Green Cars

You can almost feel the warmth, can’t you? You know, as Australia’s many thousands of EV owners bask in their collective smugness as fuel prices shoot skyward and the world continues its hell-in-a handbasket spiral.Sure, their smiles looked a little strained as the queues for public chargers grew and grew over the Easter break, but that aside, you’d have to declare the EV faithful the winners over the past couple of weeks.I spoke to someone from Tesla the other day who told me demand had been running hot, possibly hotter than ever before, since fuel costs began spiking. One of the Korean brands told me that almost all enquiry is focused on its EV models. And in March, EV sales were 86.2 per cent higher than they were in the same month last year.That staggering result inspired FCAI (the organisation that releases the monthly sales data) Chief Executive, Tony Weber, to ponder if “it is too early to determine whether this represents a structural shift in the market. More consumers are considering EVs due to the disruption to fuel supply caused by conflict in the Middle East, along with the review into the fringe benefits tax concession for EVs.”I can answer that for Mr Weber. It is permanent. And if for some reason it’s not, then Australian consumers need their heads read.My favourite question about EV take up (admittedly not one phrased by me) is to imagine a world where the EV came first, and then, some years later, some bright spark pitched a shift to internal combustion engines.“It will be amazing,” they would say. “We only need to replace the low-maintenance electric motor, with its handful of moving parts, with this engine, which has about 2000. Sure, the servicing needed will be much higher, we will need to fill it with oil, and we’ll need to turn fossils into a very expensive, volatile — and, as it turns out, very price sensitive — fuel source. But you will get a louder, slower, harsher and more annoying vehicle as a result. "And the best part is refuelling them. You know how you currently plug in at home, sometimes using nothing but sunshine? Well now you get to go to a petrol station and pay whatever extortionate number is on the board, and probably be muscled into buying two Kit Kats for a dollar by the person behind the counter."How do you honestly think that conversation would go?Now, I'm not suggesting each and every vehicle in Australia should be an EV. My magic wand would grant an exemption to most supercars, and to a handful of sportcars and hot hatches. Heavy trucking and regional areas would get a pass, too. As would anyone needing to do lots of heavy-duty towing. Some utes get a pass, too. But let's be honest, there are plenty of dual-cab owners who have never carried anything heavier than a bag of groceries.Everyone else? Electric works, believe me. If you drive a beige small car, an SUV of any size, live in a city (which is most of us), and especially if you have access to home charging, an EV is likely the right fit.And it's not just me that thinks so. Look at CarsGuide's Car of The Year awards. Best Small Car Under $50k? Kia EV3. Best Medium SUV Under $60k? Zeekr 7X. Best Medium SUV Under $130k? Hyundai Ioniq 5. Best Ute? The BYD Shark 6. All either electric or partly electric, and all among the very best vehicles in the country.So if you're not on board the EV train by now, the problem is very likely with you.

Australia is facing a used-car market black hole.With the number of affordable new small-car options shrinking annually due to more-expensive SUVs, so too will be the number of affordable used small-car options.Unless there is a big uptick in new small-car production, stocks will continue to contract, putting significant upward pressure on used-car prices.We’re already seeing this affordability catastrophe unfold. And the numbers tell a sobering story.The great small-car cullSince 2016, Australia has gone from having over 40 new light and small car options under $30,000 (in today’s money), to just 10 right now – and falling. And even if you add the proliferation of cheap new small SUVs (mostly from China), that only adds another 10. That’s a 50 per cent drop right there.This means that there will be far fewer affordable used smaller cars to go around as we head towards the 2030s and beyond.Or, in other words, Australia will soon run very low on affordable, low-mileage second-hand small cars under 10 years old, adding substantially to the cost-of-living pressures for many people who cannot or won't buy new.Since 2020, we’re already seen Toyota, Ford and Honda drop their sub-$20,000 models, namely the (non-hybrid) Yaris, Fiesta and Jazz hatchbacks respectively, creating a void filled by new Chinese brands MG, GWM and BYD.In Ford’s case, its