Electric Cars

The latest data has revealed Tesla has experienced a serious sales downturn in Australia.The brand managed 1225 sales in April, compared to 3485 sales the previous month.Year-to-date sales remain positive for Tesla, with more than double for April 2026 compared to April 2025.The Model Y remains Tesla’s best-selling car, but the brand sold around 2000 less units of its popular SUV in April than in March. It was a similar story for the Model 3 sedan, selling roughly 400 units, down from more than 600 for the previous month. The Model 3’s sales are also down comparing April 2026 and April 2025, meaning it is an EV that has gone backwards over the past year.Tesla Australia said the sales decline was down to delivery cycles on vehicles coming into the country.Tesla could experience a pick-up in sales when its six-seater Model Y L SUV, with deliveries beginning at the start of this month.This news comes at a time when EV sales are booming in Australia, due to skyrocketing fuel prices. Many brands are reporting increasing electric vehicle registrations, with them making up greater proportions of total sales.Kia said 40 per cent of all sales currently are coming from full EVs. Chery said 70 per cent of total sales are coming from electrified set-ups, which includes hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs. The EV boom has resulted in an increasingly diversified market for buyers, with more choices than ever in the segment. Most brands now have EV options across their range, while many Chinese brands are bringing cheaper options, which are proving popular.Rivals such as the Zeekr 7X SUV have put down solid roots in Australia, along with several BYD models like the Atto 1 hatch - a car still holding the cheapest EV in Australia title.BYD has already signalled its intention to dominate the EV market Down Under, with all of its models among the best sellers in the electric category. 

To describe the Leapmotor B05 as different to the Chinese newcomer’s other vehicles to date would be as obvious as describing night as different to day, or delicious beer as different to those powdered grass clippings sometimes referred to as matcha.The point is, it’s different. Very different.While Leapmotor products to date have focused on practicality and price as their raison d'être, the B05 is in fact not an SUV, is not overtly practical, and it has a sharper eye on performance than any model to have come before it.That’s the sales pitch for this electric hot(ish) hatch, anyway, which produces a Cupra Born-worrying 180kW and 320Nm in the flagship Ultra variant we’ve tested in China. Well, worrying for now. Cupra has its own flagship Born, the VZ, and it makes 240kW.Other important stuff? It’s rear-wheel drive, it promises a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, and Leapmotor has handed it to its European counterparts at Stellantis for its ride tuning.It runs an 800v architecture, which means fast charging, and there’s a choice of 56.2kWh or 67.1kWh batteries delivering a range of 500km or 600km under (the more lenient) CLTC testing.All of which sounds pretty good, no? There is a lesser version, which makes 160kW, but the Ultra is the one we’ve tested, albeit briefly, so far.So, let’s start with the key stuff, while the BO5 is confirmed for the end of the year, the Ultra is more likely to follow suit as a model-refreshing flagship.“With the Ultra version, there is probably some brand positioning, brand statement that could work for us. So, we are seriously considering it everywhere,” the brand told us.The other important caveat before we get into the drive experience is that the one we’ve tested isn’t all that indicative of the one we’ll get in Australia. We would get the European version, which Leapmotor says is very different. And not just in the way it’s tuned, but even in the positioning of the suspension components.“We have, after some assessments done in November, lowered the hook point of the suspension arms on the rear, and lowered the centre of gravity, and the car has totally changed behaviour. So if you drive a BO5 in Europe versus BO5 for China, it’s totally different," the brand says.So, with all of that in mind, let’s see what we’re dealing with. And first things first, the B05 doesn’t look like any Leapmotor product to have come before it. While the B10 and C10 SUVs have copped some criticism for what people say are bland looks, that’s not a claim you could level at the B05, which looks sleek and swept-back and properly sporty.I think it's one of the best-looking cars to come out of China in a hot minute, and should be the blueprint for Leapmotor's broader design language. I also think flip-flops are suitable everywhere but a funeral, so feel free to take my fashion advice with a grain of salt. But I like it, and so did my colleagues.That’s especially true of the Ultra, which gets a bigger front splitter and rear wing, while its grey-look 19-inch alloys are linked by gloss-black side skirting.Inside, there are sportier-feeling fabric seats up front which offer heating, cooling and a massage function, while a 14.6-inch central screen and an 8.8-inch driver display handles all your entertainment and driving data needs.So, to the drive. I need you to keep two important thoughts front and centre here. The first is what we covered above — this is the traditional Chinese recipe, not the European a la carte, and so it is different in feel to the one that will land in Australia.The second is that our ‘drive’ was limited to a rented circuit not far from Leapmotor HQ in China. Our time behind the wheel, and the track itself was