Toyota Lite Ace Reviews

Holden versus Ford was the rivalry that defined the Australian car industry for decades. Whether it was in the driveways around the country or on the racetrack, like this weekend’s Bathurst 1000, for generations Aussies picked a side - red or blue. But while Ford and General Motors (via Chevrolet) are still competing at Mt Panorama, the fire has well and truly gone out of the contest between the two sides. While Ford remains a popular brand, with Holden gone and General Motors now fragmented into Chevy, Cadillac and GMC, there’s no direct competition. So what is Australia’s new car rivalry? There are several options, but in an ever-shifting new car market it can be tricky to pin down just one specific head-to-head battle. So here are a list of our contenders for the replacement of Holden v Ford - let us know your favourite (or suggest your own) in the comments or join the debate on social media. The Holden v Ford contest was defined by Commodore against Falcon, at least it was for decades. These days the two most popular new vehicles have traditionally been the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, so it makes sense to pit these two against each other. Ford’s Everest also gives Toyota’s Prado a hard time in the battle for Australian SUV buyers looking for adventure. And the Mustang and GR Supra are now rivals on track, competing against each other in the Supercars. But, the argument against this being the new Aussie grudge match is Ford simply doesn’t have enough competition against the rest of Toyota’s expansive range. Ford sales have fallen off notably in 2026 (down 14 per cent at the end of September), while Toyota remains on top. Even before Holden’s demise, Toyota had emerged as the benchmark in the Australian car industry. Such was its dominance, capturing nearly a quarter of the new car market each year, that it seemed nobody could challenge it for top spot on the sales charts. But in 2026, BYD has emerged as the surprise new contender, not only for a top five spot, but actually the clear number two brand - ahead of Kia, Ford, Mazda and all the rest. BYD sales have more than doubled in ‘26, as its line-up of electric and plug-in hybrid models clearly hits the spot with what Australian buyers are looking for. Perhaps even more so than Toyota’s limited all-electric and conventional hybrid offerings. Toyota remains comfortably ahead, as in nearly double the amount of sales ahead. So it may take a few more years for Toyota to get nervous about losing the sales lead, but it seems like BYD is the most likely challenger for the crown. If we’re looking to the future perhaps this will come to be the defining contest for the hearts and purchases for Australians in years to come. The pair have locked in a battle for the best-selling electric vehicle in recent years, although the American brand looks to comfortably claim that honour this year thanks to the boom in Model Y sales. But as Australians seemingly embrace electrification, these two brands have clearly impressed plenty of buyers with what they are offering. Whether or not they can both become best-selling brands, especially Tesla with its limited line-up, remains to be seen and that will define how far into the Australian psyche this rivalry ingrains itself. While it’s clearly not the same as the Holden v Ford contest of one brand against another, there is very clearly a new divide in Australia between the so-called ‘legacy brands’ and the new order of Chinese car makers. The likes Toyota, Kia, Mazda and Hyundai have been the Aussie favourites since the Holden/Ford dominance faded - and, in fact, the rise of these brands undoubtedly played a role in the downfall of Holden. But in recent years, especially 2026, they have come under pressure. BYD, GWM, Chery and MG have now cemented themselves in the top 10 selling brands, pushing the likes of Mitsubishi, Subaru, Nissan and Volkswagen down the sales charts. As I’ve previously written, Australians are more brand agnostic than ever before and have embraced these new Chinese brands remarkably quickly. But there are clearly still many who prefer to stick to brand names they know and have experience with. This divide, between those that appreciate the establishment and those who are happy to try the new, could very much come to define the next decade of car culture in Australia. What do you think is the new Holden v Ford? Let us know in the comments or join the debate on social media.