cheapest new passenger vehicle in 2026 is the Everest Ambiente 4WD SUV from $58,990 (before on-road costs), having also abandoned the Puma and Focus, as well as the larger Mondeo, Escape and Endura, since the start of this decade.Why the small-car cull? A long-term sales slide against SUVs, coupled with the massive investment required in electric vehicles (EVs) to meet coming legislated zero-emissions targets, stalled decades of on-going small-car development and evolution.Some industry analysts even believe that the middle of last decade was the era of “peak small-car”, as defined the highly-successful Volkswagen Mk7 Golf – a model widely considered superior to its 2020 Mk8 successor.It’s been reported that VW cancelled scores of new-model projects in the aftermath of 2015’s Dieselgate emissions-cheating scandal, including shelving an advanced redesign of the Golf in favour of today’s reskin, pivoting instead to EVs to help atone for the disaster.Others seem to have followed suit. In fact, if you look at today’s remaining small cars, most sit on architectures that date back to last decade.The Mazda 3’s debuted in 2013; the Peugeot 308 in 2014; Subaru Impreza and Honda Civic in 2016; the Hyundai i30 in 2017; Toyota Corolla in 2018; and Kia K4 in 2020.Defying depreciationIncredibly, some high-quality used small cars with a few years under their belts are holding their value to an almost comical degree, especially with fewer than 100,000km.A 2016 Mazda 2 auto from $16,990 when new is still worth at least $13,000 today – and some lower-mileage examples match the original price. Likewise, a 2018 Honda Civic VTi from $22,390 is still a $20,000-plus proposition.But nothing beats the Toyota hybrid phenomenon.A 2019 Corolla Hybrid that new started from $25,870 is likely to cost upwards of $24,000 today, with some even nudging $30,000 in the right colour and specification.And a 2021 Yaris SX hybrid from $27,020 new… is still very nearly that amount today at its lowest point, even with 70,000km on the clock, meaning owners could be making a profit after all these years. Great news for them. Bad news for used-car buyers today.Your cheap choicesThe only quality, reliable and economical used small cars currently priced in the $10,000 to $15,000 bracket are now mostly older (pre-2015), higher-mileage (150,000km-plus) or ex-repairable write-offs (including flood/hail damaged cars, since fixed). Do not risk buying the latter.Otherwise, Australian used small-car buyers must roll the dice on niche European brands with (albeit at-times unfounded) reputations for expensive maintenance costs, orphaned Holdens like the (ex-Opel) Astra or newer Chinese small cars with below-par safety and/or driving dynamics, like a pre-2024, previous-generation MG 3.Unfortunately, with spiking fuel prices, hybrids are completely out of the question under $15,000 unless it’s a 15-year-old-plus Toyota or Honda with moon-shot mileages and/or ex-ride-share taxis.Finding a cheap used SUV alternativeSo, it is logical to conclude that, while the number of new small car options is declining, there must be more small SUV choices, right?Not for budget buyers in the sub-$15,000 bracket, sadly.Quality, second-hand smaller SUVs and crossovers are also pricing themselves out of reach for lower-income groups and younger drivers seeking inexpensive yet reliable vehicles.Consider the case of a seven-year-old Mazda CX-3 or Suzuki Vitara 1.6 with reasonably-low mileage (under 100,000km).These current-shape models have been chosen as two of the better and more-reputable small SUVs on offer, due to their uncomplicated non-turbo engines and robust torque-converter automatics, instead of the usually problematic continuously variable transmission (CVT) or dual-clutch transmission (DCT) found in most alternatives.A 2019 CX-3 auto that cost $23,790 new (which is about $30,000 adjusted for inflation today) currently retails for between $20,000 and $25,000 depending on condition. Again, depreciation-defying.Likewise, a 2019 Vitara 1.6L 2WD that cost $24,490 new (about $32,500 in 2026 money) is still commanding between $19,000 and $25,000 today if well-maintained. We’re talking about seven-year-old models here.Little wonder consumers are forced into newer brands from China with long warranties and shiny touchscreens but unproven long-term reliability, resale and access to genuine spare parts/labour.The bottom line is that a generation of consumers seeking a cheap and economical used small car will be left wanting.At 18, Baby Boomers had their decade-old Datsun 1600s and Volkswagen Beetles; Gen X its Ford Lasers and Holden Geminis; and Millennials their Hyundai Excels and Mazda 323s to rely upon.What will next-gen used-car buyers be able to afford?

