Electric Cars

Recent reports out of the US are pointing to an all-new, more affordable Tesla compact SUV entering the early stages of formal pre-production.According to Reuters, “four people familiar with the matter” have confirmed the company “has contacted suppliers in recent weeks to discuss details of the plan for the compact SUV – which would be a new vehicle and not a variant of Tesla’s current Model 3 or ​Y.”Members of the insider group said the new model would be produced in Tesla’s Shanghai factory in China while noting the brand is also aiming to later expand ‌production to the United States and Europe.Details including overall length were also shared, the new car said to measure 4280mm end-to-end; appreciably shorter than the Model Y at 4794mm. It is a similar size to new Chinese small SUVs such as the BYD Atto 2, GWM Ora 5 and MG4 Urban.The report questioned whether this decision effectively reanimates Tesla’s low-cost EV program, famously vetoed by CEO Elon Musk in 2024 in favour of a focus on the Cybercab robotaxi and robot technology.In 2020, Elon Musk publicly stated Tesla’s aim of selling 20 million vehicles annually by the end of the decade, close to double current global sales leader Toyota’s world-wide output. And a US$25,000 EV widely referred to as the ‘Model 2’ was expected to drive massive sales growth.So, would the new, cheaper EV represent a “strategy shift back to mass-market human-driven EVs or would it align more with Tesla’s vision for fully autonomous vehicles”.It’s worth noting that in 2024 Musk said it would be “pointless” and “completely at odds with ​what we believe” for Tesla to produce a $25,000 EV for human drivers because the company would “soon offer driverless vehicles”.According to one of the report’s sources and a current Tesla employee “with knowledge of its current product philosophy” in general, the automaker now aims to build models that would be driverless but offer a human-driven option.That appears to be because the company has acknowledged many global markets won’t see “meaningful adoption or regulatory acceptance” of driverless vehicles for some time to come. Interestingly, the report also quoted market analysts predicting a third-straight year of declining sales for the traditional EVs that provide the vast majority of Tesla’s revenue.And so far, Tesla only operates a small number of robotaxis in Austin, Texas, many with human ‘safety monitors’ in the passenger seat.The main group referenced in the report claimed Tesla is aiming to offer the new SUV at a “substantially lower price” than its entry-level Model 3 sedan, a move driven by intensifying global competition from Chinese EV makers.Cost-saving measures allegedly include a smaller battery and RWD-only configuration, which would presumably mean a lesser driving range than the 520km offered by the Model 3 RWD and the Model Y RWD’s 466km (both WLTP).That said, the new car is set to weigh in at around 1.5 tonnes compared to the Model Y’s roughly 2.0-tonne kerb weight.Timing for the new EV’s ramp up is unclear, although Reuters sources said “production is unlikely to begin this year”.

Lexus has released the pricing and specifications for its RZ electric SUV in Australia, ahead of its official launch next month.The lineup starts from $84,500 (before on-road costs) for the 500e, which is substantially cheaper than the outgoing 450e variant that had a retail price of more than $120,000 before on-roads.This is a serious price drop that brings it closer to the price of many of its key rivals in the electric SUV segment.It is now cheaper than the Genesis GV60, which starts from more than $100,000 in Australia, while remaining a little more expensive than the Polestar 4.This updated RZ will also take on the incoming Volvo EX60, scheduled to launch in late 2026.The RZ has been given a boost in power of 50kW up to 280kW as standard from its dual motor set-up, with the higher spec model offering 300kW.The RZ lineup gets an upgraded 75kWh and 77kWh battery depending on the variant, which Lexus has said boosts charging times.DC charging on the RZ from 10-80 per cent takes around 28 minutes at 150kW, while AC charging from 0-100 per cent takes 3.5 hours at 22kW.Lexus also revealed more details about its incoming performance variant of the RZ called the 600e F Sport Performance. Pricing will be revealed closer to its launch in late 2026, but expect it to sit some way above the $100K price point.We know it has dual electric motors, with the front motor offering 167kW and the rear motor adding 268kW to provide a total system output of 313kW.Adding to the performance feel is the car sitting 20mm lower to give it a more poised centre of gravity.On the exterior there are 21-inch matte black alloy wheels along with enhancements such as a vented hood and a two-tiered rear wing spoiler.Other changes include a sharper front lip spoiler, rear lower bumper and lower rocker panels.It has also been given beefed up ventilated brake disks at 400mm x 28mm, which have larger six-piston blue calipers.2026 Lexus RZ pricing Australia 2026 Lexus RZ engine and efficiency  2026 Lexus RZ standard features Other standard features include: Heated front seatsElectrically adjustable steering wheelDual-zone climate controlPowered tailgate Sports Luxury grade adds20-inch two-tone machined alloy wheelsPremium fabric seatsWoodgrain interior elementsHeated and ventilated front seatsMemory drivers seatHeated rear outward seatsHeated steering wheelPanoramic roof13 speaker audio systemDigital rearview mirrorHead-up displayPremium digital driver displayAuto-levelling headlights F Sport grade addsYoke-style steering wheelGloss black alloy wheelsSimulated gear changesFront lip spoilerRear spoilerRear diffuserPainted brake callipersSuede sport-style front seatsAluminium pedals 2026 Lexus RZ safetyThe Lexus RZ received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2023.  Lexus said the RZ has a full suite of its ‘Safety Sense+’ features as standard. Standard safety features: Blind spot monitorRoad sign assistAuto emergency brakingAuto emergency steer assistRear cross traffic alertLane keep assistAdaptive cruise control 

