UPDATE: Audi has locked-in pricing for the medium-sized Q4 E-Tron electric SUV.

The four-strong Q4 E-Tron range starts at $88,300 for the 45 grade (in Sportback or wagon body styles) with a 77kWh battery, single 210kW electric motor, a power tailgate, and LED headlights.

Audi’s Sportback 55 E-Tron flagship costs $109,500 before on-road costs and gets twin motors with 250kW outputs, S Line exterior styling, Matrix LED headlights, and more.

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The built-in-Brussels Q4 E-Tron is a rival for the Chinese-made BMW iX3 and German-built Mercedes-Benz EQC.

Audi is yet to lock in final Q4 E-Tron specification, so read on below for pricing, product highlights, and to see what changes Audi made during the Q4 E-Tron update.

2024 Audi Q4 E-Tron pricing

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2024 Audi Q4 E-Tron 45 and Sportback 45 features

2024 Audi Q4 E-Tron 55 and Sportback 55 features

Our original story, below, continues unchanged

September 2023: Updated Audi Q4 E-Tron confirmed for Australia

There have been rumours of the Audi Q4 E-Tron coming to Australia since the SUV’s launch in 2021, but it’s now been confirmed to coincide with a global update. First customer deliveries are expected to arrive in mid-2024.

It’s a similar strategy Volkswagen employed in holding its ID.3 back for our market to coincide with the update’s launch and, despite being late to the party, may benefit both manufacturers in the long run.

In fact, Audi’s local team admitted that the announcement timing – coinciding with the Melbourne EV show – has worked out rather nicely. It follows business cases being put forward by the Australian team after early production issues and countries with CO₂ mandates were prioritised.

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Audi hopes to secure stronger volumes of the Q4 E-Tron in both Sportback and wagon body styles than the trickle of Q8 E-Trons (neé E-Tron SUV) that have arrived in Oz.

It’s a fair assumption that the Q4 E-Tron will be more popular than Audi’s bigger EVs. It’s keenly priced in its Europe home market, with the new entry-level E-Tron 45 costing the equivalent of AU$88,000 in Germany.

It will compete with the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQC, as well as high-end variants of the Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID.4/ID.5.

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What’s new for the Q4 E-Tron?

The range has been restructured with the short-range 35 dropped. The E-Tron 40, meanwhile, is replaced by the 45 in both single and twin-motor guises, while the dual-motor E-Tron 50 becomes the 55.

All models are therefore equipped with a 77kWh usable battery (82kWh gross) that’s now able to charge from 10-80 per cent as fast at 28 minutes for Quattro models (capable of 170kW DC, while non-Quattros are limited to 135kW DC).

The longest driving range accolade belongs to the rear-drive E-Tron 45 Sportback at 562km in WLTP testing, up from 534km in the pre-update model. Along with a bigger battery, improvements can be attributed to enhanced battery cooling and optimised software.

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A new permanently excited synchronous motor is mounted on the rear axle producing 210kW (up 60kW) in the E-Tron 45, good for a 6.7-seconds 0-100km/h sprint. The 45 E-Tron Quattro matches those outputs and acceleration but with two motors. The amped 55 Quattro models, meanwhile, develop 250kW and hit the tonne in 5.4 seconds.

Also new is a 15mm lower sport suspension package. Across the range, Audi has massaged the damping, spring, and steering characteristics to improve the Q4 E-Tron’s driving experience.

Audi has worked on the E-Tron’s camera and radar systems, and the adaptive cruise control/lane-trace assist systems can now work in tandem with the blind-spot monitor for automatic lane changes at speeds between 90-130km/h on the freeway.

The interior has been left largely alone, though all models now get the larger touchscreen and digital driver’s display, and a battery route planner in the connected navigation. A new synthesised ‘character sound’ also gives the Q4 E-Tron a unique identity.

Cadillac says a keen focus on luxury and exclusivity means it’s aiming to sell cars in “exclusive volumes” in Australia when it launches here next year.

Set to launch with a single model in 2024 – the all-electric Lyriq SUV – before expanding to offer a “portfolio of vehicles”, Cadillac says it’s targeting BMW, Mercedes and Audi as its primary competitors.

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Given the luxury positioning – the Lyriq is tipped to cost in excess of $100,000 – Cadillac’s execs admitted they aren’t chasing high volumes Down Under.

