hatchback

There’s no worse feeling than showing up to the party just as it’s winding down and everyone else is leaving. Well, perhaps showing up a day too early and missing all the fun entirely. I imagine that must be what it feels like for the people that designed the cars on this list. In recent weeks we’ve looked at how timing is crucial in the car industry, with electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid sales spiking as fuel prices soared in March and April, brands like Tesla and BYD have benefited from having the right cars at the right time. And as we’ve also looked at recently, sometimes car makers just completely miss the mark and introduce the wrong car and it was never going to succeed. But today we’re looking at the most unfortunate of vehicles - the cars that had the right concept and had the potential for success, but arrived either too early or too late to make an impact. We took a deep dive into the premature arrival of the Volt, but it’s worth reiterating that Holden was way ahead of the curve when it came to plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). Unfortunately, too far ahead. Sure, the Volt was overpriced (starting at $59,990 in 2012), but the technology wasn’t far away from what the likes of BYD and GWM are having huge sales success with today. Perhaps if Holden had pursued this technology further, or subsidised it to get more vehicles on the road, things might have turned out differently, but we’ll never know… The arrival of the MG4 Urban is a textbook demonstration of the right car arriving at the right time - a small and affordable EV at a time when people were feeling the pain at the pump. The Chinese brand’s MG7, on the other hand, will likely be a case study in getting the timing wrong. It’s hardly breaking news that sedans (and liftbacks, such as the MG7) are no longer in hot-demand in Australia… or really much demand at all. The BYD Seal and the Toyota Camry are the only exceptions and despite the MG7 looking great, having a punchy turbocharged petrol engine and a competitive asking price, it is likely to sell in very small numbers. MG Australia has sold less than 100 in the first five months of 2026, so it’s likely to be a rare sight on the roads. Buyers are simply too focused on SUVs to consider a sedan. Of course, the sedan was not always an unloved, niche corner of the market. The glory days of Holden and Ford saw Commodores and Falcons dominate Australian driveways. Towards the end, the performance-orientated models, such as the Commodore SS and Falcon XR6/XR8, became beloved, so much so Kia saw an opportunity. The Stinger was a direct rival to the local sports sedans, with a twin-turbo V6, rear-wheel drive layout that gave it solid credentials. The initial ride and handling tuning was slightly off, making it a bit more ‘skid happy’ than a family sedan should be, but overall the Stinger was a good car. Unfortunately its arrival almost perfectly coincided with the beginning of the end of the local sports sedans and the customers Kia was hoping to find had simply moved on. As the likes of Tesla, BYD, MG and Geely dominated the discussion around EVs, it’s easy to forget that Nissan was right at the forefront of this technology. If Nissan launched a small, electric hatch for $39,990 today it would be a great addition for the brand and give its Chinese rivals something to think about. Unfortunately the Leaf arrived too early, before the wider car-buying public had EVs on their radar, and initially launched with a $51,500 price - which was much too much money for a hatchback. In the end, Nissan did give the Leaf plenty of time and opportunity, spending more than a decade on sale, but it was never the right moment for it to find major sales success. A compact SUV, built in India to give it a competitive asking price is arguably exactly what Ford Australia needs now. Unfortunately, they launched the EcoSport way back in 2013. What makes the EcoSport really earn its place on this list is it somehow managed to be both ahead of its time and arrive too soon. When it launched in 2013 it was one of the first compact SUVs on the market, beating the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Kia Stonic, Mazda CX-3 and Suzuki Jimny. But Ford slightly missed the mark with the EcoSport, building a pint-sized SUV rather than a jacked-up hatchback, which is ultimately what the market decided it wanted a decade ago. But Ford would be well-served to have a sub-$30k, fuel-efficient compact SUV at this particular moment in time, especially one that is a bit more rugged and less hatchback, like the EcoSport was, to fit with its Ranger/Everest image.

New city cars aren't over yet, as the latest version of Volkswagen's nine-year-old Polo proves. Tested in mid-range 85TSI CityLife guise, the German alternative to the Suzuki Swift, Mazda2 and MG3 has evolved into a roomy, comfy and practical hatch. Great economy and driving dynamics are further bonuses. But there are issues, prompting us to ask if the VW is good value.

GWM has just stepped up its budget EV game in Australia, unveiling the Ora 5 hatchback. There is no official news on a launch for the Ora 5 hatchback, but there is a good chance it will hit showrooms before the end of the year, with deliveries of the SUV variant already beginning. GWM Australia has been contacted for comment to find out launch plans for the car.  The Ora 5 hatch shares much of the same design and set-up as its SUV sibling, but it has been given a lower and sportier stance, according to GWM.  It differs from the SUV as it does not featuring roof rails. It keeps the same bubble headlight design and general exterior look.  GWM also confirmed it has the same 58kWh battery with a driving range of 435km on WLTP standards.  The brand did not confirm what will power the hatch, but given it is so similar to the SUV, it is expected to have the same single electric motor producing 150kW and 260Nm.  Pricing remains unknown at this stage, but there is potential for it to be priced under the SUV, which starts from $33,990 (drive-away). The news comes after the brand ditched its Ora hatch Down Under earlier this year to make way for the Ora 5 SUV.  The Ora faced serious budget competition from other Chinese rivals such as the BYD Dolphin that is priced from under $30,000 (before on-road costs), while the Ora was priced from $35,990 (drive-away). Competition in the EV hatch space has increased significantly, including the arrival of the GAC Aion UT ($31,990, before on-road costs).  The Ora 5 is generally bigger than many of these EV hatch rivals. It joins at a time when GWM continues to grow on the sales front and chase down legacy brands in Australia. Chinese competitors such as BYD and Chery have experienced more growth than GWM in 2026, with the affordability proving a key selling point.

