EV News

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

Kia has revealed a hybrid version Kia K4 hatch to complement the strong-selling petrol variants remains part of the brand's plans in Australia. The K4 hybrid appears to still be on target for a launch Down Under this year, but timing has not been confirmed, according to local Product Planning Manager Raymond Pok. “We launched with just the petrol variants and we’re pretty keen to get a hybrid as quickly as we can,” Pok told CarsGuide.  “It’s still in the plans, but timing is to be confirmed.” The K4 is a competitive seller in the small car segment, only trailing the Toyota Corolla. It has amassed more sales in 2026 than the hugely popular Hyundai i30 and Mazda3, turning around a deficit to those rivals last year. Currently the K4 is only available with petrol engines.Most of the range comes with a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre unit, with top-spec GT-line models getting a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine.  The hybrid starts from $32,090 (before on-road costs) and comes in hatch or sedan body shapes.Expect the hybrid K4 to have a slight bump on price compared to the petrol version when it finally gets to Australia. There are no confirmed details yet on what the hybrid set-up will look like, but there is a good chance it will be a version of the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol electric motor unit found in other Kia hybrid cars and the mechanically similar Hyundai i30 sedan.This means it's in line for a 1.6-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor, which combines for 104kW and 265Nm. Fuel use in the similar Hyundai i30 sedan is just 3.9L/100km. Kia Australia Chief Executive Officer Damien Meredith revealed 30 per cent of all the brand’s sales at the moment are coming from hybrid models. The K4’s petrol-only lineup could pose problems down the line, with the brand conscious of potential fines leveled at the maker because of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) . “You just have to look at the penalties for NVES on a petrol vehicle versus a hybrid vehicle,” General Manager Marketing for Kia Australia Dean Norbiato said. “For us to be a sustainable OEM in this market, hybrid obviously makes sense from that standpoint.”

Audi has released an updated version of its Q4 e-tron electric compact SUV in Europe.The Q4 e-tron is a direct rival to the BMW iX1 and iX2 as well as the Volvo EX40, along with the Zeekr X.The new model starts in Europe from 47,500 euros, which is around $77,000. Cars imported from Europe incur a substantial price hike on sale Down Under, meaning it will be more expensive than its predecessor. The current generation of the Q4 e-tron in Australia starts from $84,900 (before on-road costs), with prices rising up to $107,500 on up-spec models. There is no official news yet on the arrival of the updated SUV in Australia, but it has been confirmed it will be available for order in Europe from May of this year. Audi Australia when contacted for comment said there were no confirmed timings for the car launching Down Under.Among the key updates for this new model is that it now features vehicle-to-load charging capabilities for the first time. DC fast charging speeds have also increased on the Q4 e-tron, with the car now capable of charging at 185kW, enabling a 10-80 per cent fast charge in 27 minutes. On the inside, the car gets a single panoramic display made up of an 11.9-inch digital driver display and 12.8-inch central touchscreen. The car can also be optioned with a separate passenger display. The Q4 e-tron will come with four power set-ups, with the base rear-wheel drive model featuring a single electric motor, producing 150kW and 350Nm. The highest grade of the car has dual electric motors, boosting power to 250kW and torque to 545Nm for the rear motor and 134Nm for the front one. This is the same output as the current generation.It can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in as fast as 5.4 seconds, coming with all-wheel drive.It will have two battery choices which are a 63kWh unit offering a driving range of up to 451km, while the 82kWh option has up to 578km, representing incremental increases.

