SUV

KGM has detailed updates for its Torres and Actyon SUVs in South Korea.The 2027 KGM Torres with the regular 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine now comes with an eight-speed Aisin-sourced torque-converter automatic transmission, instead of a six-speed Aisin unit.The all-wheel drive petrol version now also receives off-road terrain modes in addition to the existing drive modes.The Torres is still also offered with hybrid and electric powertrain options.There are revised front and rear fascias, as well as new exterior paint colours and interior colourways.Inside, the Torres looks much more like the Actyon now. It receives a two-spoke, hexagonal steering wheel, as well as an updated screen set-up for the digital instrument cluster and touchscreen multimedia system.A number of key criticisms have also been addressed.There’s now wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a bigger gear selector, a physical switchgear cluster for the dual-zone climate control, as well as dual wireless chargers.It’s worth noting that the KGM Actyon also picks up the aforementioned updates, as well as the eight-speed automatic transmission.We’ve reached out to KGM Australia to see when we can expect these updated Torres and Actyon models will arrive Down Under. We’ll update this story once we hear back.KGM, which was previously known as SsangYong, launched the Torres in Australia in 2024 and was followed by the related and slightly larger Actyon in 2025.The South Korean carmaker has since launched hybrid and electric versions of the Torres, as well as a hybrid version of the Actyon.In the first four months of 2026 KGM has sold a total of 74 Torres examples and 80 Actyon examples. This is down considerably over top-selling rivals like the Toyota RAV4 (7571 sales), Hyundai Tucson (6842 sales) and Kia Sportage (5743 sales).

The Toyota Prado-esque Haval H9 won’t be allowed into Australia.One of GWM’s guaranteed hits, the chunky 4WD that would probably cost a fraction of its Japanese inspiration rivals seems to have been knocked back for our market.Planned to land locally this year, we understand that the H9 instead makes way for a pair of brand-first seven-seater hybrid SUVs, the H7 Plus and H10, although neither are officially confirmed as yet.Disappointing news for 4x4 fans wanting a handsomely proportioned, off-road-engineered value option, perhaps, but the odds are stacked against the H9.Looking exactly like what a rugged and ready Toyota Prado rival should, the body-on-frame 4WD wagon, now two-years old in China, shares its chassis and some mechanical parts with GWM’s actual proper off-road brand Tank’s 500 sold in Australia since 2024, along with the related Tank 300.The latter, in particular, has been a success for GWM, attracting a diverse buyer set. And therein lies the problem.Haval is a value-for-money SUV brand proposition, not an off-road offering. This means the rugged, Tank-esque H9 does not fit with the rest of the range, creating fears that it would muddy the waters for buyers who are still getting used to GWM’s sheer proliferation of sub-brands that will soon add Wey (luxury) alongside Ora (electrification), Cannon (ute) and Tank (4WDs).Furthermore, due to their shared parts, sizing and visual similarities, the question of sales cannibalisation between the Tank and Haval is clearly keeping GWM’s Australian product planners up at night, particularly when the added cost of model complexity is thrown into the mix.Plus, just facelifted this year in China, the H9 now looks similar to one of the several facelifted H7 Plus versions, which has conveniently gained the company’s vaunted Hi4 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) tech. And that’s scheduled to come to Australia before the end of the year as a long-wheelbase seven-seater adjunct to the volume-selling H6 five-seater mid-sized SUV.Or, in other words, right in the heart of the family-car market in this country fight now.Not only would this broaden Haval’s market reach against rival Chinese seven-seater SUV PHEVs like the recently-released BYD Sealion 8 and Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid, it gives GWM another low-emissions hybrid to help it better meet New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) requirements.Fewer fines, more potential buyers. This is something that the 2.4-litre turbo diesel and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol-powered H9 would actively work against, sealing the model’s fate in Australia, at least for this generation.According to GWM Australia Public Relations Manager, Justin Stefani, it makes more sense to choose the H10 over the H9.“If we don't bring in the H9, there's potential for bringing H10 in,” he revealed at the China Auto Show in Beijing late last month.“The option is there… it’s just how we play the chessboard, right?”As reported last month, the H10 is Haval’s monocoque five-metre flagship SUV, offering three rows of seating, and is slated to arrive in early 2028 at this stage.It has only been announced with GWM’s four-cylinder turbo-petrol PHEV powertrains, though other varieties are expected to follow in time.GWM Australia Marketing Manager, Steve Maciver, added that he is cognisant of the potential confusion of offering a Tank-like Haval.“That’s the bit that we have to work through,” he admitted. “You know, we're developing a very, very clear master brand position in GWM with Wey sitting at the head of that. How those brands across Haval, Tank, Cannon, Ora and Wey play.“It's about bringing personality, purpose and a role to each of those brands.“We've got to be clear on what Haval stands for. That's where those product decisions are really important for us to make sure we get that right.”