The Cadillac Lyriq is a stylish contender in Australia's luxury EV SUV market but does this handsome American represent a genuine alternative to prestige European marques in this space?

You can almost feel the warmth, can’t you? You know, as Australia’s many thousands of EV owners bask in their collective smugness as fuel prices shoot skyward and the world continues its hell-in-a handbasket spiral.Sure, their smiles looked a little strained as the queues for public chargers grew and grew over the Easter break, but that aside, you’d have to declare the EV faithful the winners over the past couple of weeks.I spoke to someone from Tesla the other day who told me demand had been running hot, possibly hotter than ever before, since fuel costs began spiking. One of the Korean brands told me that almost all enquiry is focused on its EV models. And in March, EV sales were 86.2 per cent higher than they were in the same month last year.That staggering result inspired FCAI (the organisation that releases the monthly sales data) Chief Executive, Tony Weber, to ponder if “it is too early to determine whether this represents a structural shift in the market. More consumers are considering EVs due to the disruption to fuel supply caused by conflict in the Middle East, along with the review into the fringe benefits tax concession for EVs.”I can answer that for Mr Weber. It is permanent. And if for some reason it’s not, then Australian consumers need their heads read.My favourite question about EV take up (admittedly not one phrased by me) is to imagine a world where the EV came first, and then, some years later, some bright spark pitched a shift to internal combustion engines.“It will be amazing,” they would say. “We only need to replace the low-maintenance electric motor, with its handful of moving parts, with this engine, which has about 2000. Sure, the servicing needed will be much higher, we will need to fill it with oil, and we’ll need to turn fossils into a very expensive, volatile — and, as it turns out, very price sensitive — fuel source. But you will get a louder, slower, harsher and more annoying vehicle as a result. "And the best part is refuelling them. You know how you currently plug in at home, sometimes using nothing but sunshine? Well now you get to go to a petrol station and pay whatever extortionate number is on the board, and probably be muscled into buying two Kit Kats for a dollar by the person behind the counter."How do you honestly think that conversation would go?Now, I'm not suggesting each and every vehicle in Australia should be an EV. My magic wand would grant an exemption to most supercars, and to a handful of sportcars and hot hatches. Heavy trucking and regional areas would get a pass, too. As would anyone needing to do lots of heavy-duty towing. Some utes get a pass, too. But let's be honest, there are plenty of dual-cab owners who have never carried anything heavier than a bag of groceries.Everyone else? Electric works, believe me. If you drive a beige small car, an SUV of any size, live in a city (which is most of us), and especially if you have access to home charging, an EV is likely the right fit.And it's not just me that thinks so. Look at CarsGuide's Car of The Year awards. Best Small Car Under $50k? Kia EV3. Best Medium SUV Under $60k? Zeekr 7X. Best Medium SUV Under $130k? Hyundai Ioniq 5. Best Ute? The BYD Shark 6. All either electric or partly electric, and all among the very best vehicles in the country.So if you're not on board the EV train by now, the problem is very likely with you.

