Family Cars

The Chery Stockman dual-cab ute has the potential to truly rattle the cage of rivals such as the BYD Shark 6 and JAC Hunter PHEV and even more established players like the Toyota HiLux and Nissan Navara.A diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain is straight away an obvious point of difference for the Stockman range – with a petrol PHEV due here in 2027 – and that’s a big deal because, as CarsGuide news editor Dom Tripolone has noted in previous stories, no other ute-maker has delivered a diesel-hybrid set-up to market here, not even Toyota.With the Stockman due to go on sale here at the end of this year, anticipation is rapidly building, but Chery’s ute needs to excel in a few key areas – namely capability, real-world local tuning and price – in order for it to really make a mark in the Australian market.Read on.All early signs here are positive.The Stockman will have a 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine and an electric motor for total outputs of 350kW and 800Nm.Electric-only driving range will likely be between 80km and 100km.The diesel plug-in hybrid will be joined by a petrol plug-in version in 2027.This big ute – measuring 5450mm long (with a 3250mm wheelbase), 2010mm wide and 1890mm high – will have 247mm of ground clearance and be fitted with all-terrain tyres as standard.Suspension will be a double wishbone set-up at the front and leaf springs at the rear.Chery has previously stated that the Stockman would have a dual transfer case – with low- and high-range 4WD – and front, centre and rear diff locks, so, on paper, it’s well set up for off-roading and dirt-track touring.The Stockman’s tub is claimed to be 1560mm long, 1560mm wide and 500mm deep, so industry standard.Though Chery has not officially released any payload figures yet, towing capacities for this ute are claimed to be 750kg (unbraked) and 3500kg (braked), so industry standard.If the Stockman delivers on Chery’s capability promises then that’s a battle won.When it comes to an AWD or a 4WD marketed as a “purpose-built” 4WD, the proof really has to be in the off-road pudding.Car buyers are so sophisticated nowadays that carmakers are increasingly entering into collaborations with companies in order to develop vehicles that greatly benefit from substantial engineering away from the OEM.Chery has revealed it has enlisted the services of Melbourne-based vehicle engineering firm, Premcar, to manage the Stockman’s local ride and handling program in order to tweak the ute’s suspension and chassis to ultimately best suit Australian conditions.Premcar’s work on the Navara and Patrol Warriors, among many other vehicle projects, is renowned and has shown that the company can be entrusted with crucial conversion work, engineering upgrades and the fitment of adventure-ready accessories in order to add real value to a vehicle.Chery Australia Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris has previously told CarsGuide that Premcar staff were “doing assessment and validation across many different aspects of the vehicle and many different driving situations”.“So it's not just off-road, but it's also on-road performance, and they'll give feedback on ride and handling and how the infotainment system works, and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) and how the ADAS (advanced driver assist systems) works.”True blue tuning across myriad road and track surfaces in different conditions is welcome, but a car company simply claiming that it has undertaken “local tuning” is not welcome.In Premcar we trust.The value-for-money space is one in which the Stockman can be solidly established especially if Chery manages to price the ute in such a way that holds plenty of appeal as an attractive purchase.Pricing has been tipped to be around the $57,900 mark (excluding on-road costs), which will pit it squarely against the likes of BYD Shark 6 and MGU9.If the Stockman proves value- and feature-packed, as well as comfortable and capable enough then sharp pricing will make it even more competitive in an increasingly pricey market.If Chery has created a ute that manages to avoid the flaws and niggles of some other Chinese off-roaders – such as counter-intuitive and complicated touchscreens, intrusive driver-assist tech, clunky off-road traction control systems, and an inability to truly excel in the tough stuff – then it’s on its way to getting a real foothold in the Aussie market.Add in sharp pricing, solid build quality, reliable all-round capability, and an agreeable on-road performance and the Stockman may be able to really crack the whip on its competition.Note: The Stockman is due to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026, when pricing and technical details for the diesel PHEV and petrol PHEV are expected to be announced.

