Electric Cars

When the Cadillac Lyriq launched in Australia, it was met with mixed opinions from the road testers of this publication. The style, the price, the apparent target market - question marks above the latter in particular. Would anyone bite?Now, Cadillac’s first EV in Australia has been updated and it brings a new model grade into the fold. This is the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V. The V denotes the American brand’s V-Series performance models, think of it like BMW’s M. What it means is the mid-size electric SUV now has the option of some bite, even if it lacks the bark, as well as a slightly more menacing look and some other little inclusions.Its dual-motor all-wheel-drive system boasts 459kW and 880Nm instead of ‘just’ 384kW/720Nm, useful for launching near-2.7 tonnes of US-sourced EV (built there in right-hand drive) to 100km/h in just 3.4 seconds.You’d expect to be paying a fair chunk for that then, especially given the Lyriq originally launched at more than $120,000 (though now $90,000). Not quite - Cadillac has managed to keep even the quicker version of the Lyriq under the six-figure mark at $99,000 before on-roads.One way it’s managed this is keeping a fairly identical specification between the Sport and the V when it comes to the features and interior.It shares a 92kWh Lithium-ion battery with the Sport grade, now the only other Lyriq available with the Luxury grade gone, though the extra power at hand in the V means a 471km WLTP range instead of the 503km in the Sport.Cadillac says with its 7.4kW AC charging you can add around 32km of range an hour, or 98km per hour of charging with three-phase 22kW AC charging.When using its max 130kW DC charging, ten minutes will add 107km of range, though the brand doesn’t supply a charge time for the standard 10-80 per cent charge. We’d estimate about half an hour.Inside, the inclusions run almost the same as the Sport:Electrically adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with massage functionHeated rear seatsNappa leather upholsteryHeated steering wheelAmbient interior lightingAcoustic windshieldTri-zone climate control 33.0-inch curved multimedia touchscreen with 9K capabilityRotary multimedia control23-speaker AKG sound system with Dolby Atmos3 USB-C portsWireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlayWireless phone chargingWhere it differs is one of the five drive modes - V-Mode with performance settings and launch control. There’s also a set of adaptive dampers rather than the passive single-mode set on the Sport, plus the brakes are painted red. Sporty!The styling also features darker 22-inch wheels instead of silver 21s, and body-colour trim instead of the Sport’s chrome. Of course, there’s V-badging and interior trim elements too.Black Nappa leather and a combination of chrome, silver and wood-style trim makes the Lyriq’s interior feel more classically upmarket than high-tech, but that seems to suit the brand.There’s a wide screen that incorporates the driver display and multimedia touchscreen which is low and doesn’t impact visibility while also fitting in nicely with the interior, plus there are plenty of physical buttons for controls including the climate and the multimedia. The latter includes a panel of buttons in the centre console and a scroll wheel, which feels like BMW or Mazda was the inspiration - not in any way a criticism as those systems were some of the best.There’s also a Dolby Atmos feature in the already excellent sound system, though the highest quality audio can only be accessed through the native Amazon Music app and not via a phone mirroring player, which is a shame.It shares the Sport’s set of safety features including the six airbags, a little on the low side for a car this size with no front-centre airbag, plus adaptive cruise with lane centering and lane-keep, intersection auto emergency braking (AEB), cyclist alert, front and rear park-assist and automatic park assist.It doesn’t have an ANCAP rating, but its advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) don’t interfere much so it’s a case of swings and roundabouts.The five-year/unlimited km warranty and free roadside assist period is five years, which is now about standard for a premium brand. There's also the usual extra warranty on the high-voltage battery, eight years or 160,000km, whichever comes first.Service intervals are a very comfortable 24 months or 24,000km, whichever comes first, but Cadillac’s servicing costs are case-by-case, with no published estimated pricing or capped-price offers.Essentially, despite a couple of missing pieces, Cadillac has fulfilled the premium brief of the Lyriq. But what about the performance brief of the V?A week behind the wheel including one long drive in the twisty surrounds of Melbourne revealed a car that’s a little more nuanced than expected.The standard Lyriq was already fairly brisk for a mid-size SUV at almost 2700kg with its 4.9sec sprint to 100km/h, but the extra power afforded to the V means people watching you take off from the lights are genuinely surprised, especially given the Cadillac’s luxury lean.The acceleration isn’t brutally instantaneous, not shoving you back into your seat as much as quickly spooling into play, and there’s a paddle for ‘regen on-demand’ which can be pulled as firmly as needed to engage the regenerative braking at the desired strength.The SUV’s weight comes into play during enthusiastic driving, but its adaptive suspension does a decent job of balancing comfort on rough roads with control in tight cornering. There’s less body roll and pitching than you might expect from something this comfortable on a highway drive, though the Lyriq-V is still not a super-focused sports car.

