Hybrid cars

The Renault Symbioz is a new, small SUV from the French brand. We drove at its Aussie launch this year, but this is the first time we’ve lived with it for a week and I almost feel sorry for the thing.You see, the Symbioz was sparkling clean, fresh from being built in Valladolid, Spain before landing in the middle of a battlefield of Aussie suburbia with a four-year-old who immediately smudged chocolate in the seat and an 11-year old with more appointments and commitments than a prime minister.The Symbioz that I tested for family friendliness is the entry-grade Techno with the mild hybrid system.It was a long week. Here’s how it went...The Renault Symbioz model range is small in Australia consisting of only two grades. We tested the entry-level Techno mild hybrid, although you can get a full hybrid.The list price of the Symbioz Techno mild hybrid is $36,990 before on-road costs, which is a lot more expensive than some Chinese rivals like the Jaecoo J5 or a Chery Tiggo 4, and a smidge more than the Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross or Mazda CX-30. It is, however, more affordable than the hybrid-only Nissan Qashqai.The Symbioz Techno is worth the extra money even if the value isn’t as good as a Chinese SUV, because the difference is higher quality fit and finish and a more enjoyable car to drive.Standard features on the Techno include 18-inch alloy wheels, proximity unlocking, push-button start, a 10.4-inch media screen and 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus Google Automated services.The seats are a synthetic fabric and that means chocolate wipes straight off, thankfully.Our test car is fitted with the optional electronic glass roof which turns from transparent to opaque thanks to a dispersed polymer liquid crystal film between the sheets of glass. The beauty of this is that there's no need for a sunshade that could reduce head room. Check out my video here to see it work.Yes, while value isn’t one of the Renault Symbioz’s strengths it does have a lot of compelling attributes.Four attributes stand out as the strengths: the design, quality feel, practicality and the way it drives.I truly believe that the Symbioz is the best-looking small SUV for the price right now. I love the rear design especially with the razor-sharp tail-lights, but the entire vehicle is superbly styled and looks far more expensive than the price tag.The same goes for the interior and not just the design, but the feel of the fabrics and materials, switches and the steering wheel. Many SUVs try to aim for a stylish look, but few achieve the feel. This also goes for the thoughtful layout of this cabin that places everything within reach and where it should be.The practicality of the Symbioz is also outstanding. As a mum to two kids that insist on bringing everything everywhere, a small SUV (it’s 4.4m long) is generally too small for us. But the excellent storage, occupant space and boot, which expands from 460L-592L because the rear row is on rails, has me rethinking that rule. If you’re a family in an urban setting but need all the storage and room that kids and adults require, then seriously consider the Symbioz.The materials are also easy to clean and feel hard wearing, too.Finally, the way the Symbioz drives is so engaging. Yes the 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine has a bit of the dreaded turbo lag and yes the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission can be a little clunky.In a world of fully electric cars with seamless stop and go, this engine and transmission feels a bit antiquated, but the Symbioz is still so enjoyable to pilot in an old-school way.As much as I love EVs for urban duties like the daycare drop off, grocery shopping and after-school sports dashes, I’d missed how fun these little runs can be in something with great handling and steering and a grunty little engine.Well, as mentioned the price is a bit steep, but you’re getting a nicer car for the money than many rivals.Also the warranty is only five-years/unlimited kilometres, which is falling behind many mainstream brands. Servicing is required every 30,000km or 12 months. You can buy a five-year service package for $2700 which is about $540 a visit and that’s expensive compared to a few rivals.And then there’s the fuel consumption. The mild hybrid isn’t as fuel efficient as the full hybrid and because I drove it like a rally queen, I used an average of 10.5L/100km over about 150km of driving.The official fuel consumption is 6.4L/100km but personally I don’t think they were flying this small SUV to school and pre-school to Scouts to Kung Fu to birthday parties and tutoring all with just 15 minutes to get to all of these places. With more moderate urban driving, a lower figure is certainly achievable.Finally, the Symbioz has not been rated by ANCAP, but its Continental equivalent, EuroNCAP only gave it four-out-of-five stars for safety. This was partly because it lacks a front centre airbag and front knee airbags, as well as average occupant protection for the driver.

