Family Cars

Lexus has added hybrid power to its hulking LX range. With fuel costing so much, is this the perfect solution for the big Japanese off-roader?

Ram Trucks Australia now offers an even more afforded entry point into its full-sized US pick-up truck range with the arrival of the RAM 1500 Express Black Edition for under $110,000.The Ram 1500 Express Black Edition will sit below the Rebel, Laramie Sport and Limited grades in the Ram 1500 line-up.It also undercuts rivals such as the Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra and Chevrolet Silverado. 2026 price table  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition 2026  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition engine and efficiencyThe Ram 1500 Express Black Edition is powered by the same 3.0-litre in-line six cylinder found in the Rebel and Laramie grades of the Ram 1500. The engine actually makes more power and torque than the V8 in the previous entry grade, the now-discontinued Big Horn.  2026  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition standard features‘Power bulge’ Sports bonnetBlack grilleBlack badgingBlack side mirror capsBlack door handlesBlack exhaust tipsBlack side stepsBlack 20-inch wheelsBody-coloured bumpersSpray-in bed linerDamped tailgateBed step on passenger sidePower operated sliding rear window portTinted rear windowsLED headlights and fog lightsCargo area lightCloth trimBlack interior highlightsLarge centre console with internal sliding tray8.4-inch infotainment screen7.0-inch digital instrument displayWired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto6-speaker audioSensor key with push button startRemote engine startGear selector dialElectric park brakeRear underfloor covered storage pocketsStorage space under the rear seats 2026  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition optional featuresMetallic paint $950 2026  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition safety featuresAdaptive cruise controlForward collision alert with AEBLane-keeping assistanceBlind spot monitoringRear cross-traffic alertFront and rear parking sensorsRear view camera  2026  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition Colors Diamond BlackGranite CrystalSilver ZynithBright WhiteMolten RedForged Blue2026  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition warranty Ram Truck Australia covers the Ram 1500 Express Black Edition  with a three-year/ 100,000 kilometre warranty

Chery one day hopes its fresh Lepas brand will evolve into a proper BMW or Mercedes-Benz rival.Until then, when sales kick off from late this year, it hopes that buyers of cars like its mid-size Lepas L6 will appreciate its European-inspired looks, classier cabin and advanced tech and pay a small premium of around five per cent over the equivalent Omoda or Jaecoo model.Getting off to the best possible start, the L6 introduces the brand's smooth curvy new design language that has been tailored to European buyers' tastes.Beneath the skin, the L6 is also on Chery's next-generation LEX platform and bags the Chinese car giant's EEA 5.1 electrics.When the Toyota RAV4-sized SUV lands Down Under it will be available with either a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or all-electric power.Before the end of the year, the L6 will be joined by a small L4 SUV that shares powertrains with its bigger brother, while later on in 2027 the larger L8 PHEV SUV will also land.Instead of sharing showroom space with Chery or Omoda Jaecoo, the Lepas brand will launch its own network of dealers.The brand separation is because Chery believes Lepas will attract different customers to the rest of its brands.Inside, the L6 looks like it shares hardware with the latest Jaecoo J5, sporting both the same 8.8-inch digital instrument panel and a 13.2-inch infotainment, although the latter is mounted portrait style, rather than landscape in the J5.Below the screen is a slim strip of shortcut buttons that sit above a wireless charging pad and twin cupholders.The steering wheel is also lifted from the Chery parts bin, but the dash architecture is new and features a strip of vents that stretch from pillar to pillar.Premium materials like synthetic leather and a metallic-style dash finish attempt but ultimately fail to conjure up Audi levels of perceived quality but the L6 still feels a cut above other Chery models.Our car also had heated and ventilated synthetic leather seats that are comfortable on a long drive, while even with four up there's plenty of space within, with a pair of rear air vents and dual USB ports for rear passengers.Luggage space is also average for the class, although there's no wheel well beneath the boot floor.We had a brief spin in the new EV, which features a single motor that drives the front wheels and produces 178kW and 275Nm of torque for decent getaway off the line.The electric L6 also is a quiet and refined companion, although its 67kWh battery, 400-volt electrics and 450km WLTP range won't set new standards for range or charging speeds within its class.More time was spent behind the wheel of the plug-in hybrid L6 that also impressed with its levels of refinement which meant it was almost impossible to detect when the small 1.5-litre petrol kicked in.There's also brisk acceleration off the line and enough might to generate some unruly torque steer as the front tyres struggled, which is a shame.Another gripe of the PHEV powertrain is an unwanted thump occasionally at speed when breathing on the throttle.Featuring a sophisticated multi-link rear suspension, the L6 has no excuses to not match the best in the class.To ensure it will be able to compete with its most talented rivals in the future Lepas will provide a special European suspension tune and, if the range of SUVs have a warm reception Down Under, buyers will also be treated to a local suspension tune.In China on smooth well-surfaced roads it was difficult to properly assess the L6's ride and drive other than to note it felt like engineers had opted for soft springs and reactive dampers that could be unnerved by speed bumps and the odd pothole.We think the steering could do with more tuning too, as it is overly light in Comfort mode and still pretty lifeless in Sport. When it comes to handling balance, unfortunately our driving route didn't include any proper country roads where we could explore the L6's handling balance. We'll have to wait until it lands on home turf.With clearly marked lanes, the Lepas driver assist tech was unobtrusive – which is a compliment – and even the muted speed limit assist didn't annoy too much, although the system desperately needs a shortcut to turn it all off, as it's fiddly and requires navigating through multiple menus.There's no word on what the Australian Lepas L6 line-up will look like but our car came with a heated front screen, panoramic sunroof (with a proper electric sunshade), an electric tailgate, dual-zone climate control, 50W wireless charger, synthetic leather six-way adjustable heated and ventilated electric seats, plus 360-degree surround view cameras all standard and a Sony sound system.While Lepas models are offered with a five-year/150,000km warranty in markets like South Africa, we'd be amazed if the new Chery brand didn't at least match the eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty Jaecoo models come with.It's been hotly tipped that when the Lepas L6 arrives in Australia it will command a five-10 per cent premium over the Jaecoo or Omoda models, which suggests a price point of at least $40,000 drive-away in Australia.