Aussie buyers will soon have a new fully-electric ute to choose from.The MG U9 EV will be the latest in a limited, but expanding set of electric utes in Australia.Prices for the MG U9 EV will start at $78,990 (before on-road costs).Its main competition will be the KGM Musso EV and the low-volume targeted Toyota HiLux BEV.The Musso EV is about $20,000 cheaper than the U9 EV, and the HiLux BEV is in the same ballpark.The U9 EV joins its diesel sibling that has been available in Australia since September 2025.The MG U9 is powered by two electric motors, making 325kW and 700Nm.This is substantially more performance than the Musso EV (152kW/339Nm) and the HiLux BEV (144kW/468Nm).It has the industry standard 3500kg braked towing capacity and a 685kg payload.It’s equipped with a sizeable 102kWh battery that offers a driving range of 430km, besting the HiLux BEV (240km), both according to WLTP standards.DC charging at 115kW from 20 to 80 per cent takes 42 minutes.The car has all-wheel drive and a four-wheel electric air suspension system.The U9 EV can charge and power external devices directly using its vehicle-to-load system.Its external outlet operates at 6.6kW, with three 2.2kW outlets available in the cabin. Elsewhere inside, there is a 12.3-inch digital driver display and 12.3-inch central touchscreen as well as a wireless phone charger.The ute has an eight-speaker JBL audio system and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.Front seats are wrapped in leather and are heated, while the driver seat is ventilated and has massage functionality.The U9 EV's technology includes a 360-degree camera and hands-free automatic tailgate.The U9 EV will be shown in the metal for one of the first times on September 18, 2026 at the Everything Electric event in Sydney as it edges closer to an official launch.Australia will be the first market to launch the U9 EV globally, which is expected to happen before the end of 2026 or early 2027.Pricing will be revealed closer to U9 EV’s arrival, but it will need to be competitive with the KGM Musso EV ($60,000, drive-away) and the Toyota HiLux BEV ($74,990, before on-road costs).Buyers can expect it to be more expensive than the diesel variant that starts from $52,990, drive-away. 

Forthing is yet another new Chinese brand that has officially arrived Down Under. It's being imported by Ateco Automotive which also sells Renault, Ram and LDV in Australia. Forthing's first model in Australia is the Taikon 5, which is a mid-size SUV available in both electric and range-extender hybrid guises. Does it have enough pull to draw your attention away from a BYD, Chery or Geely?

Hyundai’s new electric van has landed. The Hyundai Staria Load Electric has become the latest in a growing list of electric van choices for buyers. It starts from $70,990, making it cheaper than the smaller Ford Transit Custom Electric ($77,890), but it will also tackle its mechanical sibling the Kia PV7 due in Australia before the end of 2027. This equates to a more than $20,000 jump on the base diesel grade, and more than $9000 extra compared to previous range-topping hybrid. The Staria Load Electric will make its Australian debut at the Everything Electric event in Sydney that starts from 18 September, 2026. The brand has already confirmed a people mover variant of the Staria Electric is not under consideration at this stage. The Staria Load Electric is powered by a single electric motor, producing 160kW and 350Nm.Diesel variants produce 130kW/430Nm, while hybrid variants produce 180 kW/304NmThe van is equipped with an 84kWh battery, offering a total driving range of 450km, according to WLTP standards. It consumes 20.7kWh of power for every 100km driven, according to the brand. Riding on Hyundai’s 800-volt E-GMP platform it can DC fast charge at up to 350kW, meaning a 20-80 per cent juice up takes 20 minutes. The Staria Load Electric has a braked towing capacity of 2000kg (500kg less than diesel variants), and a 1005kg payload. The van’s cargo capacity is 4935L, but it also has a 23.9L front storage area. It can also use its battery via vehicle-to-load to power tools and other devices directly with a standard three-pin electrical outlet. The Staria Load electric only comes in a two-seat configuration. Elsewhere in the cabin, there is a 12.3-inch digital driver display and 12.3-inch central touchscreen as well as a wireless phone charger. It has a leather steering wheel, while seats are wrapped in a black cloth material.The van boasts keyless entry and a push-button start. Buyers can choose from either liftback or twin outward-swinging rear doors at no extra cost for added practicality. The Staria Load Electric has a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre manufacturer's warranty as well as an eight-year/160,000km warranty for the high-voltage battery. The van is available with a capped-priced servicing deal, with servicing occurring every two years or 30,000km. 