The Chery Stockman dual-cab ute has the potential to truly rattle the cage of rivals such as the BYD Shark 6 and JAC Hunter PHEV and even more established players like the Toyota HiLux and Nissan Navara.A diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain is straight away an obvious point of difference for the Stockman range – with a petrol PHEV due here in 2027 – and that’s a big deal because, as CarsGuide news editor Dom Tripolone has noted in previous stories, no other ute-maker has delivered a diesel-hybrid set-up to market here, not even Toyota.With the Stockman due to go on sale here at the end of this year, anticipation is rapidly building, but Chery’s ute needs to excel in a few key areas – namely capability, real-world local tuning and price – in order for it to really make a mark in the Australian market.Read on.All early signs here are positive.The Stockman will have a 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine and an electric motor for total outputs of 350kW and 800Nm.Electric-only driving range will likely be between 80km and 100km.The diesel plug-in hybrid will be joined by a petrol plug-in version in 2027.This big ute – measuring 5450mm long (with a 3250mm wheelbase), 2010mm wide and 1890mm high – will have 247mm of ground clearance and be fitted with all-terrain tyres as standard.Suspension will be a double wishbone set-up at the front and leaf springs at the rear.Chery has previously stated that the Stockman would have a dual transfer case – with low- and high-range 4WD – and front, centre and rear diff locks, so, on paper, it’s well set up for off-roading and dirt-track touring.The Stockman’s tub is claimed to be 1560mm long, 1560mm wide and 500mm deep, so industry standard.Though Chery has not officially released any payload figures yet, towing capacities for this ute are claimed to be 750kg (unbraked) and 3500kg (braked), so industry standard.If the Stockman delivers on Chery’s capability promises then that’s a battle won.When it comes to an AWD or a 4WD marketed as a “purpose-built” 4WD, the proof really has to be in the off-road pudding.Car buyers are so sophisticated nowadays that carmakers are increasingly entering into collaborations with companies in order to develop vehicles that greatly benefit from substantial engineering away from the OEM.Chery has revealed it has enlisted the services of Melbourne-based vehicle engineering firm, Premcar, to manage the Stockman’s local ride and handling program in order to tweak the ute’s suspension and chassis to ultimately best suit Australian conditions.Premcar’s work on the Navara and Patrol Warriors, among many other vehicle projects, is renowned and has shown that the company can be entrusted with crucial conversion work, engineering upgrades and the fitment of adventure-ready accessories in order to add real value to a vehicle.Chery Australia Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris has previously told CarsGuide that Premcar staff were “doing assessment and validation across many different aspects of the vehicle and many different driving situations”.“So it's not just off-road, but it's also on-road performance, and they'll give feedback on ride and handling and how the infotainment system works, and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) and how the ADAS (advanced driver assist systems) works.”True blue tuning across myriad road and track surfaces in different conditions is welcome, but a car company simply claiming that it has undertaken “local tuning” is not welcome.In Premcar we trust.The value-for-money space is one in which the Stockman can be solidly established especially if Chery manages to price the ute in such a way that holds plenty of appeal as an attractive purchase.Pricing has been tipped to be around the $57,900 mark (excluding on-road costs), which will pit it squarely against the likes of BYD Shark 6 and MGU9.If the Stockman proves value- and feature-packed, as well as comfortable and capable enough then sharp pricing will make it even more competitive in an increasingly pricey market.If Chery has created a ute that manages to avoid the flaws and niggles of some other Chinese off-roaders – such as counter-intuitive and complicated touchscreens, intrusive driver-assist tech, clunky off-road traction control systems, and an inability to truly excel in the tough stuff – then it’s on its way to getting a real foothold in the Aussie market.Add in sharp pricing, solid build quality, reliable all-round capability, and an agreeable on-road performance and the Stockman may be able to really crack the whip on its competition.Note: The Stockman is due to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026, when pricing and technical details for the diesel PHEV and petrol PHEV are expected to be announced.