The expanding electric car price war has a new entrant.Subaru has just announced it has slashed thousands off the price of its Solterra and Trailseeker electric SUVs.The Solterra range now kicks off at $61,990 (before on-road costs) for the base variant, a reduction of $2000. The range-topping Touring grade gets a similar price cut to $67,990.Subaru already cut the price of the Solterra by $6000 late last year, while adding improvements.The regular Solterra has a driving range of 566km and the Touring 517km. Both use a dual-motor setup that delivers all-wheel-drive grip and pumps out 252kW and 337Nm.Subaru’s big five-seat all-wheel-drive Trailseeker EV has had $4000 ripped off the price tag before it has even gone on sale. Subaru’s website is still asking for expressions of interest for the Trailseeker.The Trailseeker now starts at $63,990, and rises to $69,990 for the Touring grade.It brings dual-motor grunt, which delivers Subaru’s trademark all-wheel-drive grip. The two electric motors combine for 280kW and 537Nm (according to US versions), which allow it to sprint to 100km/h from a standstill in about 4.5 seconds.At its heart is a circa-75kWh battery that delivers 533km of driving range in the base version and 488km in the Touring.The prices are effective from May 14th and Subaru urges customers who have already placed an order to contact their dealer to see if the update applies to them.Subaru also announced the arrival of its Uncharted compact electric SUV, which is its cheapest EV at $59,990.All three SUVs have been co-developed with Toyota, with the bZ4X the equivalent of the Solterra and the Trailseeker and Uncharted are the twin to the bZ4X Touring and C-HR+ EV. The latter is not on sale in Australia yet, but has been confirmed for launch here in 2027.Subaru isn’t alone in rushing to sell EVs, with Hyundai, Cadillac, Volvo and Zeekr all cutting the price of some of their electric cars in recent months.A wave of new Chinese models, such as the GWM Ora 5, MG4 Urban and BYD Atto 1, are all lowering the entry price to electric motoring, which is forcing other makers to be more competitive.Subaru's electric vehicle sales are flat compared to rivals, with the Solterra moving just 324 units through the first four months of the year. Tesla's Model Y is the best-selling EV so far this year with more than 6700 finding a new home. 

A new budget hybrid SUV from Mitsubishi has just arrived in New Zealand, but do not expect to see it in Australia any time soon. The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, known as the Xforce elsewhere, is a popular option in the small SUV segment and is a rival for the Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Kona and Honda HR-V. The Xforce was not on the radar for Australia due to design regulations, but its New Zealand announcement reignites rumours for an Aussie future.It could have significant benefits for Mitsubishi in Australia. Its hybrid status would ease potential future New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) fines for the brand. The hybrid Xforce would compliment the petrol-only ASX in Australia.Mitsubishi’s Australian lineup is almost exclusively made up of petrol- and diesel-powered models, with the plug-in hybrid Outlander mid-size SUV the only exception.The brand only has plans for one fully-electric model at this stage, which is a joint-venture compact SUV with iPhone manufacturer Foxtron.The Xforce faces regulatory challenges to its launch in Australia, with it unlikely to meet the more stringent design rules, which forced the previous ASX model to be dumped.A spokesperson for Mitsubishi Australia said the brand expressed interest in bringing the Xforce to Australia, but design rules restrictions prevented it from launching. The New Zealand Outlander Sport is powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor, producing 85kW and 255Nm in overseas examples.There is a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and digital driver display in the cabin, along with wireless phone charging and a panoramic glass roof as standard. It will arrive in showrooms in the third quarter of 2026.

