hatchback

Thousands of Hyundai i30 N units have been hit with an urgent recall, according to a notice from the Federal Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. There are 7293 examples of the i30 N impacted by the recall for model years between 2017 and 2022.The recall concerns a manufacturing defect with the fuel pump causing engine stall.“Due to a manufacturing defect, the fuel control valve in the high-Pressure fuel pump could allow excess fuel to enter the pump. If this occurs, the engine could stall resulting in a sudden loss of motive power whilst driving,” the notice reads.“A sudden loss of motive power whilst driving may increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants.”A spokesperson for Hyundai Australia said there have been reported incidents of this issue occurring in Australia.The i30N affected by the recall has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 206kW and 392Nm.The latest i30 N hatch model continues to be powered by the same set-up, but it is not part of this recall. The Hyundai i30 has undergone a serious model reshuffle in Australia, with cheaper variants of the Czech-built hatch being pulled from the lineup due to import cost pressures.This leaves the i30 N-Line and N variants as the only options for buyers in showrooms.

The future for this standout small car doesn't look so promising.Skoda Australia director Lucie Kuhn admitted sales of the Scala are not enough to keep the Mazda3 rival in stock. In 2025 Skoda Australia sold just 249 Scala, which ironically was more than the Superb (199) but well-short of even the second worst-selling small car, the out-going Kia Cerato, which still managed to find 1094 buyers. The overall small car market was down more than 20 per cent.Instead, the Scala is now an ‘order only’ option for customers and dealers who really want one of the small cars, with Kuhn admitting its long-term future is uncertain. “ Scala is currently a model that we are running some analysis on it,” she said. “Because you are exactly right, the segment is very small here in Australia. We will probably keep the car going, probably just being available in a factory order. Just because you might always have customers that might be interested in having the car, but the volume is relatively small, I would say.”Skoda is committing to another slow seller, though.Where once the mighty Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon fought for sales supremacy, now a single, unlikely, survivor remains. And it has no plans on giving up the fight.The Skoda Superb is the only ‘large car under $70,000’ still on sale in 2026. Even the medium sedan segment is a shadow of its former glory days, with the Skoda Octavia competing against the Toyota Camry, BYD Seal, Hyundai Sonata and Honda Accord.But Skoda has no plans to give up on its sedans and wagons anytime soon. Speaking to CarsGuide at the launch of the new plug-in hybrid Kodiaq SUV, Kuhn said the brand remains committed to its sedans and wagons.“I  think this is something that the customers say,” Kuhn said. “The market is obviously going in more and more in the direction of SUVs year-by-year, this share is growing. But if you have a look in the car parks or on the streets, you still see plenty of sedans and plenty of wagons. So this is where we feel and see our opportunity that, in spite of the new car sales trend is growing and getting more into the SUV direction, there is still a massive car park of the sedan and wagon drivers. And this, we feel is an opportunity because as you said, we are one of the best brands who offer this kind of choice.”Skoda is so determined to give Australian buyers who shun SUVs choice so much so that it will actually expand the Superb line-up in 2026. The Czech brand is adding the new Select plug-in hybrid (PHEV) wagon variant alongside the existing Sportline sedan and wagon.This new option shares the same 110kW/350Nm PHEV powertrain as the Kodiaq and will be priced from $66,990 drive-away.

