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The mainstream mid-size SUV segment is one of the most hotly contested in the Australian market, as the prevailing family car of choice for so many.We’re truly spoilt for choice, with options available at many price points, and with the choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric, as well as from both old favourite brands and new challengers.While this has generally been a boon for buyers, it has also made this congested segment more difficult to shop in than ever before, so as part of our ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, we’ve distilled a top-10 shortlist of our highest-rated Medium SUVs starting under $60K.Our top three and winner will be announced on February 6, but you can see the alphabetically ordered shortlist below.The Cupra Terramar serves as the Spanish brand’s take on the Volkswagen Tiguan formula - a true mid-size SUV, although it offers a truly sporty take over the Tiguan’s more wide appeal.Priced from $53,990, it’s a surprising value player considering its sporty look and feel, although if you want the full performance on offer, you’ll have to spend north of the $70K mark to get the spicy VZ version.Still Cupra continues to impress us with its edgy designs and impressive driving dynamics compared to its other Volkswagen Group relations.Perhaps a candidate for the most improved model on sale in Australia, the new GWM Haval H6 moves up in the world from simply a value player to a more impressive mainstream offering.Packed with standard kit and tweaked across the board when it comes to drivability and tuning, this Chinese rival takes more direct aim at the segment-leading Toyota RAV4 than ever before.Available as a 2.0-litre turbo as well as a 1.5-litre hybrid in plugless or plug-in form, it also covers the gamut of powertrain options Aussie buyers are looking for.While the sharply-priced Lux is impressive value, the plugless hybrids are the pick of the range with their trim fuel efficiency and smooth electrified transmission.One of the original nameplates which kicked-off the mid-size SUV segment altogether, the CR-V continues to this day to be a stellar offering in the segment, with Honda as always doing an impressive job of moving with the times.The CR-V is also one of the better value options in Honda’s current range, priced much closer to its rivals than the HR-V or ZR-V which sit below it.Again, the pick of the range is the e:HEV hybrid, although you’ll have to fork out for the pleasure with the hybrid powertrain still only sitting atop the mid-sizer’s range, priced at $59,900 drive-away.While it exudes quality like other Honda models, it also isn’t as efficient as some of its rivals, and doesn’t offer a plug-in or all-wheel drive in its hybrid form.Another impressive car from Honda, the ZR-V is a right-sized SUV to fill the increasingly large gap between the ever-growing CR-V and the still diminutive HR-V below.Again sporting the same Honda characteristics of great build quality, sharp driving dynamics and a practical interior space, with a smaller overall footprint than some of its rivals the ZR-V should be on any buyers shortlist.However, while it is marginally more affordable than its CR-V sibling, the ZR-V suffers from the same problem of only offering the sleek and efficient hybrid system on only its top-spec LX variant, eliminating savings from its fuel sipping powertrain via a much higher starting price ($54,900 before on-roads).Hyundai’s current-generation Tucson now has a few years behind it, but continues to be a strong seller thanks to gradual updates and price tweaks which keeps it high on the consideration list alongside its Kia Sportage sister vehicle and the segment-leading Toyota RAV4.Now strongest-selling as a fuel-sipping hybrid, the Tucson continues to be offered in a range of variants at many different price-points, with both front- and all-wheel drive options.The latest major updates synced the mid-sizer up with the rest of Hyundai’s range in offering a new interior design approach with fresh software, and even an array of buttons and dials for climate and volume controls we always like to see.Nissan has been embattled by rivals in recent years, but its ever-improving X-Trail continues to deserve a look-in as possibly the brand’s most competitive current offering.Spacious, modern, offered with up to seven seats, and with an innovative electric-first e-Power hybrid option, the X-Trail has a lot to offer buyers as a rival specifically to the RAV4 or Honda CR-V.Plus, it gets ergonomic fundamentals right, as well as a good level of refinement and a solid array of well-calibrated safety kit to keep newcomers at bay.Czech brand Skoda, as always, flies under the radar, and the Elroq is certainly worth your consideration thanks to a myriad of factors, not least of which is its surprisingly sharp starting price of (now) $49,990 drive-away. Did we mention it’s fully electric?On top of that, the Elroq is right-sized, with a modest but well-utilised footprint, which is laden with the brand’s clever touches like plenty of storage areas, an umbrella hidden in the door, and plenty of storage organisation options in the boot.The Elroq rides on Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform and is offered with either a long-range 85kWh battery, and now a standard-range 60kWh option. All versions are rear-wheel drive, keeping them efficient, with the longer-range one said to travel