Plug-in hybrid

BYD's new plug-in hybrid sedan is about to launch in Australia, and it has got the Toyota Camry in its sights.A Department of Infrastructure filing confirms the BYD Seal 7 has been approved for sale in Australia, also exposing some key details about the new car. BYD Australia has been contacted for comment to find out exact launch times for its new model.There is no news yet on how much the Seal 7 will cost, but expect it to be more expensive than the recently-launched Seal 6, starting from $34,990 (before on-road costs). The Seal 7 is a bigger car than the Toyota Camry hybrid, but it will still live in its territory when it launches in Australia. Other rivals such as the Skoda Octavia mild hybrid and Honda Accord Hybrid will provide further competition, along with the Geely Emgrand PHEV, which is due to launch in Australia next year. The Seal 7 has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and electric motor set-up, producing 197kW. It is expected to have an electric-only driving range of less than 200km when it lands.It measures up at 4980mm long, 1890mm wide, 1495mm high, with a wheelbase of 2900mm. The car will ride on either 17-inch or 18-inch wheels, but other details will be revealed closer to the car’s launch, which is likely to be in the next few months. The Seal 7 is BYD’s latest model in what has been a bumper past few months for brand Down Under, seeing it jump to second spot in the sales charts for April. This has been led by its electrified approach, including the Shark 6 PHEV ute and the Sealion 7 electric SUV. 

Australia’s electric vehicle buying frenzy appears to have already subsided.That’s the view of one of Australia’s leading electric vehicle brands, BYD, which says its mix of models has already started to normalise despite the on-going fuel crisis. Sales of EVs jumped in March and April, as the price of petrol and diesel spiked amid conflict in the Middle East.In March EV sales were double what they were in March 2025, jumping to 14.6 per cent of the total market. That figure rose to 16.4 per cent of total sales in April, while searches on CarsGuide classifieds for EVs rose 230 per cent in March. Autotrader reported a 631 per cent jump in people searching for a new EV to buy in March.But the peak of this EV boom may already be behind us according to BYD Australia Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins, which is telling because the brand only offers EVs and plug-in hybrid (PHEVs).“I'll tell you what we've seen,” explained Collins. “What we saw was that in March there was a big uplift. Our mix went from 50/50 PHEV/EV to 70 per cent EV and 30 per cent PHEV. Definitely March, absolutely. April it started to come off, that mix came off, and the huge spike was coming off, and I would say now is pretty much back to normal.”However, he added that even though the sales split had returned to its previous levels, overall demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles remains high as fuel prices appear unlikely to drop dramatically any time in the near-future. And Collins believes that this is all part of a long-running shift towards EVs and PHEVs.“I think the baseline from where we were in January, February to now is higher. So I think it's been one of those events that has actually changed the momentum. But I don't think it's true that, we're riding on the sort of a . Some people are saying, ‘Yeah, we're riding the wave of this, petrol, fuel crisis thing.’ Yes, there was a short period where it went really strong, but even prior to that, the trajectory was pretty obvious.”BYD has certainly benefitted from the current situation, finishing second on the April sales charts. Its 7702 sales that month put it only behind Toyota for the month, as buyers flocked to its line-up of ‘new energy vehicles’ including the most-affordable EV on sale today, the pint-sized Atto 1.BYD’s biggest EV success story is the Sealion 7, with the mid-size SUV not only the second best-selling EV in the country, behind only the Tesla Model Y, but is also amongst the most popular models in its class - which includes the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Mitsubishi Outlander.As of the end of April sale, BYD was the fifth best-selling car brand in Australia, behind only Toyota, Mazda, Kia and Ford. The brand is aiming to have 30,000 new cars delivered by the end of the financial year, starting with a shipment of 4800 new vehicles aboard the BYD Zhengzhou, a company-owned car carrier due to arrive in Australia at the start of June.