“I mean, obviously we’re not going to give numbers specifically away,” said GM’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Jess Bala. “When you think about luxury and exclusivity, it means you’re not going to see everyone out there driving one.

“We want it to be something that’s sought after, something that’s ambitious. So it’s not going to be mainstream volumes that a lot of people are familiar with, or you see quoted. We want to be something that’s very much sought after and truly fits into that luxury space.”

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GM’s president and general manager of strategic markets, Ernesto Ortiz, reiterated Cadillac’s Aussie premium positioning.

“We are not going after volume,” he said. “It’s all about customer needs and delivering a great customer experience. A luxury customer experience.”

Cadillac won’t build conventional dealers in Australia but will instead interact with its customers through experience centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.

Bala says customer service is a key pillar for Cadillac and that the brand will offer a personalised “white glove” experience.

“We’re going to have a very well-trained team that is all about white glove service and that luxury experience,” she said. “Whether it’s the person that’s on the showroom floor with you, the person that might be answering a phone… it has to be consistent the whole way through and making sure those customers, they know that they’re the centre and the whole thing pivots around them.”

One way Cadillac could tailor its customer experience is to collect and return owners’ cars when it’s time for a service, similar to what Genesis offers its owners.

“We’re looking at everything,” confirmed Bala. “And every customer is unique. Some might say ‘hey my car is due for a service on Monday, can you pick it up’. Others might want that more hands-on experience, so it’s really about us delivering the most seamless experience for the customer.”

As for where Cadillac will service its vehicles – given it has no dealer network to lean on – Bala said discussions are underway with several third-party providers.

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“We’re working through a few different options”, she said. “There will be a strategy in place. Whether it’s working with third parties or within our own internal business that we have already.

“It’s obviously going to depend on where the customer is and the location. It’s something that’s going to be adaptable and something that we will develop over time and we’ll share more details closer to starting sales.”

When asked if Cadillac could use existing GM Special Vehicles outlets to service its cars, Bala replied: “We’re going to do what’s right for the customer ultimately, and what makes the whole process easier for them. And we’ll work with the right partners that we think would deliver the best experience possible.”

New recall notices have been issued, affecting Mazda, Peugeot, Volkswagen and Ferrari vehicles.

The details of each recall, as published, are posted below.

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• What is a recall?
• What to do if your car is recalled
• Why a car recall isn’t all bad news
• What is a vehicle identification number (VIN)?
• All ANCAP & vehicle safety stories

Ferrari’s first ever road-legal XX car, the SF90 XX, is officially the fastest road car to lap the brand’s famous test track, Fiorano.

In the hands of Ferrari’s chief test driver, Raffaele de Simone, the track-focused SF90 XX lapped the 3km circuit in 1m17.039s which smashes the previous benchmark by 1.4 seconds.

That previous marker was set by the ‘regular’ SF90 with Assetto Fiorano package, which highlights the huge performance gain offered by the XX’s stronger focus on aerodynamics.

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The XX version is based on the regular SF90 and shares the same plug-in hybrid powertrain which combines a 4.0-litre V8 with three electric motors and a 7.9kWh battery.

Power is up to 758kW in the XX – a rise of 22kW over the standard car – but its huge fixed rear wing, sealed underbody and redesigned nose mean it produces twice the downforce. At 250km/h the SF90 XX is generating 530kg of downforce, with the rear wing alone accounting for 315kg of that.

Ferrari bolted lightweight carbon-fibre wheels onto the XX for the record attempt – they’re actually made by Aussie company Carbon Revolution — and wrapped them in sticky Michelin Pilot Cup 2 R tyres.

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The same tyres were used on the SF90 when it set the previous benchmark lap time.

For the first time, the XX’s record attempt was independently measured and verified by a “specialist third-party motorsports agency”.

Numbers mean nothing without context, so how does the SF90 XX’s record stack up in the pantheon of Ferrari road cars?

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Well it’s a full 10 seconds quicker than a Ferrari F50, which is the last Ferrari to feature a fixed rear wing like the XX’s.

It’s also 2.0 seconds better than a LaFerrari, 4.0sec quicker than the blistering 296 GTB and around 5.3 seconds ahead of the Enzo.

Check out the video for the full onboard experience of de Simone setting the lap time in SF90 XX. We’d suggest turning your speakers up…

Cadillac’s launch in Australia has been planned since 2015 – long before GM decided to shutter the Holden brand.