as dull and straight as a Young Liberals convention. There might have been a corner there somewhere, but I couldn’t find it.What I can tell you, though — even with limited wheel time — is that this is the most convincing Leapmotor product I’ve driven to date.The power delivery is smooth and plentiful — if never truly exhilarating, and slightly slower feeling than its 5.9s sprint to 100km/h claim — and the whole car feels more buttoned down and polished than the C10 and B10.The steering is direct, too, and while the ride was a little too spongey, and body roll a little too intrusive through a short slalom course, I’m willing to hold my judgement until I drive the car we’ll actually be getting. It should also be cheap. Local costs are yet to be confirmed, but pricing in China is sharp. The entry-level 160kW B05 starts there at the equivalent of $AUD25,000. Don't expect anywhere near that pricing here, but I would be shocked if it wasn't among the cheapest warmed-over hatch offerings.The signs here are good, and it seems the combination of Chinese battery and manufacturing know-how and European ride and handling experience (which is the whole point of the Leapmotor International business, which is 51 per cent owned by Stellantis) looks like it’s about to bear fruit.

Kia has made a concerted effort to introduce electrified options to its line-up over the last few years. The brand has five fully electric models on sale in Australia, along with plug-less and plug-in hybrid family SUVs. This has seen Kia’s electric vehicle sales skyrocket, particularly in the last few weeks, with increased popularity for non-fuel-powered models.Subsequently, Kia’s sales split is now 70 per cent electrified (40% EV and 30% hybrid), with the remaining 30 per cent made up of pure petrol or diesel units. A primary driver of Kia’s electric shift has been the future impacts of the Australian federal government's National Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). Under the scheme, vehicles sold which have an interim emissions value above zero incur a liability, while those which are zero or less, earn the brand a credit.According to Kia Australia Chief Executive Officer Damien Meredith, NVES is an important part of the brand’s thinking on which cars to bring Down Under.“The government is going to stick to what they’ve put in place and it becomes part of the product planning decision,” Meredith told CarsGuide. “If you’ve got an EV range, you’re looking towards the future. “If you haven’t got an EV range, you’re catering to the customers' needs right now. “It’s one of the variables when we’re making decisions, put it like that.”The result of this EV focus for Kia is that it accumulated more than 720,000 units for the 2025 NVES performance period, the second-most of any brand, trailing only BYD.Meredith said Kia has no plans to sell its credits, banking them for a later time.The key to this success has been the combined performance of the EV3 and EV5 SUVs, which have continued to prove popular in 2026, with more than 2000 sales so far. Kia’s NVES approach has not been shared by some brands, such as Ford, which has been defiant in light of potential future penalties. Ford CEO Jim Farley said a market made up of vehicles being manufactured to meet NVES regulations is not sustainable, threatening to cut local engineering jobs. Ford is yet to feel the effects of future NVES liabilities, with key sales contributors such as the diesel Ranger ute being considered a ‘Type 2’ vehicle. Mazda is one brand which has been handed down a substantial amount of liabilities. More than 500,000, which is the most by some margin, given its high-volume petrol-based line-up.

Mazda may soon be introducing a new model to bridge the gap between two of its most popular SUVs.As reported by Autoblog, the Japanese carmaker filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) earlier this year for the name Mazda CX-40.It’s worth noting that Mazda CX-40 has been trademarked in Australia since 2019.Trademarks are not true indications of whether a carmaker will actually produce a vehicle with that name. It may be just holding it so another carmaker doesn’t take it.We’ve reached out to Mazda Australia for a statement and will update this story once we hear back.If the CX-40 does get produced, it will likely sit between the CX-30 and CX-5 in the line-up.It also won’t be the first time Mazda has produced an SUV with the number ‘4’ in its name.The Japanese carmaker produced a model called the CX-4 from 2016 to 2025 and it was sold exclusively in China.The Mazda CX-4 was based on the same platform as the previous-generation Mazda 3 and first-generation CX-5, but featured a lifted station wagon body style.If this is the case with the potential Mazda CX-40, expect it to adopt swoopy, wagon- or coupe-like body styling.It may even share some similarities with the Mazda Vision X-Coupe concept that was revealed at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show.In addition to the trademark for the name Mazda CX-40, the Japanese carmaker also has current trademarks for the names CX-10 and CX-20 in numerous countries, including Australia.At this stage it’s unclear whether Mazda intends to build these models, however it did reveal the Vision X Compact concept at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show. It previewed what looks like a next-generation Mazda 2 with subtle crossover SUV design cues.Mazda has also committed more investment to its production facility in Thailand, where it will build a new compact SUV, potentially with a hybrid powertrain, as well as electric vehicles (EVs).

