Plug-in hybrid

The list of Australia’s favourite off-road SUVs is set for a massive shake up in the coming years, as a 4WD-obsessed boom in the Chinese market starts to overflow to Australia.The GWM Tank 300 and Tank 500, as well as Denza’s B5 and B8, might have been the first to tackle ever-popular legends, the Toyota LandCruiser, Nissan Patrol and Ford Everest, but they will soon be joined by new offerings from GAC, Geely and Chery.Below is a list of the five off-road hybrid SUVs either confirmed to be heading to Australia or highly likely for an Australian arrival with the intention to unseat some of the world’s most popular 4WDs.Also known as the Geely Battleship 700, this large hybrid off-roader is part of an all-new family of flagship products for the Geely brand.It will debut a new off-road architecture for Geely, which can be equipped with either a 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre engine mated to a front electric motor, and dual rear electric motors that feature a mechanical differential lock.There is no mechanical connection between the front and rear axles, with that space taken up by a 47kWh battery pack, which grants it up to 185km of CLTC driving range, according to preliminary specs out of China.Combined power for its tri-motor system is a headline-grabbing 830kW, and the boxy off-roader has luxurious interior fittings which take Geely into new territory. Pricing is yet to be revealed, and while the Galaxy Cruiser hasn’t been confirmed for an Australian arrival, it is slated for a UK arrival, confirming right-hand drive production.Read more about the Geely Galaxy Cruiser hereWith styling more reminiscent of the Toyota Prado rather than the Defender-esque look of the Geely, GAC’s upcoming Yue 7 was recently revealed at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show.Also a plug-in hybrid with no mechanical connection between the engine and rear axle, the over-five-meter-long SUV boasts formidable off-road angles.It is not as punchy as the Geely claims to be, with a mere 400kW of combined power on tap from its 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and dual electric motor set-up, which is a familiar formula for these Chinese 4WDs.It will be offered with either a 28.3kWh or 46kWh battery pack, which grants it either 116km or 188km of CLTC electric driving range, respectively.The computer-based 4WD system is said to be capable of sending power to just one wheel at a time if needed and simulating low-range driving.While GAC Australia is yet to comment on the arrival of the Yue 7, the company is plotting 10 new models in our market in just five years, with the local boss telling CarsGuide recently this will include a large SUV and a pick-up truck.Read more about the GAC Yue 7 hereThe Chery sub-brand’s flagship off-road machine is squarely designed to target rivals like the Tank 500 and Denza B5, according to executives.Unlike some of its rivals here, the V27 doesn’t ride on a ladder-frame platform and instead rides on a car-line monocoque underpinnings.This isn’t an indicator of its off-road performance, with prior iterations of the famous Mitsubishi Pajero and current Land Rover Defender also based on unibody platforms.The V27 uses a range-extender hybrid system (meaning the 1.5-litre engine is not mechanically connected to the front or rear axles), being purely electrically driven at the wheels.It uses a 34.3kWh battery pack which grants it 150km of electric driving range to an also lenient NEDC standard and power outputs from its dual-electric motor set-up combine for a total of 335kW/505Nm.Despite being over five meters in length, the V27 is only a five-seater, but has a cavernous boot area, and like the above GAC Yue 7 is able to be equipped with a tailgate mounted full-size spare.Expect to learn more later in 2026 as the iCaur brand gears up for its Australian debut.Read more about the iCaur V27 hereYou may remember Freelander as a Land Rover nameplate from the 90s, but it has now been spun off as a new sub-brand and joint-venture between Land Rover and Chery, as the British company embraces ‘China Speed’ for best use of its intellectual property.Utilising a Chery platform and Huawei cabin tech, the Freelander 8 large SUV also wears iconic elements of the Freelander nameplate’s British design.A far cry from the original Freelander of the 90s, which was a relatively small but capable SUV, the new model is a large three-row offering chasing the trendy boxy bodystyle trend in the Chinese market.Also using a 1.5-litre engine in a range-extended set-up, the brand has at least confirmed that it will have some kind of tough off-road ability despite an over-three-meter long wheelbase.Power figures are yet to be confirmed, but it will get over 200km of electric driving range from an enormous 60.33kWh battery pack, while promising 2000kg of towing capacity and at least a central differential lock.Read more about the Freelander 8 hereGWM’s long-expected off-road monster is still on the cards for an Australian launch. The good news is, the brand is strongly considering an upcoming updated model featuring the company’s new 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine.The bad news is this update, which is expected to be the first version of the 700 available in right-hand drive, isn’t due until 2028.The Tank 700 is available in both rugged Hi4-T form, which maintains the mechanical linkage from the engine