BYD’s big rival to the Toyota Prado is another step closer to Australia with the hybrid SUV hitting showrooms in the United Kingdom before the end of this year.A large, rugged, seven-seater SUV is one of the final pieces in BYD’s Australian plan and with the arrival of the Ti7 (or Titanium 7 as it’s also known) in fellow right-hand drive market the UK this year, plus BYD has trademarked the Ti7 name in Australia, we won’t be waiting too long it seems.UK models often give an accurate insight into what we can expect here ahead of their arrival and the Ti7 that’ll soon be on the streets of Britain shouldn't be much different to the one that will be here on the streets of Brisbane.What will definitely stay the same are the vehicle's dimensions. The UK spec vehicle is 5146mm long, 1995mm wide and 1865mm tall. Two electric motors - one positioned on the front axle and the other at the rear - provide all-wheel drive and are supported by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine.Quicker than any Toyota Prado ever the Ti7 can sprint from 0-100mm/h in a staggering 4.8 seconds.A 35.6kWh battery offers up to 127km of pure electric driving range. While the only variant arriving in the UK is expected to be a plug-in hybrid, a fully electric version of the Ti7 with flash charging is sold in China.Australia is likely to get the PHEV version, given the popularity of similar models such as the large BYD Sealion 8 SUV.The Sealion 8 is a large seven seat SUV with a very smiler PHEV powertrain and so it’ll be interesting to see if the Ti7 will arrive wearing a BYD badge or a Denza one.Denza models in Australia are sourced form its Denza premium range and Fangchengbao adventure brand in China.The Ti7 falls under the Fangchengbao brand in China, as do the B5 and B8 sold by Denza in Australia, but reports state BYD will claim the new rugged looking SUV for its own.A BYD spokesperson explained to UK outlet Autocar this was because the Ti7 doesn' share the B5 and B8's rugged ladder frame underpinnings. This means the Ti7 won't be suited to off-roading and will be a road focused family SUV with tough looks.Following this logic it's likely the Ti7 will wear a BYD badge in Australia, too.CarsGuide reached out to BYD Australia for confirmation of the model’s arrival and when we’ll see it here, but the brand has yet to respond.

Lepas might have a nasty case of sibling rivalry on its hands later this year when the small Lepas L4 joins the bigger mid-size L6 and larger-still L8.Sharing a similar footprint to the BYD Atto 3, the Lepas L4 measures in at 4415mm long, 1817mm wide, stands 1630mm tall and has a 2700mm wheelbase and is based on Chery's new LEX platform, that incorporates Chery's latest EEA 5.1 electrics.Identical to the second-generation Chinese-spec Chery Tiggo 5, that probably won't head Down Under, the L4 will be sold globally under the Chinese's car giant's fledgling Lepas badge that will one day morph into a real premium brand to rival BMW or Benz.For now, cars like the L4 will sit above any equivalent Jaecoo or Omoda models when it comes to pricing.Claimed to be tailored for European tastes, to justify an extra five per cent price premium the little L4 is said to have created a cabin with higher-grade materials.Like the L6, you'll find the same 8.8-inch digital instrument panel and a portrait-mounted 13.2-inch infotainment that features the firm's fastest and slickest software that runs powerful Snapdragon 8155 processor.Living beneath it are twin cupholders and a single 50W wireless charger.While physical controls aren't plentiful there are a useful row of shortcuts beneath the screen, plus a Chery-sourced multi-function steering wheel with proper buttons.The synthetic leather in our car and general design won't give Audi's cabin stylists sleepless nights, the little Chery feels well-built and matches rivals like the Leapmotor B10.As an added bonus, the little L4 seems to offer more space within than rivals and there's even a large 458-litre boot, boosted to 1284L with the second row dropped.If that's not enough, within there's said to be 34 different stowage compartments.In China the Chery Tiggo 5 comes with an 80kW 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol, for Australia the entry engine will be ignored and Aussies will be offered either a plug-in hybrid or all-electric power.That's the same choice as the L6 and first details suggest both cars will share identical hardware.That means the L4 EV will bag a 67kWh battery and a front-mounted electric motor that produces 150kW with a rumoured 240Nm of torque.Off the line a 0-100km/h sprint of less than 8.0 seconds should be possible.With the L4 still set to be officially homologated, early intel suggests the baby Lepas will be capable of covering 450km, again, matching the larger L6.Limited by 400-volt