SUV

A refreshed Tesla Model Y has surfaced in China which could preview an expected update for the hot-selling electric vehicle (EV) in Australia. However, Tesla Australia is yet to confirm these changes for the local market, and CarsGuide is still waiting for an official response from the brand. Don’t expect the 2024 Model Y to feature as many changes as the facelifted Model 3 however, as it appears

The Subaru Outback Sport XT has been a welcome member of the Chesto family for the past three months, but it's come time to say farewell, and to answer the biggest question - is the extra $5K or so required for the turbocharged engine worth it?

The phrase ‘best of both worlds’, depending on how old you are, might be associated in your mind with one of two things: hybrid cars, or Miley’s Hannah Montana alter ego.But I haven’t spent the last month watching old Disney shows, so you’re here to read about a hybrid car. Specifically, the 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES PHEV.The entry-level variant to Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid EV line-up is spending a few months in the CarsGuide garage so we can decide if it’s worth the rather hefty price increase over a standard petrol Eclipse Cross.The ES grade in the Eclipse Cross range signifies the base model, and the car we’re testing is pretty sparse in terms of features - and not in a ‘simple is best’ kind of way.The purely petrol-powered version starts from $31,490, before on-road costs. Our plug-in hybrid version... $47,290.Yep, the hybrid drivetrain effectively adds $15,800 to the price of the small SUV, so the PHEV cost about one and a half times as much. That's a big ‘oof’.Rather than the non-hybrid’s turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine making 110kW/250Nm to power the front wheels, the PHEV boasts a 2.4-litre naturally aspirated unit that, while making only 94kW and 199Nm on its own, is joined by two electric motors (one for each axle) that help drive all four wheels.Mitsubishi doesn’t quote a total system output for the engine and motors together, but the front motor makes 60kW and the rear 70kW. Even though it’s not a simple case of adding all the numbers up, the Eclipse Cross isn’t a slouch.But is it worth almost $50,000? Despite its lack of a proper hybrid system, a top-spec Mazda CX-30 Astina can be had for less than $49,000, as can an all-wheel drive Toyota RAV4 GXL hybrid, which is a category size up from those. They don’t come with Mitsubishi’s 10-year/200,000 kilometre warranty, though.The ES comes with, as mentioned, pretty slim features, too. Aside from lacking some safety features like rear cross-traffic alert or blind-spot warning available in the Aspire and Exceed, the ES misses out on sat-nav, heated or power-adjustable seats, and LED headlights. It also makes do with a four-speaker sound system, which is noticeably short of the audio quality available even in entry-level hatchbacks these days. Stepping up to the Aspire means twice as many speakers, and in a ‘premium audio’ set-up.Boot space is also slightly compromised, 359L compared to the petrol version’s 405L. It also kills the spare tyre, coming instead with a tyre repair kit, which is far less useful for those inevitable trips away from the city.Its 8.0-inch touchscreen, however, is standard across the range, and its wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality means being able to get around the fact its feeling quite outdated.There’s more to the Eclipse Cross’s interior that feels a little harsh for a small(ish) SUV at almost $50,000, like cloth seats and even just a lack of sunroof. But people aren’t opting for the PHEV for those specifically.The key reason you’d pick the Eclipse Cross over the likes of the CX-30, of course, is the ‘P’ in PHEV. While traditional hybrids run under electric power for short distances, the Mitsubishi’s larger battery and ability to be charged from an external source means, theoretically, the Eclipse Cross could be run using no fuel.For those who want an electric car for the city but might sometimes need a couple of hundred kilometres of extra range for an out of town trip, it’s probably an ideal - if expensive - alternative to either a full petrol model or waiting around at charging stations.It also requires, of course, somewhere to park that’s within a reasonable distance of a way to charge the car. During my custodianship of the Eclipse Cross, I’m planning to test it with varying levels of charge discipline - there are sure to be some out there who rarely charge their PHEV - to see how good or poor the consumption is.This month, for example, I’ve been fairly 50/50 about the charging frequency, treating it as my own life allows. I live in a share house, and I’m not always home first to park in the driveway.Next month, I’ll run its tank down once with a single charge, then I’ll keep it charged as much as possible.Its battery is a 13.8kWh unit, so it’s not tiny, though it takes a while to charge. At a DC fast charger, 80 per cent comes along in a claimed 25 minutes, while a cable at home using AC charging is a seven-hour job.First impressions are that commuting under electric power is quite pleasant, though a day that requires a bit of running around is a good way to empty the battery quite quickly. It also seemingly becomes relatively inefficient without any charge saved up - which makes sense given its 1895kg kerb weight is over 420kg heavier than the non-PHEV ES.Mitsubishi claims I should be able to get a rate of 1.9L/100km out of the PHEV, which is pretty impressive.That, of course, is only tested on a 100km journey, and the electric driving range of 55km covers most of that. In the first relatively charging-relaxed run through the petrol tank, I managed 6.4L/100km.Admittedly, that's with a lot of mixed driving, and a couple of longer journeys that weren’t conducive to charging beforehand.If not for the efficiency, anyone with an Eclipse Cross PHEV is going to want to keep the battery topped-up for the simple fact that its EV driving mode is its best.I’ll cover off its driving in more detail in a future update, after more time behind the wheel.Acquired: August 2023Distance travelled this month: 570kmOdometer: 1789kmFuel consumption this month: 6.4L/100km