Honda’s next-generation hybrid plans are heating up.The Japanese brand will use its upcoming hybrid system in the new CR-V mid-size SUV and begin mass-production from February 2027, according to a report in Nikkei Asia.It is also planning to offer the CR-V as a hybrid-only model moving forward, ditching the petrol-only set-up globally, as it aims to introduce 15 new hybrid models by 2030.In addition to the CR-V, Honda has unveiled sedan and SUV prototypes to ride on an all-new platform and electric all-wheel drive set-up.The SUV will fall under Honda’s Acura luxury sub-brand in the US, and will be based on the CR-V.Most of these models will be built in left-hand drive, raising doubts as to whether they will enter the Aussie market.However, Honda Australia President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Joseph told CarsGuide in June 2026 the brand is becoming more capable of satisfying both LHD and RHD markets.Honda is planning another globally-targeted model called the Avancier that will be a three-row large SUV, targeting Thailand and China by early 2027.The Avancier will be in Thailand, which is a RHD market, thus improving the car’s chances of an Australian launch in the future.The Japanese brand is taking hybrid power seriously in Australia, with every model now available with the powertrain, and at a more affordable price, so the Avancier could be a desirable option.Honda Australia has not officially confirmed any news about the Avancier, but CarsGuide has contacted the local branch to learn more.The Avancier is not the Pilot XXL three-row SUV that will also use the next-generation hybrid set-up.That car will specifically target the North American market after 2030.In mid-2026, Honda made a global U-turn by pivoting heavy investment toward hybrids instead of EVs from 2027.The brand shelved its mid-size SUV and sedan electric concepts that were to form the bulk of its ‘0 series’ global EV push.Honda is still planning to launch the remaining Alpha small SUV in the ‘0 series’, and it could be on the cards for Australia as it hasn’t been ruled out by the local subsidiary.These newly developed hybrids are supposed to cost Honda 30 per cent less than the current generation of its hybrids, while boasting a more than 10 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency.

Zeekr is warning of potentially long wait lists for its upcoming range of much-hyped cars, telling CarsGuide expressions of interest were building “faster than expected.”Speaking at the Everything Electric show in Sydney, Zeekr Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Frank Li said he was expecting there to be extended delivery times for the 7GT electric station wagon as well as the 8X and 9X large plug-in hybrid SUVs set to arrive in 2027 as the order banks grow in Australia and across the world.“We anticipate that 7GT might actually have a longer wait list than 7X did,” he said, adding “9X and 8X really have this huge interest. Every time I attend an event - even things not related to cars at all, I will have people try and place an order with me.”“The order bank is growing fast. Faster than we expected. There’s huge hype amongst our customers. We’re even seeing some families flying 8X across from China.”Li said the overwhelming reception to these new models in the markets they have already launched in, like the UAE and even the Chinese domestic market, was creating bottlenecks for the company.“It’s not just production capacity, but the whole supply chain. Shipping, logistics, even delivery centres can hold things up.”Li said that while the 8X and 9X “will bring Zeekr to the next level in Australia” in terms of volume, he warned availability would be severely limited.“I strongly recommend that buyers place a deposit if they want one. They need to make sure they are in that line so once the car is launched they can get into it as soon as possible.”The 7X mid-size SUV, which launched at an unprecedented price-point for a premium electric mid-sizer of $57,900, before on-road costs, rapidly became one of the fastest-selling EVs in Australia. By the end of August this year, it was the ninth best selling car in the country overall.However, some customers were left waiting some time for delivery as the brand struggled to keep up with demand.Li’s warning about potentially even worse wait times bodes well for the brand long-term, which is even more ambitious than it was when it arrived in Australia just two years ago.When asked if Zeekr could be the number one luxury brand in the country, leapfrogging once-favourites like Audi BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Li said recent developments make that a possibility, but sales targets aren’t his primary concern.“When we launched the brand, not just in Australia but globally, we were always hoping to become the best-selling premium EV brand, but with PHEV coming with 8X and 9X I think we can have some bigger ambitions of trying to become the best-selling premium brand,” he said.“But, apart from sales volume, it’s more important for us actually to have that customer satisfaction and the attitude toward the Zeekr brand.“If you were to ask me about what the brand looks like in three years I wouldn’t have a volume target to share with you, but after three years if we’re surveying customers when we ask about premium brands, Zeekr needs to be one of their top considerations. So this is more important than volume. That’s my target.”To that end, Li said the brand’s dealers would be asked to build a more premium experience in order to set Zeekr apart from its myriad of rivals and soon-to-arrive competitors like Avatr from Changan or Wey from GWM.“We’re not aiming for this big number of dealers, and for them to just change their logo and start selling cars. That’s not what we want, we want to build the customer experience properly.”He said the brand’s big investments in track events, dining and experiences were part of keeping its buyers engaged for longer “after we’ve handed over the keys”.It may even result in the Australian market scoring its own option packs, as the brand welcomes buyer feedback on track days and modifications.“Actually, we’ve already got customers showing us modifications they’ve done themselves,” Li said. “We’re developing some OEM-backed modifications for the Australian market. These are the kinds of lifestyle things we’ll be working on in the future.”Next for Zeekr is the launch of the 7GT which is expected to arrive before the end of 2026 with customer deliveries more likely for early 2027. The 9X three-row large plug-in will follow shortly afterwards, with the 8X due in the second half of 2027.

