Green Cars

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.

The latest brand to hit Australian shores from Chery Group, iCaur, has just made its public debut, and here’s what you can expect from the unusual new brand.iCaur Australia’s Head of Brand Kate Gillis told CarsGuide where the new marque will sit in Chery’s greater line-up, how it’s differentiated from rivals, and a bit on what’s coming next.The brand’s first product is the V25 mid-size SUV. It wears boxy 4WD styling, although it isn’t as adventure capable as some rivals. It will also launch early next year in fully electric form and a range-extender hybrid version will arrive at a later date.When asked why the brand was launching with a fully electric over a hybrid, Gillis said it was part of making a splash for the new brand, giving it a way to instantly stand out in a crowded market.“iCaur is a new-energy native” she said.“We wanted to have the first product and our flagship for now being a full battery electric vehicle. It’s a point of difference for us - obviously there are PHEVs already in this boxy SUV format, but nobody is doing a battery electric and we want to be the first to market with that.”“It’s for people who enjoy experiences and are electric car progressives. They want an EV but they’re not sure that it will fully suit their lifestyle - is meant to be a better fit for them.”While the V25 has boxy styling clearly inspired by proper four-wheel drives, it rides on a monocoque chassis rather than a hardcore ladder frame, and has less ground clearance than some rivals, with the underbody space designed to maximise batteries in fully electric versions.The hybrids in the brand's range sold overseas are range-extenders, with no hardware linkage between the engine and wheels, which are driven purely by electric motors.Performance is as high as 335kW/505Nm, according to Chinese specifications.The hybrid version will launch first in its domestic market and will be equipped with a 1.5-litre engine producing 115kW paired to a 33.68kWh battery good for a 150km electric driving range.Specs for the fully electric V25 which we'll see in early 2027 are yet to be revealed, even overseas.When asked how adventure capable iCaur is positioning itself given the styling, Gillies said the V25 and the rest of the range won’t be pitched as hardcore off-roaders.“It will be a very capable all-wheel drive - we wouldn’t say we’re up in that rugged category.”While pricing for the V25 was yet to be confirmed, but Gillis said iCaur was for “buyers with a higher discretionary income”, and if that means a more niche customer base compared to other Chery Group brands, that’s okay.“We won’t be a mass-market brand like Omoda Jaecoo or Chery - we’ll be more premium and the product opens up that opportunity for that new price point,” she said.This capable but not hardcore positioning seems to place the iCaur V25 as a rival to the likes of the Subaru Solterra (from $61,990) or the also-just-revealed next-generation Haval H7, which GWM promised would be priced less than $50,000.We can at least expect it will be priced above the current Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV, which starts from $34,990 drive-away, leaving a healthy $15,000 price gap for the incoming mid-sizer to shine.iCaur is also considering multiple versions of the V25, and may not just stick to all-wheel drive from launch, with rear-wheel drive options also being available to the brand.A big part of what sets iCaur apart, Gillis says, will be a commitment to customisation, something the brand is working on to have available at or close to the brand’s launch.“There’s a lot about modification and accessories and a real practical element around the iCaur brand,” she said, “the goal is to have no two iCaurs be quite the same - we’re going to be working with our dealers to make sure those accessories are both easy to choose but also easy for them to install - no waiting three months for parts - and it can all be installed inside our network.”She added new technologies also add opportunities for the brand to stand out for adventurous buyers; “Things like vehicle-to-load systems are certainly something we’re looking at as part of the spec offering.”On the topic of dealers, Gillis said iCaur is aiming to have national coverage from day one, and the brand was being picky about what dealer applications it selects.“They may have other Chery brands or not” she said, “but that doesn’t automatically qualify them. We’ll be carefully choosing them based on compatibility. We’ve had a lot of applications where we’ve said it’s not quite right for us.”She said the local division was looking to import some of the fun showroom appeal which the brand has for its outlets in China.iCaur will face internal competition on the boxy SUV front from fellow Chery Group brand Jetour, which is also planned to launch in 2027.Jetour is set to be independently imported rather than factory backed, like the rest of the Chery Group brands currently sold in Australia.Stay tuned for more details on iCaur's Australian launch plans before the end of this year.

