Electric Cars

Porsche has continued the rollout of model grades for its all-electric Macan and the latest is the GTS. GTS grades are often the sweet spot of any Porsche model range, usually adding an extra dollop of performance and grade-specific styling.There aren't many high-end electric SUVs of this size in Australia, except for the Audi Q6 e-tron. And judging by the sales figures, Australians haven’t warmed to the electric version of the Macan. Porsche has sold 308 to the end of May this year, a 75 per cent drop compared with the same time last year.But perhaps the sportier and sexier GTS can grab premium buyers’ attention.Compared with the sleek internal combustion Macan with its hunkered down stance and hatchback-like rear, the new EV version looks much bigger on the road. But the design has grown on me and the GTS styling helps enormously.The GTS gains flourishes like wider side skirts, different front and rear aprons, a pronounced diffuser and gloss black inserts.My test car was also Carmine Red and combined with the black elements, and gorgeous but expensive ($4860) 22-inch RS Spyder Design wheels in Anthracite Grey (up from the standard 21-inch wheels), it all makes for a menacing, sexy look.The Macan gets the GTS treatment inside as well with signature red seat belts and a few other additions.The horizontal dash feels quite upright, as does the seating position. The design is appealing and functional without taking any risks.The positioning of the gear shifter on the dash is great for freeing up space and the Macan has decent storage. The device charger can be closed which is good for security.The multimedia system isn’t super intuitive - you have to drill down to multiple menus to find things. Some menu items overlap with the always-on side menu. That’s not very premium, Porsche! Even the Apple CarPlay was a little glitchy. Thankfully, air con has its own panel on the dash.There’s not a lot of knee room in the rear behind my (183cm) driving position, but lots of toe room. The middle seat feels like an afterthought, especially as the front centre console leaves virtually no legroom. But the rear seats are bucketed and super comfy.The boot can swallow 480L, down from 540L in lower Macan grades. There’s no spare wheel, just a tyre repair kit, and a massive Bose subwoofer consumes the underfloor storage. It has handy levers in the boot to lower the 60/40 rear seats and a button that lowers suspension to load heavy items.Elsewhere, the Macan GTS comes with a smallish 10.9-inch multimedia screen and this example was fitted with a passenger side digital display ($2810).Which brings me to one of my biggest issues with this car - the optional extras. The base price of a Macan GTS is $171,100 before on-road costs. That’s already pricey when you consider rivals like the Audi SQ6 e-tron (from $151,400), Hyundai Ioniq 5 N ($115,000) and upcoming BMW iX3 50e ($109,900). Then there’s the eye-watering options list.My test car was fitted with items that shouldn’t cost any extra, like $560 for black badging and $220 for ‘preparation for Porsche dashcam’. Then there’s the downright ridiculous $10,730 for the GTS Interior Package.Rear-axle steering at $3510 is understandable, but $4120 for the augmented reality head-up display that I turned off because it was too intrusive is just taking the mickey. My test car had $38,000 worth of extras, bringing the total price to $209,110.Porsche’s German rivals (Audi, BMW, Mercedes) have all improved their standard features offering in recent years, but Porsche clearly still lags.As the second-most potent Macan Electric grade under the Turbo, the GTS gains an extra helping of performance. It features permanent magnet synchronous motors on the front and rear axles, offering 380kW of power and a maximum 955Nm of torque with overboost.This is enough for a 0-100km/h sprint in a blistering 3.8 seconds on the way to a top speed of 250km/h.Porsche says the Macan GTS’s 100kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery can be charged from 10-80 per cent capacity via a 120kW DC charger in about 46 minutes, while using its maximum charge power will take just 21 minutes. An 11kW AC home charge should take about 10 hours. One handy feature is two charge ports, one on each side of the car.Porsche claims the Macan GTS’s electric driving range is 513km. The official energy use figure is 20.6–18.5kWh/100km and after a week of mostly urban commutes and a quick back-road blast, I recorded 21.5kWh.It is incredibly quick off the mark, forcing you back into your seat when you