SUV

Korea’s new electric performance hero is here. Hyundai high-end sub-brand Genesis has released pricing for its GV60 Magma SUV ahead of its arrival in Aussie showrooms this month.It will start from $130,000, before on-road costs, making it almost $50,000 more than the standard GV60. Genesis is Hyundai’s answer to European giants Mercedes-Benz and BMW, and this is the brand's first attempt at a high-performance car.The GV60 is a small SUV and goes up against the BMW iX2, Volvo XC40 Recharge and Zeekr X, but none of them can go toe-to-toe with the GV60 Magma variant. Its performance pitches it closer to the larger Hyundai Ioniq 5 N ($91,700) and Kia EV6 GT ($99,660).It is smaller than the mechanically similar Ioniq 5 and 6 N performance cars, but packs the same punch.It has two electric motors that drive all four wheels and produce 448kW and 740Nm.It can shift from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds using the boost function that increases power to 478kW and 790NmThe car is equipped with a 84kWh battery, offering a total driving range of 425km, according to WLTP standards. Its interior features a 27.0-inch OLED screen for the instrument cluster and multimedia display, while there is also a head-up display. The GV60 Magma has a virtual gear shift system, which gives the Magma the feel of real gear changes in a petrol car.There is also a drifting mode that can direct power to the rear wheels using an electric limited-slip differential to enable dynamic, track-based driving.  Hyundai confirmed production of the GV60 Magma in mid-2024, when it was revealed as a concept, with it finally now hitting Aussie shores.It will join the updated base GV60 that recently got a serious price cut in Australia, now starting from $88,300, down from more than $100,000. It will only be available with rear-wheel drive, meaning the Magma will be the GV60 with AWD available.

The 2026 Cupra Formentor VZx is currently the flagship trim level in the line-up, although this will change once the Audi RS3-powered VZ5 arrives later this year.It’s priced from $69,990 before on-road costs.Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 245kW and 420Nm. This is 17kW and 20Nm more than before.It’s mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with drive sent through an all-wheel drive system. This update has picked up a trick torque-splitting rear differential that allows for a ‘Drift’ mode.Cupra claims the Formentor VZx can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.8 seconds. Launch control is standard.The Fomentor VZx is claimed to consume 8.3L/100km (8.5L/100km with the Extreme package) on the combined cycle according to ADR 81/02 testing. There’s a 55L fuel tank which requires a minimum of 98 RON premium unleaded petrol.Using this claim the Formentor VZx has a theoretical total range of 663km.Standard equipment includes 19-inch forged alloy wheels, LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, wireless phone charger, interior ambient lighting, three-zone climate control, leather-accented upholstery, electrically adjustable and heated front seats.A panoramic glass sunroof is optional for $2000, plus the $7000 Extreme package adds matrix LED headlights, six-piston Akebono front brakes and Sabelt front bucket seats.The Cupra Formentor originally received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2021 and this has been renewed for the updated model based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2025.There are 10 airbags including rear-side and front-centre airbags as standard, plus autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control with lane centring, a surround-view camera, as well as a parking assist.The Formentor, like all other Cupras, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is a little lacklustre for a mainstream brand now as many have moved to conditional eight or 10-year terms.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.There are three- and five-year pre-paid service packages available that are priced at $1090 and $2190, respectively. In the latter case, this means each service averages out to almost $440 which is fairly average for a European car.