Leapmotor hasn’t had the greatest start in Australia, with its first model, the C10, receiving a lukewarm response at best.Since then, each new model has represented a big leap, if you will, over that car. The B10 small SUV has been well received and the B05 hatch that’s coming soon promises to be more of a driver’s car.Later this year Leapmotor will introduce a smaller all-electric SUV, the B03X, that should further improve the brand’s fortunes.It’s already a hit in its native China where it dethroned the Tesla Model Y as the country’s favourite electric SUV after a 15-month reign and European orders are also strong.It faces a challenge in Australia, though, as its competitors include the popular BYD Atto 2 and Jaecoo J5 EV. It is shorter in length than those two models, but roughly the same height and width. It will also be cross shopped with electric hatchbacks like the BYD Dolphin, GAC Aion UT, Geely EX2 and MG4 Urban.Leapmotor is ready for a fight, however. The brand confirmed the B03X will start from $30,000, drive-away, which will instantly make it the cheapest electric SUV in Australia when it arrives in the fourth quarter of 2026.Full pricing and spec is being kept under wraps until closer to the launch but the little EV will be offered in two model grades, both packing a 53kWh battery.Standard gear is generous and while we don’t quite know what each grade will get, it should be offered with LED lights all around, remote entry via an app or NFC card, power folding and heated exterior mirrors, auto air conditioning, synthetic leather seats, heated front seats and steering wheel, power adjust front seats, ambient lighting, rain-sensing wipers and scheduled charging.Tech is covered with a 14.6-inch multimedia display housing most vehicle functions, an 8.8-inch driver’s display, sat-nav, over-the-air updates and a 12-speaker audio system.In news that will be a relief to some, the B03X will also come with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, unlike Leapmotor’s first Australian model, the C10 SUV.Safety wise it comes with seven airbags and no less than 21 advanced driver assistance features as well as front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera.Lookswise it follows Leapmotor’s design philosophy to a T. More than many other newer Chinese brands, Leapmotor’s design flows neatly through each new model. There’s a clear link between the C10, B10, B05 and now the B03X.It’s a clean design and on the B03X that means no sharp lines - it’s a rounded look at the front with an appealing headlight signature. Side on it looks tall with a chunky C-pillar and blacked out pillars and frames for a floating glasshouse look.Thankfully the B03X has hidden rather than pop-out exterior door handles which is a win. That’s likely a response to China’s crackdown on pop-out handles.The adorable LED tail-light signature looks like an open mouth and eyes, but not in a creepy way.The cutesy vibe continues in the cabin. You’ll find a smiley-faced Leapy character - Leamotor’s mascot - hidden in a number of spots in the front of the cabin.The interior design is relatively well executed. It’s not groundbreaking but at least it adds a bit more than the cheap minimalism found in some rivals.There’s plenty of soft-touch material on the doors and dash and the interior colour choices include darker hues as well as light greys mixed with a royal blue.Leapmotor claims there are 33 storage spaces in the entire car. I didn’t count but that sounds like a lot.The power window switches are counterintuitive because you press up to put the window down and vice versa.The front seats don’t have a huge amount of upper or lower body bolstering so they’re not particularly supportive but they are comfortable.The gear shifter is on the steering wheel which is becoming common and it frees up console space. That centre console sits a little too high for me.Storage wise there is a long, deep centre bin and an open space under the console. On top there’s a phone charger next to two narrow cupholders.You can fit bottles in the door cavities but not wide ones.Virtually all vehicle functions are housed in the large 14.6-inch multimedia screen, or via two toggles on the steering wheel.Tesla started this