floor it. Sport mode, which alters the chassis and ups acceleration, is brutal.Steering in any mode is super sharp and doesn’t require much input to get a response.The Macan GTS is a big, heavy electric SUV but it has a surprising nimbleness to it. It’s taller than the ICE version but it’s chuckable to a certain degree, with very little roll in corners.The grippy tyres aid roadholding and strong brakes help pull up the big SUV, too.Ride quality is undeniably firm and you feel and hear harsher corrugations and bumps. It’s far from jarring, but don’t expect a cushy ride.The Macan has a tighter turning circle than you’d think (11.1m down from 12.1m thanks to the rear-axle steering), making it surprisingly easy to park.Road noise is noticeable on coarse chip surfaces but otherwise most external noise stays out of the cabin.Another huge tick for the Macan is the advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), which works away in the background. It only kicked in once when I merged onto a new lane on a freeway and even then the steering intervention was subtle.Porsche covers the Macan with a three-year/unlimited kilometre warranty which is well behind the five-year terms of most premium rivals. The service schedule is every two years or 30,000km which is great and Porsche offers service plans of three ($1995), four ($3695) or five years ($3995). This is quite a bit more than Audi’s offer for the SQ6 e-tron ($2080 for six years).

XPeng’s new segment-bending Mona L03 SUV has been caught testing in Australia just after going on sale in China.Spotted by CarsGuide’s own Byron Mathioudakis on Victoria's Great Ocean Road, the SUV remains heavily camouflaged but still identifiable as the L03 thanks to its partially exposed signature front headlights, tail-lights that form part of its rear spoiler piece and partially exposed alloy wheels with XPeng logos.Glimpses of a steering wheel on the right-hand side can be identified, which is the first time the L03 has ever been spotted in this configuration.The L03 sits below XPeng’s only current model in Australia, the G6 mid-sizer SUV, which competes with the Tesla Model Y. The L03 will compete with more affordable SUVs such as the Geely EX5 (from $41,990), BYD Atto 3 (from $39,990) and GAC Aion V (from $42,590).It shares a familiar minimalist interior treatment to many of its Chinese contemporaries, with modern touches like a large central multimedia touchscreen, oval steering wheel and floating central console, with its key differentiator being its slinky fastback-style rear.The L03 is available overseas in electric form, with a 183kW/280Nm rear-mounted motor and either a 56kWh or 69kWh battery pack for up to 625km of range, according to lenient Chinese standards.A range-extender hybrid model will follow, using a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a 37.2kWh battery pack.The L03 was spotted alongside another unknown XPeng model, which appears to be a hatchback or crossover. It could be a third member of the Mona family, with the L03 being an SUV and the M03 being a sedan.It stands to reason that XPeng would launch a hatchback as the brand has been active in the European market for some time. It would follow in the footsteps of the original MG4, Leapmotor's B05 hatchback, both created specifically for the European market, or BYD and its Euro-focused plug-in hybrid derivatives of the Atto 1 and Atto 2.The M03 sedan has been previewed in Australia in left-hand-drive form under XPeng’s previous distributor, and has gone on to become a popular low-cost vehicle in China, but it is unclear whether XPeng’s new factory-backed operation will follow through with plans to launch it in Australia now the company’s model range has evolved overseas.The freshly spotted car seems to have more in common with the SUV design, featuring a bar-style tail-light rather than the individual light clusters of the M03 sedan, while its hatch-style tailgate is a new profile for the brand.CarsGuide understands the L03 is due in Australia in 2027, and the spotted SUV is likely undergoing validation testing for the Australian market.The hatchback model is likely undergoing initial testing and will launch further down the track.XPeng is seeking to get its business back on track in Australia amid an ongoing legal stoush with its former distributor TrueEV.The now factory-backed brand currently only offers the updated G6 on its website, with the X9 people mover listed as coming soon.It is yet to comment locally on the L03 and CarsGuide has sought clarity on the hatchback model.

