Hybrid cars

Hyundai has officially confirmed the first models that will receive its new range-extender (REEV) hybrid powertrain technology.The Hyundai Santa Fe and Genesis GV70 will be the first models. They both will launch in global markets from the first half of 2027.Hyundai has confirmed that REEVs are coming to Australia, but it won’t confirm an exact timeline or which models yet.REEV hybrids have a petrol engine but they don’t directly power the wheels. They instead act as a generator to charge up the high-voltage battery pack. This means all the driving power is done by electric motors, like an electric vehicle (EV).Hyundai has confirmed its Santa Fe REEV is launching in global markets in the first half of 2027. It’s unclear if or when it will come to Australia.The South Korean carmaker will manufacture this new REEV version of the Santa Fe in the US at its Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant. It already produces standard petrol and series-parallel hybrid versions of the Santa Fe for the USA.Few details regarding the Santa Fe REEV’s powertrain have been confirmed yet. It will have a dual-electric motor set-up, likely meaning one on each axle and all-wheel drive. It’s unclear which petrol engine it’ll have.There’s also a new ‘high-performance’ battery, which has been designed in-house, allowing for a total range of over 965km.Hyundai has been readying a facelift for the Santa Fe for a while now following the middling feedback to the exterior design and this new REEV powertrain may launch in conjunction with it.Following Genesis launching the GV80 Hybrid, which has a parallel hybrid set-up, the GV70 REEV will be the brand’s first range-extender hybrid when it launches in early 2027.Few details about the GV70 REEV’s powertrain are confirmed yet, however it will feature an in-house designed ‘high-performance’ battery pack, like the Santa Fe REEV.Genesis claims the GV70 REEV will offer a total range of over 1030km.This new powertrain option for the GV70 will add to the standard petrol and all-electric configurations.The confirmation of these new REEV models were announced as part of Hyundai’s latest Investor Day.The South Korean carmaker plans to launch over 100 new vehicles across its Hyundai and Genesis brands by 2030. The Santa Fe REEV and GV70 REEV are just two of these models.Other highlights include the new-generation Tucson, a series of body-on-frame vehicles, new EVs and a number of vehicles especially for the Chinese market, like the Ioniq V.Among the other things confirmed at the event, another key point is Hyundai plans to launch a new ‘high-volume performance’ segment by 2030 to sit between N and N Line.It will apparently feature carryover powertrain and parts from Hyundai N, with a focus on value features for daily high-performance driving.

This family favourite three-row SUV has been given some serious off-roading credentials in Australia. The Hyundai Palisade will be available in a new XRT Pro grade from next month.It starts from $79,900 (before on-road costs), making it $3400 more expensive than the base variant, but $10,000-plus cheaper than the range-topping example.This off-road ready variant could provide the Palisade an edge for buyers over the popular Toyota Kluger three-row SUV.The Palisade XRT Pro still features a car-based chassis, but its upgrades bring it closer to the rugged ladder frame Ford Everest 4WD ($58,990). The new variant is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 207kW and 422Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.This differs from other Palisade variants that are also equipped with a 2.5-litre engine but have a conventional plugless hybrid set-up and six-speed auto, making a combined 245kW and 460Nm.The Palisade XRT Pro comes with a factory-fitted towbar. When fitted with the towing accessory kit, it boasts a braked towing capacity of 2200kg, up from 2000kg as standard.It has XRT-specific 18-inch alloy wheels and a distinct metallic grille, along with blacked out and 'XRT Pro' detailing.Hyundai said the debuting XRT Pro grade adds genuine off-road capability, with focused hardware and other physical components geared for rugged activities.It features an electric limited-slip differential (e-LSD), dedicated off-road displays and a ground-view monitor.It also has improved approach and departure angles compared to the standard Palisade, with ground clearance up to 212mm from 187mm. The car has been given a specialist 4WD-tuned suspension in addition to the Aussie-specific set-up on other variants.It has separate mud, sand and snow terrain modes designed to help tackle different challenges.The new variant is slated to arrive in dealerships from September. 

