes the wheels turn to full lock after just half a rotation.This, combined with almost zero feedback from the front wheels, is a confusing feeling. Even after a week, I couldn’t get used to the steering ratio. I found myself constantly having to correct after steering too far or too little.Take it on a bendy back road though and you’re in for a treat. The all-wheel drive system and brilliant torque management on offer in the RZ give this swoopy EV cat-like reflexes, mind-bending amounts of grip and healthy dollops of power despite relatively modest on-paper figures.This car highlights where Japanese automakers still maintain an advantage over their Chinese rivals. It’s brilliant to drive in unexpected and delightful ways.Like other Lexus products, the supple suspension and gentle cabin ambiance makes for a serene place to be and the safety tech proved refreshingly non-invasive.An important consideration is the Lexus ownership piece which is pretty good.A five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty is middling these days, but Lexus’ Encore ownership club, which you get five years' membership to as part of your service also includes things like loan cars at service time, as well as invites to events and track days and a range of deals with partner organisations.Service for the RZ is required once a year or every 15,000km and for the first five years it's fixed at $395. This is good for any car, but great for a luxury brand.

The soon-to-arrive BMW iX3 40 eDrive will open the new iX3 range, sitting well below the iX3 50 xDrive in terms of price, but not in terms of equipment, with both models sharing the same features list.BMW has secured Luxury Car Tax-busting pricing for the 40, starting at $89,900, before on-road costs. For that, you get a single motor for rear-wheel drive and a smaller battery than in the twin-motor 50 xDrive.The iX3 40's battery is 82.6kWh and the range promise is a still-considerable 635km, while its rear motor delivers 235kW and 500Nm – enough for a sprint to 100km/h in a brisk 5.9 seconds.

As far as ‘compact’ SUVs are concerned, the MY26 Skoda Elroq is arguably in the Goldilocks zone.It is on the large side for a small SUV, and on the small side for a mid-size SUV, making it perfect for a city dweller like myself.Which is why the fully electric Elroq has been a great car for me to long-term test in this three-part review. More on that later.If you missed the first instalment covering the entry-level MY26 Select 60’s pricing and specification details, check out the link above.As promised, this second look will focus on the Elroq’s design and practicality, while the upcoming third and final part will be headlined by my full driving impressions and overall verdict.Let’s get cracking!Starting with design, the Elroq’s exterior is arguably unremarkable, but I like it all the same.Up front, Skoda’s new tech-desk face is in full force, with a black panel taking the place of what would have been a grille in an internal-combustion model.Flanking it are sharp LED daytime running lights, which are separate to the low and high beams below.I particularly like the heavily creased bonnet with its SKODA lettering, and the chunky front bumper, which has a well-executed black plastic element that flows through to the wheel-arch and door cladding around the side.The Elroq has a particularly strong character line with real doorhandles below – yes, they are an increasing rarity these days.And then there are the Select 60’s 19-inch 'Proteus' alloy wheels, which I initially thought were quite plain in design, but I now reckon look decent.At the rear the Elroq has unmistakably Skoda tail-lights and in case you still do not pick it, there’s even more SKODA lettering in between.I quite like how upright the tailgate is as you know that means good things for boot, but more on that in a moment.The bumper is quite plasticky, but even with light paintwork like my test vehicle’s Timiano Green, I do not think it looks bad in this instance.That said, the chunky tailgate spoiler looks noticeably cheap with its plastic finish, but we are talking about a base model after all.Inside, the Select 60 features the Elroq’s Loft interior theme, which means it is covered in a denim-like cloth upholstery with synthetic leather accents.We are talking about seats, armrests and even door and dashboard inserts here, so there is no missing the divisive material. I don’t mind it, but some of my passengers had strong opinions against it.The leather-trimmed, two-spoke steering wheel feels very premium in hand and is enhanced by its physical controls for key functions, which are welcome because they are another increasing rarity these days.There is also a row of physical buttons below the 12.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system, but sadly none of them are dedicated to temperature or fan-speed controls.There is a CLIMA button that opens the touchscreen’s climate-control menu, but it is only useful if you want to change the airflow direction as the temperature and fan-speed controls are permanently in the bottom row of the multimedia system’s shortcuts.The multimedia system is easy enough to use once you get your head around it, but the reality is most drivers will instantly take advantage of its wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support and use smartphone mirroring instead.It is also nice to see physical air-vent controls as they too have come under threat recently as some brands irrationally try to move them to the touchscreen.Criticisms? Well, it is rather dark inside the Elroq, with only the light headliner trying to brighten things up.The touch panel for the volume controls is also annoying to use, but at least the driver still has access to a dedicated scroll wheel on the steering wheel.And then there is the 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster, which