Opinion

Hyundai spent 2025 making a series of behind-the-scenes changes to turn around its sales slide of recent years.So in 2026, the brand needs to deliver.While the most notable changes have been the arrival of the new Palisade, Inster and Ioniq 9, the most important changes have been the fresh negotiations between recently-installed new CEO Don Romano and the Hyundai dealers.And that should be the bit that actually impacts you — the potential Hyundai customer.If Romano and his team have been successful, you'll find Hyundai dealers are more motivated to sell you a new car, now that red tape and other hurdles that previous management put in place have been removed.“ Well, we’re bringing out new products, right?,” Romano told CarsGuide in June, 2025. “There’s gonna be a few more… But the real goal that I have is to regain the confidence of our dealers and make sure that Hyundai becomes top of mind. This was a strategy we put together in Canada, when Canada had the same exact scenario where our sales had declined we had lost the confidence of the dealer body. And I think that’s first and foremost, that dealers right now have 70 different brands out there that they’re juggling. And where does Hyundai stand in that line-up, making that one of their top priorities? That’s exactly like my goal has always been to look at who’s number one and see how they interact with their dealer body as one team, and that’s absolutely my goal is to work closer with the dealers than before.”The timing couldn't be better, as Hyundai has been headed in the wrong direction on the sales charts for the past few years. Hyundai was the third biggest brand in Australia in 2021, but has been going in reverse since then, dropping to sixth in 2024. While there was some progress in 2025, climbing back to fifth place, the reality is Hyundai’s overall sales numbers have been relatively flat for the past several years and that suggests change is needed.The brand has definitely focused on pushing more upmarket in recent years, launching the Palisade in a single, high-grade Calligraphy trim as well as the six-figure Ioniq 9, but while that can be profitable the brand still needs volume to grow.That’s why there are some crucial new models coming this year, starting with the Elexio, its first Chinese-built electric vehicle. While Hyundai has been one of the most proactive ‘legacy’ brands when it comes to EVs — offering the Inster, Kona, Ioniq 5, Ioinq 6 and Ioniq 9 — they make up less than three per cent of the brand’s total sales.And Romano wasn’t afraid to admit it, when he spoke to us last August, saying: “ We do a terrible job with our EVs. On the record. We are not doing the job we should be.”He added: “Our market share of electric vehicles is extremely low relative to our market share of total vehicles, and the only explanation for that is that we haven’t put enough focus on it because I can see other companies that are selling electric cars that are doing a much better job with their EVs than they do with their ICE (internal combustion vehicles). We’re the opposite.”The Elexio won’t be the brand’s cheapest EV, but it has the potential to be the best-value, as the Kia EV5 twin-under-the-skin should be able to take advantage of the same elements that have allowed brands like MG, BYD and Geely to offer cheaper, more popular EV models.Of course, while EVs attract plenty of attention, the core volume models for Hyundai have traditionally been its small and mid-size SUVs as well as its hatchbacks. The i30 hatch is on its last legs, though.So there will be a need to transition buyers into other options, such as the Venue and Kona, which both enjoyed growth in ‘25.The Tucson remains a solid performer and the Santa Fe is picking up steam, but Hyundai will likely need more than just the addition of the Palisade XRT Pro to get its biggest SUV selling in bigger numbers again.Whether these elements are enough to get Hyundai to grow its sales and improve its position on the charts by the end of 2026 remains to be seen, but the pressure will be on after so much change in 2025.

If you thought Jaguar was in a state of turmoil in late 2024, that period of reinvention and provocative communication has nothing on the latter part of 2025.

The only constant is change – a smart person once said that.

