Small cars are back in the spotlight in the September 2026 issue of Wheels, with two very different approaches to affordable urban motoring going head-to-head.

The cover story pits the familiar Kia Picanto against BYD’s new Atto 1 electric hatch. With fuel prices and concerns over future supply again putting running costs under scrutiny, the comparison asks whether compact city cars could be poised for a resurgence – and whether petrol or electric power now makes more sense at the affordable end of the market.

Two modern cars parked side by side in a park-like lot with green trees in the background, the left car bright yellow-green and the right car pale blue-gray.
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At the opposite extreme, Matt Prior gets behind the wheel of the McLaren W1 to discover whether the British company’s latest hypercar can live up to its promise of being as entertaining on the road as it is devastatingly fast on a circuit.

There’s also a trip to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where Remco Slump explores not only the machinery tackling the famous hillclimb but the remarkable variety of cars scattered around the event during a scorching British summer weekend.

Rob Margeit delves into one of motoring’s more unusual engineering avenues with a look back at memorable V4-powered cars, while the Modern Classic spotlight falls on the HSV Maloo. We revisit the story behind Holden Special Vehicles’ high-performance ute and meet an owner who explains why the Maloo remains such a special machine.

Orange McLaren sports car speeding on a race track with pit buildings and grandstands in the background under a blue sky.
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The issue’s Wheels Interview heads further into Australian motor racing history with Nigel Tait, a pivotal figure in helping Sir Jack Brabham achieve international success.

First Drives delivers an unusually diverse crop of newcomers. The electric Mercedes-Benz CLA and Neue Klasse BMW iX3 represent two important next-generation European EVs, while the BYD Seal 6 Touring makes the case for the affordable wagon. Geely’s EX2, the updated XPeng G6 and Toyota bZ4X Touring broaden the electric field, while the LandCruiser Performance Hybrid brings electrification to one of Australia’s most traditional nameplates.

Row of bright sports cars parked on a sunny day at an outdoor car show with people walking between them
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Regular columnists Michael Stahl and Paul Gover return, alongside the Wheels Garage featuring the Honda Prelude and Chery Tiggo 9. Marketplace examines the continuing rise of EVs, while the Buyer’s Guide packs in more than 1900 vehicle prices, specifications and reviews.

Finally, the Wayback Machine winds the clock to August 1971 and a Wheels scoop on the then-new VH Valiant.

Wheels Australia cover showing yellow BYD ATTO 1 and green Kia Picanto racing, with the 'Urban Brawl' headline and 'Electric vs Petrol' subtitle.
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