up to 529km on the WLTP cycle.The Enyaq is the Elroq’s larger sibling in Skoda’s two-pronged mid-size electric SUV range, offering a sportier look and feel.Recently updated to wear the brand’s latest and more futuristic design language, the Enyaq also inherits a lot of the same brilliant packaging as its smaller sibling. It also offers the same battery variants, which are still relatively long range considering their capacities, with the smaller version travelling 410km on the WLTP cycle, and the larger one travelling up to 548km.Not as affordable as the Elroq, but still good value in the segment, the Enyaq has a lot of the right ingredients to tempt buyers away from other popular offerings in this electric space like the Tesla Model Y or Kia EV5.To be clear here, the RAV4 being considered for our Car of the Year is the current generation, as the next-gen model hadn’t arrived in time for consideration.As dated as this top-seller may be though, it’s remained a top-seller for a reason, namely that it’s well laid out, comfortable, versatile and backed by Toyota’s ever-sturdy reputation.Its quality finish and ever smooth hybrid drive are still some of the best on the market, emulated by many to varying degrees of success.The RAV4 still bests them all in the sales charts though, and some may even argue the styling of this outgoing car is more appealing than the new one, which will also bring with it a long-awaited plug-in hybrid.Zeekr’s long-awaited third model has proven to be its most hyped. The Zeekr 7X is a fully electric premium SUV at the price of a high-end mainstream combustion or hybrid one.Despite its keen price-tag, this is still an impressively specified vehicle, with plenty of high-end features, a big battery with long driving range, and dynamics on par with much more expensive rivals.It also impresses on the design front, with Zeekr’s studio in Sweden next door to those of Polestar and Volvo making the Chinese newcomer feel like much more than a first attempt.

While utes and family SUVs dominate the top ranks of the sales charts, small, affordable cars remain extremely important to anyone who doesn’t need so much car.That’s why it’s one of the key categories we’re paying attention to in the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year (COTY) awards, in this case specifically those models with entry prices below $50,000.Rather than just hatchbacks and small sedans, we’re including small SUVs in the category given the dwindling number of hatches on sale, and consumer tendencies to opt for a small SUV, even as a first car.Based on review data from our team of journalists, our shortlist of 10 finalists below (in alphabetical order) is a broad group with some interesting variety in their offerings.And, as you’ll notice, the cars eligible for the award don’t necessarily have to be new as of this year - they just need to be on-sale as of January 1, 2026, with a variant under the $50K mark.This category's winner and two runners-up will be announced on February 6, 2026. The Hyundai i30 has been a favourite for years, with its current-generation hatch nearing a decade old. From first cars to fleet cars and hire cars and even sports cars, the offering is broad.But there’s a recent development that judges have strongly considered, and that’s the discontinuation of the standard i30 hatchback in Australia. The well-liked but less popular sedan and the spicy N versions in both hatch and sedan have all been enough to secure the i30 a place amongst the finalists, though.We’re fans of the i30 Sedan, formerly the Elantra, for its packaging and its efficiency in its hybrid form, and the N version has been widely regarded as one of the best-value hot hatches in the world. With pricing from $29,250 before on-roads and the hybrid only $4000 more expensive, the i30 Sedan offers up decent value for money. Even the N only just sits over the $50K mark with its $52,000 starting price. Extremely strong points for the judges to consider.Well-loved by the CarsGuide team, the Kia EV3 is as good as we wish the larger and better-selling EV5 was. But Kia’s small electric SUV faces strong competition from cheaper entrants from China that offer strong showroom presence.Starting from $47,600 before on-roads, the EV3’s line-up stretches to a hefty $63,950, but most agree the base model is the smartest buy as well as the nicest to drive. Key points that have drawn judges to the EV3 are its cute (but not tacky) styling, its clever packaging, and the useful but not extravagant features.It’s one of the more expensive competitors in our finalists, and it’s being outsold by rivals quite convincingly, but the CarsGuide COTY doesn’t reward showroom figures. Game on.Like the i30 earlier in this list, the Mazda3 is a veteran of the new small car market, with its current generation having been unveiled in 2018.Once seen as pricey compared to rivals, the Mazda3 is now a rather budget-friendly option as cheaper cars have disappeared over the years - and its sleek styling has held up nicely to boot.Starting from $31,310 before on-roads, the Mazda3 has gradually changed with the times, having been through a couple of tech and line-up changes. The hatch and sedan both offer up a competitive front-row environment and engaging dynamics, and despite its age is still one of the best-selling small cars alongside the i30, both trailing the ever-popular Toyota Corolla.Judges have always noted its small boot and lacklustre rear seat, but