Reports out of the US overnight point to a significant delay in the start of production for the all-new, pure-electric Toyota Highlander large SUV, marking another faltering step in the Japanese giant’s shift towards broader adoption of battery-electric models.According to American automotive marketplace Cars.com, a Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) spokesperson told it the company is making “additional adjustments to the vehicle prior to launch.” Toyota uses the name Highlander in the USA and selected export markets while the Kluger nameplate is well established in Japan and Australia, with local Klugers coming out of Toyota’s Princeton, Indiana plant.The top-spec all-wheel drive 2027 Highlander has two electric motors, producing 252kW/438Nm and there are two battery options - 77kWh for a 462km range and 96kWh for 515km between charges. Initially set to launch in North America before the end of the year, a “minimum eight week delay” to production ramp up means the new-generation battery electric vehicle (BEV) may not hit showrooms there until early 2027.With no confirmation of revised launch timing for the new Highlander, TMNA also advised the current 2026 model will stay in production through to the end of the year.It’s worth noting while the Kluger is hybrid-only in Australia, the current Highlander is offered in pure-combustion and hybrid form in the States and US Highlander sales are currently strong, especially for hybrid variants. In fact, Cars.com has theorised part of Toyota’s motivation for holding back the new model is to “enjoy some extra profits on the fast-selling, top-dollar Highlander hybrids to keep that cash machine ringing while RAV4 production continues to slowly ramp up.”There’s no doubt a production extension for the current car will be welcomed by Toyota Australia, its dealers and Kluger buyers. Local sales for the first half of this year were down 46.3 compared to the same period in 2025, but additional supply could add a much needed boost.The new-gen Highlander EV is currently off the agenda for Australian consumption, with a Toyota Australia spokesperson previously telling CarsGuide there are no current plans to add a Kluger version to the range Down Under.But we’ve heard that line before, so don’t write off the Hyundai Ioniq 9, Kia EV9 and Volvo EX90 competitor for Australia just yet.On side note, the hold up will surely upset launch plans for the Lexus TZ, the Highlander’s premium counterpart and the Subaru Getaway, based on the upcoming model’s platform and basic architecture, both initially planned for 2026 introduction.After single-mindedly sticking to its long-term hybrid-led new energy vehicle (NEV) strategy Toyota has gradually moved towards EVs, introducing the bZ4X and more recently the bZ4X Touring and Electric HiLux locally, with the C-HR+ EV locked in for 2027.The plug-in hybrid RAV4, just-released in Australia, is on the same TNGA-K platform as the 2027 Highlander, which also opens the door to a future EV version.

Nissan has officially revealed a new small SUV that’s aimed at the Indian, Middle Eastern and African markets, but don’t expect it to be coming to Australia.The Nissan Tekton is essentially a rebadged Dacia or Renault Duster. It has been developed in India and will be manufactured in partnership with Renault in India.There are two powertrains on offer, a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine and a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. The latter produces 100kW and 280Nm.Depending on the powertrain there are either manual or dual-clutch automatic transmissions on offer.A wide array of trim levels are available in India but available equipment includes a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.1-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Google built-in, LED headlights, panoramic glass sunroof, dual-zone climate control and ventilated front seats.Although the top-spec models get 18-inch alloy wheels, a number of the more affordable models get 17-inch steel wheels.On the safety front there are six airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, as well as a surround-view camera.Although the Tekton is built in right-hand drive and is set to be offered in 50 global markets across the Middle East and Africa, a Nissan Australia spokesperson confirmed it is “not currently under consideration for Australia”.Renault launched the related Duster in Australia during 2025. It's built in Romania alongside the Dacia Duster and comes in two- and all-wheel drive guises.As it stands, Nissan's smallest vehicle in Australia is now the UK-built Qashqai. The new-generation Juke EV isn’t coming to Australia.Nissan recently launched the Kicks small SUV in right-hand drive for Japan but it’s not confirmed for an Australian launch either.It’s offered in Japan exclusively with e-Power hybrid powertrains.

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. 

Alfa Romeo’s stylish and refreshed hybrid SUV is here. The brand has announced pricing and specifications for its updated Tonale small SUV in Australia. It will be offered as a petrol mild hybrid, with prices starting from $64,990 9before on-road costs), which is the same as before. Plug-in hybrid power is now an extra $1500, with prices starting from $78,990.The Tonale is similarly priced to the BMW X1 that is available in petrol ($66,700) and PHEV ($79,500) set-ups. It will also tackle the revamped Cupra Formentor that just got a sizeable $7000 price cut in Australia ($53,990). PHEV variants of the Formentor are $4500 cheaper than the comparative Tonale, starting from $74,490. The petrol mild hybrid Tonale is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 128kW and 240Nm, supplemented by a small electric motor and 48-volt battery.The PHEV also has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, but adds a larger electric motor to boost power to 198kW and 270Nm, along with an all-wheel drive system.Its 15.5kWh battery has an all-electric driving range of 59km, according to WLTP standards. The car has received a new sharpened design as part of its refresh, including a re-thought front grille and new 19-inch alloy wheels. It also has several new interior features as standard.Seats are covered in a synthetic leather, and the front ones are electrically adjustable, with heating, ventilation and memory function. The steering wheel and windscreen washer nozzle are also heated. Elsewhere in the cabin, there is a 12.3-inch digital driver display and 10.25-inch central touchscreen, along with a wireless phone charger.It comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.There other convenience features like an electrically operated tailgate with hands-free function, and keyless entry and start. Alfa Romeo has introduced special edition variants of its Tonale and Junior SUVs, called the Ibrida Sport Speciale. The Junior is priced from $51,990, while the Tonale starts from $68,990, so they are both more expensive than base versions of their respective models. The Junior is a compact SUV, powered by a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol mild-hybrid system, producing 107kW and 230Nm. It sits under the Tonale in Alfa Romeo’s range. The special edition flair to these models adds synthetic leather and Alcantara seats, as well as a sunroof and a glossy black body kit. 