The recently-launched Kia K4 hatchback has just been recalled in Australia due to a seat belt fault, according to a notice from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.It concerns 4817 units in the 2025 and 2026 model years. “The rear centre seat belt anchor buckle may have been incorrectly assembled,” the notice reads."As a result, the seat belt may not properly latch or operate as intended.“In the event of an accident, if the seat belt does not properly latch or operate as intended, it will increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants.”A spokesperson for Kia Australia said there have been no reported incidents of the fault occurring in Australia yet. Owners of affected K4 models will be contacted by the brand and asked to make an appointment with a Kia dealer to have the rear middle set belt anchor buckle inspected, and replaced if needed, free of charge. The K4 was launched in Australia late last year and is available in hatch or sedan body shapes as a petrol-only model.It has made a solid impression in the market in its first few months and outsold the Hyundai i30 and Mazda 3 so far in 2026

Fuel prices continue to increase in Australia.Hybrid models generally offer better fuel efficiency than a comparative petrol model, but they are also more expensive. Questions remain about how much going hybrid actually saves buyers on fuel and how long it will take to pay off the extra upfront cost. Below is a comparison based on some of the most popular models in Australia offering petrol and hybrid choices and the potential increased savings in the current climate. Figures have been calculated based on the average yearly kilometres driven at 15,000km, and the cost to fill-up based on average NSW pricing data using the official recommended fuel for each model. Small car/sedanHyundai i30 sedanThe Hyundai i30 is one of few passenger car models which are available with petrol and hybrid variants in its lineup. Many of its rivals have become hybrid only, such as the Toyota Corolla and Camry as well as the Honda Civic. The hybrid is cheaper to fill up and goes further on its tank, so it takes around four years to pay off the $4000 hybrid premium - well within the seven-year warranty period for the car. This is also due to the smaller and more efficient hybrid motor compared to the bigger petrol engine.Small SUVChery Tiggo 4 The Chery Tiggo 4 is one of the cheapest SUVs on the market, with a drive-away price under $30,000 for both petrol and hybrid variants. The Hybrid carries a $6000 premium over the petrol, which means it will take roughly seven years to pay off the extra cost. This is part due to the $850 year-on-year saving, which is less than many of the other cars on this list. Unlike the other examples, there is no change in engine capacity between petrol and hybrid variants of the Tiggo 4.  The seven-year break-even point matches the seven-year warranty provided on the car. Medium SUVGWM Haval H6There is a $5000 gap between pricing on the petrol and hybrid versions of the Haval H6, but the smaller and more efficient hybrid engine sees savings of more than $1000 year-on-year. The H6 hybrid offers an average of more than 500km of driving range than the petrol. This means the extra cost of the hybrid can be paid off in just under five years. This falls within the seven-year warranty period for the H6. Large SUVHyundai Santa FeThe Hyundai Santa Fe was CarsGuide’s 2026 Overall Car of the Year, and offers one of the most competitive hybrid/petrol pricing comparisons. This is because the hybrid Sante Fe is less than $4000 more expensive than the petrol and offers more than 400km average driving range. With nearly $1200 of savings each year, it would take around three years to pay off the hybrid premium, and the majority of the car’s seven-year warranty will also still be valid.UteThis comparison uses the cheapest dual-cab variant of the Toyota HiLux Workmate and the single-variant BYD Shark 6. While these utes are obviously not variants within the same lineup, the Shark 6’s petrol status offers savings over the diesel ute. It also has a smaller fuel tank, which makes filling up cheaper. The HiLux is also slightly more expensive to drive-away, costing about $59,500 in NSW.Fuel efficiency on the Shark 6 dramatically decreases when the ute has less than 25 per cent of battery charge, dropping to 7.9L/100km. This still makes it less expensive to run than the diesel HiLux. *Petrol engine only fuel use figure not provided by Ford but calculated over several CarsGuide road tests once battery had been depletedThe plug-in hybrid set-up in the Canon Alpha does make it cheaper to run overall, but the substantial price difference between the plug-in hybrid and the petrol, means it would take eight years to break even on the extra cost. The Ranger PHEV is more of a curve ball, it is harder to hit on exactly how much fuel it will use. It all depends on how ofter you charge the battery. If you don't charge it every night it'll be more expensive to run than the diesel, as it needs to be topped up more often. If you regularly charge it the cost equation flips and it's a wallet saver.You'll need to be vigilant about charging to pay off the $15,000 premium, though.

Australian new car buyers are searching for the answer to the extraordinarily high fuel prices, and they may have found the answer. 

