The Honda Civic has long been a favourite among compact car enthusiasts, known for its reliability and dynamic driving experience.
Now in it’s 11th generation, the Civic has rationalised it’s line-up to cut out entry-level models, instead now offering two premium variants– the VTi LX or hybrid e-HEV LX.
So for those who are interested in all that the new Civic has to offer, let’s take a look at what you’ll pick up with the petrol VTi LX.
Sharing the same bones as the iconic Civic Type R, the VTi LX has picked up some refinement and engineering that goes into making one of the worlds most popular hot hatches.
Operating as an agency model (like Mercedes-Benz) means that the Civic pricing is standard across all dealerships. And in the case of the VTi LX it has an asking price of $47,200 drive-away.
Under the bonnet is a punchy 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder producing 131kW and 240Nm, running on 91 RON regular unleaded fuel.
Step inside, and the VTi-LX welcomes you with a lavish and sporty interior. Leather seats, a sunroof, and a premium sound system add to the luxury touches throughout the car.
The infotainment system, with its 9-inch touchscreen and Wireless Apple CarPlay, offers seamless connectivity.
| 12 premium Bose speaker sound system | Heated and power adjustable front seats |
| 9-inch touchscreen | LED headlights |
| Ambient lighting | Rain sensing wipers |
| Auto retractable door mirrors | Rear privacy glass |
| Black leather accented seats | Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto |
| Dual zone climate control | Wireless charger |
| Front LED fog lights |
The VTi LX is available in four colours, that are all no-cost options.
As part of the ENCAP testing, the Civic received an 89% adult occupant protection score and 87% child occupant protection score.
Standard safety equipment includes 8 airbag, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, driver attention motnitoring and a reversing camera.
The e-HEV hybrid variant adds front and rear parking sensors, traffic sign recognition and additional airbags– front centre and rear side airbags.
In its previous generation, the Civic started at a price-point alongside key competitors at the time such as the Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3. Now it competes with the range-toppers of the same models.
And with a drive-away price almost hitting $50,000, it’s been pushed up into a new league of competition against hot hatches such as the Hyundai i30N.
The 2023 Honda Civic VTi-LX is a testament to Honda’s promise of premium without compromising on reliability.
With fixed pricing nationwide through their new agency model, there will be no need for haggling or negotiations. However that comes at a significant price.
With newer budget entrants arriving in Australia by the day, offering drive-away bargains, it’s hard for many to justify the step up into this territory for a hatchback.
Professor Richard Hopkins and one of the students involved in UNSW’s Sunswift solar project, chief strategist Luke Tedesco, sit in front of me quietly confident that they’re in for a win at this year’s Bridgestone World Solar Challenge [↗] held in Australia between 22-29 October.
Coming off the back of a Guinness World Record as the fastest EV to cover 1000km, the Sunswift 7 is a solar-powered, carbon-fibre, battery-electric racer built by a team of 100 engineering students with help from Amazon AWS. Richard and Luke are telling me that the 3020km route from Darwin to Adelaide should be a walk in the park for the car’s piddly 38kWh battery.
With a drag coefficient of 0.09 (a Mercedes-Benz EQS is rated at 0.202Cd), ceramic wheel bearings, and low rolling resistance rubber, the $1.2 million Sunswift 7 can travel 1200km on battery power alone using 3.3kWh/100km. Add the 4.5m2 of solar array on the roof and bonnet that generates 700-750 watts into the mix and you’ll get another 400km driving range in the beaming sun. A fair bit more effective than the Genesis G80 Electrified’s panels.
“But it cost $1.2 million to produce”, admits Richard, “so it is that high performance, high efficiency. It wasn’t designed to be a production car, it was designed to be a demonstration of what is possible [within the regulations]”.
I think it’s time we changed and moved with the times. I’ve got a team of 100 students who are screaming out to do other things
“The world record would not have been possible without AWS. We’ve got amazing minds like Luke, and we’ve got amazing minds as well with AWS. Put them both together and It’s incredible what we can achieve as a collective.
“We are looking at the minutiae to develop those strategies across 3020km. With so many variables you can put a plan in place but then wind direction, the amount of sun, you get a flat tire, all these things that are out of our control come along, and it’s how you deal and manage and recover from those and still come out on top”, enthuses Prof Hopkins.
Aside from the car, the amateur team members have to be trained up for driving duties – not for maximum lap time, but smoothness. It’s not Formula 1, but there’s still plenty of skill involved.
“We don’t necessarily have those 20 top drivers [as in F1], the guys and girls who drive our car are students within the team. However, over the last sort of six to 12 months, we’ve gone through quite a selection process”, explains Richard.
There’s nothing on the car that doesn’t need to be on the car
“Hills are an absolute killer of the battery. So, again, in rural testing, we were going through Dubbo where it starts getting pretty hilly, and our efficiency – I was talking about 3.3kWh/100km before – fell to about 8-9kWh/100km [uphill]… you can really tell how different drivers can manage it, especially going uphill, just how they can minimise loss”, explains strategist Tedesco.
Aside from a freak mountain appearing between Darwin and Adelaide, there won’t be much stopping the single-minded Sunswift 7 from sailing to the finish line – likely in a prime position.
“Rural testing was our first time to see the car on the road and in the hills around Dubbo and Parkes, that [terrain] is way worse than we’re ever going to see in the race, and we were comfortable coming out of that that we’ll easily have the range”, Luke says.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CxDDlH9S7vg/
“They’re built and designed to absolutely optimise and maximise what they’re designed for, so the weight of the car being 600kg is for a reason – it’s not 650kg. There’s nothing on the car that doesn’t need to be on the car”, says Richard.
