Luxury

Mercedes-AMG’s avowed passion for small capacity turbo-petrol four-cylinder engines in some of its most high-profile models appears to have cooled with the arrival of the new GLC53 powered by a stonking ‘twin-charged’ 3.0-litre, in-line six-cylinder.Highlighting the new engine’s “high-revving character” and “powerful, sonorous sound”, AMG has clearly responded to the lukewarm reception its undoubtedly powerful but relatively low-key 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines have received since the C63S E Performance launched globally in late 2022.Replacing the four-cylinder GLC43 and (for now, the) GLC63S E Performance, the new GLC53 is powered by a revised version of the 3.0-litre in-line six used in the E53 sedan featuring an exhaust gas turbo and an electric auxiliary compressor as well as a switch from full plug-in support to mild-hybrid assistance via a 48V starter-generator in the nine-speed dual-clutch transmission.Undoubtedly designed to prioritise the combustion part of the hybrid equation, mods include a new cylinder head with improved intake and exhaust ports, a new intake camshaft and a larger volume intake system as well as an upgraded intercooler. As a result, the new five-seat SUV hot rod produces 330kW (442hp) from 5800-6100rpm and 600Nm (640Nm on overboost) from 2200-5200 rpm.For reference, the outgoing GLC43 is rated at 310kW/510Nm with the GLC63 AMG S E-Performance pumping out a staggering 500kW/1020Nm.The GLC53’s integrated starter-generator provides a short-term boost of 17kW/205Nm, at the same time facilitating “recuperation, gliding and the almost imperceptible restarting of the engine during the start-stop function”.Drive goes to all four wheels via a “fully variable” AWD system including an electronically controlled rear-axle limited-slip differential. Claimed 0-100km/h acceleration is a rapid 4.2 seconds.The (steel) suspension tune includes a specific spring-damper set-up and adaptive adjustable damping via separate valves for rebound and compression. Rims are 21-inch shod with Z-rated Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV rubber (265/40 fr - 295/35 rr) and braking is by ventilated discs (390 fr - 360 rr) with four-piston fixed calipers up front and single-piston floating calipers at the rear. The Mercedes-AMG GLC43 4Matic is currently priced at $147,500, before on-road costs, and Mercedes-Benz Australia told CarsGuide the GLC53 is due to land locally in the fourth quarter of this year.

Ferrari has confirmed the name and some interior design elements of its upcoming electric car, which is due to launch later this year.The 2026 Ferrari Luce, the brand’s first EV and proclaimed “the start of a new chapter” for Ferrari, was designed with help from San Francisco firm LoveFrom, founded by influential Apple designer Jony Ive and prolific Australian industrial designer Marc Newson.The design has, perhaps unsurprisingly, drawn a slew of negative online commentary for its departure from Ferrari’s previous interior design language.Jony Ive’s influence is clear, with flat glass screens, rounded edges and sleek buttons dominating much of what has been revealed, with a ‘retro’ flavour to much of the physical part of the interior.Ferrari says the philosophy behind the design is to organise the elements around control inputs and display outputs, with influence from “classic sports cars and Formula One single-seaters” simplified down to “essential functions”.The steering wheel is perhaps the clearest example of the ‘heritage-inspired’ design, with the tiller a modern interpretation of the classic three-spoke Nardi wheel of mid-20th century.A glass key fob that needs to be inserted into a dock to start the car has also been revealed, as well as a central control panel able to swivel towards either driver or passenger.The main panels shown also include a tablet-style digital driver display, central console with glass shifter, and a ceiling-mounted panel where the start-switch is found.The design influence from the head designers at LoveFrom is clear. Jony Ive was instrumental in the development of the iPhone’s now-iconic style as with many other early Apple designs, and Marc Newson has designed countless products including weapons, cameras, aircraft fittings for Qantas and even his own homes.So far, the key confirmed information on the technical side of the Luce includes its dual-motor setup with an output of more than 736kW, and a 0-100km/h time of less than 2.5sec.An in-house 122kWh battery pack will reportedly allow a range of more than 530km.