The Tesla Model Y is clearly the new Holden Commodore and the BYD Sealion 7 is the new Mazda CX-5. That’s how much things have changed, and it’s also how unscientific this story is - but I’ve included a table that makes me look as if I've based some of this on facts. Yep, the top 10 best-selling cars in Australia in 2026 looks very different to the top 10 from 2016. What were the big sellers back then and what’s replaced them now? Have we progressed onto better cars or was 2016 the peak and it’s all been downhill since? If you were to travel back 10 years in time and show anybody the top 10 best-selling cars for September 2026, even a car journo would look at you and say: "What’s a Geely EX5?". And you’d tell them it's a fully electric mid-sized SUV that came in at No.8 in the list of best sellers for September, 2026. But do not tell them anything else, you’ll risk altering the time line.  If you look at what car placed No.8 in 2016 you’ll find it was the Mitsubishi Triton ute. The Triton has fallen out of today’s top 10 in fact only two of the cars from the 2016 best sellers are still in the 2026 list, some of them like the Holden Commodore don’t exist at all anymore. Check out the table below for a side-by-side comparison of September 2016 v September 2026 In 2016, all of our top 10 cars had internal combustion engines (ICE) and only the Corolla was offered with a hybrid powertrain.  Currently, three of our top 10 cars are fully electric, five are offered in both hybrid and ICE formats, while only two models are only offered with ICE. The Corolla is gone, well it’s still on sale in 2026, but it’s left the top 10. See 2016 was one of the last years when hatchbacks ruled. The Corolla, Mazda3, Hyundai i30 were the three little kings, with the Hyundai Accent thrown in there, too. But they’ve been replaced now by new small rulers. I would even say the Chery Tiggo 4 and Haval Jolion are the new Corolla, i30 and Mazda 3. They are almost exactly the same size, price and target demographic for a Corolla in 2016. Following this gut logic I reckon the Tesla Model Y is the new Commodore. Holden fans won’t like to admit it, but they know I’m right.  The BYD Sealion 7 — that is the new Mazda CX-5. They’ve everywhere and they appeal to people who think they’re a bit better than a RAV4. Who’s now buying the RAV4? That’s a trick question because we all know RAV4 owners go on to buy another RAV4. So the RAV4 is the new RAV4. The EX5 is obviously the new Hyundai Tucson because it's one of the best but under-appreciated cars here. The D-Max is the new Triton. And that’s because the D-Max is no longer the runt of the ute litter, but it's still cheaper than a Ranger. What’s left. Ranger hasn’t changed - the same people are buying it and more of them and the same goes for HiLux. Those folks who would have loved V8 Commodores and Falcons are now in the tough ute group. Basically anyone who’d have a HSV or FPV 10 years ago is in a Ranger Raptor or HiLux GR Sport now. Prado is interesting and I think they are Toyota buyers who don’t want a Kluger and didn’t like their Fortuner but aren’t up for the 300 Series big dog. What do you think? If the Tesla Model Y isn’t the new Commodore then what is?  And were things better in 2016 when everything was ICE? Is our top 10 now looking like a list of best-selling electrical appliances? Are the Ranger and HiLux the last bastions of the best era ever? Or has their time come to move aside because EVs make far more sense? Also as a side note just to reassure you somewhat that not all of this is complete rubbish. Not only was in the same role at CarsGuide in 2016, but I'm pretty sure I also took most of the pictures of these cars from then, too. Stay tuned for my next unscientific round up of what’s what in 2036 when I’ll tell you that the super popular Mooflander Huckster 4 is the new Tesla Model Y.

Toyota is preparing for a record-breaking fourth quarter after a slow start to the year. Toyota Australia Vice President National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said the Japanese carmaker will sell over 220,000 vehicles in 2026. Until the end of September, Toyota has sold a total of 152,944 vehicles, which is down 15.9 per cent year-on-year. In order to reach this target, Toyota has to sell over 67,000 vehicles before the end of 2026, or roughly 23,300 per month. The Japanese carmaker claims it’s on track to once again be the best-selling brand in Australia. This will make it the 31st consecutive year. For reference, the second- and third-best selling brands year-to-date are currently Ford (61,104) and Mazda (58,865). At the end of 2026, Toyota also claims it will have led the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment for 48 unbroken years. The way that Toyota claims it will be able to deliver this record-breaking fourth quarter of vehicle sales is thanks to increased vehicle supply across multiple in-demand model lines, including the HiLux, Prado, LandCruiser, RAV4 and bZ4X. In September Toyota sold a total of 4624 examples of the RAV4 mid-size SUV, which is up 81 per cent on the same month last year. Toyota has sold 31,209 RAV4 examples year-to-date, which is down 11.1 per cent year-on-year. Toyota sold 2006 Prado examples in September, which is its second-best monthly sales result for this model in over 12 months. A total of 15,665 year-to-date sales means it’s down 28.3 per cent year-on-year. With the introduction of the new bZ4X Touring trim, overall bZ4X sales year-to-date are up 331.8 per cent, year-on-year. A total of 2919 examples were sold until the end of September. While Toyota may be gearing up for a record-breaking fourth quarter of vehicle sales, it likely won’t be enough to top its overall yearly record. In 2024 Toyota sold a total of 241,296 vehicles and this is roughly 20,000 more than what it’s projecting for its 2026 sales. Pappas notes the reasons for this include slower monthly sales results for the RAV4 and HiLux. Thanks to increased supply, Toyota claims the average wait time for many of its models is now down from three-to-six months, to three months.