the former still beats the Corolla and there aren’t many truly spacious second rows in hatches. Is standing out where it matters enough for the judges?Furthering the mix of old and new in the finalists for the category, the MG S5 EV has found favour with judges for backing up its excellent first impressions.Newcomers in the field of budget small SUVs have tended to disappoint, especially dynamically, but the CarsGuide team was impressed by not only how the MG S5 fares compared to the brand’s earlier efforts, but also how it performs even without comparing it to other MGs.Available from $40,490 drive-away and costing just $47,990 for its top-spec variant, its extremely competitive price and solid list of features bolster an already strong offering.Scoring highly in every category across CarsGuide’s review format, the MG S5 EV shouldn’t be considered an underdog in the COTY fight. Mini, even with its less traditional models, is near-universally loved. So it should be little surprise that one of its new models sits in this list.The Countryman is now available in both petrol and electric, though its starting price is a hefty $49,990 before on-roads for the base Countryman Core. That means it just sneaks into this COTY category, even if getting into its EV version starts from $64,990.Still, Minis are rarely on shopping lists for their value offering, and the Countryman offers impressive tech and features, plus dynamic driving and of course that fun Mini styling.In a category where value and convenience are key, it’ll be a hard sell, but the current Countryman is essentially a BMW for less money, and arguably more interesting. Take that into consideration, and things are looking up.It’s been a big couple of years for the Qashqai, with Nissan’s small SUV scoring a big facelift quite quickly after its current third generation showed up. In early 2026, the Qashqai will go hybrid-only and start from $45,640 before on-roads with its front-wheel-drive-only, 140kW e-Power hybrid the only option. But its petrol offerings fell within the bounds of the COTY judging timeline, and so are also part of the consideration.Attractive styling, smooth power delivery and handling, and a now up-to-date interior with practical features all contribute to a convincing package, but the imminent loss of its petrol-only models will mean the Qashqai is set to become around $10,000 more expensive than before at its base level.Nissan’s extremely competitive ownership offering (the warranty is 10 years and 300,000km if you service with Nissan, five-year/unlimited kilometres otherwise) makes the Qashqai even more tempting. Ticking a lot of boxes there.Stylish, niche, quirky… French. The Peugeot 308 in its current generation leans in hard to all of these things, not least because it’s only available in a single, high-spec hybrid variant for $48,990 before on-roads.It’s gorgeous inside, outside, and to drive, but it’s cursed with limited commercial and perceived value appeal - only 88 were sold in 2025.The 308’s features list is strong enough to rival much more expensive alternatives, and its strongest points in terms of dynamics are most likely to appeal specifically to driving enthusiasts.There’s a lot to like about the Pug 308, it’s just that most people forget it exists. A CarsGuide COTY trophy in the cabinet would surely help with the latter issue…Toyota’s baby icon has gone through some changes lately. In the last few years, we’ve seen it grow up from the simple, affordable ‘first-car’ option it once was to be a simple, much less affordable option. Oh, and now there’s a version of it that’s basically a rally car for the road.A Yaris used to be something you could reasonably buy new as a teenager if you were thrifty, now it’s a $28,990 (before on-roads) option at its entry level thanks to its increased level of safety kit and having gone hybrid-only,Fortunately, it’s still an excellent light car, and even though it’s outsold by all its rivals it still does exactly what a city car should do - getting you around efficiently and with no fuss.In terms of how it snagged a spot in the finals for this category, it helps that the GR Yaris hot hatch is one of the two best drivers’ cars Toyota currently builds.Getting into a German SUV doesn’t have to be an expensive operation, and the $34,990 starting price (before on-roads) for the VW T-Cross is proof. Even the top-spec R-Line comes in at $41,490, and the features list is healthy.To boot, the T-Cross is fun to drive, and judges enjoy its practicality inside, plus the sharp styling outside.While not as efficient as some in its class, nor as cheap to own in terms of servicing, the T-Cross offers a step-up from rivals in the class that are seen as practical budget offerings.Still, its last update was in 2024, so it’ll have some work to do to convince judges it’s still up to date.Alphabetically, and probably in terms of public familiarity, the last to make the shortlist is the Zeekr X, a small electric SUV designed in Sweden but built in China.Cousin to the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1, the Zeekr X has good pedigree and the performance to back it up.Liked by judges for its value, bold style and on-road performance, the Zeekr X is one of the bigger unknown quantities in this COTY category.A recent price cut makes it a $49,900 offering before on-roads, meaning it only just slips into the sub-$50K contest, but with its list of features it should prove a compelling contender. 

