It might seem like we’re a bit late to the party but it’s taken this long for BMW to hand out the keys to what is its most aggressive M4 variant of the current G82 generation yet – the BMW M4 CS.

Launched globally in 2023, Australia had to wait until the end of 2024 and into 2025 before we could get our hands on the limited-run M4 Competition Sport. Even then, just 50 cars were allocated for our southern outpost.

Now though, BMW has released the hounds and tossed us the keys to not only its fiercest M4 currently available, but also the gates to Bathurst’s iconic Mt Panorama circuit for some unfettered wheel-time to see what the CS is capable of.

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First a refresher. For $254,900 plus on-road costs (some $63,000 more than the M4 Competition and over 80 grand more than the ‘regular’ M4), buyers score the full catalogue of M Division’s CS performance goodies.

The S58 twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline-six makes 405kW and 650Nm, up 15kW over the M4 Competition and a generous 37kW and 100Nm over regular M4. It’s mated to a ZF-sourced eight-speed torque converter automatic transmitting outputs to all four wheels via BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system. That combination results in a 0-100km/h claim of 3.4 seconds while 0-200km/h is dispatched in a staggering 11.1 seconds.

It’s a blistering turn of speed, one evident the moment you exit Mount Panorama’s pitlane and stomp on the gas for the long, long drag up Mountain Straight. There’s an urgency to the way the CS reacts, snarling and growling angrily as the speedo runs through the numbers at an unnerving rate.

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The M4 CS is, on paper, the quickest of the three CS models BMW rolled out at Mount Panorama on this day, both to the benchmark 100km/h but also, more tellingly, to the 200km/h mark. And yet, despite its ferocious turn of speed, the M4 in this incarnation feels settled and composed, like there’s more – much more – to give.

Spring rates have been stiffened – by 3 per cent up front and 5 per cent at the rear – along with CS-specific tuning and calibration for the dampers and anti-roll bars. That fettling is keenly felt through some of Mount Panorama’s more challenging sections such as The Cutting and the downhill Esses into the Dipper where the 4.8m long coupe remains beautifully balanced through changes of direction.

Rear-wheel bias (it can be forced into pure RWD for those brave enough) has been engineered into the M4 CS’s all-wheel drive system, resulting in a car with a little more tactility during cornering than just about anything with a friendlier 50:50 front-to-rear-bias. The panacea here is that should you get a little too greedy with the throttle, the CS’s stability control will intervene, feeding more torque to the front wheels, ensuring the M4 doesn’t stray too far off line.

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It breeds confidence from behind the wheel, allowing you to exploit the CS’s abilities further with each successive lap. Tuck the nose in sharply and the CS responds with composure, the rumble of ripple strip evoking ASMR by the shovel-load.

It’s a big part of the M4 CS’s appeal, that ability to flatter even the meekest of drivers looking to shed their cardigan and play race car driver for a day.

Certainly, that’s how I felt as the speedo nudged a scarcely believable 270km/h down Conrod Straight, each successive tug on the carbon-fibre paddle-shifters emitting an explosion of sound, matched gutturally by grin-inducing burbles on downshifts.

The brakes too, standard-fit steelies on our test car (carbon-ceramics are optional, a snip(!) at $19,000), were immense, pulling the 1755kg coupe up in a predictable and entirely controllable manner. No squirming here, just a dip of the nose that tucks into the corner politely before you power through the exit, clipping the next ripple strip just because you can.

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And that’s the thing about the M4 CS, and really, the broader CS range, cars that flatter the driver, allowing you to exploit more performance on the track than you believed you were capable of.

It’s a rare thing that a car engineered with at least one eye firmly on the race track can offer such a confident experience from behind the wheel, it’s rarer still when that confidence can make you feel like a superstar. By that measure, the BMW M4 CS has succeeded.

Specs

The recently launched Denza B5 and B8 off-roaders have taken on and passed a tough Australian off-road test with flying colours: the famously challenging Beer O’Clock Hill in Queensland’s The Springs 4×4 Park.

The feat was completed as part of BYD and Denza Australia’s commitment to improving and fine-tuning its vehicles to meet Australia’s unique and demanding conditions. In this case: steep and slippery low-speed off-road terrain.