BYD’s new car price offensive rolls on, with the brand launching Australia’s cheapest plug-in hybrid.The new BYD Atto 2 DM-i plug-in hybrid compact SUV is priced at $24,990 (before on-road costs) for the base Essential grade and jumps to $29,990 for the fully-loaded Premium variant.That makes it $9000 cheaper than the bigger BYD Sealion 5 and $10,000 more affordable than the larger Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid.This follows monster price cuts to the BYD Atto 1 Essential electric car, now $19,990 drive-away, and BYD Dolphin Essential, now $28,888 drive-away. The Atto 1 is now Australia's cheapest new car.2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i – PricingThe BYD Atto 2 uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor to deliver 122kW/300Nm in the Essential grade and 156kW/300Nm in the Premium. Both are front-wheel drive.The Essential variant uses a small 7.85kWh battery and the Premium has a circa-18kWh unit. These provide electric-only driving range of up to 39km and 90km, respectively and calculated by the benchmark WLTP test regime.BYD claims fuel use of 1.8L/100km for the Essential and just 0.7L/100km in the Premium grade.The Atto 2 can not DC fast charge but can absorb up to 3.3kW via an AC charger. The relatively small battery in the Atto 2 plug-in hybridmeans DC charging isn’t really relevant, with the Essential topping up in less than three hours via an AC charger and the Premium in a little more than six hours.2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i specificationsThe Atto 2 Essential plug-in hybrid comes with 16-inch alloy-wheels that jumps to 17-inch units on the Premium grade.There is LED lighting front and back and the Premium grade adds roof rail.The Essential grade has a fairly spartan interior to match its price tag, with a 10.1-inch multimedia screen, 8.8-inch driver display, Apple Carplay and Android Auto the headline features along with full complement of active driver aids and safety tech.The Premium version adds plenty more as standard, with:Panoramic sunroofSynthetic leather seatsSix-way power-adjustable driver's seatHeated front seatsAmbient lightingSix-speaker stereoWireless phone chargerVehicle-to-load (V2L) with 3kW output

Alfa's Tonale is a hit overseas, but you wouldn't know it in Australia. Are the latest updates for 2026 enough to reverse its fortunes from just a handful of sales in 2025?