to the rear axle, maintaining a low-range transfer case and placing the electric motor in the transmission, as well as new-age Hi4-Z form that forgoes the mechanical connection for a larger battery and more electric driving characteristics.As for specs the latest Hi4-Z version produces a combined 720kW/1375Nm, according to Chinese specs. Its 59kWh battery pack grants it a WLTC-measured 190km EV driving range.Expected to be priced well north of $100,000 in Australia (perhaps even more in its ultimate V8 form), the Tank 700 would move GWM into new pricing territory and test the limits of what its buyers are prepared to pay. Even so, GWM is expected to debut a Tank model even higher up the price scale, with an expected Tank 800 to be launched on the same GWM One platform as the flagship Haval H10 and Wey 9X from the Chinese giant’s other sub brands.Read more about the GWM Tank 700 here

Zeekr has given a glimpse inside one of the most anticipated new SUVs coming to Australia. Zeekr will introduce its flagship 9X large SUV to the Australian market this year, and will offer a seriously high-end experience for rear-seat passengers. The 9X is expected to carry a $100,000-plus price tag when it lands in Australia, giving the BMW X7 and top-spec Range Rover models a run for their money. It has been shown off in a plush five-seater configuration, with the seats covered in a supple maroon leather. It boasts up to 1.4m of legroom for rear-seat passengers, with seats also featuring reclining and zero-gravity.Physical control panels in the rear doors control functionality.The middle seat back folds down to provide a comfy armrest and reveal more rear cabin controls.There is a central tablet control panel to set the temperature and monitor other car features from the back.  The car has already launched in China, where it is also offered in a six-seater configuration. It is available with two powerful plug-in hybrid set-up choices.Both have a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, paired with either two or three electric motors, offering 660kW/935Nm or 1030kW/1410Nm.It can shift from 0-100km/h in roughly three seconds. The car has a fittingly huge battery of up to 70kWh, expected to offer an all-electric driving range of more than 300km. Zeekr will hope the 9X can build on the momentum of its cars already making waves in Australia. The 7X mid-size electric SUV has been a revelation for the brand.  It has quickly garnered significant attention from buyers as it looks to hunt down the record-breaking Tesla Model Y.Its smaller X sibling has also started to gain some traction Down Under, with a mass of new orders for its recently-updated model. 

Freelander, the Land Rover spin-off brand, has teased more details for its debut Freelander 8 three-row hybrid SUV ahead of its Chinese launch.Already confirmed for Australia, the Freelander 8 revives the once-budget Land Rover nameplate as a true Chinese joint-venture vehicle.Riding on a Chery platform, the new SUV inherits key design motifs from the original Freelander, which launched in 1998.As part of a wind-up to its Chinese launch, the brand has revealed an array of new images on its Chinese social media channels, teasing its interior, revealing details of its tech suite, and also showing off various trim packages and colours which will be available.Teasing the interior in an abstract image, Freelander confirmed the new car will have “the largest surround-view gallery” screens in its class, with a large 16.5-inch central touchscreen, a dash-spanning 46.3-inch digital information screen, which includes the driver’s instrument cluster, and a sought-after Qualcomm 8397 central processing chip.Several software widgets were also shown, with an array of off-road displays, showing pitch and yaw angles, a compass, differential lock status, battery status, as well as steering angles.It is available in an array of eight colours including two silvers, gold, purple, black, copper, white, blue, and will offer both two-tone wheel designs, as well as a more contemporary black-pack look.The Freelander 8 is due to hit the market in China imminently and comes alongside news that Jaguar Land Rover will stop manufacturing its mainline vehicles (from the actual Jaguar and Land Rover brands) in China.The factory that once produced these vehicles is being retooled for the Freelander brand project. It is expected to spawn an entire range of vehicles using tech from both Chery and Huawei.The Freelander 8 measures 5118mm long, 2050mm wide and 1898mm tall with an enormous wheelbase of 3040mm.It will be sold exclusively as a plug-in hybrid using a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine (115kW)  mated to at least two electric motors, but technical specifications on power outputs are yet to be revealed as the brand trickles information out on the SUV as it nears its launch.The battery is confirmed to be an 800-volt 60.33kWh unit, which grants the large SUV up to 221km of range according to the more lenient WLTC measuring standard.Chinese specs confirm the six-seater will have a 2000kg towing capacity, and we now know it will have at least some form of centre differential lock.Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Auto told Australian media in May the Freelander brand will be introduced to both Australia and New Zealand. Interestingly it will be established as a brand independent of both Land Rover and Chery in Australia.

