Plug-in hybrid

There’s something about spotting a Honda S660, Subaru Sambar or Suzuki Hustler in local traffic. A pang of regret that we’re denied mainstream access to the Kei car smorgasbord on offer in Japan.

Ford Australia is recalling the Escape Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) due to a battery issue that may cause a vehicle fire.

Aussies love their diesel utes but with crunching emissions regulations coming into place, it’s unclear how much longer they will reign supreme.

BYD’s latest flagship has just been spotted in China. Pictures of the incoming Dynasty-D three-row SUV have appeared in a report from Car News China.The brand revealed late last month the car’s launch was going to be delayed until the second quarter of 2026, after being originally scheduled for the end of 2025. It was seen for the first time in April 2025 as a concept car at the Shanghai Auto Show.We already know that it has a plug-in hybrid set-up consisting of a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with front and rear mounted electric motors. The electric-only driving range will be more than 200km.The car has now been spotted in China during road testing where its exterior was kept mostly camouflaged. In keeping with the concept car designs, the large SUV features a sleek body with a sloped roof line and rear spoiler. Curiously, pictures show hidden door handles on the Dynasty D, which are about to be prohibited in China.Mostly notably the images reveal the car will come with rear wheel steering to aid manoeuvrability, given it's over five metres long. With BYD looking to capitalise on its domestic market share, the Dynasty-D has the highest-end equipment, featuring the latest version of BYD's signature autonomous driving software. The system has a LiDAR sensor, 12 cameras and a speedy Nvidia Orin-X computer processing chip. There is also a continuous damping suspension system.The Dynasty-D is not the only large SUV BYD will launch in China next year, with the brand also launching a seemingly similar-sized Sealion 08 in early 2026.Confusingly, the Chinese-market Sealion 08 is distinct from the Australian-delivered Sealion 8 three-row SUV, which is a re-badge of the China-market Tang L SUV.We do not know yet if the Dynasty-D will be launched in Australia, but given BYD’s serious export PHEV push as well as its intention to land a top-three position in the Australian market it is a possibility. The brand has already brought across its Sealion 6 SUV and Shark 6 ute as PHEVs, both of which have been sales successes.A new Sealion 8 SUV will join in January of 2026. There will also be a Sealion 5 mid-size SUV PHEV launching in the first half of next year as a budget option in the BYD range.

That the Toyota Prius is set for a return to Australia inside the next 18 months, and possibly sooner, is no surprise. As CarsGuide has recently reported, market forces and consumer preferences are shifting and the sleek five-door liftback is suddenly looking very promising for this market. But the big news is that it’s likely to be a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) only proposition, to once again blaze a trail of affordability and accessibility, just like its four previous hybrid-pioneering predecessors did for 21 years from 2001.

BYD is making its mark with Australia's most affordable plug-in SUV now becoming the Sealion 5.

This potential BYD model could be the brand's next big hit in Oz.

Nissan's next joint-venture car could be the big SUV it needs.

Double-size hybrid Smart can travel nearly 2000km on a single tank of fuel and a full battery.

BYD is aware of the after-sales issues facing its buyers, but promises a multitude of fixes are in process to address the problem.