It was a day long expected, but it still hit with a bang.A Chinese car maker has out-sold almost every other car brand in Australia.BYD sold the third most vehicles in March, behind only the mighty Toyota and a surging Kia. That means a Chinese brand out-sold big names including Ford, Mazda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi.But BYD wasn’t the only Chinese brand in the top 10 either. In the first three months of 2026, BYD, GWM, Chery and MG are all firmly locked into the best-selling brands. Whatever your feelings on the influx of Chinese brands in recent years, it is clear Australian customers are buying them and they have cemented a place not only in the market, but at its upper echelons.The real question though, is can BYD sustain this success? Was March just a flash in the pan or was it the start of a genuine shake-up of the established order at the top of the sales charts?The initial sentiment around the Chinese industry was that it was flooding the market with cheap, small cars, and there was certainly a lot of truth to that. The MG3 and MG ZS were both big-sellers with small price tags, so it wasn’t surprising to see MG make an impact so early. But if you look at how BYD has found sales volume in Australia, especially since taking direct control of the local operation from original importers EV Direct, it is a very different story.BYD’s two biggest sellers in March were the Sealion 7 (1970 sales) and the Shark 6 (1314), neither could be accurately described as ‘cheap and cheerful’ small cars. Are they price competitive? Definitely, but neither is dramatically cheaper than their direct rivals, certainly not in the case of the Sealion 7.The Sealion 7 is hardly a budget-busting small car, it’s a mid-size, all-electric SUV that is priced from $54,990 (plus on-road costs). That’s competitive against its competitors, but not significantly enough to justify its sales volume alone. In other words, the Sealion 7 is one of the most popular mid-size SUVs in the country (electric or otherwise) because buyers are attracted to it for more than simply the price.The same goes for the Shark 6, which has managed to succeed seemingly in spite of its seemingly unorthodox take on a modern dual-cab. BYD made a brave choice to enter Australia’s ute market with a petrol-powered plug-in hybrid offering, but it may have been precisely the right ute at the right time.Buyers are seemingly happy to try something different and between the tax breaks and the rising cost of diesel, it’s not unsurprising that the Shark 6 has been a sales hit. So much so that it is firmly ensconced as the fourth most-popular 4x4 ute on a regular basis, behind only the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max.But does this mean BYD’s March success is sustainable? Well, certainly there are no indications that the Sealion 7 or Shark 6 will suffer a sales collapse (but stranger things have happened). While there is likely to be some ebb and flow in the sales charts this year and BYD may slip up and down the order, there are a number of indicators that the brand could sustain a top five, or even a top three, sales position long-term.And it could be thanks to the initial expectations of the Chinese market - cheap, small cars. BYD has only launched the new Atto 1 and Atto 2 hatchbacks in the final months of 2025, so they are still finding a market in Australia.But with the high cost of petrol leading to a spike in electric vehicle interest, the thought of a city-friendly small car that never requires a visit to the service station could become a popular choice for Australian drivers.Add to that the addition of the Sealion 5 and Sealion 8, which naturally sandwich the Sealions 6 and 7, as well as the talk of an expanding Shark 6 line-up and there is every chance BYD will have management at the likes of Ford, Mazda, Kia and even Toyota starting to feel concerned about the long-term outlook.

The Zeekr X is a small SUV that's big on stuff and – compared to its sibling vehicle, the Volvo EX30 – low on price. Is that enough to kickstart the X's sales in Australia? We put the updated model to the test to find out.