BYD's answer to the Kia Carnival is coming to Australia.The BYD M9 plug-in hybrid is due to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year as a new electrified people mover option for buyers.The M9 will directly tackle the conventional hybrid- and diesel-powered Kia Carnival ($54,560, before on-road costs), sporting very similar dimensions.The M9 is BYD’s second people mover put on sale in Australia, following the arrival of the Denza D9 from the brand’s luxury division earlier this year.The M9 name comes from BYD’s Chinese ride-sharing and taxi services sub-brand Linghui.It also shares its underpinnings with the luxury-focused Xia DM-i people mover. It will be available in ‘Dynamic’ and ‘Premium’ grades, initially as a seven-seater that includes second-row captains chairs, before an eight-seater variant arrives afterwards. The front wheels are driven by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and electric motor, but BYD has not revealed output figures yet. In China the engine produces 115kW, while an electric motor adds a further 200kW. It will be equipped with either a 20.4kWh or 36.6kWh battery, offering 145km of electric-only driving range and a total range figure of 850km, according to WLTP standards. BYD confirmed the car will have DC charging capacity and vehicle-to-load capacity so devices can be powered directly from the car. Inside the car is available with heated and ventilated front and second row seats, as well as ‘near’ zero gravity adjustability. BYD has not confirmed a specific launch date, other than it will be in the fourth quarter of this year. The brand will also reveal pricing in Q4 and it is expected to be competitive with the established pack. It will certainly be cheaper than the Denza D9 starting from $95,990, while hybrid variants of the Kia Carnival kick off from $68,540. 

Chery has confirmed it's adding another sub-brand to its growing arsenal in Australia.New adventure-focused iCaur brand will join Chery, Jaecoo, Omoda and Lepas in the carmaking giant’s local line-up. Chery will also likely launch Freelander and maybe Exceed in the next few years. Its Jetour off-roader brand will arrive later this year via a separate factory-backed entity.iCaur Australia boss Kate Gillis said Australians have a strong desire for vehicles that are practical, capable and good looking.“The V25 has been developed to meet those expectations while bringing a distinctive personality that will appeal to customers looking for something different,” said Gillis.The V25 features tough-looks with light off-roading ability.The company confirmed it will launch early in 2027, with the V25 the first model to join the line-up. It will go head-to-head with the Denza B5 and Subaru Forester in Australia and Toyota LandCruiser FJ in other markets.iCaur Australia hasn’t revealed any details for the V25, but specs have emerged in China.A filing to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) last month showed the V25 is an extended range hybrid (EREV).An EREV uses the petrol engine just to charge the sizable battery, with only electric motors driving the wheels. This gives it the driving benefits of an EV but without the range anxiety.It uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 115kW, and a 33.68kWh battery delivers an electric driving range of up to 150km albeit under the more lenient CLTC test cycle.According to the MIIT’s details, the V25 is 4636mm long, 1920mm wide, 1855mm tall, has a 1820mm wheelbase and has a track width of 1635mm at the front, 1642mm at the rear.Overhangs of 736mm at the front and 1080mm at the rear are also quoted, though an approach angle of 28 degrees and a departure angle of 24 degrees have also been reported.In China iCaur has the V23 and V27. The V23 is an electric SUV that uses a single electric motor to make 155kW and 292Nm. It is paired with a circa 82kWh battery that delivers a driving range of up to 430km. It can only charge at a max 104kW via a DC charger.The V27 is a bigger, chunkier tough-looking SUV, which uses an extended range hybrid set-up.A 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine charges the 34.3kWh battery, with power coming from a pair of electric motors driving each axle, which combine for 335kW and 505Nm.