It was a day long expected, but it still hit with a bang.A Chinese car maker has out-sold almost every other car brand in Australia.BYD sold the third most vehicles in March, behind only the mighty Toyota and a surging Kia. That means a Chinese brand out-sold big names including Ford, Mazda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi.But BYD wasn’t the only Chinese brand in the top 10 either. In the first three months of 2026, BYD, GWM, Chery and MG are all firmly locked into the best-selling brands. Whatever your feelings on the influx of Chinese brands in recent years, it is clear Australian customers are buying them and they have cemented a place not only in the market, but at its upper echelons.The real question though, is can BYD sustain this success? Was March just a flash in the pan or was it the start of a genuine shake-up of the established order at the top of the sales charts?The initial sentiment around the Chinese industry was that it was flooding the market with cheap, small cars, and there was certainly a lot of truth to that. The MG3 and MG ZS were both big-sellers with small price tags, so it wasn’t surprising to see MG make an impact so early. But if you look at how BYD has found sales volume in Australia, especially since taking direct control of the local operation from original importers EV Direct, it is a very different story.BYD’s two biggest sellers in March were the Sealion 7 (1970 sales) and the Shark 6 (1314), neither could be accurately described as ‘cheap and cheerful’ small cars. Are they price competitive? Definitely, but neither is dramatically cheaper than their direct rivals, certainly not in the case of the Sealion 7.The Sealion 7 is hardly a budget-busting small car, it’s a mid-size, all-electric SUV that is priced from $54,990 (plus on-road costs). That’s competitive against its competitors, but not significantly enough to justify its sales volume alone. In other words, the Sealion 7 is one of the most popular mid-size SUVs in the country (electric or otherwise) because buyers are attracted to it for more than simply the price.The same goes for the Shark 6, which has managed to succeed seemingly in spite of its seemingly unorthodox take on a modern dual-cab. BYD made a brave choice to enter Australia’s ute market with a petrol-powered plug-in hybrid offering, but it may have been precisely the right ute at the right time.Buyers are seemingly happy to try something different and between the tax breaks and the rising cost of diesel, it’s not unsurprising that the Shark 6 has been a sales hit. So much so that it is firmly ensconced as the fourth most-popular 4x4 ute on a regular basis, behind only the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max.But does this mean BYD’s March success is sustainable? Well, certainly there are no indications that the Sealion 7 or Shark 6 will suffer a sales collapse (but stranger things have happened). While there is likely to be some ebb and flow in the sales charts this year and BYD may slip up and down the order, there are a number of indicators that the brand could sustain a top five, or even a top three, sales position long-term.And it could be thanks to the initial expectations of the Chinese market - cheap, small cars. BYD has only launched the new Atto 1 and Atto 2 hatchbacks in the final months of 2025, so they are still finding a market in Australia.But with the high cost of petrol leading to a spike in electric vehicle interest, the thought of a city-friendly small car that never requires a visit to the service station could become a popular choice for Australian drivers.Add to that the addition of the Sealion 5 and Sealion 8, which naturally sandwich the Sealions 6 and 7, as well as the talk of an expanding Shark 6 line-up and there is every chance BYD will have management at the likes of Ford, Mazda, Kia and even Toyota starting to feel concerned about the long-term outlook.

The Zeekr X is a small SUV that's big on stuff and – compared to its sibling vehicle, the Volvo EX30 – low on price. Is that enough to kickstart the X's sales in Australia? We put the updated model to the test to find out.

