Electric Cars

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.

Subaru has launched an Outback... as an EV. The Trailseeker combines the Subaru adventuring spirit with electric capability. Is it a combo that will work? Time will tell.

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.

Kia has added another pure-electric van to its light commercial line-up with the larger PV7 joining the recently-released PV5.Unveiled at this week’s IAA Transportation exhibition in Hannover, Germany the newcomer is underpinned by the same ‘E-GMP.S’ 800-volt platform as its smaller sibling with Kia Australia confirming the PV7 will launch locally in late 2027.Presented in Cargo commercial and multi-row Passenger variants, Kia said the PV7 is designed for “fleet, logistics and shuttle operations to small- and medium-sized businesses and personal mobility.”Currently offered in Cargo (van) form here, the PV5 is due to be joined by a seven-seat Passenger (people mover) version in Australia before the end of 2026.Available globally with a choice of 71.5kWh and 96.2kWh NCM (nickel cobalt manganese) batteries the PV7’s powertrain delivers up to 200kW/420Nm to the front wheels, with an all-wheel drive variant “planned as a future addition”.The PV7 Long Range Cargo boasts a 460km-plus WLTP range and its 800V electric architecture enables 10-80 per cent charging in around 25 minutes using a 350kW DC fast charger.Kia plans to expand the PV7 line-up to 23 variants globally following its 2027 launch to include Cargo (Compact, Long, High Roof) and Passenger (Compact, Long) variants, a Cab Chassis for specialist applications and a range of conversion models.The next size up PV9, also riding on the E-GMP.S platform is set to further expand Kia’s PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) line-up in 2029.The PV7 Cargo is available in two- and three-seat configurations globally, the Long model offering up to 6.1m³ (VDA) of cargo space with the High Roof upping capacity to 8.0m³. Maximum payload for the PV7 Cargo Long is 1165 kg which also features a 550mm load height and capacity for up to three (800×1200mm) Euro pallets.Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality enables the PV7 to power and charge tools, business equipment and other devices and Kia said floor materials can be tailored to different applications, with a choice of dual ‘twin-swing’ rear doors for confined spaces or a conventional lift-up tailgate.The PV7 Passenger is designed for crew transport, shuttle and rental services, tourism and family use and can accommodate up to nine occupants (with an 11-passenger version offered in Korea).Unveiling the PV7, Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song said, “By bringing together hardware developed for specific applications, business-tailored software and dedicated PBV services, the PV7 goes beyond the vehicle itself to deliver a complete business solution that helps customers achieve greater productivity, flexibility and long-term value.”Confirming its Q4 2027 launch, Kia Australia said, “Like any other local Kia product, PV7 will undergo our extensive ride & handling program, ensuring it suits local roads and conditions.”The company said further details on local trim variants, features and pricing will be announced in due course.

BYD has made its electric car cheaper than any other vehicle on sale right now.The Chinese brand has slashed the price of its Atto 1 electric small hatchback to $19,990, drive-away. There is no end date to the offer at this point.BYD Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins said this would give more Australians a chance to access an electric car during an ongoing period of sky high fuel prices and a cost of living crisis."At a time when Australian families are carefully considering every household expense, we're committed to making vehicle ownership more attainable," said Collins."The BYD ATTO 1 at $19,990 drive-away demonstrates our commitment to delivering outstanding value without compromising on technology, safety or quality.”The deal only applies to the BYD Atto 1 Essential grade, which was previously priced at $23,990 before on-road costs.This means buyers are saving about $7000 off the full drive-away price.The Atto 1 is an urban-focused electric car, with a small 30kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery that delivers a modest driving range of up to 220km.It uses a single electric motor to make 65kW and 175Nm to drive the front wheels.It is a small unit, measuring 3990mm long, 1720mm wide, 1590mm high and it has a wheelbase of 2500mm.That puts it in the same ballpark as the Toyota Yaris and Mazda2 hatchbacks.The current cheapest cars are the petrol-powered Kia Picanto starting from $19,190, before on-road costs, and the the MG3 hatchback is also priced from $19,990, drive-away, for a limited time.