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.

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?

GWM has confirmed Chinese pricing for the ultra-hardcore version of its Tank 300 Hooke Edition after recently confirming pre-orders in its home market.Starting from the equivalent of A$52,500 in China, the overhauled Tank 300 sits atop the SUV’s combustion range, and between the two hybrid Hi4-Z and Hi4-T variants, the latter of which we get in Australia.The top combustion-powered version, a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel variant, costs $47,990 drive-away Down Under, while the top-spec plug-in hybrid Ultra Hi4-T costs $61,990, suggesting a retail price of mid-to-high $50,000 if it's offered in Australia.The Hooke Edition, which was originally teased over a year ago in China, is more than just off-road tyres and a snorkel, with the vehicle's underbody re-worked to replace the independent front axle with a more hardcore solid front axle set-up.Like 'Trail Rated' versions of Jeep's range which are tested on the hardcore trails of Moab in Utah, GWM's Hooke Edition is named after a notorious off-road park to the west of Beijing.The suspension has also been re-worked to help the 4WD accommodate 40-inch tyres, and it is more robust, with stronger control arms and trailing arms, as well as a reinforced front axle housing.As a result, its approach angle has been improved to 41 degrees and its suspension travel has been increased to 130mm for “confidently handling complex cross-axle situations,” and its low-range crawl ratio is 63.5:1 (which is not quite as extreme as the Wrangler’s 77:1 ratio).Ground clearance is 245mm while wading depth has increased to 850mm thanks to the addition of a factory snorkel. GWM says the maximum gradability of the Hooke Edition is 70 per cent. The car ships in China with Cooper Discoverer all-terrain tyres.The Hooke edition gets special front and rear bumpers to optimise its off-road angles, while the stock wheel package is downsized to 18 inches from other high-grade Tank 300s.Inside it scores larger screens as per the latest Chinese version of the SUV, with real Nappa leather interior trim and tweaked centre console switchgear compared to Australian-delivered versions.Powering the Hooke Edition is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 170kW/400Nm. It is mated to a nine-speed torque converter transmission with a low-range capable transfer case.The 300 Hooke Edition was originally teased alongside GWM’s upcoming 4.0-litre V8 engine, causing speculation that this extreme overhaul would also score this powertrain, however it appears the larger engine will be reserved for only flagship products in GWM’s wider line-up of brands.However, while the special model might seem like a perfect fit for off-road obsessed Australia, its future is under a cloud with GWM executives telling CarsGuide it might not be required given the capability the brand’s line-up already offers.“If we were to put our hand up for every car we see in the field, especially over in China, our showrooms would be overflowing,” said the brand’s local Executive General Manager of Marketing and Communications, Steve Maciver.“It’s a fantastic looking car and it would be a good choice there , but we’ve just got volume going with the existing Tank 300 powertrains, so really got to pick carefully when considering complexity in the showroom, parts stocking for us, and marketing costs.”Maciver was quick to stress that it wasn’t a global capability issue holding the hardcore model back for the time being, earmarking the factory’s capability to do “in most cases, anything".Chief Operating Officer of GWM Australia John Kett said there may potentially be a space for such a model in the future.“The complexity of these three brands [Haval, Tank, Cannon] is going to cause us a problem unless we resolve what to do with Tank in terms of its growing portfolio,” Kett said.“I think as we grow it will allow us to be a little bit more distinctive in where we take the Tank brand.“We’ve got full access to the whole line-up, they keep developing new versions of it, so I think that’s definitely a consideration on top of what we’ve already got coming in the next year.”Stay tuned for more on GWM’s roll-out plans, which are set to include the new boxy Haval H7 in both plug-in and plugless hybrid forms, and the new plug-in hybrid Cannon ute.The company is also set to expand on its range of Ora electric cars, as well as introduce its luxury Wey arm before the end of 2026.

