Starting from $59,990, Volvo’s smallest vehicle available today is positioned five-grand above the petrol-powered entry-level XC40 but $17,000 below the cheapest electric XC40.
EX30 arrives as a crucial model to Volvo’s plan to go all electric by 2026 in Australia, and by 2030 globally.
Volvo Australia first announced pricing in mid 2023, and while the entry EX30’s price is unchanged there are increases for the other two variants that form a three-model line-up.
The mid-range Extended Ultra moves from $64,990 to $66,290; the flagship Performance Ultra shifts the other side of $70K, also up $$1300 to $71,290.
All three launch models feature a 69kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery, with the range-topping Performance Ultra adopting an extra electric motor for all-wheel drive where other variants are rear-wheel drive.
The EX30 is produced at Volvo’s Zhangjiakou plant in China and shares its platform with some other models in the portfolio of parent company Geely.
| MY25 Volvo EX30 pricing (before on-road costs) | |
|---|---|
| EX30 Single Motor Extended Plus | $59,990 |
| EX30 Single Motor Extended Ultra | $66,290 |
| EX30 Twin Motor Performance Ultra | $71,290 |
Volvo’s entry EX30 starts above the company’s current most affordable model, the XC40 B4 petrol, but the 4.2-metre SUV is priced $14,000 below the larger electric XC40.
The world’s most popular EV, the midsize Tesla Model Y SUV, is priced from $69,300 at the time of writing. (Its pricing fluctuates wildly.)
The BYD Atto 3, another popular electric SUV, is priced from $48,000 for its entry-level 320km ‘standard range’ model.
The all-wheel-drive EX30’s dual motors produce combined outputs 315kW and 543Nm to make it the quickest Volvo ever. The maximum range drops slightly to 460km.
Volvo Australia has teased some initial feature specifications, which points to a strong equipment level from the base model up.
The Extended Plus will include a Harman Kardon audio with soundbar speaker system, as well as an auto tailgate, wireless phone charging, and a digital key that follows a Tesla trick – allowing owners to access the car and drive away using just their smartphone.
A long list of safety features is standard across the range and includes a new alert system designed to prevent doors being opened into oncoming bikes, scooters or runners.
Ultra models gain a new-generation version of Volvo’s Pilot Park Assist, which can now detect a wider range of parking spaces and controls acceleration and braking in addition to the steering. The driver can monitor the distance to surrounding objects, including cars, walls and bollards, via the central touchscreen.
To emphasise the EX30’s intended appeal to younger buyers, five exterior colour choices include yellow and pale blue.
The EX30 joins the XC40 Recharge and C40 to expand Volvo Australia’s electric line-up to three, with the EX90 large electric SUV due in early 2025.
The $71,290 flagship EX30 Performance Ultra, while more compact, also undercuts other luxury small electric SUVs, including the BMW iX1 (from $78,900), Lexus UX300e (from $80,720) and Mercedes EQA (from $81,700).
The Cross County doesn’t add much in the way of capability, but Volvo says it’ll come with more ground clearance (no numbers offered), 19-inch black wheels and the option of 18-inch wheels with bespoke tyres.
Volvo is yet to commit to this model for Australia.
| Dimensions | Volvo EX30 | Volvo XC40 EV |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4233mm | 4425mm |
| Width | 1940mm | 1863mm |
| Height | 1555mm | 1652mm |
| Wheelbase | 2650mm | 2702mm |
| Boot space | 318L rear seats up, 904L rear seats down | 418L rear seats up, 1373L rear seats down |
| Key features announced so far | |
|---|---|
| Two-tone roof | Electric tailgate |
| Digital key | 12.3-inch infotainment display |
| Wireless smartphone charging | Soundbar speakere |
| Harmon Kardon audio system | |
| EX30 Single Motor Extended Ultra | |
|---|---|
| Price: | $66,290 |
| Drivetrain: | Single motor, rear-wheel drive |
| Range: | 480km |
| Battery: | 69kWh |
| Power: | 200kW |
| Torque: | 343Nm |
| 0-100km/h (claimed): | 5.3 seconds |
| Key features announced so far | |
|---|---|
| Panoramic sunroof (fixed) | Rear privacy glass |
| 360-degree camera | Heated front seats |
| Park Assist Pilot | Heated steering wheel |
| Electric seats with 4-way lumbar support | |
| EX30 Twin Motor Performance Ultra | |
|---|---|
| Price: | $71,290 |
| Drivetrain: | Dual electric motors, all-wheel drive |
| Battery: | 69kWh |
| Range: | 460km |
| Power: | 315kW |
| Torque: | 543Nm |
| 0-100km/h (claimed): | 3.6 seconds |
| Key features announced so far | |
|---|---|
| 20-inch wheels | Electric seats with 4-way lumbar support |
| Panoramic sunroof (fixed) | Rear privacy glass |
| 360-degree camera | Heated front seats |
| Park Assist Pilot | Heated steering wheel |
| EX30 range: Standard safety features | |
|---|---|
| Lane Keeping Aid | Intersection auto brake |
| Lane Change Assist | Low-speed rear auto brake |
| Oncoming Lane Mitigation | Rear cross-traffic alert with auto brake |
| Vehicle/Cyclist/Pedestrian detection | Front cross-traffic alert with auto brake |
| Pedestrian/Cyclist/Scooter steering avoidance | Collision avoidance and mitigation by braking and steering |
| Run-off-road mitigation | Adaptive cruise control with Pilot Assist partial autonomous steering |
| Blind spot monitoring with steering assist | Distance to Truck Assist |
Details of the new model are under embargo, but its Australian name was confirmed after updated government approval documents appeared online.