The Renault Symbioz Esprit Alpine is the flagship model in the new small SUV’s line-up. Priced from $45,990, before on-road costs, the Esprit Alpine combines luxury and sporty touches to differentiate it from the Techno hybrid below it in the range.Naturally, the Esprit Alpine is loaded with the most equipment, including auto headlights, a wireless smartphone charger, heated steering wheel and automatic climate control. Plus there’s a 10.25-inch digital driver display as well as a 10.4-inch central multimedia touchscreen connected to a nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Not only does it have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included, but also Google Automotive Services, which means it can act like an extension of your Android smartphone in many respects.Other niceties include performance seats that are heated and electronically adjustable and red, white and blue stitching on the steering wheel plus a power tailgate.The Symbioz is based on Renault’s latest design language, which gives it a distinctive European look. The Esprit Alpine gets some unique exterior design elements, including chrome exterior trim as well as a more muted grille and badge treatment.Inside there is a small ledge ahead of the stubby gear selector, with the wireless charging pad hidden underneath it. There are two cupholders and a small lidded console box as well, plus small door pockets, which makes for a very practical cabin.In terms of space for people, up front the seats are comfortable and roomy, while in the rear the back of the driver and passenger seats have been heavily sculpted out to create a good amount of kneeroom.The Symbioz Esprit Alpine uses the first hybrid powertrain offered by Renault in Australia, a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor that makes 116kW of power and 265Nm of torque.With a 48-litre fuel tank and claimed fuel economy of just 4.7L/100km the Symbioz has a theoretical driving range of more than 1000km on a single fill.In terms of safety, the Symbioz Techno has a good level of active driver assistant systems that are better calibrated than many small SUV rivals, plus there is a single-button function to switch off the systems you don’t want to use. However, the Symbioz has not been rated by ANCAP and has a four-star (from a possible five) crash test score from Euro NCAP. The Symbioz Esprit Alpine is covered by Renault’s standard five-year/100,000km warranty, The company offers ‘Assured Servicing Pricing’ which covers the first five years or 150,000km, whichever comes first. This will cost you a total of $2715 for the hybrid during that time.

Nissan continues to refine its business and product strategy with the under-pressure Japanese carmaker set to reorganise 80 per cent of its global nameplates into three broad families.As reported by Automotive News, the brand’s new ‘Family-Planning’ structure will see the introduction of five new body-on-frame models in two years to be introduced at ‘China Speed’.Nissan remains in the midst of a major global financial crisis, recording massive consecutive annual losses, including a A$7.0 billion net loss for the fiscal year ending March 2025 and a A$4.7 billion net loss for the year ending March 2026. Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa launched the revised product approach as part of the company’s goal to cut its global product portfolio by 20 per cent to 45 models from 56 currently and slash development lead times from 50 to 30 months.The three product family groupings are mid-size (think X-Trail), compact family (think Qashqai/Note) and body-on-frame, the latter initially focused on reintroduction of the Xterra SUV in the US market from 2028, with it and “four sibling spinoffs” to be produced at Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi plant by the end of the decade.Speaking at the company’s Yokohama headquarters on Friday, Nissan Deputy General Manager Product Business Division Hidemi Sasaki said the new direction will reduce vehicle development time by 40 per cent, enable a 20 per cent reduction in the number of different parts used and commonise 70 per cent of components.“China players are following different rules; they are changing the game. That’s why we are trying to do this transformation.“By revising the business scheme, we can reduce investment and efficiently engineer cars in a shorter period of time while catering to all the needs in the market,” he said.Nissan is aiming to optimise shared platforms, powertrains, software systems and components by planning an entire family at the same time. The US-made models will lead off with the five-seat Xterra SUV, followed by a three-row Nissan SUV, the Navara-sized Frontier pick-up, as well as two- and three-row Infiniti SUVs. Sasaki-san’s presentation included a teaser image of the upcoming Xterra with what Automotive News described as “a rugged stance, flared fenders, angled C-pillar, indented hood and semi-solid front fascia with the Nissan name spelled out in capital letters.”He said the frame family will share about 70 per cent of components forward of the B-pillar and underneath, including the platform, V6 and V6 parallel hybrid powertrains, software, electrical system, navigation and driver-assist systems.Vehicles will then be given specific rear ‘top hats’ to differentiate them as pick-ups, three-row SUVs or premium Infiniti vehicles, the latter receiving their own interiors and exterior styling.While recognising Nissan already develops multiple vehicles around common, modular platforms, Sasaki said, “The timing is what is different. In the first stage, we will plan multiple models at the same time.“In the traditional way, we tried to do this, but the business planning was not as fast,” he said.Performance models including the Z or a future GT-R, as well as light commercial vans fall outside the scope of the family structure for now.

