A new apartment building in Melbourne is now Australia’s largest EV-enabled thanks to the installation of more than 250 EV charging points. NOX Energy and Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen launched Australia’s largest EV-enabled building at Sierra Hawthorn.

Access to charging points is one of the largest barriers to EV ownership in Australia, and this latest project gives hope for apartment dwellers who wish to own and run an electric vehicle.

Comprising 241 residential apartments and five commercial tenancies, the building now has NOX Energy power sockets to support EV charging across the building. As a result, every resident now has access to 10A/2.4kW EV charging directly from their allocated parking space.

The installation also includes 10 additional power socket units and a 22kW MSI charger for commercial tenants.

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Each of the new charging points is estimated to save residents around $2000 per year in fuel costs compared with running a petrol vehicle, with the cost of the charge point estimated to be recovered within 12 months.

“Electric vehicles are cheaper to run, better for the environment and quieter on our streets, but for too many apartment residents charging has been a barrier,” Mr Bowen said. “The 251 EV chargers installed here make this the largest EV-enabled building in Australia and among the largest globally. Charging at home is the cheapest and easiest way to power an EV, and this rollout helps make that possible for more people.”

The installation is part of the “Accelerating EV Adoption: Unlocking EVs for Strata Residents” project, which supports the deployment of 2000 EV charging devices across Australian strata buildings. This project includes funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) through the Driving the Nation initiative, which aims to accelerate electric vehicle adoption nationwide.

A mooted new tax in the United States reflects a divisive argument currently taking shape in Australian politics – a road user charge for EV owners.

Currently, in Australia, owners of ICE vehicles pay 52.6 cents per litre in fuel excise, every time they fill their vehicles with diesel or petrol. The recognised average distance covered by Australians each year is generally accepted to be around the 13,000km to 14,000km mark. If they own a vehicle that uses 9.0L/100km, and they travel 14,000km, that means they’ve used 1260 litres of fuel. At the current rate, that equates to a fuel excise bill of $662.76.

If you’re driving an electric vehicle in Australia, you’ve paid no fuel excise or road user charge of any kind. That’s despite EVs using the same roads, and invariably weighing more than a comparable ICE vehicles in the same segment, and therefore leaving more wear on the road.

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Regardless of the ideological stance taken, that’s unsustainable if sales of EVs get even close to what the government would like them to be in the next five to 10 years.

Given the hole that would leave in the budget, governments will be forced to find an alternative way, taking into account the fact that a large chunk of the fuel excise is directed back into the maintenance and running of the roads.

The state of Victoria tried to implement a road user tax in 2025, but it was overturned, effectively because the fuel excise – and any tax like it – is a federal issue, not state. One of the arguments consistently put forward against a road user tax is that it unfairly targets those who travel further to get to work, but that argument misses the basic fact that those drivers already pay more fuel excise if they travel a longer distance.

It would seem clear, then, that if sales of EVs were to reach even 20 percent of all new vehicles sales, let alone 30 or 40 percent, the federal government will have to find a way of plugging what will be a significant hole in the budget.

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Politicians in the United States are starting to tackle the issue, something not yet broached federally in Australia. As reported by Reuters, chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Representative Sam Graves, said on Wednesday that he’d proposed a new fee for EV owners – $250 ($350AUD) for fully electric and $100 ($141AUD) for hybrids – to be paid annually.

Representative Graves said that his version of the bill would generate up to $550 billion USD to be used to fund highways and bridges, according to the report in Reuters. “We would like to get money from EVs,” Graves said. Some states in the US do charge fees for EVs to cover road repair costs, but Reuters reports that ‘most revenue for federally funded road repairs is collected through diesel and gasoline taxes’.

If sales of EVs grow steadily in Australia over the next five to ten years, politicians will need to confront an issue they seem currently unwilling to debate – and it might be the financial hole that tips them over the edge.

Thanks to the US-Israeli war on Iran causing havoc to global fuel supplies, fuel prices in Australia are at an all-time high. As of today, 91 RON is sitting at most fuel stations in Sydney at around $2.20 per litre, with fuels like 95 RON and 98 RON premium unleaded priced closer to $2.50 per litre and above. That development obviously adds significantly to the transport costs of Australians, so how can you reduce your use? We’ve already covered the best EVs to switch to, but if electric cars aren’t the answer for you, the answer is a hybrid.

