Automotive news

• 2026 Kia EV2 revealed as brand’s smallest electric car, could skip Australia

  11-01-2026 23:50 via drive.com.au
  Kia’s newest electric car is a baby SUV aimed at China’s smallest and cheapest models in Europe – but it may not be that cheap if it is ever sold in Australia.Kia has revealed the next step in its plan to compete with the rise of budget-priced Chinese electric cars: the pint-sized EV2 city SUV, due in European showrooms later this year.However, it is far from certain to come to Australia, due to the high cost of producing and shipping the EV2 from its factory in Slovakia, compa
  
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• Mahindra slashes price of seven-seat XUV700 – now as cheap as a Toyota Corolla

  11-01-2026 22:57 via drive.com.au
  Runout deal sees Australia’s most affordable seven-seater, the Mahindra XUV700, now $4000 cheaper at $35,990 drive-away.Mahindra has slashed the price of its already bargain-priced seven-seat SUV, the XUV700, by an additional $4000. This makes the Mahindra XUV700 $35,990 drive-away, about as cheap as an entry-level Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport ($32,110 before on-roads) depending on state.Already Australia’s most-affordable seven-seater, even at its regular $39,990 drive-away pricing,
  
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• Mazda CX-6e electric SUV confirmed for New Zealand

  11-01-2026 22:37 via autotalk.co.nz
  Mazda has confirmed it will launch the all-new CX-6e electric SUV in New Zealand, marking a further step in the brand’s transition toward electrification. The CX-6e was unveiled earlier this month at the Brussels Motor Show and is expected to arrive in New Zealand toward the end of 2026. Mazda says the CX-6e is built […]
  The post Mazda CX-6e electric SUV confirmed for New Zealand appeared first on Autotalk.
  
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• Best-selling hybrid cars in Australia in 2025

  11-01-2026 22:27 via drive.com.au
  Growth in hybrid vehicle sales slowed in Australia in 2025 compared to the previous year, but still rose to nearly 200,000 and continued to be dominated by market-leader Toyota.Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.
  The Toyota RAV4 remained Australia’s best-selling hybrid vehicle, though it didn’t sell as well as the previous year.Data supplied by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) reports 199,133 new hybrid cars and SUVs as sold last year, up 15.3 per cent from 172,695 in 2024.Hybrid
  
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• 2026 BYD Sealion 7 Premium review

  11-01-2026 22:00 via drive.com.au
  BYD now has an electric mid-sized SUV in Australia in the form of the BYD Sealion 7. It’s larger than the Atto 3 and fully electric unlike the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid. Is it as good as a Tesla Model Y?
  Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2026 BYD Sealion 7 PremiumIt’s quite an achievement for a model to go on sale for the first time in a new country and,
  
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• 2025 BYD Sealion 7 Premium review

  11-01-2026 22:00 via drive.com.au
  BYD now has an electric mid-sized SUV in Australia in the form of the BYD Sealion 7. It’s larger than the Atto 3 and fully electric unlike the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid. Is it as good as a Tesla Model Y?
  Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2025 BYD Sealion 7 PremiumIt’s quite an achievement for a model to go on sale for the first time in a new country and,
  
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• ‘Cheaper to write-off’: The most popular electric cars insured in Australia

  11-01-2026 21:21 via drive.com.au
  While retail pricing on electric cars are starting to come down, experts forecast EV insurance will remain high in 2026. Here’s why.While they might be the new kids in the automotive block, electric cars are starting to become a permanent mainstay on Australian roads.As reported by Drive in January 2025, 103,270 new battery-powered cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles were reported as sold last year, accounting for 8.3 per cent of Australia’s new car market in 2025.
  RELATED: Are
  
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• BYD Shark 6 takes big bite out of 4×4 dual-cab ute market in 2025

  11-01-2026 20:25 via drive.com.au
  Only the Mitsubishi Triton and GWM Cannon increased sales in 2025 as 4×4 ute newcomers steal sales away from established players.BYD’s Shark 6 has managed to carve out a sizeable 8.5 per cent of Australia’s 4×4 dual-cab ute market in its first 12 months on sale, rocketing to fourth place in the segment with 18,073 year-end sales.The newcomer has seemingly taken chunks out of the best-selling Ford Ranger (down 7.4 per cent to 53,694 sales) and Toyota HiLux (down 4.8 per ce
  
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• Passenger car sales in Australia reach new low in 2025

  11-01-2026 19:14 via drive.com.au
  The sales of traditional passenger vehicle body styles have reached a new low in Australia, with little sign of recovery.Passenger car sales have recorded their worst VFACTS-reported sales results to date.The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) industry body, which reports sales data supplied by car brands, revealed that 2025 saw SUV and Light Commercial Vehicle sales grow during 2025, at the cost of traditional passenger cars.The total sales across all SUV categories grew by 5.5 per
  
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• Road freight industry warns tolling existing roads will undermine public support

  11-01-2026 18:53 via autotalk.co.nz
  Road freight association Transporting New Zealand is urging the Government to remove provisions in the Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill that would allow existing roads to be tolled and enable heavy vehicles to be forced onto toll roads. Transporting New Zealand chief executive Dom Kalasih says the organisation supports tolling when it helps deliver new […]
  The post Road freight industry warns tolling existing roads will undermine public support appeared first on Autotalk.
  
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• Meet the man who measures car boot capacity with banana boxes

  11-01-2026 03:57 via drive.com.au
  Bjorn Nyland is obsessed with boot space and here are his results.Bjorn Nylander’s Maxus Mifa 9 banana box test videoSwedish car nut Bjorn Nylander is a man on a mission. His quest? To cut through all of the manufacturer claims and discover one simple truth: how many banana boxes fit in a car’s boot. To that end, he’s compiled a dataset over the last seven years of cars tested that shows exactly how many boxes can fit into their luggage bays.The current champion among pass
  
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• Zeekr 8X PHEV SUV details emerge: Up to 328km of electric-only range

  11-01-2026 02:01 via drive.com.au
  Zeekr is planning to add a second prestige plug-in hybrid large SUV to its line-up, with over 300km of EV range and 1030kW of power.
  Zeekr 8X plug-in hybrid SUV. Image credit: CarNewsChina
  Details of the 2026 Zeekr 8X plug-in hybrid SUV have emerged thanks to details lodged with China’s patent office.The Zeekr 8X will slot in one rung below the 9X on Zeekr’s product ladder, sharing the same platform, 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and three-motor plug-in hybrid drivetrain.Information
  
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• 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid to become more affordable in Australia

  11-01-2026 00:13 via drive.com.au
  The entry-level Kia Sportage S will gain front- and all-wheel-drive hybrid power later this month.The 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid line-up will expand in Australia later this month with a more affordable variant, the brand has confirmed.Kia Australia has announced the Sportage Hybrid will gain an S base grade in front- and all-wheel drive configurations, which is likely to see its entry price fall by $2490.The Sportage Hybrid is currently offered in SX and GT-Line grades in front- and all-wheel driv
  
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