Understandably, expectations are elevated in this high-altitude corner of the market, the luxury large SUV category (starting under $220K) in the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, with our 10 shortlisted models all suitably impressive vehicles.Four contenders from BMW (iX, X5, X6 and X7), three from Mercedes-Benz (EQE SUV, G-Class and GLS) and a solo entry from Porsche (Cayenne) give this group a distinctly Germanic flavour, with singles from Genesis (GV80) and Range Rover (RR Sport) to leaven the mix.In short, there are no bad options here. But, as with any new vehicle purchase, the fundamentals apply. Value, practicality, safety, cost of ownership and driving performance are all critical considerations for prospective buyers. But maybe, just maybe, the badge on the bonnet counts for a lot, too. Voting calculations came down to an exceptionally fine point following robust and positive COTY ‘War Room’ discussion across the judging panel before three contenders rose to the top. Having landed here in 2021, the pure-electric iX was given a mid-life refresh in late 2025 and several judges highlighted the specific benefits it delivered.Contributing Journalist Andrew Chesterton called out its “incredible road presence” and Senior Journalist Chris Thompson noted its bigger battery, increased range and faster charging capacity, introduced with a relatively modest price increase.“After the update it picked up more range. It’s not that much more expensive, it looks cool and points go to BMW for saying, ‘let’s try something with this’,” he said.It was a sentiment shared by Deputy News Editor Tom White who noted: “Every time I drive it I’m shocked with how it feels. It’s really special on the inside and it’s got this ethereal driving quality.“It’s ambitious, and forced other manufacturers to respond. And think about the value play. At the entry point for a combustion X5, you can get an electric one for only a few grand more. That’s pretty impressive,” Tom added. BMW was one of the first premium car brands to jump into the global SUV pond, its X5 sending heads spinning on arrival in 1999. And through four generations it’s maintained status as the go-to five-seater for family car buyers wanting extra luxury, performance and safety to go with thoughtful day-to-day practicality.In summing up its universal appeal, Senior Journalist Laura Berry had War Room heads nodding in agreement when she said: “It’s the 3 Series of SUVs. It does the job so well”.A choice of inline six-cylinder plug-in hybrid, petrol and diesel powertrains as well as a twin-turbo petrol V8 in the powerhouse X5 M illustrates how much the X5 has evolved over time, with pricing and specification consistently fine-tuned to maintain a competitive value proposition.  The line-up also won plaudits from Deputy Editor James Cleary who noted the X5’s quality, safety, space efficiency, updated tech and generous standard spec.And then there was one. A mid-life overhaul in late 2023 for Porsche’s ground-breaking large SUV brought a refined exterior treatment and comprehensive interior makeover which, among other things, added a ‘full-screen’ dash treatment.The current 10-variant (!) line-up offers two body styles (SUV and Coupe) and four engine choices (turbo V6 petrol, V6 petrol-electric plug-in hybrid, twin-turbo V8 petrol and V8 PHEV), with prices ranging from under $150K for the entry-level SUV to around $380K for the stonking Turbo GT.News Editor Dominic Tripolone summed up much of the judging group’s feeling for the car when he said: “It does everything a Porsche should but with a family inside”.Chris Thompson chipped in: “Dynamically it’s so impressive. Driving it in anger it’s as if some wizardry has happened. It feels like a sports car.”And Laura Berry also noted Porsche’s ability to make a high-riding SUV behave like a low-slung sports coupe. “It doesn’t feel like it’s made out of separate parts. It feels like it’s one part, so well built it just moulds around you. I love it.”

