Hybrid

There’s something about spotting a Honda S660, Subaru Sambar or Suzuki Hustler in local traffic. A pang of regret that we’re denied mainstream access to the Kei car smorgasbord on offer in Japan.

Ford Australia is recalling the Escape Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) due to a battery issue that may cause a vehicle fire.

Suzuki Australia is urging customers to not use the rear seats of its new Fronx small SUV until a fix can be identified.The Japanese carmaker is now officially recalling certain examples of the Fronx following a major safety defect that was uncovered during crash testing by independent Australian safety authority ANCAP.A total of 324 examples of the Fronx are being recalled due to a manufacturing defect that may cause the rear left seat belt retractor mechanism to not work as intended.As a result, excessive seat belt lengths may be released in the event of crash or hard braking.A total of 324 vehicles are affectedVehicles were produced during 2025VIN lists are attached here and hereIf you own an affected vehicle, Suzuki Australia advises customers to “immediately cease” using the rear seats.The Japanese carmaker is still undertaking “urgent investigations of this phenomenon”. It will detail any further actions required from affected customers at a later date.This follows the Fronx receiving a one-star safety rating from ANCAP.It received 48 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 40 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 65 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection and 55 per cent for Safety Assist.Due to a number of issues noted in the frontal offset physical crash test, the Fronx received zero points in the test.Protection for the driver’s chest was weak and adequate for lower legs, rearward displacement of the pedals was excessive and protection of the driver’s feet marginal, plus structures in the instrument panel and dashboard were found to be potential sources of injury to occupants.Additionally, rear passenger chest protection was poor, with high chest deflection and high seatbelt load.“What concerns us is that this particular vehicle could have been purchased by an ordinary consumer, and in an on-road crash this failure could have had serious consequences for the person sitting in the back seat,” ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said.“ANCAP’s view is that adult and child passengers should not travel in the rear seats of the Suzuki Fronx until the reason for the failure has been determined and relevant rectifications have been carried out.”Suzuki, at least at surface level, has been struggling to achieve high ANCAP safety ratings over the past few years.Before the Fronx’s one-star rating, the Swift had a one-star rating that was then revised in 2025 to a three-star rating following additional front-end reinforcement to align it with the European-specification model.The Jimny and Vitara are now unrated as it has been over seven years since they were last crash-tested.Earlier this year Suzuki Australia Managing Director Michael Pachota weighed in on the company’s relationship with ANCAP and whether the scores are affecting sales.“Obviously, ANCAP exists, and it's an independent body that does crash testing for Australian consumer knowledge,” Pachota told CarsGuide in August 2025.“But with that said, our safety features, the safety suite, are constantly advancing, and accident avoidance or prevention technology is getting better and better.“Our, for example, Swift is a much safer car than the previous car, but with the goal posts moving so quickly on the ANCAP ruling, the previous car outgoing was a five-star safety rating, and all of a sudden the new one was a one-star. So tell me how that works.“Look, safety is a high priority, absolutely,” added Pachota.“But with that said, we believe our vehicles are definitely safe and fit for purpose. Otherwise they wouldn't be allowed into the country. ADR, strictly has requirements to make sure the vehicle is safe. “So the vehicles allowed in the country, and ADRs in Australia, as you know, are quite, quite strict in terms of comparison to other countries.“Then tell me that car’s not safe.”When asked about the differences in specifications between Australia and the rest of the world, and whether our cars were up to scratch in the global context, Pachota pointed to the average age of cars on Australian roads.“Absolutely. It's funny, you know, like you can get a car that a decade ago got a five-star safety rating, five years ago got a five-star safety rating and wouldn't even be eligible for a one star or even a zero at this stage. “ majority of the Australian car park is nowhere near ANCAP’s ratings now. Nowhere near. So tell me, is everyone not safe now? Should we be scared?”According to the most recent Australian Motor Vehicle Census released in 2021 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average age of vehicles registered at the time was 10.6 years, a figure unlikely to have changed dramatically in the time since, given previous similar figures.Pachota added, “I think it's not about if it's important to Suzuki or not, it's whether or not it's important to the customer, and if the customer can see the safety features and understand what's in the vehicle, and if they need to go to a third party source to get an evaluation, that is entirely up to the customer, and we respect that in the customer's journey.”