For decades Volkswagen Golf has been the generic term for high-quality small hatchback. And as much as the high-riding SUV configuration has become the new car default for compact car buyers this VW still attracts devoted fans. They say quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten but does this modern classic's value equation stack up?

This car will change everything you thought about the humble Toyota Corolla. On the eve of the Corolla’s 60th birthday, the Japanese giant has confirmed the GRMN Corolla is headed Down Under. Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said the new GRMN Corolla is the best of both worlds. “This is truly our GR philosophy in action, and has produced an astonishing high-performance driver’s car that is as at home on the racetrack as it is on the road,” he said. It takes the already red-hot GR Corolla hot hatch, and turns the dial all the way up. Spawned from Japan’s Super Taikyu race series and tuned and tweaked at the Nurburgring race track in Germany — dubbed the Green Hell — the GRMN is the brand’s most driver-focused Corolla of all time. The GRMN has just two seats and a rocket of a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine delivering 221kW and 408Nm. It has upgraded front and rear suspension and fatter Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber for improved performance on track. Toyota has optimised the all-wheel drive set-up for improved torque delivery and tweaked the power steering to give more feedback during high speed cornering. The Corolla GRMN is leaner than the standard manual GR Corolla, having lost 40kg.  There is also a unique instrument panel for greater driver concentration and GRMN design touches throughout. Exterior updates include bonnet and fender ducts for increased ventilation, front side spoiler and large rear wing with five step adjustment for increased aerodynamics. It is only available in two colours: matt black or khaki. Toyota Australia said the Corolla GRMN will arrive in limited numbers from 2027.

The first arrival of a BYD-owned shipping vessel to Australia has caused a stir as the brand’s top brass is confident troubles with supply in its home nation won’t affect Australian demand. The BYD Zhengzhou docked at the Port of Melbourne carrying 4809 BYD vehicles destined for Australian customers, part of a promise to deliver 30,000 new cars in the second quarter of 2026. BYD has already more than doubled its sales in the first quarter of 2026 compared to Q1, 2025, and if 30,000 vehicles are added to the existing count before halfway through the year, BYD will finish the first half with a remarkable 55,000 new cars sold in Australia. But on the morning media were given a tour of the BYD Zhengzhou in what could arguably be called a fanfare event, Toyota Australia announced it “has secured an additional 10,000 vehicles for local customers in 2026”. Toyota sold 59,675 cars in Q1 to BYD’s 25,243. BYD also remains behind Mazda, Kia, and Ford. The timing suggests Toyota wanted to remind Australian buyers who is number one in the sales race, but BYD’s commitment to meeting demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) is clear, and the brand’s top brass didn’t hesitate to say as such. Liu Xueliang, Group Vice President of BYD and General Manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, told Australian media during a conference in Port Melbourne that despite battery supply challenges in the brand’s home market, BYD would meet demand in Australia. Via interpreter, Mr Liu told CarsGuide that even at home in an EV-saturated market, BYD’s outlook is optimistic. “Sales in China have begun to recover in Q2, we achieved 380,000 units sold in May just past.  “Growth has tightened a bit, but that does not affect supply to markets including Australia. “This is just one of our ships, but we’ve got many other ships that are arriving in Australia.” While Mr Liu wouldn’t be drawn on Toyota’s announcement, the theme that returned many times during the conference was BYD’s ownership of its own supply chain, and the control that grants. Given Australia’s demand for plug-in hybrids and EVs in 2026 is higher than it has been by huge margins, Liu Xueliang said this wouldn’t be the first time a BYD-owned ship would be seen in an Australian port.

Are there common engine or gearbox issues with the 1.5 turbo engine in the 2019 Honda Civic?