Nissan’s long-awaited NX8 large SUV has gone on sale in China, where it is built as part of a joint-venture with Dongfeng.The NX8 is 4870mm long, making it larger than the Kia EV6, but smaller than the EV9. On the Australian market, it is closest in size to the Polestar 3, which is also a large five-seater. In the near future, it would also compete with the Subaru Trailseeker and Toyota bZ4X Touring.Unlike those dedicated EV rivals though, the NX8 is offered in both full EV and range-extender hybrid forms, making it a potentially unique offering if it were to reach our shores.The NX8 looks to be significantly more affordable than its rivals. Its Chinese price-tag starts at around A$35,000 for the base 150 Pro hybrid version, reaching to around A$45,000 for the top-spec fully electric 650 Max. If it were to follow the usual roughly 20 per cent extra price conversion from most Chinese models, you could expect to see price-tags sitting in a $45,000 - $60,000 span in Australia.The most affordable version of the Kia EV9 starts at $97,000, meaning the NX8 could compete with cars a size-bracket below it, whilst also offering a range-extender hybrid alternative to the just-announced Subaru Trailseeker EV, which starts from $67,990 before on-roads.There are effectively five main variants across three trim levels of the NX8 in its Chinese home market. There are two range extenders, which are equipped with a 1.5-litre turbo engine and a battery providing either 150km or 310km of range and two fully electric versions, offering either 580km or 650km of range. These are then split into the base Pro, mid-spec Max, and top-spec Brand Master trim levels.Only the 650 Max and Brand Master grades with a more powerful 250kW motor are offered with an 800-volt 81kWh CATL battery, which can fast charge on a DC unit at up to a claimed 463kW for a 10 - 80 per cent charge time in as low as 12 minutes.Meanwhile the lesser 400-volt 580 versions are offered with a 73kWh LFP battery from Sunwoda and the range extenders are both LFP batteries, with either a 20.3kWh or 43.2kWh capacity.Total range for the hybrids is set at either 1320km for the 150km battery, or 1450km for the 310km battery. All variants have vehicle-to-load, able to output at an impressive 6.6kW.Interestingly, all variants of the NX8 are rear-wheel drive, with the range-extender variants producing 195kW/310Nm, the electric versions producing 215kW/310Nm, and only the top-spec 800-volt versions producing 250kW/310Nm.As it is only a five-seater, the NX8 offers a larger-than-usual boot capacity of 773 litres, while electric versions also get a 95 litre frunk.Interior kit includes dual 15.6-inch multimedia panels spanning the dash, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver.There is a non-zero possibility of the NX8 making it to Australia, as Nissan executives have actively opened the door to the idea of the brand’s Chinese built range coming to Australia, although this is likely to start with the sought-after BYD Shark 6-rivalling Frontier Pro as a plug-in hybrid alternative to the recently-launched next-generation Navara.Globally, Nissan executives have also leaned into the idea of making Chinese joint-venture models more international propositions in order to make Nissan more competitive again.In addition, the end of production for the previously-American-sourced Pathfinder leaves an NX8-sized space in Nissan’s line-up somewhere above the X-Trail.

Japan’s next big thing is here.Subaru has detailed pricing and specs for the 2026 Trailseeker electric SUV, which will sit above the current Solterra EV.The Trailseeker is a big SUV, measuring about the same size as a Kia Sorento, but it only has five seats.It brings dual motor grunt, which delivers Subaru’s trademark all-wheel drive grip. The two electric motors combine for 280kW and 537Nm (according to US versions), which allow it to sprint to 100km/h from a standstill in about 4.5 seconds.At its heart is a circa-75kWh battery that delivers 533km of driving range in the base version and 488km in the Touring version.The battery can accept up to 150kW of DC power, and up to 22kW when hooked up to an AC charger.Prices for the two-tier range start at $67,990 (before on-road costs) and jump to $73,990 for the better equipped Touring version.2026 Subaru Trailseeker price Australia 2026 Subaru Trailseeker engine/powertrain and efficiency 2026 Subru Trailseeker standard featuresSubaru Trailseeker AWD comes with:18-inch alloy wheelsLED headlights with DRLsPuddle lightsRoof railsSatnav14-inch infotainment high-definition touchscreen7-inch digital information driver displayWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoDual wireless phone chargersMulti-colour ambient lightingDigital rear-view mirrorSynthetic leather seat trim8-way power-adjustable front seatsLeather wrapped steering wheelHeated steering wheelSubaru Trailseeker Touring AWD adds:20-inch alloy wheelsPanoramic glass roof with electric retractable sunshadeBlue & black leather accented seat trimVentilated front seatsDriver seat and door mirror memory functionAdvanced Park AssistVehicle-to-load (V2L) 220V/1500W power outlet2026 Subaru Trailseeker coloursCrystal white pealDaybreak blue pearl (Optional extra)Sapphire blue pearl (Optional extra)Brilliant Bronze metallic (Optional extra)Magnetite grey metallic (Optional extra)Crystal black silicaTwo-tone crystal white pearl and black silica (Touring AWD only, $1200 extra)Two-tone brilliant bronze metallic, crystal black silica (Touring AWD only, $1200 extra)2026 Subaru Trailseeker safetyThe Subaru Trailseeker has not been tested by ANCAP yet.All Trailseeker variants have:8 airbagsAuto emergency brakingBlind spot monitoringRear cross traffic alertLane keep assist360 degree cameraParking sensors front and backMulti terrain monitorDriver distraction warningDrowsy driver warningTyre pressure monitoringSafe exit warningRadar cruise control2026 Subaru Trailseeker warranty and servicingSubaru covers its vehicles with a five year/unlimited km warranty. The battery is backed by an eight year/160,000km guarantee.It also comes with 12 months roadside assistance and a five year/75,000km capped price servicing program that only costs $984 for the first five visits. Intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km.2026 Subaru Trailseeker dimensions  