BYD is taking aim at the luxury electric sedan market with its latest model.The brand has opened presales for its Da Han, or ‘Great Han’ full-size sedan that has the Mercedes-Benz EQS, BMW i7 and Porsche Taycan in its sights. It measures in at 5256mm long, 1999mm wide, 1510mm high, with a 3130mm wheelbase, so it shapes up similarly to the petrol- and diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz S-Class.With more than 1000km of driving range, it could be a game-changer for buyers in the market for a long-distance cruiser.The car is available in two variants. A rear-wheel drive single motor making 370kW, or an all-wheel drive dual motor set-up boosting power to 570kW. The Da Han’s main attraction is a huge 1008km driving range from a large 102kWh battery, potentially blowing its key competition out of the water.This figure has been calculated using the more lenient CLTC regime, so it's likely to be 20 to 30 per cent lower in the real world, in closer proximity to other electric sedans.The AWD Da Han has a reduced driving range of 880km (CLTC), due its more power hungry dual electric motors and extra traction.DC fast charging from 10 to 97 per cent takes just nine minutes courtesy of the brand's new 1000-volt electrical architecture. BYD’s new sedan will also be available with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid set-up, making up to 400kW. Its 55kWh battery offers as much as 470km of EV-only driving range.There is no official word on the Da Han’s potential Australian future, but it is unlikely to be any time soon as BYD’s global ambitions for the model remain unclear. BYD routinely engineers models for right-hand drive, and if this happens for the Da Han, its chances of an Australian launch increase significantly.BYD's local branch is taking sedans seriously, and has already introduced the Seal and Seal 6, with a larger Seal 7 also approved for sale in Australia.  The Da Han will start in China from 250,000 yuan, which is roughly $52,000, but it would be more expensive in Australia, likely above the $60,000 mark. 

Japan’s carmakers are finding ways to fight back against the growing might of Chinese auto brands.Outside of Toyota most Japanese carmakers are not big enough, or rich enough, to balloon out to the size of some of the new Chinese powerhouses.Relatively small manufacturers such as Mazda, Mitsubishi and Subaru don’t have the resources to overhaul their collective ranges and invest in electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid technology all at once.Instead they are borrowing from others. Subaru joined forces with Toyota to build EVs, Mazda with China’s Changan and Mitsubishi with Taiwan's Foxtron, the latter is part of the company that builds iPhones.They now have the tech but predicting demand for electric cars is proving difficult for all manufacturers.Mazda and Subaru have found the solution.Mazda is developing a new way of producing cars that would allow one production line to make internal-combustion engined vehicles, hybrids and electric vehicles depending on demand.Subaru is also working on flexible production lines to help it make the most of its modest production resources, without having to build new factories or re-tool old ones.This would help the pair adjust to lulls in EV demand without having to mothball production lines, which has impacted other major makers such as Ford and Volkswagen.Subaru Managing Executive Officer Ikuo Watanabe told US outlet Autonews it would be able to adapt to changes in tariffs of exchange rate fluctuations to shuffle production between factories around the world.“Demand trends are uncertain and we cannot predict which powertrain, battery-electric, hybrid or internal combustion engine, will sell well and when,” Watanabe said. “Making an investment decision on one specific technology poses the greatest risk.”Mazda has pushed back its own in-house developed electric cars until 2029, with it instead relying on Changan’s production to deliver its reskinned EVs. Hybrid versions of its CX-5 SUV won’t arrive in the US until late 2027 before rolling out to other markets, including Australia.But it already has a plan in place to build all its different powered vehicles on the same line when they are available towards the end of the decade.Former Toyota boss and now head of Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Koji Sato recently called for the country’s carmakers to join forces or risk oblivion, according to Autonews.“Unless things change, we will not survive,” Sato said. He is calling for all brands to have uniform parts to help reduce costs and complexity across the industry.Japan’s automakers believe this will help them tackle China’s scale and speed.

