SUV

Owners of European premium brands are trading in their cars for more affordable Chinese-branded cars, according to Omoda Jaecoo’s local boss.Chery’s burgeoning offshoot, Omoda Jaecoo, has experienced significant growth in the past 12 months, rolling out three models with multiple powertrain variants in quick succession.Capitalising on Australian buyers’ hunger for more affordable, feature-packed cars, Omoda Jaecoo sales have increased by a whopping 1177 per cent year on year, albeit off a lower base and fewer models.With four models available - the Omoda 9 and Jaecoo J5, J7 and J8 SUVs, the brand is now outselling bigger names like Honda, Suzuki, Lexus and another rising Chinese marque, Zeekr.Those sales have to come from somewhere, and Omoda Jaecoo Australia Chief Commercial Office Roy Munoz says while not many people are coming in and cross shopping with other Chery brands, he has some idea of the brands they’ve nabbed buyers from.“Not much of a Chery cross shop, surprisingly, and it's a mixed bag at the moment. We don't have specific data, but what we can see from the past 12 months are the vehicles that are being traded in,” he told CarsGuide.“So you might have a buyer from a legacy volume brand. You might have buyers from legacy premium brands also. So the likes of BMW, Mercedes, Audi, even JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) customers maybe stepping into the likes of a (Jaecoo) J8 or an Omoda 9 or even a J7 as well, even down to J5. So it's hard to pinpoint exactly where they're coming from, but customers are responding well just to that value proposition of these products.”Being one of the fastest growing brands by sales not just in Australia, but globally, is a solid flex, but Munoz explained it doesn’t come without challenges, especially in relation to customer experience.“Well, customer experience, it's always easier to say is the primary focus and hard to do in practice, right? So, I guess in establishing ourselves, yes, being a fast-growing brand, it's not necessarily just about the sales. So, you could be fast growth in terms of sales, but are you fast growth in service? And by that I mean, are you fast to respond? Do you have parts readily available? Are customers generally happy? So for us, growth in terms of sales, yes, that is important. But sustainable growth, to be able to service and support your growing customer base is probably even more important for us.”Munoz acknowledged the new auto brand still has a ways to go when it comes to building a robust aftersales program, but highlighted where it is investing.“We still have a bit of work to do, and the work is being done as we speak. We're investing in not just human resources, but in our parts warehousing as well, parts supply, technician training, and ensuring that, because aftersales sells your second, third, fourth car. Sales sells your first car, primarily. So that customer advocacy is something that you don't build overnight. It’s built over time, and it's built through every customer interaction. So we treat each one as seriously as each other.”Munoz wouldn’t be drawn on sales targets for Australia, and he also said there’s no hierarchy within Chery Group dictating that Chery must be the top brand with others like Omoda Jaecoo, Lepas and iCaur sitting behind. This was once Hyundai Group’s strategy years ago - Hyundai was the main brand and Kia the smaller sister brand.“No, I guess we've got our own sort of strategies and growth ambitions. Certainly, as long as it's a Chery brand, we'd love to see it on top. Chery on top. Sorry, had to throw that in there. But certainly, I think you'll find when you look at the global data… in some markets Chery might be selling better, in other markets Omoda Jaecoo might be selling better. It really depends on how the market responds to those brands. But I've said it before: as long as a customer has purchased a Chery Group product, they're a winner.”