More than fifty years after the model designation was first formally applied to Mercedes-Benz’s top-tier sedan, the German maker has unveiled a substantially upgraded version of its S-Class flagship.Claimed to consist of 50 per cent newly developed components and scheduled to arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year, the update also corresponds with the three-pointed star’s celebration of 140 years since Carl Benz patented his ground-breaking motorwagen in 1886.Mercedes-Benz Australia told CarsGuide the local model line-up is yet to be confirmed, but there are no fewer than seven variants on offer for European markets (S350d, S450, S450d, S450e, S500, S580 & S580e) with standard and long versions available, the latter adding 110mm to the wheelbase and overall length.Engine options range across a 3.0-litre, in-line, six-cylinder, turbo-petrol producing up to 330kW/600Nm, a 3.0L twin-turbo diesel delivering 230kW/650Nm and a 4.0L twin-turbo flat-plane crank V8 pumping out 395kW/750Nm.Revised plug-in hybrid powertrain options combine the six-cylinder petrol engine with a single electric motor for up to 430kW (+55kW) and 750Nm of combined torque. A 22kW battery delivers an electric-only driving range of 93-103km.On the outside, luxury car-spotters should look out for a larger (illuminated) grille with the option of an illuminated star on the bonnet.Digital micro-LED headlights are new, as are tail-lights featuring chrome-framed stars. A fresh 20-inch wheel design incorporates 50 cross-spokes. Striking, or a detailing nightmare?Inside, the Mercedes-Benz ‘MBUX’ multimedia interface consists of a central 14.4-inch screen and a 12.3- inch passenger display combined under a continuous glass surface.Larger 13.1-inch displays are offered in the optional ‘MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment System’. Speaking of entertainment, an optional Burmester ‘High-End 4D-Surround-Sound’ system includes ‘tactile transducers’ in the seats to “vibrate and pulse in time with the music” as well as 39 speakers, four exciters, 1750-watt output and Dolby Atmos.A fourth-gen ‘MB.OS supercomputer’ enables an expanded app portfolio including streaming platforms like Disney+ as well over-the-air updates and AI from ChatGPT4, Microsoft Bing and Google Gemini combined in one system to power up the car’s ‘Hey Mercedes' virtual assistant.Other tech highlights include upgraded park-assist functionality, the option of integrated video conferencing and heated seat belts “with a soothing warmth of up to 44°C”.Air suspension is standard across the line-up with ‘E‑Active’ body control an option.Also available to order is the new S680 Guard 4Matic special-protection vehicle combining an in-house developed ‘Integrated Protection System’ comprising an aluminium outer skin to achieve VR10 20, which Mercedes-Benz said is the highest civilian protection level.Pricing and final specification will be confirmed closer to the car’s local launch but in Germany the entry-level S350d 4Matic starts at €121,356.20 (including 19 per cent VAT) which, on a direct currency exchange translates to just under $206,000. For reference, the current (non-Maybach) Mercedes-Benz S-Class range starts with the S450 4Matic at $244,700, before on-road costs, rising to $335,100, BOC, for the S580L 4Matic.

Chinese carmakers have got the jump on the Europeans, with the emerging brand delivering superior electric cars at cheaper prices. Now German carmakers are finally ready to fight back.BMW is preparing its new iX3, which is the first vehicle off its much ballyhooed Neue Klasse electric vehicle platform.First deliveries commence in Europe in coming months before its Australian arrival mid-year.It appears to be a smash hit before a single order has been filled.According to Autonews, demand has far exceeded expectations and BMW has been forced to introduce a second production shift at its factory in Hungary to catch up.This kind of fever pitch sales run mimics that of some of the most popular alternatives in China.Vehicles such as the Xiaomi YU7 electric SUV, which would be a rival to the iX3, received more than 200,000 orders within minutes of going on sale.BMW sales chief Jochen Goller said customer interest in the iX3 had been “overwhelming”.On paper the iX3 is the most impressive electric car from a Euro maker to date, with some deeply compelling stats.Leading the charge is its WLTP-verified 805km driving range, which leaves a lot of petrol cars in the shade.Next up is its 400kW max charging rate, which BMW claims can pump 350km of range back into the battery in 10 minutes, or recharge from 10 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes.The first grade confirmed for Australia is the 50 xDrive, which has dual motor performance to push out 345kW and 645Nm. This enables it to complete the benchmark 0-100km/h sprint in under five seconds.CarsGuide got to test the new iX3 in Europe in 2025, and can confirm it lives up to the hype.It now appears European buyers think the same, with the iX3 sold out until next year on the continent.Mercedes-Benz also revealed its answer to the iX3 at the 2025 Munich motor show, the GLC EV.It isn’t quite as impressive on paper as the iX3, but its 700km-plus range, up to 330kW charging speed and 4.3 second 0-100km/h time make it no EV slacker.Chinese-owned Volvo is preparing to launch its impressive EX60 this year, too.It’ll match the iX3 in several key areas such as driving range and charging speed.