architecture, which is the norm for the class, the L4 will take around 26 minutes for the usual 10-to-80 per cent top-up.Helping build the anticipation for its introduction Down Under we had the briefest of spins on a small track in the pouring rain.Smooth and brisk enough off the line, even then, through a tight and twisting slalom it was easy to detect the benefits of multi-link rear suspension, while the odd bump or two we hit while hot-lapping proved the little L4 is composed as its larger sibling.Once launched, both the L4 and L6 promises to improve dynamically further. First it will undergo a Euro suspension tune and then, later on, all local models will also benefit from yet another retune, this time for our unique (read 'terrible') Australian roads.After only a couple of laps, we were done, but it's good to report the L4 did nothing to disgrace itself and feels easily agile enough to challenge the best in its class.It's impossible to guess how well equipped the L4 EV will be when it lands but in South Africa the range-topping L4s ride on 17-inch alloy wheels, get hill descent control, six airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view parking camera, adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and driver fatigue detection.LED headlamps, roof rails and a roof spoiler are all standard, while inside are six-way adjust electric heated and ventilated seats, an electric sunroof, 50W wireless charger, a six-speaker sound system and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from launch.While not confirmed, we expect the new Chery brand to match the eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty all Jaecoo models come with.When the Lepas L4 EV eventually lands in Australia it's expected to match close rivals like the Leapmotor B10 and be priced from around $38,000 drive-away.

There is a big boost coming for a popular budget plug-in hybrid SUV, with Geely revealing the pricing and specifications for its updated Starray EM-i.The mid-size Starray will continue to start from $37,490 (before on-road costs), but the top-spec model will now cost $1500 more, starting at $41,490.The main change for the car is the addition of a significantly bigger battery in the range-topping model.The new 30kWh unit is up from 18kWh, boosting total driving range by 53km to 996km. Electric-only driving range has also increased from 83km to 136km. This battery comes with improved charging times at 60kW, enabling DC charging from 30-80 per cent in 16 minutes. It also has better fuel efficiency when the battery is charged, now offering 1.4L/100km, down from 2.4L/100km. There have been other minor upgrades to the car, such as massaging front seats and towing enhacements.The updated Starray EM-i will continue to take on other Chinese PHEV rivals such as the more expensive BYD Sealion 6 and similarly priced Chery Tiggo 7, as well as the MG HS and the GWM Haval H6. It still gets the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and dual electric motor set-up, producing 160kW and 262Nm as on the previous model.It keeps a 15.4-inch central touchscreen and 10.2-inch digital display, along with wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.The top-spec model receives a 13.6-inch head-up display and wireless phone charging functionality.The car will be available in dealerships from the end of this month.  It comes at a time when Geely continues to grow its lineup Down Under, with the budget-focused EX2 electric hatchback and the Toyota Camry-rivalling Emgrand PHEV sedan coming soon. 2027 Geely Starray EM-i pricing Australia

Looks can be deceiving. The all-new iCaur V27 might appear to be a distant relative of the Mercedes G-wagen but beneath its rugged, good looks lurks a large SUV that's happier on-road than extreme overlanding out in the bush.On sale in Australia from February next year, the iCaur V27 will be the first of a full range of models that will also include a still-to-be-released smaller mid-size V25 and, later on in 2028 or 2029 the baby Suzuki Jimny-rivalling V23 should rock up.Proving to be a hit worldwide, in little more than two years the baby V23 has gone on to sell 160,000 and Chery hopes its huge popularity will translate over in Australia.Measuring in at 5045mm long, 1976mm wide and 1894mm tall, the V27 shares a footprint with the GWM Tank 500 and is a little bigger than the Denza B5 (4888mm long, 1970mm wide and 1920mm tall).It's the latter, that one exec from iCaur told CarsGuide is the real rival it is targeting Down Under.Which is a bit odd as on paper at least, the iCaur V27 isn't a real match.Not only is the V27 based on a more car-like monocoque, it lacks height-adjustable air suspension which means ground clearance is limited to a paltry 224mm. Both the approach (24-deg) and departure (23deg) angles are also severely lacking compared