Ford’s Escape SUV has had a bit of a chequered past in terms of how it was marketed and what it represented. But, fundamentally, the version we saw launched here in 2020 as the fourth-gen Escape (the ZH model in Ford-speak) was more or less a third-generation Ford Kuga, engineered in Germany and built in Spain.Confused? Wait till you see the model line-up. Ford went against years of tradition by dumping established names such as Ambiente and Trend and kicked the new Escape off with the model simply badged FWD (front-wheel drive). From there, the range flowed through the ST-Line FWD and ST-Line AWD (all-wheel drive), then the rather grandly named Vignale (Ford picked up the Vignale badge as part of its buyout of De Tomaso in the 1970s) in both FWD and AWD forms.And shortly after the initial launch, Ford followed up with a model dubbed ST-Line PHEV which, as the name suggests, featured a plug-in hybrid driveline and was front-wheel drive.The vehicle itself was a five-seat mid-sized SUV that was actually pretty sporty to look at and, even in entry-level form, provided pretty stunning performance thanks to a racy driveline. All variants apart form the PHEV used a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a turbocharger for a rather stirring 183kW of power and lots of torque. Both FWD and AWD versions used the same eight-speed conventional automatic transmission.The PHEV was the odd-one-out, with its normally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and electric motor accounting for 167kW and driving through a continuously variable transmission (CVT).Far and away the biggest compliment the Escape gets is for its performance. That torquey turbo motor puts out plenty of power, meaning performance is pretty impressive as a result. So, if a mid-sized SUV with five seats and some decent straight-line stomp is what you’re after, then the Escape is indeed very possibly what you’re looking for.Beyond that, however, the Escape is a bit me-too and kind of disappeared into a sea of similarly sized, similarly priced SUVs from literally dozens of carmakers.The Escape doesn’t have a perfect reliability record, but it is better than the model it replaced. It’s still a pretty complex piece of machinery, though, so there are a few things to check before buying. A complete service record is also crucial to long-term reliability, as it is with any make or model.The news here is better than for previous Escapes, but still not perfect. That’s mainly because the old EcoBoost 2.0-litre engine was known for catastrophic failures and engine fires due to a flawed basic design. That engine had too little sealing surface area on the head gasket which meant that coolant could leak into the cylinders. When that happened, the engine could overheat to the point of causing a fire, or simply destroy itself in the process.But post-2020 versions of the engine used a more robust crankcase design that eliminated that problem.But the hybrid Escape wasn’t so lucky and has experienced problems with its high-voltage battery which could present a fire risk if it was one of the ones that had an inbuilt flaw in its construction. If you were unlucky enough to buy one of those (and there was no way to tell in the showroom) the flaw could have produced an internal short-circuit that may have caused a fire or complete battery failure down the track. The advice from Ford to owners of these cars was to not charge the battery beyond 80 per cent and to only drive in EV Auto mode until the car could be checked (see recalls section).Aside from that, the Escape has also been known to suffer cracked exhaust manifolds (which mounts the turbocharger) and premature fuel pump failures. Some owners have also experienced carbon build up in the engine’s valves. The Escape’s engine uses direct-injection so the valves are not `rinsed’ off by the fuel as it’s injected into the engine. A build up of carbon is often the result, but to be fair, this is not a Ford-specific thing and many other makes and models are similarly affected.Like a lot of complex vehicles, the Escape has had its share of safety recalls for owners to deal with. For the full story, you can check out https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/ and search for this model, but in the