Hybrid drivetrains combine the best of both internal combustion and electric power, and can significantly lessen your fuel consumption as a result. While regular hybrids are unable to drive far on electric-only power, plug-in hybrids can thanks to their larger batteries, with some offering an EV range of up to 152km. Here’s the WhichCar by Wheels guide to the best hybrid vehicles on the market to dramatically cut fuel costs:

BYD Sealion 8

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Price: From $56,990 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: 1.5-litre turbo plug-in hybrid, up to 359kW/675Nm, 35.6kWh battery
Claimed combined fuel consumption: 1.0L/100km
EV range: Up to 152km (NEDC)

BYD‘s first seven-seater SUV in Australia is the Sealion 8 and it’s priced from $56,990 plus on-road costs, making it relatively inexpensive for a large seven-seat SUV. But the Sealion 8 is also a plug-in hybrid making up to a massive 359kW of power and can also travel up to 152km on electric power alone. Fully charged, it should use just 1.0L/100km of fuel. Add in its roomy cabin with quality materials, seating for up to seven, long standard equipment list and pleasant driving experience and we think it’s a great option to reduce fuel costs for those seeking a large family SUV.

Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid

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Price: From $39,990 driveaway
Drivetrain: 1.5-litre turbo plug-in hybrid, up to 255kW/525Nm, 18.4kWh battery
Claimed combined fuel consumption: 1.4L/100km
EV range: 93km (NEDC)

When the Chery Tiggo 7 SHS launched in 2025, Chery‘s 1200km total range claim was impressive and now that fuel prices are higher and efficiency is an even greater consideration for buyers, it’s come into sharper focus. Using a 1.5-litre turbocharged plug-in hybrid drivetrain making up to 255kW of power, the Tiggo 7 SHS’s 18.4kWh gives a claimed electric driving range of 93km and combined fuel consumption of just 1.4L/100km (if charged). Pricing starts at just $39,990 driveaway, though Chery has it available for just $34,990 at the time of writing, making it one to consider to lessen costs.

Honda HR-V e:HEV

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Price: From $39,900 driveaway
Drivetrain: 1.5-litre hybrid, 96kW/253Nm
Claimed combined fuel consumption: 4.3L/100km

The Honda HR-V e:HEV hybrid is one of the best small SUVs you can buy, and with combined fuel consumption of just 4.3L/100km, it’s also one of the cheapest to run. Using a peppy 1.5-litre hybrid drivetrain making 96kW of power, the HR-V hybrid is also more than grunty enough for city driving. It’s also extremely practical thanks to Honda‘s Magic Seats system, drives well and is also well equipped with quality materials.

Honda Civic

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Price: From $49,900 driveaway
Drivetrain: 2.0-litre hybrid, 135kW/335Nm
Claimed combined fuel consumption: 4.2L/100km

A roomy cabin, huge boot, punchy 2.0-litre hybrid capable of just 4.2L/100km combined fuel consumption and an excellent driving experience sum up the Honda Civic, going some way to explaining why it won 2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year. It’s a truly great car and in this context, has more than enough potential to cut your fuel bills significantly. In purely urban driving, the hybrid system uses under 4L/100km of fuel, but it’s also got more than enough grunt for all scenarios.

Kia Sportage

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Price: From $44,450 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid, 173kW/367Nm
Claimed combined fuel consumption: 4.9L/100km (2WD) – 5.3L/100km (AWD) 

You may not know it, but the Kia Sportage actually offers the widest range of drivetrains in the mid-size SUV segment with petrol, turbo-petrol, turbo-diesel and turbo-hybrids on offer, but we think the hybrid is the best of the bunch. Rated from just 4.9L/100km on the combined cycle, the Sportage hybrid is quite fuel efficient, but making 173kW of power, it’s also quite punchy. That’s in addition to the Sportage’s usual traits like sold value for money, long equipment lists and a great driving experience.