More details have been revealed about the new generation Mk9 electric Volkswagen Golf, with the car said to be “96 to 97 per cent done”. The main change on the new Golf is it will feature a fully-electric set-up as well as a combustion model. In an overseas interview, VW's Head of Technical Development Kai Grunitz said this means there will be two separate platforms for the new Golf. Electric versions of the Golf will be one of the first models to use the new Scalable Systems Platform. The platform is expected to offer super fast charging times and other performance improvements. According to the brand, the new generation Golf will draw inspiration from the iconic Mk4 design, praised for its sporty and sleek design at the time. The electric Golf will take on the Renault Megane E-Tech and a car from its sister brand, the Cupra Born. Combustion versions of the Golf will continue to battle the Hyundai i30 and the Mazda 3.The car remains a few years off an official launch, with tentative plans for 2028 or 2029. As for its potential in Australia, there are no details yet."We’re pleased to see the interest in the Mk9 Volkswagen Golf," a spokesperson for Volkswagen Australia said. "Volkswagen Australia continues to evaluate opportunities for the local market, however we’re not in a position to confirm local availability or timing for Australia at this stage."An electric Golf would have National Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) benefits for the brand Down Under, given its Golf lineup currently is exclusively petrol powered. It is unclear what engine the new combustion Golf will be fitted with, but VW recently announced a plug-less hybrid version of the current generation.Its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motor set-up is a possibility for the Mk9.The Golf is currently on sale in Australia with a starting price of $39,290 (before on-road costs), rising to $71,990 (before on-road costs) for up-spec models.It comes with two engine choices, which are a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol, producing 110kW and 250Nm, while high-performance variants get a 2.0-litre unit, pumping out up to 245kW and 420Nm. 

GWM has revealed further details about the coming Jolion Max for Australia.Due out in about October this year, the Max – as the suffix suggests – is a new, larger and roomier addition to the regular Jolion range, prioritising rear-seat passenger space as well as cargo capacity.To sit above the regular version in the small-SUV line-up, it will attempt to fill the void left by the redesigned H6 mid-sized SUV set for the first quarter of next year.Among other changes, the latter features increased body dimensions, more cabin space and a claimed step up in quality, prompting GWM to push prices up closer to direct rivals, including the Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Trail.Taking the ruler out, the coming Max’s length is 4590mm, width is 1877mm, height is 1675mm and wheelbase is 2710mm, compared to the standard Jolion’s corresponding 4472mm, 1874mm, 1581mm and 2700mm measurements, respectively.The upcoming 2027 H6, meanwhile, offers 4780mm/1895mm/1730mm/2800mm, up from the current model’s 4653mm/1886mm/2738mm respectively.Interestingly, the Max has been on sale in China for some time as a more family-focused alternative to the regular version that launched in Australia in 2021.Whether the newcomer also offers a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in the lower grades is yet to be announced. In China, the base Max makes 110kW of power and 220Nm of torque.GWM is pinning its hopes on the electrified versions, namely a 164kW/482Nm Max hybrid, 238kW/528Nm plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and 150kW/260Nm EV.All should help with some much-needed credits, as the entire industry faces increasingly stringent New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NEVS) regulations in the coming years.In China, the Max’s WLTP combined average fuel consumption figures are 7.4 litres per 100km (petrol), 5.5L/100km (hybrid) and 1.8L/100km (PHEV), while the EV is rated at 15.7kWh/100km.The latter is of particular significance as it will be the first sub-brand outside of the struggling Ora to offer an EV, broadening the appeal and scope of a GWM EV in Australia.Note that the hybrid and PHEV Max grades are down on luggage capacity compared to the petrol and EV, by 50 litres at 362L. In contrast, the regular Jolion is just 255L in the hybrid and either 291L and 337L according to wheel/tyre size.As promised in October last year at the GWM Tech Day in Victoria, the Max will adopt the Australian-specific AT1 steering and suspension tuning, as overseen by ex-Holden chassis specialist Rob Trubiani, to better meet local consumer expectations.Whether the Max will supplant or sell alongside either one of the current Jolion body styles has yet to be confirmed.In 2024, the original Jolion (badged Jolion Pro elsewhere) was joined by a different yet similar-looking version based on the China-market Chitu. Though it was touted as all-new in Australia, it also debuted around 2021.