Hatchbacks are experiencing a renaissance in Australia, with a flood of new models hitting our shores, mostly from brands you might not be familiar with.It’s a market segment that's been increasingly abandoned by legacy brands, with nameplates like the Nissan Pulsar, Ford Focus and Suzuki Baleno disappearing to make way for lesser known models like GAC Aion UT, GWM Ora and MG4, and the car we’re looking at for this quick drive, the Geely EX2.These new challengers share a lot in common. They’re fully electric and ultra-affordable, opening up a world of low-running-cost opportunity, but where does Geely’s EX2 fit in? Let’s take a look.We tested the EX2 at a Geely drive event in China where we had limited time with the vehicle, and little information on Australian specification. But we got a little wheel time for a first impression.We know it will arrive in the third quarter of 2026, although we’re not sure how much it will cost. At this stage, we understand it is likely it will come in at least two battery sizesIn China, where it's known as the Geome, the EX2 is is smaller and priced lower than the GAC Aion UT (from $31,990 before on-road costs), but it's priced higher and is a size up from the BYD Atto 1 (from $23,990 BOC).With its bubbly styling, it will also fill a gap left by the departure of the GWM Ora hatch (from $35,990) later this year. Chinese prices range from the equivalent of $A14,121 to $20,276. It opens the possibility of sub-$30k starting price.The two battery sizes currently offered in China are a 30.1kWh unit, providing 310km or a 40.2kWh unit providing up to 410km range, although these are to the more lenient CLTC cycle.While this isn’t confidence inspiring for the kinds of ranges some of its rivals might be capable of, the CATL-sourced LFP batteries are at least water cooled in all spec levels, unlike the BYD Atto 1, which is good for maintaining range in cold or hot days, as well as the longevity of the battery. Charging speed is quoted from 30-80 per cent in 21 minutes, which suggests a slow but appropriate charge speed between 50 and 80kW. We hope Australian-delivered vehicles come with at least 6.6kW AC charging, meanwhile the China-delivered EX2 gets 6.6kW vehicle-to-load, too.Inside, this little car is quite clever in how space efficient it is. The front seat is an unmistakably small car, but offers enough adjustability for me to find a comfortable seating position at 182cm tall. The same goes for the back seat, which benefits from an EV-first platform and a nice flat floor, giving the EX2 above average space for a car in this category.There’s also lots of clever storage areas. It has a 70-litre frunk, which is a good starting point, as well as a 375-litre boot, and there's storage in the pass-through underneath the centre console. The console itself will look a little different in Aussie-delivered cars, as we understand it, because our right-hand-drive models will get a stalk shifter rather than the digital shifter on the left-hand drive versions we tested. A large storage bay up front makes the mistake of orienting the wireless charger right in the middle, wasting otherwise useful space.The 14.6-inch screen in our test cars looks good for a small vehicle, but I hope there’s been some significant software improvements to the brand’s ‘Flyme Auto’ software, which was a bit befuddling in the EX5 I drove in Australia recently. As usual, a lack of physical controls isn’t promising either.Things are good on the driving front though. This cute little hatch has a bit of attitude. It has two motor options, either a 58kW/130Nm, or 85kW/150Nm unit, both of which drive the rear axle rather than the front.This combines with a relatively light weight from the small battery capacities to make for an easily chuckable and cheeky little car.The steering wheel is even ultra compact, making it feel sharp to steer. The heavily electrically assisted rack isn’t as disconnected as the EX5, for example, making this car a sweet little thing to throw around the obstacle course set in front of us.Grip from the factory LingLong tyres wasn’t great (this made it extra fun to slide about in tight corners, but maybe not so great in every day scenarios where you actually want grip) which is something the local division might have some sway over before the car is delivered to Australia.The fully independent suspension front and rear no doubt helps with the handling, and the EX2 felt a little firmer than some of its competitors in our limited time with it.In terms of the drive experience, how nice this car is on the road will depend heavily on how invasive its safety kit is. We will hold off on judging that until we get to drive it on Australian roads.