Many premium European carmakers have launched new mid-size electric SUVs, including BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but now it’s Volvo’s turn and it could be the pick of the bunch.The Volvo EX60 is an electric counterpart to the XC60, which has been the brand’s best-selling car for more than 15 years.This means the EX60 has a lot to live up to, however there is growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs), especially amid the fuel crisis.To get a feel of this new Volvo electric SUV, we got a spin on the outskirts of Barcelona ahead of its Australian arrival late in 2026.At launch there are going to be two versions of the EX60 – the Ultra P6 RWD, priced from $86,990 before on-roads and the Ultra P10 AWD, priced from $101,990.This entry price notably undercuts the BMW iX3, which starts at $109,900 before on-road costs. However, the German carmaker is launching with the top-spec 50 xDrive trim with 805km of WLTP-claimed range first, whereas Volvo is launching with mid-spec versions of the EX60 with smaller batteries and less range initially.It’s understood that the range-topping P12 AWD trim, as well as a more affordable, entry-level grade will arrive in 2027.The price tag is even more appealing when you consider the amount of standard kit you get. Australian-spec EX60s all receive 21-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights, a power tailgate, 11.4-inch digital instrument cluster, 15-inch touchscreen multimedia system, 28-speaker Bower & Wilkins sound system, three-zone climate control and synthetic leather.Opting for the Ultra P10 AWD brings adaptive suspension rather than a passive set-up with frequency selective dampers, as well as Nappa leather upholstery.One of the biggest drawcards with this new Volvo electric SUV is the driving range. The entry-level P6 gets an 83kWh lithium-ion battery with 610km of WLTP-claimed range, whereas the P10 trim gets a 95kWh lithium-ion battery with 660km of WLTP-claimed range.That’s arguably enough to quell range anxiety for many, but the aforementioned P12 gets an even larger 117kWh lithium-ion battery with 810km of WLTP-claimed range which is slightly more than the iX3 50 xDrive and on par with many combustion-powered cars.Better yet is the charging. All EX60s have an 800V electrical architecture, meaning fast charging. The P6 trim has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 320kW, while the P10 can do up to 370kW and the forthcoming P12 up to 400kW.With the P6 and P10, this means a 10-to-80 per cent charge in 16 minutes – a game changer for long-distance road trips.AC charging is offered at rates up to 22kW which is currently the benchmark.Power in the P6 comes from a single, rear-mounted electric motor producing 275kW and 480Nm, whereas the P10 gets an additional electric motor on the front axle bringing total system outputs to 375kW and 710Nm.In practice, neither version of the EX60 feels slow or sluggish. There’s an instantaneous zip off the line, plus plenty of rolling acceleration available for quick overtakes.Adding to this, the EX60 feels nimble and dynamic which defies its circa-2.2-tonne heft. A lot of this comes down to the steering which is incredibly direct and only requires small movements to change direction.I’m also a big fan of the small steering wheel which is rather Peugeot-like and has plenty of physical buttons and toggles.Although the versions we drove in Spain were equipped with massive 22-inch alloy wheels, the ride is plush, comfortable and compliant. My only gripe is that the adaptive suspension in the softest setting can get a little too floaty over harsher imperfections or speed bumps.We’ll have to reserve full judgement of the suspension until we can drive the EX60 on Australian soil later this year.Now to the more polarising elements of the EX60. The exterior design is undoubtedly clean and aerodynamically optimised, hence the big range figures. However, the exterior door handles are far from conventional.You get into the EX60 