Honda’s next-generation hybrid plans are heating up.The Japanese brand will use its upcoming hybrid system in the new CR-V mid-size SUV and begin mass-production from February 2027, according to a report in Nikkei Asia.It is also planning to offer the CR-V as a hybrid-only model moving forward, ditching the petrol-only set-up globally, as it aims to introduce 15 new hybrid models by 2030.In addition to the CR-V, Honda has unveiled sedan and SUV prototypes to ride on an all-new platform and electric all-wheel drive set-up.The SUV will fall under Honda’s Acura luxury sub-brand in the US, and will be based on the CR-V.Most of these models will be built in left-hand drive, raising doubts as to whether they will enter the Aussie market.However, Honda Australia President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Joseph told CarsGuide in June 2026 the brand is becoming more capable of satisfying both LHD and RHD markets.Honda is planning another globally-targeted model called the Avancier that will be a three-row large SUV, targeting Thailand and China by early 2027.The Avancier will be in Thailand, which is a RHD market, thus improving the car’s chances of an Australian launch in the future.The Japanese brand is taking hybrid power seriously in Australia, with every model now available with the powertrain, and at a more affordable price, so the Avancier could be a desirable option.Honda Australia has not officially confirmed any news about the Avancier, but CarsGuide has contacted the local branch to learn more.The Avancier is not the Pilot XXL three-row SUV that will also use the next-generation hybrid set-up.That car will specifically target the North American market after 2030.In mid-2026, Honda made a global U-turn by pivoting heavy investment toward hybrids instead of EVs from 2027.The brand shelved its mid-size SUV and sedan electric concepts that were to form the bulk of its ‘0 series’ global EV push.Honda is still planning to launch the remaining Alpha small SUV in the ‘0 series’, and it could be on the cards for Australia as it hasn’t been ruled out by the local subsidiary.These newly developed hybrids are supposed to cost Honda 30 per cent less than the current generation of its hybrids, while boasting a more than 10 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency.

Zeekr is warning of potentially long wait lists for its upcoming range of much-hyped cars, telling CarsGuide expressions of interest were building “faster than expected.”Speaking at the Everything Electric show in Sydney, Zeekr Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Frank Li said he was expecting there to be extended delivery times for the 7GT electric station wagon as well as the 8X and 9X large plug-in hybrid SUVs set to arrive in 2027 as the order banks grow in Australia and across the world.“We anticipate that 7GT might actually have a longer wait list than 7X did,” he said, adding “9X and 8X really have this huge interest. Every time I attend an event - even things not related to cars at all, I will have people try and place an order with me.”“The order bank is growing fast. Faster than we expected. There’s huge hype amongst our customers. We’re even seeing some families flying 8X across from China.”Li said the overwhelming reception to these new models in the markets they have already launched in, like the UAE and even the Chinese domestic market, was creating bottlenecks for the company.“It’s not just production capacity, but the whole supply chain. Shipping, logistics, even delivery centres can hold things up.”Li said that while the 8X and 9X “will bring Zeekr to the next level in Australia” in terms of volume, he warned availability would be severely limited.“I strongly recommend that buyers place a deposit if they want one. They need to make sure they are in that line so once the car is launched they can get into it as soon as possible.”The 7X mid-size SUV, which launched at an unprecedented price-point for a premium electric mid-sizer of $57,900, before on-road costs, rapidly became one of the fastest-selling EVs in Australia. By the end of August this year, it was the ninth best selling car in the country overall.However, some customers were left waiting some time for delivery as the brand struggled to keep up with demand.Li’s warning about potentially even worse wait times bodes well for the brand long-term, which is even more ambitious than it was when it arrived in Australia just two years ago.When asked if Zeekr could be the number one luxury brand in the country, leapfrogging once-favourites like Audi BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Li said recent developments make that a possibility, but sales targets aren’t his primary concern.“When we launched the brand, not just in Australia but globally, we were always hoping to become the best-selling premium EV brand, but with PHEV coming with 8X and 9X I think we can have some bigger ambitions of trying to become the best-selling premium brand,” he said.“But, apart from sales volume, it’s more important for us actually to have that customer satisfaction and the attitude toward the Zeekr brand.