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GAC to launch with feature-packed small SUV

Hyundai appears to have listened to feedback and tweaked the design of its polarising Santa Fe seven-seat SUV, according to new spy footage of the yet-to-be-revealed update.The news comes via the Korean Car Blog website and the Woopa TV YouTuber who recorded footage of the upcoming Santa Fe testing and parked. While the new Santa Fe shown here is wrapped in padding to camouflage the new design, the small open areas that allow headlights and tail-lights to shine through reveal some big differences.The biggest news seems to be that the controversial horizontal low-sitting tail-lights have been redesigned to be vertically orientated, skirting the edges of the vehicle's tailgate running upwards.At the front it also appears the headlights and daytime running lights have also been restyled. Gone are the H-shaped LED DRLs and in their place appears to be horizontal and vertical strips similar to what's seen on Kia models such as the EV9. The headlights are now rectangular and sit lower, just above the top of the bumper.For now those are the main expected changes we can see to the updated Hyundai Santa Fe.The fifth-generation Santa Fe arrived in Australia in early 2024 and caused controversy with a completely new look that was more boxy, angular and upright then any previous model. Despite the divided views the Santa Fe has sold well in Australia with year-to-date sales (until the end of October) of 5370. That said, the seven-seat Hyundai is still lagging behind Kia's ageing Sorento which recorded 7588 in the same period.CarsGuide has reached out to Hyundai Australia to confirm local timing for the update.When the updated Santa Fe does arrive it will likely retain the current powerplants, including a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol variant and a hybrid version which combines a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor. Both variants are offered with front and all-wheel drive.A new plug-in hybrid, which is currently available in other markets, may also be added to the Australian line-up when the updated Santa Fe arrives.

One brand has set its sights on making a serious dent in the Aussie car market.China's BYD is aiming to sell 1.6 million vehicles outside its domestic market in 2026, according to Reuters, and Australia will be integral to achieving this. The news comes from a report in global banking outlet Citi. BYD already sells an extensive and diverse range of vehicles in Australia, with more still in the works.Its all-electric Dolphin small hatchback is the currently the brand’s cheapest offering, starting from $29,990, before on-road costs, however this will likely soon change with the introduction of the smaller Atto 1.Beyond its sprawling electric vehicle (EV) line-up, the company also has a strong selection of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, including the Sealion 6 SUV, and the increasingly popular Shark 6 ute, which alone boasts more than 15,000 sales so far in 2025. Reuters claims that BYD has built at least eight mega factories in China in the last five years, but has been expanding this to overseas locations such as Hungary, Turkey and Brazil. By the end of 2025, the brand plans to begin production of some of its Dolphin hatchbacks in Hungary.All BYD models currently offered in Australia are produced in China, for reference.With the Chinese car market becoming increasingly segmented thanks to brands like Geely and Leapmotor, BYD faces a tough sell domestically.It is looking to overseas markets to tap into potential new sales, pursuing a top-three place in the Australian new car market by the end of 2026. BYD’s desired sales increase would represent a substantial shift from its sales figures outside of China in 2025, which are expected to sit at around one million. Its sales in Europe, North America and South East Asia account for one-third of the company's total sales.BYD is not immune from the fierce competition of its domestic market in Australia, with other Chinese manufacturers targeting the segment as well. Brands such as Chery and GWM have plenty of options for buyers particularly in the sought-after family SUV category, and MG has a similarly affordable and enticing vehicle line-up.

The next-gen Navara is set to be revealed next week, but Nissan Australia and a local engineering specialist have detailed how it's been tuned for Australia.

BYD has launched the 2026 update for its M9 people-mover, called the Xia in its home nation.The plug-in hybrid van is a relatively new addition to BYD’s line-up, and is closely related to the Denza D9, a similarly sized, more upmarket people-mover.The BYD M9 is already scoring new batteries, updated tech and even better fuel efficiency, less than a year after its initial launch in China.With a range of up to 1163km (tested under lenient CLTC methods) in its longest-range variant, the BYD M9 costs between the equivalent of A$45,000 and $58,000 in China.Four variants with either 100km or 218km of EV-only range are available, with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine helping charge and power the battery and wheels respectively.While the M9 itself hasn’t been confirmed for Australia, nor its Denza D9 sibling, the brand hasn’t ruled either out in the past.Denza in particular is currently focused on launching its B5 and B8 SUVs, while BYD’s line-up has already been significantly bolstered in recent years. A people-mover wouldn’t look out of place in either brand’s model line-ups.Denza boss Mark Harland told CarsGuide the brand wouldn’t look at smaller segment models, such as people-movers, until it had established itself in volume segments like large SUVs.“It’s real simple: Volume - the large segment in particular - this is what Australians buy, this is where volume is for us,” he told CarsGuide recently.“I want to establish the brand with B5 and B8 - get some wins under the belt, get those sales and establish the network.“Then we can look at the smaller segments - the Z9 GT, the D9 later - but we want to fish where the fish are first.”Stay tuned.