Is there a more important vehicle category in dual-cab-devoted Australia than utes? I’m not sure there is. And I’m also sure that, in a segment that has sat stagnant for years, there has never been a more exciting time to be picking the best and brightest in the country.Where do we start? Maybe with China’s full-throttle assault on the segment? Or with the rise of plug-in hybrid petrol in a diesel-dominated market? Or Kia turning its hand to a ute for the very first time? Or BYD, for that matter?See what I mean? It’s an exciting time to be picking the best ute in Australia as part of the ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year (COTY) awards, and the days of it being a two-way battle between the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger are well behind us.But to pick a winner, we first need to choose the best of the best that will be battling for the top prize. So without further adieu, this is the CarsGuide Car of The Year top-10 shortlist for sub-$85K Utes.This category's winner and two runners-up will be announced on February 6, 2026.Perhaps no other ute has been quite as surprising as the barnstorming BYD Shark 6, which has not only taken the fight to the established giants of the ute segment, it has done it without a diesel engine in sight.Instead, a plug-in hybrid powertrain does the heavy lifting here, with BYD arguably doing more to electrify the ute segment than any model to come before it. Our reviewers love the on-road refinement and the value-packed feature list, but concede its towing capacity lags its major rivals.It’s also on our shortlist because of its segment-altering drivetrain, which has forced several mainstream ute makers to follow its lead.A classic and the best-selling ute in the country for a reason. The Ford Ranger is on our shortlist for its driving dynamics (it’s among the most car-like utes on our list), which takes nothing away from its ability to get down and dirty in terms of towing or off-road capability.What really drew praise from our judges, though, is the breadth of the Ranger’s offering, with worksite-ready versions, family friendly versions, hardcore off-road versions, and a choice between several diesel engines or plug-in hybrid powertrains.That said, some pointed to the PHEV solution offering little in the way of real-world range.The unsung hero of Australia’s automotive world (it is, after all, often one of our top five best-selling vehicles), the Isuzu underwent a fairly major update that ironed out some of its more agricultural qualities with some design, cabin and technology updates.The D-Max was praised by our judges for doing exactly what it says on the tin, and delivering exactly what many ute buyers are looking for, with little fuss or fanfare. But some wonder whether it feels new and fresh enough.The entry-level cars also get a bigger smaller engine, if that makes sense. With the old 1.9-litre diesel swapped out for a 2.2-litre unit that’s both more powerful and more efficient. Tick and tick.Kia burst onto the ute scene with the boldly designed Tasman, a ute that really does look like few others on the road.Our judges were unanimous in praising the Tasman’s delightful and tech-filled cabin experience and its road manners, and reports of its off-road prowess are impressive, too.Its looks seemingly remain controversial, at least among the buying public, but there’s little doubting Kia’s first ute has plenty of substance, no matter what you think of its style.Sure, the BYD Shark 6 has been getting a ton of attention, but the LDV Terron 9 has been quietly plugs away as one of the biggest, and thus most practical in terms of tray, utes in the segment.And with 520Nm of torque at its diesel-powered disposal, it’s pretty punchy, too (as a vehicle this size probably needs to be).Our reviewers praised the space on offer in its tray, the strong value-for-money argument and its imposing street look, but were less sold on the lack of a power outlet in its tray and a sometimes lumpy power delivery.The BT-50 tends to stick out a little bit, both in the ute segment (where rough and tough is the design order of the day), and in Mazda’s own lineup, where the dual-cab ute rubs shoulders with mostly premium and polished SUVs.Early last year, Mazda addressed both those issues, deploying an Australia-led design overhaul intended to make the BT-50 “sportier and tougher”, clearly separating it from the rest of the brand’s lineup, and appealing more to traditional ute buyers.Our reviewers loved the look, the diversity of the range and the lux feel of the top-spec models, but didn’t love the too-firm suspension and the lack of a true hero model.The Chinese brand’s first-ever ute isn’t strictly its own, or at least not entirely. The MG U9 is a sibling to LDV Terron 9, which also appears on our shortlist.Our reviewers loved the U9’s interior space, especially in the impressive backseat, the ute’s sharp pricing against the established competition, and the nifty automatic step that deploys beneath the tailgate — described as “the nicest and definitely the easiest” way to climb into the tray.The active safety