Cupra has confirmed that there are currently no plans to bring back the Born electric hatchback to Australia, at least for now.“It's still something we discuss with headquarters, and you know there might be a way forward in the future, but there's no plan right now,” said Cupra Australia Head of Product Jeff Shafer to CarsGuide.“We've got, you know, Raval coming, and we've got some news on Tavascan coming soon, and I think that kind of is where we're focusing our EV efforts right now.“We need to make Born have a position that makes sense within that total range, so I wouldn't say never, but it's not right on the cards.”The Born was Cupra’s first all-electric model globally and in Australia. It was originally revealed in production form in 2021 and eventually arrived in 2023 following a number of delays.It’s based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB dedicated electric architecture and shares a number of commonalities with the Volkswagen ID.3 which has never been offered in Australia.Locally the Born was offered in a single trim level and was powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor producing 170kW and 310Nm. This was fed by a 77kWh lithium-ion battery pack allowing for up to 511km of claimed range.As standard the Born was a five-seater, however if you opted for any of the optional performance or interior packages, the seat count would drop to four.In 2025 Cupra stopped taking new orders of the Born as existing stock dried up despite it previously indicating a launch of the higher-performance Born VZ was on the cards.Earlier this year Cupra revealed a facelift for the Born which brought tweaked looks, bigger screens, as well as more physical switchgear around the cabin.Although the Born may not be returning to Australian shores, as Shafer noted Cupra already has the Tavascan mid-size electric SUV which is soon receiving an update for 2026.Additionally the Raval small electric hatchback is set to arrive Down Under during 2027.

If you’re missing the Mazda6 and looking for a new electric car - then Mazda may have the perfect car for you. The all-new Mazda6e Atenza is the flagship of its new electric vehicle (EV) range, with the CX-6e SUV due later this year.The Atenza grade is priced from a very competitive $52,990 and comes equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, tri-zone climate control, ambient lighting, heated and ventilated front seats, a 14.6-inch central touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital driver display plus a 14-speaker Sony audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And to make it feel more premium inside there are leather and synthetic suede seats, a two-tone leather-wrapped steering wheel and more synthetic suede on the dash and doors.The 6e Atenza is motivated by a single, rear-mounted motor which produces 190kW of power and 290Nm of torque. It’s equipped with a 78kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, which Mazda claims is good for an impressive 560km of range.Mazda has included a long list of safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring and 360-degree cameras. The 6e is covered by the same five-year/unlimited km warranty as the rest of the Mazda range, with the battery getting eight years and 160,000km of extended coverage.Service intervals for the 6e are every 15,000km/12 months, whichever comes first, and the car is covered by a seven-year/140,000km capped price servicing plan. 

The Mazda 6e is a crucial new model for the Japanese brand, ushering in a new era of collaboration with its Chinese partners, Changan Automobiles. As such, this is not only the brand’s first Chinese-built model offered in Australia, but only its second electric vehicle.The good news is Mazda has done a very impressive job positioning the 6e in what is a highly competitive electric mid-size sedan market, with the 6e GT priced from $49,990, plus on-road costs.The GT comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, tri-zone climate control, ambient lighting, heated and ventilated front seats, a 14.6-inch central touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital driver display plus a 14-speaker Sony audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.While the underpinnings of the 6e are shared with the Deepal L07, another major plus is Mazda has had a big influence on the design. That means it looks and feels like a Mazda inside and out, albeit with some unique features that make it stand out a little from the current line-up.The 6e is powered by a single, rear-mounted motor which produces 190kW of power and 290Nm of torque, paired with a 78kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, which Mazda claims is good for an impressive 560km of range.While Mazda has included a long list of safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and more, unfortunately they are not as well-calibrated as they could be for comfortable real-world driving.The 6e is covered by the same five-year/unlimited km warranty as the rest of the Mazda range, with the battery getting eight years and 160,000km of extended coverage.Service intervals for the 6e are every 15,000km/12 months, whichever comes first, and the car is covered by a seven-year/140,000km capped price servicing plan. 

