News
Popular Prado-chaser gets rugged beef-up
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By Tim Gibson · 22 Oct 2025
A popular large SUV has received a serious buff to its adventuring capabilities.
Axed car returns, with a twist
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By Tim Gibson · 22 Oct 2025
A striking European SUV is making its return to Australia with an electric twist.
What you get in the cheapest EV in Oz
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By Tom White · 22 Oct 2025
BYD Atto 1 specs locked in ahead of 2026 launch.
New engine key to this SUV's success
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By Jack Quick · 22 Oct 2025
Mazda Australia has just introduced the familiar G25 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol Skyactiv-G engine to the premium-pushing CX-60 mid-size SUV and it’s forecast to be the top-seller.The Japanese brand expects 34 per cent of CX-60 sales will be powered by this G25 four-cylinder petrol engine.It’s followed by the G40e 3.3-litre turbocharged inline-six petrol mild-hybrid with 29 per cent of forecast CX-60 sales.Then there’s the P50e 2.5-litre four-cylinder plug-in hybrid with 20 per cent of forecast CX-60 sales and lastly the D50e 3.3-litre twin-turbo inline-six diesel mild-hybrid with 17 per cent of sales.A table outlining the forecasted CX-60 sales split by powertrains is at the bottom of this story.While the G25 four-cylinder petrol engine is a new addition to the local CX-60 line-up, it’s been available in other markets, including Japan, since the car launched in 2023.Since 2012 this engine has powered a total of eight Mazda vehicles. Beyond the CX-60 it also currently features in the Mazda 3, CX-30 and CX-5.Mazda Australia claims that around 30 per cent of sales in 2022 were vehicles fitted with the G25 petrol engine.In the CX-60, the 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine is mounted longitudinally rather than transversely and produces 138kW of power and 250Nm of torque. This is 71kW and 200Nm less than the G40e inline-six petrol mild-hybrid.Unlike other Mazda models with this engine it’s mated to an eight-speed multi-clutch automatic transmission, like all the other CX-60 variants. Drive is also only sent to the rear wheels.This 2.5-litre petrol engine is offered on the CX-60 Pure, Evolve and Touring. The GT and Azami trims are only offered with the more powerful inline-six and plug-in hybrid powertrains.As a result, Mazda has been able to reduce the entry price point for the CX-60 by a considerable amount. It now starts at $47,990 drive-away for the CX-60 G25 Pure, which is $6000 more affordable than the G40e Pure.The CX-60 is currently the brand’s best-selling vehicle that’s built on the Large Architecture platform. A total of 4067 examples have been sold in the first nine months of 2025, which is up 27.5 per cent year-on-year.
BYD car park mystery solved
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By Stephen Ottley · 22 Oct 2025
Chinese car maker BYD has moved to end speculation surrounding approximately 1600 cars sitting at Jamberoo Action Park a few hours south of Sydney.News Corporation broke the story this week that BYD was storing boatloads of new inventory in the unused car parks at the summer-only amusement park, leading to speculation about why so many cars were in such an unusual spot.CarsGuide can also reveal that more BYDs have been spotted in would-be ‘holding yards’ in Melbourne’s east, next to an abandoned quarry in the suburb of Montrose.Kiama Council has since asked for a ‘please explain’ from Jamberoo and BYD, over what is an unapproved use of the car park. While initially not offering any explanation, a BYD Australia spokesperson has confirmed to CarsGuide that the cars were only there for short-time storage.“BYD takes its compliance obligations seriously,” a statement read. “Our storage and logistics partner manages several locations in the Port Kembla and surrounding region.“Jamberoo Action Park approved the temporary use of its vehicle spaces. When Kiama Council advised that a Development Application was required to continue storage at this site, steps were promptly taken to comply.“Vehicles stored locally are allocated to fulfil customer orders and reflect BYD’s commitment to timely deliveries of our products.”While not providing any details, it’s likely that the situation in Jamberoo and Melbourne stem from the changeover from EV Direct’s distribution to the brand becoming factory-operated. This likely led to the need to find new storage locations in a hurry in order for the brand to maintain a steady supply of vehicles.EV Direct was the original importer and distributor for BYD in Australia, beginning in 2022, but despite successfully growing the brand, Chinese management decided to take over complete control in Australia in July.This is around the same time the cars started appearing at Jamberoo and Montrose, leading to the connection between the changeover of distribution. BYD sales are up nearly 150 per cent year-to-date to the end of September, led primarily by the addition of the Shark 6 ute as well as the growth of the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid SUV. In order to meet customer demands in a competitive timeframe, BYD is known to carry significant inventory requiring regular shipments from China.
These cars aren't going anywhere soon
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By Jack Quick · 21 Oct 2025
The current Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio mid-size sedan and SUV pair have been on the market for about a decade but they aren’t going anywhere soon, according to the Italian carmaker.
Next-gen Chery Omoda 4 and 7 SUVs revealed!
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By Chris Thompson · 21 Oct 2025
Chery has revealed a flurry of new models and tech at its ‘International User Summit’ in Wuhu, China, including two new Omoda SUVs.
Mini Toyota LandCruiser confirmed
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By Dom Tripolone · 21 Oct 2025
After years of rumours, Toyota has finally confirmed and revealed the mini FJ LandCruiser.
All-new 2026 Hyundai Venue SUV leaked!
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By Chris Thompson · 20 Oct 2025
Images of the second-generation Hyundai Venue have appeared online this week after the new light SUV was spotted testing ahead of its imminent launch.The 2026 Hyundai Venue, which is reportedly launching in India on November 4, 2025, has been given a totally new look and interior, spy photos reveal.Originally snapped by @casper_i.vory on Instagram and later published by The Korean Car Blog, the photos show an undisguised Venue on the streets presumably in Korea where the user is based.The Venue is set for a fairly hefty upgrade according to the images and word from Hyundai officials.The new look brings the light SUV into the brand’s more recent design language, with slim headlights and tail-lights, more muscular lines and silhouette, as well as elements which reference other Hyundai models.On top of the ‘Venue’ lettering across the tailgate, the model’s name is etched into the C-pillar. The daytime running light (DRL) bar across the front of the new Venue is now a Hyundai standard, and the outer-DRLs form a C-shape around the headlights.The roof rails and clamshell-style bonnet carry through design-wise to the new-gen car, though the haunches over the wheel arches are more muscular than before.Inside, the design is yet to be fully seen - only a photo of the seats with the steering wheel is visible - but Hyundai India confirmed at its investor day this year that the new Venue would feature higher-end additions like dual-12.3-inch screens as with many Hyundai models.The brand’s Indian arm also confirmed level 2 advanced driver assistance (ADAS), over-the-air (OTA) updates, and a new ‘super-strong’ structure for the light SUV.While the Indian market will apparently be the first to receive the new Venue, expect more information about a global launch including Australia to come closer to the new year.