Nissan’s long-awaited NX8 large SUV has gone on sale in China, where it is built as part of a joint-venture with Dongfeng.The NX8 is 4870mm long, making it larger than the Kia EV6, but smaller than the EV9. On the Australian market, it is closest in size to the Polestar 3, which is also a large five-seater. In the near future, it would also compete with the Subaru Trailseeker and Toyota bZ4X Touring.Unlike those dedicated EV rivals though, the NX8 is offered in both full EV and range-extender hybrid forms, making it a potentially unique offering if it were to reach our shores.The NX8 looks to be significantly more affordable than its rivals. Its Chinese price-tag starts at around A$35,000 for the base 150 Pro hybrid version, reaching to around A$45,000 for the top-spec fully electric 650 Max. If it were to follow the usual roughly 20 per cent extra price conversion from most Chinese models, you could expect to see price-tags sitting in a $45,000 - $60,000 span in Australia.The most affordable version of the Kia EV9 starts at $97,000, meaning the NX8 could compete with cars a size-bracket below it, whilst also offering a range-extender hybrid alternative to the just-announced Subaru Trailseeker EV, which starts from $67,990 before on-roads.There are effectively five main variants across three trim levels of the NX8 in its Chinese home market. There are two range extenders, which are equipped with a 1.5-litre turbo engine and a battery providing either 150km or 310km of range and two fully electric versions, offering either 580km or 650km of range. These are then split into the base Pro, mid-spec Max, and top-spec Brand Master trim levels.Only the 650 Max and Brand Master grades with a more powerful 250kW motor are offered with an 800-volt 81kWh CATL battery, which can fast charge on a DC unit at up to a claimed 463kW for a 10 - 80 per cent charge time in as low as 12 minutes.Meanwhile the lesser 400-volt 580 versions are offered with a 73kWh LFP battery from Sunwoda and the range extenders are both LFP batteries, with either a 20.3kWh or 43.2kWh capacity.Total range for the hybrids is set at either 1320km for the 150km battery, or 1450km for the 310km battery. All variants have vehicle-to-load, able to output at an impressive 6.6kW.Interestingly, all variants of the NX8 are rear-wheel drive, with the range-extender variants producing 195kW/310Nm, the electric versions producing 215kW/310Nm, and only the top-spec 800-volt versions producing 250kW/310Nm.As it is only a five-seater, the NX8 offers a larger-than-usual boot capacity of 773 litres, while electric versions also get a 95 litre frunk.Interior kit includes dual 15.6-inch multimedia panels spanning the dash, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver.There is a non-zero possibility of the NX8 making it to Australia, as Nissan executives have actively opened the door to the idea of the brand’s Chinese built range coming to Australia, although this is likely to start with the sought-after BYD Shark 6-rivalling Frontier Pro as a plug-in hybrid alternative to the recently-launched next-generation Navara.Globally, Nissan executives have also leaned into the idea of making Chinese joint-venture models more international propositions in order to make Nissan more competitive again.In addition, the end of production for the previously-American-sourced Pathfinder leaves an NX8-sized space in Nissan’s line-up somewhere above the X-Trail.

Japan’s next big thing is here.Subaru has detailed pricing and specs for the 2026 Trailseeker electric SUV, which will sit above the current Solterra EV.The Trailseeker is a big SUV, measuring about the same size as a Kia Sorento, but it only has five seats.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 version.The battery can accept up to 150kW of DC power, and up to 22kW when hooked up to an AC charger.Prices for the two-tier range start at $67,990 (before on-road costs) and jump to $73,990 for the better equipped Touring version.2026 Subaru Trailseeker price Australia 2026 Subaru Trailseeker engine/powertrain and efficiency 2026 Subru Trailseeker standard featuresSubaru Trailseeker AWD comes with:18-inch alloy wheelsLED headlights with DRLsPuddle lightsRoof railsSatnav14-inch infotainment high-definition touchscreen7-inch digital information driver displayWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoDual wireless phone chargersMulti-colour ambient lightingDigital rear-view mirrorSynthetic leather seat trim8-way power-adjustable front seatsLeather wrapped steering wheelHeated steering wheelSubaru Trailseeker Touring AWD adds:20-inch alloy wheelsPanoramic glass roof with electric retractable sunshadeBlue & black leather accented seat trimVentilated front seatsDriver seat and door mirror memory functionAdvanced Park AssistVehicle-to-load (V2L) 220V/1500W power outlet2026 Subaru Trailseeker coloursCrystal white pealDaybreak blue pearl (Optional extra)Sapphire blue pearl (Optional extra)Brilliant Bronze metallic (Optional extra)Magnetite grey metallic (Optional extra)Crystal black silicaTwo-tone crystal white pearl and black silica (Touring AWD only, $1200 extra)Two-tone brilliant bronze metallic, crystal black silica (Touring AWD only, $1200 extra)2026 Subaru Trailseeker safetyThe Subaru Trailseeker has not been tested by ANCAP yet.All Trailseeker variants have:8 airbagsAuto emergency brakingBlind spot monitoringRear cross traffic alertLane keep assist360 degree cameraParking sensors front and backMulti terrain monitorDriver distraction warningDrowsy driver warningTyre pressure monitoringSafe exit warningRadar cruise control2026 Subaru Trailseeker warranty and servicingSubaru covers its vehicles with a five year/unlimited km warranty. The battery is backed by an eight year/160,000km guarantee.It also comes with 12 months roadside assistance and a five year/75,000km capped price servicing program that only costs $984 for the first five visits. Intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km.2026 Subaru Trailseeker dimensions  