Chery's boss has confirmed the new Freelander brand has been locked in for a launch in Australia and New Zealand, with its arrival to be spearheaded by the new Freelander 8, which was unveiled at the Beijing motor show."The Freelander will be introduced to Australia and New Zealand," Yin Tongyue, Chery Auto chairman told Australian media at a round table event.Created as part of a joint venture between Chery and Land Rover, until now the Freelander's first model, the rugged Freelander 8, had only been announced that it would be produced in right-hand drive.Addressing rumours the Freelander 8 would be sold through Land Rover dealers, the Chery boss was quick to dismiss that idea."It will be an independent . It will have an independent network."Speaking to an insider later on, CarsGuide was told that behind the scenes Chery will work as hard as possible to separate its brands, with the Freelander brand joining both newly announced Lepas and Jetour to be sold, serviced and maintained via its own dealers, even in small markets like New Zealand.On sale in China in the second half of 2026, Chery's boss did not provide any time frame for the rollout of Freelander Down Under, but it's hotly tipped that right-hand drive production is scheduled to commence as soon as early 2027, suggesting the brand and the Freelander 8 could arrive as soon as next year.Created to be a capable off-roader, the Freelander brand will not be offered with pure-combustion engines; instead, it will only be available with pure-electric power or Chery's latest range-extender hybrid.The first of six SUVs to be launched in the next five years, in Beijing the fledgling brand revealed its first car – a mid-to-large six-seat SUV alternative to the hybrid Toyota Kluger that would come with powerful 800-volt electrics for ultra-fast DC charging.In Australia, it's likely range-extender hybrid (EREV), as well as the plug-in hybrids, are expected to be the most popular powertrains, with the former among the earliest adopters of CATL's latest Freevoy battery.Capable of 6C charging, the EREV version can handle a peak charge of up to 360kW, ensuring charging times a fraction of most plug-in hybrids currently on sale in Australia.With Land Rover responsible for the design in and out and reportedly tasked with ensuring it is as capable as any other Land Rover on or off-road, the Freelander 8 features an electronic limited-slip differential, which combines a virtual central locking differential, for maximum traction in all conditions.A height-adjustable dual-chamber air suspension, meanwhile, should provide plenty of ground clearance for serious off-roading.Within, advanced new tech that has been sourced from its Chinese partner, includes a BMW iX3-style curved screen that stretches from pillar-to-pillar.Backed up by a large central floating infotainment, the Freelander is likely to appeal to Aussies fed up with having to operate everything through a touchscreen as both physical switches and a large rotary dial are present.Appealing to families, a 2+2+2 seating configuration is standard, with the second-row bagging a pair of Chery's 'zero-gravity' seats for enhanced comfort.Fresh tech includes extra-bright 8000-pixel projection headlamps, and Huawei's latest-gen 896-LiDAR that helps the Freelander SUV support the tech giant's new Qiankun ADS 4.1 driver assistance system, which provides Level 2+ driverless tech.The advanced autonomous driving aids benefit the Freelander 8 even when it's off-road, with the tech helping deliver up to nine driving modes, evolving Land Rover's famed traction-boosting terrain response tech.Designed and engineered to achieve the full five stars in EuroNCAP crash tests, the Freelander 8 is expected to be awarded top marks by ANCAP.Announcing the Freelander 8 will be built at Chery-Land Rover's current factory in Changshu, close to Shanghai, the Freelander production model does without both Chery or Land Rover badging – an early hint that the Freelander 8 would not leverage either parent when sales begin.No pricing has yet been released, but it's thought the Freelander 8 will be positioned as an even more rugged and capable alternative to the Denza B5 ($74,990-$79,990) that's currently on sale Down Under.