Toyota already has an established track record of hybrid sales, but it’s now looking to build up sales of its battery electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) towards the end of the decade. “This is all part of our 30 by 30 strategy and we anticipate that by the end of 2030, approximately 30 per cent of Toyota Australia sales will come from zero- and low-emission vehicles, including BEVs, PHEVs and FCEVs,” said Toyota Australia Vice President National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas. This comes as the CO2 emission targets with the Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) continue to reduce every year. Toyota has already said it cannot rule out price rises due to the NVES from 2027 onwards and the only way to get the company’s fleet CO2 emissions under the target is to roll out more zero- or low-emissions vehicles, like BEVs, PHEVs and FCEVs. While it’s unclear what the current split of electric and plug-in hybrid for overall Toyota sales in Australia is, the Japanese carmaker already has a series of new models coming. A new RAV4 GXL 2WD PHEV variant will join the line-up in the first quarter of 2027, and will likely be the most affordable PHEV variant yet. It will sit below the XSE 2WD PHEV, XSE AWD PHEV and flagship GR Sport AWD PHEV trims. In mid-2027 Toyota will launch the C-HR BEV to sit alongside the bZ4X, bZ4X Touring and HiLux BEV. Local pricing and specifications for this model haven’t been announced yet. The Japanese carmaker will launch the HiLux FCEV in 2028. Pappas admitted this model will likely be low volume and largely for fleets, like the current HiLux BEV. Another new Toyota vehicle that hasn’t been revealed yet, but will offer a range of low- and zero-emissions power options, is the new-generation Corolla. It’s understood the new Corolla will be the embodiment of Toyota’s multi-pathway solution and offer a series of powertrain options. These are understood to include petrol, hybrid, BEV and FCEV powertrains. Previewed in concept form at the Japan Mobility Show in 2025, it’s expected this new-generation Corolla will be revealed either later this year or early next. At this stage it’s unclear when the new-generation Corolla will come to Australia and the power options that will be offered. It may help contribute to Toyota’s plan to achieve 30 per cent zero- or low-emissions vehicle sales by the end of 2030.

The Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) is squeezing many carmakers locally and the latest culprit could soon be the best-seller. “Due to the challenging NVES targets for commercial vehicles from 2027 onwards, we cannot rule out price increases,” said Toyota Australia Vice President National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas. This comes as many of Toyota’s best-selling vehicles in Australia are diesel-powered vehicles. Examples include the HiLux, LandCruiser Prado and the LandCruiser 70 Series, among others. In 2025 Toyota received NVES credits for going below its fleet CO2 target and the company claims it is on track to be in the green this year. However, its result in 2027 isn’t looking so certain. As it currently stands, there are two different NVES CO2 emission targets that reduce every calendar year. ‘Type 1’ vehicles are cars, SUVs or light off-road vehicles, whereas ‘Type 2’ vehicles are utes, vans or heavy off-road vehicles. For 2026 the CO2 emissions targets for Type 1 vehicles is 116g/km and for Type 2 vehicles is 180g/km. However, in 2027 this reduces to 92g/km and 150g/km, respectively. For reference, the current Toyota HiLux SR5 V-Active diesel-powered dual-cab ute has a claimed combined CO2 emissions figure of 191g/km. This is already above the threshold for ‘Type 2’ vehicles in 2026. Toyota claims its sales of electrified vehicles, like electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), is growing, but in 2027 it still may not be enough for it to stay below the fleet CO2 emissions target. When a carmaker is above its fleet CO2 emissions target for the year, it is given fines that it can either pay directly, use credits from previous years, or purchase credits from other carmakers. Pappas’ quote indicates that the fines Toyota incurs will be passed onto the consumer. At this stage it’s unclear how much could be added to the asking price of Toyota vehicles. NVES fines are currently billed at $50 for every gram per kilometre over a model’s limit, per vehicle imported. Using the Toyota HiLux SR5 V-Active as an example, each imported vehicle is on track for a $550 fine in 2026. With over 36,000 HiLux examples sold until the end of August this year, the fines can add up very quickly. The fines can be cancelled through the import of vehicles under the CO2 targets. The brand receives NVES credits or a fine based on the overall fleet of imported vehicles for the respective year. Toyota is far from the first to admit it could increase vehicle pricing due to the tightening CO2 targets. Brands like Ford, Hyundai and Nissan have admitted to this previously. The NVES was implemented at the start of 2025 and there is an upcoming review that may spark further amendments. One change that is already being drafted is select vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) between 3500kg and 3855kg be included in the NVES from July 1, 2027. This means that the LandCruiser 70 Series may soon contribute to the brand’s CO2 fleet emissions for the NVES. It currently is exempt as it has a GVM of 3510kg. The Tundra is another vehicle that is potentially in the firing line as it has a GVM of 3536kg. Others include the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado, which both have a GVM of 3505kg. ‘Work vans’ and ‘work trucks’ will continue to be exempt from the NVES though under this draft amendment. “There’s an NVES review coming up and we’ll be contributing to that review through consultation,” said Pappas. “We fully support NVES. We fully support having an ambitious, albeit equitable and pragmatic NVES. “And when you look at the LCV segment, you can see that you’re going to be leaving customers behind because they need those vehicles. “We’ll be consulting government to be able to really look at a more pragmatic, realistic light commercial vehicle target under NVES that is more equitable to the Australian market.”

The people have spoken, and Australians are going electric, according to the latest sales data. Three electric cars were in the top 10 sellers list for September, with the Tesla Model Y (4476 sales) third overall, the BYD Sealion 7 (2687) fifth and the Geely EX5 (2008) eighth. Australians now buy electric cars in the same number as petrol and diesel vehicles. Sales of  electric, diesel, petrol and hybrid were evenly split in September, with each accounting for about a quarter of sales. Sales of electric cars account for more than 18 per cent of total sales, a rise of more than 165 per cent, and sales of battery-powered vehicles are strengthening as the year goes along. Plug-in hybrids are booming, with sales up more than 120 per cent this year. Conventional hybrids - such as those sold by Toyota - are up more than 10 per cent for the year. Petrol sales are down more than 27 per cent this year and diesel sales have falled more than 16 per cent. Despite the fall, Australians are still gravitating towards familiar petrol and diesel vehicles. The Ford Ranger was the best seller, with 5062 sales in September. This was followed by the Toyota RAV4 (4624), the Model Y, Toyota HiLux (4455) and Chery Tiggo 4 (2059). The other constant in Australia’s new-car sales list are Chinese vehicles. Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and other long-term favourites had no individual vehicle in the top 10 sellers list. Relatively new names such as the Chery Tiggo 4, GWM Haval Jolion and Geely EX5 continue to climb up the charts. There are several names knocking on the door, with the MG ZS (1805), Jaecoo J5 (1754)  and Zeekr 7X (1628) selling strongly. Chinese-built vehicles are now by far the largest source of new cars to Australia, with more than 40,000 imports in September. The next best was Japan with roughly 23,000. This reversal of Australia’s buying habits is playing out with some of the smaller Japanese brands. Australia bought more BYD Sealion 7s or Chery Tiggo 4s than all Subarus or Nissans in September. Mitsubishi’s sales are plummeting, but it has the new Pajero and electric ASX VR-e arriving before the end of the year to help arrest the slide. Nissan is looking to China to help change its fortunes, with a range of vehicles sourced from its joint-venture with Dongfeng believed to be headed our way. This includes the plug-in hybrid Navara Pro ute and plug-in hybrid Terrano 4WD. 10 best-selling vehicles September, 2026 10 best-selling brands September, 2026

Toyota is in the process of bringing its ultra-luxury Century brand to the world, officially extending the exclusive nameplate to markets outside Japan, China and the Middle East for the first time. That’s according to a Bloomberg report referencing the appearance of a new Century SUV transporting Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda in Downtown Detroit as he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame late last month. When asked why Toyota chose a Century (not on sale in the US) for the high-profile transfer role, TMC Chief Technology Officer Hiroki Nakajima didn’t hold back. “We want to showcase the latest version of the Century,” Nakajima-san said. “It’s a global model, so we’re interested in getting feedback from auto industry officials in Detroit.” Positioned as Japan’s most exclusive luxury car, sitting above Lexus in the Toyota brand hierarchy, the golden phoenix Century badge has historically been applied to vehicles transporting the Japanese Imperial family, Prime Ministers and some of the country’s most powerful people since the 1960s. The Century name was created with the first model in 1967 to mark the 100th birthday of Toyota founder (and Akio Toyoda’s great-grandfather) Sakichi Toyoda. Previously a single limousine flagship model, famously powered by a 5.0-litre V12 engine from 1997 to 2018, the arrival of a 3.5-litre V6 plug-in hybrid SUV variant in 2023 raised eyebrows in Japan and elsewhere. And this time last year a dramatic Century Concept coupe was unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo. Toyota has since launched an English language website for the brand highlighting “Japan Pride ー A legacy of Japanese master artisans, spirit, and beauty.” The Bloomberg report makes the point that although current Century models are still partly handmade, the SUV’s domestic market starting price of 27 million yen (~A$250,000) is still some way outside the rarefied air of potential rivals like the Bentley Bentayga (from A$396,500) and even further away from the Rolls Royce Cullinan (A$777,000). So, fine details like Nishijin-ori brocade, urushi lacquer and Edo metal engraving could come at a relatively knock-down price. According to the report, Toyota sold around 500 Century vehicles in 2025, compared with about 1700 in 1997, so in the face of soft economic growth, a weak yen and rising inflation in Japan, placing the low-volume, potentially high-margin Century brand in new markets could be an important strategic move. Commenting on the Century brand expansion, Bloomberg Intelligence auto analyst Tatsuo Yoshida said, “If you count just volume or revenue, pushing Century may not make a lot of business sense.”  “But it’s much more than that. It’s a clear statement by Toyota that it wants to play a role in the super-premium category currently dominated by the European brands. “Strengthening Century means Lexus doesn’t need to push further upmarket,” he said. Although Toyota is tight-lipped on technical details for the Century Concept coupe, a 6.0-litre twin-turbo plug-in hybrid V12 is a rumoured possibility for the production version, potentially also replacing the current limousine’s hybrid V8 and the SUV’s hybrid V6. The potential reintroduction of a V12 powertrain is a bold move, but as Tatsuo Yoshida said, “The luxury sector is pretty crowded already.”  “That said, Toyota normally doesn’t give up until it succeeds.” CarsGuide contacted Toyota Australia for comment on the possibility of a local introduction for the Century brand and a spokesperson told us, “At the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, Century was reborn as a truly One-of-One brand, combining formal heritage with a magnetic, alluring flair.”  “Century sets forth a new vision of ultra-luxury: a car as exquisite as a work of art. “At the unveiling, we confirmed that Toyota Motor Corporation Australia would review the business case for Century in Australia,” they said.