To say Toyota’s first major mainstream EV, the bZ4X, arrived in Australia with an arm tied behind its back would be something of an understatement. It arrived with both arms removed entirely.It was expensive, didn’t travel as far on a charge as its major rivals and had some tech quirks – and omissions – in the cabin. The fact that Toyota itself had spent much of the 12 months preceding its launch talking down EVs as impractical and unsuitable for much of Australia probably didn’t help much, either.Sales trickled along in minuscule numbers, while brands like Tesla and, later, BYD stole the limelight and the customers.But this is the bZ4X take two. It’s significantly (like $10K) cheaper, will travel much further on a charge, and hosts a more modern-feeling tech package in its cabin. And so I’ll be living with the two-wheel drive variant for the next three months to see if Toyota has at last got an answer to the sales-storming Tesla Model Y, or the BYD Sealion 7, for that matter.First things first: the price. My car opens the range, and you can have it finished in the same Eclipse Black you see in these photos for $61,320, on the road. That’s now cheaper than the cheapest Tesla Model Y, the rear-wheel drive, which is $64,215, drive-away right now. The cheapest Sealion 7, though, is a smidge over $59K, on the road.The Toyota now also outperforms the cheapest Tesla in terms of range. Toyota says my car, with its 74.7kWh battery, will travel 591km on the WLTP combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle, compared with the Model Y RWD’s 466km. In fact, to get a circa-600km range from Tesla, you’ll be dropping almost $75K drive-away on the Long Range AWD. The Sealion 7 offers just 482km on the WLTP cycle.So the price is right, or at least much better and the range stacks up well, too.In terms of power, Toyota has regrettably positioned its single motor on the front axle for front-wheel drive, and it develops 167kW and around 269Nm. Now, this is around two tonnes of metal, and Toyota says it will clip 100km/h from standstill in around 7.5 seconds. In real terms, it feels sprightly enough, but definitely not sporty in the way it goes about it. There is enough torque on offer to break front-wheel traction occasionally, but it’s otherwise a pretty sedate way of getting around.Nuts and bolts aside, the real test for the Toyota will be how well it fits into our family life. We have a home charger, by the way (just a cheap 7.0kW wallbox), so that makes EV life much easier for us. If we couldn’t charge at home, I think a true BEV would be off the list for us.The bZ4X is so far proving big enough for our one-kid family. The back seat swallows the baby seat with no issue, and the boot takes our two-part pram with little fuss, as well. But be warned, that’s about all it takes. For such a big car — around 4.7m long – the boot is a little underwhelming, and it’s hard to fold the seats flat when you need the second row for baby seats and the like.Toyota says you can expect 452L of luggage space, which is down significantly on the 500L-plus offered in the RAV4 Hybrid, chipping away at this EV’s family credentials.Another perk for my wife and me is the familiarity of the Toyota's cabin. I know some might view this as a negative, but I think the fact there are physical buttons for most core functions – things like your drive modes, mirror adjustments and core climate settings – is a major win.Now, no matter how much range your EV offers, if you're anything like me, you will find yourself running on the battery equivalent of fumes at some point. For me, that came when I was leaving my parents' place for the 29.8km journey home. For reasons known only to Murphy and his infernal law, I was unable to plug in during my visit, so I was forced to rely on the remaining juice to get home.No problems there, with some 45km of range remaining. Now, as I discovered so you don't have to, that estimate is very much a glass-half-full situation and – to my increasing horror – would drop in chunks of 5.0km at a time, seemingly at random.After much holding of breath, we made it back to our charger with about three per cent battery remaining, and the power output automatically throttled back as the Toyota went into make-it-home-somehow mode.Fully topped up, my in-car reader was telling me I had more than the maximum range at my disposal, some six-hundred-and-something kays. So take those readouts as a guide, not as gospel.Acquired: June 2026Distance