by pushing a button on a small flap located just under the window. It’s a similar set-up to the front door handles on the Ford Mustang Mach-E.I’m sure you’d get used to it but initially the operation feels fiddly. I’d much prefer regular door handles and incur the slight range drop as this is something that didn’t need reinventing.Then there’s the interior. The landscape central touchscreen is a major departure for Volvo, but it’s easy to navigate around the native interface thanks to contextual shortcut buttons close to the driver.You need to adjust virtually everything using the touchscreen and for the most part this is easy thanks to key menus and shortcuts. However, adjusting certain things, like the steering feel for example, requires you to dig into sub-menus. It also doesn’t take long for the driver attention monitor to ding at you for glancing away from the road…Looking elsewhere around the cabin, it’s open and light. The glovebox is located at the front of the centre tunnel, plus the cupholders shoot out from the centre armrest. I would like some more covered storage up front, though.Speaking of storage, there’s massive front and rear boots. The latter even features a trick split load floor that allows you to reveal just a portion of the underfloor section.As expected with a Volvo, safety is a major focus. It’s expected the full safety suite will be standard, however exact Australian specifications will be confirmed closer to launch.The same can be said for the ownership package. To date all Volvos are covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty which is standard for premium brands but mediocre when compared to mainstream marques.

BYD’s big rival to the Toyota Prado is another step closer to Australia with the hybrid SUV hitting showrooms in the United Kingdom before the end of this year.A large, rugged, seven-seater SUV is one of the final pieces in BYD’s Australian plan and with the arrival of the Ti7 (or Titanium 7 as it’s also known) in fellow right-hand drive market the UK this year, plus BYD has trademarked the Ti7 name in Australia, we won’t be waiting too long it seems.UK models often give an accurate insight into what we can expect here ahead of their arrival and the Ti7 that’ll soon be on the streets of Britain shouldn't be much different to the one that will be here on the streets of Brisbane.What will definitely stay the same are the vehicle's dimensions. The UK spec vehicle is 5146mm long, 1995mm wide and 1865mm tall. Two electric motors - one positioned on the front axle and the other at the rear - provide all-wheel drive and are supported by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine.Quicker than any Toyota Prado ever the Ti7 can sprint from 0-100mm/h in a staggering 4.8 seconds.A 35.6kWh battery offers up to 127km of pure electric driving range. While the only variant arriving in the UK is expected to be a plug-in hybrid, a fully electric version of the Ti7 with flash charging is sold in China.Australia is likely to get the PHEV version, given the popularity of similar models such as the large BYD Sealion 8 SUV.The Sealion 8 is a large seven seat SUV with a very smiler PHEV powertrain and so it’ll be interesting to see if the Ti7 will arrive wearing a BYD badge or a Denza one.Denza models in Australia are sourced form its Denza premium range and Fangchengbao adventure brand in China.The Ti7 falls under the Fangchengbao brand in China, as do the B5 and B8 sold by Denza in Australia, but reports state BYD will claim the new rugged looking SUV for its own.A BYD spokesperson explained to UK outlet Autocar this was because the Ti7 doesn' share the B5 and B8's rugged ladder frame underpinnings. This means the Ti7 won't be suited to off-roading and will be a road focused family SUV with tough looks.Following this logic it's likely the Ti7 will wear a BYD badge in Australia, too.CarsGuide reached out to BYD Australia for confirmation of the model’s arrival and when we’ll see it here, but the brand has yet to respond.

