Sedan

I recently saw the new BMW i5 electric sedan and… zzzzzzzzzz Sorry, I fell asleep because the new i5, like so many modern electric sedans, is pretty dull to look at. Apologies to BMW because there are plenty of other homogeneous four doors on the market today, starting with the Tesla Model 3 as well as the Mercedes-Benz EQE and EQS, Genesis G80 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 to name a few.

If you’re one of the many Australians that’s ready to take the plunge and turn your motoring from fossil fuelled to electric, you’ll probably have noticed there’s not the same choice in vehicle layout as there is with ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) cars. We’re behind the rest of the developed world in all types of EVs, and when you look at electric sedans Australia is a real back-marker.

The first Tesla Model 3 Performance arrived in 2019 and as its name implied the compact four-door sedan was indecently fast. And now the formula has been applied to the recently facelifted and upgraded 3. No surprise it's even quicker in a straight line and stunningly capable in the corners. But, does that mean it's a more enjoyable or satisfying drive? We find out.

The sheer scale and quality of vehicles on show at the Beijing motor show should have legacy automakers shaking in their boots as they stick to rigid product cycles and old ways of thinking.

Is this what next year’s Holden Commodore would be if General Motors hadn’t pulled the plug in 2020?

A little known Chinese car brand has beaten the biggest names in the business in a crucial electric car race.

Mercedes-Benz has added a new C-Class base variant known as the C200 Night Edition, which is backed with a national drive-away deal until 31 July. The price before on-road costs is $86,900 – $3000 less than a regular C200 – though the “astonishing” drive-away price (as described by Mercedes-Benz) is $89,900 nationally. That deal is on from now until the end of financial year, when the Night Edition will return to its regular $86,900 before on-road costs fixed price under Benz’s agency dealer model. There’s actually more standard equipment than the base C200 with 19-inch alloy wheels where the standard car gets 18s and rear privacy glass. Aside from that, both are visually similar with the AMG-style front and rear bumpers, though the Night Edition gets extra black exterior trim. A 710-watt 15-speaker Burmester surround sound system is included standard, too. Inside, Artico vinyl upholstery is allied with front heated and power adjustable seats with memory function. There’s dual-zone climate control, acoustic insulated glass, ambient lighting, an 11.9-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and head-up display. The C200 Night Edition uses the 150kW/300Nm 48-volt boosted turbo-petrol four-cylinder that drives the rear wheels via a nine-speed automatic. The Night Edition’s extra equipment and lower price, which is a long way up on the C-Class’s $78,900 launch price in February 2022, should aid the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in sales against the BMW 320i ($80,200) and Audi A4 35 TFSI ($71,900, both before on-road costs).  Mercedes-Benz shifted 156 of its luxury sedans last month compared to BMW’s 325 3 Series deliveries. The Night Edition is sold alongside the C200, C300, AMG C43 and AMG C63. 2024 Mercedes-Benz C-Class pricing (before on-road costs) 

Owners of Mazda CX-60 models built between 28 March and 30 September 2023 are eligible for revised rear suspension parts. Mazda made running updates to the rear dampers of the CX-60 medium luxury SUV as a way to address criticism from media and owners about a firm rear ride. There is also a software update applicable to all CX-60s to smooth the operation of Mazda’s unique eight-speed automatic transmission that uses a multi-plate clutch in place of a torque converter. Both are being offered free of charge to owners. CarsGuide Senior Journalist Richard Berry had a CX-60 long-term test car and noticed the terse ride: “On Sydney’s roads the CX-60’s suspension is too firm and jostling for a family SUV. Then there’s the rough and jerky feeling transmission which Mazda has admitted could be better.” A Mazda spokesperson said: “this is a running change available to CX-60 owners allowing early customers to align their vehicle with the latest factory specification. This option includes a revised rear shock absorber fitted at no cost through the Mazda dealer network. “As CX-60 makes its way into more markets, we continue to study the vehicle and review customer feedback. There is no change in specification regards the CX-90, thus no running changes planned for this model currently”, the spokesperson added. The first shipment of new dampers arrived in March and some CX-60s have had the change applied. According to existing owners, there is more stock of the new dampers arriving in mid-May for those yet to have the update. Alongside running changes, the BMW X3 and Lexus NX rival has been subject to recalls since its launch in July 2023 including one for the steering system recall and another for loss-of-power in the P50e plug-in hybrid.As it does with all models from CX-3 to CX-9, Mazda will continue to incrementally update its Large Product platform vehicles, especially after making such a significant investment in the high-profit premium tactic.  

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS is the brands flagship electric saloon and it's been updated with a bigger battery for more range along with some ye-olde styling in the form of a free-standing hood ornament.

BMW is in the midst of massive change. Like all so-called legacy carmakers, the Bavarian giant is hurtling towards an electric future, and everything from production processes to R&D and design must change.