feels comically small these days, although it does still contain all of the key driver information.When it comes to practicality, the Elroq punches well above its weight.At 4488mm long (with a 2765mm wheelbase), 1884mm wide and 1625mm tall, the Elroq is not a large car by definition, but its well-packaged EV platform helps it to pretend to be one.The Elroq’s boot has a cargo capacity of 470L, which is large for a small SUV.Better yet, stow the 60/40 split-fold second row via the manual release latches, accessible via the boot itself, and luggage space increases to a cavernous 1580L, all with no load lip to contend with.There is also underfloor storage, which is large enough the Elroq’s onboard charging cables and tyre repair kit, which should be replaced by a spare wheel.The floor mat is double-sided, giving owners the choice between carpet or rubber, which may come in use if you regularly transport wet gear.If you are likely to have boxes or similar cargo in tow, the Elroq also has two box holders with Velcro, which can be adjusted as you see fit.You also get four bag hooks, a 12V power outlet, a storage net and a cargo strap, which is among the four side cubbies in the boot. Nice.Sadly, there is no frunk in the MY26 Elroq on test here, but the MY27 version does come with one, which will be perfect for storing the charging cables.In the second row, there are two ISOFIX anchors and three top-tether points for child-seats, and removable storage at the rear of the centre console which features air vents and two USB-C ports.Map pockets are affixed to the front seat backrests and even feature bonus pouches for small devices, while the rear door bins can accommodate one regular bottle each.There is also the obligatory fold-down armrest with two cupholders, but they need to be manually deployed, which I do not mind as they are not always in use when you want to rest your inner arm.Behind my 184cm driving positioning, I have oodles of legroom, a couple of inches of headroom and enough toe room to keep myself happy.That said, width is limited here, so while you can technically seat three adults abreast on the rear bench, I would only recommend doing so on short trips.Up front, centre-console amenities include two cupholders that are a little too European for my liking, meaning they can only swallow small bottles, even with their divider removed.Ahead of them is a wireless smartphone charger, while behind is a long but narrow open cubby, and a central bin that is deep but thin, featuring two removable bins and a lid that ratchets into your preferred position.Underneath this entire assembly is a second, open storage tier, which can be used for stowing small bags and the like.The front door bins can take two regular bottles each, while the glove box is half-width but tall enough to still be useful.What is missing? A sunglasses holder and not much else, that is how well occupants are taken care of here.In my second month with the MY26 Elroq Select 60, my average energy consumption was 16.1kWh/100km over 1000km of driving, which included a fairly even mix of highway and city trips.This equates to a real-world driving range of 366km based on the MY26 Select 60’s useable battery capacity of 59kWh, which is just 29km short of its claim.As I said in the first part of this long-term review, I would personally pay at least $10K extra for the larger-battery version of the MY26 Elroq, which has a 529km claim and, therefore, greater peace of mind for long-distance drivers.And with that we have reached the end of this second instalment.I will see you for the third and final part next month, when I will reveal my driving impressions and deliver an overall verdict.

BYD is prepping a ground-breaking new battery technology. The brand will begin small-scale trials of its solid-state battery next year and use camouflaged vehicles in road testing, according to reports out of China. Solid-state is viewed as the holy grail of electric car batteries, promising an EV driving range of more than 1000km.Solid-state batteries have a much greater energy density than conventional batteries, meaning they can offer more range in a smaller and lighter unit.They replace liquid electricity conductors inside the batteries with ones made of solid materials.BYD’s liquid-based Blade 2.0 battery has a driving range of more than 1000km, but carries significant weight - more than 600kg in some models.Solid-state batteries can achieve the same level of driving range but weigh much less.They are also supposed to be less of a fire risk than liquid-based alternatives. Solid-state batteries use a solid energy transfer mechanism instead of a liquid one.BYD has filed seven patents using 'double electrolytes'.The patents combine fast and unstable conductors with slow and stable ones to create a smooth and efficient energy transfer.The brand has not provided any further details on the battery at this stage, having first made the announcement of its solid-state intentions earlier this year.BYD said its battery would have an improved commercial viability, with an easier manufacturing process and faster charging. Solid-state batteries are still in their infancy, with with doubts over whether they are viable on a commercial scale. Development is expensive and slow, but Chinese carmakers are showing the most progress so far. Chery’s Exeed luxury sub-brand is expected to launch its ES8 shooting brake with a solid-state battery offering 1000km of range late this year.Experts contend solid-state batteries are a long way away from entering production. The world’s largest battery manufacturer CATL said mass-market adoption of the technology remains “years away” as well.Major North American manufacturer General Motors is highly skeptical and not pursuing the technology, while other brands are still in the early trial phase.