Chery's latest sub-brand bound for Australia has unwrapped its most affordable electric car yet following the unveil of the Lepas L4 EV at the Beijing motor show.Previewing a more affordable Chinese take on premium European all-electric small SUVs like the BMW iX1, Volvo EX30 and inbound Mercedes GLA, the new L4 EV will be joined by a plug-in hybrid version and sit below the larger Toyota RAV4-rivalling L6 and L8, when sales start this October.Closely related to the new-generation Chery Tiggo 5, which has already been unveiled for China, while the PHEV and combustion versions looks near identical, the new EV version comes with a more aerodynamic snout, fresh alloy wheels and minor tweaks to the interior.Measuring in at around 4415mm long, 1817mm wide and standing 1630mm tall, the L4 EV has a relatively large 2700mm wheelbase, which is around 70mm longer than the Chery E5, providing more space.The Lepas L4 is the first vehicle to be built on Chery's new LEX platform that is highly rigid and allows the firm to fit its latest advanced tech. The platform also benefits from input from the Chinese car giant's R&D hub, which is why it gets a sophisticated multi-link rear suspension.In the future, Chery says it wants to engineer its cars to both have a European-tuned suspension and, once that's achieved, it will go ahead and tailor the ride and handling for markets like Australia.Chery hopes the Lepas L4's more European look and higher-grade interiors will attract a more upmarket buyer, although when the brand arrives in the latter half of this year, we don't expect it to come with BMW or Benz-like pricing and for it to still undercut the X1 and GLA.From launch, we'll miss out on the base 80kW 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol, or a punchier 108kW 1.5 turbo petrol, and instead be offered the new all-electric version unveiled in Beijing.Driven by a single 150kW front e-motor that will draw power from a 67kWh battery, that will blend brisk performance and a range of around 450km.A second plug-in hybrid will be available from launch that produces 205kW and 350Nm of torque with an undisclosed battery but will come with up to 90km of EV range on the WLTP test cycle.Inside, the Lepas L4 like the rest of the range comes with an 8.0-inch instrument cluster and a larger 9.9-inch infotainment screen.Standard kit includes a 360-degree camera view, parking sensors, auto headlamps and half-leather seats.High-grade models offered in some markets add roof rails, keyless go, a premium sound system, six-way power adjustable heated and ventilated seats and adaptive cruise.While the strategy is to position the Lepas brand eventually as a real BMW or Benz rival, for now insiders suggest the new Euro-inspired models will command a five per cent price premium over Omoda and Jaecoo models to ensure it builds up enough volume to sustain the brand.It's thought Lepas Australia will release full details of the inbound Lepas L4 EV and the larger L6 and L8 closer to launch, including details of what trims and powertrains Australians will be offered.

Jaecoo, Chery’s premium sub-brand, has announced the arrival of a much-anticipated seven-seat version of its J8 large SUV, which will also feature a plug-in hybrid set-up for the first time. There is no news yet on the pricing for this latest J8 variant, but expect it to be above the $54,990 (drive-away) price tag attached to the all-wheel drive five-seater petrol model currently on sale.The J8 will go into direct competition with the closely-related Chery Tiggo 8 all-wheel drive PHEV and the BYD Sealion 8, which both sit around $50K-$60K bracket.There are limited details available on the new J8, but it will use the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid set-up found on the Omoda 9, which is on sale in Australia. The Omoda 9’s three electric motor set-up produces 395kW, so expect a similar figure on the J8 PHEV.Jaecoo has also confirmed the car will have an all-wheel drive system. This will be the first electrified J8 model, with the only other two models being front-wheel and all-wheel drive petrol units.Competing in the large SUV segment, the J8 is approaching one year on the Aussie market, but trails the likes of the Tiggo 8 and the Sealion 8 on sales charts.It has sold less than 200 units this year, compared to the Sealion 8’s more than 1500 and the Tiggo 8’s more than 1000. The brand has decided to bring across a seven-seater J8 due to popular demand for a full-size family car in the lineup. The J8’s announcement comes with the brand continuing to expand its range Down Under, following the well-received J5 EV at the start of 2026, and the soon-launching petrol variant of that car. It is expected the J8 PHEV will launch in Australia in the third quarter of 2026, along with a hybrid version of the J5. 

