• Electric mid-size SUVs you can buy now under $60,000 – and what’s coming in 2025

    Looking for an electric SUV to fit your family in but don’t know who’s who? You’ve come to the right place. Here are the medium SUVs you can buy in Australia today for less than $60k, and what’s on the horizon next year.Medium SUVs are consistently Australia’s favourite-sized vehicle due to their generous levels of space, practical family features and higher ride height, all within a relatively small footprint – but until now the options for models with a full
  • Jeep Avenger petrol mild-hybrid likely for Australia

    After launching the electric version, Jeep is set to expand its city SUV line-up with petrol models that could be the brand’s most affordable new cars.A mild-hybrid petrol version of the Jeep Avenger city electric SUV is firming for Australia as a new entry point – on size and possibly price – to the US brand’s range.The Avenger has launched in Australia as an electric vehicle, priced from $49,990 plus on-road costs – the first in the company’s range.But as el
  • 2025 Jeep Avenger review: Australian first drive

    Jeep has joined the electric car market with a stylish city-sized SUV priced at about $50,000. Has it been worth the wait, or is it too little, too late, for too much money?
    Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
    2025 Jeep AvengerJeep is known for large, hardcore SUVs capable of travelling far off-road, but the brand’s first electric car – the 2025 Jeep Aven
  • Hyundai Palisade on runout sale ahead of new-generation model expected next year

    Hyundai’s Palisade is currently discounted as part of the brand’s runout offers, seemingly confirming the new model will arrive at local showrooms sometime in 2025.  South Korean car maker Hyundai is offering a $3000 factory bonus on its Palisade, following reports a next-generation of its large SUV is due to arrive in local showrooms sometime in 2025.The promotional offer applies to the entire MY24 Palisade range – including petrol and diesel variants – and extends
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  • This British car was years ahead of its time. And then it fell apart… literally

    The Rover SD1 had all the ingredients to challenge the established executive sedan set of the 1970s. And then it all went horribly wrong.Original story by Tony Davis first published in Drive on 27 November, 1998In the late 1970s, there was no room for shoddy quality within British Leyland. This was because there was already so much shoddy quality within British Leyland they couldn’t possibly fit any more in. Against this rather depressing backdrop came an innovative design which deserved a
  • V8 Supercars paradise: More fans flock to the Gold Coast than Bathurst

    The race under the sun for a surfboard pushed Bathurst back to the third step on the podium for the most-attended V8 Supercars races in 2024.The Bathurst 1000 was the third-most attended stand-alone V8 Supercars race in 2024, as the Gold Coast event overtook the Mount Panorama classic as the second-most popular event.The season finale of the Ford Mustang versus Chevrolet Camaro battle in Adelaide – where Red Bull driver Will Brown saw off team-mate Broc Feeney to take his maiden V8 Superca
  • Luxury car theft police taskforce generates more than 500 arrests

    A dedicated police operation tackling young people stealing luxury and performance cars has laid thousands of charges since it started in 2021.A dedicated Police taskforce aimed at cracking down on theft of performance and luxury vehicles in Sydney has arrested 570 people over the last three years.Strike Force Sweetenham was set up in 2021 to target young people who were stealing high-performance cars, with NSW Police revealing they’ve laid 4754 charges since then.According to police, luxu
  • How old do you have to be to ride an e-scooter in Australia?