travelled this month: 427kmOdometer: 4667kmAverage energy consumption this month: 13.5kWh/100kmNote: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number of automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Mitsubishi could be planning an all-out hybrid assault with its new Pajero 4WD and Triton ute.The Japanese brand is reportedly planning to make its Thai manufacturing facility a production and export hub for electrified vehicles. Mitsubishi builds the Triton ute in Thailand and will produce the coming Pajero there, too.Mitsubishi Motors Chairman and CEO Takao Kato made the announcement on a recent visit with the Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, according to Nikkei Asia.The Japanese carmaker’s Thai production facility will reportedly be focusing on producing electrified versions of the Triton ute, as well as the forthcoming Pajero SUV.This indicates that Mitsubishi could be fast-tracking electrified versions of both the Triton and Pajero. The former vehicle is currently only available with diesel engines and the latter hasn’t been revealed yet, but it’s expected to share componentry.Around the reveal of the current, sixth-generation Triton ute in 2023, Mitsubishi had claimed it was developing an electric version.In October 2025, Mitsubishi Engineering Fellow Kaoru Sawase told CarsGuide the Japanese carmaker is still looking to make an electrified version of the Triton, but it’ll now more likely have a hybrid powertrain.“Of course there’s a need to reduce CO2 emissions,” said Sawase.“So along with the flow of the times, there is a need to develop Triton HEV, so we are working on that.”“So first we have to work on hybrid, not the way of plug-in hybrid.“In the past, we have announced to launch the battery electric vehicle Triton. But now the reaction has shifted a little bit.“We are now trying to quickly launch the electrified vehicle.”It’s worth noting that Mitsubishi already makes electrified vehicles at its Thai manufacturing plant. These include the Xforce Hybrid, Xpander Hybrid and Xpander Cross Hybrid.There are currently no Mitsubishi plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) or electric vehicles (EVs) made in Thailand.Globally the Japanese carmaker has already committed to introducing 13 new models, including five hybrid and PHEV models, over the next five years.It’s unclear how many of these new electrified models will be produced in Thailand.Although diesel-powered vehicles are still incredibly popular in Thailand, the local government is looking to boost and incentivise the production of electric vehicles (EVs).This has already caught the attention of many Chinese carmakers who have set up Thai production hubs for export markets. Examples include BYD, Chery, GWM and MG.This pressure from the Thai government and the investment from Mitsubishi to introduce more Thai-made electrified vehicles may benefit its Australian arm if the vehicles produced launch locally.Mitsubishi did receive credits last year from the recently instated New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) in Australia for beating its fleet CO2 targets, however these targets are tightening every year.One of the few ways of reducing the company’s fleet CO2 emissions, besides buying credits from other carmakers, is by introducing more low-emissions vehicles, like hybrids and EVs.Mitsubishi already offers the Outlander PHEV and has remaining stock of the discontinued Eclipse Cross PHEV in Australia.The Japanese carmaker has also confirmed it will be launching an EV that has been co-developed with Taiwanese carmaker Foxtron in Australia before the end of 2026.At this stage Mitsubishi hasn’t confirmed any other electrified vehicle launches in Australia yet.

Affordable cars from China have overrun the Australian market, forcing once favourites from Japan out of the top-10, and putting pressure on the rest hailing from South Korea to Europe.Yet amongst this, one Indian manufacturer is hoping to ride the affordable Chinese wave as an alternative.Mahindra has had a resurgence in Australia, releasing an array of surprisingly competitive new products as part of a renewed global push toward a wider audience.The car we’ve nabbed for this long-term test, the oddly-named XUV 3X0 is the brand’s latest.It’s a crossover SUV which represents the entry-point to the Mahindra line-up, starting from a very keen $23,990, drive-away.As rival Chinese brand Chery might know, though, just being affordable