For those of you who are looking to buy a new car but aren’t looking at an EV yet, we’ve put together a list of our top-five popular cars that run on the cheapest kind of petrol.Yep, there’s a lot of pressure right now to buy an electric car and avoid high petrol prices.But if you’re not ready for an EV and want to stick to petrol, there’s a way to still save money: buying a car which doesn’t need more expensive premium fuel.Premium fuel such as 95 RON or 98 RON is always more expensive than 91 RON, but with petrol prices so high right now any saving is good.At the time of writing, 91 RON was averaging 200c/litre, while 98 RON was 223c/litre. Filling up a 60L tank with 91 RON is currently $120 while 98 RON will set you back $133.80. So currently there’s about a $14 difference between 91 RON and 98 RON for an average-sized fuel tank. If you’re filling up once a week, that’s about $730 a year.For all we know, prices could go up more and depending on the situation and where our fuel is sourced from, so the gap between higher- and lower-grade fuels could expand.Yes, there’s 95 RON, but that is still more expensive than 91 RON.So, we’ve handpicked five of Australia's best-selling cars that don’t need premium unleaded and instead can run on a minimum of 91 RON. Hyundai’s Kona is a small SUV that comes in three variants – a pure petrol, a series-parallel hybrid and a fully electric. You’ll be happy to know both the pure petrol and hybrid petrol cars only need 91 RON.Fuel efficiency in the hybrid is excellent at 3.9L/100km over a combination of different driving conditions.The hybrid is offered across the entire range, which is great to see.The entry price into the Kona range is $33,700 plus on-road costs.GWM’s Haval Jolion is another small SUV, which is a little larger than the Hyundai Kona, but it also comes in pure petrol and series-parallel hybrid, both of which needing just 91 RON.The hybrid's combined fuel consumption is 5.1L/100km.It’s fantastic to see that the hybrid is offered right across the Jolion range.The entry grade in the Jolion range costs $26,990 drive-away.One of the original mid-size SUVs, the Nissan X-Trail in this latest generation is a superb family car that is offered in petrol and series hybrid variants.Now the pure petrol versions need only 91 RON. Nissan says the hybrids need a minimum of 91 RON, but 95 RON is recommended.Of course, you should follow the manufacturers advice here to ensure your X-Trail lives a long and happy life, but it’s good to know that 91 RON will do if you’re in a pickle.The other good news is that you really don’t need to step up to the more expensive hybrid to save fuel.The hybrid is fuel efficient at 6.0L/100km, but the regular petrol will use 6.1-6.5L/100km depending on the grade.  The entry grade of the Nissan X-Trail range lists for $38,140 plus on-road costs.The Mitsubishi Outlander is another mid-size SUV icon and comes in two variants – a pure petrol and a plug-in series-parallel hybrid (PHEV).Nissan says both the pure petrol version and PHEV need only 91 RON, which is a nice surprise.Fuel consumption in the PHEV is outrageously good at 1.5L/100km in combined driving conditions, but seriously you’ll have to charge it regularly to get this – and I mean every day.The combined consumption of the regular pure petrol Outlander ranges from 7.5-8.1L/100km depending on the grade.The entry grade in the Outlander range starts at a list price of $39,990 plus on-road costs.Chery’s little Tiggo 4 SUV is the smallest car in our selection (about a match-stick shorter than the Kona) and comes in both pure petrol and series-parallel hybrid form.The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol, however, isn’t as fuel efficient as you might think in this not-so-big SUV. The combined fuel consumption according to Chery is 7.4L/100km. But the hybrid variant is much better with 5.4L/100km .The entry price into the Tiggo 4 range is $23,990 drive-away. 