Two Chinese carmakers have come under fire in Australia for alleged lax cyber security measures and questions over privacy, following investigations from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Technology in EVs bring an increased risk of surveillance and privacy breaches and potential hacking, with Four Corners showing how easy it was to allegedly hack a BYD Shark 6.BYD has now responded to the ABC's claims, stating the footage does not conclusively show its vehicles are open to hacking without first gaining physical access to the vehicle."The footage from the Four Corners report does not provide conclusive evidence that a remote attack vulnerability exists without physical access to the vehicle. Once unrestricted physical access to the vehicle is established the need for passwords diminishes," a spokesperson said.An ABC investigation uncovered that BYD’s privacy policy said data could be collected "in connection with suspected illegal or improper activities" and that this could be done through "surveillance activities".This broad policy gave BYD significant powers to gather data on owners, and how it could disclose information.The carmaker has since removed all references to China and mentions of surveillance.A spokesperson for BYD Australia told CarsGuide privacy policy changes were not made due to the ABC's investigation."Any inference that the policy was updated in response to the Four Corners investigation is strenuously denied," they said.The company's high-tech credentials mean its vehicles feature lots of camera and other monitoring equipment primarily to improve safety, combined with over-the-air connectivity technology. BYD cars use a driver monitoring system that includes a camera pointed towards the driver to detect any drowsiness or a lack of attention. These systems generate substantial amounts of information about those in the car, what they do and the conversations they have. The Chinese government recently released a raft of new rules to tighten how its carmakers operate in overseas markets.Carmakers are now required to take necessary measures to ensure any data-processing, including collection, use and cross-border transfers must comply with applicable laws. They must also adhere to personal information protection regulations and safeguard consumer privacy. This move is designed to improve buyer trust in overseas markets, but there remains concerns about its application. Australia’s privacy rules allow for data to be transferred to China, so theoretically owner data could be at risk. BYD’s new policy states in the event of personal data transfers to other countries, it will comply with data protection laws regarding cross-border transfers. "We haven't and would not transfer any data of Australians to the Chinese authorities," it said. Companies must still cooperate with authorities when required under national Chinese security rules. A spokesperson for BYD Australia said the brand cannot be compelled to provide owner information because Australian law governs its operations. The ABC also published an article on cybersecurity concerns for new EVs. Cybersecurity expert Dan Hreszczuk was able to remotely access some of a BYD Shark 6’s functions without even needing a password. Hreszczuk said he unpicked the software programs controlling different functions, and could blast music over the speakers, remotely switch the car’s lights on and off, and operate the wipers, among other things. “It’s a little bit scary how open … the BYD Shark is to a hacker,” Hreszczuk told the ABC. A spokesperson for BYD Australia told CarsGuide it was working through its own investigation, and is querying claims made by the ABC."We are taking full and immediate action in reviewing alleged claims and will respond in detail once we have completed our investigation," they said.They said BYD conducts its own simulated cyberattack testing to assess the effectiveness of protections and identify vulnerabilities."In current versions of our infotainment system, third-part apps cannot be installed by users, which helps prevent unauthorised software and potential vulnerabilities being installed on the vehicle," they said.It’s not just BYD making headlines over its in-cabin surveillance.Leapmotor cars feature lots of cameras to provide increased vision and safety for owners, in line with many Chinese EVs.The ABC has reported some Leapmotor models use cameras removed from federal government buildings over surveillance concerns.The cameras in question are made by Dahua Technology, and in 2023, many were removed from federal buildings and defence sites.CarsGuide has contacted Leapmotor Australia for comment to find out which models have Dahua cameras installed in them.Leapmotor currently sells its B10 and C10 fully-electric or hybrid range-extender SUVs, and its B05 hatchback in Australia.It will soon introduce the smaller budget-focused B03X designed to rival some of the most affordable EVs on sale in Australia.