Sales of fully electric cars are booming in Australia at the moment, having accounted for a record one in five new vehicles sold in May 2026.It is good timing, then, for Skoda to launch the first sub-$50,000 European EV to be sold Down Under, the 2027 Skoda Elroq Select 60 small-to-medium SUV.When the Elroq launched with its mid-range Select 85 and flagship 130 Years Edition variants in September 2025, it quickly established itself as one of CarsGuide’s favourites in the segment, having been shortlisted for the Medium SUV Under $60K category in our 2026 Car of the Year awards.But the entry-level Select 60 has since arrived to tempt buyers who crave European style and driving dynamics as much as they crave value and zero emissions.But is the Elroq Select 60 actually any good to own?I have got the keys to a Timiano Green example for the next three months to find out.In this three-part long-term review, I will detail the Select 60’s pricing, specifications, efficiency and aftersales support.The second instalment will deep-dive the Elroq’s design inside and out, as well as its all-important practicality, while the third will be headlined by our full driving impressions and overall verdict.With further ado, let’s get into it!As mentioned, the Elroq 60 Select is Australia’s first sub-$50K European EV.How much cheaper than $50K is it, though?The answer is just $10. Yep, the Elroq 60 Select costs $49,990 drive-away, which makes it $10K and $20K more affordable than its aforementioned 85 Select and 130 Years Edition siblings, respectively.That said, the Select 60’s relatively low price has it well positioned against its competition.Before I go too much further, though, it is worth noting that the Elroq is 4488mm long, which makes it large for a small SUV, and small for a medium SUV.Point being, the Select 60 has rivals all over the place, including one of our 2026 COTY award winners, South Korea’s brilliant Kia EV3 and its similarly priced range-opening Air Standard Range ($47,600 plus on-road costs, 4300mm long).Then there is the more affordable but similarly sized MG S5 EV Essence 49 ($42,990 d/a, 4476mm long) and Zeekr X RWD ($48,900 d/a, 4432mm), both of which are Chinese.Do not make the mistake of thinking that Skoda took a lot of ‘goodies’ out of the Elroq to make the Select 60 a sub-$50K proposition.Its list of standard equipment still includes:Keyless entryMetallic paintworkDusk-sensing LED lightsRain-sensing wipers19-inch Proteus alloy wheels with 235/55 tyresAuto-dimming side mirrors with power foldingLED puddle lightsBlack window surroundsBlack roof railsRear privacy glassKeyless start13.0-inch touchscreen multimedia systemWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoBluetoothDAB+ digital radioEight-speaker sound system5.0-inch digital instrument clusterWireless smartphone chargerFour 45W USB-C portsOne 12V power outletHeated front seatsHeated steering wheelDual-zone climate controlAuto-dimming rearview mirrorFabric upholsteryLED ambient lightingMeanwhile, the Select 60’s safety features include:Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detectionLane-keep assistSteering assist with emergency functionalityAdaptive cruise control with stop and go functionalityHighway assistBlind-spot monitoringDriver attention alertRear cross-traffic alertA reversing cameraFront and rear parking sensorsSafe exit alertTyre pressure monitoringA tyre repair kitSeven airbags (front-centre and dual front, front-side and curtain)Two ISOFIX child-seat anchorage points (rear outboard)Three top-tether child-seat anchorage pointsThe Select 60 has one option, with the tempting $6000 Signature package adding:Dynamic Matrix LED headlightsPower tailgate with handsfree operationDynamic LED tail-lights12-speaker Canton sound system with a subwooferHead-up display with augmented realityPower-adjustable driver’s seat with memory functionalityRear sunshadesSurround-view camerasDual rear-side airbagsFor reference, aside from a larger battery and a more powerful electric motor (more on both of those in a moment), over the optionless Select 60 the Select 85 adds:19-inch Regulus alloy wheels with mixed tyres (235/55 front, 255/50 rear)Dark-chrome window surroundsDark-chrome roof railsLED rear foglightsThen the 130 Years Edition goes the whole way the further addition of:Dynamic Matrix LED headlightsHeated windshield21-inch Supernova alloy wheels with self-healing tyres (235/45 front, 255/40 rear)Power tailgate with handsfree operationDynamic LED tail-lights12-speaker Canton sound system with a subwooferHead-up display with augmented realityTri-zone climate