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A new small SUV is on the way to fill the smaller space below the likes of the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol, rivalling the popular Suzuki Jimny.The 2027 Renault Bridger concept has been revealed as a rugged small SUV set for production in 2027, with combustion, hybrid and electric versions on the cards.Not a lot has been confirmed about the small SUV, but its design and rough size seem to be pretty close to locked in, with Renault confirming the Bridger will come in at less than 4.0 metres long.Packaging looks set to maximise interior convenience, with 200mm of knee room and 400 litres of boot space both touted as strong figures for the category.Set to be produced in India in 2027, Renault says there will be a “gradual roll-out to other international markets.”Built on the Renault Group modular platform, or or 'RGMP small' to give it its new name, the Bridger is one of 12 new models Renault plans to launch in the next four years before 2030.Renault plans to increase its electrification across its line-up, using its E-Tech hybrid system, as well as building its larger cars on its RGEV medium 2.0 electric platform.To that end, Renault has also revealed its R-Space Lab concept, which it claims “redefines the in-car experience” by exploring new ways to lay out and fit out the interior.The front passenger seat can, for example, slide back to the second row, or the individual rear seats have their own backrests. Seats can be folded or moved to create space for cargo or people as needed.As Australia is a relatively small part of Renault’s global sales footprint, it’s unclear how many of the brand’s new models will make it Down Under in the next few years.Given the popularity of of the Suzuki Jimny and the fact Renault has already launched the seemingly niche Dacia Duster here under its own badge, the Bridger certainly isn’t off the cards.The biggest snag so far? No Indian-built Renaults have been offered for sale in Australia.

Having launched the pure-electric version of its Cayenne large SUV late last year, Porsche Cars Australia has released details of a new all-wheel drive S Electric model, positioned between the existing entry-grade Electric and top-spec Turbo Electric.Scheduled for arrival in the third quarter of this year, the the Cayenne S Electric is powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor on each axle producing 400kW (up to 490kW with launch control) which is a mid-point between the base model’s 325kW and the Turbo’s 630kW (850kW with Launch Control).Claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time is a seriously rapid 3.8 seconds and a 113kWh (gross capacity) drive battery delivers combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) range of 635km (WLTP).With a charging capacity of up to 400kW Porsche says the Cayenne S Electric can be charged from 10-80 per cent in 16 minutes at that rate.And as per the Cayenne Turbo Electric, the Cayenne S Electric uses direct oil cooling for the rear-axle electric motor to dissipate heat directly from the current-carrying components.Car spotters should look out for specific front and rear aprons finished in ‘Volcano Grey Metallic’, body colour on selected inserts and the rear diffuser as well as 20-inch ‘Aero’ rims.2026 Porsche Cayenne pricing2026 Porsche Cayenne S Electric powertrain and efficiencyThe Cayenne S Electric is powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor on each axle producing a combined 400kW (up to 490kW with launch control).Combined cycle energy consumption is between 21.7–19.2kWh/100 km with range at 635km (WLTP).2026 Porsche Cayenne S Electric standard featuresAside from included safety tech, standard feature highlights are:20-inch ‘Aero’ alloy wheelsPrivacy glassParking Entry Package (with ‘Surround View’ and ‘Self-Steering ParkAssist’)Digital radioExterior colour - up to and including the ‘Dreams’ range as no-cost options14-way electric comfort seats with memory packageBose ‘Surround Sound System’Panoramic roof systemSeat ventilation (front)Four-zone automatic climate controlOptions:Porsche Torque Vectoring PlusPorsche Active Ride suspensionPorsche Ceramic Composite Brake (with yellow-painted brake callipers)2026 Porsche Cayenne S Electric coloursExterior colour options (standard): WhiteChromite Black MetallicVanadium Grey MetallicCarrara White MetallicDolomite Silver MetallicMystic Green MetallicMadeira Gold MetallicAlgarve Blue MetallicNapali Blue MetallicOptional ($7370):Oak Green Metallic NeoPale Blue MetallicSlate Grey NeoMonteverde MetallicInterior colour options:Partial leather - Black - Black/Chalk BeigeLeather - Black - Black/Lavender - Black/Magnesium Grey - Black/Sage Grey - Black/Bordeaux Red - Black/Chalk Beige - Black/Chalk BeigeSynthetic leather - BlackClub leather - Espresso - Bramble2026 Porsche Cayenne S Electric safetyThe Porsche Cayenne has not been assessed by ANCAP but standard safety features include:‘ParkAssist’ (front and rear) including reversing camera3D Surround View with Active Parking Support (Self-steering Park Assist)Warning and Brake Assist incl. Pedestrian protectionDriver Awareness DetectionLane Change Assist - Blind-spot monitoring and Rear AssistLane Keeping AssistTraffic sign recognitionAirbags - front, front side (thorax), side curtain (covering both rows) and knee airbags for driver and front passenger2026 Porsche Cayenne S Electric warranty and servicingService interval - 12 months / 15,000 kmWarranty - Three years / unlimited km (including paint)Battery warranty - Eight years / 160,000km12-year rust warrantyRoadside assist - Three years2026 Porsche Cayenne S Electric dimensionsLength - 4991mmWidth - 1980mmHeight - 1674mmWheelbase - 3023mm