XPeng is making it more affordable for Australians to get into one of their vehicles.The Chinese brand is launching the new L03 mid-size coupe-SUV, which severely undercuts the Tesla Model Y, Geely EX5 and Zeekr 7X.XPeng is also adding some variety to the menu with a range-extender hybrid (EREV) version, with Australia being one of the first markets outside of China to get the petrol-electric versions.There are three electric and one EREV L03s to choose from, with prices starting at $41,900 (before on-road costs) for the Standard Range EV and the Power X EREV.The Long Range EV jumps to $46,900 and the range tops out at the dual-motor Performance Ultra grade at $53,900.That entry price puts it at the same price as the Geely EX5 and $17,000 cheaper than the base Tesla Model Y and about $16,000 more affordable than the Zeekr 7X.The Power X EREV version uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine that is used purely as a generator to charge the 37kWh Lithium-ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery and never drives the wheels.Instead, a 178kW/280Nm single electric motor drives the rear wheels.XPeng claims the 37kWh battery delivers an electric driving range of up to 215km calculated by the benchmark WLTP test cycle.The brand claims a total driving range of more than 1000km when the battery and 42-litre fuel tank are depleted.At the max DC charging rate, the battery can be topped up from 10 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes. AC charging tops out at 6.6kW.Standard Range electric versions use a circa-58kWh LFP battery that provides a WLTP rated driving range of up to 445km. It can DC charge up to 193kW, which can fill the battery from 20-80 per cent in 20 minutes. AC charging is up to 11kW.Power comes from a single electric motor that makes 163kW and 280Nm delivered to the rear wheels.Long Range and Performance Ultra grades up this with a roughly 71kWh LFP battery that enables a driving range of 520km (Long Range) and 440km (Performance Ultra). Both can DC charge up to 236kW, which again fills the battery from 10-80 in 20 minutes. The Long Range grade has slightly more power at 183kW/280Nm, again sent to the rear wheels.Performance Ultra examples have a second motor enabling all-wheel drive, with a total of 285kW on tap. That extra grunt drops the L03’s 0-100km/h time to 4.5 seconds from the 6.6 and 7.5 seconds of the Long Range and Standard Range grades.XPeng is making a big deal about how it is embedding AI into its cars.Bigger vehicles such as the coming G9L have increased functionality, but the L03 has the computing power to bring fully autonomous driving when it is ready.XPeng hasn’t sourced its chips from stock market darling Nvidia, instead XPeng is going it alone and developing and building its own processors it dubs AI Turing chips.The company is planning on rolling out fully autonomous capabilities in 2027, where regulations allow.Australia does not allow that yet, but this could mean it would have similar capabilities to Tesla’s Full Self Driving (Supervised). Tesla’s tech can drive autonomously, but the driver has to be ready to take control just in case.The L03 rides on either 18-inch alloy wheels or 20-inch units depending on specification. It has LED lighting front and back, with a full length light bar at the rear. It has cornering lights, privacy glass, frameless doors and door mirrors.Inside there are electronically adjustable, synthetic leather-wrapped seats that are heated and ventilated up front, with a massage function on the Performance Ultra grade.A heated microfibre covered steering wheel, wireless charging, ambient lighting, nine-speaker stereo that jumps to 18-speakers in the Performance Ultra.The range-topper also gets active noise cancellation to keep the outside world at bay.The L03 is a mid-size SUV that is a similar size to big names such as the Geely EX5 and Toyota RAV4, but slightly smaller than the Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X.It is 4650mm long, 1920mm wide, 1600mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2850mm. It has a ground clearance of 144mm and seating for five.The boot can hold 494-litres, which increases to 539L with the under-floor compartment included. There is a front cargo area under the bonnet that can hold 102L.It is rated to 750kg unbraked or 1500kg braked.The L03 can be had in white, two types of black, silver and purple.