controlPower-adjustable front seats with memory functionalityMassaging front seatsHeated outboard rear seatsRear sunshadesFabric/artificial leather upholsteryExtended LED ambient lightingPark assistSurround-view camerasSo, what is the Elroq missing?Well, the 130 Years Edition’s surround-view cameras should be standard range-wide – it is strange to see a car of this size without them.Vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality is also missing action, which campers and workers on the road are sure to miss.The Select 60 is powered by a single permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, which is fitted to its rear axle.It produces 150kW of power and 310Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 8.0 seconds, which is quite brisk in its EV reality, where instant torque is king.That said, the Select 60 falls short of the heartier 210kW and 545Nm, which the Select 85 and 130 Years Edition output for a triple-digit sprint time of a hot-hatch-like 6.6 seconds.Select 60 buyers will not be left wanting, though, because its straight-line performance is more than satisfactory.So too is its single-speed automatic transmission, which will make most drivers realise how much they do not miss a traditional gearset.The Select 60 is fitted with a 63kWh lithium-ion (NMC) battery, which has a useable capacity of 59kWh.That enables a WLTP-rated driving range of 395km on the combined-cycle test, which is a little underwhelming for an EV in 2026, when 500km-plus claims are increasingly becoming the norm.It is good news, then, that Select 85 and 130 Years Edition up the ante with an 82kWh NMC battery (79kWh net) that boosts the Elroq’s claimed driving range to a more acceptable 529km, albeit at a $10K or $20K premium.The Select 60’s claimed energy consumption is 15.9kWh/100km on the combined-cycle test, which is exactly what I averaged in reality over 729km of driving in my first month of ‘ownership’, which included a good portion of inefficient highway mileage.Based on the Select 60’s useable battery capacity, that equates to a real-world driving range of 371km, which is just 24km short of that particular claim.I must admit, though, that a long weekend away from Melbourne to Venus Bay proved that long-distance EV driving is far from care-free in a sub-400km model like the Select 60.Personally, I would be paying at least $10K more for the peace of mind – and higher performance – provided by its long-range siblings.The Select 60 does have the 85 Select and 130 Years Edition beat, though, when it comes to DC fast charging, with its power peaking at 165kW for a 10-80 per cent charge in a respectable 24 minutes, compared to their 135kW peak and 28-minute duration.That said, it is an even playing field when it comes to AC charging, with an 11kW peak shared, which is perfect for an overnight wallbox charge at home or abroad, at 6.5 hours in the Select 60 or eight hours in the 85 Select and 130 Years Edition.Like all Skoda Australia models, the Elroq comes with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is the best a European brand offers Down Under.That said, we are increasingly seeing eight- and 10-year terms from both Chinese and non-Chinese brands, so Skoda’s offering is by no means the absolute best.As is the case with nearly every EV in Australia, the Elroq’s battery is covered by a separate eight-year/160,000km term.Similar to other Skoda EVs, the Elroq also comes with two years of roadside assistance, which can be extended for a further two years each time it is serviced at an authorised dealership.Speaking of servicing, the Elroq’s service intervals are nice and long, at every 24 months or 30,000km (whichever comes first).A capped-price service pack is available for eight years/120,000km for $1750 (an average of $437.50 per visit), or 10 years/150,000km for $1990 ($398.00 average), both of which are rather good value.And with that we have reached the end of the first part of this long-term review of the 2027 Skoda Elroq Select 60.As mentioned, the upcoming second instalment will focus on its design and practicality.See you then!Acquired: May 6, 2026Distance travelled this month: 729kmOdometer: 1686kmAverage energy consumption this month: 15.9kWh/100km