A tsunami of electric cars is headed our way.General Manager BYD Asia Pacific Mr Liu Xueliang said 30,000 BYD and Denza vehicles are on the way to our shores in May and June to feed rampaging sales.That’s more than half the vehicles BYD sold in 2025 and almost double what they have sold in the first three months of this year.The Chinese brand is looking to capitalise on the ongoing fuel crisis caused by the Iran war, which is driving Aussies in increasing numbers to buy an EV or plug-in hybrid — two vehicles types BYD has in big numbers.Liu said it was important that the company meets the growing demand and is able to get customers as soon as they place an order.If BYD manages to move those vehicles in the next few months it would have beat its sales for 2025, and it would be the second biggest selling brand in Australia and nipping at the heels of the previously-thought-untouchable Toyota.Mr Liu also said the company is aware fuel rationing might be happening in the future. It would be prioritising getting vehicles to essential workers such as doctors, firefighters and others in the coming months.BYD now has the model range to host those kind of sales figures with the brand launching seven new models in the past six months.These include the BYD Atto 1 and Atto 2 small electric cars alongside the plug-in hybrid Sealion 5 compact SUV, Sealion 8 seven-seat SUV, Seal 6 mid-size sedan and wagon and Denza B5 and B8 4WDs.Early signs of Aussies clambering for BYD and Denzas in 2026 was evident in the March sales figures.The Chinese automaker sold 7217 vehicles in the past month as Australians scrambled to get their hands on plug-in hybrids and electric cars as fuel prices soared.That is a mammoth one month total which beat Ford (7149), Mazda (7156) and Hyundai (6979). Only Toyota (16,574) and Kia (7320) did better than BYD.BYD sales increased by 50 per cent compared to March last year and are up 100 per cent for the year.For the full year, BYD's sales were already up 156 per cent by the end of 2025.

Geely’s commercial division, Farizon, has revealed pricing and specifications for its upcoming V7E commercial van.Sitting below the already-launched Farizon SuperVan, which is a more premium offering to compete with the likes of the Ford Transit Custom and Volkswagen Transporter, the V7E is in a budget price bracket, offering a smaller load area and payload.Starting from just $49,990 drive-away, the V7E becomes by far the most affordable electric offering in its class, even undercutting the impressive $55,990 price-tag for the new Kia PV5 electric commercial van.Farizon said its new van is purpose-built for trades, couriers, and fleet operators, as opposed to the more multi-purpose edge and diverse bodystyle options of its more expensive SuperVan.The V7E offers up to 1338kg of payload (1208kg in the Extended Range), with a 6.95 cubic metre load area. It also has a 2.86 metre total load length and a low load height of 610mm.It arrives in two variants but just one bodystyle, with the $49,990 leading price for the base Standard Range 50kWh version (240km WLTP range), stepping up to $53,990 for the 66kWh Extended Range variant (329km WLTP range).Both share a 100kW maximum DC charge speed, with the 50kWh version charging from 20 - 80 per cent in just 26 minutes, while the 66kWh version can complete the same charge in 33 minutes, which the brand says reduces downtime for operators.Slow AC charging maxes out at 11kW for a roughly four hour charge on the base car or five hour charge on the Extended Range. The V7E also features a full-size 240-volt household power outlet on board to help use the battery to power external devices.Both versions of the V7E are front-wheel drive, powered by the same 110kW/230Nm electric motor.As for total loading specs, the V7E measures 4995mm long, 1820mm wide, and 1985mm tall with a 3200mm wheelbase. The cargo area measures 2865mm long, 1690mm wide, and 1435mm tall. GVM for both variants is 3150kg. Towing capacity is limited to 750kg unbraked or 1000kg braked.The V7E has a 1100mm sliding side door and 270-degree opening barn doors at the rear.Standard equipment is the same on both cars, featuring 16-inch aero-style wheels, LED headlights, fabric seat trim with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7.0-inch digital dash cluster and a dual speaker audio system. It also features an array of physical controls to “reduce reliance on touchscreen interaction.”The V7E only features dual frontal airbags, but a full suite of active safety items usually only found on passenger cars.Farizon offers an eight-year 200,000km battery warranty and a five-year 200,000 new vehicle warranty, with a matching five years of roadside assist.Customer deliveries of the V7E are expected to begin in May of 2026.

The Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts has issued a safety recall notice impacting close to 5000 Hyundai electric vehicles sold new in Australia from 2018 to 2023.

MG, the original Chinese-backed success story in Australia, has been on the back foot in the face of new rivals, but the brand isn’t staying still with the reveal of a range of new models for the Australian market shown at the Melbourne Motor Show.The Shanghai-based brand showed off several new modelss, including the much-hyped IM LS9 large hybrid SUV, which will go into battle against the Zeekr 8X and Denza B5 with its range-extender hybrid powertrain.The LS9 was launched under SAIC’s more premium IM brand in China last year, and features a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with no connection to the wheels, acting as a range-extender for a large 65.9kWh battery pack which grants it a 308km electric driving range according to the more lenient CLTC standard.The large SUV also brings unprecedented levels of luxury for an MG-branded product with generous interior claddings, large screens, and three rows of seating (in a six-seat layout for the Chinese market).The brand will introduce a fully electric version of its U9 ute, which launched in 2025. Appearing previously in approval documents, the U9 EV will have a dual-motor powertrain producing 200kW at the front and 125kW at the rear, although torque figures are yet to be confirmed. If the U9 electric follows in the footsteps of the LDV e-Terron 9 available overseas, it will be equipped with a 102kWh battery granting it a 430km driving range.Importantly, it plots a 3500kg towing capacity, which is more than can be said for the EV utes currently available in the market, like the Toyota HiLux BEV and its 2000kg towing ability.The existing combustion U9, powered by a 2.5-litre diesel engine, will also be offered in a new Black Edition trim level.Next, taking aim at the Tesla Model Y and newcomer rivals the Geely EX5 and GAC Aion V, is the S6 EV.It is essentially a scaled-up version of the S5 small SUV already on sale in Australia. The S6 moves into the mid-size SUV category, although maintains many of the same interior features as its smaller sibling,Right-hand drive specs as confirmed by the UK-market version of the car show a 77kWh battery pack with up to 530km of range in both rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive layouts.Also bolstering MG’s range of electric vehicles is an upgraded version of the rear-wheel drive MG4. Not to be confused with the just-launched MG Urban, which is in a lower price bracket in a front-wheel drive layout, the new facelifted MG4 will continue to cater to a slightly more premium and drive oriented audience, starting at $39,990 for the base Essence, and topping out at $47,990 for the returning XPower all-wheel drive version.Stylistically largely the same from the outside aside from new wheel and colour choices, the new MG4 will get a completely overhauled interior featuring a new 12.8-inch multimedia screen with wireless phone mirroring, a 10.25-inch driver display, as well as physical controls from the larger S5 SUV, new seat trims, and a more refined centre console treatment, with improved detailing throughout.Like the UK-market model, the new version dumps the entry-level 51kWh battery, with the base Essence now being a 64kWh proposition with an improved 452km WLTP driving range. It features a 140kW/350Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels, while the XPower features 150kW/250Nm on the front axle, and 170kW/350Nm on the rear axle it can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds. With the same 64kWh battery pack, the XPower’s range is reduced to 405km.