Fuel prices in Australia are soaring, meaning fuel efficiency in vehicles is a more important consideration than ever. Hybrid cars offer the potential for superior fuel efficiency compared to internal combustion power without the big price premium if fully electric or plug-in hybrid options. This makes them an increasingly attractive option for buyers given the current global climate. Hybrid sales are already booming in Australia, but will increases in fuel prices accelerate the shift away from pure internal combustion cars? NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said that while hybrid sales are increasing, an even swifter transition is less than clear. “If you’re driving a standard vehicle with a 55-litre tank, compared to what we were paying before the war began to now, it’s a $45 increase on one tank of petrol. That applies regardless of whether it’s hybrid or petrol,” Khoury said. “Historically speaking, looking at what happens after an oil shock, it certainly opens up their consideration. “No doubt that if this crisis continues and these prices hang around for weeks or months, Australians will look at those alternatives more seriously.” Below is a comparison between popular petrol and hybrid choices in each segment to see how they stack up in a changing fuel context. Fuel cost has been calculated using current data from the New South Wales’ government’s average fuel price for unleaded 95 petrol and diesel. Toyota’s Corolla hybrid hatch offers superior fuel efficiency and driving range compared to the Kia K4 petrol model. The Corolla is also cheaper to fill up with fuel thanks to its smaller tank and offers a substantially bigger driving range. The Kia Seltos is a petrol-only variant, but despite its bigger fuel tank, it has less driving range than the Toyota Corolla Cross, courtesy of the hybrid powertrain. The bigger fuel tank means the Seltos is also more expensive to fill up. The mid-size CX-5 has a non-turbo charged petrol engine, which sees it offer an impressive estimated driving range of more than 800km, but once again the Toyota competitor’s fuel efficiency wins out in the RAV4 hybrid. The Toyota Kluger continues the Japanese juggernaut’s fuel efficient theme, with a hybrid set-up offering a driving range of more than 1122km, which is significantly more than the MQ QS, despite both cars costing a similar amount to fill up at the bowser. Utes are some of the worst affected by the fuel price increase as many of them are powered using diesel engines, with diesel fuel rising more than petrol. It has now risen to well beyond the $2.60 mark per litre. The BYD Shark’s plug-in hybrid set-up uses petrol, which makes it an affordable option, given the price of diesel. It should be noted that the Shark 6’s fuel efficiency is significantly reduced when the battery is not charged. It’s a similar story for the GWM Cannon Alpha, which should be noted is no longer on sale, but remains one of limited plug-less hybrid utes in Australia. 

Chinese giant GWM has its sights set on another bumper year in Australia in 2026, and it has bold plans on how to achieve its next ambitious sales target.GWM hit a high of 52,809 sales in 2025 landing in seventh place on the overall sales tally, just 400 sales ahead of BYD, but a hefty 8400 units behind sixth-placed Mitsubishi (61,198).Just five years ago in 2020, GWM’s combined sales in Australia were just 2600. To say the rise has been meteoric is an understatement.But GWM Australia and New Zealand Chief Operating Officer John Kett understands how hard it’s been to get to 50,000-plus sales and how much more of a challenge it will be to grow with an eye on the top five.“So we weren't making any outlandish statements of 100k and our premium brand will be 10k,” he told journalists in Melbourne recently in a not so subtle dig at rival BYD.“We just want to get to 75. So we set ourselves a target of a ‘six’ in front of our number this year.”Hitting a figure of 60,000-plus sales could mean unseating Mitsubishi by the end of this year, but it’s going to be a bigger task to get into fifth place, which is currently held by Hyundai (77,208 sales last year).Kett knows he faces an uphill battle to hit the longer-term 75,000 unit sales target but he said the team has studied its mainstream rivals to see how they got to their positions in the market.