Chery’s QQ3 budget hatch EV has been given a sharp price overseas ahead of its potential Australian launch as another budget EV hatchback battler.The Toyota Corolla-sized QQ3 is priced from 68,920 yuan in China, which converts to around A$14,000. While cars imported from China carry a significant price increase, it would still fall around the $20,000 mark in Australia when the usual additional costs added. This is similar pricing to the BYD Atto 1 in Australia, which has a starting price of $23,990, before on-road costs. However, it is more likely Australia would get the pricier long range version of the car, which has 420km of range as opposed to 310km, according to more lenient CLTC.This would give it a closer range to its rivals, which have around 350-400km real-world capacity. This variant of the car would more likely sit closer to the $30K bracket, in a similar price region to the GWM Ora and MG4. It could also line-up as a competitor to the incoming GAC Aion UT in an emerging Chinese electric hatchback battleground, which will start from $31,990 (before on-roads).The QQ3 would probably need a more powerful electric motor set-up than the 58kW and 90kW currently on offer in China if it launches in Australia. Its current set-up is underpowered compared to many of its rivals, such as the Aion UT, GWM Ora and MG4, which all have at least 125kW of power as standard. When CarsGuide contacted Chery Australia about the car late last month, the brand said it could not confirm whether the QQ3 is destined to launch Down Under. However, local Chief Operating officer Lucas Harris has previously said the brand is eager to bring an electric hatchback to Australia, making special mention of the QQ lineup, so it may not be too far away.Chery is continuing to grow its presence in Australia, and finished in the top 10 best-selling brands for February 2026.Chery’s only all-electric offering in Australia currently is the E5 compact SUV.

GWM has confirmed via its Chinese social media channels that its upcoming Ora 5 small SUV will be available not just as a fully electric model, but as a hybrid and with pure-combustion power, too.The small SUV will launch to the Thai market this month with all three powertrains, as opposed to its original all-electric form.Global Ora brand General Manager Lu Wenbin said the Ora 5 needed to “strive to adapt to different energy environments worldwide and cover all usage scenarios.”“We want global users to be able to choose the most suitable car, no matter where they are or how they use it.”He said the 'muliti-power' versions of the Ora 5 would become available in April in China, where the fully electric version has been available for some time.The brand confirmed the plugless hybrid version of the crossover will use a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired to a two-speed electrified transmission, with an official fuel consumption figure of 4.5L/100km.Meanwhile, the pure combustion version will be equipped with the familiar combination of a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, as also seen in the Haval Jolion, for example.Australia is a logical next move for the Ora 5, which has been strongly hinted at by GWM’s local division in the past. As it is built in Thailand, it will be available from the get-go in right-hand drive, and GWM already sources the electric Ora hatch from this Thai facility, which used to build the Holden Colorado for Australia before it was bought by GWM and re-tooled.It is unclear if the brand will take the plugless hybrid version in Australia, although it has previously told CarsGuide it would primarily need to expand on its fully electric or plug-in offerings to stay ahead of its targets according to Australia’s strict New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES).When queried, a representative for GWM Australia said the Ora 5 was still under consideration for Australia, and that "whilst Ora represents EV for GWM today, this is likely to evolve as new powertrains become available."While the Ora 5 shares its styling language with the smaller Ora hatch, it rides on a more modern ‘GWM One’ platform, which supports multiple powertrain options, as well as the brand’s latest ‘Coffee 3.0’ in-car software.This is hosted on a 15.6-inch central multimedia screen, and unlike the current Ora hatch, the Ora 5 features the latest switchgear on the inside, like a similar steering wheel to the new Haval range and a column mounted shifter to free up space in the centre console.The brand is targeting a five per cent lower purchase cost and 15 per cent lower running costs for the Ora 5 compared to its competitors.  Ora was originally GWM’s fully-electric brand, with its Cannon and Tank 4x4 brands focusing on a mix of combustion and hybrid power while maintaining their off-road abilities, and its Wey luxury arm focusing primarily on plug-in hybrids.The shift to hybridisation mirrors the moves of many other large car brands the world over, as electric vehicles reach either a point of saturation or limited demand in some markets.GWM is plotting a massive expansion of the Ora brand as it seeks to trim its emissions and expand on its range of cost-sensitive offerings, as well as compete better with other strong export brands like Chery and BYD. According to presentation slides the brand has shown in the past, the Ora 5 is set to be followed up by at least four more models, including two more small cars, a larger SUV and a city-sized vehicle.Stay tuned for more on GWM’s expansion plans over the course of 2026 imminently. While the Chinese juggernaut had a hard-fought top position amongst Chinese brands in Australia, it has been overtaken by BYD in the first few months of 2026 as its rival’s line-up expands.