    The minimum age for riding an e-scooter ranges from 12 to 18 depending on where you are in Australia, so it pays to know the rules.Road authorities around Australia have warned there will be stricter enforcement of the current e-scooter laws following a rise in severe e-scooter-related accidents in states like Queensland.RELATED: Can you get charged with drink driving on a bicycle or e-scooter?As previously reported by Drive, new research conducted by the Royal Automotive Club of Queensland (RAC
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  • BYD Shark 6 ute approaches 4000 orders in Australia, deliveries now expected in 2025

    The Chinese carmaker says it expects to start deliveries of Australia’s first plug-in hybrid ute in late January 2025.
    BYD has received almost 4000 orders for its Shark 6 dual-cab ute – the first plug-in hybrid ute to launch in Australia – since it opened orders at the end of October 2024.The Chinese carmaker said deliveries of the PHEV ute are expected to start in late January 2025, after previously expectations within December.David Smitherman, the CEO of EVDirect – BYD
  • Hyundai i30 Sedan hit with three-star ANCAP safety rating

    Hyundai’s recently-updated sedan has fallen short in independent safety testing – despite upgrades introduced for the latest model.The Hyundai i30 Sedan has been awarded a three-star safety rating in ANCAP crash testing after falling short of top marks in crash protection and crash avoidance technology.It is the second Hyundai in 12 months to miss out on a five-star safety rating, after the latest Kona small SUV earned four stars in Australia – and scraped through with less tha
  • 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9 review: International quick drive

    Hyundai’s 2025 Ioniq 9 is an important vehicle for a manufacturer determined to keep working its way down an electric path. Our first look at the all-new Hyundai is a brief one, ahead of the full launch early next year. 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9A brief drive on a closed course in a camouflaged pre-production car doesn’t always tell you the key things you need to know about an all-new model. However, having spent some time with the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9 the previous day at the global r
  • Biofuel development leaps could keep engines powering – reports

    Researchers around the world are developing new types of alternative fuels, which could end up being the saviour of the internal-combustion engine.Scientists are continuing to find new and innovative ways to create fuels, without resorting to oil-based products.Researchers at Washington University and the University of Missouri in the US have created a new type of highly efficient biodiesel which has the potential to be carbon-negative, Interesting Engineering reports.Known as electro-biodiesel,
  • 2023-2024 VW Amarok ute recalled in Australia due to seatbelt concern

    The fault could cause the driver’s seatbelt to not operate as intended in an accident, according to the recall notice.VW Australia has recalled 716 examples of its 2023 to 2024 Volkswagen Amarok ute, citing a potential fault with the driver’s seatbelt which may not operate as intended in the event of an accident. The affected vehicles are stamped 2023 to 2024 models. The recall notice, lodged with the Department of Infrastructure, says: “Due to a manufacturing defect,
  • F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix attendance down in 2024

    Crowd figures were down for F1’s second modern-era Las Vegas race, despite heavily reduced ticket prices and a championship showdown.Crowd numbers for the 2024 Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix – held over the weekend – were 9000 down on last year, despite lower ticket prices, a world-title showdown and a better-executed event.Red Bull star Max Verstappen claimed his fourth world championship at this year’s event, where Formula One cars race down the famous Las Vegas strip
  • Toyota: Diesel hybrid tech is possible, but it may not make sense

    Toyota has not ruled out combining diesel power with its proven hybrid technology – beyond its 48-volt ‘V-Active’ models – but it says petrol is a better choice for electric assistance.Toyota has left the door open to combining diesel power with its fuel-saving hybrid technology for future examples of the LandCruiser and Prado, but it says such technology may not make sense to engineer and certify under tight emissions rules.Chief engineer for Toyota’s new LandCruis
  • 2025 Kia EV6 GT electric car revealed with Ioniq 5 N power boost, simulated gear shifts

    Kia’s quickest electric car has become even more powerful, with some – not all – of the high-performance tech from its Hyundai sibling.The 2025 Kia EV6 GT electric performance car has been unveiled with more power and simulated gear shifts from its Hyundai Ioniq 5 N sibling, with the first Australian showroom arrivals due between January and March next year.After initial specifications of the EV6 GT were confirmed last week, Kia has published images and full details of its new
  • Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series V8’s perfect replacement could well be the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty

    With the demise of the V8-powered Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, the upcoming Ford Ranger Super Duty could fill its work boots.
    2018 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series V8
    Ford Australia is yet to fully detail its 2026 Ranger Super Duty, but the new ute is already poised to fill the void left by the discontinuation of the V8-powered Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series.Billed as a “next-level, work-ready” model to “serve the toughest customers”, Ford is clearly targeting mining, emergenc
  • What does good fuel economy look like?