It’s pretty much only a mechanical failure, or flat tyre that could stop Sunswift 7 making the finish line and, despite that being comforting to a man with winning in his blood, Richard almost sees this as being less than challenging.
“I’d say it’s a bit of a bugbear, certainly of mine, and I think shared within the team as well that fundamentally the regulations today are very similar – if not the same – as the those from 10, 20, 30 years ago.
“The restrictions on the technologies that can be used are pretty much the same, and I understand why that is. However, I would love to be able to see some greater flexibility within those regulations.
“I think we should all be forced to use production tyres, I think we should all be forced to use air conditioning, we should all be forced to not use carbon fibre”, says Richard.
With more of a focus on keeping costs achievable, and the vehicles more production-relevant, the challenge could breed real innovations for the road.
“The public, the consumer, needs to be able to look at [the World Solar Challende] and see it ahead of the curve, not behind the curve”, he opines.
“I’m talking as somebody who works in Supercars [a series] that still uses V8 engines. And actually, the technology in those V8 engines is very, very old – it’s Pushrod technology. It’s not even the latest technology for V8s.
“Supercars needs to really up its game, it needs to be relevant to the consumer, but slightly ahead slightly, almost, what’s the word? desirable.”
“We need to be looking at [how to make consumers say]: ‘Oh, gosh, that’s amazing. I want access to this. I want my next car to have that’, whether that’s solar panels or hydrogen technology – which we’re going to be exploring with the next car – I think there’s lots that organizers could do to give it a bit of a tweak.
Richard talks about SunSwit’s relationship with Audi on a marketing level, though regrets it’s not a technological one: “We absolutely should be researching technology within the team and have the likes of Audi saying: ‘Oh, my God, you’re using X, can we work together on that?’ and that’s not quite happening.
Although the team is focused on winning this year’s Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, the next Sunswift iteration is already in the works. Sunswift 8 is a whole new concept; Richard explains that it’s about a quarter way through development and features little-to-no carbon fibre (instead, more sustainable, affordable alternatives) in the construction of its modular platform that will integrate battery-electric, solar, and hydrogen fuel-cell technology.
Rather than slaving to regulations and minimal consumption, Richard’s plan is for Sunswift 8 to lay the blueprint for everyday usable performance cars – think the future BMW M3 or Audi RS4. A car that’s engaging and effortlessly capable on the racetrack yet able to collect the kids in the afternoon, all without emitting a single gram of carbon dioxide.
How far does every single new electric vehicle in Australia drive on a full charge?
Range remains a key concern for buyers to make the electric switch, so here’s your definitive guide to the range of every new EV model in Australia, according to each manufacturer’s claims.
Today, most electric cars provide more than sufficient driving range to suit the majority of Australians’ daily commuting needs.
New EVs generally offer between 200 to 600 kilometres in the real world and some longer-range models match the capability of petrol-powered combustion engine vehicles.
That’s enough to cover a week’s worth of commuting for the average driver without charging, who travels between 30 to 40 kilometres per day, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics [↗].
However, as long as you can ideally plug in at home every night similar to a smartphone (or during the day when there’s solar energy generation if installed), owners will rarely need to worry about a low battery when on-the-move. A standard three-pin trickle charging plug will replenish enough juice for the next day for most.
With the average new EV today providing around 450km rated range (albeit on a combined urban and highway test), drivers can comfortably make a return trip from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, Sydney to Newcastle, and Melbourne to Bendigo without needing to stop to charge.
Therefore, public charging stations will only be necessary on extended road trips.
To understand how much you drive, enter your daily commute stops (depart and return destinations) on the Google Maps [↗] multi-stop route planner.
For longer trips, use A Better Route Planner [↗] or Tesla’s Trip Planner [↗] to understand how many stops are needed and where you can charge at a public station.
If you prioritise maximising your money for the best possible range, check out our guide below.
The following are claimed figures under the strictest-available European combined Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) testing standard, unless otherwise noted.
The real-world range will often be 10 to 20 per cent less, depending on a variety of factors.
While not all car brands recommend an everyday charging limit to maintain battery longevity, the general rule-of-thumb is 80 per cent for conventional lithium-ion batteries or 100 per cent (no limit) for lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries.
Claimed range figures are sorted by longest to shortest distance, by body type.
Figures are correct as at the time of publication. Click on the model links below to learn more.
*Model launching soon in Australia.
Figures are correct at the time of publication. Click on the model links below to learn more.
*Model launching soon in Australia
Figures are correct at the time of publication. Click on the model links below to learn more.
*Model launching soon in Australia
Figures are correct at the time of publication. Click on the model links below to learn more.
Figures are correct at the time of publication. Click on the model links below to learn more.
*Model launching soon in Australia
**Provisional WLTP testing figure
Figures are correct at the time of publication. Click on the model links below to learn more.
*Model launching soon in Australia
**Estimated WLTP rating
Figures are correct at the time of publication. Click on the model links below to learn more.
*Model launching soon in Australia
**Manufacturer has only provided a more conservative NEDC range claim locally
Figures are correct as at the time of publication. Click on the model links below to learn more.
Figures are correct as at the time of publication. Click on the model links below to learn more.
Figures are correct as at the time of publication. Click on the model links below to learn more.
This story has listed the claimed range of every new EV, but which models can go the furthest on a single charge? Check out our guide linked below for more.
EVs are not for everyone (for now), but they are right for most. The initial price barrier, charging, and battery degradation remain key perceived issues. For more, check out our /Electric hub guides below.
Bums on seats, peering through the glass, kicking the tyres… getting the buyer into line of sight of a car is, after all these years, still as crucial as ever.
