SUV

Models like the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee have built Jeep's reputation as a go-anywhere adventure brand, with a premium twist. The famed brand is finally ready to enter the electric era and following some plug-in hybrid models, Jeep is gearing up to launch the Avenger sub-compact SUV in Australia this year. We test the Avenger in Italy before it reaches our shores.

Smart will unveil its largest and most powerful SUV to date – the Smart #5 – at a global launch event in Australia later this month. It will be the first time the electric car has been officially shown to the public and follows the reveal of a concept version in April at the Beijing motor show. The launch event will take place on August 28 in Byron Bay where Smart has planned its domestic launch of the smaller Smart #1 SUV and Smart #3 coupe SUV models, both of which debuted in China last year.Smart has referred to the #5 as a “contemporary adventurer” that combines premium SUV comfort and style. The #5 is designed by Mercedes-Benz and will have off-road capability. Smart says the #5 has only slight variations from the concept model, which showed it as a fully-equipped off-roader. Patent filings earlier this year revealed the the top-spec dual-motor variant of the Smart #5 will have a staggering output of 474kW, blowing away the most powerful versions of the Smart #1 and Smart #3 by at least 150kW.For comparison, the Smart #5 will pack 44kW more than the red hot Kia EV6 GT and nearly as much as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N performance EV.The #5 doesn’t appear to get the same Brabus treatment – via Smart’s part-owner Mercedes-Benz – as the #1 and #3 receive. Full performance figures are expected closer to the vehicle’s official launch date, and it is likely the top-spec variant will be able to hit 0-100km/h in less than three seconds.There will also be a slightly less performance oriented dual-motor variant, which still outputs a hefty 431kW. Two rear-wheel drive variants with outputs of 250kW and 267kW will also join the line-up.Smart says its most efficient #5 will have a range of up to 700km.Exact details regarding the battery capacities for each model are yet to be disclosed, though Smart has stated that the model’s most efficient variant has a battery capacity of more than 100kWh, along with 800-volt fast-charging capacity.Measuring at 4705 mm long, 1920mm wide and 1705 mm tall, the Smart #5 is a similar size to the Tesla Model Y. Details on the vehicle's interior design are yet to be released, though given the vehicle’s exterior design is only likely to differ marginally from the April 2024 concept, it could be safe to assume the interior will remain largely the same.If so, you can expect two central OLED screens, a digital driver’s display, ambient lighting, a portable speaker integrated into the vehicle’s central console, a striking ‘X’-shaped glass roof, as well as heated, ventilated and massage seats. Pricing is expected once the vehicle is officially launched.The global launch will involve a drive program from Brisbane to Byron Bay, which Smart will live-stream to a global audience. It’s very rare for a car company to stage its global launch in Australia, though Smart says its decision was made based Australia’s proximity to China – where the cars are built and where the Smart team is based – and the company's commitment to the Australian market, having announced its return earlier this year. Smart is a jointly owned venture between Mercedes-Benz and Chinese automotive conglomerate Geely, the latter owns car brands such as Polestar, Volvo and Zeekr among others. 

The phenomenon that is the Suzuki Jimny continues to defy convention and expectations.Despite now being over half a decade old in Australia and with little to no change in specification since then, demand for the existing three-door shows no signs of slowing down, helping boost sales by over 50 per cent this year.It’s even surprised Suzuki, which anticipated the recently-released Jimny XL five-door wagon to surpass it, but instead sales are split fairly equally at 50/50.Things don’t look like subsiding either, since the continuing popularity of the nameplate here and abroad means wait times for all Jimnys are likely to grow, and not shrink, in the foreseeable future.According to Suzuki Australia General Manager, Michael Pachota, while the company is working hard to meet existing orders, the situation is not likely to improve at all any time soon – particularly for some of the more popular variants.“Orders for the three-door (Jimny) are still through the roof – especially for the automatic,” he recently told CarsGuide. “The wait times are roughly about six to eight months.”Unsurprisingly, buyers of manual versions in both body styles haven’t had to be so patient, as wait times for these are only between two to four months.There has been some respite from extended wait times for fans of the compact off-roader following the arrival of the long-awaited XL five-door wagon version late last year due to large shipments from India, but Pachota warns the generous production allocation afforded to Suzuki Australia looks set to dry up soon.“With the Jimny five-door wagon – we had an awesome flurry of production, after an opportunity was granted for us to get early high volumes,” he explained. “Even though its order rate is just as high as the Jimny three-door, the supply rate has been much better since the early part of its launch.“Which has been great for us, because we could get more cars out on the road quickly. And people that placed orders are only waiting anywhere up to three to four months, subject to colour obviously.“(But) we won’t be able to maintain that long term, based on that supply chain and the popularity of the car increasing overseas as well.”Pachota added that strong demand for the XL has occurred even though little to no promotional dollars have been allocated to it so far.“Our orders are continuously growing on that car,” he said. “And we still haven’t even advertised it.”What this means is that, if you’re after a Jimny of any shape or specification, you’d better get your skates on.Moving forward, it’s been reported that the Jimny may gain the long-rumoured ute version as per previous-generation models, while a mild-hybrid system is anticipated in the not-too-distant future for European markets. Suzuki has also confirmed that an all-electric model is under development for a 2030 release.All of these would simply amplify Jimny demand in Australia.

Let’s talk sleepers. In fact, what is a sleeper car? In the motoring world, a sleeper is a vehicle that hides its performance potential from the world, only revealing its true potential when the driver nails the throttle.

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