A new budget electric compact SUV from Europe is on its way to Australia, with specifications of the Skoda Epiq revealed overseas. The Epiq is a rival to other budget EVs from the Suzuki e Vitara to the Kia EV3, along with other Chinese competitors such as the BYD Atto 3 and MG4. Skoda has previously confirmed it will arrive in Australia next year. Volkswagen Group Australia has been contacted for comment to find out exact launch timing.The car will need an affordable price tag in Australia to be competitive. It will be built in Spain, which means it will be on the cheaper end of European exports.It will be available with three different power set-ups in Europe, producing 85kW, 99kW and 155kW, all using front-wheel drive. It comes with 39kWh and 55kWh battery choices, offering driving range of 310km and over 440km, respectively. DC charging from 10-80 per cent can be as fast as 24 minutes. The Epiq is Skoda's first model to sit on Volkswagen Group's new MEB+ platform, which is specifically designed for compact EVs.The platform is also capable of bidirectional charging, so it can power external devices and redistribute power to the home or the grid. There is a tablet-sized 13-inch central touchscreen and compact digital driver display, with several physical buttons on the steering wheel and centre console. A panoramic sunroof and electric sun blind can be selected as an additional option.Skoda said the car will offer significant storage options, including a 475L boot and 25L front space. It measures up at 4171mm long, 1798mm wide, 1581mm high, with a wheelbase of 2601mm, which is in line with many of its rivals in the segment. Skoda has also announced there will be a limited edition variant of the car launching after the car's initial market launch.It will feature standout red interior and exterior elements, while keeping the car's most powerful electric set-up offered.

There is good news for car buyers as brands slash the price of EVs to boost demand as competition increases.Hyundai is the latest brand to offer some very generous discounts across its range of quality electric vehicles.The Korean maker has cut prices and deleted on-road costs, with some models now more than $13,000 cheaper.Leading the discounts is the electric version of the popular Kona compact SUV.The Kona EV Standard Range is now $45,990 drive-away, which is about $13,000 cheaper depending on what state you are in.This version uses a circa-48kWh battery to deliver a driving range of up to 370km.The Extended Range version is now $50,990, or about $12,400 cheaper, and lifts the driving range to more than 500km.Better-equipped Premium Extended Range versions and sporty looking N-Line examples are between $11,600 and $12,900 more affordable.Hyundai has also sliced thousands off the recently launched Elexio mid-size SUV.The China-sourced EV, which is related to the strong-selling Kia EV5, is down to $57,990 for the base version and $59,990 for the Elite version that comes with more stuff as standard.The Elexio packs an roughly 88kWh battery that delivers a driving range of up to 562km.Both grades use a single motor to make 160kW/310Nm sent to the front wheels. Hyundai is also getting generous with its pint-sized Inster. The Standard Range version is now about $4300 cheaper at $38,990.The base Inster is well suited to city motoring, and an ideal second car. It is one of the shortest cars on the market and has seating for four.A little 42kWh battery enables a driving range of up 327km. It is extremely light for an EV and its 71kW and 147Nm electric motor makes it feel peppy.The critically acclaimed Ioniq 5 medium SUV has also been given a big price cut.A base Ioniq 5 RWD is now about $10,500 cheaper at $71,990, and the Elite grade now starts at $78,990, which represents a saving of almost $9000.Fully loaded Ioniq 5 N-Line Premium AWD is now $87,990, or almost $11,000 cheaper.The Ioniq 5 was crowned CarsGuide’s 2026 Best SUV Under $130K, with single-motor 168kW/350Nm and dual-motor 239kW/605Nm versions impressing.Driving range varies from 495km for the heavier dual-motor version to 570km in the base RWD example.The catch? You need to be quick as customers must take delivery by the end of the month.Hyundai electric car deals 

Cadillac is known for its larger than life, ultra-flashy cars and it has finally launched a baby Escalade in Australia with an electric powertrain. See how it stacks up against fierce competition.