Kia Sorento

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Price: $56,630 plus on-road costs (hybrid), $71,130 plus on-road costs (plug-in hybrid)
Drivetrain: 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid, 169kW/350Nm – 1.6-litre turbo plug-in hybrid, 195kW/350Nm
Claimed combined fuel consumption: 1.6L/100km (PHEV), 5.4L/100km (hybrid 2WD), 5.6L/100km (hybrid AWD)
EV range (PHEV): 68km (NEDC)

We’re big fans of the Kia Sorento and that’s because it’s a really great large SUV thanks to its keen value, excellent driving dynamics, spacious cabin and availability of not just one, but two hybrid drivetrains. The 169kW 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid is a big seller in the Sorento range offering combined fuel consumption from just 5.4L/100km, but there’s also the plug-in hybrid that’s capable of travelling 68km electrically and combined fuel consumption of just 1.6L/100km (if charged).

Geely Starray EM-i

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Price: From $37,490 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid, 193kW, 18.4kWh battery
Claimed combined fuel consumption: 2.4L/100km
EV range: 83km 

Geely’s Starray only entered the Australian market in 2025 but it’s already selling well, and that’s because of its excellent value equation but also its impressive 83km electric-only range and combined fuel consumption of only 2.4L/100km (if fully charged). The Starray is also very well equipped, practical, handsome to look at and its cabin quality is excellent, too. Like all PHEVs, if you charge the Starray regularly, it has the potential to significantly lessen your fuel bills.

Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid

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Price: From $33,250 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: 1.6-litre hybrid, 104kW/265Nm
Claimed combined fuel consumption: 3.9L/100km

Like the Civic, the Hyundai i30 Sedan hybrid proves that you don’t need an SUV for a practical family car. Prices start at just $33,250 +ORC, which is less than the equivalent Kona hybrid small SUV, and the i30 Sedan hybrid is also very fuel efficient, rated at just 3.9L/100km. In addition to that, it’s very roomy for a small sedan, and it’s also quite well equipped across the range.

Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

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Price: From $42,850 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid, 172kW/367Nm
Claimed combined fuel consumption: 5.3L/100km

The Hyundai Tucson won the 2025 Wheels’ Best Medium SUV award and it’s still a strong all-rounder that’s capable of lessening your fuel bills significantly. Both excellent 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid and underwhelming 2.0-litre petrol drivetrains are on offer in the Tucson range, but the hybrid is undoubtedly the better choice in the range. Rated at just 5.3L/100km on the combined cycle, the hybrid is not only a lot more efficient, but it’s also far gruntier than the petrol engine also offered. The Tucson hybrid is one of the best medium SUVs currently available.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid

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Price: From $45,990 plus on-road costs (PHEV from $58,840 +ORC)
Drivetrain: 143kW 2.5-litre hybrid or 200kW (2WD)/227kW (AWD) plug-in hybrid, 22.7kWh battery (PHEV)
Claimed combined fuel consumption: TBC, but expected to be under 5L/100km
EV range (PHEV): 100km (est.)

Last but not least, a vehicle you should be considering to lessen your fuel costs is the new Toyota RAV4. Over 50,000 people in 2025 in Australia alone bought one as its excellent fuel efficiency is a big drawcard for mid-size SUV shoppers. For the first time in Australia, the plug-in hybrid will be offered from the third quarter of 2026 offering a “targeted” range of 100km, with full specifications yet to be confirmed. Pricing for the new model is higher, starting at $45,990 +ORC and from $58,840 +ORC for the PHEV, but it’s received a big boost in in-car technology compared to the old model.

Toyota Australia has issued a recall for 34,377 Klugers built between 2021 and 2023 – notifying on March 6, 2006 of a fault in the mechanism for the second-row seats. “The subject vehicles are equipped with second row seats that use recliner assemblies to unlock the seat backs, allow for seat angle adjustment and lock the seat back in place once adjustment is complete,” the recall notice reads.

Klugers built between March 31, 2021 and November 10, 2023 are affected. “Due to a failure to consider the force balance between the locking spring and the return spring during a design change made by the supplier, a combination of recliner return spring orientation and outer clearance between the recliner guide and ratchet may cause the recliner teeth to not fully engage during seat back adjustment,” the notice continues.