Suzuki has released the pricing and specifications for its new e Vitara electric compact SUV in Australia.This will be the first electric version of the popular Suzuki put on sale in Australia, starting from $46,990 (drive-away) as part of a limited-time deal.The all-wheel drive version of the car is $10,000 more under the deal.Prices will rise by $3000 on the Motion grade and $2000 on the Ultra grade after the pre-order pricing expires on the 1st of July this year, with this deal also only applicable to the first 100 customers. The cheapest automatic petrol variant of the Vitara in Australia has a starting price of $31,990 (before on-road costs), so going electric incurs a substantial premium for buyers. The e Vitara will tackle other electric compact SUVs in its segment, such as the strong-selling Kia EV3, which starts from $47,600 (before on-road costs). It will also take on cheaper Chinese rivals, including the BYD Atto 2 and the MG S5.The car is offered with either a single electric motor, producing 106kW and 193Nm, or a dual motor pumping out 135kW and 307Nm. The base Motion variant gets 344km of WLTP driving range from its 49kWh battery, while the 61kWh unit in the AWD offers 395km. DC fast charging from 10-80 per cent takes 45 minutes, courtesy of a newly-developed platform from Suzuki. On the inside, there is a single display spanning the dashboard made of a 10.1-inch central touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital driver display.The Ultra grade of the car receives a glass roof with a shade and a wireless phone charger, along with a premium sound system. 2026 Suzuki e Vitara pricing Australia 2026 Suzuki e Vitara electric motor and efficiency 2026 Suzuki e Vitara standard features Other standard features include: Rain-sensing wipersSynthetic leather steering wheelFront and rear USB portsAmbient lightingUltra grade addsGlass roof with shadeWireless phone chargerFabric and synthetic leather seatsElectrically adjustable driver seatHeated front seatsInfinity sound system with subwoofer 2026 Suzuki e Vitara safetyThe Suzuki e-Vitara has a four-star ANCAP safety rating.  Standard safety features include: 7 airbagsAdaptive cruise controlAuto emergency brakingLane keep assistLane departure preventionForward collision warningHigh beam assistBlind spot monitorFront and rear parking sensors360-degree cameraMulti-collision braking  2026 Suzuki e Vitara dimensions  2026 Suzuki e Vitara warranty and servicingThe e-Vitara comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty as well as an eight-year/160,000-kilometre battery warranty. The car is also available with a five-year capped-price servicing plan. 

Cadillac dropped the pricing of its Lyriq mid-size electric SUV in Australia earlier this year as part of a retail offer, however this price has now been made permanent.The Cadillac Lyriq is now priced from $90,000 before on-road costs or $95,000 drive-away, regardless of whether you opt for the Luxury or Sport trim.This is a $32,000 price cut from the original launch price and now sees the price dip below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold for ‘fuel-efficient vehicles’. This means if you purchase a Lyriq with a novated lease it’s exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT).The Lyriq is now priced between the smaller Optiq ($80,000 before on-roads) and the larger Vistiq ($116,000 before on-roads).There have been no other changes to the Lyriq in terms of the powertrain or standard equipment.Power comes from a dual-electric motor set-up with a total system output of 388kW. They are fed by a 102kWh lithium-ion battery allowing for a claimed range of up to 530km, according to WLTP testing.Standard equipment highlights include 21-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, a panoramic glass sunroof, power tailgate, 33-inch digital screen set-up, 19-speaker AKG sound system, interior ambient lighting, as well as leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats with a massage function, plus heated and ventilated outboard rear seats.Cadillac has previously confirmed the high-performance Lyriq-V will be coming to Australia during 2026, however it’s unclear if this is still the case. We’ve reached out to Cadillac Australia and will update this story once we hear back.The iconic American carmaker that falls under the General Motors (GM) umbrella launched in Australia last year as an EV-only brand.The Lyriq was its first offering and is now being followed up by the larger Vistiq and smaller Optiq EVs.All the Cadillac cars offered in Australia are produced in right-hand drive at the factory unlike some other GM cars that are converted from left- to right-hand drive locally by Walkinshaw.Despite being in Australia now for over 12 months, Cadillac still doesn’t officially report its sales figures.As it currently stands the brand has an ‘Experience Centre’ in Sydney, as well as a test drive location in Melbourne. It’s planning to open a new dealer in Brisbane in the first half of 2026, as well as one in Melbourne.