BMW has released details of its sharply-priced revamped iX3 electric compact SUV, with serious boosts to driving range and power output. The new-generation mid-size SUV starts from $109,900, before on-road costs, which is $5000 cheaper than the previous base model iX3 when it was released. BMW slashed the price of its previous- gen iX3 by more than $10,000 in 2023, with this latest version representing a return to the $100K+ bracket for the SUV. The car's price still sits below previous expectations of a $120K price tag, making the iX3 competitive compared to its segment rivals.It comes in as more affordable than a comparative all-wheel drive Audi Q6 e-tron, which starts from more than $120,000, before on-roads. It is also cheaper than the electric Genesis GV70, all-wheel drive Porsche Macan and dual-motor Polestar 3, with all three cars priced in the $130K+ bracket.There have been substantial improvements to the new-generation iX3 across the board. Its bigger 108kWh battery has a driving range of more than 800km (WLTP), nearly doubling that of the outgoing model and its 800-volt platform facilitates DC charging from 10-80 per cent in 21 minutes. The new SUV's dual electric motor set-up provides 345kW and 645Nm, enabling a 0-100km/h sprint of 4.9 seconds, utilising its all-wheel drive system.This means the iX3 has taken a significant step up on the set-up in the outgoing rear-wheel drive only iX3, which had a driving range of 460km and outputs of 210kW/400Nm.The car gets plenty of gear as standard, such as BMW’s wrap-around dashboard display and a head-up display. Seats are trimmed in a synthetic leather, with the front ones electrically operated and heated, and there is a premium Harman Kardon sound system. The new iX3 will launch in the middle of 2026, with more variants expected to follow soon after. 2026 BMW iX3 pricing Australia2026 BMW iX3 electric motor and efficiency2026 BMW iX3 standard features20-inch wheelsHead-up displayPanoramic digital dashboard displayPanoramic sunroofElectrically adjustable seats with memory functionHeated front seatsHeated steering wheelSynthetic leather seatsElectrically operated tailgateAutomatic air conditioningAmbient lightingPremium Harmon Kardon sound system2026 BMW iX3 safetyThe new BMW iX3 has not been crash tested yet. Standard safety features include: Adaptive cruise controlPark assistLane keep assistSteering assist2026 BMW iX3 warrantyAll new electric BMW cars are covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and an eight-year/160,000-kilometre battery warranty. 

Tesla Australia has confirmed the Model Y L will launch Down Under in the coming months.The brand has revealed few other details about the Model Y L in Australia, so we do not know how much it will cost, or exactly when it will arrive.However, based on its approval for sale in regulatory documents in late February, it is likely the three-row SUV will officially go on sale in Australia within the next few months. The Model Y L offers a six-seat layout, targeted to build on the success of the standard Model Y, which has continued its run at the top of the EV sales charts in Australia. The seats are set up in a 2+2+2 configuration.There are limited three-row electric SUVs on sale, with most carrying a hefty price tag and luxury features, such as the incoming Cadillac Vistiq, which will start from more than $100K. The Volvo EX90 is another car in the category, with a starting price north of $120K. The Model Y L will also likely be a more affordable alternative to the Kia EV9, which starts from $97,000, before on-road costs.The six-seat Tesla measures up overall bigger than its five-seat counterpart. It will be powered by the same dual electric motor set-up found on the existing long-range all-wheel drive variant, producing a combined 378kW.We also know it will have 19-inch wheels as standard, but all other technical details are still not known at this stage. In China, the car has an 18-speaker sound system and a 16.0-inch central touchscreen, as well as an 8.0-inch rear touchscreen. Over there, the car starts from 339,000 Yuan (around $70,000). Cars imported from China usually carry a price hike once they land in Australia.This likely means the Model Y L will also have a price jump over the current Model Y long-range all-wheel drive variant, which has a starting price of $68,900, before on-road costs. 