The much-anticipated new-generation Kia Seltos small SUV is one step closer to Aussie buyers, with it now approved for sale Down Under. The car’s homologation filing to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts confirmed key details ahead of its arrival later this year.Seltos is one of Kia’s most popular names and is the brand’s fourth best-selling model on sale in Australia in 2026.The Seltos shapes up similarly to the Hyundai Kona Hybrid and ($36,950) and Toyota Corolla Cross ($37,440). It will also pose a new challenge to the best-selling Chery Tiggo 4, with hybrid variants starting from $29,990.Kia has officially kept Australian details close to its chest, but now some crucial details have been exposed in new government filings.We now know the hybrid-only Seltos will be available in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive layouts.Both are powered by a 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine and electric motor set-up, making either 118kW or 169kW, which is more power than South Korean examples.This will be Kia's first Seltos model to feature a hybrid set-up in Australia.Kia has provided no indication the overseas petrol models of the new Seltos will ever make their way to Australia.Measuring 4430mm long, 1830mm wide, 1600mm high and with a wheelbase of 2690mm, it is a similar size to its rivals the Kona and the Corolla Cross. The sunroof and power mirrors will be optional extras for the car.The Seltos has been officially slated for a Q4 2026 release, with CarsGuide previously reporting October as a more specific time frame. The base petrol grade Seltos is available in South Korea from around 25 million won, or roughly $25,000, with the hybrid closer to the equivalent of $30,000.Kia models incur a price hike on South Korean equivalents, meaning the more expensive hybrid Seltos is likely start in the mid-$30,000s range.

Ford has officially named its new mid-size electric ute ahead of an imminent reveal.Dubbed the Ford Fathom, the US carmaker claims the name is purposely meant to stand out from the crowd and it aligns with the type of buyer it’s targeting with this vehicle.The name is a big step away from Ranchero, which was pegged for a revival in previous reports. Ford claims it did explore this name, but it did not fit the new electric ute.Pre-orders for the Fathom are set to open in the US in early 2027 and at this stage it’s unclear if right-hand drive production is on the cards, but there is a strong hint it will come Down Under.The Ford Fathom is the first vehicle to be built on the US carmaker’s new Universal EV platform. It’s a modular architecture and a series of new vehicles will be based on it.Ford has confirmed the Fathom will have a starting price of US$28,350 (~A$40,330), before on-road costs, with the standard-range battery in the US. This confirms Ford is planning to offer multiple battery configurations.The Fathom’s starting price is also virtually identical to the Maverick hybrid ute in the US.The US carmaker has also confirmed all versions of the Fathom will come with the following:Five seatsVehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilityCargo bedFrunkLarge central touchscreenApple Maps integrationApple CarPlay and Android AutoBlueCruise semi-autonomous driving capabilityAt this stage Ford hasn’t officially revealed the exterior or interior design of the Fathom, but a number of camouflaged prototypes have been captured.It showed the Fathom is notably smaller than the Ranger and more on par with the Maverick for size.There’s a boxy silhouette with slab sides and a stubby glasshouse area.No official details regarding the tub dimensions, payload, towing capacity, battery capacities, range, power or torque have been confirmed yet.At this stage Ford hasn’t confirmed whether the Fathom will be produced in right-hand drive.The US carmaker has previously confirmed however that its Universal EV platform is capable of right-hand drive.Ford has reserved the Fathom name in Australia to use on "motor vehicles, namely, gasoline and electric automobiles, pick-up trucks, vans, sport utility vehicles and their structural parts", according to the trademark filing. This sounds like the just confirmed Fathom and leaves the door open to an arrival in the future.As it currently stands Ford doesn’t offer any electric ute in Australia. The now-defunct F-150 Lightning was never officially offered through local Ford dealers, though some were imported and remanufactured to right-hand drive by third parties.The Ranger is by far Ford’s best-selling vehicle in Australia and it has been the best-seller Down Under overall for three consecutive years. It is now offered in a sprawling number of versions, including the Super Duty and plug-in hybrid (PHEV), but no fully electric offering is available.If the Ford Fathom does come to Australia it will form as a rival to the KGM Musso EV, which is also built on a monocoque platform, rather than a tougher body-on-frame architecture, like the Ranger.