Set to launch in Australia next year with the all-electric Lyriq SUV, Cadillac’s expansion into Australia and other key right-hand-drive markets will eventually see it offer a ‘portfolio’ of EVs Down Under that could also include the Escalade IQ and the smaller Optiq, which is yet-to-be-revealed (officially at least).

“It really dates back to about 2015,” Cadillac’s global vice president, John Roth, told Wheels. “And that’s the early vision of the Ultium platform and what Cadillac can become.

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“When you look at that time frame, I wouldn’t say there’s a point in time that said this is Australia and New Zealand’s place in the world. It was more the enablement of right-hand drive and the fact that we knew back then that in order for us to be truly tier-one luxury, you have to have a right-hand drive offering.

“Now coming to market, fast forward to today, Australia, New Zealand is our first right-hand drive market. It’s been 8-10 years in the making.”

GM officially shuttered its Holden operations in 2020 but company execs were diplomatic when asked if they were expecting any lingering resentment from Aussie buyers.

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“I started at Holden,” said GM Australia and New Zealand managing director, Jess Bala. “I understand it. I wasn’t here when it all happened but obviously I watched it very closely and many of my friends and colleagues here went through it. And obviously we’ve had a big contingent join me over in the US as well which is awesome”, said Roth.

“But we’re going to continue to recognise it [Holden’s closure], it is there, but also understand that we’re bringing something very different to market now to meet the market needs and the customer needs now. And I think people are going to be very accepting of that.

“We just need to get bums in seats and I think that’ll speak for itself.”

Cadillac says “deeds not words” are what will win the trust of Aussie buyers as the American luxury brand prepares to launch here in 2024 — just four years after GM closed its Holden operations.

Set to launch with the all-electric Lyriq SUV before expanding with a “portfolio” of models, Cadillac’s return will mark the first time the American brand has had an official presence in Australia since the 1960s.

Since then Cadillac and GM have had some false starts Down Under. Cadillac was poised to launch here back in 2008 with the CTS sedan, but that venture — which had already signed up 16 dealers — was abandoned at the last minute due to the Global Financial Crisis.

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Saab and Hummer are other GM brands that were short-lived in Australia, with Opel also lasting just 11 months in 2012 before it was axed.

Yet Cadillac executives were keen to emphasise that this time the brand is committed to Australia for the long haul.

“I think trust is the big thing, right?” said GM managing director Australia and New Zealand Jess Bala. “We’ve talked about the awareness that the brand [Cadillac] already has and I think Cadillac as a brand has trust in it, but it may not be as well known here as it is in the US.

“It’s about deeds, not words. We have to show actions in the marketplace that demonstrate our true commitment.”

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“So a lot of that is going to come through the experience that we’ve already talked about. Just showing you that we’re committed here. I think it’s really important that our customers are aware that we [Australia] are the first right-hand-drive market and that shows commitment in itself.”

Cadillac’s global vice president, John Roth, agreed with Bala by adding:

“It’s about deeds, not words. We have to show actions in the marketplace that demonstrate our true commitment. And that’s why we’re seeing a whole series of announcements on a global stage.”

Roth reiterated Cadillac’s plan to build cars in right-hand-drive, as part of its broader global expansion, isn’t a new decision — it has been in the pipeline since 2015.

Ernesto Ortiz, GM’s president and general manager of strategic markets, also affirmed Cadillac’s long-term commitment to Australia.

“It’s walking the walk,” you know? he said. “Delivering what we said is a key thing to demonstrate and that is why we are here.”

The Nissan X-Trail, a well-regarded SUV known for its practicality, comfort, and value, has been named our Best Medium SUV for 2023

Building on the global success of its predecessor in the same category, the latest X-Trail has made an impressive debut this year.

It also achieved a commendable top-four finish in the 2023 Wheels Car of the Year, standing out not just among its direct competitors but also against new models from various categories.

Now, let’s delve into the details of the X-Trail range, focusing on the ST-L model, to discover its features and offerings.

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Pricing and features

The engine options for the ST-L include a 2.5-litre petrol engine, available in both front-wheel-drive (FWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) configurations. The FWD variant comes as a 5-seater, whereas the AWD version is exclusively a 7-seater.

Sitting up one variant over the entry-level ST, the starting price for the ST-L FWD model is $43,190, excluding on-road costs. Opting for the additional two seats in the AWD model also means an extra $3,100 to $46,290, but this includes the AWD feature and a few additional specs.