tech, however, impressed us less.The Mitsubishi Triton is a household name, albeit one that’s been left behind by the HiLux, Ranger and D-Max in recent years. A new generation arrived in 2024 that aimed to fix that, delivering more space, more power, more practicality and more space in the cabin.We loved the smoother drive experience, its warranty coverage (provided you service with Mitsubishi), its more modern-feeling cabin and its workhorse credentials.The less-positive notes included a clunky stop-start system and over-active safety tech.A new HiLux is big news in Australia, and while Toyota has opted to carry over a lot of key ingredients from the outgoing HiLux, they've also moved to address key complaints, like ride comfort and cabin technology, and to introduce a new look.And while our reviewers praised the updates, they also wondered whether Toyota had gone far enough in the face of new and stiff competition.The Volkswagen Amarok hasn't made quite the sales splash in Australia that its Ford Ranger relative has, but the German brand's ute has attracted plenty of praise from our reviewers, who love its style, its interior packaging and materials, and its on-road manners.Less positive is the sticker price of the high-end variants, and the sparse backseat amenities in the more affordable models. 

BYD’s model range looks to expand even further as the Chinese brand sets its sights on a podium finish in Australia by the end of 2026.We already know the brand will add the Sealion 5 affordable hybrid mid-size SUV and the Sealion 8 three-row SUV during the course of the year, but now thanks to new regulatory approval documents we can see two new as-yet-unannounced models are in the works.These are the Seal 6 sedan and its Touring wagon spin-off.The new information filed with the road vehicle descriptor database confirms the vehicles as plug-in hybrids, meaning they will likely complement the existing Seal sedan, which is pure electric.They are approved with two battery specifications (15kWh or 21.6kWh) both are paired with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The engine produces just 70kW/120Nm, while there are two electric motor options, either 120kW/210Nm or 160kW/260Nm for total combined outputs of either 130kW or 163kW.In China those battery options provide a driving range of up to 128km for the 15kWh version, or 210km for the 25kWh version, but these are measured to the more lenient CLTC standard.Chinese prices indicate the sedan could be a non-SUV plug-in hybrid price leader.In China, the base 15kWh variant starts from the equivalent of just $21,000. If it follows the usual logic of adding roughly 20 per cent to the price by the time it lands in Australia, this would place the Seal 6 PHEV range in the $25,000 to $30,000 price bracket.The Seal 6 sedan and wagon were recently released in their Chinese home market, and carry a more recent version of the brand’s signature ‘Ocean’ styling language compared to the current Seal electric sedan.Chinese versions are front-wheel drive and have independent rear suspension. The Seal 6 can charge at up to 48kW on a DC connector suggesting a sub-30 minute charge time. Expect an 8.8-inch digital dash, either a 12.8 or 15.6-inch central multimedia touchscreen, over-the-air connectivity and updates, a 50W wireless phone charger, full LED lighting with some grades getting RGB ambient interior lighting, synthetic leather interior trim, dual-zone climate and V2L. The interior also adopts a newer and more refined styling approach compared to the Seal EV, and features a stalk-mounted gear shifter, which frees up more space in an also-redesigned centre console.The sedan offers 550 litres of boot space according to Chinese specs, while the wagon offers a significantly larger 670L with the rear seats up.BYD has made no secret of its lofty ambitions in 2026, with the new boss of the now-factory-backed operation Stephen Collins saying a top-three finish by the end of the year was “ambitious, but we think it’s possible”.“We want to move from a challenging brand to more of a leadership position,” he told CarsGuide previously.Part of this strategy would be “having a crack in every segment”, according to newly appointed Denza boss, Mark Harland, who worked on BYD during its rise before being appointed the chief of its premium spin-off.He said the brand looked to challenge Toyota’s market dominance by battling it across the market, not just in the biggest-selling SUV market segments.“Toyota has something like 95 per cent of the segments in Australia covered by at least one variant, and if we want to ever be number one we need to have vehicles available in those segments too,” he said.For its part, the Seal 6 is well placed to challenge everything from the Toyota Camry to the Skoda Octavia and Kia K4.BYD’s meteoric rise in 2025 (up 156.2 per cent) will need to be replicated again in 2026 if it wants a shot near the top of the market. To do so it will need to unseat some behemoths of the industry, like Ford, Kia, Hyundai and Mazda.Stay tuned for more details on the Seal 6 PHEV and BYD’s plans for the rest of the year imminently.