The Denza B5 Leopard and B8 six-seater completed the trials with standard factory-fitted ‘DiSus-P’ suspension. The only performance modifications were the fitment of Mickey Thompson Baja Boss All-Terrain 275/55 R20 tyres and software adjustment for traction, torque and throttle calibrations.

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The B5 Leopard was also fitted with a prototype aluminium frontal protection kit and roof rack, both of which Denza will soon introduce as part of a range of OEM-approved off-road accessories.

With both Mountain and Crawl modes activated, front and rear mechanical differentials locked and low-range engaged, both Denza vehicles ascended the 100-metre climb – which has a 55-degree slope (142.8 per cent grade) at its steepest point without stopping.

According to Denza, data from the hardcore evaluation will now be shared with Denza research and development teams in China for validation, with new off-road enhancements to be offered to all B5 and B8 Australian customers via over-the-air (OTA) updates.

Short for “[H]igh-riding [R]evolutionary [V]ehicle”, the Honda HR-V was actually one of the first small SUVs on the Australian market when it debuted in 1999. That HR-V was arguably ahead of its time as SUVs were tiny in comparison with today, but the spirit of the original carries over to the third-generation model you see here. Small SUV competition is much stronger in 2026, so should the HR-V be on your test drive list?

How much does the HR-V cost to buy?

Australians are offered three models in the HR-V range, with the entry-level petrol Vi X kicking things off at $32,900 driveaway. Above that sits the mid-spec e:HEV X ($39,900 driveaway) and the top-spec e:HEV L ($42,900 driveaway), with all three variants well equipped.

Kit on the Vi X includes 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED exterior lighting, keyless entry with push button start, a 9.0-inch touchscreen, live services, sat-nav, wired Android Auto and wireless/wired Apple CarPlay and the Honda Sensing suite of active safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist and auto high beam.

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The hybrid HR-Vs are far better equipped than the petrol model, easily justifying the extra outlay in our opinion. Important safety features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are added, as are features like adaptive high beam, part synthetic leather/cloth trim and heated front seats in the e:HEV X, and the upper-spec e:HEV L further adding dual-zone climate control with rear vents, an electric tailgate and automatic rain-sensing wipers.

While it may look expensive to some, we think the HR-V is good value for money in the small SUV range thanks to its nationwide driveaway pricing under the Honda Price Promise.

However, it would be nice to see features such as a panoramic sunroof, roof rails, premium audio and a 360-degree camera from overseas HR-V models added to the Australian model to increase its value further. Same for the dealer-fit wireless charger: It should be standard equipment, as in some other markets.

How practical is the HR-V?

If you’re searching for a practical small SUV, the HR-V should be at the top of your list because it’s one of the best in the segment. That’s thanks to Honda’s Magic Seats, which previously featured in cars like the previous-generation HR-V and the Jazz that used to be sold in Australia.

What makes them so great? Well, in addition to folding completely flat – itself a rarity in the new car industry – the rear seat base also folds up against the backrest so that taller items can be transported in the rear footwell. It’s brilliant and something that really sets the HR-V apart from the competition. Behind the rear seats lies a reasonable 304 litres of space, helped further by a deep extra section, though folding the rear seats transforms that to a huge 1274 litres, which is larger than most of the competition.

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The rear seat is equally practical and two six-foot adults will be more than comfortable thanks to best-in-class headroom and legroom. Amenities include map pockets and door pockets, as well as a central armrest with cup holders. Choose the e:HEV L and rear air vents and two USB-C charging ports are added – we think they should be standard across the range, but at least they’re available unlike many rivals. Notably, the Australian-spec HR-V is a four-seater, if that matters to you.

The front cabin is also quite practical with plenty of storage spaces for life’s trinkets, like sectioned door pockets, two trays underneath the centre console, big cup holders and a big box underneath the central armrest.

Practicality is more than just storage space too, and thankfully in today’s market, the HR-V provides masses of physical buttons to control its features. For example, the climate control buttons – which, by the way, cleverly light up blue if turning the temperature down and red if turning it up – are very easy to use and not buried in the 9.0-inch touchscreen. The touchscreen is the same with its physical shortcut buttons on the side and simple menu structure.