Hyundai has detailed an update for its spaceage-looking Staria people mover and Staria Load commercial van in South Korea, while an electric version looms.The South Korean carmaker has confirmed the updated Staria will arrive in Australia during 2026 with local specifications to be confirmed closer to its local launch.There have been no major changes made to the Staria’s exterior besides a slightly altered grille and daytime running light (DRL) set-ups.The bigger changes are on the inside. A highlight is a bigger 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia display (up from 10.25-inches) that runs Hyundai’s latest ccNC multimedia system.It offers an updated graphical interface, plus the ability for over-the-air software updates. It’s also expected to bring wireless smartphone mirroring capability.The touch-sensitive climate control buttons under the central touchscreen have been replaced by physical buttons and dials, while the rest of the centre stack has been redesigned to include more air vents and a repositioned wireless phone charger.There’s also a new steering wheel, plus certain variants get a larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. This is up from the 10.25-inch unit currently fitted to the Staria.The Staria Lounge, which isn’t offered in Australia, gets a new shift-by-wire gear selector mounted on the steering column, like other current Hyundais, whereas the regular Staria sticks with a regular centre console-mounted gear selector.Other new features include Digital Key 2 access via a smartphone, a walkaway locking function, updated built-in dash cam and multi-zone voice recognition.Under the skin there is tweaked suspension for better passenger comfort and stability, extra sound-deadening materials, plus hydro bushings in the chassis in the top-spec Lounge trims.The powertrains remain unchanged. In South Korea the Staria comes either with a 3.5-litre V6 engine that runs on liquid petroleum gas (LPG) or a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid engine.In Australia the Staria currently comes with either a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine or a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine.At this stage it’s unclear whether the hybrid engine will arrive with this update. It’s currently only built in left-hand drive guise.Additionally, Hyundai is gearing up to reveal its “biggest EV yet” at the Brussels Motor Show in early January. Slotting above the Ioniq 9, it’s understood this will be an electric version of the Staria.Hyundai hasn’t confirmed many details, however this new EV will have an 800V electrical architecture like the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 9.There technically is already an electric version of the Staria in the form of the ST1, which is an electric version of the Staria Load but with a box-body rear.It features a front-mounted electric motor that produces 160kW and 350Nm which is fed by a 76.1kWh battery pack. This allows for a claimed range up to 317km.The battery has a peak DC charging rate of 350kW, allowing for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 20 minutes. There’s also vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability to power appliances using the battery pack.It’s unclear whether Hyundai will make any changes to the ST1’s powertrain for this potential forthcoming electric Staria. It could gain a larger battery pack from the likes of the Ioniq 9.

Around six months after Toyota confirmed the LandCruiser 300 Series Hybrid is coming to Australia next year, Lexus has followed suit with its luxurious counterpart.In the first half of 2026 Lexus will launch the LX700h as a new flagship engine offering, sitting above the existing LX500d turbo-diesel and LX600 twin-turbo petrol engines.Pricing for the LX700h starts at $196,000 before on-road costs and extends to $202,000 before on-road costs.The LX700h is $16,200 more expensive than the equivalent LX600 and $19,700 more expensive than the LX500d. A full table of pricing is at the end of this story.Powering the LX700h is the same 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol engine as the LX600 but adds a 36kW/250Nm electric motor generator into the 10-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.It’s worth noting that this set-up is the exact same as the Toyota Tundra pick-up, as well as the forthcoming LandCruiser 300 Series Hybrid.Total system outputs for the LX700h are 341kW and 790Nm, which makes it the most powerful Lexus hybrid ever.Like the LandCruiser 300 Series Hybrid, the LX700h retains a full-time four-wheel drive system with low-range gearing. There’s also the Multi-Terrain Select off-road traction control system with ‘Rock’, ‘Dirt’ and ‘Deep Snow’ modes.Notably the LX700h still has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg, like the rest of the LX line-up.Lexus claims the LX700h has a combined fuel consumption of 10L/100km, which is down from the 11.9L/100km figure the non-hybrid LX600 twin-turbo petrol offers. However, it’s down on the 8.9L/100km figure the LX500d turbo-diesel offers.It also offers a slightly less fuel capacity with a 68L main and 30L sub-tank, bringing the total to 98L. Non-hybrid versions of the LX offer 110L of fuel capacity.Locally the LX700h will be offered in two trim levels – Sports Luxury and F Sport. The former will be offered in five- and seven-seat configurations, whereas the latter will only come with five seats.This is a contrast to the forthcoming LandCruiser 300 Series Hybrid which is only being offered with five seats in Australia.Due to the hybrid components, boot space for the five-seat LX700h variants falls from 1109L to 889L, whereas the Sports Luxury seven-seat offers 833L with the third row of seats folded.It also features a “flexible deck board” which can be erected to create a flat cargo floor, or folded to maximise boot space. No imagery of this has been shared yet, but it is likely a similar solution to what seven-seat versions of the Toyota Prado have.The LX700h Sports Luxury and F Sport trims are specified similarly to the LX600 counterparts, however they gain a 1500W inverter with a standard power outlet to power appliances, a shift-by-wire gear selector, a semi-autonomous park assist and vehicle approach notice.Additionally, Lexus has announced it is axing the flagship four-seat LX600 Ultra Luxury in Australia, making the LX700h the new flagship offering.It is also making the optional Enhancement Package standard on the entry-level LX500d and LX600 Luxury trims. No price hike has been dished out.As a result these entry-level models pick up larger 22-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass sunroof and a hands-free power tailgate as standard.2026 Lexus LX pricing:

Aussies love their diesel utes but with crunching emissions regulations coming into place, it’s unclear how much longer they will reign supreme.

Kia has detailed a timeline of when to expect key updates for its Tasman ute, including its long-awaited Ford Everest-fighting SUV version and a petrol-hybrid powertrain.

Skoda has given a hybrid twist to two of its leading models.

That the Toyota Prius is set for a return to Australia inside the next 18 months, and possibly sooner, is no surprise. As CarsGuide has recently reported, market forces and consumer preferences are shifting and the sleek five-door liftback is suddenly looking very promising for this market. But the big news is that it’s likely to be a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) only proposition, to once again blaze a trail of affordability and accessibility, just like its four previous hybrid-pioneering predecessors did for 21 years from 2001.

Another week another new hybrid family SUV from a challenger brand. But this brand isn’t Chinese, it’s KGM, the 'other' Korean carmaker. The KGM Torres Hybrid is affordable, competent and spacious, but can it divert attention away from all the other hybrid family haulers?