to the Denza's 39 degrees.iCaur says its V27 can wade water depths up to 600mm, a little off the 790mm the Denza B5 can traverse.Available with only a range-extender hybrid powertrain, in some markets a 185kW rear-wheel-drive version will be an option but in Australia we think we'll just get the all-wheel-drive V27.Unlike a typical plug-in hybrid, the small 1.5-litre four-cylinder combustion engine only acts a generator when the 34.3kWh battery is depleted. Combined with a pair of electric motors driving each axle, total power is 335kW, while torque is around 505Nm for a quick 0-100km/h dash of 5.9 seconds.That's more than a second adrift of the more powerful Denza B5 that can also tow 3000kg, compared to the 1600kg the V27 can haul.With a full charge, iCaur says the V27 can cover up to 150km on EV power alone on the NEDC test cycle, while a 60-litre tank extends the total range to around 995km.Usefully, the battery is capable of DC charging up to 60kW, although a 20-80 per cent top-up still takes around 30 minutes.Vehicle-to-load charging or powering of domestic appliances is also available at up to 6kW.Naturally, the chunky exterior styling is reflected within, with a stepped dashboard, large rotary dial and proper physical controls. Like other Chery brands, the driver gets a pillar-box slim 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, but taking pride of place is a freestanding 15.4-inch infotainment that's runs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 processor.Both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included.Like the smaller V23, there are toggle auxiliary switches on the roof ready for accessories like an additional light bar.Dual wireless chargers are also present, as well as 50 different storage compartments, and a large 715-litre boot that includes a hidden 40-litre compartment for valuables.Perhaps disappointingly, considering its size, a third row of seats isn't even an option but handily if you drop the second row you open up a cavernous near-two-metre-long load area with up to 1818 litres of space.It's hard not to like the twin-pane panoramic roof, plus the generous head- and legroom in the second row. Overall, the V27 impresses in and out.Giving us a limited chance to experience the iCaur V27 behind the wheel, we tested the large SUV over a muddy and slimy obstacle course with a car shod with grippier all-terrain tyres.As soon as we eased the V27 off the line, the first iCaur destined for Australia instantly impresses, mainly because of the nature of its powertrain as it feels just like an EV, as only the electric motors drive all four wheels.That means there is instant torque, with plenty of power off the line. Over the lumps and bumps the magnetic adaptive dampers did a good job of providing a decent ride.Driving only in a mud-friendly off-road mode (there's are eight other driving modes available), traction was remarkable thanks to its locking electronic rear differential, although grippier tyres probably did most of the heavy lifting.We weren't allowed to try the tank turn feature, nor even permitted to escape the facility and drive on public roads, so our first positive impressions should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt, but precise steering and those car-like underpinnings, proper multi-link rear suspension and the smooth, punchy powertrains bode well for Australians.If you tow heavy loads or go further off-road, the Denza B5, Land Rover Defender or default Toyota Prado will all prove a better bet, with the V27 only able to haul 1600kg (braked). For reference the B5 can tug 3000kg.There is no word on how iCaur will kit-out its flagship SUV locally, but expect a power tailgate, LED front and rear headlamps, electric-fold mirrors, a trick multi-colour ambient lighting and six-way adjust heated and ventilated synthetic seats to all be standard.With seven airbags, a 540-degree surround camera, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, front and rear collision alert and blind-spot warning, plus an advanced adaptive cruise control, iCaur has designed its V27 to achieve full marks in future Euro NCAP and ANCAP testing.iCaur has been timed to land just a few months after fellow Chery-owned Lepas will rock up in Australia. Even though there has been no official confirmation, we'd be amazed if the 4x4 brand didn't match the eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty Jaecoo models come with, even though it will be sold via a different dealer network.Locally, the V27 is priced from just 200,000 Chinese yuan (A$40,000), but it's not known what the range will kick off from. The insider told CarsGuide that its V27 will be positioned lower than the Denza B5 ($74,990-$79,990), with the prediction it could trouble small mid-size SUVs with a price tag of around $65,000 plus on-roads.