“If you were to ask me about what the brand looks like in three years I wouldn’t have a volume target to share with you, but after three years if we’re surveying customers when we ask about premium brands, Zeekr needs to be one of their top considerations. So this is more important than volume. That’s my target.”To that end, Li said the brand’s dealers would be asked to build a more premium experience in order to set Zeekr apart from its myriad of rivals and soon-to-arrive competitors like Avatr from Changan or Wey from GWM.“We’re not aiming for this big number of dealers, and for them to just change their logo and start selling cars. That’s not what we want, we want to build the customer experience properly.”He said the brand’s big investments in track events, dining and experiences were part of keeping its buyers engaged for longer “after we’ve handed over the keys”.It may even result in the Australian market scoring its own option packs, as the brand welcomes buyer feedback on track days and modifications.“Actually, we’ve already got customers showing us modifications they’ve done themselves,” Li said. “We’re developing some OEM-backed modifications for the Australian market. These are the kinds of lifestyle things we’ll be working on in the future.”Next for Zeekr is the launch of the 7GT which is expected to arrive before the end of 2026 with customer deliveries more likely for early 2027. The 9X three-row large plug-in will follow shortly afterwards, with the 8X due in the second half of 2027.

Hyundai let CarsGuide in on why its Australian division gets special attention from its South Korean parent company.“We’re quite a small percentage of global volume but the level of support we get from Korea is always higher,” said Bill Thomas, Hyundai Australia’s GM of Corporate Communications.“Australia is a hugely competitive market and if you’re doing well here, you will, in theory, do well in a number of different markets which are less competitive.“Also, in terms of customer sentiment, there’s a mixture of European and American buying behaviour.”“So there’s interest from in the makeup of the market, both the competitor set and the customer demand for various types of vehicles.”Globally, Hyundai’s Australian arm outperforms compared to other markets where the South Korean giant plays.“If you look at our market share compared to some of the markets across the world, you’d find that we’re certainly up there amongst the better performing markets,” said Hyundai Australia's General Manager of Product Planning Jonathan Lam.Australia is not just important to the company as a vector for high sales either. Our market has seen the introduction of right-hand drive exclusives, like the first-generation Palisade large SUV, or the last-generation Veloster hatchback.There are new factors drawing Korea’s attention to Australia. Our market has become one of the most competitive in the world off the back of Chinese automakers using Australia as a stepping stone to Europe.It presents an opportunity both ways, as Hyundai has a chance to compete with these new brands often before they debut in larger markets.“The competitiveness of this market means that, yes, we are getting a lot of focus from headquarters,” continued Lam.“So that does actually make our job a bit easier, but at the same time it’s not like we can just ask for something and get it.“We have to make a strong case for every product. Head office won’t accept just anything, we have to be very detailed and structured in terms of the business case.”Lam said that the explosive amount of competition in Australia wasn’t boxing Hyundai into particular price points or segments for its range.“It’s not necessarily just the number of competitors here or how cheap they are” he said.“You could have a segment with fifty competitors, but it’s more to do with which are the ones actually selling in volume.”“We feel our pricing is competitive. Obviously there are competitors which will be cheaper, and there will be some which are more expensive, but I think for us it’s never just pricing which is what is driving market share or sales. Actually if it was just about pricing that would make my job a bit easier.”Lam said "intangible benefits" of the Hyundai brand, whether it was buyer familiarity, dealer and service network, or vehicle design and quality, are helping the company keep close to the front of the pack despite the ambition of new brands in the top-10 rankings.Lam said there were even products in Hyundai’s portfolio which didn’t have to sell in the kinds of volumes which rivals, Chinese or otherwise, might be aiming for.He conceded the Palisade XRT Pro, as a monocoque adventure-focused large SUV was a “quite niche” offering intended to make up around 10 per cent of the model’s volume.Even the Hyundai Inster city-sized electric hatch, which is priced significantly higher than something like the BYD Atto 1, was something the brand was keen to keep around as an alternative for buyers.“Niche products have their place in our portfolio. It’s not a car which is going to appeal to all consumers, but it has a very specific buyer subset who still really likes that car.”