nonsense and it seems a bunch of mostly Chinese brands are happy to play follow the leader.The frustrating lack of buttons means diving into menus to find things and spending time to work out how to move your mirrors.However, the multimedia screen is logically laid out and it has clear, crisp graphics. The screen is customisable so you can curate your own home screen. The 8.8-inch driver display is small but clear.The rear seat is surprisingly spacious, with ample head, toe and legroom, but there’s not a huge amount of room across the bench. Two large adults would be fine in the back but three would be a stretch.There’s no fold-down armrest in the centre and no air vents of any kind in the rear which was noticeable on our drive as we had a third person in the rear seat. You do get a USB-A and -C port.The rear seats are flat but comfortable and there’s a handy feature Leapmotor should probably thank Honda for - Magic seats! Pull a lever on the seat base and it flips up on both sides to allow more space to load tall items.Leapmotor says the boot can swallow 510 litres, but I suspect that’s with the multi-level boot floor in its lowest position. That’s more space than the last Australian-made Holden Commodore, by the way.Underneath that is another neat feature - a 105L waterproof bin with a plug so you can hose it out. However, it means you don’t get a spare wheel of any kind. There was no tyre repair kit to be found in our test cars, so presumably you would need to put your charge cables and the repair kit in that under-floor storage.The Leapmotor B03X is a single motor, front-wheel-drive EV delivering 145kW of power and 200Nm of torque.It can cover 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds and has a maximum speed of 160km/h.The 53kWh battery is good for a WLTP driving range of 382km, which is a bit more than the BYD Atto 2, while energy use is 15.7kwh/100km.There’s an 11kW onboard charger for AC charging but DC maxes out at 133kW. At that rate you should be able to top up from 10 to 80 per cent battery power in roughly 21 minutes.The B03X has vehicle-to-load capabilities meaning you can charge or run small appliances with your car.On the road the Leapmotor is quite a competent car. The 8.6sec acceleration time is solid for a car like this. There’s no point in a six second 0-100km/h time for an urban SUV. It can be a little sluggish off the mark which is surprising for an EV. This was evident pulling into traffic via the short motorway on-ramps of Southern Spain where the launch program was held.Ride quality is mostly good but the roads we drove on are pretty smooth. Some uneven road sections proved it’s not all smooth sailing in the B03X but overall it’s compliant. We will reserve final judgement on ride quality until we drive it on Australia’s deeply average roads.Steering is light and dull but that’s not a major issue in an urban runabout and many potential buyers likely won’t care. However, Leapmotor has listened to feedback and will roll out an over-the-air update in a couple of weeks that aims to address the lifeless steering.There are three drive and steering modes including Sport, as well as three regenerative braking modes.We drove this car on some twisty Andalusian mountain roads and it handled much better than expected. It’s certainly a massive improvement over the dreadful Leapmotor C10. It won’t corner like an Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica but it’s also half the price. It’s more in line with an Atto 2.Some wheel skidding and traction loss is possible when accelerating hard or changing direction at the last minute - not surprising given the FWD’s 200Nm of torque - but the Yokohama 18-inch wheel and tyre package does a decent job.Leapmotor says it has a tight 10-metre turning circle and it’s an absolute breeze to park.The advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) are not as loud as some of its rivals, but it is still intrusive, despite Leapmotor working hard on ADAS calibration. The over-speed warning in particular is incessant. But thankfully you can change the levels or turn most ADAS functions off completely via the settings.There’s no Euro NCAP rating just yet but Leapmotor says it is hoping for a maximum five stars.