The new, third-generation Audi Q3 arrives with big expectations. It’s the best-selling model for the German brand in Australia, so it needs to retain all the elements that have made it a sales hit while trying to expand its appeal. We drive the new Q3 110kW, 150kW and 195kW models to see if Audi has done enough to keep its small SUV ahead of rivals from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Volvo and more.

Think hybrid and you'll probably conjure a Toyota in your mind. After all, the Japanese car giant has been nothing short of a petrol-electric pioneer since the first Prius went on sale back in 1997, but now Chery is out to crush Toyota's hybrid dominance with its latest Super Hybrid System Hybrid (SHS-H) tech.Designed to be far more efficient than any of its rivals, while offering more power and higher levels of refinement, the first car to debut the new powertrain in Australia will be the Jaecoo J5, which should land in dealers in a matter of months.Not to be confused with the hybrid already slotted under the bonnet of sister brand Chery's Tiggo 4, the new SHS-H hybrid comes with an advanced 1.5-litre turbo petrol that, with a 44.5 per cent thermal efficiency, is capable of converting more precious fuel into usable energy than all rivals in its class.Combined with a single-speed dedicated hybrid transmission, which is itself 98 per cent efficient, and a small 1.82kWh battery and electric motor, Chery claims that the J5 SHS-H produces an impressive 165kW and 295Nm of torque – far more than the 143kW and 221Nm the latest 2026 Toyota RAV4 manages.For reference, the J5 Hybrid also produces 15kW more than the Chery Tiggo 4 and outpunches other rivals like the GWM Haval Jolion (140kW), MG ZS (158kW) and the small Toyota Corolla Cross (143kW).That's a good start, but actual fuel use for the J5 Hybrid is a claimed 5.3L/100km and a total range of 980km on a full tank, figures that don't exactly set the class alight for efficiency, but the Chinese brand claims a big drop in its thirst in real-world driving.In the metal, the Jaecoo J5 Hybrid looks identical to both the petrol version, which borrows its looks from the Range Rover Evoque.There is one subtle change that helps you tell the new J5 Hybrid apart (other than badging), as the electrified petrol gains a fresh set of 18-inch aerodynamically optimised alloy wheels that are unique to the hybrid.One other minor change worth mentioning is that the J5 Hybrid ditches the button for the electronic handbrake, with the car now automatically applying the rear stoppers at rest and only releasing them when the driver puts their seatbelt on.Inside, like the rest of the J5 range, there is a large 13.2-inch portrait-mounted infotainment that is blended with an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster.With an opportunity for a brief drive in China following its public launch at the Beijing motor show, the J5 Hybrid feels eager off the line compared with the lacklustre entry petrol, with 0-100km/h now taking 7.9 seconds – a whopping 2.3 seconds quicker than the base model.Without any gears to shuffle, the one-speed transmission is smooth and overall refinement levels high.Quick changes of direction hint at some improvements over the standard J5, but we will need to confirm on road whether the drive and ride have been improved.It is the latter we are most concerned about, as the J5 EV has reportedly been too easily agitated over rougher Aussie bitumen, but our brief spin over mostly smooth roads provided zero red flags.Jaecoo has yet to detail specifications for its new hybrid and it is unknown if the petrol-electric version will be offered in a single model grade, like the EV, or two trims like the entry petrol.The current J5 EV is well-equipped, with a glass sunroof, electric tailgate, dual-zone climate control, 50W wireless charger, synthetic leather six-way adjustable heated and ventilated electric seats, plus 360-degree surround view cameras all standard.Adding extra peace of mind, the latest J5 hybrid will be covered by the carmaker's generous eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, while services are expected to be every 12 months or 20,000km with a capped-price service program likely to be offered.In other markets, like the UK, the new J5 SHS-H commands a price premium over the petrol of around 10-12 per cent, which could see it priced from around $28,500-$29,100 drive-away when it goes on sale. 

Why is my 2019 Toyota Kluger not shifting gears correctly, revving high at around 40 km/h, struggling on hills, showing a check engine and AWD system warning light, along with codes P0745-7F and C1241 (low/high battery voltage)?

Why does my 1995 Ford Fairmont Ghia occasionally fail to crank or start, even after replacing the battery and checking the starter motor, alternator, and wiring? Could the ignition switch or barrel be the cause?

My 2023 Isuzu MU-X 4WD has worn out both front tyres on the inside at only 30,000km, and I’ve been told the front steering knuckle is faulty. Who is responsible for fixing this issue and covering the tyre damage?