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A list of the affected vehicles can be found in the link in this story, and Toyota says rectification work will take approximately one hour. Owners are asked to remove child safety seats before taking their Kluger in to be fixed. Toyota also said it will contact owners to have the seat return springs replaced free of charge, but they can continue to drive their Kluger in the meantime.

If you’re unsure whether your vehicle is affected, Toyota advises Kluger owners to contact the Toyota Recall Campaign Helpline on 1800 987 366, Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 6:00pm.

What started as an April Fools’ Day joke has now turned into reality. Earning over 1.6 million views, BMW’s 2025 April Fools’ post of its ‘racing wagon’ is actually being realised with the brand’s unveiling of the M3 Touring 24H.

What’s more, BMW that the M3 Touring will be entering the Nurburgring 24-hour race in May.

Essentially a rebodied version of BMW’s successful M4 GT3 EVO race car, the M3 Touring 24H is 200mm longer and 32mm taller than the coupe. It’s an obviously different shape to the coupe, too, presenting a challenge for aerodynamics, but BMW designed a huge new rear spoiler for the carbon fibre reinforced plastic body. The M3 Touring 24H is also fitted with a roll cage and non-functional rear doors.

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It uses the same 440kW/700Nm 3.0-litre turbo-six engine and six-speed sequential gearbox as the M4 GT3 EVO, and will be driven by Schubert Motorsport in the SPX class in the race. Its drivers will include Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde, Connor De Phillippi, and Neil Verhagen.

Known as the “Green Hell”, the Nurburgring Nordschleife is one of the world’s toughest circuits, especially over 24 hours. Each lap is over 25km long and takes over eight minutes on average for the very fastest GT3 cars. In the 2025 race, the average speed for the fastest cars was a massive 188km/h.

It’s not the first time that a station wagon has been entered in motorsport either. The iconic Volvo 850 Estate was very successful in the British Touring Car Championship from 1994, while both Honda and Subaru also saw big success in the BTCC with wagons, with a Levorg winning the title in 2014.

The 2026 Nurburgring 24h race is scheduled to take place from May 14-17.

Australia’s competition watchdog has stepped up scrutiny of fuel retailers as petrol and diesel prices climb sharply, raising concerns about affordability and supply across parts of the country.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) confirmed it held an urgent meeting with major fuel suppliers, including Ampol, BP and Chevron, as prices at the bowser continue to rise and availability tightens in some regions.

The meeting comes as average petrol prices have jumped from around $1.80 per litre prior to the Trump administraton’s bombing campaign of Iran to roughly $2.20, while diesel has climbed even higher to about $2.45 per litre.

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ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said the regulator had made it clear to fuel companies that pricing behaviour would be closely monitored, particularly given the pressure on households and businesses.

“We urged the fuel companies to be open and honest with consumers about the reasons for their pricing decisions,” Brakey said, noting the ACCC had received increasing complaints from motorists concerned about rapid price increases.

The watchdog has also sought explanations from retailers over the speed and scale of recent price rises, particularly in areas where supply disruptions have been reported.

ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said the regulator would not hesitate to act if evidence of anti-competitive conduct emerged.

“If we find there is conduct that is collusive – for example agreements to set prices or divide up customers – we will investigate it and take action,” she said.

While the ACCC acknowledged that global factors, including volatility in international oil markets, are contributing to rising prices, it has urged retailers to clearly communicate those influences to consumers.

The issue is particularly acute in regional and rural areas, where both supply constraints and higher transport costs can exacerbate price pressures. Farmers and regional businesses are among those most affected, with some reporting difficulties accessing fuel altogether.

Cass-Gottlieb said transparency from suppliers would be critical in maintaining consumer trust during the current period of uncertainty.

The ACCC has indicated it will continue monitoring pricing behaviour in the coming weeks, signalling that further intervention remains possible if concerns around pricing practices or supply issues persist.

Hyundai Australia has launched a dedicated N Australia web portal that will reportedly further enhance the customer experience for owners of its N performance vehicle range. Created as a “one-stop digital gateway to its calendar of exclusive driving events”, the N Australia portal will also keep its ‘Nthusiasts’ up to date with the latest news and shareable content.