The modern automotive landscape, however, isn’t as conducive to automotive window shopping as it once was.
Thanks to a variety of factors, the modern car showroom is – despite the beautiful architecture and fancy coffee pod machines – pretty low on most people’s lists of places to hang out on a Saturday.
The digital realm, too, is saturated to distraction, while more traditional selling tools like television and outside media are facing their own challenges.
It’s for these reasons that Hyundai and Subaru have gone back to the people, as it were, and rolled out activations at recent grassroots automotive events that wouldn’t normally be the purview of established auto brands.
The premise is pretty simple; build a fast car and prove, over one lap, that you’re faster than everyone else.
More than 35,000 people visited the venue over two long, packed days, and more than four million people around the globe tuned into the YouTube livestream.
No matter how you slice it, they are solid numbers.
But it’s definitely an audience that veers towards ‘enthusiast’… or, in other words, there’s a danger that you’re merely preaching to the choir by spending your marketing dollar there.
Hyundai, though, thought differently. After a toe-in-the-water exercise a few years ago, it descended on the event in force, entirely taking over the southern circuit facility as it worked its plan to promote the upcoming Ioniq 5 N electric hatch.
It even managed to secure the services of Japanese race driver and automotive cultural icon Keiichi Tsuchiya to drive a prototype Ioniq 5 on track.
How did they manage to land the man that many credit with being the Drift King? “We just rang him,” laughed a Hyundai insider.
When asked what made WTAC attractive from a marketing point of view, Bill Thomas, Hyundai Australia’s general manager corporate Affairs, was unequivocal.
“Both the event itself, which is always spectacular and well-attended, and the audience at the track and watching on screens – in Australia and around the world,” he told Wheels.
“Hyundai’s focus this year was on our new electrified hero car, Ioniq 5 N, and the N brand in general, showcasing N to an audience that blended Korean, Australian and Japanese performance car cultures.”
Thomas said it was a “fantastic opportunity” to further expose the N brand – and more specifically, the Ioniq 5 N – to a more specialist market.
He also suggested the success of the Ioniq 5 N pre-sale push – which sold 126 cars at $111,000 each in just 12 hours – could be partly attributed to the event.
“We know a number of people who attended WTAC were among those first customers,” he said, “and more broadly it gave us significant exposure for N to a precious audience of switched-on enthusiasts.”
“Hyundai has been a very forward-thinking company and particularly with the N brand has been able to culture a likeminded track day community through their N festivals,” Ian Baker, the director of World Time Attack Challenge, told Wheels.
“WTAC is obviously a natural progression to showcase its latest track-focused vehicles to existing and future clients, and in fact to a worldwide audience of over four million viewers via our livestream.”
Very similar in its execution but on a smaller scale, Subaru’s support of the grassroots-led SubiNats event at the same venue just a couple of weeks later echoed Hyundai’s sentiments; preaching directly to the choir can be a great way to get bums on newer, more interesting seats.
“Our partnership with SubiNats, which dates back to its inception in 2014, blossomed organically from a mutual passion to the Subaru brand,” said Subaru Australia’s National Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Manager, Chloe Fraser.
“SubiNats is the biggest Subaru event in the country and serves as an invaluable opportunity for us to connect with our passionate owners, fans and enthusiasts, hear their stories and learn more about their connection with the brand, and importantly, create new memories together.”
Subaru’s activation comprised its truly impressive heritage fleet – including the legendary Impreza 22B – as well as an event that saw the brand’s SUVs tackle a tough section of SMSP’s 4×4 training track with prospective punters on board.
As well, it showed off two concepts, the Crosstrek Boost Gear and the BRZ tS. But it’s not all about pushing new metal, believes Fraser.
“While the event serves as a platform for showcasing new models, new technology and honouring our storied history, it’s much more than that,” she said.
“SubiNats is one of the most special events marked in our calendar, and we look forward to continuing our partnership for many more years to come.”
Toyota’s move follows in the footsteps of Subaru, which confirmed it would add the potentially life-saving technology to manual variants of related BRZ sports car and WRX sedan in June.
Auto high beams also become standard, while lead-vehicle departure alert joins the safety suite in automatic variants. There appears to be no increase from the current $43,240 (before on-road costs) list price for the base GR86 GT.
The Dynamic Performance Pack includes ZF Sachs dampers with a smoother rebound curve and increased compression resistance for less body roll, as well as four-piston Brembo front brakes painted red. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.
“Technologies such as autonomous emergency braking aim to provide buyers with increased peace of mind, while the addition of the new Performance Pack enhances the already dynamic abilities of the GR86 even further”, said Toyota Australia VP sales, marketing, and franchise operations Sean Hanley.
| 2024 Toyota GR86 pricing | |
|---|---|
| Variant | Price (before on-road costs) |
| GT manual/auto | $43,240 |
| GTS manual/auto | $45,390 |
| 10th Anniversary manual/auto | $46,700 |
Our original story, below, has been updated to reflect equipment changes
The new 2023 Toyota GR86 has finally launched in Australia, and we’ve now driven the version buyers will get. See our full review at the link below.
Remember when the first-gen 86 launched with a jaw-dropping low price of $29,990? ?
The new 2023 Toyota GR86 coupe, launching in Australia this week, will go on sale from $43,240 for the GT and $45,390 for the top-shelf GTS, before on-road costs.
In what may be infuriating news for hopeful buyers with a preference for a manual transmission, the prices above apply to both the manual and the automatic forms of both trim grades.
Indeed, the prices are a match for the automatic versions of Subaru’s BRZ coupe, while opting for metallic or pearl paint will add a further $575 – an option which Subaru includes in its pricing.