isn’t enough. The cars have to be good, too.Does the XUV 3X0 have what it takes or will you be wishing you spent a little more? Read on to see what I found in my first month.Okay, let’s set the scene before we get into impressions. You can have one of these from the aforementioned starting price, but the one we have is top of the two-variant range, the AX7L, which is priced at $26,990, drive-away.For exactly the same money, you could get into the best selling Chery Tiggo 4, also in top-spec Ultimate form, with the larger MG ZS Turbo (basic Vibe form, $25,990, drive-away), and Haval Jolion (basic Premium form, $26,990, drive-away) also options.If you’re looking for something from a longer established brand, your options include the ageing Hyundai Venue (auto - $25,750, before on-roads) or the Suzuki Fronx ($28,990, before on-roads), both of which are more size-appropriate in this city crossover space.So your choices are a larger, better equipped car from China, an older car from Korea, or a more expensive car from Japan.Some food for thought is the equipment list, which stays just on the right side of good, with a few omissions.The 3X0 ticks all the key boxes - 17-inch alloys, LED headlights, synthetic leather interior trim, dual 10.25-inch screens for the digital dash and the multimedia touchscreen, wireless phone connectivity and charging, as well as a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree parking camera, and Harman Kardon premium audio on this top-spec one.It might not have a few luxuries such as heated and power adjusting seats like a high-spec Tiggo 4 for example, but for a small basic car it feels the part.Looking at the 3X0 from the outside, I’m pretty impressed with its sharp design. From a brand once known for its particularly hideous takes on the standard SUV archetypes, the 3X0 is maybe its best looking car yet, featuring sharp contemporary headlight designs, a cohesive design front to rear (the larger Scorpio is yet to feel so tidy), angular design motifs with some nice highlight detailing and trendy touches like the two-tone roof and diamond-cut alloys.You could hardly tell from the outside that the 3X0 is an older Korean car underneath. Yep, that’s right, the 3X0 can trace its underpinnings back to the SsangYong Tivoli thanks to the South Korean automaker’s time being owned by Mahindra.It’s much more obvious inside, where some switchgear is identical to the SsangYong, while other bits, like the lower portion of the centre console also share a familiarity.The digital dash and multimedia touchscreen, however, feel much more modern, giving the cabin an up-to-date touch courtesy of Mahindra’s latest software, which is easy to use.Aesthetically, the screens are pretty much the only thing keeping the 3X0’s interior in this decade, with old-school plastics and too much of the much-maligned piano black cladding the dash, but there’s something refreshing about the simplicity of it all.Those paying attention would have noticed the glorious abundance of buttons and dials making everything in this car easy to control and proving you can still build an affordable car without hiding all the climate functions in touchscreen sub-menus.My initial impression continues behind the wheel where the 3X0 feels like a car from 10 years ago but somehow in a good way.Let me explain. Too many compact SUVs in this class are dynamically a mess and dull to steer thanks to their continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), or are otherwise unintuitive in daily traffic thanks to fuel-saving dual-clutch automatics.Generally, you have to splash for something more expensive or to a hybrid to make many options in this class nice to drive.Not so in the 3X0. Don’t get me wrong, this car isn’t particularly special in what it offers, but it’s the refreshingly straightforward combination of a gruff little 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine (82kW/200Nm) and a real old-school six-speed automatic transmission which makes it a surprising pleasure to steer.Its relative light weight and firm suspension keep it tidy in the corners, while little boosts of turbo surge are enough to put a smile on your face without getting out of sorts.Even the steering is a straightforward power assisted set-up without an annoying amount of artificial software weighting as in some of its Chinese rivals.I even found myself not needing to scroll through a bunch of sub-menus to turn off the usual array of