New reports out of the US say Hyundai and Kia may be forced to significantly reduce their EV footprint as volatile trade winds bite.According to industry source Automotive News, the upcoming and heavily updated Ioniq 6 will be forced to be offered in just one variant, the Ioniq 6 N, as opposed to an expanded line-up.Conversely, Kia has been forced to indefinitely shelve its performance-oriented EV6 GT and EV9 GT, at least for the US market.This is because the Korean-built models will fail to be competitive enough in light of the US administration’s continued tariffs, which would add significant costs to the models once delivered in the USA. Models built locally, like the rest of the EV6 and EV9 range would not be affected.When contacted for potential impacts for Australian production, a Hyundai Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide its plan to launch the Ioniq 6 N would proceed as planned toward the end of April this year, and while the brand was considering further additions to the line-up, it was too early to say whether these plans would be impacted by tariff movements at HQ.Meanwhile, a Kia Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide that as it stands right now supply of the EV6 GT and EV9 GT would continue for the Australian market, and would remain unaffected by tariffs overseas.Locally, the range-topping Kia EV9 GT costs $129,250 before on-road costs, while the EV6 GT starts from $99,660 before on-road costs.Interestingly both brands also said at this stage they would not be affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as vehicles sourced by each brand did not pass through the region for the Australian market.It seems a case of right-hand drive production insulating both automakers from wider impacts to the left-hand drive market, which is largely determined by demand coming out of either the USA or China.However, many other automakers will continue to pull back on EV plans due to the removal of subsidies in the US, and rising demand for hybrids the world over.Volkswagen for example is pivoting to range-extender hybrids in China and the US, where the tech will underpin its just-launched ID.9X large SUV, and its new range of big ladder frame 4x4s from rebooted Scout Motors.Meanwhile a range of Chinese brands, like MG’s IM luxury arm, Leapmotor, Geely, and Deepal are all rolling out range-extended hybrid powertrains across their range.Hyundai Group itself will invest in the tech, with executives frequently hinting the brand will pivot to a range-extender set-up for the highly anticipated Hyundai Ute, as a significant point of difference from its Kia Tasman cousin.While it is yet to be confirmed, it seems to be a logical next step for the brand, as many brands are betting on hybrid technology for the future of larger models in big left-hand drive markets like the US and China.Despite headwinds, Hyundai is also one of the few automakers standing by its hydrogen plans. Many are shying away from the potential diesel-replacing technology due to its massive upfront technology costs in a challenging financial environment.Stay tuned on more of both Hyundai and Kia’s plans in 2026 as they defend their hard-fought sales position in Australia from the meteoric growth of Chinese rivals like BYD, Chery, and GWM.

There’s now officially a new best-selling Chinese brand in Australia.

The Skoda Superb is now available with a plug-in hybrid set-up, adding a new option to the wagon segment. 

Polestar has lowered the price of some grades of its updated Polestar 3 in Australia. The refreshed electric SUV starts from $116,700, before on-road costs, for the base single motor, which is more than $1700 cheaper than the previous model. The long-range variant is $1600 cheaper than last year’s pricing, while the top-grade Performance has increased nearly $2300, starting from $146,700 (before on-road costs).The Polestar 3 is a rival for the BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQE, which both have starting prices north of the $130K price bracket. The main change for the Polestar 3 is the addition of 800-volt architecture, which has improved charging times by more than 25 per cent, according to the brand. Neither the BMW or the Mercedes-Benz are built on an 800-volt platform, both have 400-volt architecture instead, meaning the Polestar offers faster charging times than its rivals. All variants can charge at more than 300kW, facilitating a 10-80 per cent charge time of 22 minutes across the range. The Polestar may charge faster, but driving range remains competitive between the trio. The 111kWh battery on the previous model is no longer available on the Polestar 3, due to compatibility with the new 800-volt platform.The base rear motor variant now comes with a 92kWh battery, which has a driving range of 604km, down from more than 700km. Dual-motor variants get a 106kWh battery. The cheaper dual motor has about the same driving range as before, while the Performance grade has seen its range increase to nearly 600km. The Performance grade also gets a power boost and now produces 500kW and 870Nm, with 0-100km/h taking 3.9 seconds. This is in part due to a newly-developed rear-mounted motor on all variants. As part of the changes for this year’s models, the car is fitted with a premium 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system and head-up display, among other features as standard. Otherwise, the cabin is much the same as the previous model but new zippy computer processing, provides a boost to tasks and safety performance.This upgrade will be available to existing Polestar 3 owners as part of a complimentary hardware retrofit. 2026 Polestar 3 pricing Australia2026 Polestar 3 electric motor and efficiency 2026 Polestar 3 standard featuresOther standard features includeHead-up displayFoldable boot floorAcoustic rear windowPower-operated steering columnSoft-close doorsUpgradeable features: 2026 Polestar 3 safetyThe Polestar 3 received a five-star ANCAP safety rating. Standard safety features360-degree cameraCurve speed assistLane change assistPark assistAdaptive cruise controlLane keep assist2026 Polestar 3 warranty and servicing The Polestar 3 comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and an eight-year/160,000-kilometre warranty for the battery.