Volkswagen has built the slipperiest car on Earth, breaking records for aerodynamics and energy efficiency on a production approved vehicle with its Mission Efficiency and it could dramatically change the way our cars look soon.Volkswagen celebrated its record breaking Mission Efficiency after a 1278km trip from Wolfsburg to Vienna that took them across Germany, Poland, Czechia and Austria from Wolfsburg to Vienna.It was only charged once, which doesn’t sound like a huge accomplishment given we have electric cars that are now reaching 600-700km on a full charge. What’s so impressive is that this was done with a relatively small battery and incredible efficiency.Volkswagen has a history of pushing the limits of efficiency and its XL 1, which was built from 2014-2016, had a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.189 and has held the record ever since for a production car. Just to put that in context an official Olympic approved arrow has a Cd of between 1.5-2.0.Now, the two-door, four-seater Mission Efficiency has broken the XL 1’s record with a Cd of 0.158. That beats anything currently on the market. The most aerodynamic production vehicles you can actually buy include the Mercedes-Benz EQS with a Cd of about 2.0, Mercedes-Benz CLA Ev with 0.21Cd and the Porsche Taycan with a Cd of 0.22.The Mission Efficiency's slipperiness is down to its tear-drop shape, small frontal area, clad rear wheels and a fully clad underbody. Door handles are integrated into the body and the windows are frameless to help the vehicle slide through the air. Powering the Mission Efficiency is a single 99kW motor driving the front wheels - the same unit used in the new ID.Polo small hatch. What’s impressive is the battery size, it’s a 54.9kWh Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) unit.Solar panels on the roof power on-board electronics. The Mission Efficiency drove 1278km from Wolfsburg to Vienna, charging only once with 164.0km of range remaining on completion.The impressive part about this is the efficiency. The real average energy consumption of the Mission Efficiency over this distance was 6.89kWh/100km. In comparison the Mercedes-Benz EQS  has an average energy consumption of 15.6kWh/100km. Volkswagen's Mission Efficiency is not intended to be mass-produced and sold, so the real accomplishment here is that this vehicle was able to achieve outstanding efficiency using all regular road approved equipment and technology.Volkswagen’s CEO Thomas Schäfer said Mission Efficiency shows what the brand can do with current technology that can be incorporated easily into upcoming vehicles. “Mission Efficiency is the ideal way to demonstrate what distinguishes Volkswagen in the electric age: technology for the masses – not just for the few. “Rather than using specialist technology, the vehicle set its three world records using affordable production technology from the ID. Polo and ID. Cross, based on the MEB+ platform with front-wheel drive. This shows how much potential efficiency we can add to the latest generation of our electric cars.”