Oddly, while the SUV formerly known as the Seal U has likely been renamed here simply to avoid confusion with the existing Seal sedan, an unrelated Sea Lion 7 model (styled as two words rather than the local one word) was unveiled in November last year.
In Europe, the Seal U is sold alongside the Seal sedan as the Seal U DM-I – the DM stands for Dual Mode (petrol-electric), but the purpose of the I is unclear – while Chinese-market buyers know it as the Song Plus.
The front-wheel-drive 2024 BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic will deliver 160kW total system output from a 72kW 1.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine and a 145kW front-mounted electric motor.
The all-wheel-drive 2024 BYD Sealion 6 Premium will swap in a 98kW petrol engine, along with a 150kW front electric motor and a 120kW rear electric motor, for a 238kW total system output.
Under the skin, all versions have an 18.3kWh lithium-iron-phosphate ‘blade’ battery – compared to 20kWh in the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, 17.8kWh in the Mazda CX-60 PHEV and 16.6kWh in the MG HS PHEV – allowing for a 30 to 80 per cent top-up in 35 minutes on an 18kW DC fast-charger. It also has vehicle-to-load functionality.
An electric-only driving range or combined fuel consumption figures have not been confirmed for either Sealion 6 variant.
A pure battery-electric version of the Sealion 6 is currently limited to left-hand drive markets, including China and Europe, where it rivals the world’s best-selling EV, the Tesla Model Y.
Boot space is rated at 552 litres with the second-row in place or 1440L with the rear seats folded down.
Features available overseas include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, leather-accented upholstery, a wireless phone charger, a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment system, over-the-air software updates, and an Infinity audio system.
Australian details for the 2024 BYD Sealion 6 – including pricing and full specifications – are due to be confirmed on Thursday, May 16.
The Sealion 6 is likely to be priced above the $43,690 drive-away MG HS PHEV (marketed cheekily as the HS Plus EV), but below the cheapest Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which costs around $62,000 drive-away.
With compact Seltos-like dimensions (thus smaller than the midsize Sportage), the EV3 should offer reasonable interior space for young families, thanks to the long wheelbase offered by all dedicated EVs in the Hyundai Kia group.
In Australia, the EV3 will take on a growing number of small EVs, including the excellent new Hyundai Kona Electric (which rides on an unrelated petrol-compatible platform), the MG 4, BYD Atto 3, Peugeot E-2008 and Renault Megane E-Tech – among others.
With popular models like the MG 4 and Atto 3 beneath $40K and $50K respectively, Kia would be wise to introduce the EV3 at a similar point.
However, Hyundai’s Kona Electric starts from $54K, and although the EV3 will ride on a new platform, its motors and battery packs are likely to be the same units found in the Kona – so that pricing could provide a clue for the new Kia.
As expected, the tightly cropped teasers confirm the compact Kia EV3 you’ll see in showrooms won’t stray far from the look of last year’s concept, unveiled in October alongside the EV4 concept.
It’s not every day that a futuristic concept design presents an honest look at its future production form, but Kia has set a standard of show cars that very closely preview what’s to come.
The body’s razor-sharp folds have also been rounded off for a more street-friendly appearance, and the speckled wheel arch cladding has (sadly) been replaced with conventional unpainted grey items.
The global world premiere of the new Kia EV3 will be live-streamed on Kia Worldwide YouTube channel on May 23rd at 8PM AEST.