GWM says it expects Ora to thrive in Australia over the next 12 to 24 months, with much-needed additional models and a broader choice of powertrain options that are more in-line with consumer preferences. With sales of the sole, ageing Ora hatchback electric vehicle (EV) that was launched back in 2022 down by about 40 per cent year-to-date, hopes are pinned on a pair of all-new SUVs.

These luxury brands are having a smashing time in the SUV game.

Toyota has locked in yet another battery electric vehicle (BEV) for Australia.The Japanese carmaker has confirmed it’ll launch the new C-HR+ during 2027.No further details have been confirmed just yet.This forthcoming addition to the local Toyota BEV line-up follows the announcement of the HiLux BEV dual-cab ute, which is set to arrive locally in the first half of 2026.The C-HR+ will also follow after the introduction of the updated bZ4X which is due in December 2025, and the larger bZ4X Touring due in the first half of 2026.This new electric C-HR+ will sit alongside the existing C-HR hybrid line-up, offering people who want a smaller Toyota SUV an electric offering.The Toyota C-HR+ was first revealed in Europe in March 2025. It’s built on the same e-TNGA platform as the bZ4X and bZ4X Touring, as well as the Subaru Solterra and Lexus RZ, among others.There is a Subaru version of the C-HR+ called the Uncharted. At this stage this car hasn’t been locked in for an Australian launch.The C-HR+ measures in at 4520mm long, 1870mm wide and 1595mm tall, with a 2750mm wheelbase. This makes it around 160mm longer than the C-HR hybrid, despite the two SUVs sharing similar designs.Globally there are two electric powertrain configurations and two batteries available.The entry-level model has a single, front-mounted electric motor that produces 123kW and is fed by a 57.7kWh battery pack.There’s also a larger 77kWh battery pack available in the front-wheel drive version, which bumps the power output up to 165kW.At the top of the line-up is a dual-motor, all-wheel drive set-up with a total system output of 252kW. Toyota claims this model can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.2 seconds.Depending on the trim level, the C-HR+ has a claimed electric range of up to 600km, according to WLTP testing.11kW AC charging is available as standard on most models, however 22kW AC charging is available on certain higher-trim models. 150kW DC fast-charging is offered across the line-up.

Speaking at Volvo Cars’ most recent investor briefing in Stockholm, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer Erik Severinson confirmed the upcoming EX60 mid-size EV SUV (scheduled for global launch on January 21, 2026) will be priced at the same level as an equivalent plug-in hybrid (PHEV).Severinson identified charging time and a purchase price premium as two of the strongest impediments to large scale EV adoption and claimed the all-new EX60 addresses both issues comprehensively.“With the EX60 (on a road trip) you will have a car where you will need to go to the toilet long before the battery runs out," he said.“And when you’re back from the toilet, the car is charged. “There will be no penalty for that one per cent journey you take two times a year to the Mountains. It will be as convenient as driving a combustion engine vehicle or a plug-in hybrid,” Severinson said. And in terms of pricing, Severinson added: “People will not get more money to buy cars just because we want to sell them electric cars. “The most sold variant for Volvo Cars in Europe right now is a XC60 T6 PHEV. We know there is a customer demand at those price points. So we will price this vehicle at parity where we are pricing our current best sold cars.“We need to find price points that are equivalent to where we are buying cars today and this car will be priced as a PHEV,” he said. For reference, in Australia the Volvo XC60 T8 plug-in hybrid starts at $92,900, before on-road costs for the Plus grade, rising to $101,990 BOC for the top-spec Ultra model.At the same time Volvo Chief Engineering & Technology Officer Anders Bell referenced some of the tech advancements he said will help facilitate the EX60’s aggressive price position.“My job is to lead Volvo Cars Engineering through the most profound technology shift in the history of automotive.  “On January 21 Volvo will launch the best electric vehicle in the world. An historic moment for us. Arguably the most important launch in the history of the company.“We believe SPA3 (underpinning the EX60) is the best electric vehicle platform in the world,” he said.Bell confirmed the EX60 project is “on time, on cost and on quality” allowing the brand to “scale all the company’s business needs in a completely new way from the smallest electric vehicle to the biggest electric vehicle”.“Whatever needs the (Volvo) team here will have in terms of size, price position (and) markets in the electric vehicle world, we have made a platform that we can deploy to meet those needs in a very clever way” Bell added the EX60’s ‘mega cast’ SPA3 platform replaced 100 welded parts and can be upgraded continuously over time.He said the integrated battery pack reduced cost by 25 per cent, it’s 20 per cent more energy dense and has a 15 per cent shorter charge time.The drive unit is claimed to be 18 per cent cheaper to produce while generating 35 per cent more power and being 11 per cent lighter than Volvo’s previous generation motor.And the software ‘track’ is now uniform across EX90, ES90 and the upcoming EX60 with all new Volvo models, including Gen 2 plug-in hybrids, run from the same ‘software master’.

Genesis renews the lease on life for its twin-turbo V6 engine in the GV80 luxury SUV