Cars news

• Mazda success in 2026 could come down to one key model

  24-12-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  Mazda has one key model coming that will set the tone for the rest of the brand, but it won’t be alone with a range of supporting models to incrementally boost sales volumes.Mazda’s firm hold as the second-biggest selling brand in Australia has started to slip, threatened by Ford and its success with the Ranger, but in 2026, Mazda will be looking to push itself ahead with a vital new model.With a new CX-5 on the way, Mazda will have a fresh take on its top-selling model, but it won&r
  
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• Mitsubishi says a four-star car is a very safe car

  24-12-2025 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Mitsubishi believes cars that do not meet ANCAP’s five-star safety rating, like its new ASX, can still be safe.
  2026 Mitsubishi ASX Exceed
  Mitsubishi Australia believes delivering a car with a four-star safety rating, according to ANCAP’s latest criteria, is still safe for customers.The comments come from Mitsubishi Australia General Manager of Product Strategy Bruce Hampel after confirmation the second-generation ASX would likely carryover its four-star rating from Europe.“In
  
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• Favourite cars of 2025, according to Drive

  24-12-2025 21:00 via drive.com.au
  Dozens of new cars have arrived in Australian showrooms this year, and while Drive has reviewed them all, some hold a closer place in our hearts than others.While Drive reviews all new-models launched in Australia, we do so within the context and confines of where new vehicles sit within their respective segments and what they offer compared to others.For prospective buyers, that is a good way to determine whether the car they are interested in is worth their time, but there are also some models
  
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• Lexus RX450h+ plug-in hybrid range expanded with new entry-level variant

  24-12-2025 03:06 via drive.com.au
  The Lexus RX large SUV line-up takes a cue from the smaller NX range by adding an entry-level Luxury-spec plug-in hybrid.The 2026 Lexus RX450h+ plug-in hybrid will add a second model with the introduction of a cheaper RX450h+ Luxury trim level.Slotting in below the existing RX450h+ Sports Luxury, the Luxury grade adds an entry-level alternative to the previously hybrid-only Luxury grade.Priced from $105,350 plus on-road costs, the RX450h+ Luxury commands an $11,800 premium over the cheapest two-
  
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• Top 10 most-popular car reviews on Drive in 2025

  24-12-2025 02:00 via drive.com.au
  The most-read reviews on Drive in 2025 demonstrate an ever-increasing interest in SUVs and utes in Australia, as well as BYD electric cars.
  With 2025 drawing to a close, it’s time to take a look back at the year that was on Drive across our news, reviews, advice, social media and Marketplace content.In this edition, we’ve compiled a list of the most-popular car reviews published on Drive in 2025.SUVs and utes are Australia’s best-selling vehicle types, and mid-size SUVs are the
  
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• The Australian off-road road rules you don’t know about

  24-12-2025 01:55 via drive.com.au
  Think road rules don’t apply off-road? Think again. We uncover the specific laws and etiquette for 4WDing on beaches, in national parks and on dirt tracks.4WDing in Australia has grown at an almost exponential rate in Australia since the 1990s. Put simply: it’s fun, it’s rewarding and it allows us usually urban-bound folk to enjoy the great outdoors. However, as more of us come into the off-roading fold, there is a corresponding upswing in the rules being ignored, which is
  
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• New family SUVs you need to keep an eye on in 2026

  24-12-2025 01:00 via drive.com.au
  If you’re ready to start shopping for a new family SUV in 2026, here are the models to watch out for.The medium SUV segment in Australia is one of the highest-volume and most hotly contested new car segments. Some of the biggest names in the segment, like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5, are due for renewal in 2026.Beyond the most popular models, a range of other significant new medium SUVs are on the way. Here’s what to look out for if you’re looking for your next family S
  
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• HSV GTSR W1 Maloo ute sells for $1.2 million, sets new Holden road-car auction record

  24-12-2025 00:16 via drive.com.au
  One of four Holden Special Vehicles GTSR W1 Maloo utes – built in secret for HSV collectors and VIPs – has broken the auction record for a road-going Holden.The $1.2 million sale of one of four HSV GTSR W1 Maloo supercharged V8 utes is claimed to have set an auction record for a road-going Holden.It eclipses the $1.057 million paid at auction – excluding buyer fees – in 2021 for a 1985 Holden Commodore VK SS Group A road car driven day-to-day by Peter Brock.The Holden Spe
  
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• 2026 could be make or break for Mitsubishi

  24-12-2025 00:00 via drive.com.au
  Mitsubishi’s model line-up is changing, but it may not be for the better, with a lot more pressure put on key models, previous volume sellers put out to pasture, and new threats from competitors.Mitsubishi’s position as a top-ten telling brand in Australia could be in jeopardy.Models like the Eclipse Cross and Pajero Sport have reached the end of the road.At the same time, one of the brand’s top-three sellers, the ASX, has switched from cheap and accessible to premium and relat
  
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