Since then, we’ve seen the EV5 concept evolve into the faithful EV5 production model bound for Australia, and the high-riding EV4 sedan is sure to follow the same pattern.
As we’ve now seen with the big new EV9 and mid-sized EV5, Kia isn’t leaving much to the imagination when it comes to the transition from show car to car showroom.
In both cases, much of their concept styling translated fairly faithfully to their final forms (say that five times fast), with little changed but for some smoothed edges and more functional lighting.
When it goes into production next year, the EV3 will join the sedan-like EV4 as Kia’s smallest new-generation electric models – which is an odd thing to say, considering the second-generation Niro EV was only unveiled last year.
There’s also the Kia Soul EV still available overseas, but this will likely be retired when the EV3 debuts.
As their designs suggest, the EV3 will enter the range as a practical offering with exterior dimensions that belie its interior space, while the EV4 will be targeted at buyers looking for style first, practicality second. (Although, like the EV3, we’d expect its interior space to be surprisingly capacious.)
What the EV3’s launch will mean for the Niro is currently unclear. An early retirement, in some markets if not all? A price repositioning below the EV3? The most likely outcome is that the electric Niro will be dropped, leaving the hybrid and plug-in hybrid EV models to satisfy those segments.
No technical details for the EV3 have been offered, although we expect both it and the EV4 to be built on the Hyundai Motor Group’s new eM architecture.
This will make the EV3 and EV4 unique even to the still unreleased EV5, which will be built on the existing the E-GMP platform that debuted in 2020.
Models built on the eM platform are expected to be more budget-focused – as far as affordability goes in the EV world – with a lower-voltage 400V or 500V electrical system, rather than the fast-charging 800V design found in E-GMP models.
Oh, and no, the EV3 isn’t related to the new K3 sedan.
Among its features will be a new E-Routing function, offering a Tesla-like ability for monitoring battery status to then suggest best routes and nearest chargers as needed.
The brand hasn’t yet specified how that will play out in the EV3 and EV4, but the debut of the EV9 came with what Kia calls its 10 “must-have sustainable items”, to be applied to all future models.
“With this action, we guarantee the implementation of sustainability at scale,” Kia says.
Switching to recycled plastics and ‘bioplastics’ – made from sources like vegetable oils, corn extract, sawdust and sugarcane – will see them replace conventional oil-based plastics in dashboards, consoles, pillars, and trim.
Kia will also phase leather out of its new models, to be replaced with Bio Polyurethane. Likewise, carpets will be made from recycled plastic, including fishing nets.
Where the EV3 will be built is unclear, although Kia has confirmed the bigger new EV5 will come from China. That doesn’t mean the EV3 will as well, but clearly it could.
As for pricing, don’t expect it to start with a 5, let alone a 4. it’s unlikely we’ll see any electric Kia fall below $50,000 – just about all legacy brands have confirmed they’ll leave that space to the Chinese.
But! With Hyundai recently announcing a new $64,500 entry variant of the big Ioniq 5, we could conceivably see the Kona EV enter below $60,000 – or perhaps right on $60k, with a higher level of standard trim than the entry Ioniq 5.
We’ll know for sure in the coming weeks, with a fourth-quarter launch confirmed.
Kia might need to do something about its Niro EV in the meantime, too. A few months before Hyundai brought down the price of its entry-level Ioniq 5, Kia increased Niro EV pricing by $1250 to $66,590 plus on-roads. Awkward.
However, for the first 10,000 Ford-badged EVs sold in the first quarter of 2024, the company lost nearly AU$2 billion – equivalent to around $200,000 on each EV delivered.
Ford’s Model E division, responsible for the brand’s electrification efforts, reported a $153 million revenue figure for the period – an 84% drop from the same time last year.
Sales figures also dropped by 20%, compared to the first quarter of 2023. Ford pointed to “pricing pressure” and “slower growth”, as customers have lost their enthusiasm for EV vehicles.
To address its nosedive, the company plans to tighten the purse strings, spending around $12-13 billion rather than the current $15 billion figure planned.
Ford CEO Jim Farley commented “We’ll probably be on the low end of that range, and we’re being very consistent about our discipline on profitability.”
This technology is being developed with China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited, with Ford planning to own and operate their own outright plant. Initial production is expected to commence in 2026.
The designers on team are working on smaller and more affordable EVs, which Ford feels will win over urban dwellers at a more efficient price point.
“We believe [the city is] where the adoption of EV will grow the fastest, and we believe we can compete in segments of small cars and vehicles, more affordable vehicles in a unique way that’s Ford.” – Jim Farley, Ford CEO.
