Electric Cars

Toyota was late to the game with its first EV, the bZ4X, so let's find out whether this mid-life update has improved the package.

Volvo’s incoming electric car, the new sibling to its popular XC60 mid-size SUV, comes with the cold claim of ‘ending range anxiety’.The 2026 Volvo EX60 is set to be revealed later this month, but the Swedish brand has already confirmed a few of its details, including its claimed 810km electric driving range.Volvo points out that means the mid-size electric SUV could travel from Stockholm to Oslo in its home region, but for us here in Australia a more relatable distance is Melbourne to Adelaide - that’s about 750km.Given EVs aren’t at their most efficient on highways, you’d probably still want a quick top-up of the likely rather large battery. Fear not, Volvo says a 400kW fast-charger can add up to 340km of range in just 10 minutes.Volvo says this means the EX60 will have not only “the longest range of any fully electric Volvo”, but it also charges faster than any previous electric Volvo.“The EX60 is designed to be a gamechanger,” says Anders Bell, Volvo’s Chief Technology Officer. “With our new electric vehicle architecture, we directly address the main worries that customers have when considering a switch to a fully electric car. The result is class-leading range and fast charging speeds, marking the end of range anxiety.”Volvo, under its China-based parent company, will use ‘mega casting’ in the building process of the EX60, a first for a Volvo. The process means large sections of the car are constructed at once rather than in small body panels or parts of the frame.Built on the brand’s “most advanced” EV architecture so far, dubbed SPA3, the EX60 will make the most of its 800-volt electrical system to run the in-house software developed by Volvo for its cars.The full reveal of the EX60, which has until now only been teased in images, will be on January 21, less than three weeks from this story’s publication.

Further details on the Leapmotor A10 small EV SUV have been confirmed courtesy of application information lodged with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).We already know the city-sized five-door measures just 4.2m long, 1.8m wide and 1.6m tall, with a 2605mm wheelbase. But now we know the A10 (B03X for some export markets) is powered by a single 90kW electric motor and features a sophisticated oil-cooled drivetrain.Underpinned by the brand’s ‘global A’ EV-specific platform, the A10 boasts a claimed 500km (CLTC) range delivered by an “ultra-high-density” LFP battery. The MIIT filing also points to a rapid 16-minute 30-80 per cent charge time.According to Leapmotor, “The A10 is designed to break the industry’s three dilemmas: that premium must mean expensive, small cars must be low-tech and compact dimensions must sacrifice space.”The car’s global A architecture enables “flagship-level intelligence” including what the brand calls an ‘AI-powered cockpit’ as well as full over-the-air (OTA) updates throughout the vehicle’s life.At the same time, a prominent bump at the front of the A10’s roof, first seen in teaser images late last year, has now been identified as a Lidar sensor housing indicating availability of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features.The A10 follows Leapmotor’s ‘Technological Natural Aesthetics 2.0’ design language, already applied to its mid-size C10 and (soon-to-arrive in Australia) B10 small SUV stablemates. Details include semi-concealed door handles and dark side pillars for a ‘floating roof’ effect. The car will be offered in six colours in China with wheels ranging up to 18-inch alloys on high-spec grades shod with 215/50 tyres.Given domestic pricing is likely to sit around the ¥100,000 (low A$20,000) range, the A10 would be a natural competitor for the recently-arrived pure-electric BYD Atto 1 (from $23,990, before on-road costs), at the same time substantially undercutting the Hyundai Inster, recently reduced to $35,990, drive-away.When contacted for comment on the A10’s potential for the local market a Leapmotor Australia spokesperson said, “We haven’t confirmed yet but will let you know once we’re ready”.With Chinese order books open and domestic deliveries scheduled to begin in the first half of this year it sounds like the A10 will be hitting Aussie Leapmotor showrooms before the end of 2026.

Tesla has finally extended its warranty period in Australia.

A new electric compact SUV is getting closer.

Hyundai has placed heavy discounts across its range of electric Kona compact SUVs.