Mahindra has historically never publicly shared information regarding its Australian new vehicle sales figures, but it has given us a glimpse of how it fared during 2025.Last year the Indian carmaking giant sold a total of 4653 new vehicles, which is up 11.6 per cent year-on-year.This makes Mahindra the 29th best-selling brand in Australia, outselling Renault (4569 sales), KGM (4116 sales), Cupra (2830 sales) and Jeep (1585 sales).The brand hasn’t provided a model-by-model breakdown of its sales, but it now offers a total of three SUVs in Australia.Its latest edition was the XUV3XO small SUV, which launched in mid-2025. Mahindra claims its introduction increased overall sales by 42 per cent.The Mahindra XUV3XO is still tied for Australia’s cheapest SUV with the Chery Tiggo 4 and GWM Haval Jolion at $23,990 drive-away.Earlier in 2025 Mahindra launched a model year update for the Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Trail-rivalling XUV700, which saw it receive an all-black interior trim as standard, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and ventilated front seats with memory on the flagship AX7L trim.Thanks to run-out offers the XUV700 is now priced from $35,990 drive-away for the AX7 trim and $38,990 drive-away for the AX7L trim. This makes it Australia’s cheapest seven-seat SUV.Just before the end of 2025 the Indian carmaker detailed a major safety upgrade for its Scorpio large body-on-frame SUV.It now receives a range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) functionality that are claimed to be “designed for Australian roads and conditions”. These include autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control with stop and go, front vehicle start alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane centring, traffic sign recognition, forward collision warning and automatic high-beam.The pre-update Scorpio went without all of the aforementioned safety features and notably received a zero-star ANCAP safety rating back in 2023 due in part to this. It’s unclear when or if Mahindra plans to retest this updated model.Other new features in the 2026 Mahindra Scorpio Z8L+ include an electric park brake with auto hold, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, as well as ventilated front seats.A seven-seat configuration is now standard with the six-seat configuration featuring second-row captain’s chairs getting the axe.Despite these changes, pricing for the Scorpio for the new Z8L+ trim has only risen $2000 over the pre-update Z8L range-topper. It’s priced from $48,990 drive-away.

China’s JMC (short for Jiangling Motors Corporation) has confirmed it will be relaunching in the Australian market during 2026.The Chinese carmaker was previously in Australia from 2015 to 2018 with a single vehicle, the Vigus dual-cab ute, and left due to poor sales.Danny Lenartic has now been appointed as the CEO of JMC Motor Australia and is spearheading the local expansion of the dealer network. Lenartic has previously been involved in bringing JAC and MG to Australian shores.At this stage Lenartic hasn’t confirmed how many JMC dealers will be established, but the local operation will be a distributor model and not factory-backed.JMC’s first model in its latest attempt at the Australian market is a new version of the Vigus dual-cab ute.This new Vigus is completely unrelated to the previous model offered in Australia.It has already been approved for local sale and Lenartic confirmed pre-production versions are on their way to Australia for prospective dealers to view.According to the local approval filing, the Vigus is powered by a 3.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine which produces 118kW and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission which sends drive through an all-wheel drive system.It’s unclear whether this 3.3-litre turbo-diesel engine is an error in the filing documents as the Vigus is currently only offered with either a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder or 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine in China.Other details from the filing include standard 17-inch wheels which can be upgraded to larger 18-inch rims.In China, the Vigus is offered with features like a 3.5-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.8-inch touchscreen multimedia system, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.It’s too early for JMC to announce local pricing and specifications for the Vigus, but it’ll likely be on the budget end of the segment and compete with the likes of the GWM Cannon, JAC T9 and LDV T60, among others.At this stage it’s unclear what other JMC models could be on the cards for an Australian launch. Lenartic told CarsGuide that JMC has a vast portfolio but whatever comes here needs to be right for Australians.“Watch this space,” said Lenartic.JMC offers wide range of commercial vehicles, including utes, vans, trucks and buses. There are electric offerings, too.

Geely’s new mid-size, soft-roader style hybrid SUV is set to launch in the UK, with its right-hand drive revelation opening the door for an Aussie arrival.