Tesla is giving Australia a preview of a driverless future, as it prepares to give its Cybercab a tour of Down Under.The Cybercab is Tesla’s answer to driverless taxis such as those from Waymo that operate en masse in US cities such as San Francisco.Tesla is currently running a Cybercab trial in Austin, Texas, with the steering wheel-less vehicle ferrying around customers.There are currently no firm plans to launch trials in Australia.The American electric carmaker is bringing the Cybercab to Australia from September, but you won’t see it on public roads.The Cybercab will be on static display in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth during the next three months.Tesla has made it very clear this isn’t a launch of its autonomous cab, but is just a showcase to show the future.The company is using the showcase to give fans and onlookers a chance to sample its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in a Model 3 sedan or Model Y SUV.A Full Self-Driving (Supervised) subscription is available on modern Teslas for $149 per month.“Cybercab is the destination. Model 3 and Model Y are how Australians and New Zealanders get there today,” said Thom Drew, Tesla Country Director.“When people see Cybercab at our locations, we want them to understand they are looking at the future of the same autonomous technology they can already experience with Full Self Driving (Supervised),” he said.Tesla said in a release: “Anyone considering a new Tesla can see both sides of that story in one visit, the vehicle built for autonomy and the vehicles already delivering Tesla’s autonomous software to Australian and New Zealand roads.”Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) uses an array of cameras to self navigate on public roads.You put a destination into the navigation and it will take you there. It will change lanes, stop at traffic lights, navigate complicated roundabouts and everything in between.We’ve test FSD (Supervised) on Australian roads previously, read our full impressions here. You don’t have to have your hands on the steering wheel, but you do need to be paying attention to the road ahead or it will sound the alarm.

This plush family SUV has just been updated in Europe. The Volvo XC90 is a three-row large SUV available in mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid petrol set-ups. The Swedish-built XC90 tackles other luxury European SUVs the Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.It will now face tough Chinese competition, including the Australia-bound Zeekr 8X. The XC90 will continue to be available with petrol or PHEV power for its update model. Mild hybrid petrol variants use a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-charged engine, producing 184kW and 360Nm, along with a 48-volt battery. The plug-in hybrid also uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-charged engine that produces the same 184kW and 360Nm, but an electric motor adds 130kW and 309Nm.This means the PHEV can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds - more than two seconds faster compared to the petrol-only variant. Its 41kWh lithium-ion battery has an electric-only driving range of 164km - more than double compared to before.It has a total driving range of 1100km, according to WLTP standards. All variants use an eight-speed automatic transmission. The interior features an 11.2-inch central touchscreen and Google’s Gemini AI assistant to plan trips and manage communication.The XC90 is expected to arrive in Australia in the second quarter of 2027.The car will launch in Europe later in 2026, so buyers can expect the new XC90 to arrive Down Under in 2027. The XC90 currently starts in Australia from $97,990 for the petrol-only variant and $120,990 for the PHEV, both before on-road costs. Pricing is likely to start around the $100,000 mark, but could incur a small hike on the previous model. The XC90 is the bigger sibling of the XC40 and XC60 SUVs that are Volvo’s best-selling petrol-powered cars in Australia. The brand’s EX30 small electric SUV is one of two models to have experienced sales growth in 2026, registering an increase of 36.4 per cent up to August 2026 compared to August 2025.

Leapmotor’s C10 is set to get a big update in 2027 that could help reverse the electric SUV’s fortunes in Australia.The C10 was Leapmotor’s first model to go global beyond China but it has struggled to gain traction in Australia in the face of intense competition.A key Leapmotor executive said an update was coming early next year.“Of course, there might be an evolution of C10 coming in the beginning of next year. I don't know necessarily in Australia, but this is what we are currently discussing.”That’s the word from Danilo Annese, Vice President Commercial Operations Europe Leapmotor International.When asked to clarify what he meant by “evolution”, he confirmed it was not a new-generation car, but rather the update would introduce new hardware and software.“The full model change is something for later on,” he said.