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A new electric compact SUV is getting closer.

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. 

The Toyota Tarago, axed half a decade ago, could make a return according to reports out of Japan.Renderings of a next-gen version of the once-popular people mover by Japanese magazine Best Car suggest we may see a 2027 Toyota Tarago revealed before the end of this year.The outlet, which has insider sources at Toyota and is regularly close to the mark on matters of the brand, says the design will be inspired by the original but its platform and running gear will be much more contemporary.With development already underway according to Best Car, reports say the next-gen Tarago — called Estima in its home market — will come with a full battery electric power or a plug-in hybrid option.Chances are, it’ll ride on the GA-K platform, which is a version of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) now almost ubiquitous in the brand’s line-up.There’s not too much more information on the incoming Tarago, aside from Toyota plans to try and keep costs low by using as much of its existing production line resources as possible to produce the new people mover.The plug-in hybrid version of the Tarago will likely use the same 1.5-litre petrol engine and battery as existing PHEV models, and like its BEV version will likely be available as all-wheel drive.Best Car has previously guessed the new Tarago will come in at 4900mm long, 1850mm wide, 1750mm tall and with a 3000mm wheelbase.There’s no guess as to what it’ll look like inside, but most of the details in the outlet’s rendering line up with Toyota’s current design language with nods to the original — save for perhaps the missing ‘c-shaped’ headlights we would estimate the brand would implement.

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

A new budget SUV has just been revealed. Indian brand Mahindra has unveiled its updated flagship seven-seater, called the XUV 7XO, which will replace the current XUV 700.It will start from 1.366 million rupees (around $22,500) in its home market of India. It will be available in two engine choices, which are 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.2-litre turbo-diesel variants, paired with either six-speed auto or manual transmissions. The petrol motor produces 149kW and 380Nm, while the diesel has 137kW and 420Nm, which rises to 450Nm with an automatic transmission.The petrol engine variant can go from 0-60km/h in under five seconds, according to Mahindra. The XUV 7XO is available with an all-wheel drive option.It is unclear at this stage whether 7XO will come to Australia, but it will likely replace the current 700 in the brand's local line-up.The XUV 700 starts from $36,990, drive-away and is only available with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, producing 149kW and 380Nm. The 7XO would be an alternative to the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, which managed more than 3500 sales last year. Mahindra Australia has been contacted for comment as to whether we will see the updated budget seven-seater down under. The 7XO represents a big upgrade from the 700.It comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, a new sleek headlight and grille design and electric door handles.The car has undergone a serious revamp in the cabin, with a variety of new technology on offer. Most notably, there is a display spanning the full width of the dashboard, comprising of three high definition screens. Elsewhere, it has a 16-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system, featuring Dolby Atmos 3D surround sound technology to further provide high quality audio. Wireless charging comes as standard in both the front and rear of the car, while a sunroof and retractable rear shades add to the comfort for passengers in the back. The seats in the 7XO have also been significantly upgraded, with a new high-density foam and plush pads, along with front and rear ventilation. 

Could a van be your next adventure vehicle? Ford thinks so, and to that end has introduced an adventure-focussed van, the Trail, to its Transit Custom line-up. The Trail is based on the long-wheelbase Transit Custom Trend and it’s equipped with all-wheel drive, raised suspension, and a Trail drive mode, 16-inch matt black alloy wheels, black wheel arches as well as yellow exterior decals.

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.

Nissan has confirmed price and specs for its updated and now hybrid-only Qashqai range for 2026.Not only has the 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine been dumped from the range, but the hybrid has been made more affordable with a new entry-level variant, the ST-L e-Power which starts from $45,640 before on-roads.However, the discontinuation of the previous entry-level combustion car has made the entry-point to the Qashqai range now over $10,000 more expensive than before.Nissan’s e-Power system flips the hybrid formula on its head, with only the electric motor driving the wheels, and the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine acting only as a generator.2026 Nissan Qashqai pricingThe Qashqai range now starts from the ST-L e-Power and tops out with the N-Design e-Power. See the refreshed pricing structure (with pricing before-on-roads) for the now-four-variant range below.2026 Nissan Qashqai powertrain and efficiencyThe hybrid-only Nissan Qashqai range is front-wheel drive only, and features the latest version of the e-Power set-up which is more fuel and emissions efficient than the previous version. In addition, it is also capable of a 10kW boost when in the Sport driving mode.2026 Nissan Qashqai standard featuresWhile the price has increased significantly for the entry-point to the Qashqai range, standard equipment inclusions have also scored a boost.Standard on all versions of the 2026 Qashqai are:18-inch alloy wheels12.3-inch multimedia touchscreenWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoOver-the-air connectivityWireless phone charging360-degree parking cameraKeyless entry with push-start ignitionDual-zone climate controlLED headlightsHigher grades score synthetic leather seats and larger alloy wheel designs among other upgrades. 2026 Nissan Qashqai safetyThe full safety suite is present on even the base versions of the new Qashqai, bar lane keep assist and blind spot monitoring which is only available on the Ti grade and above. The surround parking camera feature is now standard across the range.The 2026 Qashqai should carry over its maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating it was awarded in 2021, which is due to expire in December 2027. The ANCAP rating applies to both the hybrid variants and the outgoing combustion variants.2026 Nissan Qashqai warranty and servicingThe Qashqai is covered by the brand’s 10-year/300,000km warranty which is conditional on servicing inside the brand’s dealer network. Otherwise the warranty reverts to the brand’s previous five-year/unlimited warranty.Service pricing is yet to be confirmed for model year 26 versions of the Qashqai, but the outgoing car is covered by a fixed-price servicing regime, which is set at $399 per yearly visit.2026 Nissan Qashqai dimensionsThe new version of the Qashqai will maintain the same dimensions as the outgoing version, see these in the table below2026 versions of the Nissan Qashqai are due to hit dealerships in March.