Speaking with Wheels editor Andy Enright at the GR86 launch event today, product planning boss Justin Hood said: “We think it’s suitable and appropriate for the market place. We’ve adopted the same policy with the Supra.”
Buyers could be forgiven for reading the above as a “because we can” scenario – and with the current state of supply and demand across all Australian model lines, there’s little to be surprised at.
A member of the ’22+ Toyota GR86 ZN8 / Subaru BRZ ZD8 Owners Club Australia’ group on Facebook alerted Wheels Media to this pricing late last night, posted to the group as an excerpt from a dealer bulletin, but the pricing has become official only this morning.
“This means over $4500 more driveaway for a manual GR86 GTS in most of their colours than the exact same equivalent BRZ,” the reader said.
“Such a disappointment after such a long wait. I have so much regret for not just ordering a BRZ the day they were announced nearly a year ago.”
Watch for Andy Enright’s review to come soon, and catch our earlier drive reviews at the links below.
| 174kW/250Nm 2.4-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder petrol engine |
| Six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission with Sport mode |
| Rear limited-slip Torsen differential |
| o 4.1 ratio (manual) |
| o 3.909 ratio (automatic) |
| 50-litre fuel tank |
| Front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link suspension with coil springs |
| Ventilated 294mm front and 290mm rear disc brakes |
| Electric power steering |
| LED headlights with auto-levelling and headlamp cleaner |
| LED daytime running lights and rear fog lights |
| Automatic high beam (A/T only) |
| 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45R17 tyres |
| Tyre repair kit |
| Dual exhaust tips |
| Electric fuel lid and boot release |
| Power fold and heated exterior mirrors |
| GR badging front and rear |
| Seven colours with solid, metallic and pearl paint finishes |
| Black fabric front seats with manual adjust slide and recline and passenger easy entry |
| Black carpet with black floormats front and rear |
| Leather-wrapped gearshift knob |
| Leather-wrapped parking brake |
| Three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio, phone and vehicle controls |
| Manual tilt and telescopic steering adjustment |
| Four seats |
| Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) | Reversing camera |
| Parking support brake with rear parking sensors (A/T only) | Emergency brake signal system |
| Active cruise control – All speed (A/T only) | Vehicle stability control |
| Lane departure alert | Hill start assist |
| leading vehicle notice | Front and second-row occupant detection |
| Seven SRS airbags | Immobiliser anti-theft system |
| ABS brakes | Tyre pressure warning |
| Dual-zone automatic climate control |
| Smart entry & start |
| Two cupholders in centre console |
| Power windows |
| Illuminated entry system with fadeout |
| Driver and passenger vanity mirrors |
| Door pockets with bottle holders |
| Active Sound Control |
| 8.0-inch touchscreen display |
| 6-speaker audio system |
| AM/FM/DAB+ radio |
| Bluetooth compatibility |
| Apple CarPlay / Android Auto compatibility |
| Steering wheel controls for audio, phone and vehicle settings |
| 2 USB-A ports |
| AUX input |
| 18-inch black alloy wheels with 215/40R18 tyres |
| Intelligent adaptive front headlights |
| Premium door scuff plate |
| Foot rest and pedals with aluminium pads |
| Black Ultrasuede + leather accented front seats with Gunmetal Grey or Red leather accented seats |
| Silver or red trim stitching |
| Black or Red leather accented door centre |
| Black or Red carpet and floormats |
| Rear blind spot monitor |
| Rear cross-traffic alert |
| Driver and passenger vanity mirrors with light |
| Front seat heaters |
| Door courtesy lamp |
| EXTERIOR | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 4265mm | |
| Overall width | 1775mm | |
| Overall height | 1310mm | |
| Wheelbase | 2575mm | |
| Front track | 1520mm | |
| Rear track | 1550mm | |
| Running ground clearance | 130mm | |
| Front overhang | 860mm | |
| Rear overhang | 830mm | |
| INTERIOR | ||
| Length | 1625mm | |
| Width | 1480mm | |
| Height | 1060mm | |
| Luggage volume (VDA) | 237 litres | |
| WEIGHTS AND CAPACITIES | ||
| Kerb weight | GT Manual: 1287kg, GT Automatic: 1308kg, GTS Manual: 1291kg, GTS Automatic: 1312kg | |
| Gross vehicle mass | GT/GTS Manual: 1670kg, GT/GTS Automatic: 1700kg | |
| Coefficient of Drag | 0.276 | |
| Fuel tank capacity | 50 litres | |
| Seating | 4 people | |
| POWERTRAIN | ||
| PETROL ENGINE | ||
| Model code | FA24 | |
| Type | Horizontally opposed four cylinder | |
| Valve mechanism | 16-valve, DOHC | |
| Capacity | 2387cc | |
| Bore x stroke | 94.0mm x 86.0mm | |
| Compression ratio | 12.5:1 | |
| Power | 174kW @ 7000rpm | |
| Torque | 250Nm @ 3700rpm | |
| Fuel system | D-4S fuel injection | |
| Min octane rating | 98 | |
| Emissions | EURO 6B | |
| TRANSMISSION | ||
| Type | Six-speed manual gearbox | Six-speed automatic transmission |
| Transmission Model Code | TL70 | TX6A |
| Ratios | ||
| 1st | 3.626 | 3.538 |
| 2nd | 2.189 | 2.06 |
| 3rd | 1.541 | 1.405 |
| 4th | 1.213 | 1 |
| 5th | 1 | 0.713 |
| 6th | 0.767 | 0.582 |
| Reverse | 3.438 | 3.168 |
| Final drive | 4.1 | 3.909 |
| FUEL ECONOMY & CO2 EMISSIONS | ||