meantime, here’s a thumbnail look at those recalls.The first was for early examples which may have had a fault in the engine-bay airflow management system. Shutters under the nose of the car that were designed to open and close as necessary may not have opened when they should have, and that posed a fire risk if there had been a fuel or oil spill at the same time.A batch of 2021-built cars were recalled to check the bonding of the glass panel of the panoramic sunroof which could detach at speed.PHEV Escapes built until 2024 were recalled to check for a manufacturing fault that could have led to a fire if the engine suddenly blew up (literally). Equally seriously, a batch of 2021 cars were recalled to check for excess play in the steering which could have led to steering failure if unchecked. The Escape was also recalled to check the reversing camera system which could glitch out and leave the screen blank when drivers most needed the system.Then there was the high-voltage battery problem we’ve already touched on. Apparently, a manufacturing flaw in the battery itself could lead to thermal runaway and an intense fire. It’s hard to imagine any Escape PHEV not having been checked for this problem by now, but it’s still worth making sure. You can do that at a Ford dealership.Like a lot of cars, Ford gradually worked the bugs out of the Escape, so the best one now (and the one least affected by recall notices) is a late-model example. The later the build date, the better, more bug-free the car is likely to be.You’ll see the odd Escape for sale with more than 160,000km, but that will definitely be in the minority. Most for sale now have travelled closer to 100,000km or even less, suggesting there’s plenty of life left in them. There are even a few for sale online that are showing super-low mileage, suggesting they may actually be leftover demonstrator models, even though the Escape officially left showrooms back at the end of 2024.As a car ages, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive variants when brand new starts to shrink dramatically. With that in mind, the Vignale is the one to look for now. Do you really need an all-wheel-drive Escape when a front drive will do the job? Not really, but the all-wheel-drive option helps tame that feisty little engine’s power delivery and gives a safety margin on most road surfaces, wet or dry.The one we’d avoid would be the PHEV. Aside from the longer list of potential faults, it just never seemed as resolved or sorted as a modern PHEV should have been. And you’ll be missing out on that ripper little turbo motor which is clearly the highlight of the entire car.Prices start at about $15,000 for cars in good condition and with relatively low kilometres showing. You’ll be buying a front-drive car for that sort of money, although you might get lucky and spot an all-wheel-drive version for under $20,000.A high-spec all-wheel-drive, late-model Escape is yours for about $30,000 or more, and should have fewer than 50,000km on its odometer. The best value is probably somewhere between those two extremes, and look for a car with some factory warranty remaining. That’s great peace of mind.Ford has one of the biggest dealer networks in Australia and, thanks to the long history of Ford vehicles in this country, many of those are situated in regional areas. As such, repair and service parts should never really be a problem, even though the Escape is something of an orphan in this market.Parts are readily available through traditional retailers and there’s good online support, too. Servicing can also be handled by any decent independent workshop which should also be able to stamp the service handbook to protect any remaining new-car warranty.The Escape was largely overlooked by buyers, mainly because the mid-sized SUV market was, and is, such a crowded space. Plenty of competition from other established badges such as Mazda, Toyota and Nissan, as well as the march of the Chinese brands, meant that the Escape was ignored by many.The result was that, even in its best year (2020) Ford sold just over 2000 Escapes; a long way short of the 35,000 sales recorded by the Toyota RAV 4 the same year. And that’s why even the big online sales sites now have less than 100 ZH Escapes for sale right now.