poorly-calibrated safety systems. The 3X0 either doesn’t have them, or they’re not annoying enough to warrant turning off.In a way, this is a brand new car for someone who wants an old car. Tired of the annoyances of many modern vehicles, the 3X0 is a fun, basic little car to hop into as a palette cleanser.Our little crossover isn’t doing so great on the fuel consumption front. According to my calculations (which I had to do because the computer only shows the consumption in km/L rather than L/100km), the 3X0 is drinking around 7.4L/100km which is too high for such a compact unit.Perhaps it's the fact I drive it a little more aggressively than I would otherwise, as I try to push the turbo surge and resulting fun out of the meagre 82kW on offer, but it’s still a number I’d expect to see out of an older non-turbo model.One cost of having a six-speed auto, it seems, is driving style will weigh more heavily on how much fuel you use.It’s also a bit of bill shock having to refuel this car sooner than expected and during a fuel crisis. The roughly 450km travelled on my first tank of fuel cost me a whopping $61.33 at the pump, three times what it might cost me to travel the same distance in a larger EV.Next month we’ll talk about practicality, some quirks I’ve found and see if we can drill down on that fuel consumption a little more.Acquired: June 2026Distance travelled this month: 446kmOdometer: 6880kmAverage fuel consumption this month: 7.4L/100km

Renault is officially discontinuing its current Koleos mid-size SUV in Australia after 10 years of being on sale and there may not be an available direct replacement for a period.“The current-generation Renault Koleos is in run-out after a stellar run as one of Renault Australia's most popular models, with more than 21,000 examples sold,” said a Renault Australia spokesperson.“Now available from $36,990 drive-away with a $2000 cashback offer, all remaining inventory – complied to meet current motor vehicle regulations – is expected to be sold out by the end of this year.”The reason why the Koleos is being discontinued is due to it not meeting an Australian Design Rule (ADR) pertaining to autonomous emergency braking (AEB) performance, called ADR 98/00. It came into effect for all new vehicles produced from March 1, 2025.While the current Koleos does have AEB, it does not meet the specific requirements outlined by ADR 98/00.This means that Renault was able to stockpile at least 18 months worth of the Koleos stock before the ADR came into effect. Production of this South Korean-made model also ended in 2025.The Koleos is far from the only vehicle to be affected by the implementation of ADR 98/00. Other examples include the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Eclipse Cross, as well as the Suzuki Ignis and Mazda 6.With the axing of the current Koleos, this leaves Renault without a mid-side SUV that isn’t purely electric-powered in Australia for the time being.However, the French carmaker has many alternatives available in its global portfolio, though none have been locked in for an Australian launch yet.Examples include the South Korean-produced Grand Koleos and Filante, the Spanish-produced Austral, Espace and Rafael, as well as the Turkish-made Boreal.“As we have said before, Renault Australia is in the middle of a model revitalisation,” said Renault Australia Managing Director Glen Sealey earlier this month.“And while we won’t talk numbers or volume, we are well progressed with our long-term plan.“Renault has a vast catalogue of vehicles and we continually assess what is available to us and which ones best suit the needs – and price ranges – of Australian customers.“We’re not going to reveal all our future model plans today, but we can tell you there are another six new or refreshed models now due over the next two years.“And we have plenty to get through before then.”It’s understood that three of these six new Renault models are the Symbioz small SUV, Master E-Tech electric commercial van and the updated Megane E-Tech electric small SUV.At this stage the other three forthcoming Renault vehicles remain unclear and unconfirmed.

When you're spending the best part of $200K on a family SUV you want more than a little luxury and performance to go with its day-to-day practicality. Add in petrol-electric plug-in hybrid efficiency and the Range Rover Sport Dynamic HSE P460e starts to look like a compelling proposition. We spent a week behind the wheel to test its credentials.