“It's even harder to get to 75 (thousand). We're looking at the Hyundais of the world that built scale and are sort of stuck in the 75k zone and have got aspirations to grow. We're looking at Kia, another… well managed business, trying to get from that 75 to 85, you just can't do it with one product, because it doesn't work.“We certainly looked at the history of Mitsubishi and Nissan, the things they've done so well. We've looked at the incredible consumer metrics that Mazda has always got.”Kett outlined improvements to GWM’s aftersales and customer service, with more customer service operators and investigators helping to solve product and quality issues. There’s also a focus on sharpening up the dealer footprint and expanding some spaces.But growth will largely come from continued strong sales of popular models like the Haval H6 and Tank 300, as well as a laundry list of new and updated product.GWM has already confirmed a plug-in hybrid version of the Ford Ranger-rivalling Cannon ute is coming this year, while a new 3.0-litre turbo diesel will soon be offered in the larger Cannon Alpha ute and the related Tank 500 large SUV.A plug-in Tank 300 arrives shortly, and the EV and PHEV compact SUV subbed Haval Jolion Max will also land before the end of the year.The slow-selling Ora EV range will get a boost with at least two new models landing in 2026, including the Ora 5 crossover. And GWM will finally launch its Wey semi-premium sub brand this year, likely starting with the G9 people mover.Kett admitted the brand could be doing more to talk about the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models in its line-up, especially in the Cannon ute stable.“I think with all the hybrids and super hybrids out there, we probably missed an opportunity to talk specifically about our confidence in Hi4-T (plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive powertrain). I mean Cannon Alpha is a ute, right? And we quietly let other brands beat us, and I totally respect that. But I feel like our Hi4-T story both in Cannon and Cannon Alpha will reveal itself as fit for purpose.”Combined sales of the Cannon and Cannon Alpha in the first two months of the year show GWM is ahead of the Mazda BT-50, Volkswagen Amarok, outgoing Nissan Navara and the LDV T60 for 4x4 pick-up sales.

Chery’s QQ3 budget hatch EV has been given a sharp price overseas ahead of its potential Australian launch as another budget EV hatchback battler.The Toyota Corolla-sized QQ3 is priced from 68,920 yuan in China, which converts to around A$14,000. While cars imported from China carry a significant price increase, it would still fall around the $20,000 mark in Australia when the usual additional costs added. This is similar pricing to the BYD Atto 1 in Australia, which has a starting price of $23,990, before on-road costs. However, it is more likely Australia would get the pricier long range version of the car, which has 420km of range as opposed to 310km, according to more lenient CLTC.This would give it a closer range to its rivals, which have around 350-400km real-world capacity. This variant of the car would more likely sit closer to the $30K bracket, in a similar price region to the GWM Ora and MG4. It could also line-up as a competitor to the incoming GAC Aion UT in an emerging Chinese electric hatchback battleground, which will start from $31,990 (before on-roads).The QQ3 would probably need a more powerful electric motor set-up than the 58kW and 90kW currently on offer in China if it launches in Australia. Its current set-up is underpowered compared to many of its rivals, such as the Aion UT, GWM Ora and MG4, which all have at least 125kW of power as standard. When CarsGuide contacted Chery Australia about the car late last month, the brand said it could not confirm whether the QQ3 is destined to launch Down Under. However, local Chief Operating officer Lucas Harris has previously said the brand is eager to bring an electric hatchback to Australia, making special mention of the QQ lineup, so it may not be too far away.Chery is continuing to grow its presence in Australia, and finished in the top 10 best-selling brands for February 2026.Chery’s only all-electric offering in Australia currently is the E5 compact SUV.