“If we keep waiting for perfection, we will never start.”I read that quote somewhere years ago – apologies to whoever said it – and the moment I heard it I thought about electric cars.There’s been a lot of talk about electric cars for a long time, but for obvious reasons interest has been higher in recent months.The ongoing global oil crisis has driven petrol and diesel prices higher, and as a knock-on effect electric vehicle (EV) sales surged to nearly 15 per cent of the total Australia new-car market in March. That was an almost five per cent improvement on where the local EV sales share had seemingly settled for well over a year. And yet the majority of the market remains powered by some form of internal-combustion engine and there remains a number of vocal critics of EVs.The oil crisis has highlighted previous government decisions to gradually reduce our energy independence with fossil fuels and focus instead on renewable energy.This is another area where critics love to bash EVs and question their long-term suitability.But it makes me wonder if there were people so vehemently anti-automobile over 100 years ago?There were almost certainly people questioning the commonsense of switching to a horseless carriage that is powered, effectively, by a series of small explosions, and fuelled by a highly flammable liquid that would need to be dug out of the ground, refined and then transported and sold across national networks.Why not just stick with a horse that can eat grass?Or why replace the telegram with a telephone.How on earth would you create an interconnected network of telephone lines across nations, with each house having their own handset?Surely that would have been considered a greedy play by the newly formed telephone industry back in the day.Obviously I’m being a bit facetious, although I’m sure there was pushback on cars and telephones, like there is with so many things in life.Part of what pushes us forward as a species in challenging ourselves and others to always do better.Take the, very reasonable, claim from the anti-EV crowd that many of the rare earth materials used in batteries are damaging for the environment in both who it is produced and used.Cobalt is a prime example and is a troubling material, with serious question marks over how it is mined. Which is why more and more battery manufacturers are switching to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, as they contain no cobalt. It’s just one of a number of evolutionary changes manufacturers are making to improve EVs.And make no mistake, EVs will only get better and better. Less harmful production methods, smaller, more efficient batteries, more range and even better public charging infrastructure.The recent NASA Artemis II mission to go back to the room is another reminder of humankind’s ability to evolve technology at a rapid rate.Looking back at the computers used in the Apollo missions had a tiny fraction of the computing power that your mobile phone has.I’m old enough to have used five-inch floppy disks with computers that could only store 360kB of data, and now my children have access to tiny USB flash drives capable of holding 2TB of data.Electric cars have only become a mainstream alternative in the last 15 years. Think about how fast smartphone technology has moved in that time.Electric vehicles are not perfect now, and anyone who claims they are a faultless solution is kidding themselves, but there is no reason why they will simply not get better and better over time.To be clear, I am not saying everyone needs to drive an EV as soon as possible. Or even that EVs are the one-size-fits-all solution.To borrow a line from Toyota, I genuinely believe the future is a ‘mutli-pathway solution’ that mixes technologies including EVs, carbon neutral fuels and hybrids.But we must use this current crisis as a moment to make a definitive and long-lasting change.If you’ve been sitting on the fence about an EV, now is the time to reassess your decision. Because if you’re waiting for the perfect time, we will never get there.

Hyundai has renewed its commitment to the Chinese market at this year’s Beijing motor show, claiming it’ll launch 20 new models over the next five years.The South Korean carmaker is officially spinning out its all-electric Ioniq brand and its first dedicated model is the Ioniq V electric liftback.A production version of the recently revealed Venus concept, the Ioniq V has an angular design that from some angles is reminiscent of a Lamborghini Temerario, but with an extra set of doors.Ioniq claims it offers up to 600km of electric range, according to lenient CLTC testing. No other official powertrain details have been provided yet.The Ioniq V measures in at 4900mm long, 1890mm wide and has a 2900mm wheelbase. This makes it around the same size as a Sonata sedan.It features a 27-inch central touchscreen that flows into the front passenger compartment, as well as a head-up display.Ioniq notes that the V's suspension tune is optimised for comfort and stability, as well as low road and wind noise in the cabin.A Hyundai Australia spokesperson said there are no plans to introduce the Ioniq V locally.Despite this, there is precedent for Chinese-built Hyundai products to launch in Australia. The Hyundai Elexio mid-size electric SUV launched locally earlier in 2026.Beyond the Ioniq V, the brand has confirmed it will launch an SUV model in China in the first half of 2027. No further details have been provided but it will likely be based on the Earth concept, which is a boxy SUV.Hyundai claims its further model launches in China will focus on the mid-size to large vehicle segments, with both electric (EV) and range-extender (REEV) powertrains.“China is an essential market for Hyundai Motor Company,” said Hyundai Motor Company CEO Jose Munoz.“The world's most demanding EV consumers, the fastest development cycles, the deepest battery supply chain, and an advanced innovation ecosystem. That is why we are tripling down on our commitment to China.“With significant investments into Beijing Hyundai, 20 new models coming over the next five years, the official launch of our Ioniq brand in China and the unveiling of Ioniq V, this is the most committed, the most ambitious, and the most exciting chapter we have ever written in this market.“China is where the future of mobility is being defined, and Hyundai intends to help define it, In China, For China, and ultimately, for the world.”