A new affordable electric car brand is on its way to Australia.The Wuling Eksion 560 electric mid-size SUV has been approved for sale in Australia.It is 4745mm long, making it similarly-sized to the Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X.Wuling is a subsidiary of SAIC Motor that also owns MG and LDV - brands that have significant line-ups on sale in Australia.General Motors holds a significant stake in Wuling as well.The car is known as the Xingguang 560 in China, but is also on sale in Indonesia as the Eksion 560.It is available in petrol, plug-in hybrid and EV set-ups, but at this stage, only the latter has been approved for sale.Australian sales approval information confirmed the car has a single front-mounted electric motor that produces 150kW.It’s expected to offer the same 310Nm as in Indonesia.Indonesian models are equipped with a 69.2kWh battery, offering up to 530km of driving range, according to more generous CLTC standards.Buyers can expect a driving range of less than the 500km mark when the car is put through the more rigorous WLTP cycle.It can DC fast charge from 0 to 100 per cent in roughly half an hour.The Eksion 560 EV is a front-wheel drive only model.Australian examples of the car will only have five seats for now, despite a seven-seater variant existing overseas.Seats are wrapped in a synthetic leather upholstery, with the front ones ventilated and electrically adjustable.Elsewhere inside, there is a 12.8-inch central touchscreen and 8.8-inch digital driver display.It is unclear when the Wuling Eksion 560 will arrive in Australia or who it will be sold by.With the car already approved for sale, it is likely to hit showrooms some time in 2027, but there might be more details on this before the end of 2026.The car starts from 399,000,000 rupiah (around $32,000) in Indonesia, but buyers can expect it to be more expensive when it arrives here.This could see the Wuling Eksion 560 priced from around the $35,000-plus mark in Australia.

Ram Australia was very keen, only a couple of years ago, to show us just how good its inline six-cylinder replacement for the Hemi V8 was. But now, having established the new engine's credentials, Ram has brought the V8 out of retirement. It now measures 6.4 litres and is seen only in the, bigger, 2500 version of the Ram pick-up. But has nostalgia talked Ram into a backward step?

Honda is plotting a new hybrid three-row SUV for buyers, according to a report in AutoNews.The code-named Pilot XXL would be a full-size SUV designed to provide more space for larger families, related to the current Pilot SUV model on sale in the US.The Pilot rivals other three-row SUVs, including the Toyota Grand Highlander (its smaller sibling is known as the Kluger in Australia).Details are scarce, with the car expected to be produced in the United States from the first quarter of 2032.It is potentially 200mm longer than the standard Pilot SUV, which will provide a lot more interior space and storage capacity.It is likely to employ Honda’s next-generation V6 hybrid set-up, with an all-wheel drive system that features an electric motor powering the rear axle.This set-up is rumoured to boast a more than 30 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency and 10 per cent increase in potential acceleration.Honda has not revealed any details about the performance of its incoming hybrid engine, but the brand is investing heavily into hybrid power over the next few years.The V6 hybrid set-up will start to appear in new Honda models from 2028, which will provide further insight into what will power the Pilot XXL.Honda currently does not have a large SUV choice for buyers to compete in the popular family SUV segment and rival the Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Kluger in Australia.The Pilot XXL’s hybrid status would provide Honda with an emissions-friendly choice Down Under, but increasingly stringent emissions rules could see it incur fines here in the future.It will be built in the US, which means it will only be available in left-hand drive for now, reducing its chances of an Aussie arrival.However, Honda Australia President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Joseph told CarsGuide in June 2026 LHD manufacturing does not rule out Honda models for Australia."The right hand drive requirement is a little bit of a challenge for some of the North American product that we have, which was always intended for LHD," he told CarsGuide."But we're becoming more capable, and more adept, at being flexible on that. So that option is opening up."Its Australian future remains a while away, with plans still in their infancy in the US, but if there is demand from Australian buyers it is not out of the question.