To write that Jeep is in trouble is not news. The American off-road brand has been in major decline in the Australian market for years.The real question is — can Jeep survive 2026? Because there is some hope beyond that, but first Jeep must make it there.Instead of thriving in this SUV-dominant era, Jeep has found itself struggling to retain buyers or find news ones. The decision to drop the Grand Cherokee, once the backbone of the brand in Australia and the best-selling large SUV just over a decade ago, was seen as a sign parent company, Stellantis, is preparing a retreat from Australia.The brand is adamant that is not the case and the late 2025 introduction of the 2026 Gladiator and the incoming updated Wrangler are a sign the brand isn't ready to quit yet.Jeep could continue on selling its two core models, the reality is those would be lucky to each pass 1000 sales annually, leaving the brand in a precarious position with the Grand Cherokee gone.Instead, Jeep has to spend 2026 holding on for a better future. There is hope on the horizon, in the form of the new-generation Compass, which was revealed in early 2025 and was originally touted as coming in ‘26, but a Jeep Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide no official timing has been locked in.While it could sneak in by the end of ‘26, it’s more likely to be ‘27 by the time the Compass arrives. When it does, it would finally give the brand a fresh small SUV to compete in one of the biggest segments of the market, where the current model is literally one of the least popular models.The new Compass is bigger and more spacious than the current model and sits on the same underpinnings as the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008, so it will introduce European-style ride and comfort; something that could help woo buyers back to Jeep.Fortunately for Jeep Australia, while there will be an all-electric variant, Jeep is also offering the new Compass with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains to give it broad appeal.Will this be enough to revive Jeep’s fortunes in Australia? Unfortunately not, at least not unless the new Compass is a runaway sales success. But it does have the potential to give the brand a much needed boost.Certainly more than the electric Avenger has done or the possible addition of the Recon mid-size electric SUV or larger, more premium Wagoneer S have the potential to do.It’s telling that the Grand Cherokee is on-track to remain the brand’s best-selling model in 2025, despite being axed as early as March. The Wrangler may be iconic, but it’s an extremely niche vehicle, and the same is true of the Gladiator.Perhaps the biggest problem for Jeep Australia is that the problems aren’t local. Jeep is struggling in its home market, and naturally that is where the focus will be to ensure the long-term survival of a brand that was forged in battle but has become a synonym for off-roaders.Like so many brands it got caught up in the excitement/legislation around electric vehicles and strayed too far from its core principles, wasting billions of dollars on 4xe vehicles that are so far proving to be deeply unpopular; certainly the Grand Cherokee 4xe did not find its mark in Australia.Stellantis is now looking to invest many more billions into reinvigorating Jeep’s US manufacturing operations, to try and revive its sales at home. What that means for Jeep in Australia remains unclear, but 2026 will all be about hanging on and hoping for a brighter future.

Who will break first - legacy brands or struggling newcomers?

Toyota dominates the new car market thanks to an expansive line-up of models that spans from the pint-sized Yaris hatch to the jumbo Toyota LandCruiser.

General Motors is determined to make a go of it in Australia in the post-Holden world.Sure, it’s no longer a big volume brand, but the American automotive juggernaut has invested in a long-term future in Australia, introducing multiple brands that it believes can make a good return on the significant investment.Up until 2025 the General Motors Australia charge had been led by Chevrolet and its polar-opposite duo — the Silverado pickup truck and Corvette sports car. But things changed dramatically in the past 12 months, with not only the arrival of GMC but also Cadillac, the historic luxury brand that has big global aspirations.In December 2024 we questioned whether this past year would justify GM’s decision to ditch the Holden/mass-market model and switch to the more niche, high-profit business, with both factory-produced (Corvette and Cadillac) as well as locally-converted (Silverado and GMC) vehicles.On the surface, things don’t look good. Sales were down for the brand overall and the Silverado continues to slide backwards as the ‘US ute’ market continues to look uncertain.But when you look at things more closely, there are reasons for optimism, even if it is the long-term future, rather than a sudden turnaround in 2026.GM expanded the Corvette range in late ‘24, adding the hybrid E-Ray and track-focused Z06, but overall sales of the model were down dramatically as prices increased and the limited market for such sports cars hit home.But the Corvette is a halo model for the brand, not its volume seller. That title belongs to the Silverado pickup and the news was more positive on that front.GM still managed to sell more than 2000 examples of the standard model and another 1500 odd of the Silverado HD. But the Silverado was still out-sold by the Ram 1500, despite the Ram introducing a new model with a six-cylinder engine and leaving Chevy as the solo V8 in the market.Of more concern is the entire US ute segment remains in decline, which is not a good sign for the long-term and amid the increased competition from Ford and Toyota. It seems that there is only so much demand for these $100k and up pickup trucks and we may have already reached the peak.The GMC Yukon Denali is a very niche product, only appealing to a limited audience that wants a high-cost, premium upper-large SUV, but brought diversity to the range. And having said it is niche, its sales are actually off to a good start, averaging around 40 units per month. That may not sound like a sales success story, but given this is a $175k SUV, that’s actually a result GM is likely very happy with.Which brings us to the biggest question mark that hangs over the head of GM Australia - Cadillac.It remains the biggest mystery but also its potential saviour. If the expanded line-up due in 2026 can find an audience - which is a big ‘if’ - then it has potential to grow as the luxury electric vehicle market expands.But there is no sign of that happening anytime soon. Electric vehicle sales remain steady, with no major growth in ‘25, and instead the hype is centred around plug-in hybrids for this moment in time.In many respects it’s a shame it has arrived at this moment in time, when interest in EVs has waxed and waned. Cadillac was sadly one of the big-name brands that made a bold commitment to electrification, only for the market to cool off dramatically on the transition. Several other brands have managed to carefully backflip out of that predicament, but Cadillac, like Jaguar, is set on its path for the foreseeable future.Discounts only months after going on sale was not a good message to send the market but there was always a sense that ‘25 was about establishing the brand in Australia, so sales were a secondary concern.GM Australia management did make a definitive call not to publish sales results, knowing that they would likely be small in these early days, so it’s clear they are aiming to play a long-term strategy.There will be a dramatic expansion in 2026, with the sporty Lyriq-V arriving as well as the smaller Optiq and larger Vistiq backing up the mid-size Lyriq. And, of course, there is the American brand’s entrance into the world of Formula 1, which is enjoying a popularity boom and might help spark interest in Cadillac amid the ‘new money’ types that are embracing the sport.