Mercedes-AMG is readying the next instalment of its ultra high-end Mythos series of vehicles and it will be an “extreme” take on the CLE coupe.This forthcoming and yet-unnamed Mercedes-AMG CLE Mythos is currently undergoing cold-weather testing in Sweden with heavy black-and-white camouflage to disguise the design features.Compared to the regular, V6-powered AMG CLE53 which is currently the most powerful version of this car, it has very aggressive front and rear fascias for additional cooling, wider wheel arches for the wider track width, as well as a large rear wing.As reported by Autocar, it will be powered by a new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine with a flat-plane crankshaft.Mercedes-Benz will also reportedly use this new flat-plane V8 in the facelifted version of the S-Class, which is set to be revealed later today.It will reportedly produce 395kW and 745Nm in the facelifted S-Class, however in this forthcoming CLE Mythos the outputs will be increased to over 484kW and 800Nm.For context, the AMG GT63 Pro with its cross-plane crank 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine produces 450kW and 850Nm.Flat-plane crank V8 engines are used in many Ferraris, McLarens, as well as the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and allow for a lighter and smaller overall package, higher revs and sharper throttle response.Mercedes-AMG’s first foray into a flat-plane crankshaft V8 was the limited-production AMG GT Black Series in 2020.Given the Mythos line of vehicles is similarly focused on exclusivity and limited production, this will likely make the CLE Mythos the most direct successor to the C63 AMG Black Series from 2012. Only 800 units of it were made globally.The first Mythos vehicle was the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed which was revealed in 2024 and is a roof-less and windscreen-less version of the AMG SL roadster. Only 250 units are being made.

IM, the luxury arm of MG’s parent company SAIC Motor, has revealed details of its flagship LS9 Hyper large SUV.The nearly five-and-a-half meter long luxury hybrid SUV pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with, not two, but three electric motors in a range-extender set-up (where the engine has no connection to the wheels but is used purely as a generator for the battery). It has enormous power figures with the front motor producing 165kW and the two rear motors producing 195kW each, while the engine is capable of producing 114kW to power the battery. The plug-in hybrid LS9 is equipped with a 65.9kWh Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery pack, which grants it up to 308km of pure electric driving range, according to the more lenient CLTC testing procedure.It is also equipped with a fully independent four-wheel electric steering system with the wheels able to turn a total 24 degrees, bringing its turning radius down to just 4.95 meters, less than the total length of the vehicle.It is also equipped with dual-chamber adjustable-height air suspension, which has 150mm of travel, and features a new regenerative braking system that can allow for 100 per cent energy recovery.It features the brand’s latest design language with LED strips front and rear, as well as between 20 and 22-inch wheels. Inside, it scores a dash-spanning tri-screen layout, which measures a total of 27.1-inches, with a separate passenger screen measuring 15.6-inches on its own.The massive IM9 is a three-row SUV, although it is offered in China as a six-seater rather than the more prevalent seven-seat layout usually seen in Australia.The seats can fold fully flat, and IM claims the LS9 has an 86 per cent usable interior space.The details on the LS9 Hyper model come after the brand recently revealed the smaller LS8, which has a similar approach to its styling and performance.Chinese automakers are pushing into the space usually occupied by the Range Rover or Range Rover Sport, Volvo XC90, BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.IM’s LS8 and LS9 will face off in China against a wide array of rivals, including the Leapmotor D16, Denza’s D9, Zeekr’s 8X, as well as an upcoming flagship SUV from GWM.The explosion of activity in this large luxury SUV space has also caused BYD to delay its incoming Tang 9 flagship in the same category as it seeks to improve the model to stay ahead of its competitors.SAIC’s luxury IM arm is sold via MG in Australia and it currently offers two models, the LS5 and LS6 electric sedan and SUV.