Xiaomi has finally revealed its highly anticipated new SUV sub-brand, SkyNomad, as details of its first model are revealed via regulatory filings.The N90 is 4960mm long, 1998mm wide and 1765mm tall placing it firmly in the large SUV category. It features a seven-seat version to rival to the likes of the GWM Tank 500 and BYD Sealion 8. There is also a five-seat version which could be more of a rival to the hotly anticipated Zeekr 8X that's due in Australia next year.Like the 8X, the SkyNomad N90 is exclusively a plug-in hybrid in contrast to Xiaomi’s previous two fully electric offerings, the SU7 GT and YU7 SUV. It uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 112kW mated to either a single electric motor (210kW) or dual electric motors (210kW rear + 100kW front).Like other recent Chinese hybrid large SUVs, the SkyNomad N90 uses large batteries, either a 52kWh or 76kWh unit for driving ranges of either 270km or 380km respectively to CLTC standards. Fuel consumption with the battery at reserve charge level (a required metric in China) ranges from 5.7L/100km to 6.1L/100km.Off the back of the filing reveals, Xiaomi has shared official images of the new car on its social media and opened a pre-order web portal.Unlike the sporty vibe of the 8X or the off-road focused bent of the GWM range, the SkyNomad N90 instead focuses on lifestyle, featuring a camping edition with a pop-up roof tent as part of its initial approvals.Its styling is also a massive departure from the sleek sporty lines of its SU7 and YU7, moving to a more traditional luxury SUV shape. The only related feature is the DRL strip which cuts through the middle of the front light clusters, while the side profile and rear box light fitting is more in keeping with Chinese luxury SUV trends.Inside it features a plush leather-clad design, and an unusual seating arrangement for three-row versions of 2 + 2 + 3. Images show reversible front seats and a centre console that transforms into a table.While the interior is yet to be fully unveiled, the images also show the usual large central touchscreen and digital dash, with a centre console that features its own touch control panel for middle-row passengers.The camping version, meanwhile, features a projector built into the roof of the boot, and a corresponding screen that unfurls from the roof above the front seats.Regulatory filings also show an array of wheel designs, from high-end 20-inch two-tone versions to a smaller 19-inch design with plastic aero covers.Xiaomi’s auto division has been overwhelmingly successful in China, with the SU7 and YU7 having attracted a massive waiting list as orders have exceeded production capacity by hundreds of thousands of units.As such, export markets have been bottom of the brand’s priority list for the time being. This may not be the case forever, as it invests with its BAIC partner on expanded capacity at new factory units.Even still, the brand has said it has global aspirations at some stage in the future.Stay tuned for more on Xiaomi and its new SkyNomad sub-brand as it nears its official Chinese launch.

Geely’s 830kW 4WD beast is taking shape.Key technical details of its Galaxy Battleship plug-in hybrid SUV have appeared in Chinese technical approval filings which come shortly before vehicles go on-sale in the country.There is no official news on the car’s future in Australia, but it could be part of the brand’s plans from next year as its first entry into the 4WD space.It would tackle the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, Nissan Patrol and soon-to-launch Mitsubishi Pajero.It measures in at 5085mm long, 1999mm wide, 1895mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2900mm, shaping up similarly to BYD’s Denza B8 with which it would directly compete.The B8, for reference, is priced from $91,000 before on-road costs locally. The Geely 4WD has been confirmed for sale in the United Kingdom, meaning it is already available in right-hand drive, improving its chances of an Australian introduction.Geely Australia has been contacted for comment to see if the Galaxy Battleship will launch Down Under. The car will be available with 2.0-litre or 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines, producing 120kW and 160kW respectively. The engine will be paired with three electric motors, producing up to a maximum combined 830kW which far exceeds the power of its key rivals. Its torque figure has not been revealed yet.The Galaxy Battleship is equipped with a 47kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery.This offers an all-electric driving range of 165km, 170km, or 185km depending on the variant, all to the more lenient CLTC measuring.Expect it to boast a monster total driving range figure above the 1000km mark as well.The car has been given some major off-roading potential.It has generous approach/departure angles (30-degrees/31-degrees), and 233mm of ground clearance.It also features a standard rear differential lock between its two rear electric motors and a front tow hook.Based on its platform reveal at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year, the 4WD is closer in its design to the Denza B5 and B8 using dual electric motors at the rear, with the engine and third electric motor mounted at the front.It has no mechanical linkage from the engine to the rear axle, making it a different layout from a traditional 4WD or from GWM's Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha PHEVs.Geely also recently revealed interior pictures for its new off-roader. It will have seats covered in a plush material as well as soft-touch materials elsewhere in the cabin.The gear selection mechanism is similar to a throttle control found on a jet airliner, and the 4WD introduces new features as part of Geely's evolving design language it previewed in Beijing.