The three diesel vans and the battery electric E-Transit flagship will be joined by the single-cab cab chassis and the 12-seater bus to make up the Transit line-up going into 2025.
Ford will also take the axe to the manual transmission – currently offered in five variants – and drop the dual-cab chassis model, reducing the number of Transits from eleven to six.
The $104,000 before on-road costs E-Transit flagship is the only model to fend off a price increase.
The official ‘2024.75’ update will see the entry-level manual Transit 350 dropped – currently the cheapest variant at $56,990 before on-road costs – with the automatic 350L FWD now kicking the range off at $59,990.
Ford says the entry-level will come with a higher 2750-kilogram braked tow rating and 6000kg GCM – increases of 950kg and 1750kg, respectively.
There’s no word from Ford Australia on any improvements to fuel economy – which given the vehicle’s size, does not have an official fuel figure to go off, anyway – the eight-speed may bring the entry-level Transit.
These models carry over the 125kW/390Nm four-cylinder turbo-diesel – a relative of the 2.0-litre bi-turbo engine used in the Ford Ranger – introduced in 2017.
The 350L RWD and 430E Transits see 3500kg tow ratings – again, increases of 900kg and 1100kg – with payloads up on all models bar the E-Transit.
Key equipment upgrades include standard push-button start, an 8-inch semi-digital instrument cluster, and tyre-pressure monitoring.
Bus and cab chassis Transit will include a 360-degree camera as standard as part of the update.
Peugeot Australia has announced its end-of-financial year offers, with the largest savings applied to 2023-built examples of the E-2008 GT small SUV until June 30, 2024.
Usually priced from $59,990 before on-road costs, the Spanish-built E-2008 is now available at an all-time low for a European electric car: $39,990 drive-away nationwide.
Brand-new and demonstrator examples of the E-2008 GT are covered under the deal, which started on May 1.
The E-2008 now priced identically to Australia’s cheapest electric SUV, the MG ZS EV, and joins other Chinese-built electric cars priced below $40,000, including the BYD Dolphin, MG4 and GWM Ora.
A facelifted version of the Peugeot E-2008 – unveiled in Europe 12 months ago – is due in Australia in the coming months, likely returning to a higher drive-away cost.
Peugeot’s local division – managed by third-party Inchcape – will further expand its electric car line-up in 2024 with the addition of the E-208 light hatch, E-308 small hatch, E-3008 midsize SUV and E-Partner medium van.
Demonstrator examples of the 2023 BYD Atto 3 Extended Range are priced from $45,990 drive-away in most states and territories until May 30, 2024 – compared to its usual $51,011 plus on-roads list price.
It costs $47,990 drive-away for buyers in Western Australia.
The drive-away price of an Atto 3 Extended Range is usually between $51,550 and $55,300, depending on the state or territory it is registered in.
A minor update for the BYD Atto 3 is due in Australia soon, with new additions likely to include a larger 15.6-inch rotating infotainment system – up from 12.8-inch – and darkened exterior trim.
It is also expected to feature a thicker shade for the panoramic sunroof, Continental Eco Contact 6 tyres, and a new ‘cosmos black’ exterior colour.
In 2023, the Japanese brand promised to launch additional petrol-electric hybrid variants in Australia once top-spec E:HEV models had arrived with each new full model launch, starting with the latest HR-V in April 2022.
The 11th-generation Accord sedan arrives in Australia this month as the last full model change with an E:HEV hybrid variant, joining electrified flagship versions of the Civic, ZR-V and CR-V also launched in the last 24 months.
“That’s part of our original hybrid expansion strategy. Probably later on this year – essentially now that we’ve launched top variants – you’ll now start to see through different MMCs [minor model changes] or different upgrades [hybrid variants] expanded throughout the range,” said McMahon.
“Our current hybrid take up is around 40 per cent. I think this time last year we said we were expecting around 25 per cent, so we’re actually higher than what we had originally set our goal for. I think industry petrol [sales] is still around 70 per cent; we’re at 60 per cent so we’re quite happy with the take-up [of hybrid].”
“We don’t have any plans for a lower-specced Accord,” said McMahon. “Accord is a flagship model – we’ll always use that to introduce the new technology and the new features.”
Available in a sole E:HEV RS variant, the Accord midsize sedan is priced at $64,900 drive-away, while the hybrid version of the Civic small hatch – the E:HEV LX – retails for $55,000 drive-away.