The all-new Renault Symbioz small SUV range begins with a mild hybrid variant in the Techno trim, priced from $36,990, before on-road costs. The Techno mild hybrid comes equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, auto headlights, a wireless smartphone charger, heated steering wheel, automatic climate control and 10.25-inch digital driver display plus a 10.4-inch central multimedia touchscreen connected to a six-speaker sound system. Not only does it have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included, but also Google Automotive Services, which means it can act like an extension of your Android smartphone in many respects.Renault’s designers have created a surprisingly spacious and well-considered interior for such a small SUV. Up the front there are plenty of small item storage spaces. There is a small ledge ahead of the stubby gear selector, with the wireless charging pad hidden underneath it. There are two cupholders and a small lidded console box as well, plus small door pockets.In terms of space for people, up front the seats are comfortable and roomy, while in the rear the back of the driver and passenger seats have been heavily sculpted out to create a good amount of kneeroom.The rear seat slides to provide a trade-off between boot space and rear occupant space, so it does have an impressively large cargo capacity if you don’t need to take passengers.The mild hybrid Symbioz is powered by a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and makes 104kW of power and 245Nm of torque.The mild hybrid has a fuel economy rating of 6.4L/100km, which provides a theoretical driving range of more than 750km thanks to its 48L fuel tank.In terms of safety, the Symbioz Techno has a good level of active driver assistant systems that are better calibrated than many small SUV rivals. However, the Symbioz has not been rated by ANCAP and has a four-star crash test score from Euro NCAP. The Symbioz Techno mild hybrid is covered by Renault’s standard five years/100,000km warranty. The company offers ‘Assured Servicing Pricing’ which covers the first five years or 150,000km, whichever comes first, and the total cost for the period is $2695.

Toyota is in danger of being overtaken by BYD.By retreating upmarket, it also risks losing the loyalty of a generation of buyers, especially younger ones, destroying the bedrock of the brand’s success in Australia.Toyota is still the world leader and dominant force in Australia, but that could all fall apart if it gets complacent.Yes, Toyota has been number one every year since 2003, and remains the richest car company in the world after Tesla.But BYD and other Chinese brands like Chery are cutting its lunch.Toyota’s year-to-date (YTD) sales have tumbled 20 per cent, from 142,700 to 115,550 units, while market share has shrunken from 20 per cent to 16.3 per cent.In contrast, BYD’s YTD sales have jumped, from 28,000 to nearly 61,000 units while share has expanded from 3.9 per cent to 8.5 per cent.Toyota assumed its premium, hybrid-heavy strategy would prevail.But BYD’s cheaper electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEV) are both more affordable and available, while Chery, MG and others clean up in the sub-$30,000 drive-away classes that Toyota abandoned in 2024. Coincidence?Reportedly sitting on a $A96.5 billion war chest, Toyota can shore up customer loyalty by once again offering more-affordable vehicles that Australians want.Playing the long game, not the wrong game, the Japanese brand’s models already have the reputation for reliability, durability and quality required to remain number one.We understand. Today’s Yaris from $29,190 before on-road costs is measurably superior to its 2019 predecessor. But that’s a moot point for buyers who cannot stretch another $10,000-plus to own one.Here, then, are the Toyotas we reckon Australia needs right now.Although it is an all-new model in a segment Toyota has not bothered with for decades, the LandCruiser FJ is anything but ‘all-new’ underneath.Derived from the IMV architecture that is already two