| Combined fuel economy | GT Manual: 9.4 L / 100km, GT Automatic: 8.7 L / 100km, GTS Manual: 9.5 L / 100km, GTS Automatic: 8.8 L / 100km | |
| Extra-urban fuel economy | GT Manual: 7.2 L / 100km, GT Automatic: 6.3 L / 100km, GTS Manual: 7.3 L / 100km, GTS Automatic: 6.4 L / 100km | |
| Urban fuel economy | GT Manual: 13.2 L / 100km, GT Automatic: 12.7 L / 100km, GTS Manual: 13.3 L / 100km, GTS Automatic: 13 L / 100km | |
| Combined CO2 emissions | GT Manual: 215 g/km, GT Automatic: 199 g/km, GTS Manual: 217 g/km, GTS Automatic: 201 g/km | |
| Extra urban CO2 emissions | GT Manual: 165 g/km, GT Automatic: 144 g/km, GTS Manual: 166 g/km, GTS Automatic: 145 g/km | |
| Urban CO2 emissions | GT Manual: 300 g/km, GT Automatic: 290 g/km, GTS Manual: 302 g/km, GTS Automatic: 295 g/km | |
| PERFORMANCE | ||
| Maximum Speed | GT/GTS Manual: 226km/h, GT/GTS Automatic: 216km/h | |
| 0-100km/h | GT/GTS Manual: 6.3 seconds, GT/GTS Automatic: 6.8 seconds | |
| CHASSIS | ||
| SUSPENSION | ||
| Front | MacPherson strut, 18mm stabiliser bar | |
| Rear | Multi-link, 15mm stabiliser bar | |
| STEERING | ||
| Type | Rack-and-pinion with electric power steering | |
| Turning circle diameter | 10.8m (tyre), 11.4m (body) | |
| Turns lock to lock | 2.5 | |
| BRAKES | ||
| Front | 294mm ventilated discs, 2 piston callipers | |
| Rear | 290mm ventilated discs, single piston calliper | |
| Parking brake | Mechanical | |
| Brake systems | Vehicle stability control, traction control, hill-start assist control, ABS with brake assist and electric brake force distribution, emergency brake signal system | |
| WHEELS & TYRES | ||
| Size, construction | GT: 17×7.5 J alloy, 215/45R17, GTS: 18×7.5 J alloy, 215/40R18 | |
| Spare | Repair Kit | |
The second-generation 2023 Toyota GR86 will arrive locally in September, followed by a limited-run 10th Anniversary Edition, the brand has confirmed.
It has been a long time coming for the two-door, rear-wheel drive GR86, which first debuted in April 2021, with additional development work reportedly behind the delay.
Its identical Subaru BRZ twin arrived in Australia in late 2021, albeit in limited numbers.
Revealed today, the Toyota GR86 10th Anniversary Edition will arrive in late 2022, exclusive to 86 units for Australia – marking 10 years since the first-generation, Wheels Car of the Year-winning 86 launched, with more than 22,000 sales recorded since.
It gains a unique orange exterior paint colour – similar to the original 86’s Velocity Orange launch hue – and a two-tone cabin with orange and black highlights, and 10th Anniversary embroidery on the door cards.
Toyota will first offer the GR86 10th Anniversary Edition to members of the Gazoo Racing Club – currently available to GR Yaris and GR Supra owners – with priority access to orders.
Exclusive benefits of the Gazoo Racing Club include; free yearly membership, merchandise, track-day events and a premium fuel discount at participating outlets. It will open to GR86 and GR Corolla owners later this year.
“Ten years ago, we launched the original Toyota 86 in Australia, creating a following for those wanting a sports car that blends reliable performance and great value,” said Sean Hanley, vice president of national sales and marketing at Toyota Australia.
“With the new generation GR86 just around the corner, what better way to commemorate a decade of our exciting coupe than with this special 10th Anniversary model.”
Set to join the GR Supra, GR Yaris and GR Corolla in Toyota’s performance vehicle range, the GR86 features an upgraded 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated flat-four engine producing 173kW of power and 250Nm of torque – a 21kW and 38Nm increase over the 2.0-litre unit in the outgoing 86.
A six-speed manual or automatic transmission will be offered, with manual variants likely to forgo active safety equipment, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) – as seen on the Subaru BRZ.
AEB will become a requirement for all new vehicles sold in Australia from March 2025.
Pricing and features for the wider 2023 Toyota GR86 range will be announced in the coming weeks, while Toyota will release further details on the 10th Anniversary Edition at the GR86’s September launch.
The new exterior hue is paired with matching interior trim highlights on local GTS variants and becomes the fifth colour in addition to Glacier White, Liquid Mercury, Ebony, and Feverish Red. There’s no word on price changes for the all-paw hot hatch.
Local changes follow MY24 updates applied to North American market GR Corollas, though a Toyota Australia spokesperson indicated there are no plans yet to introduce those tweaks locally.
Small tweaks were made to the suspension, steering, and battery grounding of the rally-inspired four-wheel drive hot hatch in North America. The changes come around a year after the car’s launch, though rather than reflecting shortcomings it tells the story of insatiable engineers. Prices also climbed in the United States though only by a marginal US$200 (AU$315).
It also sounds like the first allocation of Morizo editions may indeed be the only one as the track-focused version is dropped in the United States – though the returning Circuit pack could provide relief.
Speaking to Wheels, the Toyota Australia spokesperson reiterated that 25 Morizos are coming here and that the brand will “continue to seek further advice about the potential for additional production”.