Finally, material quality in the HR-V is reasonable, with a mix of hard and soft touch materials. As you’d expect for a Honda, it feels well built and built to last. The leather used on the steering wheel and gearknob is soft and high quality, and we quite like the warm and tasteful synthetic leather and fabric seat upholstery materials on the hybrid variants too.

How fuel efficient is the HR-V?

Rated at just 4.3L/100km on the combined cycle, the HR-V hybrid is very fuel efficient indeed. It uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine combined with an electric motor and small battery to also provide propulsion and keep the petrol engine switched off for as much as possible. Combined peak outputs are a healthy 96kW of power and 253Nm of torque, while it emits just 98g/km of CO2.

In the real world, the HR-V hybrid has a bit of pep in its step reaching 100km/h from a standstill in around 10 seconds, which is quick for a small SUV. It’s also easy to achieve the 4.3L/100km claimed efficiency and in purely urban driving, it’ll happily use even less than that. Add highway use into the mix – where hybrids traditionally use more fuel – it’s still efficient and will sit at around 5L/100km.

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Also available in the HR-V range is a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine, which makes 89kW of power and 145Nm of torque. It’s a fine entry-level engine and is totally fine in purely urban driving, though higher speeds show that it’s not the punchiest or quietest engine. Its claimed fuel consumption is higher at 6.2L/100km as well, and 7.7L/100km in urban driving, making it potentially much thirstier than the hybrid. In our opinion, the hybrid is the HR-V drivetrain to choose as it’s punchier, more refined and more fuel efficient.

What is the HR-V like to drive?

There’s a lot to like with the HR-V’s driving experience, thanks to a compliant ride quality, good steering weighting and general easiness to drive. Thanks to large windows and mirrors, its visibility is plentiful, while seat comfort is good though lumbar adjustment would be nice to have. Though the 18-inch wheels across the range can be a bit firm over larger bumps, it’s otherwise quite comfortable.

The HR-V’s hybrid system is also really impressive from behind the wheel. Rare for a hybrid are its stepped ratios so that it feels more natural sounding like a regular geared transmission when accelerating. It’s also very refined, and the switch between the petrol engine and electric motor providing propulsion is quite seamless. Honda’s excellent engineering is alive and well here.

What warranty covers the HR-V?

Honda covers the HR-V with a five-year/unlimited km warranty with five years of roadside assistance, plus an eight-year battery warranty for hybrid variants. That looks a bit short compared with some rivals, but if owners service their cars at a Honda dealer during that time, they can unlock an extra 12 months of both warranty and roadside assistance up to an impressive eight years in total.

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The HR-V’s service intervals are once-yearly/every 10,000km (whichever comes first), which is a bit short against the 15,000km average of the industry. But the first five years of servicing costs just $995, or $199 per service, which is well below the average cost in the industry.

Should I buy a Honda HR-V?

There’s no question that there are cheaper small SUVs than the Honda HR-V, as well as better equipped and faster ones as well. But many are not as good all-rounders as the HR-V, which manages to tick a lot of different boxes. For starters, it’s easily one of the most practical in this segment (again, the Magic Seats with their unparalleled usability) and counts on the most spacious rear seat in the segment.

The HR-V is also great to drive, very fuel efficient with the hybrid drivetrain, well equipped and covered by a great aftersales package with cheap servicing and up to eight years of warranty if serviced through a Honda dealership. Overall, the Honda HR-V is a great small SUV option that’s not cheap, but genuine value for money.