When you think of an electric car, chances are images of the sleek and ultra-modern Hyundai Ioniq 6 or Tesla Model 3 spring to mind, not the upright, boxy and almost rugged Jeep Avenger.

A little SUV with great practicality and excellent fuel economy could be a smart urban alternative to an electric car or a larger SUV, so we put two of the best - the Kia Stonic GT-Line and Hyundai Venue - to a head-to-head test.

The CX-60 is the latest offering from Mazda's stable and it sits nestled next to its (slightly) smaller sibling, the CX-5. It's quite similar to look at but the P50e variant is powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The size, power and efficiency should be a winning combo on paper but how does it fair in reality?

The all-new Y63 Nissan Patrol has taken a significant step closer to launch, with what appears to be the new model spied testing in its final production guise in the Middle East.Spotted by local site car_secrets, the new model is camouflaged, but does appear to be the final production look, suggesting the new model is edging closer to launch.The new model will almost certainly mean the end of the V8 engine - though it might live on in a limited capacity - with the powertrain of choice expected to be a twin-turbo-petrol V6.In this instance, fewer cylinders should mean more power, with 316kW on offer, up from 298kW in the V8. Reports suggest the new engine will pair with a nine-speed automatic transmission.Yes, the end of one of the last remaining V8 engines will cause heartbreak, but Nissan America Corporate Vice President, Michael Colleran, told CarsGuide that, no matter what is powering the new Patrol, "consumers are going to love it"."Do we see powerful V6s and other internal combustion engines being a part of our future? Absolutely,” he said."We're evaluating all options for the next Armada (Patrol). But we're going to have a very technology-forward powertrain...and I think consumers are going to love it.”In Australia, the Nissan Patrol Warrior - based on the Y62 Patrol - is in the process of launching to consumers, suggesting a Y63 would be at least 12 months away to give the localised model some breathing space.When it does launch, Nissan Australia will have been more involved in its development than ever before, with the success of the nameplate here earning it a bigger seat at the planning table."As the volume has increased, and we've been able to demonstrate demand for Patrol that is more than we're able to supply at this point, we're getting a bigger voice at the table,” Nissan Australia boss Adam Paterson told us last year."I would say that (the Patrol) has always been built to be a true off-road-capable vehicle, and that's even more a requirement in this country than in other markets where it is sold."Even though it's a similar product to the vehicle sold in North America, my experience is that the capability of it is utilised more here than it is overseas."So the requirements of this market, I feel, is to keep it very, very true to its off-road capable heritage, because it's utilised. As we sit at the global table as far as requirements go, ours is to make sure it remains as capable as it's always been."

What looks to be a key part of Mitsubishi's next chapter will be shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in October.

Hyundai's iconic Ioniq range expands.

The small SUV market is fiercely defended by some strong competition but the new design of the Hyundai Kona may be what gives it a podium finish.