Electric Cars

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular in Australia as people transition from owning combustion- or hybrid-powered vehicles.One major consideration that many people have when considering which EV to buy is how much range it offers, but another factor that should be considered is how quickly the battery can be charged.EV and battery technology is continually evolving, but here is a rundown of the 11 EVs with the highest DC fast-charging rate that are either already on sale or confirmed for a launch in Australia.It’s worth noting that the fastest DC fast-chargers in Australia currently are 400kW and these are operated by AmpCharge. However, Denza has confirmed that it’s rolling out its 1500kW ‘Flash’ charging network at its dealers by late 2026 or early 2027.The forthcoming Denza Z9 GT electric shooting brake will launch in Australia in either late 2026 or early 2027, alongside the ‘Flash’ charging network.Final specifications have yet to be locked in, but peak DC fast-charging is up to 1500kW. This allows a 10 to 97 per cent charge in nine minutes.The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door, which is due in Australia during 2027, offers a peak DC fast-charging rate of 600kW.This allows the 111kWh lithium-ion battery pack to charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 11 minutes. It offers up to 460km of WLTP-claimed range.The XPeng X9 electric people mover has a peak DC fast-charging rate of up to 542kW. This allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 12 minutes.Two versions are available, the FWD Standard Range and AWD Performance.The former has a 94.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with up to 535km of WLTP-claimed range. The latter has a larger 110kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery with up to 580km of WLTP-claimed range.The recently revealed BMW iX5 will launch in Australia around mid-2027 and will follow after the launch of the new, petrol-powered X5 variants later this year.The iX5 60 xDrive is the only variant to be detailed so far and it offers a peak DC fast-charging rate of 460kW.It has a 141kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 10 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 23 minutes. It offers up to 845km of WLTP-claimed range.The updated version of the XPeng G6 with the larger 80.8kWh LFP battery has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 451kW. It’s currently the highest in Australia.A 10 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 12 minutes.In RWD Long Range form there’s up to 525km of range and in AWD Performance form there’s up to 510km, according to WLTP testing.While the entry-level G6 RWD Standard Range with its smaller 68.5kWh can only DC fast-charge at rates up to 382kW, it’s still claimed to take 12 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 per cent. It offers up to 480km of WLTP-claimed range.The entry-level Zeekr 7X RWD with its 75kWh LFP battery can DC fast-charge at rates up to 450kW. It offers up to 480km of WLTP-claimed range.The 7X Long Range RWD and Performance AWD, on the other hand, with its larger 100kWh NMC battery can charge at rates up to 420kW. WLTP-claimed range is 615km and 543km, respectively.Mirroring the Zeekr 7X SUV, the forthcoming, entry-level version of the 7GT electric shooting brake has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 450kW. It has a 75kWh LFP battery and can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 13 minutes.Other versions of the 7GT have a larger 100kWh NMC battery that can charge at rates up to 420kW.The top-spec BMW iX3 50 xDrive has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 400kW.It has a 108.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 10 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 21 minutes. It offers up to 805km of WLTP-claimed range.The entry-level iX3 40 with its slightly smaller 82.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 300kW. Despite this, a 10 to 80 per cent charge is still claimed to take 21 minutes. It offers up to 635km of WLTP-claimed range.The MG IM5 Platinum RWD and Performance AWD have a peak DC fast-charging rate of 396kW.They both have a 100kWh NMC battery pack and WLTP-claimed range of 655km and 575km, respectively. A 30 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 15 minutes.The entry-level IM5 Premium RWD, on the other hand, has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 153kW. It has a 75kWh LFP battery, up to 490km of WLTP-claimed range and a 30 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 20 minutes.The MG IM6 Platinum RWD and Performance AWD have a peak DC fast-charging rate of 396kW.They both have a 100kWh NMC battery pack and WLTP-claimed range of 555km and 505km, respectively. A 30 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 15 minutes.The entry-level IM5 Premium RWD, on the other hand, has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 153kW. It has a 75kWh LFP battery, up to 450km of WLTP-claimed range and a 30 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 20 minutes.The forthcoming Porsche Cayenne Electric offers a peak DC fast-charging rate of 390kW.It has a 113kWh lithium-ion battery pack and up to 542km of WLTP-claimed range. A 10 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 16 minutes.While Hyundai, Kia and Genesis models on the E-GMP platform, like the Ioniq 5, EV6 and GV60, among others, display a claimed 10 to 80 per cent charge time when plugged into a 350kW DC fast-charger, a common misconception is they have a peak DC fast-charging rate of 350kW.However, this is not the case. None of the aforementioned Hyundai Group brands quote an official peak charging rate, but real-world data indicates it’s around 240kW.