Mazda has subjected its CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 large SUVs to a range-wide shake-up in Australia.These cars form part of Mazda's large-platform family SUV range, with many now significantly more affordable than before.The CX-60 and CX-70 feature two-rows of seating, while the CX-80 and CX-90 are three-row SUVs.All are available with 3.3-litre turbo six-cylinder engines in either petrol or diesel. The CX-60 is also available with a smaller G25 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, while the CX-60 and CX-80 are available with a P50e plug-in hybrid drivetrainDiesel-powered examples used to incur a small hike on their petrol-powered siblings.Mazda has now introduced price parity between petrol and diesel models across all grades of its family SUVs.A petrol CX-60 will now start from $51,640, before on-road costs, which is $900 more than it cost before.The base diesel variant is also offered at that price, representing a $1100 decrease.Next up, the CX-70 now comes in at a more accessible price point. It starts from $73,020, equating to a more than $3000 drop for the petrol and more than a $5000 drop for the diesel. Mazda has introduced a base diesel CX-80 variant to the line-up that will start from $56,100.Its petrol sibling will be offered at the same price, resulting in a $400 increase.The petrol CX-90 is more than $3000 cheaper, starting from $66,100, while the diesel has come down by more than $5000. Mazda also lowered the price of its plug-in hybrid CX-60 and CX-80 SUVs, reducing the gap to its petrol- and diesel-only siblings.The CX-60 PHEV now starts from $56,640, coming down from $63,790. The CX-80 PHEV starts from $68,100, having previously started from $75,750.The cheapest CX-60, powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine, has dropped by more than $5000, now starting from $45,640.Mazda is currently facing the highest New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) fines out of any brand in Australia, due to its petrol- and diesel-heavy line-up.More affordable PHEV offerings could be key to staving off the impacts of more stringent emissions rules.CX-60 and CX-90 variants now come with front cross traffic brake and Cruising Traffic Support (CTS) with Driver Emergency Assist, to mirror the CX-70.The CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 large platform range have proved to be slow selling models for the usually high-volume Mazda, in what has been an overall slower sales year for the brand in Australia.2027 Mazda CX-60 pricing (before on-road costs)2027 Mazda CX-70 pricing (before on-road costs)2027 Mazda CX-80 pricing (before on-road costs)2027 Mazda CX-90 pricing (before on-road costs)

This is BYD’s latest budget-friendly EV destined for Aussie shores. The hugely popular Chinese brand has opened expressions of interest for its Atto 3 Evo electric mid-size SUV in Australia. The Atto 3 Evo is an updated version of the Atto 3 that is currently in Australian showrooms. There is no official news on when we might see the Atto 3 Evo, but the local branch has been contacted for comment to learn of any launch plans. It has identical dimensions to the standard Atto 3, so it will continue to battle in close proximity to Chinese rivals like the MG S5 ($41,990, drive-away until 31 July 2026) and Leapmotor B10 ($38,990, drive-away until 30 September 2026). It will also be a size-up competitor to the Hyundai Kona Electric ($46,990, drive-away until 30 September 2026) and Kia EV3 ($47,600, before on-road costs).The Atto 3 Evo is already on sale in the United Kingdom, and its specification shows a big change underneath.It ditches the current version's front-wheel drive layout and is available with a single rear-wheel drive motor producing 230kW and 380Nm, or dual motors producing 330kW and 560Nm and all-wheel drive. This represents a solid boost on the current front-wheel drive Atto 3 that only produces 150kW and 310Nm.The Atto 3 Evo can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 200km/h.It boasts a 75kWh battery also representing a noticeable step up on the standard Atto 3. This increases driving range up to a maximum 510km, according to WLTP standards, which is nearly 100km more than its sibling.DC charging at 220kW from 10 to 80 per cent takes as little as 25 minutes. The Atto 3 Evo’s interior features a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and 8.8-inch digital driver display, along with a wireless phone charger.It is available with synthetic leather seats. Front seats are electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated. Expect pricing information closer to launch, but it is likely to sit above the $39,990 (before on-road costs) price tag of the current base Atto 3. The Atto 3 Evo replaced the Atto 3 in the UK this year, so a similar move could be on the cards in Australia in the future.The Atto 3 was BYD's first model to go on sale in Australia back in the mid-2022, and it continues to be a steady seller in its budget-focused lineup.