Australia is about to receive a wave of new EVs before the end of 2026.EV sales are surging in Australia as brands beef-up their line-ups to provide further choice.Here is a look at some of the best models still to arrive this year.GAC will launch an ultra-affordable variant of its Aion UT electric hatchback before the end of 2026.This Standard Range variant is priced similar to the popular Geely EX2 that starts from $26,490 (before on-road costs).It should start at less than $30,000 drive-away when it gets here, given the current variant on sale starts from $31,990 (drive-away).It’s equipped with a 44kWh battery instead of a 60kWh unit, offering a driving range of 320km, compared to 430km, according to WLTP standards.GAC hasn’t confirmed performance output yet, but in China its front-mounted electric motor produces 100kW and 145Nm, which is less than the 150kW/210Nm available now.Kia will introduce its first fully-electric people mover, the PV5 Passenger, to the Australian market in 2026.The PV5 Passenger is the people mover variant of the PV5 Cargo already on sale Down Under. Its performance matches the PV5 Cargo, with a single electric motor making 120kW/250Nm and its 71.2kWh battery expected to offer around 416km of range (WLTP).Kia hasn’t provided a more specific launch date than Q4 2026, but it’s likely to be closer to December.The Korean brand hasn’t revealed pricing yet either, but Cargo starts from $55,990 (before on-road costs), so buyers can expect the more expensive Passenger variant to sit between $60,000 to $70,000.The much-anticipated Zeekr 7GT wagon is due to land in Australian showrooms in Q4 2026.The fully-electric Euro-styled wagon will target a similar reception to its 7X mid-size SUV sibling that has taken the Aussie market by storm so far. The 7GT is available in a rear-wheel drive configuration, making 310kW/440Nm, as well as an all-wheel drive variant, with 475kW/710Nm. We still don’t know how much it will cost, but it could sit around the $55,000 mark, coming in cheaper than the 7X SUV.XPeng is looking to make the most of its new factory-backed operation Down Under.The brand will launch its L03 electric mid-size SUV in December 2026, priced from $41,900 (before on-road costs). This means it’s cheaper than the Tesla Model Y ($58,900) and the Zeekr 7X ($57,900), while matching the Geely EX5’s starting price ($41,900). The L03 comes as standard with a single electric motor, producing 163kW/280Nm, and a 445km driving range from its 58kWh battery. There will also be a hybrid range-extender variant of the car that uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine to charge the battery and a single electric motor, making 178kW/280Nm.An updated Chery E5 small SUV will hit Aussie showrooms in late 2026.The E5’s budget-friendly status pits it against the BYD Atto 3 ($41,990) and Jaecoo J5 ($36,990, drive-away). It offers the same performance as its outgoing model, with 155kW and 288Nm, while its 59kWh battery offers 430km of WLTP driving range. It now has a larger 15.6-inch central touchscreen display and an auto-dimming mirror.The EX60 is the fully-electric counterpart to the XC60 - Volvo’s best-selling car of all time.The mid-size SUV will start from $86,900, and will tackle the BMW iX3 ($89,990) in the increasingly competitive electric SUV segments. The RWD variant produces 275kW/480Nm, while the AWD makes 375kW/710Nm. Performance increases up to 500kW and 680Nm on the more expensive P12 variant due in 2027. Its initial variants will be equipped with either an 83kWh battery offering 610km or a 95kWh unit offering 660km of range, according to WLTP standards.GWM is about to launch a new hatchback variant of its Ora 5 EV in Australia. The Ora 5 hatch will rival the BYD Dolphin and MG4 Urban in the affordable EV space. It’s expected to have the same single motor found in the SUV variant, making 150kW/260Nm. GWM has confirmed it has a 58kWh battery with a 435km driving range (WLTP). 