Farizon has slashed the price of its SV mid-size electric van in Australia. The SV short-wheel base low roof now starts from $62,990 (before on-road costs), which is $8500 less than it previously was on offer for. Farizon has also reduced the price of its long-wheel base low roof variant to $64,990, down from $73,490, and its LWB high roof to $69,490, down from $76,490.The SV now costs less than its fellow Chinese competitor the LDV e-Deliver 7 that starts from $67,358.Farizon has added a new super LWB high roof variant, with a starting price of $77,490.This variant will sit at the top of the SV range, and constitute a $8000 jump on the LWB equivalent. It is the only variant to be equipped with the new 106kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery, boosting driving range to 398km (WLTP).All other SV variants use an 83kWh lithium-iron-phosphate unit, with the LWB high roof only offering 319km. It is also the largest van in the range, with a cargo bay 3695mm long, 1795mm wide and 1960mm tall.  A bigger battery means a slower charge time, taking 46 minutes to go from 30 to 80 per cent at 140kW DC charging - 10 minutes longer than 83kWh examples. It can carry 1075kg, along with boasting a 2000kg braked towing capacity. It will be powered by the same front-mounted single electric motor, producing 170kW and 336Nm. Farizon launched in Australia in the first half of 2025 through distributor Jameel Motors.The SV has proved to be the brand’s best-selling model, with 117 units sold in 2026.Farizon was forced to introduce a software update just months after its launch to reduce the volume of safety alerts inside the cabin.There are no further plans to add more variants to the SV lineup, but there will be an update to the van later this year.Farizon SV pricing Australia (before on-road costs) 

XPeng offers a wide number of sedans in other markets, but declining demand for vehicles of this type in Australia may rule them out from a local launch.At the Chinese carmaker’s Australian relaunch event earlier this month, it displayed a left-hand drive P7 electric sedan, among a wealth of other vehicles, and it claims it’s currently assessing whether to launch it locally.“I think we are looking at the market currently,” said XPeng Vice President and Chairman Dr Brian Gu to CarsGuide.“I see a trend that sedans becoming more marginalised as a format. So we are thinking very hard whether we want to bring more sedans to this market.”As it currently stands, the P7 is only produced in left-hand drive. Unless a right-hand drive version is confirmed for production, this makes an Australian launch virtually impossible.XPeng has officially taken over as a factory-backed operation in Australia from its previous distributor, True EV.It has since launched the updated G6 electric mid-size SUV and most recently the X9 electric people mover in Australia.Another three SUVs are confirmed for a local launch in the next six months. The GX flagship is also confirmed for Australia, however timing hasn’t been locked in yet.While True EV CEO Jason Clarke previously told CarsGuide the brand was in deliberations on whether to introduce the Mona M03 or the larger P7+ locally, neither are locked in with the factory-backed operation.It’s worth noting that XPeng has confirmed the P7+ will be offered in Europe and the UK, meaning a right-hand drive version is locked in. This version of the sedan will be produced in Graz, Austria and not China, which hurts its chance of coming here.Sales of passenger cars, including hatches, sedans and wagons, have been declining in Australia for the last 10 to 15 years.In 2025 a total of 157,484 passenger cars were sold, which was down 22.6 per cent year-on-year. 733,831 SUVs were sold over the same period, which is almost five times as many.The best-selling passenger car in Australia in 2025 was the Toyota Corolla. In 2013 and 2014 it had been the best-selling car overall in Australia.A total of 18,968 examples were sold in 2025, which was down 21.1 per cent year-on-year.The best-selling car overall in Australia last year was once again the Ford Ranger with a total of 56,555 sales, which was down 9.6 per cent year-on-year.While a number of electric sedans are offered in Australia, including the Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal, among others, many are outsold considerably by their SUV counterparts.