GWM is relaunching its Ora brand with another go at creating a hero model, this time a small SUV called the Ora 5. There are supposedly some big improvements compared to the electric hatchback that arrived a few years ago, so we headed to the Australian launch of the new model in Victoria to find out if that’s true.

One of the most influential small SUVs of recent times is also one of the most underrated in Australia – the Nissan Qashqai e-Power. A plugless range-extender EV, this British designed, engineered and built crossover melds premium quality and practical sophistication with slick performance and low fuel consumption. Massive in Europe, the Qashqai deserves a much stronger following here.

The 2026 Cupra Formentor VZe is the penultimate trim in the current line-up and the only plug-in hybrid (PHEV) offering currently.It’s priced from $68,990 before on-road costs, which is $4000 more than it was previously.Power comes from a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor with total system outputs of 200kW and 400Nm. This is 20kW more than before.This is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with drive sent to the front wheels only.Cupra claims the Formentor VZe can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.2 seconds. Launch control is standard.There is a 20kWh lithium-ion battery pack as standard which allows for up to 114km of electric driving, according to WLTP testing. AC charging is offered at rates up to 11kW, while DC fast-charging is available at rates up to 50kW.Cupra claims the Formentor VZe consumes an average of 1.7L/100km, according to ADR 81/02 testing. There’s a 40L fuel tank which requires a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.Using this claim, this car has a theoretical total range of 2350km.Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, wireless phone charger, interior ambient lighting, three-zone climate control, leather-accented upholstery, electrically adjustable and heated front seats.A panoramic glass sunroof is optional for $2000, plus the $6500 Extreme package adds matrix LED headlights, four-piston Brembo front brakes and Sabelt front bucket seats.The Cupra Formentor originally received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2021 and this has been renewed for the updated model based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2025.There are 10 airbags including rear-side and front-centre airbags as standard, plus autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control with lane centring, a surround-view camera, as well as a parking assist.The Formentor, like all other Cupras, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is a little lacklustre for a mainstream brand now as many have moved to conditional eight or 10-year terms.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.There are three- and five-year pre-paid service packages available that are priced at $1090 and $2190, respectively. In the latter case, this means each service averages out to almost $440 which is fairly average for a European car.

Polestar is prepping a new luxury electric SUV and it has the Porsche Macan in its sights. A new Polestar 4 variant will go on sale in Europe this September with a new SUV body shape. It is expected to launch in Australia before the end of the year. Polestar said this new SUV will provide a more practical alternative to the strong-selling four-door fastback model. It gives Polestar a more direct rival to the Porsche Macan which starts from $129,800 (before on-road costs). There is no news on price, but we can expect it to sit around the $80,000 price point in reasonably close proximity to the existing model. Other potential rivals include the Tesla Model Y Performance ($89,400, before on-road costs) and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N-Line ($83,700).The biggest challenge for the new SUV could be the Zeekr 7X from Polestar's Chinese sister brand under common Geely ownership, priced from just $57,900 before on-roads.It is likely the Polestar 4 SUV will be available in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive forms with the latter producing up to 406kW when it arrives in Australia.It will ride on the same 400-volt architecture as the existing Polestar 4, as opposed to the Polestar 3's 800-volt underpinnings.Driving range has been boosted by 10km to 630km for the rear-wheel drive variant, according to WLTP standards.Polestar has only revealed one teaser image of the car so far, showing the rear quarter.We will learn more about the Polestar 4 SUV in the coming weeks ahead of its September launch date. The four-door coupe variant recently got an update and a price cut in Australia, with that model arriving later this month. Its single-motor variant continues to start from $78,500, before on-road costs, while the dual-motor grade now starts from $86,350, which is $2000 cheaper. It has proved to be the brand’s best-selling model in Australia, and it will continue to be offered alongside the new SUV. Polestar is plotting more models in the coming years, including a Polestar 2 successor in 2027, and a Polestar 7 compact SUV in 2028.