Aussies holding out for Lepas' budget electric SUV will have to wait a little longer.The Lepas L4 small electric SUV will be the Chery sub-brand’s second model to go on sale in Australia. Lepas had previously said the L4 would launch Down Under in 2026, but it now won’t be available until 2027.The L4 SUV was slated for launch in December 2026, following the Lepas L6 mid-size electric SUV that will arrive in showrooms before the end the year, but now the L4 has been pushed well back into 2027.Lepas has now said it has a view to launching the L4 in the first half of 2027, which could mean a delay of anywhere between one to six months.The L4’s compact size at 4420mm long sees it shaping up as a rival to the BYD Atto 3 Evo ($41,990) and Hyundai Kona Electric ($46,000). It will use the same battery and electric motor set-up as in the L6, but it has an improved 450km range due to reduced weight.The brand itself was originally projected to launch in mid-2026, but Lepas pushed it back to the late second half of 2026. It comes as fellow Chery sub-brand Omoda Jaecoo needed to delay the arrival of its Omoda 4 and Omoda 7 electric SUVs to the first half of 2027.Lepas has big plans in Australia.The brand will introduce plug-in hybrid variants of its L6 and L4 models in March and June 2027, respectively. It is unclear if the L4 plug-in lauch will be delayed now, too.The L8 PHEV will then arrive towards the end of 2027 as a large mid-size SUV rival to the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year Overall Winner, the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento. There will also be a full-size L9 SUV following after that in 2027. In 2028, there will be fully-electric variants of the L8 and L9, followed by a budget-focused L2 hatchback.  

Hi-tech Chinese brand Avatr has confirmed it will start taking orders on its 07L electric SUV later this year.The 07L is the first model confirmed for Australia from Avatr.Avatr is Changan’s premium brand aimed at Zeekr and MG's IM Motors.Australia is one of the first right-hand drive markets to get Avatr vehicles, with a few Southeast Asian countries receiving the vehicles first.Avatar will open pre-sales before the end of the year with the first deliveries of the 07L early in 2027. It is a large five-seat SUV and will compete against the slightly smaller Zeekr 7X, Tesla Model Y and Audi Q6 e-tron.Avatr hasn’t revealed any local details of the car yet, but it has launched in China earlier this year, which gives us an idea of what to expect.In China it is available in two grades, with the Max+ version using a single 305kW electric motor to drive the rear wheels.The potent Ultra grades up the ante with three electric motors, one at the front and two at the rear, combining for 712kW.Both use a roughly 90kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery that delivers a driving range of up to 725km in the single motor version and 650km in the tri-motor grade. Both ranges are calculated via the more lenient China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC) rather than the benchmark WLTP cycle, so expect real world ranges to drop by at least 20 per cent.2027 Avatr 07L detailsAvatr hasn't confirmed local prices, but the Chinese version starts from the equivalent of about $53,000 in Australia and jumps to about $60,000 for the Ultra.Chinese vehicles usually incur about a 20 to 25 per cent price rise in Australia, which would mean the range would likely start at about $64,000 and rise to $75,000 (before on-road costs).If the 07L pricing follows that logic it would be priced similar to the equivalent Zeekr 7X in Australia, which costs $63,900 (before on-road costs) for the single-motor Long Range grade and $72,900 the dual-motor Performance version.2027 Avatr 07L Chinese prices with Australia conversionAvatr will be joined by Changan, its parent brand next year.Changan hasn’t announced anything official just yet, but it has been on a hiring spree in Australia just like Avatr.It is one of China’s biggest automotive groups, and is of a similar scale to Chery or SAIC, the latter the owner of MG.Changan is also state-owned and its Deepal brand is already available in Australia via vehicle distributor Inchcape.Changan also partners with Mazda, with the Japanese brand sourcing its new range of electric vehicles from the Chinese giant, including the Mazda 6e sedan and incoming CX-6e SUV.There is no indication on what its Aussie line-up could look like, but Changan has a wide range of vehicles to choose from, including a ute.