The House of the Trident is grabbing its golden opportunity with both hands – and its timing is impeccable.In the very month production of the petrol Macan ends, Maserati is launching its facelifted three-year-old Grecale, the mid-to-large SUV that it hopes will soak up sales from those in the market for a fast, classy Porsche substitute.In the flesh, the updates are largely a success, with the replacement lower front apron and fresh 19- and 20-inch rims all adding extra visual drama that was previously missing from the current model, drawing inspiration from no less than the firm's wild track-only MCXtrema.The new aero tweaks are also said to both cut drag and improve cooling, while a new pair of air curtains and further revisions beneath the skin boost efficiency.Under the bonnet, engineers have tweaked the powertrain offering to match the former Macan.The former entry 221kW mild-hybrid 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder that powered the base GT has been axed and replaced by a 243kW high-output version of the same engine that once powered the Modena.Peak torque remains identical at 450Nm, but it means the most affordable Maserati now accelerates from 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds.The middle-rung Modena, meanwhile, gets a special detuned version of the flagship Grecale Trofeo – the same high-tech twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 'Nettuno' engine that was first rolled out in the sublime MC20 supercar.Producing 287kW and 500Nm of torque, engineers claim the more affordable V6 will seduce you with its soundtrack while sprinting from 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds.At the top of the Grecale tree remains the 390kW/620Nm Trofeo that takes just 3.8 seconds to launch from rest to the 100km/h benchmark.All come with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, plus an electronically controlled rear differential.There's also the option of a battery-powered 410kW Grecale Folgore, but despite having a range increased to a decent 580km due to aerodynamic revisions, fresh low-rolling-resistance tyres and a front-axle disconnect, it remains an also-ran due to its outdated 400-volt electrics.In comparison, the Macan EV is quicker to charge while offering higher levels of performance.Since first being introduced in Australia in 2023, according to engineers, the Grecale has been subject to continuous improvements, with one claiming both quality and reliability have been improved significantly.Upgrades as part of the facelift include new metal gear selectors that provide haptic feedback and a fresh steering wheel that now has flat upper and lower sections.The Grecale's trademark centrepiece carriage clock has been overhauled and is now octagonal in shape and can display everything from the time, driving mode and even g-forces.One last addition is a driver attention monitor that was needed to pass inbound Euro safety regulations that can struggle to detect eyes when a driver is wearing sunnies.Inside, the Grecale feels better built than those early launch cars we drove, while the build was nearly flawless and some of the high-grade materials employed are impressive, even at its elevated price.While some might lament the familiar Android Automotive-based UConnect infotainment system, which is common to other more affordable Stellantis products, the Maserati's system – which blends a lower 'comfort' touchscreen for the climate functions – is all intuitive, responsive to touch and makes the Maserati easy to live with, even if it doesn't wow with its size or resolution.We're sure many families will also appreciate the larger dimensions of the 4.9-metre-long Grecale that provides rear-seat passengers with more than ample leg- and headroom, plus a large 570-litre boot, although the entry mild-hybrid sacrifices 35 litres of that luggage capacity to house its battery.Climb behind the wheel of the Modena V6 and it's remarkable how different it initially feels compared to the more urgent Trofeo.Engineers have worked hard on cultivating a worthy soundtrack for the lower-powered V6, with a deep growl low down in the rev range that, occasionally, thrums a little like a turbo-diesel. Pick up the pace and the twin-turbo sounds far more appealing and enthralling.In its default GT mode, the detuned Modena feels a little too lazy and lacklustre, with a dull throttle response blunting it, which doesn't quite compute with the Maserati badge, but switch to Sport and the supercar-like scalpel responses return, as well as strong acceleration that lives up to the badge and price.Ride comfort is decent in GT mode with our car's adaptive air springs, although sometimes you'll find yourself shifting the adaptive dampers to a firmer setting for a bit more body control, undoing some of the plush ride.If you've stepped out of a Macan, you might also miss that car's more direct and precise steering and greater sense of agility, but the faster Trofeo adds some of that back with its more reactive rear e-diff.For those not in the mood, the Grecale is a quiet and comfortable place and provides a high driving position that we think many owners will appreciate.In European markets like Italy or Germany, pricing for the 2027 Grecale has carried over largely unchanged.In Australia, that means the entry grade - now simply called Grecale - with the 2.0-litre turbo is likely to still cost around $122,500 (plus on-roads), the new Modena V6 from $148,000 and the Trofeo a punchy $188,500.That means the Maserati will continue to sit at $24,600-$46,800 higher than the outgoing Macan – which could prove a hurdle, not least when you consider the high cost of options.Previously, the base Grecale came with 19-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch Android Automotive-powered infotainment, with a head-up display and a powerful 21-speaker 1285-watt Sonus Faber sound system.Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, while adaptive cruise, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist and rear cross-traffic alert were all standard.The Modena added active dampers and larger 20-inch alloy wheels, while the flagship Trofeo came with 21-inch rims, performance brakes, adaptive air suspension and an additional Corsa driving mode.The updated configurator now suggests the head-up display, premium sound system plus the 12-way or 14-way electrically adjustable premium leather seats will all be costly options.Then there are the glorious ways you can personalise and make your Grecale a true one-of-one bespoke build, which will prove irresistible to many.Since Maserati is a low-volume carmaker, the Italian firm hasn't volunteered its mid-size SUV for either Euro NCAP or ANCAP evaluation, but the Alfa Romeo Stelvio that shares the same platform was awarded the full five stars for protection back in 2017, suggesting that with its more modern driver-assist tech the newer, updated Grecale has the potential to deliver an impressive result.Perhaps predictably, running costs will be high, as the Maserati only averages 10.6L/100km on the combined WLTP test cycle.The Maserati Grecale comes with a short three-year unlimited-kilometre warranty that can be extended twice, but there are some eligibility requirements. The limited extended warranty also only offers protection for the engine and transmission.There's also the firm's Extra10 warranty program, which covers powertrain components up to the 10th year for unlimited kilometres, but only if they've been covered by all previous extended warranties.Other rivals, still available at a lower price point, include the more mainstream BMW X3 M50 xDrive ($126,900 plus on-roads) and the Mercedes-AMG GLC53 ($140,600) or the impossibly powerful 500kW GLC 63 S E-Performance ($194,000).

Mercedes-Benz is preparing to stave off the impending onslaught of China's large luxury SUVs by updating its range in Australia. The brand has shuffled around its GLE and GLS model lineup Down Under, introducing new engine choices and pricing.The GLS is the German giants’ flagship three-row SUV that directly competes with the BMW X7 in the ultra-luxury high-riding space.It will soon have some serious, and much cheaper, Chinese competition in Australia.The GLS is facing an impending battle against electrified rivals such as the XPeng GX and highly-anticipated Zeekr 8X and 9X duo, among others coming in the next months. These cars boast powerful fully-electric and plug-in hybrid set-ups that will give the petrol- or diesel-powered GLS a run for its money. The GLS range now kicks off with a new petrol-powered 450 grade that starts from $181,900, before on-road costs. This makes it $7000 cheaper than its diesel-powered sibling that used to occupy the entry level position in the lineup.The GLS 450 has a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine, producing 280kW and 560Nm, representing more power but less torque than the diesel unit.The AMG 63 S high-performance grade has experienced a price hike of more than $6000, now starting from $313,900.The range-topping Maybach 680 has seen its price boosted by $5000, with a starting price of $424,900. Both variants receive a 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol engine that pumps out 450kW and 850Nm.2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS pricing Australia (before on-road costs)The smaller GLE two-row SUV has also undergone a reshuffle in Australia as it continues to take on the BMW X5.The range kicks off with a new, more expensive 350d grade, replacing the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a more powerful 3.0-litre six-cylinder (210kW/650Nm) unit. It will cost nearly $6000 more than the outgoing 300d, starting from $142,300. Next up, the GLE 450 now costs $160,400, which is more than $3000 cheaper than it was before, but it will only be available with petrol power.The AMG 53 and V8-powered AMG 63 S have both increased in price by nearly $4000, with starting prices of $187,900 and $277,900, respectively. 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE pricing Australia (before on-road costs)These cars show-off the luscious and supremely comfortable interiors you'd expect for their price points, including Mercedes-Benz new 'Superscreen' multimedia system, comprising of three connected 12.3-inch displays.Pre-orders have opened for the GLE and GLS models, with the AMG range and the Maybach GLS expected to arrive early next year.