How am I already saying goodbye to the new Porsche Macan 4S?After three months of ‘ownership’, I am seriously going to miss this fully electric, second-generation mid-size SUV.This long-term review of the Macan 4S will explain why. It is broken up into three parts, with the first covering its pricing, features, safety and ownership credentials, while the second deep-dived its design and practicality. You can check those two out directly below – if you haven’t already.But for this third and final instalment, I’m going to finally share my driving impressions and overall verdict.Let’s get to it, shall we?I had very high hopes for how well the Macan Electric would drive.Why? Firstly, it’s a Porsche, so it has no choice but to be a phenomenal driver’s car, such is the legacy of the German sports car specialist.Porsche also has form with driver’s EVs with the Taycan large sedan and wagon. It was the first car I drove that was a phenomenal sports car that just happened to be all-electric.Point being, the Macan Electric is in very good company, so it has a lot to live up to.Thankfully, it has done exactly that. The 4S, in particular, strikes the best balance between everyday liveability and staggering performance – at least for me.Yes, its dual-motor, all-wheel-drive set-up produces 352kW of power and a heady 820Nm of instantaneous torque. And that’s before you engage launch control, at which point overboost kicks in to temporarily raise the former to an even handier 380kW.This all means the ‘mid-range’ Macan 4S can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 4.1 seconds. In reality it feels like a sub-four-second proposition – Porsche is known to underquote its acceleration claims.Either way, it’s that level of fully electric acceleration that will send you into the second row – or the boot, depending on where you’re sitting, and that’s even without the Sport drive mode active.That also extends to rolling acceleration, making overtaking as confidence-inducing as highway merging.Curiously, all of this straight-line performance isn’t accompanied by an electric soundtrack, as Porsche provides in the Taycan. The purist in me appreciates the Macan’s unashamed ‘silence’, but the fake noises can be a bit of fun when done well.But there’s more to performance than just what you can do in a straight line, because let’s face it: nearly all AWD EVs can accelerate quickly.The good news is the Macan 4S can also attack a corner with the level of vigour you’d expect from a two-door sports car.Yes, physics cannot be fully denied as the Macan 4S does have a higher centre of gravity owing to its SUV nature. But its body control is very strong, so much so that you’ll find yourself happily tipping it into any corner at speed without concern.Handling performance can be taken to the next level with the adaptive dampers in the Macan 4S’ steel suspension, which have Normal, Sport and Sport Plus modes.But the reality is Normal is so accomplished to begin with that you’ll find yourself sticking with the default setting in 99.9 per cent of situations.Sport and Sport Plus also progressively diminish the Macan 4S’ well-balanced ride comfort. Some will say Normal is itself on the firmer side, but it is damn-near perfect in my humble opinion, with road imperfections dealt with confidently.The standard 20-inch wheel and tyre package also helps here, with its high-profile rubber providing better ride comfort over its larger alternatives.It also helps that the Macan 4S benefits from Porsche’s market-leading steering, which is just about as good as electrically assisted systems get.The steering is well-weighted and direct, offering the driver a genuine connection with the road, one which will lead them to looking for excuses to go for a drive.As a result, parking is a breeze, with the Macan 4S able to be slotted into a space with ease. And if you need reassurance, its surround-view cameras have a high resolution, which is rarer than it should be.Visibility, in general, is pretty good all around, with even the steeply raked rear window providing an acceptable level of vision. The B-pillars are on the thick side, but not devastatingly so.When it comes to the real-world performance of the Macan 4S’ other advanced driver-assist safety systems, they fare very well. Mercifully, you don’t get any