Ahead of the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, Japanese modification outfit Kuhl has revealed a rugged new take on a Toyota icon.The 2026 Toyota LandCruiser Prado has been given a lift and bodykit by Kuhl, with the company dubbing the show car the ‘Iron Build’.Complete with a mix of visual modifications and genuine mechanical changes, including a new set of wheels and off-road tyres, the Iron Build is set to be shown off at Tokyo Auto Salon between January 9 and 11.The Prado’s standard wheel-and-tyre package has been replaced by a set of dishy 22-inch wheels called ‘Verz DR03’ from Kuhl’s own catalogue, and wrapped in a set of 37-inch Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 mud tyres.The result is a ground clearance that looks to be just about doubled, reportedly sitting at 399mm.It’s not just the lift, the Prado has also been bestowed with some body kit like the wing above the rear window, plus some protective ‘pipe’-style protection around the side steps, front and rear bumpers, and over the wheel arches.It also scores a roof rack and a 40-inch-wide LED light bar, completing the ‘weekend warrior’ look.Kuhl sells and installs the parts shown off on the Iron Build, offering its customers the choice of buying a full predetermined set of parts or choosing their own specific custom components.The company has built wicked wide-body and lowered versions of cars from most Japanese manufacturers, from slammed HiAce vans to WRXs that would look at home in Need For Speed.The Prado Iron Build closely follows the reveal of a pair of cars set to be shown off at Auto Salon, the Outroad versions of the Toyota GR86 which come either with or without a lift for the purposes of gravel driving in the rear-drive Toyota sports car.

China’s Zeekr has confirmed it has a new high-performance flagship SUV in the works and it’s reportedly set to launch in its domestic market during the first half of 2026.The Zeekr 8X is set to slot between the 7X electric mid-size SUV and the 9X plug-in hybrid large SUV.The Chinese carmaker has shared a few photos of the 8X with camouflage giving us an indication of what the exterior design looks like.While the 9X is clearly inspired by the Rolls-Royce Cullinan in terms of exterior design, the forthcoming 8X shrinks the form factor and brings a sportier, almost Range Rover Sport-esque look.There are C-shaped daytime running lights with a split-level headlight setup, C-shaped tail-lights with a lightbar connecting them, a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor, plus traditional pull-style door handles.As reported by Car News China, it’s expected the Zeekr 8X will be based on a version of the same SEA-S hybrid platform, which underpins the 9X. It’ll likely only offer five seats, however three-row versions might still be on the cards.Technical details haven’t been revealed yet, though the powertrains are expected to mirror what’s already offered in the 9X.This likely means there will be two or three electric motors, depending on the configuration, with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine acting as a range extender. Total system outputs could go all the way up to 1030kW and 1410Nm.The Zeekr 9X is already claimed to go from 0-100km/h in 3.1 seconds and it’s expected the 8X could be a little faster again given it’s a tad smaller.It’s expected the 9X’s 900V high-voltage battery packs will also carry over to the 8X. There are 55kWh and 70kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion battery packs offered with the latter offering up to 380km of electric range in the 9X, according to the lenient CLTC cycle.If this is the case, expect a little more range for the 8X given it’s smaller than the 9X.It’s claimed you can charge the battery pack from 20 to 80 per cent in as little as nine minutes.At this stage it’s unclear whether the Zeekr 8X will be coming to Australia.Zeekr has been selling vehicles in the Australian market for over 12 months now, launching initially with the X electric small SUV and the 009 electric people mover.The Chinese carmaker recently launched the 7X electric mid-size SUV in Australia, also confirming it won’t receive any updates for the next 12-18 months.