Tesla has been rolling its new, budget-oriented Standard line-up into different markets and the next is firming as China.As reported by Car News China, an image of the Model Y Standard appeared on the Tesla China website on its home charging webpage last week but quickly disappeared again.According to the publication, Weibo user Anting Dafan, who reportedly contacted Tesla said it is gearing up to launch not only the Model Y Standard but also the Model 3 Standard in China. The latter will reportedly launch first.Tesla initially launched the Model 3 and Model Y Standard in the US, but it’s now being offered in a number of European countries with German production.Given Chinese production of the Standard models is reported to commence soon, this means it could be closer to an Australian launch.Virtually every Tesla currently sold in Australia, excluding the German-made Model Y Performance, is made in China.If the Chinese-made Model 3 and Model Y Standard do come to Australia they will likely reduce the asking price for both models by a considerable amount.Car News China reports the Model 3 and Model Y Standard will be priced around 200,000 yuan (~A$42,800). In China the current Model 3 RWD costs 235,500 yuan (~A$50,400) and the Model Y RWD costs 263,500 yuan (~A$56,400) in China, representing potential price cuts of 35,500 yuan (~A$7600) and 63,500 yuan (~A$13,600), respectively.If similar pricing differences carry over to the Australian-specification Model 3 and Model Y Standard, this could see pricing start from around $47,000 and $45,000, respectively. It’s unlikely the Model Y Standard will be more affordable than the Model 3 Standard though.Details of the Chinese-made Model 3 and Model Y Standard are yet to be confirmed.In other markets both the Model 3 and Model Y Standard are slower to 100km/h, likely meaning they come with a less powerful rear-mounted electric motor.The Model 3 Standard can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.2 seconds (1.0 seconds slower than the Premium RWD) and the Model Y Standard can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.2 seconds (1.6 seconds slower than the Premium RWD).It also appears both have a smaller battery pack than the rest of the line-up. Tesla doesn’t disclose exact battery capacities, though the Model 3 and Model Y Standard can travel up to 534km, according to WLTP testing.There are different 18-inch wheel designs and fewer exterior paint colour selections. The Model Y Standard also ditches the front and rear LED light bars, adaptive high-beam functionality and panoramic glass sunroof, however the Model 3 Standard retains the latter two features.Inside, both models receive fabric and synthetic leather combination upholstery. There’s no interior ambient lighting, the steering column is manually adjusted and the second-row touchscreen is deleted.Additionally, there’s a less-sophisticated sound system with fewer speakers, no ventilated front seats, no heated outboard rear seats and manually adjusted second-row air vents.The Model Y Standard in particular has an open centre console unlike the Model Ys which have storage cubbies with retractable lids.Under the skin both the Model 3 and Model Y Standard have passive shock absorbers unlike the other non-Performance trims which have frequency dependent suspension.All the safety hardware tech for both models is carried over, including the eight exterior cameras which allow for Full Self-Driving (FSD) as an optional extra.The potential introduction of the Model 3 and Model Y Standard in Australia could help spur sales. In 2025 Tesla sold a total of 28,856 new vehicles, which is down 24.8 per cent year-on-year.The Model Y is still the best-selling electric vehicle (EV) in Australia and saw 4.6 per cent year-on-year sales growth, sales of the Model 3 were down over 60 per cent year-on-year.

Ford is looking to add new Raptor models to its lineup, according to Ford Authority.The Raptor name represents the high-performance, off-road specialist variants of Ford models.Ford’s Chief Financial Officer Sherry House said more Raptor models are in the works, at the recent Barclays Global Auto and Mobility Tech Conference."I know that some people in the audience here just had a wonderful ride in some of our Raptors, and that's a product that I think that we're going to be doing a bit more of as well," House said. “We're going to be leaning into these products that are just passion products. I mean, these are vehicles that people love.”Adding further fuel to the Raptor fire, is Ford's Dakar rally commitment to the range.The brand fielded its largest amount of Raptor-badged cars ever in the off-road race, with four factory Ford Racing Raptor T1+ full-size pick-ups and four additional privateer Raptors competing on the same core platform."Those privateer entries are a deliberate part of how we grow the Raptor ecosystem globally — sharing technology, data, and durability across customer teams who are pushing the same hardware in the same extreme conditions," Ford said in a press release before the race.There is nothing offical yet on what these new Raptor models could be.The Ranger Raptor ute is the only Ford currently on sale in Australia bearing the iconic name plate, sitting at the top of the best-selling Ranger line-up. One new possibility is a Ford Mustang Raptor. The Mustang is the best-selling sports car in Australia and the Blue Oval’s third best seller behind the Ranger ute and Everest SUV. An Everest Raptor is another possibility, but it would likely need to get the V6 petrol engine found in the Ranger Raptor.There is also a Raptor variant of the Bronco compact SUV, but the Bronco has never been officially sold in Australia. 