Lepas is hardly a household name, but that is all about to change.The Chinese brand is the latest Chery sub-brand to arrive in Australia, joining Chery, Omodoa, Jaecoo and followed by Freelander, iCaur and Jetour.Lepas is going to fish where the fish are.It will soon be offering Australian customers electric and plug-in hybrid options in all the most popular SUV segments where 65 per cent of all new cars are sold.Both electric and plug-in hybrid passenger car sales are skyrocketing, showing it is giving Aussies more of what they want.The company will launch the Lepas L6 mid-size electric SUV this October, but then it will get very busy for the brand.The L4 compact electric SUV will follow in December, with plug-in hybrid versions of the L6 and L4 landing in March and June, respectively.Then the slightly larger L8 plug-in hybrid SUV will arrive towards the end of 2027, as well as the big L9 plug-in hybrid SUV.Lepas isn’t slowing down in 2028, with electric versions of the L8 and L9 due to arrive and a hybrid and electric version of the L2 small hatchback.At its heart the L6 uses a 65kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery that delivers a climate electric driving range of up to 440km.The brand hasn’t confirmed maximum charging rate, but Lepas claims it can refill the battery from 30 to 80 per cent in about 22 minutes, which puts its DC charging max speed at 80kW.A single electric motor makes 160kW and 275Nm, which drives the front wheels.Lepas won’t conduct local suspension or handling tunes, instead it is relying on the European tune for Australia. This will likely mean a more engaging, but firmer and bumpier ride.It is packed with kit, including:8.88-inch LCD digital driver display13.2-inch LCD infotainment touchscreen Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto “Hello LEPAS” intelligent voice command Eight-speaker Sony premium sound system 50W wireless smartphone charging Heated and ventilated front seats Synthetic leather upholstery Panoramic sunroof with slide and tilt function and powered sunshadeColour selectable ambient lightingPowered tailgatePuddle lightsLepas SUVs will be packed with safety, and the company made a point of stating it had worked hard on its driver aids for them to work only when needed rather than sounding the alarm all the time.The L4 shares the same underpinnings as the L6, but with a smaller body.It is 4420mm long, 1817mm wide, 1629mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2700mm, which puts it firmly in the BYD Atto 3, Hyundai Kona Electric category.It will use the same battery and single electric motor set-up as the bigger L6, but range is boosted to 450km due to the reduced weight of the L4.

To be honest I didn’t think this would happen so fast but it really does appear the end is nigh for the internal combustion engine in Australia, because for the first time sales of electric cars have overtaken petrol ones. So how does Australia compare for EVs sales compared to the rest of the world? Australia is punching well above its weight. Australia is ranked high when it comes to EV sales compared to the world, but wait until you see how high.Australians bought 27,089 electric vehicles in August, which represent 24.9 per cent of the market. Not included in this are hybrids or plug-in hybrids, and that makes this number even more significant.In comparison the total sales of petrol cars in August, including light commercial vehicles, came to 25,824.August’s sales came off the back of a bumper July total of 23,510, but they weren’t the largest recorded - that claim to fame goes to June with 32,570 sales. August was a big month for EV sales in other parts of the world, too.Sales of EVs in France reached a record 38 per cent of the market or 36,159 electric cars. Quick reminder: Australia for the same month has 24.9 per cent and 27,089 electric cars.Let me also tell you that France is placed fourth in the world rankings for August EV sales.Of course this is nothing compared to China’s EV sales, which were approximately one million for August.Yes, China sold the same number of electric cars in August as the almost the combined sales of petrol, diesel, EV, and hybrids in Australia in any given year.With China in the No.1 place; in second place for August is Germany with 68,930 sales; then in third is the United States with about 65,000; then France with its 36,159; followed by the United Kingdom with 27,876; and then in sixth place is Australia with 27,089.We just missed out on being in the top 5 for August EV sales.Australia’s year-to-date battery electric vehicle sales through to the end of August come to 154,313.This places Australia in seventh place globally for the year so far, behind China in first place with approximately 6.06 million sales; then in second place is the US with about 500,000 sales; then Germany in third with 446,615; the UK is in fourth with 327,683; then France with 322,097; and then South Korea with 272,000.Petrol sales year to date have reached 243,673, which is 89,360 sales of the 154,313 EV sales.So while monthly sales of EVs are beginning to overtake petrol car sales, we won't see the electric car sales total for the year eclipse those of petrol in 2026.A recent report from the NRMA found there are approximately 500,000 EVs on Australian roads and this accounted for just three per cent of the total number of registered vehicles. But as we have seen by the monthly figures EV sales are at a high level and staying high. The NRMA said by 2040 10 per cent of registered vehicles will be EVs, and modelling by the CSIRO predicts by 2050 97 per cent of all light passenger cars will be battery electric vehicles.The Tesla Model Y is not just the biggest selling EV, it's also is the best selling of all cars in Australia right now with 6414 sold in August.The BYD Sealion 7 electric SUV with 2213 sales is the fifth best-selling car in Australia, while the Zeekr 7X is in ninth place with 1748 sales.