Toyota in Australia has detailed its comparatively sluggish first-half sales results, saying its internal delivery issues, rather than competition from newcomer Chinese brands, is holding it back.Last month saw a staggeringly close – and, over the past 20 years, unheralded –brawl between Toyota and BYD for top spot on Australia's sales ladder, with the Chinese brand finishing just 243 sales short of Toyota's 19,124 deliveries.But Toyota insists it isn't feeling the rush of new Chinese brands is hurting orders, instead saying a strong second half of the year is coming as production frees up."I don't mean that in a disrespectful way," says Toyota's Vice President, National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, John Pappas. "We respect all our competitors and what they do."When you've got long lead times, at the end of the day, you need to be able to have a realistic short lead time for your customer. That's what we've been focused on. Because if we can do that, we know our loyalty is very, very high."We respect that with our customers, we never take that for granted, but we've really been focused on trying to reduce that lead time for our customer, together with our TMC colleagues. because we know that competition's fierce."We know that there's all these brands. We know, and we want to make sure that we can keep our customers happy by trying to reduce that lead time."Toyota has managed just 95,141 sales across the first six months of 2026, which if sustained, would see them sink below 200,000 sales for the year. But Pappas says the issue is supply, not demand, and a new pipeline of production will deliver more vehicles to customers in the second half of the year. The brand is targeting around 230,000 sales this year."Our biggest downfall this year has actually been our supply at the start, because we knew last year that we were coming into this year with a Q1 into Q2 shortfall, because we were launching the RAV4 later than we had liked," Pappas says."So the RAV4 is in our top two selling vehicles. We're only doing 40,000 RAV4s (compared to 52,000 in 2025) this year. "We'd like to do more than that because we know that car's good enough and we've got customer demand over a 12-month window to do more than that amount. So therefore, we're only really getting like a nine-month runway on RAV. So we're missing out a whole quarter of new RAV4 sales. "That's our biggest shortfall. And we knew that going into the year. So now the fact that we've been able to secure more production from the global allocation, particularly on hybrids and bZs and other vehicle lines, including Hilux, it's great because that enables us to shorten lead times for customers."

JAC Australia has announced pricing and standard specification for its much-anticipated Hunter ute, with sub-$50K cost-of-entry for the petrol-electric plug-in hybrid (PHEV) dual cab sure to put the cat among the pigeons in an increasingly crowded ute segment.Starting at $49,988, before on-road costs it’s just over $6000 cheaper than the Shark 6 PHEV and appreciably more affordable than similarly specified 4WD dual cab utes like the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and Toyota HiLux.Powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine and dual electric motors, the Hunter delivers a stonking 360kW and 1010Nm of combined power and torque with official combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) fuel efficiency of 1.6L/100km (NEDC). That consumption claim equates to a combined range in excess of 1005km, although it’s important to note the lab-derived efficiency number is predicated on keeping the Hunter’s traction battery consistently charged. Claimed EV-only range is “up to 100km.”Braked trailer towing capacity is a category-competitive 3500kg and payload is rated at 915kg.The Hunter is offered in two grades, the Pro 4x4 at $49,988 and the top-spec X 4x4 sitting at $54,844, both before on-road costs.And despite its aggressive price positioning the entry model’s standard equipment list includes JAC’s ‘Super E-Hybrid’ 4x4 system boasting five terrain modes (Snow, Sand, Mud, Rock & Off-Road Crawl Control), a chrome styling package (with body-coloured exterior mirrors), leather-accented interior, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-way adjustable power driver’s seat, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, 18-inch alloy rims (plus a full-size steel spare), keyless entry and start, tailgate with Lift Assistance, steering wheel reach and rake adjustment plus multifunction steering wheel controls.The Hunter X adds front and rear diff locks (optional on Hunter Pro), a black styling package (including black roof rails), heated front seats, a four-way power passenger seat, 360-degree camera view, front parking sensors, power-folding exterior mirrors, rear privacy glass, welcome puddle lamps and a rear 220V accessory socket.According to JAC, “Before the first customer drives home in a Hunter, it will have already completed more than 100,000km of testing on Australian roads: durability runs, towing, load-carrying, hot weather, and on- and off-road evaluation. “Vehicle dynamics were overseen from day one by Michael Barber, the respected Australian vehicle dynamic tuning engineer whose past work includes some of the country's most demanding local vehicle programs,” it said.And introducing the new ute, JAC Motors Australia Managing Director Ahmed Mahmoud said, “This isn't a trade-off between price and capability. It's proof that premium performance, advanced hybrid technology and genuine capability don't have to come with a premium price tag. We didn't build Hunter to undercut the market. We built it to disrupt it and reset what Australians should expect from a PHEV ute," he said.Vehicles are scheduled to hit showrooms from next month with registrations of interest already open. And to sweeten the deal for early adopters JAC is offering the first 1000 buyers who reserve a Hunter their choice of a free home EV charger or $500 JAC accessories voucher on delivery.