Cupra has revealed it is secretly developing an all-wheel drive version of its Cupra Raval that bags a pioneering quad-motor all-electric powertrain, which will produce epic power that blows Tesla out of the water. Primed to be twinned with a white-hot Volkswagen ID. Polo R, the new Cupra Raval Racing will be the quickest and most powerful hot hatch of all time, with Volkswagen's Spanish performance brand leading its development. Cupra's global product boss Toni Gallego told CarsGuide his brand was pushing ahead to develop the four in-hub motor concept that made its debut on the VW ID. Cross, which is key to unlocking near supercar levels of performance. Expected to be capable of producing around 100kW, despite weighing around 39kg apiece, the state-of-the-art in-hub motors will see the Raval Racing come with at least 300kW. Combined with an uprated battery pack, the 4.1m-long Raval Racing should be able to rocket from 0-100km/h in less than 3.0 seconds – much quicker than the 3.8 seconds a BYD Seal Performance or Audi RS 3 takes, and even quicker than the 3.1 seconds a Tesla Model 3 Performance can achieve. As well quick in a straight line, according to the senior Cupra exec the in-hub units, which package their own power inverter, offers unbeatable torque vectoring and by being able to manage how much force is applied to each wheel on a millisecond-by-millisecond basis can neutralise any understeer or oversteer. Brake regeneration will also be class-leading with the Raval Racing able to claw back more energy than any of its rivals, boosting efficiency and real-world range. Traction will be unbeatable over all road surfaces and conditions, while packaging the motors within the wheels means the Raval's large 441-litre boot carries over unchanged. Aside from adding unsprung weight the biggest disadvantage of the new tech is cost, says Gallego. "We requested four-wheel drive from the beginning, but it requires a huge investment. "It's crazy. I cannot say the final figures, but the good thing is we can manage the production mix across our four plants to balance out the high development costs." The latter is a reference to both the Volkswagen ID. Polo R and potentially faster versions of the VW ID. Cross SUV sharing the same in-hub high-tech quad-motors. Later on, less powerful all-wheel drive VW Group models could also come with a detuned version of the same powertrain. Gallego was careful not to reveal an exact power figure for the mules already undergoing testing, nor did he provide a timeline for when the faster Raval Racing and ID. Polo R will arrive, but it's thought the pair of fast all-electric hot hatches should land in 2028. "Some figures cannot be communicated right now. It is a concept and we are exploring how the performance works. It's a massive investment from the technical centre." According to Gallego, work has not finished on the core Raval as feedback from media and potential owners have requested some changes that will see both virtual gearshifts and a higher 190km/h top speed (up from 175km/h) rolled out via over-the-air updates once the Cupra small hatch is launched.

Chery has announced its latest sub-brand, and its got sights sets on the hugely popular Kei minicar segment in Japan. EMTA will launch in the second half of 2027 and feature a fully-electric lineup. A Kei car will come first, followed by a hatchback and SUV, with a larger model also in the works down the track. It is clear at this stage EMTA’s cars will specifically target the Japanese market, but the brand is considering overseas expansion. Kei cars have to meet strict rules, which restrict dimensions and power outputs. Chery has not shied away from adding a crowd of sub-brands in Australia. Omoda Jaecoo is already here, with Lepas, iCaur and Freelander scheduled to arrive over the next 12 months. A spokesperson for Chery Australia said there were no plans for any models under the EMTA name to launch in Australia. There have long been calls for Kei minicars to be introduced in Australia, with their cute proportions turning heads and the increasingly busy streets of capital cities requiring smaller vehicles.  The news comes after Chinese rival BYD announced it is planning to launch its Racco Kei car in Japan in the middle of this year. The Kei car has been a strong segment in Japan for many decades, with it suiting the packed traffic conditions of city streets.  There are several roadblocks in the way of these cars launching Down Under, but it mainly comes down to failing to meet Australian design standards and likely low safety scoring.  Currently Chery exclusively offers SUVs across its lineup, so a Kei car would certainly provide some more variety.  Chery Australia confirmed it was reviewing plans for its QQ hatch to launch Down Under as a small car option, with momentum gathering for a 2027 launch.

Toyota’s GR Yaris hot hatch is about to receive some performance enhancements in Australia. It will launch next month, with a spokesperson for Toyota Australia confirming there will be no price change for the new GR Yaris. The car will continue to start from $55,490 (before on-road costs). It will now have a smaller steering wheel diameter of 360mm, down from 365mm. This smaller steering wheel has been designed to offer a more comfortable grasp for the driver when cornering.  Steering has been given a further tune courtesy of an expanded operating range for electric assistance.  There will also now be steering wheel-mounted switches positioned separately, with illumination to aid visibility and use under race conditions.  The range-topping GTS will ride on new high-performance Bridgestone Potenza Race tires as part of the upgrades.  There have been some minor design tweaks for the car to give it a sharper look.  Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said these minor upgrades were designed to provide the marginal improvements needed for racing success.  “When you’re racing, improvements are measured in tenths of seconds and these upgrades to the GR Yaris are designed to deliver the sort of performance enhancements that can make a difference,” Pappas said. The upgrades were inspired by Toyota’s recent success at the World Rally Championship.  It will continue to be a rival to the Hyundai i20 N and the Volkswagen Polo GTI Down Under. All GR Yaris variants use a 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 221kW and 400Nm.  Toyota’s hot hatch could be about to undergo a serious change before the end of the decade. There have been rumours of a new hybrid set-up coming to GR Yaris in 2028 similar to recently-announced performance grades of the LandCruiser 300 4WD. The brand did not confirm whether such a variant was in the works, but its potential announcement could coincide with the arrival of the new all-electric Yaris coming in 2028.