HR-V specifications:

HR-V Vi X standard features:

• 18-inch alloy wheels (with a tyre repair kit)
• Dusk- and rain-activated LED exterior lighting
• Keyless entry with push button start and automatic walkaway locking
• Rear privacy glass
• Electric-folding mirrors
• Single-zone automatic climate control
• Cloth upholstery
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• 7.0-inch digital driver’s display
• 9.0-inch touchscreen with Honda Connect live services
• Satellite navigation
• Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto
• AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio
• Bluetooth calling and audio streaming
• Four-speaker sound system
• 2x USB ports (1x USB-A and 1x USB-C)
• Eco, normal and sport driving modes
• 6x airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and motorcyclist detection
• Adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist
• Lane keeping assistance with lane departure warning
• Auto high beam
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Security alarm

HR-V e:HEV X model adds to Vi X:

• Acoustic windscreen
• LED front fog lights
• Upgraded LED headlights with auto-levelling, corner lights, adaptive high beam and scrolling indicators
• Heated front seats
• Part-synthetic leather upholstery
• Two extra speakers (six in total)
• Adjustable speed limiter
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Paddle shifters for regenerative brake level adjustment

HR-V e:HEV L model adds to X:

• Auto-folding mirrors with heating and automatic passenger-side kerb view when reversing
• Auto-dimming rear interior mirror
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents
• 2x rear USB-C charging ports
• Hands-free electric tailgate with walkaway closing
• Heated steering wheel
• 4x auto up/down windows with key fob operation

China has officially become the biggest supplier of new cars in Australia, overhauling the decades-long dominance of Japan.

According to data released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), cars manufactured in China accounted for over 46,600 sales for the first two months of 2026, eclipsing the 44,614 Japanese-built cars reported as sold.

Japan has dominated the Australian new car sales landscape for decades, the number one source of new cars for Australians since 1998. But China’s emergence as an auto manufacturing superpower has relegated Japan to second place on the sales chart. The strong result came off February sales data where cars built in China notched up around 25,700 sales last month, over 4000 more than Japan’s tally of 21,671.

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Those figures take into account sales of Polestar and Tesla electric vehicles, as reported by the EVC. All but one Tesla variant – the Model Y Performance – are made in China while all Australian-delivered Polestar models are manufactured in China.

Propelling China’s rise to the top are brands like BYD which has seen a 161 per cent increase in sales compared with the same period last year. Chery too is experiencing massive growth, up 99 per cent over the same time.

Japan’s sales meanwhile have been hard hit by declining sales for Nissan (down 44.7 per cent), Suzuki (down 32.5 per cent) and Toyota (down 25.1 per cent).

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However, Toyota’s numbers in particular are set to bounce back from next month as an all-new generation RAV4 (above) hits dealerships. Sales of the current model, just weeks out from the end of its life-cycle, have petered out, its 2480 sales to date this year in stark contrast to the 9481 RAV4s sold over the first two months of 2025.

The federal government is considering changes to tax incentives for electric vehicles as it looks for savings ahead of the May federal budget, with proposals that could scale back benefits for higher-priced EVs.

According to reporting by the Sydney Morning Herald, ministers and Treasury officials are examining options to either reduce, phase out or restrict the existing fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemption for electric vehicles purchased through novated leases. One option under discussion would limit the concession to lower-priced models rather than high-end electric cars.

The move comes as the cost of the policy has expanded far beyond initial estimates, driven by strong uptake among higher-income earners using salary packaging to lower their tax bills. The exemption, introduced in 2022 to accelerate electric-vehicle adoption, currently applies to EVs priced below $91,387.

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When the policy was first announced, it was expected to cost the federal budget around $1.9 billion between the 2022-23 and 2026-27 financial years. Updated estimates suggest the total cost will instead reach about $5.1 billion over the same period.

Demand for EVs through novated leases has significantly exceeded early projections, contributing to the blowout in the program’s cost. The scheme is also expected to remain expensive in coming years, with Treasury forecasts indicating the incentive could cost around $2.8 billion in the 2028-29 financial year alone.

While no final decision has been made, the government is also reviewing the current zero tariff applied to imported electric vehicles as part of a broader assessment of EV policy settings.

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The discussions come as Treasurer Jim Chalmers prepares the May 12 budget, which is expected to include spending reductions and policy adjustments aimed at improving productivity and addressing long-term fiscal pressures.

The FBT exemption was originally introduced as a key mechanism to encourage Australians to adopt electric vehicles. At the time, EVs accounted for less than four per cent of new-car sales nationally. Since then, the share of electric vehicles in the Australian market has risen sharply to around 13 per cent.

A Treasury review of the EV tax concessions was launched late last year, with submissions closing in early February. Its findings are expected to help inform any changes announced in the upcoming federal budget.