Ford has slashed the entry price of its struggling plug-in hybrid Ranger ute, as the rival BYD Shark 6 continues to put runs on the board and new competitors from China close in.The refreshed Ranger Hybrid range slashes pricing by nearly $10,000 or more per variant, and re-works the line-up to include a new entry-level XL grade as part of a set of tweaks to the dual-cab’s range.The Ranger continues to be the most popular 4x4 ute in the country by some margin, amassing 15,023 units for the year, but CarsGuide understands the Hybrid version continues to make up only a tiny fraction of sales. It is believed to be a long way behind the electrified ute market leading BYD Shark 6, which has amassed 4851 sales in the same period.Ford’s significant price discounts to the Ranger Hybrid are no doubt an effort to make the ute more competitive as tough new emissions regulations close in.The Ranger Hybrid was previously priced from $71,990 (before on-road costs) for the entry-level XLT.  The refreshed line-up dumps this mid-tier trim level from the range, replacing it with a significantly more affordable base XL grade, which starts from just $59,000 drive-away. This represents a price cut of more than $12,990, and thousands more once on-roads are included. See prices for the refreshed line-up below.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid price2027 Ford Ranger hybrid powertrain and efficiencyThe Ranger Hybrid continues to use a 2.3-litre petrol turbocharged engine mated to a hybrid motor (75kW) and 10-speed automatic transmission for a total power output of 207kW/697Nm.All versions of the Ranger Hybrid continue to be dual-cab 4x4 only, and also persevere with a small 11.8kWh battery, which grants it a WLTP electric driving range of just 49km and fuel efficiency of 2.9L/100km. However, the plug-in Ranger variants maintain the combustion version’s 3500kg towing capacity and over 800kg payloads per variant. Unlike the Shark 6, the Ranger hybrid also maintains its traditional transmission and low-range transfer case with mechanical links from the engine to rear axle.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid standard featuresStandard features have been tweaked slightly per variant for the refreshed Ranger hybrid line-up.The Ranger Hybrid XL includes:17-inch alloy wheelsAll-season tyresTray bedliner12.4-inch digital instrument cluster12-inch multimedia touchscreenCloth interior trimCarpet flooringDual-zone climate controlRear air ventsSteel underbody protectionHalogen headlights and DRLsThe XLT has now been dumped from the PHEV line-up, with the next grade up being the Sport.This mid-grade trim level is now priced at $66,000 drive-away, representing at least a $9,990 discount on the outgoing PHEV Sport model, which was priced from $75,990 (before on-roads), and this is despite it adding new features.The Ranger Hybrid Sport includes:18-inch alloy wheelsAll-season tyres12.4-inch digital instrument cluster (up from 8.0-inches)12-inch multimedia touchscreen360-degree cameraTrailer back-up assistSports barSide stepsLED headlights w/auto high-beamsPuddle lampsSynthetic leather seatsWireless phone chargerPowered auto-folding wing mirrorsAuto-dimming rear vision mirrorPerimeter alarmThe Wildtrak grade continues to top-out the Ranger’s array of plug-in hybrid variants, now priced at $70,000 drive-away, a minimum $9,990 discount from the previous version ($78,990 before on-roads).The Ranger Hybrid Wildtrak includes:Matrix LED headlights w/auto-levelling18-inch alloys12.4-inch digital instrument cluster12-inch multimedia touchscreenAll-season tyresPower roller shutterTrailer back-up assistHeated front seats10-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid optional featuresA handful of optional features continue for the Ranger Hybrid, with refreshed pricing and some new features for the base XL grade. See the option packages belowFull-size Spare (NCO)Adventure Pack ($500 - includes cargo management system and auxiliary switches)18-inch wheels and all-terrain tyres (for XL grade - $950)Vinyl floor (for XL grade $100)All-terrain tyres (Sport and Wildtrak - $700)Flexible rack system ($1990)Style canopy ($4500)Commercial canopy (white or black - $4700)2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid coloursThe Ranger Hybrid is available in an array of refreshed colours including:Frozen White ($0)Agate Black ($750)Iconic Silver ($750)Carbonised Grey ($750)Blue Lightning ($750)Lucid Red ($750)Command Grey (Sport only - $750)Ignite Orange (Wildtrak only - $750)2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid safetyThe Ford Ranger Hybrid continues to maintain a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating carried over from previous iterations, which it was awarded in 2022.It scored 84 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 93 per cent in Child Occupant Protection, 74 per cent in Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 83 per cent for Safety Assist.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid warranty and servicingThe Ranger Hybrid continues the same ownership scheme as before, including a five-year and unlimited kilometre new vehicle warranty, with a separate warranty covering the high-voltage components for eight-years or 160,000km. The brand also throws in up to seven years of roadside assistance if the ute is serviced inside its dealer network.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid dimensionsThe Ford Ranger Hybrid measures 5403mm long, 1924mm wide, and 1870mm tall with a wheelbase of 3270mm.Its tray measures 1605mm long, 1523mm wide, and 498mm tall, with a 1217mm width between the wheel arches.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid launch timingThe new Ranger hybrid will join the line-up in the third-quarter of 2026 as part of rolling updates to Ford’s popular ute range.

Well this is strange. What started as a long term test with an SUV I didn’t want to like, turned out to be one of our favourite cars I’ve ever tested. Now it’s time for the Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid to go back leaving all of us in my family missing it already.Fuel for thoughtThere were lots of pleasant surprises when we began our long-term test of the Chery Tiggo 8 Ultimate more than three months ago, but probably the most impressive finding was the fuel efficiency.Until I met the Tiggo 8 plug-in hybrid my experience with PHEVs hadn’t been good. I found the batteries ran out of power quickly and fuel use went through the roof. They weren't a good combustion car, nor a good hybrid.Then we reached the end of the first month with the Tiggo 8 and it made it through without needing a tank refill and on closer inspection the trip computer said we’d travelled 869km. That was a record for my testing and I hadn’t even charged the Tiggo 8 regularly. While the official fuel economy is 1.3L/100km that month we measured 6.1L/100km. Imagine how far we could have gone on a tank if we’d charged it more often! The secret to the Tiggo 8 plug-in hybrid’s long-haul ability is a large 60L tank, a big 18.4kWh battery and a clever hybrid system that never lets the battery run completely flat while using the engine as a generator on the go.Alas we never managed to test how far we could go on a full tank and a regularly replenished battery, but perhaps that could be a challenge for you, dear reader, to accept?This month we did fewer miles - only 409km - and our fuel consumption was 6.9L/100km.Lounge roomTwo more surprises were the Chery Tiggo 8's spaciousness and comfort.While not an overly large SUV at just over 4.7m long the Tiggo 8 has seven seats with the third row folding flat to offer a decent sized boot - 117 litres with all three rows in place and 479L with the third row stowed.The second row offers great space for adults and big kids and there's plenty of room for the front passenger even with our bulky forward-facing child car seat directly behind.Cabin storage is outstanding, so too are amenities with items like USB ports and a second-row climate zone. Those leather upholstered seats are luxuriously comfortable, supportive, hard wearing and easy to clean, too. Premium bargainThe Chery Tiggo 8 Ultimate Super Hybrid is $49,990 