BYD’s latest car exposes a huge issue that is headed for Australia. Driving range is the new point of difference for Chinese carmakers, and BYD is fully participating, but it has a sinister side.The BYD Seal 08 was unveiled in China as a Mercedes S-Class size sedan, with fully-electric and plug-in hybrid set-ups.The EV offers a driving range of up to more than 900km, according to generous CLTC standards, but its PHEV sibling steals the show. Its petrol tank and 45kWh battery combine to deliver a total driving range of 1660km, with an electric-only range of 400km.This is the same size as the battery BYD puts in its fully-electric Dolphin hatchback.Big hitting electrified set-ups boasting driving ranges approaching the 2000km range mark have grown in quantity, but authorities are starting to push back, according to reports. These large range-carrying set-ups substantially increase a car's weight, with batteries accounting for the bulk of the weight. Heavier cars require more energy to run, making them less efficient. They also contribute to an increased amount of wear and tear on the roads, requiring more frequent work.The Chinese government could be about to start imposing penalties on carmakers for producing electrified cars that are more than a certain weight. The BYD Seal 08 PHEV battery weighs more than 330kg, contributing to a total weight likely to be around 2000kg, with its EV sibling exceeding that figure.Australia’s current best-selling electric car and model generally, the Tesla Model Y also weighs around the 2000kg mark.Vehicles above 4500kg incur the Heavy User Road Tax on every litre of fuel used in Australia to pay for the wear and tear caused by them.External factors such as the Iran War and subsequent fuel price increase has accelerated the uptake of electrified cars globally, including Australia. With so many heavy EVs and PHEVs hitting the roads in Australia, there could be a need to follow China’s lead to protect the country’s road network from increased damage.Innovations in technology such as solid-state batteries could provide the key to offering huge driving ranges in smaller, lighter packages.Chinese brands have driving forwards in their pursuit of such technologies, with BYD and Chery, among others working on solutions in 2027.

Geely might be about to take on the ute market, but not in the way you'd think.Geely commercial sub-brand Farizon has announced pricing for its F3E small electric truck.It will start from $48,990 (before on-road costs) for cab chassis, with a tray adding an extra $2000 at $50,990, while the enclosed cargo box pushes the price up to $53,490.It lines up as a rival to Hyundai Mighty Electric, in a diesel-dominated market, with models like the Isuzu N-Series.Geely said its new truck is designed for urban delivery, light freight and service fleets.These smaller trucks are also seen as an arguably more practical alternatives to utes like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, offering greater and more convenient carrying capacity.It also has a fully-electric set-up, with a substantial payload, something electric utes have struggled to achieve.The two-seater F3E is powered by a single electric motor, producing 110kW and 260Nm to rear wheels, with a top speed of 90km. It offers a payload of 1,705kg on the cab-chassis, which is reduced to 1440kg with the tray and 1190kg with the cargo box. The cargo box variant gains the advantage of rear barn doors to aid loading practicality. The F3E has a 73kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery from major Chinese manufacturer CATL, offering a driving range of up to 314km, according to WLTP standards.The driving range drops to 250km when the truck is fitted with the cargo box. It also offers DC fast charging capacity at 100kW, with a charge from 20 to 80 per cent taking roughly half an hour. A 240V vehicle-to-load system can power appliances and tools directly from the truck.The F3E’s interior features fabric seats that are manually adjustable, with the driver seat boasting heating and ventilating functionality.There is a heated steering wheel, with keyless entry and start also standard. It is fitted with a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and 7.0 digital driver display, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto installed. The truck gets some neat safety equipment like rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, auto emergency braking and a reversing camera. 2027 Farizon F3E pricing Australia 