China has become Australia’s largest source of new vehicles for the first time in a single month, according to the latest sales figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

In February 2026, 22,362 vehicles sourced from China were sold in Australia, surpassing Japan with 21,671 units. Thailand followed with 19,493 vehicles and South Korea with 11,913.

Japan had been Australia’s leading source of vehicles since 1998, making the February result the first time in 28 years that another country has taken the top spot in a single month.

The shift reflects broader changes in the Australian car market, including the arrival of new brands in recent years. Since 2020, 10 new automotive brands have entered the Australian market, six of them within the past two years. Nine of the 10 new entrants manufacture their vehicles in China.

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FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said Australia’s open and competitive market had allowed new manufacturers to establish themselves quickly.

“After 28 years, Japan has been overtaken by China as the largest source of vehicles for the Australian market in a single month,” Weber said.

“The Australian market is one of the most open and competitive in the world. New brands can enter, establish dealer networks and compete on price, technology and design. Consumers are the beneficiaries of that competition.”

Overall, the Australian new vehicle market recorded 90,712 sales in February, a decline of 4281 vehicles or 4.5 per cent compared with the 94,993 vehicles sold in February last year. With 24 selling days in both months, this equated to an average drop of about 178 vehicle sales per day.

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Sales fell across most segments. Passenger vehicles were down 1.1 per cent year-on-year, while the sports utility vehicle market – the largest segment – declined 6.2 per cent. Light commercial vehicle sales slipped 0.7 per cent, and heavy commercial vehicles recorded the largest fall, down 12.9 per cent compared with February 2025.

Battery electric vehicles accounted for 11.8 per cent of total sales in February, representing a record monthly share.

Toyota remained Australia’s top-selling brand with 13,606 vehicles sold, well ahead of Mazda with 7042 and Ford with 6907. Kia and Hyundai rounded out the top five brands.

The Ford Ranger was the best-selling model with 4325 sales, followed by the Toyota HiLux (3625), Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (2315), Mazda CX-5 (2099) and Isuzu D-Max (2092).

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Additional data from the Electric Vehicle Council also pointed to strong growth among some electric-vehicle brands. Tesla and Polestar recorded a combined 3419 new vehicle sales in February 2026, representing a 99 per cent increase compared with the same month last year.

Tesla accounted for the majority of those deliveries, with 3274 vehicles sold during the month – more than double the 1592 vehicles delivered in February 2025. Polestar recorded 145 sales, up from 125 vehicles in the same period last year.

Year-to-date figures also show continued momentum for the two brands. Across January and February 2026, Tesla and Polestar have recorded combined sales that are 61 per cent higher than during the same period in 2025, reflecting continued growth in demand for battery-electric vehicles in the Australian market.

A limited run of the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro Motorsport Collectors Edition is heading to Australia with an eye-watering price tag of $568,800 before on-road costs. That’s a $149,900 premium over the regular AMG GT 63 Pro.

A Mercedes-Benz local representative confirmed Australia had secured a number of the global production-run of 200 cars although remained tight-lipped on just how many would make their way Down Under.

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Mechanically identical to the Mercedes-AMG GT63 Pro, the Motorsport Collectors Edition is powered by the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 making the same 450kW and 850Nm, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission sending drive to all four wheels.

Where the Motorsport Collectors edition distinguishes itself is in its unique design features including the bespoke Obsidian Black exterior paint with green accents – on the front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and 21-inch forged alloy wheels – mirroring that of Mercedes-AMG F1 Team’s title sponsor, Petronas.

Continuing the F1-inspired theme, a hand-painted star pattern stretches from the AMG GT’s doors and over the rear wheel arches. More bespoke touches appear on the door where the crest of Affalterbach – AMG’s hometown – has been meticulously painted by hand on the lower third of both doors.

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Distinctive interior design elements include contrast stitching, once again finished in Petronas green – on the Nappa leather seats, door trims, centre console, and steering wheel.

Each Motorsport Collectors Edition also comes with an indoor car cover featuring a Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team design.

The entire 200-car production run, including those landing in Australia, have already been snapped up by eager collectors.