BYD has confirmed the pricing and specifications for the new Dolphin G DM-i plug-in hybrid (PHEV) hatchback for the UK ahead of first arrivals in September.There are four trim levels available, Active, Boost, Comfort and Sport. Pricing starts at £23,990 (~A$46,350) and extends to £29,490 (~A$56,990).The entry-level Dolphin G DM-i is £6005 (~A$11,600) more affordable than the entry-level Sealion 5 DM-i. For context, the entry-level Sealion 5 in Australia is priced from $33,990 before on-road costs.If the Dolphin G DM-i comes to Australia it could slide under $30,000, making it the new cheapest PHEV. This title currently goes to the aforementioned Sealion 5.At this stage BYD hasn’t confirmed whether the Dolphin G DM-i is due for an Australian launch.The entry-level Dolphin G DM-i Active is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors with a total system output of 129kW.It features a 7.4kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that allows for up to 39km of electric range, according to WLTP testing. Claimed total range is 1018km.The battery pack can only be AC charged at rates up to 3.3kW.The rest of the line-up is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors with a slightly higher total system output of 155kW.They have a larger 18.3kWh LFP battery that allows for up to 104km of electric range, according to WLTP testing. Claimed total range is 1039km.The battery pack can be AC charged at rates up to 6.6kW, plus it offers DC fast-charging capabilities at rates up to 39kW.As standard the entry-level Dolphin G DM-i Active comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, a 10.1-inch central touchscreen multimedia system, a four-speaker sound system and fabric upholstery.Stepping up to the Boost gains a larger 12.8-inch touchscreen multimedia system, 15W wireless phone charger, eight-speaker sound system, interior ambient lighting, synthetic leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, two 18W USB-C ports in the rear, electrically folding side mirrors and privacy glass.The Comfort gets larger 18-inch alloy wheels, Google Built-in multimedia operating system, fabric and synthetic leather upholstery, power adjustable driver’s seat, as well as a surround-view camera.Lastly the Sport gets black 18-inch alloy wheels and synthetic suede upholstery finished in black with either orange or blue accents.BYD hasn’t confirmed whether the Dolphin G DM-i will be coming to Australia, but the related Atto 2 DM-i has been approved for local sale.These types of government approval filings usually come a few months before a new model is confirmed for local sale. However, it isn't always a guarantee.If the BYD Atto 2 DM-i does launch in Australia it will complement the all-electric trims that launched late last year.

This is a big moment for Toyota in Australia. The biggest in recent memory, even.Because it’s not just when, at last, its best-selling model, the RAV4, scores one of the fastest-growing powertrain choices in Australia, the plug-in hybrid. It’s also the brand tip-toeing into the powertrain solution that will no doubt eventually end up driving all of its icons, from HiLux to LandCruiser and everything in between. And there's another way to look at it, too, and that is that many of the rush of new brands in Australia – BYD, Geely etc – have arrived with a mid-size plug-in in their arsenal. This is Toyota returning serve.Well, kind of. If you're expecting Chinese pricing, think again. The RAV4 PHEV is currently offered in three guises across two grades, with the XSE 2WD ($58,840), the XSE AWD ($63,340) and the new big dog of the range, the GR Sport AWD ($66,340).The RAV4’s biggest competitor these days is probably the BYD Sealion 6, which tops out below where the plug-in Toyota starts, with the Premium listed at $52,990 before on-road costs. Something like a Geely Starray EM-i is even cheaper, starting at less than $38,000. The Toyota does start below something like a VW Tayron eHybrid, in which the Elegance starts from $62,390.In terms of bang for bucks, the XSE trims mirror their non-plugged sibling – and we have a story detailing all the equipment here – while the GR Sport adds a unique exterior package, including a new grille, bumpers and a rear spoiler. There’s also a whole bunch of mechanical stuff you can’t see, too, like a 20mm wider track, sportier front damping, extra rear bracing for better lateral stiffness and a shift-by-wire continuously variable transmission (CVT).The big difference between the two grades, at least in