What might be a legitimate challenger to the Suzuki Jimny’s “Best Fun Small 4WD” title, the Renault Duster (aka the Dacia Duster in other markets), is here.

GWM was always in for a big 2025 - for better or worse.

In 2009, way back in the dim, distant first decade of this century, ‘Kevin ‘07’ was a couple of years into his tumultuous prime ministership, England regained the Ashes and Toyota was boring.Despite leading the market with - you guessed it - a 20 per cent share, dealer showrooms were filled with what now looks like a classic bunch of whitegoods on wheels.A bland Corolla, timid Yaris and by-the-numbers Camry. The ageing Tarago was still on offer and the LandCruiser 200 Series wasn’t exactly pushing the envelope, while the 70 Series soldiered on in a retro-technical time warp. Not a Celica, Supra or MR2 in sight.The dangerously adventurous could opt for a RAV4, Prius or even an Aurion Sportivo… naughty! But the Avensis Verso brought the brand crashing back down to earth. Has there ever been a more vanilla car?However, 2009 was also the year Akio Toyoda, grandson of the man who founded what is now Toyota Motor Corporation, rose to lead the Japanese giant; then as now, the world’s largest carmaker.Having been in the company since the mid-’80s and on the board from 2000 the new CEO and President came to the top job with some big ideas in mind.While some see him as a poseur with ‘Master Driver’ on his business card and a motorsport pseudonym on his crash helmet, I think his ascension was a huge moment in time, not just for Toyota, but the global car business. Here’s why. First and foremost he’s an enthusiast, not just a number-crunching business proprietor. Like the giants of Detroit’s golden era - Lee Iacocca, John DeLorean and Bob Lutz - Toyoda-san is a ‘car guy’. One who’d been working the angles behind the scenes as TMC’s Executive Vice President since 2005. And he hit the ground running.A key supporter of the FJ Cruiser, which managed to wrap heritage and modernity into a super-fun package with (cost-saving) Prado underpinnings, he was also a fan of the Rukus.  Arriving in 2010, the squared-off wagon wasn’t a screaming success here (or elsewhere, for that matter) but it was an infinitely bolder, more interesting car designed to be customisable for goodness sake.  And soon enough it was followed by the pure and simple 86 (made viable via co-production with Subaru) and a new Supra (a JV with BMW).Exciting Toyotas were back, with the rest of the brand’s line-up basking in the new found excitement.Like all good strategic objectives, Akio’s ‘Making ever-better cars’ mantra is simple on the surface but brilliantly flexible in practice.On a purely operation level it’s led to the development of the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform that, since its arrival in 2015, has delivered not only cost savings and improved manufacturing efficiencies but dynamic, more engaging products.Have you driven a TNGA Camry lately? It’s really, really good.His long-term position on hybrid propulsion has proved to be another winner, with Akio expanding the concept out from the Prius program to underpin Toyota’s broader powertrain philosophy, standing his ground while other global carmakers made furious all-in bets on pure-electric tech.That continuing success with hybrid has laid down a marker for other brands, including the latest crop of Chinese challengers, to follow.Then there’s the off-beat Gazoo Racing, GR for short, with an occasional hardcore extension to GRMN (Gazoo Racing Masters of Nurburgring).BMW DNA aside, the GR Supra was a mark of ongoing intent with the rip-snorting GR Yaris and GR Corolla (the latter with a GRMN version reportedly in the offing) and of course the just-landed GR GT following. The MR2 and possibly Celica are set for a comeback any tick of the clock (and stand by for the uber-cool LandCruiser FJ).Even though he was no doubt part of the decision to select reverse on F1 (in 2009) Akio saw sports endurance racing as a better bet for hybrid development and promotion with five Le Mans victories and four World Manufacturers Championship titles in the last decade vindicating the move.Even though he stepped down as Toyota CEO in early 2023, his ongoing role as Chairman has allowed Akio to continue making a mark on the company’s brand direction and personality.Ongoing development of hydrogen, in fuel-cell and internal-combustion form, is part of Toyota’s ‘multi-pathway’ program also covering internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid and battery-electric vehicle development.In short, Akio Toyoda is an automotive superhero that’s had the courage to take a multi-faceted giant to new heights thanks largely to a focus on products that are not only reliable, well-made and cheap to service but daring, innovative and fun to drive. More power to him!