Hybrid power is now mainstream for Aussie buyers.   It's an important choice for buyers transitioning from petrol- and diesel-powered cars to full EVs. Hybrid-powered cars are also important for brands as they seeks alternatives to internal combustion cars that incur fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). There are broad categories of hybrid cars in Australia, and each one has its own benefits for buyers. Here's a look at what hybrids are available, and which one might suit you best. Mild hybrid power is the first stage of electrification for cars. Mild hybrid cars can't drive on EV power alone, because they only use a small, low-voltage battery (usually) 48-volt, with a less than 1kWh capacity. The electric motor usual powers certain electrical features and the starter motor. They don't need to be charged, but they also don't offer noticeably better fuel efficiency than standard petrol- and diesel-powered cars. The popular Toyota HiLux ute is available with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, while Suzuki and Renault offer mild hybrid set-ups on some of their models. Conventional hybrid, plug-less hybrid or self-charging hybrid cars are popular in Australia. The engine works seamlessly with a bigger electric motor to maximise fuel efficiency. A conventional hybrid usually runs on electric-only power at low speeds or for short distances when cruising at higher speeds. The engine will kick in at higher speeds or when more power is needed, blending petrol and electric power. This makes fuels efficiency in urban environments or star-stop traffic better than what a petrol- or diesel-powered car would achieve. The battery in a conventional hybrid is charged by the engine and from regenerative braking, meaning the car doesn't need to be plugged in. The conventional hybrid car's battery is smaller than those in plug-in hybrid and fully-electric cars, and still requires a petrol engine to run. Toyota provides conventional hybrid set-ups on the vast majority of its Australian line-up, including its RAV4 SUV and Camry sedan. Other popular brands Kia, Hyundai and others also have affordable conventional hybrid variants on its popular models. Plug-in hybrids or PHEVs take hybrid power to the next level because they are equipped with a much larger battery and a more powerful electric motor set-up. PHEVs have a long electric-only driving range, with some capable of exceeding 200km, before the engine is needed to drive the wheels. Most new PHEVs have an EV range of at least 100km. This means daily commuters will rarely have to fill-up on fuel if they charge the battery every night. PHEVs also boast significant combined driving range as they have a regular sized fuel tank to power the engine, resulting in ranges of north of 1000km before the fuel tank and battery are depleted. Carmakers often claim PHEVs drink less than 2.0L/100km of fuel, but that requires owners to constantly charge their batteries and never let it deplete. Once the battery is depleted fuel use will skyrocket, as the small engine has to move around a heavy vehicle weighed down by the battery and electric motors. PHEVs suit a buyer with access to charging facilities, who also want outstanding fuel efficiency. Bigger Chinese vehicles usually employ PHEV set-ups, including the BYD Shark 6 ute and incoming Zeekr 8X and 9X. Range-extender hybrids, also known as Range Extender Electric Vehicle (REEV) or Extended-Range Electric vehicle (EREV), are gaining popularity globally. They are feature similar hardware to PHEVs, but work in a different way. The engine in a REEV's is used as a generator for charging the battery, and the wheels are driven by the electric motor, or motors, only. REEV's have an EV-sized battery that can also be plugged in to charge, giving these cars a driving range comfortably exceeding 1000km. Leapmotor's B10 and C10 SUVs use REEV set-ups in Australia, but the incoming Forthing Taikon 5 and the XPeng L03 will also employ the set-up when they hit showrooms. Nissan’s ‘e-Power’ hybrid system in the X-Trail and Qashqai SUVs employ REEV tech on a smaller scale, using the engine to power a small battery that powers the wheels, but this battery cannot be plugged in to charge.