terms of look, is the front-end treatment, with the XSE cars getting the perforated-style grille that reminds me a little of a chain-link fence, and the GR Sport scoring the deeper mesh grille with far more gloss black. Now I would never be so bold as to tell you which one you should like better, beauty being in the eye of the beholder and all that, but I will say this; if it’s not the GR Sport, then you’re wrong.The plug-in power here comes from the combination of a 2.5-litre petrol engine, a 22.7kWh battery, and a front electric motor in 2WD spec, and a second rear electric motor in the AWD trims. Toyota doesn’t quote a combined torque figure, but power is at 201kW for the single motor, and 227kW for the AWD, officially making this the most potent RAV4 we’ve ever seen in Australia. The GR Sport, for example, will clip 100km/h in a brisk 5.8secs – provided the battery is topped up.Like most makers of plug-in hybrids, Toyota's claim of 0.7L/100km on the combined cycle are fanciful, you will never get close to that. We were averaging around 3.0L with the battery topped up, which is good. But if you want to use no fuel, Toyota says the 2WD version will travel 121kms on electric power alone, while the AWDs will take you 113kms.The rest is fairly RAV4, so we’ll summarise before we get to the good stuff. The PHEV models benefit from the tech upgrade delivered on the rest of the new RAV4 range, and it makes the interior a far nicer, more modern-feeling space. The backseat is sparse but spacious, though the tunnel does cut into the middle-seat leg room, and I had no problems getting my 175cm frame comfy in the window seats. And the boot is slightly smaller, now at 655L VDA rather than the regular hybrid’s 705 litres. Kudos to Toyota, though, for fitting a space-saving spare wheel.OK, caught up? Let’s drive this thing. Climb behind the wheel of the RAV4 PHEV and – and I know this is going to sound a little bit boring – you’ll find it drives a lot like a RAV4 Hybrid, only with a plug. That is not a criticism of this car, it’s consistently among our best-selling vehicles for a reason.The GR Sport is the grade we spent the most time in, and it gets the wider track, the sportier ride and handling and, of course, all the power, at 227kW with the battery fully charged. And the end result is an SUV that is actually really fun to take around corners. There is a balance and a composure to this car that is simply not present on some plug-in hybrid products.Now there is a catch, of course, that’s 227kW with everything topped up. I spent a fair chunk of the test in a vehicle with its battery depleted, which meant I was relying on ICE power above all else, and it felt slower (particularly under rolling acceleration) and you could certainly hear the engine and the gearbox working away under heavy revs.The other catch is that once the battery is depleted, there's no coming back. Some plug-in hybrids have a charge function, where you can use the petrol engine to recharge the battery on the fly. That's not the case here. It will recoup some charge from the regenerative braking, but nowhere near enough to fully charge the battery. You need to plug it back to meaningfully top it up. The only minor downside to the drive experience, or the thing that differs a little bit from the regular RAV4 Hybrid, is the weight of this vehicle. Using round numbers, there appears to be around 250kg in extra weight on board the plug-in hybrid version – pushing the kerb weight to around two tonnes – and you can feel it around you at times.They have upgraded the brakes on the PHEV vehicles to deal with the extra weight, but it doesn't disguise it completely. It can feel heavy under braking when you're on a slippery downhill into a corner, which takes a little bit of getting used to.The other quirk is that, in some of vehicles we tested, when you put your foot down you could hear the faintest whine of what seemed to be the electric motor spinning, which, if you're a bit like me and a tiny bit OCD about these things, might eventually drive you crazy.Final quirk – and it’s a complicated one, but I’ll try and sum it up quickly – is that the RAV4 PHEV was developed for 2025 ANCAP protocols, not 2026, but a launch delay saw it miss that testing window. Updates are being made, and the brand is confident it will be issued a five-star rating later this year, but that won’t be retroactive. The cars now are unrated, and will remain so, even after a new ANCAP result is issued this year. Whether that's a problem is a decision for you.