We’re more than halfway through 2026 and I can definitively say that this year's new cars are the ugliest to date.Sure you can argue the plastic fantastic cars of the late 1990s and early 2000s, or the asthmatic land yachts from the mid-to-late 1970s looked the worst, but so far this year what carmakers have been revealing is an assault to the eyes.Suspect number one is the Ferrari Luce.The Italian carmaker’s recent car design has been rather indistinguishable from model to model. For example, if you told me to tell you the difference between a 849 Testarossa and 12Cilindri and Amalfi, I’d really struggle. I say this as a die-hard car fan.But the Luce marked a jagged change in direction for Ferrari. It was designed by creative collection LoveFrom, which was founded by former Apple exec Sir Jony Ive.I’ll admit the interior of the Luce is stunning and the blending of digital and analogue elements is ingenious, but the exterior is a bloated mess. It’s made even worse with the fact it has a Ferrari badge on it.The Luce would make so much more sense with any other badge attached to it.This is just the tip of the iceberg. Five days before the Luce was revealed, Mercedes-AMG revealed its all-new AMG GT 4-Door.Mercedes did receive some negative press regarding the AMG GT 4-Door’s design, it was arguably saved by the reveal of the Luce as the news cycle and people’s attention shifted very quickly.Its design deserved to be roasted more. Like the Luce, the new AMG GT 4-Door is all-electric and it looks just as horrific. The Mercedes is much more flashy and tacky, though.I’ll admit that the overall silhouette is slick and low-sprung, like a performance car should, but the front grille and lighting signatures are a hot mess.Then inside, if you take the Mercedes-Benz badge away, the AMG GT 4-Door doesn't have anything distinguishing it specifically as a Mercedes model.Sure you could argue that the circular air vents or the screen set-up is a Mercedes design trait, but there is more to design language than this.Lastly there’s the new Nissan Juke, which is all-electric and a European-focused model, meaning it’s not coming to Australia.The Juke has always had a polarising design, but this new-generation takes it to the next level.There are so many creases and lines on the outside that it looks like the car has been pre-crashed or perhaps hasn’t fully rendered yet.I will admit that with certain colour combinations the new Juke does look cool, but the lighting, especially the tail lights look silly. They’re mounted so low and are too large.While the new Juke stands out too much, there are a plethora of gargantuan Chinese SUVs with range-extender (REEV) powertrains that are indistinguishable from each other. They’re all large blobs on wheels with ginormous grilles.Examples that have been revealed so far in 2026 include the IM LS9 Hyper, Wey V9X, XPeng GX and the Zeekr 8X. Many more will likely pop up before the end of the year.Although there have been some shockingly bad-looking cars revealed this year, there are still some diamonds in the rough. 2026 also seems to be the revival of the wagon.Some highlights include the new Audi RS5, which is available in liftback and wagon, as well as the new A6 allroad, which has some of the best and most exaggerated rear wheel arches that I’ve seen on a production car for a long time.The new Dacia Striker is a beautiful-looking car that has just the right amount of wagon and crossover SUV design elements. It’s segment-busting in the same way as the Peugeot 408 and previous-generation Subaru Outback are.It’s worth noting once again that 2026 is only halfway through and there is still another six months to go. There’s still time to turn things around in terms of new car design, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

In a world of monstrously big SUVs and terrifyingly giant utes, there still exists the super large saloons for those who prefer to maintain a powerful presence with class and sophistication. We're talking limos - not the party kind - we mean the luxurious transport for business executives or those who prefer to be driven rather than drive.We've put together the top 5 largest cars currently sold in AustraliaLength: 5139mm Width: 2241mm Height: 1464mmA Lotus was not on my list of possible big-car candidates, but here we are with the fully electric 5139mm long Emeya four-door lift back. The Emeya is the first of its kind from a brand that forged its iconic reputation by building tiny sportscars in a shed. Things have changed and Lotus is now owned by Chinese manufacturer Geely, and the Emeya is built in China. While not the longest car here, the Emeya is actually the widest with its wing mirrors out. Despite its enormous exterior dimensions the Emeya isn’t particularly voluminous on the inside, but there are four seats and a 509-litre boot. Dual motors make 450kW and 710Nm, 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds. The starting price is $190K.Length: 5139mm Width: 1900mm Height: 1450mmSecretly loving that a Toyota, sorry Lexus, quietly slipped into this top 5 elite