“It is possible that could make sense. I can’t announce anything today formally, but later on this year is probably the time that we start the expansion,” said McMahon.
While McMahon was unable to announce an expanded HR-V line-up, new government approval documents have all but confirmed this.
It is unclear how the two hybrid variants could be differentiated, but Honda would likely use the current entry-level petrol HR-V as a base for a cheaper hybrid variant to slot between the existing Vi X and the E:HEV L.
This would see certain features deleted, such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter, leather-accented upholstery, heated front seats and steering wheel, LED fog lights, and a hands-free electric tailgate.
Improvements for the updated HR-V – which launched in Japan last month – include a revised grille and lower front bumper, full-LED two-tier tail-lights, traffic jam assist, adaptive high-beam headlights, and a mis-acceleration prevention assist.
These variants also have revised damper forces for improved ride comfort, and an updated energy management control to reduce the number of internal-combustion engine startups and shutdowns.
The government documents confirm the HR-V will continue to have four seats to comply with Australian Design Rules for rear top-tether anchor points, as Honda elected not to engineer an anchor point for the rear-middle position that would allow it to be certified as a five-seat vehicle.
The current 2023 Honda HR-V is in run-out with discounted pricing of $34,900 drive-away for the Vi X petrol, down from $36,700, and $43,900 drive-away for the E:HEV, down from $47,000.
The milestone Ram was a Billet Silver Crew Cab completed at the company’s Melbourne site, where the US-made pick-ups have been converted from left-hand to right-hand drive since 2016.
“30,000 vehicles is a significant carpark in anyone’s books – that it’s come about in a segment that didn’t exist a few years ago is testament to the hard work of everyone involved,” said Jeff Barber, General Manager of Ram Trucks Australia, in an Ateco statement.
In late 2022, Ram upgraded its Melbourne Manufacturing Facility (MMF) to double production capacity to 20,000 vehicles a year – around 54 a day – with two assembly lines and more than 400 employees.
“From our partners in the US and Melbourne, to our dedicated dealer network in Australia and New Zealand, the RAM Trucks business proves that it’s possible to establish an OEM-level automotive manufacturing capability in Australia despite the closure of local automotive brands.
While facing the Chevrolet Silverado – which is converted to right-hand drive in Melbourne by Walkinshaw Performance – Ram has also faced increased competition from the Ford F-150.
The F-150 arrived in local showrooms last October with Ford Australia tipping around 5000 annual sales, with capacity for around 20 conversions to right-hand drive carried out by RMA Automotive in Melbourne.
Production of the current model Ram 1500 wound up at the end of 2023 – including the flagship 1500 TRX powered by a supercharged 6.2L V8 – with its V6-powered ‘RHO’ successor announced in April 2024.
The Ram 1500 RHO will use a 3.0L twin-turbo inline six with V8 models are dropped from the Ram line-up as part of a facelift due in US showrooms mid-year.
Ateco has imported a batch of 130 Ram 1500 TRX Final Editions which will farewell the V8 from the Australian line-up.
This left-hand drive import could be one for those wanting to remember those times, or for those who remember the first Sega Rally arcade machines.
And finally we break away from the sports cars and look at the more comfy world of SUVs with this Audi Q3 from 2012.
The Subaru Forester has a longstanding history as one of Australia’s family SUVs since it landed almost 30 years ago.
It has developed a strong reputation for reliability and practicality, making it a favourite among families and outdoor enthusiasts.
The Forester’s design smartly integrates comfort and functionality, serving well for daily use and more adventurous activities. It stands out as a compact SUV but offers the spaciousness and driving feel of a larger wagon.
The base model comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, leather steering wheel and gear shift and cloth trim seats.
There are also plenty of practical additions like rain-sensing wipers, LED headlights, black roof rails and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
It houses a 2.5-litre e-Boxer four-cylinder engine, delivering 136kW and 239Nm of torque, paired with a CVT and Subaru’s signature all-wheel drive.
The Forester excels in ANCAP safety metrics, achieving an adult occupant protection score of 94% and a child occupant protection score of 86%.
The vehicle comes fully equipped with a wide array of standard safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitoring, lane departure warning and lane-keep assist.
The Subaru Forester faces competition from medium SUVs such as:
Definitely consider the Subaru Forester if you’re looking for a compact SUV that offers a combination of safety, efficiency and off-road capability.
While it has a robust set of features suitable for adventurous lifestyles, it can also cater to those needing a dependable vehicle for everyday driving.
Its practicality is unrivaled in the segment, which explains why this car continues to enjoy widespread popularity.