The Kia K4 was a massive shakeup for the South Korean carmaker when it launched in Australia last year as it ditched the popular Cerato nameplate.Launching initially in sedan guise only, the K4 hasn’t been the sales hit the Cerato was, at least yet. The K4 Hatch has now arrived and it could help correct the course.Measuring 27cm shorter overall than the sedan, the K4 Hatch has a shorter rear overhang. This makes the K4 look more European and contemporary than the more conventionally styled sedan.Another benefit of the shorter rear hangover is it's easier to park in tight parallel car spots. This can make a world of a difference to small car buyers.While shorter overall, the K4 Hatch’s wheelbase remains unchanged from the sedan. This means the almost tardis-like interior space carries over, especially for second-row passengers.Overall boot space (438L) is down slightly on the sedan (508L) but the boot opening is much larger and the space itself is squarer and usable for big, bulky items. It’s also great to still see a space-saver spare wheel under the boot floor.Another big shakeup that coincided with the introduction of the hatchback body style was a slight change to what powers the non-GT-Line K4 trims.It’s still a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine but produces slightly less power and torque (110kW/180Nm vs 112kW/192Nm). It’s also mated to continuously variable transmission (CVT) rather than a torque-converter automatic. The same set-up can be found in the Kia Seltos and Hyundai i30 Sedan, among others.While this engine has never been an outright performance beast, the CVT does make the most of what it has to offer. It’s happy to flare the revs when required to get up to speed, but you get that monotonous engine drone as there's no gear changes.At higher speeds the engine does run out of puff and it frequently needs to dip above 3000rpm in order to maintain highway/freeway speeds.Despite this, fuel consumption has improved dramatically thanks to the CVT. Kia claims it consumes an average of 6.1L/100km, versus 7.4L/100km for the MY25 K4 Sedan. In the real world I saw an average of 6.9L/100km across 350km of urban/highway driving, which is considerably better than what I got in previous testing of the K4 Sedan with the six-speed torque-converter auto.It’s disappointing the K4 still only has a 47L fuel tank which is small for the segment and means you’ll need to be refuelling more frequently.Another redeeming factor for the lack of engine power is how comfortable and dynamic the K4 Hatch is to drive. Like the sedan it has received a local ride and handling tune and that is evident in and around town, as well as on the open road.The car reacts to pimply urban roads with suppleness and even larger bumps at higher speeds don’t unsettle the ride.This is complimented by the steering which is direct and has a nice weight to make the car feel fun to drive on the open road but not too unwieldy in tight, urban streets.The K4 Sport+, which is the penultimate trim level in the line-up and the highest trim with the 2.0-litre non-turbo engine, is priced from $39,090 before on-road costs, regardless of the body style. This is getting up there in terms of price compared to similarly specced rivals like the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and Subaru Impreza.Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 5.0-inch climate control screen, synthetic leather upholstery and heated front seats.However, for almost $40,000 before on-road costs this K4 misses out on a wireless charger and it has a plastic steering wheel instead of a leather- or synthetic leather-wrapped unit.Beyond this, the K4 Sport+ comes with the entire active safety suite including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with lane centring and lane change assist, plus front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. Strangely a surround-view camera isn't offered across the line-up.There are also seven airbags, an emergency SOS calling function, plus ISOFIX child-seat anchorages on the two outboard rear seats and top-tether points on all rear seats.Like all Kias, the K4 is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. This is now becoming standard among mainstream carmakers.Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. The first seven services cost a total of $3883, which averages out to $554 per service. This isn’t cheap and you’ll pay less for servicing an equivalent Hyundai i30 or Toyota Corolla Hybrid.

After three years on sale in Australia, Toyota's performance-focused GR Corolla has been given some mid-life love.Toyota says the chassis is stronger thanks to extra structural adhesive used to bond key areas together (mostly the underbody and rear wheel wells). And that’s on top of the fact the car’s frame is already hand-finished in the Toyota Gazoo Racing factory in Motomachi, Japan, with additional bracing and spot welds to enhance rigidity. An extra inlet on the three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine’s secondary intake duct draws cool air from the front grille to lower intake air temp at faster engine speeds. The lower part of the grille has also been revised with new vent sections for engine cooling and airflow management into the front wheel arches.  