The site will showcase the full suite of events and activities available to Hyundai Nthusiasts across the country, from convoy-style ‘N Drive Meets’ that take in some of the most spectacular and fun-to-drive public roads, to ‘N Club Track Days’ at prominent race circuits where Hyundai provides expert driving tuition and technical support.

In 2026, N Australia will host more than 18 unique events around Australia in every state, delivering a wide variety of activities for Nthusiasts to enjoy the thrilling performance of their N vehicle on road and track, while cementing an inclusive and engaged community relationship.

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The calendar culminates in the increasingly popular annual Hyundai N Festival, a three-day, family-friendly celebration of the N brand and its owners, which is now in its eighth year.

2026 N Australia events:

• SA N Club Track Day, The Bend Motorsport Park: March 29
• NSW N Club Track Day, Sydney Motorsport Park: April 2
• QLD N Drive Meet, Gold Coast Hinterland: May 2
• QLD N Club Track Day, Morgan Park Raceway: May 3
• VIC N Drive Meet, Gippsland: May 23
• VIC N Club Track Day, Winton Motor Raceway: May 24
• WA N Club Track Day, Collie Motorplex: June 13
• WA N Drive Meet, South-west region of WA: June 14
• ACT N Drive Meet, ACT: June 27
• NSW N Tech Track Day, One Raceway (previously Wakefield Park): June 28
• NSW EV Track Sessions, Sydney Motorsport Park: July 23
• TAS N Drive Meet, Launceston: August 15
• TAS N Club Track Day, Symmons Plains Raceway: August 16
• QLD N Club Track Day, Morgan Park Raceway: August 23
• NSW N Drive Meet, Blue Mountains: September 5
• VIC N Club Track Day, Winton Motor Raceway: September 20
• NSW EV Track Sessions, Sydney Motorsport Park: September 25
• SA N Drive Meet, Adelaide Hills: October 4
• 2026 Hyundai N Festival: Announcement coming soon

The new N Australia web portal is available to view here.

Nissan’s next-generation Navara has arrived in Australian showrooms, marking the fifth generation of the company’s long-running ute, part of the local market for around 40 years.

The latest Navara has been developed with a particular focus on Australian driving conditions, with local suspension tuning carried out by Melbourne-based engineering firm Premcar. The collaboration is designed to ensure the new model performs consistently across the wide range of surfaces and loads typical of ute ownership in Australia.

All variants are powered by a 2.4-litre twin-turbo diesel engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces 150kW and 470Nm, representing modest gains of 10kW and 20Nm over the previous D23-generation Navara, while also improving fuel efficiency slightly.

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The new Navara is offered locally in four dual-cab 4×4 pick-up grades: SL, ST, ST-X and PRO-4X. Nissan has dropped manual transmission options, reflecting buying trends that saw around 90 per cent of buyers choosing an automatic in the previous model.

A key focus of the new ute’s development has been suspension tuning, which Nissan says needed to balance comfort and handling across a wide range of uses – from empty tray driving to carrying a full payload or towing heavy trailers.

Rather than applying a single suspension setup across the range, Nissan and Premcar created three separate calibrations tailored to different buyer types.

The SL and ST variants, aimed primarily at trade and fleet users, use a heavy-duty four-leaf rear suspension designed to perform when carrying loads such as tools or equipment.

The mid-range ST-X, which Nissan positions as a dual-purpose vehicle for both work and family use, runs a three-leaf rear spring arrangement paired with larger 18-inch wheels. Engineers focused on maintaining ride comfort without sacrificing stability when the vehicle is loaded or towing.

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At the top of the line-up, the PRO-4X adopts an off-road-focused setup with 17-inch wheels and all-terrain tyres, tuned to allow greater wheel movement on rough surfaces while maintaining on-road composure.

One technical feature introduced in the new Navara’s suspension is the use of internal rebound springs within the front dampers. According to Premcar engineers, this allows improved body control without needing excessively firm damping, helping balance ride comfort with steering precision.

The ute also introduces electronic power steering for the first time on a Navara, enabling variable steering assistance depending on speed and driving conditions.

Four-wheel-drive systems vary across the range. SL and ST models use a traditional part-time system with selectable high and low range, while the ST-X and PRO-4X gain Nissan’s Super 4WD setup featuring a centre differential that allows all-wheel drive operation on sealed roads.