The X-Trail ST is impressively equipped for its class. It boasts a modern and functional exterior design, emphasising practicality and ease of operation.

Internally, the ST provides a roomy and intuitive cabin. The infotainment system covers essential connectivity needs, and the intelligent arrangement of space, complemented by Nissan’s ‘Divide-N-Hide’ cargo system, enhances its practical aspects.

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Spending the extra $6,440 to move up to the ST-L adds a few luxuries such as leather accented and heated front sears, a surround-view parking monitor and privacy glass.

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Safety

The 2023 Nissan X-Trail was awarded a five-star safety rating by ANCAP, with notable scores of 91 percent in adult occupant protection and 90 percent in child occupant protection.

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Key rivals

The mid-size SUV sector is crowded with well-known and successful models, but being one of Australia’s most favored segments, there’s ample room for appreciation among:

• Toyota RAV4
• Hyundai Tucson
• Kia Sportage
• Mazda CX-5
• Mitsubishi Outlander
• Subaru Forester

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Should I put it on my shortlist?

The 2023 Nissan X-Trail has demonstrated that it’s a vehicle that truly justifies the anticipation.

This latest generation introduces a plethora of enhanced and new features, all wrapped in an attractive package.

If you can do without the creature comforts, and want to save some cash then the entry-level ST will suit just fine, but the ST-L is a tempting offering packing in little luxuries that you’ll likely start to miss.

A brand-new five-star ANCAP car is the gold standard for safety but for many of us, prices beyond $35,000 are unaffordable – especially in the current cost-of-living crunch.

Thanks to ANCAP being around for nearly 30 years we can look back at prior scores to compare vehicles but Monash University’s Accident Research Centre (MUARC) has taken a different approach to reveal Australia’s 20 safest used buys.

By using real-world statistical analysis, the study examines data from more than 9 million crashes in Australia and New Zealand and 2.5 million injuries between 1987-2021.

The researchers examined occupant safety but also gathered data on vehicle-other road user incidents, such as pedestrians, cyclists, and other cars to generate the list.

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Beyond finding the 20 safest vehicles, the study also found that driving a vehicle made in 2021 reduces the chance of serious injury or death in a crash by 33 per cent compared to a car from 2001. Also noteworthy is a total lack of utes in the 20 safest vehicles.

“Serious road trauma resulting from the worst-rated car is more than ten times that of the best rated car in the same crash with the same driver,” said research lead and MUARC director Professor Stuart Newstead.

“If we want to optimise the safety of the fleet, we have to be wary of not just how the vehicle protects you as the driver, but also the injury risk the vehicle poses to other road users.

“The change in focus of the Used Car Safety Ratings to consider the ‘Overall Safety’ rating reflecting serious trauma risk the vehicle poses to all road users is a significant step towards this holistic approach to road safety”, he said.

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The 20 safest used cars

The 20 vehicles below (listed alphabetically) scored five stars across all categories. For a full list with all ratings, see this PDF put together by MUARC [↗].

Not all makes and models were sampled so the data set is not as complete as it could be. Still, it gives a good indication of some safe choices for family transport with plenty of Toyota and Mazda models represented.

The ‘new’ 2025 Toyota Camry sedan has debuted ahead of this week’s Los Angeles auto show.

Due to launch in Australia later in 2024, the ninth-generation Camry brings a new lease of life to the mid-size sedan popular with taxi, ride-share, fleet and police buyers.

“Cars for Australian customers will be built in Japan with a local launch slated for the second half of next year,” said Toyota Australia.

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The new Camry is a heavy facelift of the current model with an identical wheelbase, based on an updated version of the existing TNGA-K platform shared with the RAV4 and Kluger.

The current eighth-generation Toyota Camry debuted in January 2017 and received a mid-life update in 2020. It was the first model imported to Australia in three decades after local Camry production ended in 2017.

As expected, the Camry is now hybrid-only with the familiar 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine matched to “lighter and more compact electric motors to produce more power and enhanced performance compared with the previous hybrid system”.

In North America, it will offer electronic all-wheel-drive with a hybrid powertrain – like a RAV4, Kluger or Crown – for the first time. However, this combination won’t come to Australia with the Camry remaining front-drive only, as it has since the nameplate launched in 1983.

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While there’s plenty of familiarity under the skin, Toyota said it has retuned the suspension for “even greater responsiveness, stability and handling” and installed new shocks.