If you’re an EV buyer in 2026, you need to know about this.  The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has revealed the state of play for electric and plug-in hybrid cars in Australia in 2026.  This is the 10th year of the ‘State of EVs’ report as more buyers bought EVs than ever before Down Under.  The report analysed the 2025-26 financial year, and how buyer trends and infrastructure, among other things, have changed in that time.  It called for several policy reforms, including targeted equity-based policy to assist economically-disadvantaged Aussies reap the benefits of EV driving. Australia’s charging landscape is diverse, it is also complex and fragmented and needs major investment, according to the report.  In June 2026, there were 4268 public charging locations, which is 235 per cent more than June 2025 There were 11,602 public charge points in June 2026, up 175 per cent compared to June 2025 The EVC said there needs to be more research into how owners charge EVs and where they need them most.  “Australia still needs substantial public charging investment, but the task is not as simple as just installing more fast chargers,” the report reads.   “Most charging happens where vehicles already park—at homes, apartment buildings, workplaces, destinations, kerbsides and depots.” The report calls for a nationally-coordinated charging roadmap and scaled infrastructure deployment. This news comes after NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury told CarsGuide in December 2025 Australia’s charging infrastructure was lagging behind.  “We’re nowhere near. We’ve got nowhere near enough public charging,” NRMA spokesperson Khoury said.  “There are lots of areas that don’t have energy that comes from outside the energy grid so you’ve got to create energy sources at those locations.” The EVC is calling for the government to implement a range of new rules in Australia.  It wants a targeted equity-based policy to help all Australians use EVs and take advantage of the cost savings with EV adoption. The report states that EVs have lower running costs than petrol- and diesel-powered cars, with less maintenance, seeing a typical driver saving roughly $3000 per year.  The EVC said this figure did not include the substantial increases to fuel prices in 2026, with savings calculated today even higher.  It said the federal government needs to implement an updated New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) for cars sold beyond 2029 to align with 2035 emissions reduction targets.  NVES is a set of emissions rules that imposes fines on cars sold that emit high levels of CO2 into the atmosphere.  Developing a car takes a brand several years to complete, meaning carmakers need to know the rules these models will need to follow. It also said there should be a national road-user charge that does not deter EV uptake. This would differ from the current system proposed by the New South Wales government from 2027 that the EVC said would slow EV sales. The New South Wales government wants a road user charge to make up for lost fuel excise revenue and ensure all road users contribute to maintenance.  The EVC found a fully-electric or PHEV car was bought every 100 seconds on average in the first half of 2026, with one in four new car sales using an electric powertrain. The report reads cost-of-living pressures, soaring fuel prices and greater EV choice has contributed to a sharp increase in electric car uptake in 2026.  Fully-electric and PHEV sales accounted for 25.8 per cent of new car sales up to June 2026, increasing from 12.1 per cent up to June 2025 There are 196 combined full EV and PHEV models on sale, compared to 153 models in 2025 There were 157,957 electric and PHEV sales in H1 2026, up 177 per cent from H1 2025 Australia’s EV uptake is now in line with the global average, according to the International Energy Agency “So, at a time when fuel prices are fluctuating and cost-of-living continues to bite, it’s no surprise that EVs have become a popular choice,” the report states.  “As of June 2026, drivers have never had a greater choice of EVs in Australia.” Australia recently got its new cheapest electric car in the BYD Atto 1 that is being offered from $19,990 (drive-away) until December, 15 2026.

Toyota is already growing its popular RAV4 range as demand surges for plug-in hybrid tech. The Japanese giant has confirmed a new GXL two-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid (PHEV) grade will arrive next year to sit below the XSE 2WD in the soon to be four-tier line-up. Toyota’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said the company was striving to expand its low emissions vehicle options in Australia to best suit customer needs “The mid-range GXL grade has long been a popular model in the RAV4 line-up and now with the addition of the PHEV powertrain option, it adds even more customer appeal,” Pappas said. All-wheel-drive versions of the RAV4 PHEV will get upgraded off-road ability, with the addition of new drive modes. Rock/Dirt and Mud/Sand will replace the Trail/Snow mode front the fourth quarter of this year. Toyota hasn’t confirmed prices yet for the GXL 2WD grade, but it will sit below the base XSE 2WD that starts at $58,840 (before on-road costs). A XSE costs about $7000 more than the GXL in the conventional hybrid RAV4, so by that logic the new GXL PHEV could start at about $52,000. 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV pricing All RAV4 PHEVs use a 2.5-litre petrol engine that is paired with either one or two electric motors for front- or all-wheel drive. Front-wheel-drive versions make a combined 207kW and all-wheel-drive grades up the ante with 227kW. Fuel use is a claimed 0.7L/100km, but owners will need to be militant in keeping the circa-23kWh battery at a high level of charge to keep it operating in EV mode.  The RAV4 PHEV has a claimed electric driving range of up to 121km in the 2WD grades and 113km in the heavier and more powerful AWD versions. The GXL comes standard with: Full LED lights 18-inch alloy wheels 8-way powered driver's seat Synthetic leather instrument panel and upper door trim Leather-accented steering wheel and gearshift knob Smart entry and start Dual-zone climate control Automatic rain-sensing windscreen wipers 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster 10.5-inch touchscreen display with new-generation multimedia system Wireless phone charger 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV specifications