Ford has announced a plan it hopes will win back European buyers by launching five new “rally bred” small cars before the end of the decade.In an ambitious attempt to regain the large share of Europe’s market it once had, Ford is playing the performance card hoping its historic connections to motorsport and adventure will appeal to buyers.“Ford has more than a century of racing heritage particularly in the world of rally, Europe’s native racing format,” the announcement said. “Combining that off-road DNA with on-road performance, Ford will create rally-bred vehicles tailored to Europe.” The announcement launches a new campaign centred around the slogan 'Ready Set Ford' and promises to bring new models in areas that Ford believes are its strengths, those being 'Build, Thrill and Adventure', according to the brand.All this is happening as Chinese brands such as BYD flood the market with electric and plug-in hybrid cars.Ford’s announcement is high on slogans and promises it’s low on details, although five new models have been confirmed including a baby Bronco off-road SUV to be built in Spain in 2028.The baby Bronco will be a 'multi energy' model according to Ford’s statement, suggesting it will be offered in several variants, possibly hybrid and fully electric.Also revealed in Ford’s announcement was the coming of a new fully-electric small SUV described as having “rally bred design language and drive dynamics in an urban-friendly package”.Two more sporty multi-energy models will also be launched - so called 'rally-bred' SUVs or crossovers. These will join and complete Ford’s new European passenger car line-up by 2029.The new models could see the revival of the Fiesta and Focus nameplates. Both models were axed within the past five years as Ford redirected its energy to SUVs.Ford’s ambitious strategy is designed to combat the current threat from new rivals the company faces in Europe. Small affordable electric and hybrid cars from Chinese carmakers are rapidly growing in popularity and Ford has seen its share in the European market dwindle from about nine per cent to less than four per cent.Will Australia see any of these new Ford models? It’s possible given some will be produced in right-hand drive for the UK.Ford may also need to review its skeletal offering in Australia, given the local downturn in the off-road ute market that it relies on heavily for sales.

Three months with the 2026 Zeekr 7X RWD have come and gone at an alarming rate.But I’ve immensely enjoyed my time with the fully electric mid-size SUV, which impresses on so many fronts.The 7X is so impressive, in fact, that it was recently awarded CarsGuide Car of the Year 2026 – Best Medium SUV Under $60K, which you can read more about here.In the first two instalments of this three-part long-term review, I covered a lot of the reasons why the 7X has been so successful since its Australian arrival last year.In the first edition I detailed its keen pricing, high specification and strong powertrain and efficiency, while the second saw me deep-dive its fetching design and genuine practicality. You can check out both in the links above.As promised, this third and final look at the 7X will be headlined by drive impressions and overall verdict.So, how does the Chinese newcomer stack up behind the wheel? Let’s find out!From the moment I picked up the ‘keys’ to the 7X RWD I was struck by how it could easily be mistaken for a European car, and not just design wise.Nearly every Chinese-branded car I’ve driven to date has been underwhelming to drive, but the 7X shows how far these marques have come in such a short period of time.In some instances these carmakers have started to catch up with the rest of the world.It no doubt helps that Zeekr can tap into the expertise of its Geely Group parent company, which also owns Sweden’s Volvo and England’s Lotus.Point being, there is a legacy element that Zeekr can make the most of, and it certainly has with the 7X.Yes, the 7X RWD on test here still delivers a relatively soft ride – which is a Chinese-brand signature as passenger comfort is front of mind – but it does so in a relatively controlled manner.The RWD goes without the air springs and adaptive dampers of its Performance sibling, yet its balance will satisfy most, with small bumps dealt with aplomb.It can become unsettled over larger imperfections, but it is more composed than its more expensive Polestar 4 cousin – and it is arguably half European!Handling-wise, the 7X separates itself from the Chinese-brand pack with stronger body control when turning into a corner at low or high speed.Being a high-riding SUV, though, physics cannot be denied, so there is some roll when tipping in the 7X, but the beauty of the RWD variant is its rear-wheel-drive dynamics.Being pushed out of a corner rather than pulled is a nicer sensation, as is