consistent beeps and bongs to annoy you to no end, like so many new cars these days.And when the lane-keep assist does spring into action, it does its steering wheel nudges progressively, while haptic feedback replaces any incessant audible alerts.The speed limit warning can also be turned off. Better yet, it will stay off until you decide to turn it back on again. That’s right; it will not default to active when the ignition is switched.Being an EV, the Macan 4S' NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels are another strong suit due to its lack of an internal-combustion engine. That said, wind noise can be heard at highway speeds, although it can be easily drowned out by the Bose sound system.So, what don’t I like about the Macan 4S’ drive experience? Well, there is one thing: its lack of convenient one-pedal driving, which most EVs offer as part of their regenerative braking systems.It helps to decrease energy consumption while improving driveability by allowing the driver to modulate the accelerator to come to a full stop – no second pedal required.I love one-pedal driving, but Porsche forges its own path by only offering regenerative braking with an optional level of deceleration that’s the equivalent of engine braking in an internal-combustion car. Point being, it won’t even come close to getting the Macan 4S to a standstill without engaging the brake pedal.Predictably, its actual friction brakes offer a strong level of performance considering the weight at play, with the seamless blending between them and the regenerative braking some of the best I’ve sampled.In my third and final month behind the wheel of the Macan 4S, I averaged 18.6kWh/100km over 841km of driving, which mostly took place in city traffic. That’s slightly better than the 18.8kWh/100km and 18.7kWh/100km I achieved in months one and two, respectively.My month-three effort equates to a real-world driving range of 514km, based on the Macan 4S battery’s useable capacity of 96kWh. Again, that is a confidence-inspiring number.Acquired: October 13, 2025Distance travelled this month: 841kmOdometer: 6891kmAverage energy consumption this month: 18.6kWh/100km

BMW will continue to produce V8 and V12 engines for some time yet, according to a report in Auto News. Continued big engine manufacturing for BMW was looking bleak as its all-electric plan got underway in 2025.Neue Klasse launched in 2025 as a plan for BMW to step up its renewable endeavours, unveiling a next-generation iX3 electric SUV as its first model.It featured 33 per cent recycled materials and revamped electric power, and was its first model under the new direction for the company. Adding fuel to the fire, BMW ceased production of V8s in its Steyr plant in Austria late last year. Its Munich plant has been at the forefront of the electric shift, as it is retooled for manufacturing electric vehicles. Despite this evidence of a wind down, the German giant's petrol-guzzling engines continue to be a feature across its lineup. There are still 400 workers who continue to manufacture cylinder heads, crankcases and crankshafts for eight- and 12-cylinder engines in Munich. V8 and V12 engine production has been shifted to BMW’s Hams Hall facility in the United Kingdom, where three- and four-cylinder engines have been produced since 2022. The European Union's recent backtracking on its 2035 internal combustion engine sales ban could also re-ignite the BMW's big-engine line-up.The V12 engines are built for Rolls-Royce models such as the Phantom and Ghost, which employ a 6.75-litre twin turbo-charged variant. V8 engines remain available on many of BMW’s high-performance SUVs, including the X5, X6 and X7, with some 7 series sedans also featuring the unit. Australia gets this 4.4-litre twin turbo-charged eight-cylinder engine in those SUVs, which also comes in the M8, getting a hybrid twist in the ballistic M5 sedan and newly-added XM SUV.The United States remains the main driver for ensuring BMW continue to build bigger engines, as they continue to be strong sellers in models.A spokesperson for the US branch of BMW told Auto News demand for V8 engines remains “above average”.It was previously thought the brand would bring its engine production to a close by the end of next year, but it is now unwilling to commit to a fixed end date. 