And inside, the standard JBL audio system has stepped up from eight to nine speakers with the addition of a subwoofer in the boot.At the same time, the ‘Active Noise Control’ system has been tweaked to keep the cabin quieter most of the time and ‘Active Sound Control’ has been added to synthetically beef up the turbo-triple’s throaty induction noise and growling exhaust note when the driver has the bit between their teeth.But the rest of this hi-po hot hatch’s standard specification is unchanged, as is the price at $67,990, before on-road costs, for the manual version and $70,490 for the auto.Somehow, cooler air entering the cylinders hasn’t upped engine outputs, which remain at a stout 221kW at 6500rpm and 400Nm from 3250-4600rpm.That torque number, 30Nm higher than the launch GR Corolla, was inherited from the initial, limited-run Morizo Edition in a late 2024 model year update that also introduced availability of an eight-speed torque-converter auto transmission (as per our test example) alongside the standard six-speed manual gearbox.And the ‘GR-Four’ all-wheel-drive system retains its electrically-controlled multi-plate clutch on the rear axle with Torsen-type limited-slip differentials front and back.And the rest of it’s all there, from the 18-inch Enkei alloys shod with Yokohama Advan V601 (235/40) rubber, to the bulging bonnet, macho body kit (incorporating roughly 5000 vents and ducts), bigger brakes, sporty interior and forged carbon roof insert.So, is it still the pocket-rocket GR Yaris’s heavy-hitting big brother, with the power and dynamics to match serious competitors like the Honda Civic Type R ($79,000, drive-away), Subaru WRX tS Sport Sportswagon ($63,290, BOC) and VW Golf R ($71,990, BOC)? We spent a sporty week behind the wheel to find out.Aside from the dynamics and performance tech, which we’ll get to shortly, the GR Corolla boasts a healthy standard features list. As it should, with cost-of-entry comfortably more than double that of an entry-level Corolla Ascent Sport ($29,610, BOC).Highlights include a head-up display, LED exterior lights, leather and synthetic suede trimmed sports front seats (also heated), dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen, the JBL audio set-up (including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), racy alloy pedal covers, wireless phone charging and adaptive cruise control (auto only).The aero-influenced body kit incorporates a bulging alloy bonnet and safety’s through the roof with the ‘Toyota Safety Sense’ suite including auto emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, road sign assist, seven airbags and heaps more.Bundle in a super-competitive $395 capped-price annual service cost for the first five years and the GR Corolla stacks up well on value-for-money relative to its competitive set.It might accelerate from 0-100km/h in a bit over five seconds, and we’ll get to the drive experience in a moment, but the GR is still a five-door hatch. And it inherits the good and not-so-good practicality attributes of its more everyday 12th-gen (E210) Corolla stablemates.A 2640mm wheelbase means while there’s ample space for the driver and front passenger the rear seat is relatively tight with just enough leg and headroom for full-size adults. A small rear door aperture makes entry, and particularly egress, a Houdini-like escape exercise.Modest boot volume has been an Achilles heel for the current Corolla from day one and the GR’s 213 litres is even smaller than the standard hatch’s 217L thanks to the performance version’s AWD and sports exhaust hardware underneath. And that’s despite the GR forgoing the standard line-up’s space-saver spare for an inflator/repair kit.Against an official combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) fuel economy figure of 9.5L/100km we saw an on-test average of 12.3L/100km, including a mix of suburban and city commuting as well as some more enthusiastic sessions.Not outrageous for a performance-focused hot hatch, and if it’s fuel efficiency you’re after, there’s always the standard four-cylinder hybrid Corolla models.Speaking of enthusiastic sessions, the GR Corolla remains an ultra-capable and satisfying performance drive.Brilliant steering response and road feel, balanced and buttoned-down in quick cornering, the strut front, double-wishbone rear suspension keeps the car stable and predictable at all times.The Yokohama rubber delivers impressive grip and helps the car clearly communicate what’s going on, the slick AWD system putting the power down brilliantly.Ride is relatively firm over typically bumpy suburban surfaces and pock-marked B-roads. But that’s a price engaged drivers will no doubt pay happily. And on the upside, the sports front seats are comfy and supportive.  As the turbo triple spins furiously towards its 7000rpm rev ceiling that characteristically coarse three-cylinder engine note builds to a smile-inducing bark. Some of that raucous noise may be synthetically enhanced. In fact, there are ’sound patterns’ to accompany each drive mode - ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Eco’. But you can switch it all off and the engine and exhaust still sound great.The eight-speed auto, however, is not the snappiest. If you’re used to the rapid-fire ratio changes of a dual-clutch, the comparatively relaxed shifts from this transmission (even in manual mode at higher revs) will be a less than pleasant surprise.