Off-road capability has also been slightly improved, with ground clearance increased to 228mm and the departure angle improved compared with the previous generation.

Across the range, the Navara retains a 3500kg braked towing capacity, with towing stability forming a significant part of the vehicle’s local development program.

Pricing details can be found here.

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Toyota has been the market leader in hybrid technology in Australia for more than two decades – and that’s also the case around the world. Electrification, in some form, has even available across the Toyota range in Australia for some time, now and patents uncovered by CarBuzz in the United States hint that the brand is already looking at ways to integrate PHEV tech into its full-size pickup trucks.

In the US, plug-in technology is currently only available in RAV4 or Prius, but it looks like a plug-in version of its pickup is on the way, with the HiLux likely to follow a similar path, once the technology is available.

As noted by CarBuzz, the patents show a wide variety of packaging and battery positioning options, for plug-in variants of Tacoma, Tundra or similar vehicles. Six different patents, all published on March 5th, show batteries under the tray, or under the seats in different configurations.

One example shows the batteries all under the load tray, while another shows the battery placed in two different packs – one beneath the tray and the other inside the tray. There’s also an L-shape arrangement, in the same positions.

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While there’s no guarantee the tech could see its way to production in the form it’s currently in within the patents, they do show that Toyota is looking at PHEV tech for it’s commercial vehicles, recognition that it’s technology that is growing in popularity. It’s also indicative that there’s more than one way to package the tech in a vehicle like a truck.

A plug-in hybrid Tundra or HiLux wouldn’t be the first PHEV in that segment, with BYD, GWM and Ford all offering the technology in traditionally-sized dual-cab platforms. In the US, competition in the full-size segment is fierce, with stalwarts RAM, GM and Ford all vying for market share.

The full-size segment continues to grow in popularity in Australia, as well, with RAM ticking past 50,000 trucks sold since launching in the Australian market as a remanufactured RHD platform.

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From launch in 2025, the first batch of GX550 Lexus models sold out before they had even landed in Australia – somewhat unsurprising given their almost legendary reputation in the United States. However, the love for the GX in the United States is, broadly speaking, related to its off-road ability and performance. Will Aussies head bush in their expensive Lexus 4WD? We don’t think so.

What that means, then, is the GX will spend most of its time in the city, and that’s an interesting counter to our thought that the Overtrail model we’re driving this issue is the pick of the bunch. It’s mix of standard equipment, price and ride quality on the off-road focused rubber makes for a useful and comfortable large 4WD. Further, the five-seat cabin makes better use of the space provided than the compromised seven-seat layout.

How much does the GX550 Overtrail cost to buy?

Overtrail – as the name suggests – is the off-road focused variant, with Luxury and Sports Luxury model grades available. In price terms, the Overtrail sits in the middle of the range with Luxury starting from $116,000, and Sports Luxury from $128,200, while Overtrail starts from $122,250, all before on-road costs.

You can see that it is, in fact, a decent wedge of money to fire toward a tough off-road track. And, that’s the reason we suspect most Aussie GX buyers are more likely to be contemplating a run to the shopping centre than they are a Simpson Desert crossing.

So far as luxury, five-seat 4WDs in the large segment, with real off-road ability, there isn’t a lot to take the fight up to the GX550. Range Rover Sport is a contender, but competition is more likely to come from within the Toyota garage in the form of the LandCruiser 300 Series.

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How practical is the GX550 Overtrail?

The other two model grades feature seven-seat cabins, but WhichCar by Wheels thinks the five-seat GX offers the smartest balance between cabin space and storage. Especially if you’re using the third row, there’s almost no luggage space to be had, but even with the third row folded up, storage space is much less useful than the five-seater.

There’s a hefty 1063 litres available in storage space with the second row in use, and that balloons out to a whopping 2000 litres with those seats folded down. There’s more than enough space on offer for the regular family expectations in other words.

The GX styling means it will appeal to those of us loving the retro boxy look that’s seemingly back in vogue, and there’s no doubt it’s significantly sharper on the road than the Prado on which its based.