Perhaps showing what a good spec the Australian GR Corolla GTS is, the Yanks have stolen our single specification and added it to mix between their Core – without Torsen front and rear diffs – and diff-equipped Circuit pack.
We’ll come back to that because all GR Corollas have been treated to some very minor changes. Toyota’s press release claims changes to the rear suspension settings and ‘mounting bolt changes’ in the steering system.
There’s also some extra aluminium in the front and rear bumpers to improve aerodynamic performance and reprofiled brake ducting. The updates are yet to be confirmed for Australia.
As for the new Premium trim in the US, it’s just like our GR Corolla featuring ‘Brin Naub’ suede cloth upholstery on heated front seats paired with a heated leather-appointed steering wheel, red brake calipers, eight-speaker JBL stereo, wireless charging pad and a pair of limited-slip rear differentials.
With the Morizo edition potentially on shakey ground, we’d love to see the five-seat US-spec Circuit Edition offered locally. It’s effectively a Morizo-lite with the same 18-inch forged BBS alloys joining a bulging bonnet, forged carbon fiber roof, flared guards, and more aggressive gloss black rear spoiler.
There are no changes to the 221kW/370Nm ‘G16E-GTS’ 1.6-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder, adjustable GR-Four all-wheel drive system or six-speed manual transmission (though an eight-speed auto has been rumoured down the track).
Plenty of GR Yarises and Corollas have already been treated to extensive modification by the aftermarket, and Toyota’s keen to get in on the action.
Like BMW’s M Performance range, Toyota Gazoo Racing will offer hop-up parts for the GR Corolla through official channels by the end of the year – at least in the United States. Australian plans are as yet unknown.
Owners will be able to order OEM-approved lowering springs and higher-performance dampers for a more focused ride. The Circuit pack rear wing will also be available to order for owners of ‘Core’ and ‘Premium’ trims.
As yet, there are no plans to offer these hop-up parts in Australian dealers.
The 2023 Chery Omoda 5 marks the triumphant return of the Chinese automaker to the Australian market after a hiatus that began in 2014.
The success of this re-entry hinges on the Omoda 5.
Leading Chery’s lineup, the Omoda 5 precedes the recently launched, larger Tiggo 7 Pro and will be followed by the even bigger Tiggo 8 Pro later in the year.
With a new platform, updated engine options, an advanced tech package, a seemingly plentiful stock supply and a starting price below $30k before on-road costs, it’s a package that’s hard to overlook.
The Omoda 5, as Chery’s entry into the compact SUV segment, offers quite a bit for its price.
Available in two grades the BX and better specced EX, the range is priced from $29,900 to $32,900 for the EX – both before on-road costs.
Both grades share the same 108kW/210Nm 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, paired to a continuously variable transmission.
Its design, characterised by sharp lines and LED a dominating front grille, gives it a modern and mean appearance.
| Chery Omoda 5 standard features | |
|---|---|
| u2018Hello Cheryu2019 voice control | Ambient lighting |
| 10.25-inch digital driveru2019s display | Dual-zone climate control |
| 10.25-inch touchscreen | LED headlights |
| 18-inch alloy wheels | Tyre Pressure Monitoring System |
| 6-way power driveru2019s seat | Vinyl upholstery |
| 8-speaker Sony audio system | Wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto |
| Acoustic windscreen | Wireless smartphone charging |
| 360-degree camera | Power tailgate |
| Heated steering wheel | Puddle lights (logo) |
| Opening sunroof | Red accented wheels, mirrors, brake calipers |
| Power adjust passenger seat | Seat heating |
The Omoda 5 is available in seven colours with premium paint costing $500.
This included a commendable 87% score for adult occupant protection and 88% child occupant protection result.
While reviewing the vehicle earlier this year we observed the lane-keep assist to act erratically. Since then Chery has issued a software update since our last contact with the Omoda 5 to correct the issue.
The small SUV segment is already bustling with options, including some more affordable offerings such as the:
When it comes to value for money, there’s no denying that Chery has gone all in with the Omoda 5.
With segment favourites like the Toyota Corolla Cross and Mazda CX-30 steadily climbing the price ladder, the offerings from incoming Chinese manufacturers like Chery become even more enticing.
For those in the market for a stylish, feature-rich SUV that doesn’t break the bank, the Omoda 5 stands out as a compelling choice, showcasing the future of Chinese automotive engineering and design.
Australia’s trend towards SUVs over the past few years has created an opportunity for manufacturers to introduce high-ride versions of much loved small classics.
In come the Yaris Cross.
The added comfort of an SUV comes from a higher view point on the road, and ease of entry and exit. You’re also often getting an increased cargo capacity, legroom and headroom.
The light and small SUV segments are some of the fastest growing in Australia right now, and Toyota aren’t the only brand to jump on the bandwagon.
So let’s find out what you’ll pick up in the current-generation Yaris Cross.
An extra $2000 can get you into a hybrid, and further $3k adds all-wheel drive.
The petrol vehicle is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, which delivers a maximum power output of 88kW and a peak torque of 145Nm. This power is transmitted to the front wheels through a Direct Shift CVT transmission.
The 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain produces a combined 85kw and 120Nm and can get as low at 3.8L/100km for fuel economy. Buyers also have the choice of a front-wheel drive or electric all-wheel drive.
The Yaris Cross kicks off Toyota’s SUV range, before the Corolla Cross, C-HR and larger RAV4.
There are currently four variants on offer: GX, GXL, Urban and the range-topping GR-Sport.
Yaris Cross’ base offers 16-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, active cruise control, leather-accented wheel, keyless entry and start, cloth seats, and halogen projector-type headlights.