The small car segment, especially on the premium and luxury end of the spectrum, has been very tumultuous over the last few years with hatchback and sedan sales plummeting, while SUV sales have climbed astronomically.In order to combat this, as part of our ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, we’ve combined small premium passenger cars and SUVs into this segment.It’s worth noting that each shortlisted small premium car mentioned below is inclusive of the entire line-up, though its entry price must be under $80,000 before on-road costs for this particular category.The following is a rundown of our top 10 sub-$80K small cars in alphabetical order and why they made the cut. Our top three, including the category winner, will be announced on February 6.Note Mercedes-Benz's current A-Class, CLA and GLA were ineligible as they were unavailable for review.While many brands are fleeing this segment of the car market, this German small hatch and sedan is still offered in Australia in a wide range of trim levels and variants. Beyond the normal A3 variants, there’s the sporty S3 and the fire-breathing RS3.It notably made this shortlist due to the latter which is still offered with an iconic five-cylinder engine. However, we do wish it made just a bit more noise like the older models did.Beyond this, CarsGuide reviewers praised the A3 line-up for its capable and engaging driving dynamics, as well as its luxuriously equipped and premium-presenting interior.While the A3 hatch and sedan may be newer, the Audi Q3 small SUV has been soldiering on for a couple of years now without any major updates.The current model is reaching the end of its lifecycle and is set to be replaced by a new-generation model during 2026.Despite this, CarsGuide reviewers liked how the Q3’s exterior design is ageing, even in the polarising Sportback body style, plus the on-road manners are both elegant and fun.The new-generation version of the BMW 1 Series hatchback launched locally late in 2024, offering everything from everyday commuter trims to the M135 xDrive hot hatch.CarsGuide reviewers were impressed with its driving dynamics and outright performance, though fuel efficiency took a hit as a result.Additionally we liked the new and modern front-row layout, however the exterior design, especially at the front, likely isn’t for everyone.The X1 small SUV is the most popular BMW in Australia currently and for good reason.It launched locally in new-generation guise in 2022 to popular fanfare, then the all-electric iX1 variants joined the line-up in 2023, cementing its status as a benchmark small SUV.CarsGuide reviewers praised X1/iX1’s on-road manners, as well as the modern and high-tech exterior and interior designs. However, common European quibbles like tyre roar and suspension bumps can intrude into the cabin.The X2 is a swoopy ‘coupe’ SUV counterpart to the X1 small SUV and still notably offers both petrol and electric (iX2) powertrain options.While its exterior design is polarising and not for everyone, CarsGuide reviewers appreciated how polished the drivetrains feel from behind the wheel. The X2/iX2 is also affordable when compared to premium rivals from the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.The few dislikes were centred around the X2 M35i xDrive’s firm ride due to its large (and thankfully optional) 21-inch alloy wheels, as well as the slight reduction in boot capacity over the X1/iX1.This spicy Spanish small crossover SUV is the clear front-runner for Cupra in Australia. Arriving in 2022, the Formentor is offered in a range of variants from warm to hot, plus even a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) offering.CarsGuide reviewers appreciated the lifted hatchback looks and the smile-inducing driving dynamics, however some found the multimedia system to be a little finicky and the ride a little too far on the firm side.An oft-forgotten entrant in the small SUV segment, this quirky French electric SUV impresses with its sleek design, maximised interior space and reactive driving feel.There is currently only one trim level of the Megane E-Tech offered in Australia, the Techno EV60, and it’s limited by its 7.4kW maximum AC charging rate, plus the lack of features like connected services that are available overseas.A huge step away from the iconic Fortwo of the early ‘00s and ‘10s, the Smart #3 is the brand’s largest car in Australia to date.With unique looks and a premium cabin feel, the #3 impresses though the driver-assist features can be a little overbearing and the panoramic glass sunroof has no sunshade.More sore points are the average warranty coverage of five years or 150,000km, as well as the hefty servicing costs for an electric vehicle.While a number of these shortlisted vehicles are high-tech or electrified offerings, the Subaru WRX stands out as a purist sports car.Still featuring a turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine and a manual transmission in certain trim levels, the WRX is offered in sedan and wagon body styles.CarsGuide reviewers praised the WRX’s dynamism, practicality and even value when compared to rivals with similar amounts of power. However, the WRX Sportswagon only comes with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and doesn’t look as sporty as the standard WRX sedan.This vibrant and quirky Volvo electric SUV stands out on the road thanks to its stunning exterior design with boxy proportions.The interior also stands out, but sometimes not in the best of ways. CarsGuide reviewers found too many of the key features are tucked into menus on the central touchscreen, plus the lack of a proper instrument cluster was grating.