This has been a bumper year for super-exciting models strutting the automotive world stage.With competition from China more intense than ever, legacy carmakers are leaning in big time on their unique experiences and strengths to keep consumers interested.But, for reasons both annoying and disappointing (mostly due to prohibitively expensive and anachronistic design rules), not all are destined for Australia.Here are the all-new 2026 all-stars we won’t be seeing in 2027 (or beyond). More’s the pity.The previous Telluride has been a runaway smash hit in its native USA since launching in 2019, and has comfortably outsold its Hyundai Palisade cousin.Kia has long wanted this large three-row SUV for Australia, but a lack of right-hand drive (RHD) and limited factory capacity have thwarted plans past and present.This includes those for the recent boxier redesign, featuring turbo-petrol and hybrid powertrains, extra space and heaps more tech.While VW hasn’t publicly ruled this out for Australia, the first all-electric version of the evergreen Polo may end up costing too much for it to be a worthwhile exercise.Which is sad, because the ID. Polo appears to be a real return to form for a brand that has been in the doldrums for most of a decade.Unrelated to the continuing, sixth-gen Polo that’s almost a decade old, highlights include pleasing aesthetics and a classy cabin offering plenty of surprise and delight features including near-Golf levels of interior space.Plus, the German supermini’s advanced EV architecture should re-establish VW as a technological tour-de-force.And that’s even before considering the coming GTI version.Initial reaction in Europe has exceeded expectations, meaning the ID. Polo is shaping up to be one of this year’s comeback kids.Renault is on a massive roll right now, riding high on electric vehicle (EV) success with the award-winning Megane crossover, Scenic SUV, 4 and 5 E-Tech models.But arguably the cutest, the Twingo city car, won’t make it as far as Australia, despite being offered in RHD for UK buyers, as there’s just no market for tiny city cars.No matter how much critics rave about its styling, efficiency, ride comfort and driving pleasure, this Renault is a Twin-no-go. Such a shame.Built in Morocco on a trick new modular electrified platform shared across several Stellantis nameplates including Opel and Citroen, the Kia Seltos-sized Grizzly is a small crossover/SUV charged with making the world fall in love with Fiat again.Offered in two handsome body styles and three powertrains (petrol, hybrid and EV) choices, it promises to be affordable first and foremost, as well as practical and fun.Sounds perfect for Australia, then, but with Fiat sales on hold for now, who knows if we’ll ever see this intriguing newcomer here.Designed expressly for European markets, the EV2 is the brand’s entry-level electric city car that puts the funk in functionality.But, being sourced from Slovakia means importing it to Australia would be expensive, so Kia remains undecided. Hyundai’s struggle selling the smaller yet premium-priced Inster EV here highlights the risks.That said, the EV2 is usefully larger, looks more sophisticated and offers larger battery choices with decent range. If it’s as polished, efficient and capable as the EV3 and EV4, then perhaps the cute little Kia might find a big audience locally.Revealed in the US back in February, the Highlander goes all-electric for its fifth-generation outing, with production expected to commence in Kentucky before 2027.Closely related to the similar Lexus TZ and Subaru Getaway, as well as the just-released eighth Lexus ES sedan series, it will be Toyota’s first tilt at a full-sized three-row EV SUV.But, in contrast to its comely predecessor that is still being produced and imported successfully to Australia as the Kluger hybrid, we’re unlikely to see the slicker Highlander EV here.This is due to RHD unavailability, though Toyota also probably fears insufficient demand, which is fair given how poorly the exceptional Kia EV9 sells.Great news if you’re missing the old Subaru Outback since the latest version abandoned the crossover wagon template it pioneered 30 years ago.Except if you’re living in Australia, that is, because Renault importers Ateco may not import the conceptually similar Striker that has only just had its global unveiling.A high-riding hybrid wagon with 4x4 availability that would make Volvo XC70 Cross Country owners green with envy, it comes courtesy of Renault’s Romanian sub-brand, Dacia.This guarantees chunky styling, a smart yet utilitarian interior with acres of space, and a tough, go-anywhere attitude that is designed to last for years.That’s the Subaru Outback formula, and there’s probably a market hungry for a non-SUV crossover. But Ateco seems unsure at this stage.