oversteer in general.When it comes to the 7X’s electric power steering, it has three settings, with Comfort feeling too dead off-centre for my liking. Standard strikes the best balance when it comes to feedback, while Sport is too heavy for regular low-speed use.That said, the 7X still isn’t the most engaging model to drive in its segment, as that honour still belongs to the facelifted Tesla Model Y, which offers quicker steering and even stronger body control.Straight-line performance is another 7X RWD strong suit, with its single, rear-mounted electric motor delivering a relative high 310kW of power and a more modest 440Nm of torque.This enables a brisk 0-100km/h acceleration time of six seconds flat, which can be achieved when putting its Acceleration mode into Sport.The Standard setting is better balanced with energy consumption, so that is my pick, but you also have a Comfort option that dials down the performance too much for my liking, although it may please your passengers the most.There are two settings for the 7X’s regenerative braking, with Standard akin to engine braking in an internal-combustion model, while Sport has a noticeably higher level of deceleration, but it is still not strong enough in my books.A one-pedal drive mode is a separate option for bringing the 7X to a complete stop without the use of its actual brake pedal, but I found myself regularly using my left foot because the regenerative braking was not slowing things down quickly enough – even with some serious thought put into it.When it comes to noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels, the 7X benefits from being a fully electric vehicle with near-silent operation.That said, some wind noise over the side mirrors can penetrate the cabin at highway speeds, but it can be drowned out by the RWD's excellent 10-speaker sound system.Advanced driver-assist safety systems rightly cop a lot of flack these days for being poorly tuned and obtrusive in many instances, but the 7X’s overall package is one of the better ones.The driver attention alert springs into action when required, but I personally find it to be distracting in itself, although the good news is that when you turn it off it stays off.It is a similar story with the intermittent but mostly inaccurate drowsiness alert.With those two features turned off, the only intermittent challenge is the emergency lane keeping, which is occasionally overly cautious, providing steering-wheel resistance when you try and make what it deems to be an unsafe manoeuvre – but it can be physically overpowered.The forward collision warning is also a little too sensitive for my liking, but it’s not necessarily wrong when it does spring into action, if you get what I mean.As for the less exciting stuff, the 7X is a relative breeze to park, with a lot of the credit going to its clear, detailed surround-view camera, which has a handy steering-wheel shortcut button, which is seldom seen.In my third and final month with the 7X RWD my average energy consumption was 15.6kWh/100km over 655km of driving, which was a fairly even combination of city and highway trips.This compares to the 15.2kWh/100km and 15.9kWh/100km that I achieved in months one and two, respectively, all of which combine to 15.6kWh/100km over a total distance driven of 2383km.Given the 7X RWD’s useable battery capacity of 71kWh, that equals a real-world driving range of 455km, which again is very close to its WLTP claim of 480km – that’s a big win. Acquired: January 21, 2025Distance travelled this month: 655kmOdometer: 5415kmAverage energy consumption this month: 15.6kWh/100km

Looks can be deceiving. The all-new iCaur V27 might appear to be a distant relative of the Mercedes G-wagen but beneath its rugged, good looks lurks a large SUV that's happier on-road than extreme overlanding out in the bush.On sale in Australia from February next year, the iCaur V27 will be the first of a full range of models that will also include a still-to-be-released smaller mid-size V25 and, later on in 2028 or 2029 the baby Suzuki Jimny-rivalling V23 should rock up.Proving to be a hit worldwide, in little more than two years the baby V23 has gone on to sell 160,000 and Chery hopes its huge popularity will translate over in Australia.Measuring in at 5045mm long, 1976mm wide and 1894mm tall, the V27 shares a footprint with the GWM Tank 500 and is a little bigger than the Denza B5 (4888mm long, 1970mm wide and 1920mm tall).It's the latter, that one exec from iCaur told CarsGuide is the real rival it is targeting Down Under.Which is a bit odd as on paper at least, the iCaur V27 isn't a real match.Not only is the V27 based on a more car-like monocoque, it lacks height-adjustable air suspension which means ground clearance is limited to a paltry 224mm. Both the approach (24-deg) and departure (23deg) angles are also severely lacking