drive-away and the standard equipment list is mountainous. Highlights over the past few months have been keyless entry, which doesn’t need the door handle to be touched to lock and unlock, the excellent Sony sound system, privacy glass in the rear, wireless phone charging, heated seats and a head-up display.The upholstery and trims feel high quality, while the styling of both the interior and exterior is high-end looking.The value, plus the premium look and feel, is outstanding. Drive modeFinally we’ve been impressed with how easy and comfortable the Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid is to drive.If you keep the battery charged, this SUV feels like an EV most of the time at lower speeds - smooth, quiet and with instant and strong acceleration when needed.And while this isn’t the most agile and sporty SUV, the suspension does a great job of keeping the vehicle composed and comfortable.Not all greatThe Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid isn't perfect. I’ve mentioned the handling not being sporty but the driving position feels way too high (even on the lowest setting) and this leads to partial vision obstruction from the sun visor and rear-vision mirror.Also, while I love column-mounted shifters, the Tiggo 8 requires the driver to simultaneously step hard on the brake pedal to shift from Drive to Reverse. Like really hard. Otherwise the vehicle shifts in neutral and rolls. That annoyed me.The lack of tactile buttons and controls is also frustrating to live with daily. Climate, volume, almost everything is done through the media screen and while that means the cabin looks clean and minimalist it's ergonomically bad. Acquired: December, 2025Distance travelled this month: 409kmOdometer: 8676kmAverage fuel consumption this month: 6.9L/100km (measured at the pump)

BYD is about to deploy the ace up its sleeve.The Chinese behemoth recently confirmed it would be building its own Flash charging network in Australia, with the first sites at Denza dealers in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide ready to go at the end of the year.BYD’s flash chargers are capable of delivering up to 1500kW of juice to electric cars and replenishing batteries from 0 to 97 per cent in nine minutes.That’s almost four times the power of the most powerful electric charger in Australia, with the first of Ampcharge’s 400kW pylons recently installed at Sydney’s Eastern Creek and Evie's 400kW chargers also being installed in Sutton Forest between Sydney and Canberra.BYD said it would be building the network in major cities, not rural areas.Now BYD — and its Denza sub-brand vehicles — are rolling out flash charging compatible versions of popular models in China.The latest to break cover overseas is flash charging compatible versions of the Denza B5 and B8 plug-in hybrid 4WDs. These models are known as the Fangchengbao B5 and B8 in China.This would give the Chinese brand a big advantage over conventional 4WDs such as the Toyota LandCruiser, incoming Nissan Y63 Patrol and new Mitsubishi Pajero.The plan is for BYD and Denza branded models to all get flash charging capabilities when they are available for Australia. Denza Australia wouldn't confirm when that would be for the B5 and B8.These updated models also come with bigger batteries, according to Chinese reports.The pair gain a new circa-46kWh battery that can help deliver a total driving range of close to 1400km when the battery and fuel tank are drained.More powerful electric motors, one front and one rear, boost combined power to 505kW/760Nkm for the B5 and 550kW/760Nm for the B8.Styling remains the same, with the rugged boxy shape staying put. Chinese models gain a range of Lidar tech that will assist autonomous driving, but this upgrade is unlikely for Australia where the tech isn’t as desirable.The rollout of ultra fast charging vehicles would remove the final hurdle for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles in Australia.The ability to quickly charge makes travelling around this vast nation less of a mental barrier for many motorists considering making the switch. 