The family SUV is available in eight exterior paint colours, with metallic coming in as a $600 option.
With the Yaris Cross only $3200 more than the Yaris hatch, it’s not hard to see how compelling the step up is.
Impressively, the light car scored an 86% score for both adult and child occupant protection.
Buyers pick up 8 airbags and a reversing camera.
Toyota Safety Sense suite of features is available across the range, which includes active cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, intersection turn assist, lane keep assist, lane-departure warning and fatigue reminders.
Front and rear paring sensors, rear cross traffic alert, a panoramic view monitor and blind spot monitors are reserved for GXL and above.
Many major manufacturers have added a light SUV to their line-up, such as:
As a hybrid offering, the Yaris Cross is a highly competitive option for someone looking for a small city runabout thanks to its stellar fuel economy and compact proportions.
It fits the equation for people looking for a small and nimble car with the added height of an SUV, without jumping into a large car.
While it may not have the bells and whistles of higher-end models, the GX offers a balanced mix of essentials in a package that’s perfect for city life. If you’re looking for an SUV that’s nimble, efficient, and backed by Toyota’s legacy, the Yaris Cross GX is worth a look.
The Toyota Fortuner has solidified its reputation as a distinctive model since its introduction in 2015, renowned for its reliable and rugged nature, capable of conquering both urban roads and challenging off-road terrains.
This substantial SUV, constructed on the foundation of the best-selling Hilux ute, is exclusively offered in a seven-seat configuration.
The Fortuner GX, serving as the entry-level choice in the lineup, embodies a fusion of durability, practicality, and Toyota’s renowned reliability.
Within Toyota’s SUV range, the Fortuner positions itself between the city-focused Kluger and the higher-priced Prado and LandCruiser models, catering to families seeking an off-road-capable vehicle.
However, in a competitive segment filled with numerous contenders, let’s explore what the range-topping Fortuner variant has to offer.
All grades are equipped with the same 2.8-litre diesel engine, producing 150kW and 500Nm of torque, while achieving a combined fuel economy rating of 7.6L/100km. Buyers are limited to the standard part-time 4WD setup.
The Fortuner’s impressive off-road capabilities stem from a straightforward set of features, including a low-range setting for its six-speed automatic transmission, a rear differential lock, and a substantial 216mm of ground clearance. Additionally, it seamlessly transitions between two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive modes.
In real-world driving scenarios, the Fortuner typically maintains an average fuel consumption of around 11 liters per 100 kilometers, spanning various driving conditions. During relaxed highway cruising, it can even achieve as low as 9.0 liters.
The braked towing capacity has remained consistent at 3100kg across the range since the 2021 update.
Standard features from the GX includes an 8-inch touchscreen equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, keyless entry and start and LED daytime running lights (DRLs) and headlamps.
Stepping up into the GXL adds chrome coloured door handles, rear privacy glass, roof rails, LED fog lamps, wood-grain look steering wheel, sat nav, dual zone climate control and paddle shifters.
This encompasses high scores, with a remarkable 95% rating for adult occupant protection and an 84% rating for child occupant protection.
The Toyota Safety Sense suite of features is available across the range, which includes high speed active cruise control, lane departure alert and road sign assist.
Buyers also benefit from the inclusion of seven airbags, vehicle stability control, downhill assist control, a reversing camera, and front and rear parking sensors.
The top-tier Crusade variant packs in additional advanced safety features, such as rear cross-traffic alert, a panoramic view monitor and blind spot monitors.
Competitors include other popular ute-based large SUV’s:
The 2023 Toyota Fortuner is a reliable option for individuals seeking a robust SUV that maintains its essential attributes.
For a vehicle of this size, the more desirable features are exclusive to the top of the range Crusade such as rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitor.
The Crusade packs in all you’d need in a family SUV, with the creature comforts of a luxurious car.
Changes are minor compared to last year’s tweaks, with a new paint colour, the Black Edition’s permanence, and a few safety improvements building on the enhanced MY23 suite.
It also means the Outlander is more expensive to the tune of $1500 in lower ES petrol trims up to $1800 for the flagship Exceed Tourer PHEV. The ES AWD has been dropped from the lineup, too.
Safety tweaks that apply range-wide include ‘always on’ dusk-sensing headlights and an LED rear foglight.
Graphite Grey is a new colour that replaces the old Titanium metallic and is available across all grades, while the flagship Exceed Tourer picks up two new colourways: Graphite Grey with a contrasting Black Mica roof, or Black Diamond with a Sterling Silver roof.
As of September, the Mitsubishi Outlander (17,762 YTD) displaced the stalwart Mazda CX-5 (16,895) as the second most popular medium SUV behind the Toyota RAV4 (22,388).