“There is a piece of hardware, and of course, software comes with that piece of hardware. But it's not, I don't expect MCA (mid-cycle action) or big facelifts.”Annese did not detail what the changes were, but it could be an update to finally include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the C10.Leapmotor made the decision to offer the C10 from launch without CarPlay or Android Auto as it wanted to highlight its own native multimedia setup. This is something Tesla has done for years.The Stellantis-backed carmaker has since changed tack, offering Apple and Android connectivity on new models launched since the C10 like the B10 small SUV, upcoming B05 electric hatchback and the forthcoming B03X electric compact SUV.The C10 was just updated in China in June, with Leapmotor rolling out a tweaked look with a new ‘Sky Light’ headlight design, refreshed grille and new colour scheme inside, as well as a tech update including a 60-inch head-up display, 17.3 inch multimedia display and a Qualcomm 8295P cockpit chip as well as another chip for full navigation assistance.It’s unclear if this is the same update that will roll out to global markets in the New Year.The C10 - offered as an EV and a range-extender electric vehicle (REEV) - has failed to make an impact in Australia since its launch, while other newer Chinese brands have had greater success in the medium SUV segment.To the end of August this year, Leapmotor has shifted just 331 examples of the C10, which is a 13 per cent drop over the same period last year. It is one of the slowest selling vehicles in the segment, only outselling the KGM (formerly SsangYong) Actyon, Peugeot 3008 and Skoda Karoq so far this year.Contrast that with rival Geely which has sold 10,737 EX5 EVs and a further 6669 Starray plug-in hybrids in the same period.As well as the lack of Apple and Android connectivity, the C10 has faced criticism relating to its on-road performance. Clumsy tech, poor ride and handing, poorly calibrated throttle response and overly intrusive advanced driver assistance systems are just some of the complaints.CarsGuide contributing journalist Andrew Chesterton lived with a C10 REEV for as a long-term press loan and discovered many of these issues.Whether this coming update addresses any of those key issues remains to be seen.The C10 did not benefit from the same level of scrutiny as subsequent models. Leapmotor International parent company Stellantis launched the C10 soon after setting up the deal with Leapmotor China, without making significant changes to help it perform better on roads outside of China.However, reviewers noted a big improvement with newer models like the B10 and B05, both of which have had engineering input from Stellantis HQ.

If you’re getting impatient for an affordable alternative to the blistering Hyundai Ioniq 5 N then you’ll have to wait a little longer.Soaring demand compounded by lagging production schedules have delayed the release of what promises to be one of the most exciting affordable electric vehicles (EVs) coming to Australia in the foreseeable future.That’s the Skoda Elroq RS (for Rallye Sport), a mid-sized SUV pocket-rocket from Czechia, with dual electric motors for all-wheel drive.Expected to start from about $65,000, it's now likely to arrive sometime in the second quarter of 2027.According to Skoda Australia Head of Product and Marketing, Kieran Merrigan, strong interest due to the spiking fuel prices caused by the war in the Middle East earlier this year caught the brand shorthanded.“One vehicle we said we were going to bring this year was the Elroq RS,” he admitted to the Australian media at a recent Kodiaq RS and Enyaq RS snow/ice-driving demonstration event in New Zealand.“We have delayed it slightly, not because we wanted to. It was more about during the high demand for electric cars (as a result of the fallout of geo-political issues that really took hold from the second quarter of this year). We also ran into production of Elroq.”Kerrigan added that working through the growing order bank for the regular Elroq, which launched late last year from $49,990 drive-away, making it one of the most affordable and best value European EVs in Australia, was the priority.In other words, there was no point releasing a 180km/h performance flagship grade with no hope of it arriving locally before 2027.“We wanted to focus on delivering the customer deliveries we've had, rather than introducing a new model just for the sake of it,” he said.“So, we are in the process of getting through that backlog of customer orders, and our plan is to go into production again, assuming everything lines up with customer deliveries. Currently, (we’re in production week) 48 this year, which means that (by approximately) March next year, we should have (Elroq RS) to market.“And we’re really excited about it.”Drilling down in the Elroq RS’ standout features, the dual electric motors make 250kW of power and 697Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100km/h sprint time of a tidy 5.4 seconds.Along with faster charging capabilities and bigger brake calipers, the Elroq RS boasts a body kit, unique front and rear bumpers, special 21-inch alloy wheels, additional LED headlight elements, bolder colour choices, glossier body trim, RS sports seats with driver’s side memory, carbon-look dash material, stainless steel pedal covers, suede style upholstery covering for the dash, door cards, seating and elsewhere.