The winds of change are blowing a gale through the Australian car industry, as new brands and vehicles whizz past old favourites on the sales charts.Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries boss Tony Weber said the June result was a paradigm shift for the new vehicle market. “The Australian automotive market has shifted on its axis during the first months of 2026. This year is likely to represent a significant turning point for the Australian automotive industry,” said Weber.BYD is officially a category five storm blowing in the direction of Toyota, Ford, Mazda and others that have dominated the top five selling brands for the past decade.BYD sold 18,881 new cars in June, all of them either electric or plug-in hybrids. This brought its three month total to 34,794 after its much ballyhooed effort to send its own ships packed to the gills with cars to Australia.Toyota had battened down the hatches in June and fortified itself against the fierce onslaught of BYD. It managed 19,124 sales in the past month to hold on to first place.It is understood that Toyota has increased supply going forward and is planning a monster second half of the year.Ford bounced back to third place with 9181 sales. Tesla came roaring up behind the Blue Oval with 8670 sales in June, which is impressive considering it only sells two vehicles.The Tesla Model Y was the best selling vehicle in the country with 8072 examples finding a home in the past month.Stablemates Kia (8005) and Hyundai (7480) held firm in fifth and sixth spots, while Mazda slid down to seventh (7278).Chinese brands finished out the top 10 with GWM (6104), MG (5001) and Chery (4505) muscling out old favourites Mitsubishi (4150), Subaru (2902) and Nissan (2337).A few other Chinese brands are lurking outside the top 10, with Geely 13th with 3507 sales and Chery’s Omoda Jaecoo sub brand 15th after moving 2541 units.Utes still delivered strong results, which is typical for the End of Financial Year period.The Toyota HiLux was the Japanese brand’s best selling model with 5175 sales, and Ford’s Ranger was the second best selling model overall with 5999 sales. BYD’s plug-in hybrid Sark 6 ute was its second best selling model, with 3398 sales.Top 10 selling car brands, June 2026 Top 10 selling vehicles, June 2026  

XPeng has detailed and priced its Mona L03 in China. The keenly-priced new mid-size coupe SUV will rival the Geely EX5 and BYD Atto 3 when it arrives in Australia.The L03 is available with both hybrid range-extender and fully electric powertrains in China, and it sits below the G6 SUV in its line-up.It features a coupe roof profile, similar to the Tesla Model Y rather than the traditional SUV shape of the Geely EX5 or BYD Atto 3.Its interior design typical of Chinese SUVs, with a minimalistic dash layout, a large 15.6-inch central touchscreen devoid of buttons and dials, a floating centre console with dual phone pads and an oval-shaped steering wheel.It features a panoramic glass roof, a 102-litre additional storage frunk and large alloy wheel choices, but unlike some it swaps a digital instrument cluster for a 26.8-inch head-up display.Both the range-extender hybrid and fully electric versions share a 183kW/280Nm rear-mounted electric motor. The electric version is capable of the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.6 seconds, while the range extender can complete it in 6.8 seconds.The electric version is backed by either 56kWh or 69kWh LFP battery, which offer either 525km or 625km of range (although this is according to the more lenient CLTC procedure). The range extender is equipped with a 1.5-litre engine producing 70kW.XPeng says the range extender can travel up to 315km in pure electric mode on its 37.2kWh battery and has a 5.2L/100km fuel consumption when the battery is depleted. Its official combined range comes in at 1330km, according to Chinese standards.The electric version has a claimed energy consumption of 11.9kWh/100km and can charge from 10 - 80 per cent in roughly 19 minutes.Some variants will be have adaptive damping shock absorbers, while all versions will get the brand’s full semi-autonomous active safety suite.The Mona L03 is priced from between the equivalent of $31,000 to $34,000 in electric form, which when the usual import premium is added for the Australian market will place it in competition with the Geely EX5 (from $41,990), BYD Atto 3 (from $39,990) and GAC Aion V (from $42,590).Right hand-drive versions are yet to be revealed, and more is expected to be learned about the model when it makes its international debut later in 2026.XPeng’s new factory-backed division in Australia has been approached for comment about the L03, although CarsGuide understands it is not due on our shores until 2027.The factory-backed operation is expected to deliver on the facelifted mid-sized G6 imminently, and has said previously it will also make good on the previously-expected X9 people mover and G9 large SUV.XPeng has made waves with its much-hyped halo models, including the new P7 sedan and GX flagship SUV in China.