| Variant | Pricing (before on-road costs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| ES five-seat FWD | $37,740 | Up $1500 |
| LS seven-seat FWD | $41,240 | Up $1500 |
| LS Black Edition seven-seat FWD | $42,990 | Up $1500 |
| LS seven-seat AWD | $43,740 | Up $1500 |
| Aspire seven-seat FWD | $44,840 | Up $1600 |
| Aspire seven-seat AWD | $47,340 | Up $1600 |
| Exceed seven-seat AWD | $52,640 | Up $1650 |
| Exceed Tourer seven-seat AWD | $55,190 | Up $1700 |
| Variant | Pricing (before on-road costs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Outlander PHEV ES five-seat | $57,290 | Up $1800 |
| Outlander PHEV Aspire five-seat | $63,790 | Up $1800 |
| Outlander PHEV Exceed seven-seat | $69,290 | Up $1800 |
| Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer seven-seat | $71,790 | Up $1800 |
| 18-inch alloy wheels | Dual-zone climate control |
| 8-inch infotainment system | Six-speaker sound system |
| Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Second-row air vents |
| AM/FM/DAB+ radio | Front and rear parking sensors |
| 7.0-inch semi-digital instrument cluster | Reversing camera |
| Cloth upholstery | Push-button start |
| 40/20/40 split-fold rear seat | Full-size spare wheel. |
| Rear seat alert | Dusk-sensing headlights |
| In addition to ES | |
|---|---|
| 9.0-inch audio display with satellite navigation | Splash-free window washer system. |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay/wired Android Auto | 12.3-inch digital driver display |
| In addition to ES PHEV | |
|---|---|
| LED front fog lamps | Auto-dimming rear-view mirror |
| Keyless entry | Heated, auto-folding side mirrors |
| Privacy glass | Roof rails |
| Cargo blind | Rain-sensing wipers |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter | Sliding rear seats |
| Silver front and rear bumper garnish | Rear USB-A ports (x2) |
| Space-saver spare wheel (in lieu of full-size spare) | Analogue dials |
| In addition to LS | |
|---|---|
| 20-inch alloy wheels (black) | Black headlining |
| Suede-cloth upholstery with synthetic leather inserts | Black centre console panel |
| Black side mirrors | Metallic paint |
| Black grille, front and rear bumper garnishes | Deleted: roof rails |
| In addition to LS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 20-inch alloy wheels | Heated front seats | |
| 10.8-inch head-up display | Adaptive headlights | |
| Suede-cloth upholstery with synthetic leather inserts | Power tailgate (PHEV: with one-touch open and hands-free operation) | |
| Power driveru2019s seat | PHEV: AC power supply (V2L) u2013 two 1500W, 240V, three-pin outlets | |
| In addition to Aspire | |
|---|---|
| 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster | Pull-up rear sunshades |
| 10-speaker Bose audio system | Quilted leather appointed seat trim (in a choice of black or light grey) |
| Mi-Pilot semi-autonomous driving system | Front sequential LED indicators |
| Power passenger seat | Three-zone climate control |
| Driveru2019s seat memory function | Electric tailgate with hands-free function |
| Panoramic tilt and slide sunroof | Colour coded lower body accent (front, side and rear) |
| Seven-seat configuration | B- and C-pillars with gloss black paint |
| Illumination in front door trim | PHEV: Heated steering wheel |
| IN ADDITION TO EXCEED: | |
|---|---|
| Massaging front seats | Two-tone exterior colour |
| Two-tone high grade leather interior (black and saddle tan) | PHEV: heated rear seats |
| White (solid) |
| Cosmic blue (pearlescent) |
| Sterling silver (metallic) |
| Graphite Grey (metallic) |
| White diamond (prestige) |
| Red diamond (prestige) |
| Black diamond (prestige) |
| White diamond with black mica two-tone (Exceed Tourer only) |
| Sterling silver with black mica two-tone (Exceed Tourer only) |
| Graphite Grey with black mica two-tone (new; Exceed Tourer only) |
| Black Diamond with Sterling Silver two-tone (new; Exceed Tourer only) |
The Mitsubishi Outlander uses a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, producing 135kW and 245Nm paired with a CVT automatic. Buyers can choose front-wheel drive on the ES, LS and Aspire, and AWD is available from LS upwards throughout.
There are six drive modes available in the AWD versions (five in the 2WD), which the company calls Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC).
The plug-in hybrid mates a 98kW 2.4-litre Atkinson cycle petrol four-cylinder with a pair of electric motors on the front and rear axles for total system outputs of 185kW and 450Nm.
A 20kWh battery pack equates to 85km electric-only driving range in WLTP testing, and its rated at 1.5L/100km in the combined ADR fuel efficiency cycle.
A range-topping plug-in hybrid powertrain is also available. For more information, click here.
| ES FWD | 7.5L/100km |
| LS/LS Black Edition/Aspire FWD | 7.7L/100km |
| ES AWD | 7.8L/100km |
| LS/Aspire/Exceed/Exceed Tourer AWD | 8.1L/100km |
| PHEV | 1.5L/100km |
It received a score of 83 per cent for adult occupant protection, 92 per cent for child occupant protection, 81 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 83 per cent for safety assist.
Eight airbags (dual front, side, curtain, driver’s knee, and front-centre) are fitted across the range.
Each variant includes the following active safety equipment as standard:
| Autonomous emergency braking (vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist, junction, reverse) | Blind-spot alert |
| Forward collision warning | Rear cross-traffic alert |
| Lane-keep assist | Traffic sign recognition |
| Lane departure warning | Driver attention alert |
| Emergency lane assist | Automatic high beam (new) |
| Rear occupant alert (new) |
The Mitsubishi Outlander is 4710mm long, 1862mm wide and 1745mm tall and rides on a 2706mm wheelbase.
With the rear seats up, the five-seat Mitsubishi Outlander has a 485-litre boot capacity. Folding the second row increases luggage capacity to 1466 litres.
Seven-seat examples have 163L of storage behind the third row, extending to 478L and 1461L (or 1473L for Exceed and Exceed Tourer), respectively.
This reverts to a five-year/100,000-kilometre period if the vehicle is serviced outside the Mitsubishi dealer network.
Maintenance for the Outlander is required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.
Capped-price servicing is available for ten years, priced at $199 each for the first five trips to the mechanic.
The MY24 Mitsubishi Outlander began rolling off its Japanese production line last month, with the first deliveries expected in November.
For information on Mitsubishi’s wait times, click here.