A tsunami of electric cars is headed our way.General Manager BYD Asia Pacific Mr Liu Xueliang said 30,000 BYD and Denza vehicles are on the way to our shores in May and June to feed rampaging sales.That’s more than half the vehicles BYD sold in 2025 and almost double what they have sold in the first three months of this year.The Chinese brand is looking to capitalise on the ongoing fuel crisis caused by the Iran war, which is driving Aussies in increasing numbers to buy an EV or plug-in hybrid — two vehicles types BYD has in big numbers.Liu said it was important that the company meets the growing demand and is able to get customers as soon as they place an order.If BYD manages to move those vehicles in the next few months it would have beat its sales for 2025, and it would be the second biggest selling brand in Australia and nipping at the heels of the previously-thought-untouchable Toyota.Mr Liu also said the company is aware fuel rationing might be happening in the future. It would be prioritising getting vehicles to essential workers such as doctors, firefighters and others in the coming months.BYD now has the model range to host those kind of sales figures with the brand launching seven new models in the past six months.These include the BYD Atto 1 and Atto 2 small electric cars alongside the plug-in hybrid Sealion 5 compact SUV, Sealion 8 seven-seat SUV, Seal 6 mid-size sedan and wagon and Denza B5 and B8 4WDs.Early signs of Aussies clambering for BYD and Denzas in 2026 was evident in the March sales figures.The Chinese automaker sold 7217 vehicles in the past month as Australians scrambled to get their hands on plug-in hybrids and electric cars as fuel prices soared.That is a mammoth one month total which beat Ford (7149), Mazda (7156) and Hyundai (6979). Only Toyota (16,574) and Kia (7320) did better than BYD.BYD sales increased by 50 per cent compared to March last year and are up 100 per cent for the year.For the full year, BYD's sales were already up 156 per cent by the end of 2025.

Geely’s commercial division, Farizon, has revealed pricing and specifications for its upcoming V7E commercial van.Sitting below the already-launched Farizon SuperVan, which is a more premium offering to compete with the likes of the Ford Transit Custom and Volkswagen Transporter, the V7E is in a budget price bracket, offering a smaller load area and payload.Starting from just $49,990 drive-away, the V7E becomes by far the most affordable electric offering in its class, even undercutting the impressive $55,990 price-tag for the new Kia PV5 electric commercial van.Farizon said its new van is purpose-built for trades, couriers, and fleet operators, as opposed to the more multi-purpose edge and diverse bodystyle options of its more expensive SuperVan.The V7E offers up to 1338kg of payload (1208kg in the Extended Range), with a 6.95 cubic metre load area. It also has a 2.86 metre total load length and a low load height of 610mm.It arrives in two variants but just one bodystyle, with the $49,990 leading price for the base Standard Range 50kWh version (240km WLTP range), stepping up to $53,990 for the 66kWh Extended Range variant (329km WLTP range).Both share a 100kW maximum DC charge speed, with the 50kWh version charging from 20 - 80 per cent in just 26 minutes, while the 66kWh version can complete the same charge in 33 minutes, which the brand says reduces downtime for operators.Slow AC charging maxes out at 11kW for a roughly four hour charge on the base car or five hour charge on the Extended Range. The V7E also features a full-size 240-volt household power outlet on board to help use the battery to power external devices.Both versions of the V7E are front-wheel drive, powered by the same 110kW/230Nm electric motor.As for total loading specs, the V7E measures 4995mm long, 1820mm wide, and 1985mm tall with a 3200mm wheelbase. The cargo area measures 2865mm long, 1690mm wide, and 1435mm tall. GVM for both variants is 3150kg. Towing capacity is limited to 750kg unbraked or 1000kg braked.The V7E has a 1100mm sliding side door and 270-degree opening barn doors at the rear.Standard equipment is the same on both cars, featuring 16-inch aero-style wheels, LED headlights, fabric seat trim with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7.0-inch digital dash cluster and a dual speaker audio system. It also features an array of physical controls to “reduce reliance on touchscreen interaction.”The V7E only features dual frontal airbags, but a full suite of active safety items usually only found on passenger cars.Farizon offers an eight-year 200,000km battery warranty and a five-year 200,000 new vehicle warranty, with a matching five years of roadside assist.Customer deliveries of the V7E are expected to begin in May of 2026.