The driving position is high riding, meaning you get excellent visibility with a commanding view of the road ahead especially, and there’s an old-school 4WD appeal to the view out of the GX. The sharp bonnet lines, and tall and narrow profile, mean even in the city, the GX550 feels ‘right sized’.

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On test, the infotainment system, and the smartphone connection worked flawlessly. It’s headed up by a huge 14.0-inch central screen, which is responsive to touch inputs and easy to decipher, even for first timers. There’s obviously a lot you need to learn to control, but it’s certainly not convoluted or buried in deep menu systems as some can be. The driver gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and there’s wireless smartphone connectivity, along with a Panasonic ten-speaker audio system. Owners can set the GX up with the Lexus smartphone app and control things like locking, unlocking and the climate control system via it.

How fuel efficient is the GX550 Overtrail?

Power comes from a 3.4-litre, twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, which generates 260kW and 650Nm, and uses a claimed 12.3L/100km on the combined cycle. For our first drive, mostly around town with some freeway running, we used an indicated 15.2L/100km. Now, it has to be said, that in an environment of efficiency hybrids, fuel use north of 15L/100km is something to consider, especially if you spend all you time in city traffic.

The engine is punchy and enjoyable to orchestrate from behind the wheel, as the powered and torque figures would suggest, but it will be thirsty if you push it too hard. Judicious use of the right foot is advised, even if the ten-speed automatic makes the driving experience as smooth as it can be. The engine – thirsty as it might be – is a significant departure from the diesel under the bonnet of the Prado, and the GX is all the better for it, smoother, quieter and more refined all round.

What is the GX550 Overtrail like to drive?

The engine is punchy and enjoyable to conduct from behind the wheel, as the power and torque figures would suggest, but it will be thirsty if you push it too hard, as evidenced by our real-world fuel use above.

Judicious use of the right foot is advised, even if the ten-speed automatic makes the driving experience as smooth as it can be. You can drive the GX550 efficiently, but even the claimed claim of more than 12 litres per hundred is heavy when a hybrid powertrain would be using significantly less than ten.

The engine – thirsty as it might be – is a significant departure from the diesel under the bonnet of the Prado, and the GX is all the better for it, smoother, quieter and more refined all round. In fact, the smoothness is what you’d expect of a Lexus, so it very much fits the bill in that sense.

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The ride – bump absorption specifically – is something that really defines the GX550 experience and that’s partly thanks to Lexus’ excellent eKDSS (Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System). Despite being a ladder-frame 4WD beneath the skin, and despite the Overtrail being decidedly focused on off-road work, the way it deals with pockmarked city roads is exceptional. The cabin is always comfortable and insulated, no matter how poor the road surface. 18-inch wheels are running Toyo Open County all-terrain rubber, which,

in our opinion, is one of the better brands when it comes to on-road driving. This is not a 4WD to fire into a corner at speed, but it doesn’t claim to be, and the segment doesn’t demand that sort of driving prowess either. Rather, the GX550 delivers that kind of loping ease we’ve previously associated with a 200 Series LandCruiser or other large Lexus sedans and 4WDs.

What warranty covers the GX550 Overtrail?

Beyond the warranty fine print, Lexus ownership brings with it all manner of enticing potential such as the Lexus On Demand service and other VIP owner-only advantage.

Keep in mind then, that buying a Lexus opens the door to those experiences. The Lexus range is also covered by a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, with capped price servicing running over that five-year period as well. You’ll need to visit a service centre every six months or 10,000km, with each service costing $695 for a total of $6950 across the first five years. Buyers also get three years of roadside assistance included and access to the Lexus Encore program.

Should I buy a Lexus GX550 Overtrail?

Ultimately, the GX550 presents a conundrum if you’re assessing it in traditional Lexus terms. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but the Lexus badge brings with it a certain (heavy) expectation. The GX550 looks like a Lexus, and it fees like a Lexus inside the cabin and from behind the wheel. Overtrail doesn’t feature the sumptuous leather trim you’ll be accustomed to if you’ve owned or tested a Lexus before, and it can’t hide it’s ladder-frame chassis underpinnings.

Yes, it rides and handles better than just about any other ladder-frame 4WD on the market, but it is nonetheless, fundamentally, a robust 4WD. The question then, is whether you need a vehicle of that capability, to largely drive around town?

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