The ageing Volvo XC60 was set for the chop as part of bold plans by the Swedish brand to go all-electric but it's now been granted an indefinite stay of execution in the wake of slowing EV sales.To help keep it relevant, the near ten-year-old mid-size SUV, which remains Volvo's best-selling car globally, has undergone a huge facelift that heralds a big overhaul inside and out while under the bonnet the XC60 gets the firm's next-gen plug-in hybrids that deliver up to 200km of EV range.On sale in Australia from next year, it's expected the refreshed XC60 will continue to be priced from around $75,000 (plus on-road costs) for the entry mild-hybrid B5, with the most expensive T8 plug-in hybrid to cost around $90,000.Originally, the XC60 was primed to be replaced by the EX60 in the Swedish manufacturer’s line-up and, if you're wondering why the all-new, battery-powered successor wasn't adapted for combustion or hybrid power, engineers told Carsguide it wasn't possible without massive reengineering of its SPA3 platform that was designed specifically for EVs.That means the facelifted XC60 will continue to have to fight off newer opposition like the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.In the flesh, the XC60, that is now the biggest-selling Volvo of all time with more than 3 million sold, gets a completely new front end, with the fresh fenders, bonnet and bumper that aligns it with the EX60 EV, and provides a cleaner, more modern look.A pair of new matrix LED lamps display a sharper take on the firm's Thor's hammer graphic, while at the rear new LED lamps and a restyled bumper provide a wider, lower look.Other changes are new 20- and 21-inch alloy wheels, plus a fetching Heather Bronze brown paint.Within, there's now the option of a Charcoal Nappa leather and non-leather options that can be blended with Brown Ash wood for the first time for a proper Scandinavian experience, although the cabin design remains dated.When it comes to tech an earlier facelift already upsized the infotainment to the car-maker's latest 11.2-inch hardware, with the Android based touchscreen running Volvo's most recent software that introduced Google Gemini, allowing for natural speech voice control and an AI-powered onboard assistant you can have a chat with when you're bored.As you would expect from the XC60 that was rated the maximum five stars for protection in ANCAP testing, safety has not taken a back seat with the updates and to ensure it will exceed new driver-assist regulations every single radar, camera and sensors have been replaced, with the tech run by a single processing unit that can now be updated over-the-air.Adding to its semi-autonomous armoury is a new door-opening alert, lane-change assist and a new 3D 360-degree camera view.Under the bonnet in Europe there are three powertrains – an entry B5 mild-hybrid, plus two plug-in hybrids.All are all-wheel drive and use a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder.The B5 produces 184kW and 360Nm of torque, for a 0-100k/h dash of 6.9 seconds.To provide for the long range both hybrids ditch the current car's 14.4kWh (usable) battery pack for a much larger 37.9kWh that still lives under the rear seat between the axles.To help offset the extra mass and to enhance efficiency there's an all-new e-motor that drives the rear wheels and produces 130kW of power.Combined, the T6 variant produces 262kW for a 0-100km/h sprint of 5.7 seconds.Now capable of travelling up to 200km on a single charge, the XC60 can travel almost 2.5 times further than the 79km the old version achieved and, with a full tank of fuel, the Volvo can cover a total of 1240km.When it comes to the EV range, that's 70km further than the Mercedes GLC 400e is capable of with its much smaller 25.3kWh (usable) battery.At the top of the XC60 tree is the more powerful plug-in T8 that pumps out 339kW for a 0-100km/h sprint of 4.8 seconds.Even on the larger 21-inch wheels, the most powerful Volvo mid-sizer can still drive up to 189km on electric power alone.AC charging is limited to just 11kW, with a 0 to 100 per cent top up taking 4 hours using a three-phase charger.Unlike other rivals, like the Mercedes GLC plug-in hybrid, the Volvo doesn't even offer DC fast-charging, which will limit its efficiency on longer drives.Chat to the people who have designed and developed the XC60, and they are convinced most owners will still prefer the Volvo, thanks to its longer 200km EV range.In fact, the Geely-owned car-maker thinks many Australians will never trouble the combustion engine on the Monday-to-Friday commute, making it the perfect alternative stop-gap between a combustion and EV, with added bonus of ultra-low running costs.Set to share the showroom floor with the Volvo EX60 EV (from $86,990 plus on-roads) that arrive in Australia with a range of up to 810km before the end of the year, exact timing, specification and pricing for the 2027 Volvo XC60 will be announced next year.