EV prices are at an all-time low for Aussie buyers. The BYD Atto 1 is available from $19,990 (drive-away) until 15 December 2026, making it the most affordable new car on sale in Australia. This makes it cheaper than the petrol-powered Kia Picanto hatch that previously held the title.While the Kia Picanto’s retail $19,190 price is lower, this does not include on-road costs that push its drive-away cost in excess of the $20,000 mark.Other budget-focused players are also gathering steam like the Geely EX2 ($26,490), MG4 Urban (from $29,990 as a limited offer) and the incoming GAC Aion UT Standard Range.It's not just affordable EVs getting cheaper, SUV segments aren't far behind.Fuel prices have driven EV demand, but government rules are having a different sort of impact. The Australian federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) has brands seriously thinking about what models they introduce to the market Down Under. This is because cars sold that emit high levels of CO2 now incur significant fines, and count towards each brand's fleet total.Pure combustion cars, whether they are petrol or diesel powered, generally fall foul of emissions regulations which has seen brands remove those models from their line-up in favour of hybrid or fully-electric alternatives. Head of the EV Council and Origin Energy E-mobility GM Chau Le told CarsGuide NVES was driving competitive pricing for electric vehicles in Australia. “Thanks to the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, we now have over 100 EV models in Australia and across quite a number of segments from affordable, smaller cars all the way to larger SUVs,” Le said. “In each of these segments, EVs are becoming competitive, but we're not quite there yet in some of the segments. “We're still a bit out, but with more EV models coming in and improvement in battery technology, it's only a matter of time until we're competitive across all segments.”Kia Australia’s General Manager Marketing Dean Norbiato told CarsGuide in May 2026 the Korean brand was pivoting its popular Seltos SUV to hybrid-only due to potential NVES fines. The outgoing Seltos SUV is sold in Australia with both petrol- and hybrid-powered set-ups. “You just have to look at the penalties for NVES on a petrol vehicle versus a hybrid vehicle," Norbiato said. “For us to be a sustainable OEM in this market, hybrid obviously makes sense from that standpoint.”Kia's sister brand, Hyundai, has also signalled its intent to switch much of its incoming range of next-generation vehicles to hybrid-only.Expanding EV options doesn't automatically boost buyer demand, according to Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Chief Executive Tony Weber. “The impact it has had has been on the supply of vehicles. And we now are in a market in Australia where there's 132 EVs on sale in the country, and there's 80 plug-in hybrid models,” Weber told CarsGuide. “What NVES doesn't do is address the demand issue. And therein lies the challenge for the industry.”Electric car sales are not surging in all areas of the market, and the ute segment is still dominated by diesel-powered options.  The popular Ford Ranger had a slow August 2026 due to an ongoing recall preventing deliveries. It was still the sixth best-selling car in the country, while the Toyota HiLux held a place in the top three. The plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 has been a game-changer for the segment in Australia, and it has been one of the few utes to see sales growth in the last 12 months. Even though the Shark 6’s sales have grown significantly, buyers are still primarily choosing diesel options. BYD’s ute has sold only roughly a third of the units compared to the Ranger in 2026. Weber said demand is not driven by NVES, but external factors like the price of petrol and the subsidisation of EVs.He said the technology needs to be available before buyers make the jump.“Now, you can argue, and quite rightly, that NVES has had an impact, say in the ute market, because we're now seeing plug-in hybrids,” Weber said. “The question I have is whether those products would have come to the market anyway, because what also drives change in markets is competition."I think people will buy the car that meets their needs and wants and until the technology can actually satisfy those people in those segments, that will limit what they buy. “This is one of the great barriers as we move forward on that pathway to zero-emission vehicles.”Electric cars outsold petrol- and diesel-powered cars for the first time in a single month in August 2026.The SUV segment has been the latest to see a surge in EV sales, with three of the top 10 for August 2026 being fully-electric. SUVs show how technology reaches an enticing level to boost buyer demand. Many models now boast driving range exceeding 450km and there are now three-row options at more price points. Utes remain a difficult segment for fully electrics to crack, with towing and driving range key aspects of a buyer’s decision.  The BYD Shark 6 initially launched with a 2500kg braked towing capacity - short of the industry standard 3500kg. BYD has since introduced a performance grade that reaches the 3500kg, but it is the most expensive in the range, starting from $62,900. The Toyota HiLux BEV launched in May 2026. It only offers a 240km (WLTP) driving range and a 2000kg towing capacity, despite being the most expensive variant in the range ($74,990).The recently-revealed MG U9 will launch in Australia the fourth quarter of 2026 with a 3500kg towing capacity and 430km driving range, but it carries a $78,990 price tag.It costs buyers noticeably more money to drive out of the showroom with an electric ute than a diesel-powered one.As technology improves and demand picks up, this gap will shrink. 

The all-new Porsche Cayenne Electric range begins with this ‘entry-level’ model priced from $167,700 before on-road costs for the SUV body style and $173,500 for the Coupe. While that is a price premium over the existing petrol and hybrid models, it does come well specified.Standard equipment includes:20-inch alloy wheelsMatrix LED headlightsIlluminated ‘Porsche’ lettering on the bootlidPanoramic glass roofDual-zone climate controlEight-way adjustable sports seat10-speaker sound systemWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoThis new electric version has the same basic silhouette of the previous Cayenne, but the details give it a distinctive look, this new model is longer and lower than the internal combustion versions. The details of the design also give it a sharper, more modern look too. Inside, for all the hype around Porsche performance, one of the brand’s standout features, at least in my opinion, has always been interior design. This new Cayenne looks really interesting inside, with curved screens for the digital instrument display and the multimedia system, as well as the option to add a third screen in-front of the passenger.The overall level of fit and finish, the detail and quality of the materials is exactly what you’d expect from a premium brand and an SUV at this price point.The Cayenne Electric is powered by a dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain that makes up to 325kW of power and 835Nm of torque. That’s enough for it to launch 0-100km/h in just 4.8 seconds. The Cayenne is powered by a Porsche-built 106kWh battery that provides 542km of range.In terms of safety, the Cayenne Electric is equipped with all the features that have become expected, including speed limit warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist and full airbag protection.

Toyota has launched the first full-electric version of its iconic HiLux workhorse, but does it offer the right mix of price and practicality to be a realistic alternative to its diesel stablemates?