Externally, the Camry features an updated front end with C-shaped daytime running light signature similar to the new C-HR, Prius and Crown Sport, a revised side profile, and claw-shaped tail-lights.

Inside, there’s influence from the C-HR, bZ4X and Crown with an 8- or 12.3-inch new-gen infotainment system, an available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the available ‘Hey, Toyota’ intelligent assistant.

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Now fitted with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, new active safety features include proactive driving assist, front cross-traffic alert, traffic jam assist, lane change assist, and full-speed adaptive cruise control.

Toyota Australia has confirmed that 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and push-button start, dual-zone climate control, Toyota Connected Services, and a 7-inch semi-digital instrument cluster will be standard on the entry-level variant.

Higher-spec variants will add 18-inch alloy wheels, a larger touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, a 10-inch head-up display, a JBL audio system, leather-accented upholstery, paddle shifters, a wireless phone charger, a 360-degree camera, and front and rear parking sensors.

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In October, Toyota Australia confirmed it has paused orders for the Camry Hybrid due to extended wait times, leaving the base Ascent petrol as the sole option to purchase locally.

And when orders reopen, it’ll likely be for the new Camry revealed today – with price hikes expected.

Toyota announced earlier this year that the Camry would be discontinued in its Japanese home market, but production will continue for export markets, including Australia.

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The 2025 Toyota Camry is due in Australia later in 2024, with local pricing and features to be announced closer to its launch.

“Moving exclusively to a hybrid Camry clearly signals the ongoing success of Toyota’s multi-pathway approach to helping customers lower their carbon footprint through electrification while leaving no-one behind,” said Toyota Australia sales and marketing boss Sean Hanley.

“Beyond the broad appeal of hybrid technology under the bonnet, we anticipate strong demand for the new Camry with its distinctive design, impeccable craftsmanship and premium interiors along with new-generation advances to dynamics, safety and convenience.”

Below: The current Toyota Camry

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The Lyriq large electric luxury crossover is leading the Cadillac brand’s return to Australian roads after a six-decade hiatus.

But which other models will join it as parent company General Motors plots a local challenge to the likes of Audi, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, and Tesla?

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Celestiq

Cadillac’s custom-order flagship EV, the Celestiq, may be an option for wealthy Aussies with at least half-a-million dollars to burn but America’s electric answer to a Bentley Flying Spur isn’t expected to be part of the official local range.

The specs stand out as much as the sleek, coupe-sedan styling. A 111kWh battery, 447kW, all-wheel drive, active rear steer, active roll control, adaptive air suspension with magnetic ride control dampers, four-zone microclimate cabin system, and five high-definition interactive displays.

Read more about the Cadillac Celestiq.

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Escalade IQ

The Escalade IQ is a new fully electric spin-off of Caddy’s iconic full-size that would be expected to sit at the top of the local range.

It’s a beast at 5.7 metres long, and it monsters Mercedes-Benz’s EQS electric SUV in several other measures. It’s 200kWh battery is almost double, there’s 560kW and 1064Nm on tap via a Velocity Max mode, while the estimated range comes in at an impressive 724km.

Other notable features include 24-inch wheels, four-wheel steering that shrinks the turning circle to 12 metres, and pillar-to-pillar digital dash displays spanning 1.4 meters.

With a US$130K price tag, though, the Escalade’s price would inevitably escalate to well north of $200K in Australia.

Read more about the Cadillac Escalade IQ.

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Optiq

The Optiq is yet to be officially revealed but it’s now an open secret after some official images and details leaked online in China (one of the images above) – and the name was trademarked in Australia earlier this year.

Leaked dimensions say the Optiq will be 4.8m long with a 2994mm wheelbase, making it a natural junior to the 5.0m Lyriq (with 3094mm wheelbase).

Styling is also connected, though more SUV-conventional than the bigger Caddy electric SUV.

Specs also reveal the choice of rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models for a vehicle expected to form the entry point to the Cadillac brand in Australia.

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Lyriq V

Not a new vehicle per se, but it would be a highly anticipated variant of the Lyriq – as the V badge would signify Caddy’s first electric performance model.

It currently signifies high-performance versions of the CT4 and CT5 sedans, but the Lyriq V is believed to be in development right now – with rumoured outputs of 410kW and 880Nm.

That compares with power and torque figures of 373kW and 610Nm for the current most powerful versions of the Lyriq – the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variants.