compared to the Denza's 39 degrees.iCaur says its V27 can wade water depths up to 600mm, a little off the 790mm the Denza B5 can traverse.Available with only a range-extender hybrid powertrain, in some markets a 185kW rear-wheel-drive version will be an option but in Australia we think we'll just get the all-wheel-drive V27.Unlike a typical plug-in hybrid, the small 1.5-litre four-cylinder combustion engine only acts a generator when the 34.3kWh battery is depleted. Combined with a pair of electric motors driving each axle, total power is 335kW, while torque is around 505Nm for a quick 0-100km/h dash of 5.9 seconds.That's more than a second adrift of the more powerful Denza B5 that can also tow 3000kg, compared to the 1600kg the V27 can haul.With a full charge, iCaur says the V27 can cover up to 150km on EV power alone on the NEDC test cycle, while a 60-litre tank extends the total range to around 995km.Usefully, the battery is capable of DC charging up to 60kW, although a 20-80 per cent top-up still takes around 30 minutes.Vehicle-to-load charging or powering of domestic appliances is also available at up to 6kW.Naturally, the chunky exterior styling is reflected within, with a stepped dashboard, large rotary dial and proper physical controls. Like other Chery brands, the driver gets a pillar-box slim 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, but taking pride of place is a freestanding 15.4-inch infotainment that's runs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 processor.Both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included.Like the smaller V23, there are toggle auxiliary switches on the roof ready for accessories like an additional light bar.Dual wireless chargers are also present, as well as 50 different storage compartments, and a large 715-litre boot that includes a hidden 40-litre compartment for valuables.Perhaps disappointingly, considering its size, a third row of seats isn't even an option but handily if you drop the second row you open up a cavernous near-two-metre-long load area with up to 1818 litres of space.It's hard not to like the twin-pane panoramic roof, plus the generous head- and legroom in the second row. Overall, the V27 impresses in and out.Giving us a limited chance to experience the iCaur V27 behind the wheel, we tested the large SUV over a muddy and slimy obstacle course with a car shod with grippier all-terrain tyres.As soon as we eased the V27 off the line, the first iCaur destined for Australia instantly impresses, mainly because of the nature of its powertrain as it feels just like an EV, as only the electric motors drive all four wheels.That means there is instant torque, with plenty of power off the line. Over the lumps and bumps the magnetic adaptive dampers did a good job of providing a decent ride.Driving only in a mud-friendly off-road mode (there's are eight other driving modes available), traction was remarkable thanks to its locking electronic rear differential, although grippier tyres probably did most of the heavy lifting.We weren't allowed to try the tank turn feature, nor even permitted to escape the facility and drive on public roads, so our first positive impressions should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt, but precise steering and those car-like underpinnings, proper multi-link rear suspension and the smooth, punchy powertrains bode well for Australians.If you tow heavy loads or go further off-road, the Denza B5, Land Rover Defender or default Toyota Prado will all prove a better bet, with the V27 only able to haul 1600kg (braked). For reference the B5 can tug 3000kg.There is no word on how iCaur will kit-out its flagship SUV locally, but expect a power tailgate, LED front and rear headlamps, electric-fold mirrors, a trick multi-colour ambient lighting and six-way adjust heated and ventilated synthetic seats to all be standard.With seven airbags, a 540-degree surround camera, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, front and rear collision alert and blind-spot warning, plus an advanced adaptive cruise control, iCaur has designed its V27 to achieve full marks in future Euro NCAP and ANCAP testing.iCaur has been timed to land just a few months after fellow Chery-owned Lepas will rock up in Australia. Even though there has been no official confirmation, we'd be amazed if the 4x4 brand didn't match the eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty Jaecoo models come with, even though it will be sold via a different dealer network.Locally, the V27 is priced from just 200,000 Chinese yuan (A$40,000), but it's not known what the range will kick off from. The insider told CarsGuide that its V27 will be positioned lower than the Denza B5 ($74,990-$79,990), with the prediction it could trouble small mid-size SUVs with a price tag of around $65,000 plus on-roads.