Sony and Honda Mobility (SHM) has unveiled its 2026 Afeela Prototype at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The Afeela 2026 Prototype is an all-electric SUV, which will be the second of the brand’s proposed vehicles.Pricing has not been confirmed for the new Afeela SUV, but it is likely to be more than the Afeela 1, which starts from US$89,900 (A$144,000).The Afeela 1 sedan has been in the works for some time, with it first revealed as a concept in January 2023 at the CES.Reports emerged in early 2024 SHM was considering an SUV, with the latest CES announcement confirming the car will be a real thing. SHM is a collaboration between major entertainment company Sony and well-known car manufacturer Honda, combining to create a car focused on a technology vision. This tech-based approach and all-electric status sees the brand shape up as a potential rival to Tesla.This 2026 Prototype could be seen as direct competition for the Tesla Model Y, but it looks to come in at a significantly higher price point.SHM has also unveiled new elements for its vision, one is an intelligent drive system similar to what is available on some Tesla models. The advanced driver assistance system supports Level 2 autonomous driving, allowing travel from departure point to destination, with the company setting its sights on Level 4-equivalent capabilities in the future. There is also a sophisticated AI system in the car called the ‘Personal Agent’, which is an interactive conversational AI, using Microsoft's Azure OpenAI. This computing power is supported by a Snapdragon Digital Chassis, which offers high-level connectively and vehicle security.The 2026 Prototype looks like a raised version of the Afeela 1, keeping the same rough design and features.This includes the car having cameras instead of side mirrors among other cameras on the roof for its AI driving capacity and there are also no door handles.According to SHM, the 2026 Prototype offers greater spatial flexibility and accessibility in comparison to the Afeela 1.While we are yet to see an Afeela car hit the market, the company has confirmed there is progress on beginning production.Reservations for the Afeela 1 opened up in January 2025, with trial production runs of the car conducted at Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio.The company has also confirmed deliveries of the Afeela 1 are expected to begin sometime in 2026. The new Afeela concept SUV is targeted for a launch in the United States market in 2028. 

Mahindra has thrown the covers off the electric version of its ultra-affordable 3XO small SUV in its Indian home market.

Hyundai has announced the pricing and specifications for its Elexio all-electric mid-size SUV. The Elexio comes in a single variant and is priced at $59,990 drive-away as a launch introductory offer. It will compete against the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5, XPeng G6 and the Geely EX5.The Elexio is similarly priced to the XPeng G6, which ranges from $54,800 to $59,800 (before on-road costs).It is more expensive than the Geely EX5, which starts at $40,990, before on-road costs, but cheaper than the Tesla Model Y that starts at $58,900 (before on-road costs).Its single electric motor produces 160kW and 310Nm and there is a range of 546km (WLTP) from a 88kWh lithium-ion-phosphate battery.DC charging from 10-80 per cent takes 38 minutes.The Elexio will only launch in Australia with the 'Elite' single motor variant and not the dual motor all-wheel drive variant available overseas. When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for Hyundai Australia said the Elite grade will be the only option for buyers in the future at this stage.The Elexio is built in China as a product of Beijing Hyundai, which is a joint venture between Hyundai and BAIC Motor.  The car has undergone an Australian-specific tune, with suspension and steering tweaked to tackle demanding roads.The Elexio has been edging towards an Australian launch over recent months, with Carsguide spotting the SUV on the back of a truck in December 2025. It will join Hyundai’s increasingly growing electric SUV range in Australia, sitting in between the smaller Kona and the bigger Ioniq 5.Hyundai said it expects the Elexio to launch in Australia in the first quarter of 2026. 2026 Hyundai Elexio pricing Australia 2026 Hyundai Elexio electric motor and efficiency 2026 Hyundai Elexio standard features20-inch alloy wheelsHeated and power folding side mirrorsPower tailgate4-spoke leather steering wheelHeated steering wheelLeather appointed seatsHeated and ventilated front seatsKeyless entry and startWireless phone chargingRain sensing wipers27-inch digital driver and central touchscreen displayHead-up display6-speaker audio system2026 Hyundai Elexio safetyThe Hyundai Elexio has not been crash tested.9 airbagsLane keep assistBlind spot assistHigh beam assistHighway driving assistLane departure warningForward collision avoidance assistIn-cabin camera for driver monitoringParking collision avoidance assist2026 Hyundai Elexio dimensions  2026 Hyundai Elexio warranty and servicingThe Hyundai Elexio comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which can be extended to seven years if all servicing is with Hyundai and on time. There is an eight-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty for the high-voltage battery. Hyundai's 'Genuine Service Plan' is available with the car. Pricing has not been disclosed yet.

XPeng's P7+ sedan with impressive specs gets confirmed for Europe - but there's a catch.