party. At 5235mm end-to-end the LS isn’t small, and nor is it short on luxury.Lexus positions itself as a Benz or BMW on a budget, but with a starting price of $200,000 the LS isn’t all that cheap. The value is outstanding, however, compared to the others here, and while rolling up in a Lexus to meet business executives at the airport doesn’t have the same impact as a BMW 7 Series, but as a car girl, I honestly think the LS is more opulent.Powered by a V6 hybrid the LS is without a doubt the most reliable and cheapest to maintain limo here.Length: 5391mm Width: 1950mm Height: 1544mmBMW’s 7 Series is seriously imposing, a cliff face on wheels, with its gigantic grille and its sheer vertical drop, but it’s not just all front - this beast is 5.39m end to end. As a reference the Australian design rules state a car park space must be 5.4m long and 2.4m wide. So it’ll fit… just.   Updated for 2026/27 with BMW’s next-gen Neue Klasse design the 7 Series looks even more menacing and futuristic, while the interior is sporty and hi-tech with screens everywhere. As for powertrains you can burn fossil fuel with a 3.0-litre inline 294kW/580Nm six-cylinder engine on offer but the electric i7’s enormously powerful and torquey motors (making up to 400kW and 745Nm) and seamlessly brutal ability to get out of its own way suits the big BMW limo better.  The 7 Series starts at a list price of $272,900.Length: 5469mm  Width: 2109mm  Height: 1510mmThe Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is a super luxury version of the S-Class and it’s even longer than one too. A regular S-Class long wheelbase is 5289mm end to end while the Maybach version stretched 180mm at 5469mm in length.While more or less the same car as the S-Class the Maybach offers more legroom, more decadence and more engine - with a V12 offered on the higher grades.The Maybach is also more expensive - almost double the price of an S-Class LWB at about $630,000Length: 5982mm, width: 2154mm Height: 1656mmOf course the biggest car sold in Australia is a Rolls-Royce and it’s not just the Phantom Extended, it’s also the Ghost Extended at 5715mm and the Spectre Series II at 5453mm. But if we had included them, then the top 5 biggest cars would have all been Rollers.So we’ve gone for the largest Rolls-Royce car, the Phantom Extended, which at 5982mm is more a train than a car and 220mm longer than the standard wheelbase Phantom.While there are only four seats in a Phantom Extended they are the size of lounge chairs in a sumptuous hotel lobby and legroom is, well you can literally lie down back there because the seats become beds.In Australia the Phantom Extended starts at more than $1.1m but as with most Rolls-Royce’s the customers will want to personalise it with bespoke touches taking the final price much higher. 

Geely has powered up the sales chart in July, making the top 10 best-selling brands for the month.The Chinese brand launched in Australia in March 2025, and has approached the local market with a more methodical approach than its competitors. It has only introduced three models so far, contrasting BYD that already has more than 10 models on sale since its distribution takeover in July 2025.Despite this relatively small footprint, Geely captured 3.6 per cent of total new car sales in July.Geely has grown by more than 500 per cent in the first seven months of the year, compared to the same period in 2025.  Geely's success has largely been driven by the EX5 electric mid-size SUV that managed 2034 registrations last month - its best month yet. The Toyota RAV4-sized EX5 is Geely’s best-selling car on sale in Australia, with nearly 9000 sales so far this year.Starting from $41,990 (before on-road costs), it continues to outsell the smaller BYD Atto 3 ($39,990) and eat into the sales of petrol rivals such as the Mazda CX-5 ($39,990).There are limited other fully-electric rivals with similar dimensions to the EX5, potentially giving it an edge in showrooms. It’s not just the EX5 selling well for Geely, with its smaller EX2 sibling registering 474 examples in its first few weeks on sale.The brand only introduced its new hatch with a sharp $26,490 price tag in late July, making it one of the cheapest electric cars on the market. The EX2, which is the most popular car in China, even managed to shift more units than the BYD Dolphin ($29,990) in July.The Starray Em-i plug-in hybrid mid-size SUV is Geely’s other model on sale in Australia, also enjoying a strong sales return, with 1177 units finding new homes last month.It poses as a direct threat to the BYD Sealion 6 ($42,990) and the recently-launched Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid ($59,515), but is noticeably cheaper at $37,490. Geely will continue to introduce new models at its own pace, with potential for some activity before the end of the year.  The brand is expected to launch a mid-size and a large SUV in the first half of 2027, followed by the Emgrand plug-in hybrid sedan later on in the year. The Galaxy Cruiser large rugged 4WD is also expected to land Down Under before the end of next year.