Back in January, WhichCar by Wheels asked whether you would consider an electric vehicle if the charging time was reduced significantly. And now, after some initial scepticism, Finnish Tech startup Donut Labs has backed up its impressive claims with firm evidence.

Donut Lab debuted its new solid-state battery at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas and claimed it was capable of of 595km driving range, with as little as ten minutes charge time required. While solid-state technology is not new, and major manufacturers are working on the technology, none have reached production yet. Donut Lab has claimed from the outset that its battery was in fact production ready.

Initially sceptics were highly critical of Donut Lab’s claims, and the concept was heavily criticised, but the Finnish startup vowed to prove its detractors wrong. Independent testing has now proved that the battery works reliably at extreme temperatures, more than 100 degrees celsius in fact.

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Solid state batteries promise to be safer and significantly more capable of storing higher energy density, therefore being more efficient for the same amount of real estate within a vehicle platform. There are issues associated with them though, which is why we haven’t yet seen them in production-ready form, including excess heat and the possibility of cracks appearing under repeated stress.

Despite some of the world’s leading manufacturers working hard to bring solid-state technology to the mainstream (including BYD), it was Donut Lab that delivered technology that, on paper at least, looked to have blown all previous efforts out of the water. Tackling the scepticism head on, Donut Lab even created a portal called I Donut Believe with the site documenting the company’s work to dispel that criticism.

Finnish state-owned research firm VTT Technical Research Center was tasked with testing the ground-breaking technology. The first result released last week showed that the battery can in fact be charged in close to five minutes, matching the Donut Lab claim, at a temperature up to 90 degrees celsius.

The VTT test, in layman’s terms, illustrated that the battery can be charged from zero to 80 per cent in four and a half minutes, with a full charge taking just 11 minutes. That means the Donut Lab solid-state battery is almost four times more charge-efficient than a more traditional lithium-ion battery, even when it has active cooling.

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Donut Lab claims that the independent tests prove that its solid-state batteries, “can withstand astonishing charging rates even without active temperature control”. If you click through to the link for the I Donut Believe site, you can download the independent VTT report.

Given solid-state technology has long been considered the silver bullet solution for EVs, the next step will be to see whether this technology can be made available, affordably, for large-scale production.

New vehicle arrivals are well underway for 2026 and we’ve already seen some important SUV launches in the market, like the Hyundai Elexio and the Denza B5. But with plenty of time left in the year, there are plenty of launches still to come – check our New Car Calendar 2026 for more details.

SUVS being such a popular segment for Australians now, here are the top new SUV launches we’re looking forward to for the rest of this year:

BMW iX3

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Price: From $120,000 (est.)
Drivetrain: Dual-motor electric, 345kW/645Nm, 800km range
Why we’re excited for it: It’s the first production model under BMW’s ‘Neue Klasse’ era
When it’s due on sale: Around mid-2026

The headline stats for the new iX3 are impressive: It uses a new 800V platform, a huge 108kWh battery for up to 800km of range and a new dual-motor drivetrain making 345kW of power in the 50 xDrive variant (less powerful and less expensive models will follow). But it’s also the first new BMW from the brand’s ‘Neue Klasse’ era from which all of its future products will also be derived. As such, expect the future products from the brand to look like the iX3.

Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology

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Price: From $120,000 (est.)
Drivetrain: Dual-motor electric, 360kW/800Nm, 713km range
Why we’re excited for it: It uses a new platform with impressive efficiency
When it’s due on sale: The second half of 2026

Like BMW, Mercedes-Benz is also ushering in a new era with its important new electric mid-size SUV. Like the iX3, the GLC with EQ Technology uses a new 800V platform with a 94kWh battery for up to 713km of range. It’s also the first product in the Mercedes-Benz line-up that uses the same name in electric form as an ICE sibling, which will be followed later this year by the new C-Class, and it is also the first product from the brand to use its new ‘Hyperscreen’ touchscreen.