This budget electric SUV was supposed to launch in Australia last year, but we still haven’t seen it yet.The Deepal S05 is a Toyota RAV4-sized electric Chinese SUV has just received a big update.  Deepal is a subsidiary of giant Chinese car manufacturer Changan that has joint ventures with Ford and Mazda.It previously confirmed the S05 would hit Aussie shores in the second half of 2025, but it still hasn’t launched as we head into the second half of 2026.It rivals other affordable electrified SUVs like the Leapmotor B10 and BYD Atto 3.It is closely related to its bigger S07 sibling that has been on sale in Australia since late 2024. So, where is it?The Deepal S05’s upgrades include a more powerful EV model, featuring a single rear-mounted electric motor, producing 200kW, compared to 175kW. Acceleration from 0-100km/h now takes as little as 6.3 seconds. From the outside, there is a new more flowing body, more chrome trim pieces, frameless windows and re-designed 18-inch wheels.It also gains a new 15.6-inch central touchscreen and 256-colour ambient lighting, with wood-grain panels featuring throughout. The EV continues to be offered with a 56kWh battery, with a 10km boost to driving range at 520km, according to lenient CLTC standards, as well as a 69kWh unit with 620km.DC charging from 30 to 80 per cent continues to take around 15 minutes. The brand has also made significant changes to the driver assistance systems in the car, with 26 high-perception sensors and more than 90 driving functions like automated parking.Deepal has not provided any official reasons for why the SO5’s launch has been delayed, but the brand is likely hoping for a better market introduction than the S07.The S07 was plagued by frustrating and invasive active safety technology that forced the brand to make wholesale software changes just months after it went on sale. The car’s driver attention monitor function, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control all came under serious scrutiny.Deepal has stated the S05 is being subject to extensive testing, hinting that this could be the reason behind its delayed arrival. The brand worked swiftly to rectify these issues with a spokesperson telling CarsGuide in 2025 it would undertake more extensive local testing. “We will do more real-world tests in Australia and will make Australian driving scenarios entries into our software data bank and adjust to those live scenarios,” they said. “And that will test all of the system set-ups and that gives us time before we bring the car to market to launch to make sure that sensitivities, system set ups and everything is conditioned to the expectation of the Australian consumer.”The Deepal S05’s original planned launch date is long in the rearview mirror, but the brand remains adamant the car will hit showrooms soon. The S05 launched in the United Kingdom in March 2026, a fellow right-hand drive market. It was also cleared for sale by the Australian government regulator in February this year.A spokesperson for Deepal Australia could not confirm whether the car would arrive in 2026 or 2027, but did reveal the car is undergoing extensive testing in Sydney, with more details coming "very soon". "We're incredibly excited about the Deepal S05, with planning now in its final stages ahead of its Australian launch,” they said."We've already completed more than 100,000km of local testing using engineering vehicles, including extensive software validation and calibration work, to ensure the S05 delivers the best driving experience for our market.”With the car in its final stages of preparation, there is scope for it to go on sale before the end of the year or early 2027. There is no indication of Australian pricing yet, but the new model will be available from 120,000 yuan in China, which is roughly $25,000.Chinese cars usually cop a 20 per cent hike when put on sale in Australia, so it is more likely to start around the $30,000-plus mark.

Sometimes, a vehicle facelift doesn’t amount to much. Maybe a nip here, a tuck there, but to be sure you’re looking at the new version, you need to check the badges.To be honest, the revised Polestar 3 SUV is a bit of that, with very little to visually distinguish the facelift from the previous car. But underneath there are some serious upgrades which, in that oh-so-Swedish understated way, serve to make the Polestar 3 an even more tantalising prospect.The Polestar 3 has now moved to 800-volt technology which not only allows for faster charging, it also opens up the prospect of even more performance. A new generation of lithium-ion batteries also means greater range potential.But it’s nice to see that Polestar hasn’t limited its attention to the drivetrain; there’s now a revised anti-roll-bar system and a recalibration of the power steering assistance. Which just goes to show that even though brands like Polestar trade on being an all-electric solution, there are still some engineers in Sweden who know how the rest of a car should work.Meantime, the medium-large SUV space is a very crowded one right now, so the question is whether the new tech – invisible as it is – is enough to keep the Polestar 3 carving out its slice of that market.

Zeekr has announced European details on the 9X flagship SUV ahead of its Australian launch later in 2026.This European-specification version of the Zeekr 9X is slightly different from the Chinese-specification version and it potentially gives a clearer indication of what to expect when it comes Down Under.In Europe the only powertrain available is a range-extender (REEV) hybrid that pairs a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and dual electric motors. It has a total system output of 660kW.The electric motors are fed by a 55kWh battery pack which allows for up to 179km of electric range, or up to 737km of overall combined range, according to WLTP testing.This aforementioned REEV powertrain is offered in China but there’s also a version with the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, and three electric motors. It has a heftier total system output of 1030kW.It has a larger 70kWh battery which offers more than 300km of electric range, or up to 1250km of overall range, according to more lenient CLTC testing.Both European- and Chinese-specification versions of the 9X have a 900V electrical architecture and offer rapid DC fast-charging capabilities.The European version has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 330kW. This allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in a claimed 9.5 minutes.In China the Zeekr 9X is offered in a total of five interior colour schemes.For contrast, the European version only comes with two – Charcoal Black or Caramel Brown and Moonglade Blue. Both have Nappa leather upholstery.Like the Chinese-specification version, the European-specification 9X has a six-seat configuration with second-row captain’s chairs.There are two 16-inch displays, a 47-inch augmented reality head-up display, a sliding and foldable 17-inch OLED display, as well as a 32-speaker Naim sound system.Zeekr has confirmed the 9X is launching locally before the end of 2026.It will sit at the top of the Chinese carmaker’s line-up in Australia and be a rival to German players like the Audi Q9, BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.The 9X is expected to carry a price tag over $100,000, although it is expected to be considerably less than the aforementioned German rivals.It will likely be the most expensive Zeekr offered in Australia though. This title currently goes to the 009 AWD electric people mover which starts at $139,900 before on-road costs.

Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, has set its sights on competing against the likes of BMW’s M division, Mercedes-AMG and even Porsche eventually with its new Magma sub-brand. The first installment in this new chapter has arrived, the GV60 Magma. While based on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and 6 N, Genesis has given the GV60 a unique twist. We review it to assess its performance, luxury, value and more.

A big change is coming for one of the most iconic sports cars in the world, with the next generation of Mazda’s convertible to go electric.Masahiro Moro, CEO of Mazda, has confirmed the fifth generation of the Mazda MX-5 must be able to forgo a combustion engine in order to be viable."The successor must also be ready for a scenario without a combustion engine,” the CEO told German outlet Auto Motor und Sport.The surprise confirmation raises one of the biggest questions regularly asked in regards to electric sports cars: what about the weight?Moro says the goal weight is between 1000kg and 1200kg. That would keep it close to the low weight of the current ND MX-5, which weighs around 1100kg, depending on the variant.“The challenge for us is to make the basic structure lighter without using exotic materials like carbon fiber.”Earlier this year Mazda’s General Manager of Global Sales and Marketing, Manabu Osuga, told CarsGuide electrification was unlikely for the fifth-generation MX-5.“At the moment, electric is going the opposite direction of fulfilling the MX-5’s (core) concept, as it needs to remain a lightweight sportscar, and electric means heavier,” he told CarsGuide in Melbourne.“We want to make the weight less than one tonne before additional equipment, then with additional equipment 1.1-tonne, but we don’t want it to exceed 1.2-tonne (in total) if it is to be a lightweight sportscar.”European outlets report similar statements from executives, with Christian Schultze, Director of Research & Operations at Mazda Motor Europe telling Dutch publication AutoRAI in February the same thing.“The moment you go fully electric, you fundamentally change the car’s architecture. That means different proportions, a different weight, and a different balance,” he said.An electric version of the fifth-gen MX-5 - which we expect to follow the generational NA, NB, NC and ND names of the first four - is coming, but it won’t be the only drivetrain available.Earlier this year, Mazda also announced the MX-5 would use the upcoming Skyactiv-Z engine, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with hybrid capability.A mild-hybrid would more easily allow Mazda to equip the MX-5 with a manual gearbox, as heavier electrification complicates the system and automatic transmissions become preferred.We won’t see the fifth-gen MX-5 until at least next year, for a launch likely sometime in 2028.

Volkswagen has upgraded its pure-electric ID. Buzz people mover and light commercial van line-up for the 2027 model year.Arriving in the fourth quarter of this year, the range will feature a new Pro+ model, extra standard equipment, more options and an additional colour choice, all with no change to pricing for the entry grades.The entry-level, single-motor ID. Buzz Pro has picked up a heap of new equipment including an under-chassis stone guard, bi-directional charging, updated driver attention monitoring, a predictive speed limiter, ‘driving experience selection’ (allows switching between drive modes) and Dynamic Road Sign Display.There’s even a dual-tone horn and the new colour option is a white/red two-tone finish.Price for the five-seat short-wheelbase version stays at $75,990, before on-road costs, with the long-wheelbase seven seater at $80,990. There’s also a new Infotainment package option which includes built-in navigation.The new Pro+ variant pulls together the most popular options applied to the base Pro and packages them into a stand-alone model positioned at what VW positions as “a more attractive price.”It brings all the equipment added to the Pro, plus 20-inch alloy wheels (up from 19s), Park Assist (with memory) and built-in navigation. This grade’s Infotainment package option features high-end Harman Kardon audio and a head-up display with the price stepping up to $84,990, BOC, for the SWB five-seater and $89,990 for the seven-seat LWB version.At the top of the ID. Buzz pyramid, the dual-motor, all-wheel drive, seven-seat LWB-only GTX adds Park Assist (with memory) and built-in navigation to its included features list, only this time around the price increases by $2.0K to $106,990, BOC.And VW hasn’t forgotten the tradies with the ID. Buzz Cargo SWB three-seater picking up the Pro’s new standard inclusions as well as wireless phone charging, and built-in nav with no change to the $69,990 MSRP.