SUV

Nissan has introduced a more affordable hybrid entry offering in Australia, with a new Qashqai electrified variant sneaking in under the $50K mark. The 2026 Nissan Qashqai can now be had as a Ti e-Power, a roughly middle-of-the-range variant.

Toyota’s family-friendly Kluger SUV is due a facelift. The seven-seater is now approaching the half way point of its eight-year lifespan, which means big changes are on the way.

Most of the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series line-up has undergone a recent comprehensive update - along with price increases to match - but while the third-from-top Sahara gets a $1119 price rise, it has received no updates this time around.Can the 300 Series stay viable in an increasingly competitive 4WD market? More importantly, is this Toyota 4WD wagon still an off-road champ?

BMW's X3 is one of the German manufacturer's most successful models in terms of sales volume. So, does the premium offering in the latest G45 generation hit another sweet-spot for families wanting sporty practicality?

Since its mid-2022 launch, the Tesla Model Y has dominated EV sales, driven by affordable prices, easy charging and dynamic performance. But increased competition and image issues have seen rivals muscling in, like the Kia EV5. This is the EV normalised, with user-friendly operation, packaging and ownership benefits. With the much-improved Model Y facelift now here, what is the better family SUV?

It is little rough in terms of the comfort, but good on fuel. The brand is well known and a prestigious manufacturer. Interior is little hard, but the fabrics get damaged quite easily. Cargo area is small. I enjoy the drivability of the car. It is easy to handle and has decent power. Too shaky, though, could be the size of the wheels. Very good on fuel. Day-to-day running costs are quite affordable, but services can be expensive and parts are little expensive, too. It’s a reliable car if you keep it updated. Regular services and mechanical parts should replace at the first warning.

Sufficient to fulfil my needs, but not so much that it is intrusive or unreliable. Bluetooth works well. ABS doesn't cut in too soon, but works well when you need it. Great. Plenty of space, although I will always test the limits. The tailgate allows great access, other than the low height that has led to my wife and I banging our heads. The seats adjust electrically, so it is easy for anyone to get comfortable. The full-size spare wheel compartment has room for a selection of tools. Reasonable power for a diesel. Easy to place the car on the road. Corners well. Armchair ride makes for pleasant long-distance driving. Quiet, even at speed. Very good for towing, both long distance and for tight work. I consistently get 7-7.2L/100km (~40mpg) generally, unless I am towing. General servicing is a reasonable cost. I have had two major repairs in 160,000km: a new clutch shortly after I bought it (I don't know how the previous owner treated it), and the fuel pump inside the engine casing leaked and needed to be replaced. Each of those repairs cost $5k, but that is not bad over 160,000km. Insurance is basic. The car has been used very hard and has come through it all with flying colours. It has never let me down. I once hit two kangaroos at 120km/h. There was some bodywork damage, but the headlights, radiator, air-conditioner, steering and suspension were not affected, and I was able to continue the trip (The kangaroos were not so lucky!).I have spoken above about the repairs needed, but they were handled at service time and never put me off the road. The most frustrating issue was the HID globes failing repeatedly. That drove me crazy for a while. I eventually resolved this by having LED globes fitted.

There’s a new number-one seller in town. The Ford Ranger has run down the Toyota RAV4 at the halfway point of the yearly sales race.

Toyota isn’t quite ready to go full steam ahead with electric cars. Bloomberg has reported the Japanese giant has pushed back plans for its new large electric SUV in the US to focus on petrol and hybrid production.

Multimedia and safety technology are not to the standard I experienced in my previous Kluger Grande. The practicality of the car interior is execptional, but the cargo area needs the additional rubber mat for protection. The driving experience is exactly as needed, being what was sought after and not liking that found in the Kluger Grande. In particular, I like the ease of driving with a shorter body and wheelbase. All running costs were cheaper than the previous Kluger Grande Hybrid by a long way, in respect to fuel. The reliability of the car meets all expectations and I have has no reason to regret buying this model.