Toyota RAV4

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Price: From $45,990 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: 2.5-litre hybrid or plug-in hybrids, CVT auto, 2WD or AWD
Why we’re excited for it: It’s likely to be one of the best-selling cars in Australia
When it’s due on sale: By the end of the first quarter of 2026

It’s not everyday that we see an updated version of the world’s best selling car, but that’s what Toyota is about to launch locally. We’ve already driven the new RAV4 earlier this year and now it’s finally about to launch with a 2.5-litre hybrid drivetrain, with a 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid due later in 2026. Pricing kicks off from $45,990 plus on-road costs for the entry-level GX, and despite a big increase in price, we’re expecting it to continue to be a very popular product in Australia.

Nissan Qashqai e-Power update

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Price: From $45,640 +ORC
Drivetrain: 1.5-litre turbo-hybrid, 140kW/310Nm, CVT auto, 4.1L/100km
Why we’re excited for it: Nissan continues to refine its e-Power hybrid system for greater efficiency
When it’s due on sale: It’s already available to order with the first deliveries due soon

The Nissan Qashqai is not a new nameplate to Australia, but for 2026, the brand has enhanced its e-Power hybrid system for even greater fuel efficiency. Now rated at just 4.1L/100km on the combined cycle and just 92g/km for CO2 emissions – 0.7L/100km and 20g/km less than before – the Qashqai range for 2026 is now all-hybrid in Australia. Impressively, an updated Qashqai hybrid drove from the bottom to the top of the UK (that’s 1347km) on one 55-litre tank of fuel. Importantly, Nissan has further proved that improvements can be continually be made with powertrains using the internal combustion engine, even despite what naysayers may say.

Cadillac Optiq

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Price: From $80,000 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: Dual-motor electric, 224kW/480Nm, 425km of range
Why we’re excited for it: Cadillac’s second and third products are finally launching in Australia
When it’s due on sale: Imminently

The Cadillac brand launched in Australia in October 2024 with the Lyriq electric SUV, and finally, two more of its vehicles are about to launch, including the Optiq. The Optiq is an electric mid-size SUV competing with cars like the BMW iX3 with up to 425km of driving range. The Optiq’s interior is reportedly made of high-quality materials, and it’s quite spacious for its size. Will that be enough to shake up the electric mid-size SUV segment? Unlikely, but it’s great to see more interesting-looking vehicles from new brands to our shores.

Subaru Trailseeker

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Price: From $70,000 (est.)
Drivetrain: Dual-motor electric, 280kW/537Nm, 533km range
Why we’re excited for it: It’s Subaru’s most powerful production car ever, and it’s a wagon
When it’s due on sale: Before the mid point of 2026

The Subaru Trailseeker is due to launch in the first half of 2026 and for many observers, this is what the new more-SUV looking Outback should’ve looked like. Basically a longer version of the Solterra already on sale, the Trailseeker is powered by a dual-motor electric drivetrain making 280kW, which makes it Subaru’s most powerful ever production car. Pricing is yet to be revealed but we expect a starting price from around $70,000.

Chery Australia is celebrating its 2025 sales results, which rose 176 per cent over its 2024 result at 34,889 units. Leading the way was the Tiggo 4 small SUV which notched 20,149 units, with the Tiggo 7 and Omoda 5/C5 following behind.

Following the success of the brand in Australia, other markets globally have reportedly adopted the Australian arm’s ‘Chery Family Care’ seven-year warranty with seven years of roadside assistance and seven years of capped price servicing. According to Chery, that will increase trust in its products.

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2025 Chery sales in Australia:

So far in 2026 to the end of January (February sales figures are yet to be announced), Chery has sold 3780 vehicles, which is a 105.8 per cent increase on January 2025. As expected, the Tiggo 4 has done the heavy lifting at 2234 sales but the Tiggo 7 has recorded 439.5 per cent growth to 798 sales.

This year is expected to bring a lot of new product for Chery, including its first ute – the plug-in hybrid diesel ‘KP31’ – as well as the next-generation of its Super Hybrid plug-in hybrid system that will reportedly be capable of travelling up to 2000km on a tank of fuel and a fully charged battery.

Chery has also announced that it’s opened a regional warehouse in Melbourne holding in excess of $28 million worth of parts inventory, which reflects its broader commitment to “strengthening parts logistics and reducing downtime — an area of strong focus for Australian consumers”. In addition, Chery plans to open two additional warehouses in Brisbane and Perth by the end of 2026.