SUV

Volvo has breathed new life into the ageing XC90 large SUV with a serious makeover to help it keep pace with its rivals.The seven-seat premium family-hauler has been on the market since 2015, with a number of updates along the way, but this upgrade will ensure the XC90 will be with us for a while yet.Australian launch timing is unclear, but Volvo is also in the process of launching the EX90 - an electric sibling to the XC90. The EV will land in Australia in April.The refreshed XC90 will, however, be electrified. The main powertrain variant confirmed is the plug-in hybrid T8, but 48-volt mild hybrid B5 and B6 grades will continue as well. The Australian 2025 XC90 line-up is yet to be outlined.The updated PHEV has an electric driving range of 70km on the WLTP cycle, and according to Volvo has a combined petrol-electric range of more than 800km.Volvo has not provided any more detail about the powertrain, so it’s unclear if it will have the same 288kW/640Nm outputs as the current model. It will be all-wheel drive.Volvo Australia has previously committed to becoming an EV-only brand by 2026 - much earlier than Vovo’s global target of 2030.However, the Chinese-owned Swedish brand is still selling plenty of non-electric models so the XC90 update makes sense. This will appeal to family buyers that aren’t quite ready to commit to a fully electric model.Volvo said in the XC90 press release the model mix is appropriate for right now, but suggested some markets are taking longer to embrace EVs.“This balance between fully electric and plug-in hybrids is the right portfolio for the market of today, as the premium fully electric market is still developing in several key markets. Plug-ins remain critical to our sales and profit growth plans over the coming years.”Whether this means Volvo Australia will include PHEVs as part of its plan to be electric only is unclear for now.The new 2025 XC90 ushers in a fresh front-end design, incorporating a modern take on the 'Thor's Hammer' LED headlights, and a new bonnet and grille with an updated diagonal logo spread across the car's face, giving it a sharper, smoother and more up-to-date look.Volvo hasn't messed with the signature LED tail-lights, aside from making them a little darker. Inside the XC90 gets a refreshed cabin and adopts the user experience from the EX90 and its smaller EX30 stablemate.It gains a larger 11.2-inch central touchscreen with higher resolution and Volvo says this “improves the user experience and opens up a world of new features, apps and of course regular over-the-air software updates”.In fact, Volvo says it will roll out this updated UX via a free over-the-air software update for any existing models that have Google built-in. That could be up to 2.5 million customers on cars built as early as 2020.Other interior tweaks include more practical storage spaces, particularly in the centre console, a horizontal dash design, restyled air vents and ‘premium’ recycled materials for the dash panels and trim.Under the skin, Volvo has made changes to the suspension setup to help improve ride quality. An optional air suspension is available with adjustable ride height.Local pricing hasn’t been confirmed but the current XC90 range runs from $100,990 before on-road costs for the B5 Bright, to $128,990 for the T8 PHEV.The all-electric seven-seat EX90 is expected to be priced north of $130,000 when it lands next year. The XC90 rides on Volvo’s SPA architecture, while the EX90 uses the SPA2 platform, shared with the incoming Polestar 3 SUV.The XC90 will continue to compete against the likes of the Lexus RX, BMW X5, Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Genesis GV80 and Mazda CX-90.The current XC90 landed in 2015, replacing the first-gen model that went on sale in 2006 becoming a global hit for Volvo.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT has arrived in the US look like a futuristic dune buggy with lifted suspension, all-terrain tyres and we want one

The wait is over - and so is the petrol V8 engine - with the covers finally pulled off the all-new Y63 Nissan Patrol, meaning the Toyota LandCruiser rival's long drive to Australian dealerships is now officially underway.But before you get too excited, we

The Volvo EX90 is the company's first entirely in-house-developed and purpose-built electric vehicle, but it's much more than that. Advanced safety and multimedia tech, combined with intelligent interior packaging as well as sophisticated chassis and powertrain engineering, aim to make the Swedish large luxury SUV EV best in class. Not that you'd know all this from its pretty though safe design.

Renault Australia is still committed to bringing cut-price European brand, Dacia, Down Under. The Romanian carmaker is expected to make its way to Australia very shortly according to Renault Australia boss Glen Sealy.

The Polestar 2 has been given a stack of new standard equipment and a price cut. For 2025, all Polestar 2 variants will be priced well below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold, starting at $62,400 (before on-road costs) for the entry-level single motor standard range variant, and rising to $80,830 for the top-spec long range dual-motor with Performance Pack.

The next-generation Nissan Patrol, the Y63, is due in Australia before the end of 2025, but in the meantime Nissan has upgraded the current-generation Patrol in an attempt to address criticisms of the multimedia system and old-style interior.Otherwise there have been no performance upgrades, and so, this much-loved 4WD wagon remains largely unchanged for now, which is exactly what some fans want.

The Toyota LandCruiser is having a “bit of an identity crisis” according to the Asia-Pacific boss of a new brand that’s bringing rugged 4X4s to Australia.

The Toyota LandCruiser FJ might be all-new, but it seems there will be something important that's familiar about the tiny but tough 4WD, according to recent international reports.

Hyundai has confirmed its largest-ever electric SUV will be named the Ioniq 9. The nameplate was revealed by Hyundai at a CEO investor day in the US, putting to bed years of speculation that its first ever three-row electric SUV would be named the Ioniq 7 following the SEVEN concept that was revealed in 2021.