decades old beneath the HiLux, this compact SUV is a Thai-built body-on-frame, off-road-ready 4x4 with the Suzuki Jimny in its crosshairs.Surely that makes the LandCruiser FJ a natural for Australia?Well… no. The biggest drawback seems to be the equally ancient 2TR-FE I4 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that Toyota had to drop from the latest HiLux range due to non-compliance with our increasingly tough emissions.There is speculation galore about a hybrid alternative happening sometime in the future, and – if true – then that’s what we would expect a locally bound LandCruiser FJ to be powered by.It seems unfathomable Toyota would create an SUV with classic FJ40 retro design cues, yet not engineer a powertrain suitable for LandCruiser-obsessed Australia.As a BYD Atto 2 beater, this hybrid is a no-brainer.Japan’s second best-selling vehicle YTD after the Yaris/Yaris Cross duo on which it is based upon, Sienta is a portmanteau of siete, Spanish for ‘seven’, and ‘entertain’.And there-in lays this Toyota’s appeal.Essentially a Yaris MPV that majors on packaging, it features sliding doors and space for up to seven (hence the name), with the optional third-row seating ingeniously dropping underneath the middle bench for an instant big cavity.Along with Sienta’s eye-catching Fiat Panda-esque design and capable Yaris underpinnings, it is little wonder both hipsters and artificial-hip buyers alike have fallen for the tall-boy Toyota’s charms.Finally, a growing army of ex-Japan used imports here is further proof of concept.Developed and built by Toyota sub-brand Daihatsu (which markets it as Rocky – a tiny but tough off-roader in the style of the Suzuki Jimny), the Raize would slip in as an entry-level high-riding crossover.At round four metres long, this chunky, high-riding, monocoque-bodied urban crossover employs a unique, lower-cost architecture to help keep prices down in the South East Asian region, without scrimping on safety tech.This would make it ideal as a sub-$30,000 light SUV targeting the likes of the BYD Atto 1, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO.Engine options include a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol or 1.2-litre hybrid version.A podium seller in Japan this year, the Raize is another used import from appearing on Australian roads, and it’s not difficult to see why.The original Prius of 2001 was a toe-in-the-water exercise in Australia. Its 2003 and 2009 successors proved to be successful brand builders as hybrid pioneers.But the 2016 redesign was so insectoid in appearance that buyers were repelled en-masse, despite being the first of the vastly-improved TNGA-platform Toyotas available here.That’s why the company passed on the fifth iteration locally, but what subsequently surfaced remains one of the most beautiful modern hatchbacks of this decade.Nowadays, with the dramatic uptake of PHEV as well as hybrid vehicles, Toyota admits it is gunning for the Prius’ return as a result, but it may take a while yet.Great design is timeless and, even from $40,000 as a BYD Seal 6 PHEV rival, the latest Prius would attract plenty of non-traditional Toyota buyers.It seems inevitable that a Grand Kluger will eventually appear in Australia, but when is the big question.Built in the USA as the Grand Highlander, this is a larger and longer take on the existing Kluger/Highlander model that it has essentially usurped.Born to battle the ultra-successful Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade in North America, the grandest of Toyota’s on-road SUVs is a far-roomier – and prettier – big family hauler as a consequence.It is also soon to be joined by an unrelated, all-electric SUV taking over the regular Highlander name and production line – a decision that was clearly made before the current, anti-EV US administration came into power.This mean the days of the current Kluger as we know it in Australia seem to be numbered, with no hybrid replacement in sight – except for a right-hand drive version of the Grand Highlander.The perfect foil for the BYD Sealion 8 PHEV!