2025-26 Wheels Ute of the Year, contender: Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana
Volkswagen’s new Amarok is a Ranger under the skin, with vastly improved safety and second row comfort compared with the original.
2025-26 Wheels Ute of the Year, contender: Mazda BT-50 GT
The Mazda BT-50 hits a lot of the right notes in the dual-cab segment, but there are some crucial areas where it falls a little short.
2025-26 Wheels Ute of the Year, contender: KGM Musso Ultimate Luxury XLV
The ‘other’ challenger brand in this segment is one that some of you might not immediately think of – South Korea’s first dual-cab entrant, the KGM Musso.
2025-26 Wheels Ute of the Year, contender: Kia Tasman X-Line
It might have a face only a mother could love but underneath that Ugly Duckling exterior lives a refined and well-sorted dual-cab.
2025-26 Wheels Ute of the Year, contender: Isuzu D-Max Terrain
Updated and tweaked recently, the D-Max continues to appeal to buyers looking for rugged reliability and all-round capability.
2025-26 Wheels Ute of the Year, 3rd: Ford Ranger V6 Sport
The Ford Ranger redefined the segment when the latest-gen launched in 2022, establishing itself as the best-selling vehicle of any kind over the last two years.
2025-26 Wheels Ute of the Year Winner: BYD Shark 6
In a first for Wheels, dual cabs get their own segment and new yearly award – with a razor sharp focus. And it's one of the newer brands taking out our first-ever Ute of the Year award, the BYD Shark 6.
Modern Classic: Lamborghini Countach, a masterpiece of style
Born in the ’70s, and a supercar icon of the ’80s which lived into the ’90s, the Countach weaved its own magnificent myths.
The Wheels Interview: Dr Stuart Newstead, safety expert, on why Australia’s road toll remains so high
Dr Stuart Newstead is one of Australia’s foremost experts on road safety, who has some pointed things to say about a country where car-related deaths are going up, not down, despite public safety campaigns and crash avoidance technology.
Modern Classic: HSV Coupe 4
HSV’s rare all-wheel-drive Coupe 4 was bold, complex and ahead of its time – and while it flopped commercially, it remains an example of a braver time in Australian motoring history.
Robbo’s 2025-26 COTY Notebook – and why the Honda Civic had to win
Esteemed former Wheels editor and 2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year judge Peter Robinson is famous for his fearless opinions – here are his notes on each of this year's COTY contenders...
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Top 8: IM5 Performance
Upmarket MG sub-brand IM is looking to make an immediate impact with the IM5, setting its sights firmly on Tesla’s Model 3.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Top 8: Kia EV3 Air Long Range
Kia’s EV3 arrives as a pivotal, long-range EV contender with sharp pricing and bold design, yet mixed dynamics and tough rivals prevent it from claiming the win at this year’s COTY judging.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Top 8: Mahindra XUV3XO AX7L
Mahindra’s budget-friendly XUV3XO surprises with comfort, capability and value, earning unexpected praise from the judges – despite some obvious gaps – as the brand expands in Australia.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Top 8: Skoda Kodiaq Sportline 4x4
Skoda takes on stablemate Volkswagen with the 5+2 Skoda Kodiaq – value packed and designed to appeal to budget-conscious family buyers.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Top 8: Volkswagen Tayron 150TSI Elegance
The Tiguan Allspace replacement impressed by offering a lot of SUV for the price tag.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Volvo EX30 Cross Country
Volvo’s EX30 Cross Country blends big power, cool Scandi design and AWD capability, but range concerns and ride compromises raise some questions.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Tesla Model Y
How does the modern pioneer of electrified cars compete with renewed competition, both electric and internal combustion powered?
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Subaru Forester
Subaru’s Forester hybrid keeps its trademark all-wheel-drive composure and everyday comfort, delivering balance in a segment crowded with flashier, less capable mid-size SUVs.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor
Swedish minimalism in an electric future – while Polestar aims to rewrite the rule book with its left-field Polestar 4, it wasn’t enough to progress in this year’s award.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Nissan Ariya
Nissan’s long-delayed Ariya EV promised range, space and style, but lacklustre performance, dated design and average refinement saw it quickly ruled out in COTY testing.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Mazda CX-60 G40E GT
Can an SUV really deliver the ‘Zoom Zoom’ by which Mazda defines itself?
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Isuzu MU-X
Isuzu’s MU-X SUV delivers rugged, old-school diesel durability and true go-anywhere ability, but its agricultural manners and dated refinement make it feel trapped in another era.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Hyundai Inster
Hyundai’s pint-sized Inster EV delivers charm, solid engineering and urban range, but faces fierce price competition from cheaper Chinese rivals in Australia’s fast-moving electric city-car market.