Honda Australia says it has not been greatly impacted by the recent cancellation of the ‘0’ series EVs.The Japanese carmaker announced in March that it was pulling the pin on three new EVs it had already developed - the striking Honda 0 Saloon, 0 SUV and the related Acura RSX. Set to be built in the US, the two 0 models were earmarked for Australia and other global markets.But just before it started production Honda released a statement saying it "determined that starting production and sales of these three models in the current business environment where the demand for EVs is declining significantly would likely result in further losses over the long term”.About two weeks after that announcement, Honda confirmed its long-planned partnership with Sony to build an EV under the new Afeela banner had also been abandoned.Honda Australia Director, Automotive, Robert Thorp said the global decision to drop the 0 Series models was “in response to a whole multitude of factors”, and while the Saloon and SUV were being seriously considered for Australia, they were predominantly for North America.The changing EV landscape in the US under President Donald Trump was one major factor in the decision.However, there are still Honda EVs in the global catalogue that the Australian arm is keen on, including the 0 Series Alpha revealed at last year’s Tokyo motor show.“The remaining vehicle, being the Alpha, which is still part of the product plan globally, is probably going to be more of an Asian-led vehicle. And therefore the decisions to keep that are a little bit different. And certainly for us, we're considering putting our hand up for that,” he told CarsGuide.“And so for us, that's still a potential option for us. And I think that, from that perspective, EVs aren't completely off. It's just really trying to prioritise the investments and where it could be. So for those being North America, for us locally, those models, whilst we put our hand up for those two, they were only ever going to be niche in many respects. So whilst it's a disappointment that we can't potentially access them, they don't fundamentally change our long-term plans or strategies.”The production version of the 0 Alpha is expected to go on sale in Japan and India next year, meaning if it gets the green light for Australia it probably won’t be until 2028 at the earliest.Honda only recently confirmed its first EV for Australia, the tiny 3.6m long and 1.6m wide Japanese Super-One hatchback. Honda is keeping pricing and mechanical details of the Super-One a secret for now, but reports suggest a driving range of about 274km, meaning it is definitely a city-focused EV and will be a niche seller.But another global Honda EV the Australian arm is looking at is the recently revealed, reborn Insight.Up to now the Insight was a hybrid model across three generations, but the fourth-gen version is a mid-size liftback/crossover BEV with driving range of up to 535km (WLTC).When asked if Honda Australia was considering any of Honda’s Chinese-made EVs, and the Insight more specifically, Thorp said “we're constantly scanning the globe for product in the Honda portfolio”.“And if it makes sense and it ticks enough boxes, (those) boxes being can we actually physically bring it to market? Can we make it compliant? Does it actually meet consumer demand? Can we get a volume that's sustainable, etc, etc, etc. Any model that can tick enough of those boxes we’ll always put a hand up and ask for.”Thorp said the cancellation of 0 Series models has not had a major impact on the company’s preparation for the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).“Any change we make, there's an impact. You know whether, if it's 70 per cent hybrid sales to 80 per cent hybrid sales, that has an impact. The date we bring in Super-One and we bring that to market has an impact. Having ‘0’ series in the future or not has an impact. But the variables are numerous and ever changing.“I will say, though, that our current plans and a strategy which have been in place for a long time, with the knowledge of what the NVES parameters are, we're very comfortable that our plan, in the material sense, works.”

Volkswagen has officially unveiled its new ID. Polo electric hatch, which will be the brand’s first electric variant of the popular model.The ID. Polo is the latest of the brand’s revamped electric fleet, and will be one of its cheapest EVs.There is no official news yet on the ID. Polo’s potential future in Australia.It would tackle the likes of the BYD Dolphin, MG4 and the incoming GWM Ora 5, as well as the GAC Aion UT, which all start from under $40K.Expect the ID. Polo to have a bigger price tag, given it starts from the equivalent of around $41,000 in Germany and will be subject to additional costs if exported here. It would also be a rival to crossover models such as the Zeekr X and the Renault Megane E-Tech.A spokesperson for Volkswagen Australia said the brand is not able to confirm availability of the ID. Polo or detailed timing at this stage.There will be three electric motor choices producing 85kW, 99kW and 155kW. The launch of a GTI version has been pushed back to next year, and will boost power to 166kW. Lower grade models of the car get a 37kWh battery, offering a driving range of 329km (WLTP), while higher specifications get 454km (WLTP) of range from a 52kWh unit. Additionally, the battery has DC charging capacity at 105kW, but official charging times are yet to be revealed by VW.The ID. Polo follows the brand’s new design direction inside, whcih features the return of physical buttons on the centre console. There's a 10-inch digital driver display and a 13-inch central touchscreen, along with a premium Harman Kardon sound system. The car has vehicle-to-load capabilities, allowing for external devices to be charged from its battery.Measuring at 4053mm long, 1816mm wide and 1530mm tall, the ID. Polo is shorter than the petrol Polo, but bigger in every other dimension, including wheelbase.Pre-sales of the ID. Polo in Europe will begin imminently.