BMW has finally revealed initial details of its first fully electric M car and it will be a full-on performance sedan with simulated gear shifts and powertrain sound, brutal straight-line performance and decent driving range.Based on the BMW i3 sedan that’s expected to be revealed in the coming months, the new electric M3 will be sold alongside a new-generation version of the internal combustion engine (ICE) M3.The next-gen ICE 3 Series is yet to be unveiled but it is expected to have a closer relationship design wise with the i3 than the new iX3 has with the regular X3.BMW has not yet uttered the name of the electric performance sedan, but expect something along the lines of ‘i3 M’. For now BMW is calling it the M Neue Klasse and it’s will hit showrooms from 2027.Head of Project BMW M Neue Klasse, Philipp Brunn, talked up the significance of the new electric M models.“So in a nutshell, the next generation of fully electric BMW M models will lead the way into the new era for high-performance cars. We will set a new benchmark regarding driving dynamics, performance and overall driving experience,” he said.Based on BMW's multi-billion-dollar Neue Klasse architecture, the new electric M3 benefits from some of the innovations of the iX3 and coming i3, including a reduction in the complexity of the car’s electronic systems, making for “faster data transfer between the control units, leading to clear performance gains”, according to Brunn.The ‘Heart of Joy’ - which is Neue Klasse’s central computing system that integrates the drivetrain and driving dynamics into one, rather than having separate algorithms for accelerating and braking - has been tailored for the specific needs of M customers, said Brunn.“First, our fully electric models will feature four electric motors allowing fully independent and fast wheel control. Every wheel we can do whatever we like at very, very fast speed.“Second, the car's overall output, horsepower, torque, acceleration will reach new heights, and therefore needs to be managed accordingly with such important system. And finally, the overall system management will prioritise sustainable peak performance over efficiency and range, supporting driving excitement and track focus typical for BMW M models.”That means the M version of the i3 will have a slightly lower electric driving range to the regular i3. That figure is yet to be confirmed but expect the regular i3 sedan to have EV range a little beyond the quoted figure for the iX3 50xDrive SUV, which is 805km.“We have a precise control of torque and power of each wheel, so we can fully utilise the performance potential of our tyres. And this can be done on all friction surfaces, so from low friction to high friction, snow, rain and so on," Brunn continued.“We can blend the torque between electro-hydraulic brakes and the e-motors. So we can, again, do whatever is necessary from braking or energy recovery. The energy recovery is possible to the limit of tyre friction, so we can, if we like or not, use recovery, or we can shift between brain and the motors, and the design is very compact, so we have high efficiency and also high power density, which also helps integrating the powerful motors into the car.”Brunn added that M engineers had to “push the limits of the battery” used in the base Neue Klasse (a 108kWh lithium-ion battery pack housed under the floor with cylindrical cells).Additional cooling, a different cell layout and slightly altered cells ensure “higher sustainable power, and faster charging compared to the other Neue Klasse models”, Brunn said.Additional connections from the battery to the vehicle and the suspension system helps stiffen the vehicle in a bid to enhance vehicle dynamics.The new M car will use a number of sustainable and lightweight materials, including a less carbon intensive version of carbon fibre.To help keep the BMW M DNA alive, the M car will feature performance driving modes, synthetic gear shifting and BMW M specific sounds that also relate to the gear shifting.The synthetic driving sound was revealed at the end of a BMW M Electrified Youtube video, from about 7:40.The audio in the video reveals subtle burbling, and what sounds like a cross between a high-powered four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and a jet engine.The significant investment into electric M opens the door to more models, with a full fat iX3 M expected to be the next candidate.BMW is yet to officially announce that but Head of BMW Neue Klasse, Mike Reichelt, previously hinted it was on the cards.“When we go on the M side in such a big step, and we have such a high number of common parts communality, it has a logic to say we have the technology, we have the cars, we combine it. But I can't… confirm it today, but it has a logic way,” he said at the iX3 reveal in September.