Chery one day hopes its fresh Lepas brand will evolve into a proper BMW or Mercedes-Benz rival.Until then, when sales kick off from late this year, it hopes that buyers of cars like its mid-size Lepas L6 will appreciate its European-inspired looks, classier cabin and advanced tech and pay a small premium of around five per cent over the equivalent Omoda or Jaecoo model.Getting off to the best possible start, the L6 introduces the brand's smooth curvy new design language that has been tailored to European buyers' tastes.Beneath the skin, the L6 is also on Chery's next-generation LEX platform and bags the Chinese car giant's EEA 5.1 electrics.When the Toyota RAV4-sized SUV lands Down Under it will be available with either a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or all-electric power.Before the end of the year, the L6 will be joined by a small L4 SUV that shares powertrains with its bigger brother, while later on in 2027 the larger L8 PHEV SUV will also land.Instead of sharing showroom space with Chery or Omoda Jaecoo, the Lepas brand will launch its own network of dealers.The brand separation is because Chery believes Lepas will attract different customers to the rest of its brands.Inside, the L6 looks like it shares hardware with the latest Jaecoo J5, sporting both the same 8.8-inch digital instrument panel and a 13.2-inch infotainment, although the latter is mounted portrait style, rather than landscape in the J5.Below the screen is a slim strip of shortcut buttons that sit above a wireless charging pad and twin cupholders.The steering wheel is also lifted from the Chery parts bin, but the dash architecture is new and features a strip of vents that stretch from pillar to pillar.Premium materials like synthetic leather and a metallic-style dash finish attempt but ultimately fail to conjure up Audi levels of perceived quality but the L6 still feels a cut above other Chery models.Our car also had heated and ventilated synthetic leather seats that are comfortable on a long drive, while even with four up there's plenty of space within, with a pair of rear air vents and dual USB ports for rear passengers.Luggage space is also average for the class, although there's no wheel well beneath the boot floor.We had a brief spin in the new EV, which features a single motor that drives the front wheels and produces 178kW and 275Nm of torque for decent getaway off the line.The electric L6 also is a quiet and refined companion, although its 67kWh battery, 400-volt electrics and 450km WLTP range won't set new standards for range or charging speeds within its class.More time was spent behind the wheel of the plug-in hybrid L6 that also impressed with its levels of refinement which meant it was almost impossible to detect when the small 1.5-litre petrol kicked in.There's also brisk acceleration off the line and enough might to generate some unruly torque steer as the front tyres struggled, which is a shame.Another gripe of the PHEV powertrain is an unwanted thump occasionally at speed when breathing on the throttle.Featuring a sophisticated multi-link rear suspension, the L6 has no excuses to not match the best in the class.To ensure it will be able to compete with its most talented rivals in the future Lepas will provide a special European suspension tune and, if the range of SUVs have a warm reception Down Under, buyers will also be treated to a local suspension tune.In China on smooth well-surfaced roads it was difficult to properly assess the L6's ride and drive other than to note it felt like engineers had opted for soft springs and reactive dampers that could be unnerved by speed bumps and the odd pothole.We think the steering could do with more tuning too, as it is overly light in Comfort mode and still pretty lifeless in Sport. When it comes to handling balance, unfortunately our driving route didn't include any proper country roads where we could explore the L6's handling balance. We'll have to wait until it lands on home turf.With clearly marked lanes, the Lepas driver assist tech was unobtrusive – which is a compliment – and even the muted speed limit assist didn't annoy too much, although the system desperately needs a shortcut to turn it all off, as it's fiddly and requires navigating through multiple menus.There's no word on what the Australian Lepas L6 line-up will look like but our car came with a heated front screen, panoramic sunroof (with a proper electric sunshade), an electric tailgate, dual-zone climate control, 50W wireless charger, synthetic leather six-way adjustable heated and ventilated electric seats, plus 360-degree surround view cameras all standard and a Sony sound system.While Lepas models are offered with a five-year/150,000km warranty in markets like South Africa, we'd be amazed if the new Chery brand didn't at least match the eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty Jaecoo models come with.It's been hotly tipped that when the Lepas L6 arrives in Australia it will command a five-10 per cent premium over the Jaecoo or Omoda models, which suggests a price point of at least $40,000 drive-away in Australia.