    Figuring out the right fuel economy for new cars is a complex process made more confusing by discrepancies between testing conditions and real-world driving. To lend a hand, Drive journalists share their advice on what fuel consumption figures to look out for.
    Finding the best fuel economy figures in the new car market is an often-complicated process further compounded by the discrepancies between lab-tested and real-world fuel consumption data.To offer some buyer guidance, the Australian Automo
  • Lamborghini Diablo damaged after falling off car transporter – report

    The 1994 example of the V12 Diablo took a hit to the front bumper after falling off truck’s hydraulic lift.Credit: Reddit/r/BoiseThis is the moment a classic supercar worth around $500,000 suffered significant damage after falling off the back of a transporter.The Lamborghini Diablo VT, allegedly last sold for $US295,000 ($AU457,950), was damaged after what seems to be the failure of the hydraulic lift of the truck it was being loaded onto at the time.Following the incident, which reported
  • Ford says electric and hybrid ute buyers want to tow and go off-road

    A Ford survey has found Australian ute drivers would be “more likely” to buy an electrified vehicle if it had greater towing and off-road capabilities.Potential electric and hybrid ute drivers want a vehicle with a greater towing capacity and off-road capability, a new survey by Ford claims.Ford said its survey found 60 per cent of drivers would be “more likely” to purchase an electric or hybrid vehicle if it could tow a higher amount than current offerings.The brand defi
  • 2025 Peugeot 2008 price and specs: Up to $5000 hike for new mild-hybrid tech

    Peugeot has increased the price of the 2008 small SUV – of which it has sold 330 examples this year – with new fuel-saving tech and more equipment.2025 Peugeot 2008 Hybrid pricing and specificationsMild-hybrid tech for Toyota hybrid-like claimed fuel useTwo variants, Allure and GT, with more equipmentPriced from $42,490 before on-road costsThe 2025 Peugeot 2008 small SUV has gained mild-hybrid technology and extra equipment for a $2500 to $5000 price rise.Peugeot has upgraded the 200
  • Kia’s collaboration with ‘Squid Game’ will haunt our dreams forever

    The unexpected partnership puts the new Kia Sportage into the world of the hit pseudo-horror Netflix series, Squid Game.In news few people could have seen coming, Kia has partnered with the Netflix series Squid Game to create a mini-series promoting the facelifted 2025 Kia Sportage medium SUV.
    RELATED: 2025 Kia Sportage facelift revealed – updated family SUV due in Australia next yearWhile the Korean carmaker and Korean-created and produced TV show have a country of origin in common, that&
  • Hyundai to roll out bigger touchscreens, after finding out customers want buttons

    Future Hyundais will debut larger displays – but the company will keep key physical controls, after discovering in focus groups that customers don’t like functions buried in touchscreens.
    Hyundai Sonata interior.
    Hyundai has announced it will introduce larger touchscreens in its cars – weeks after admitting its customers get “stressed, annoyed and steamed” by too many functions hidden in touchscreens.The South Korean car giant has acknowledged that while it will gro
  • 2025 Audi Q5 Sportback revealed, likely for Australia

    Audi has squished the roof on its latest Q5 mid-size SUV for a new Sportback variant, with sleeker looks and a slightly smaller boot.The 2025 Audi Q5 luxury SUV has gained a sportier, more streamlined Sportback variant, expected in Australian showrooms after the regular version late next year.The second generation of the Q5 Sportback shares the more practical Audi body’s underpinnings, interior and much of its bodywork, but adds a sloping roofline for a unique look and less luggage space.D
  • 2025 Audi Q5 Sportback revealed, confirmed for Australia

    Audi has squished the roof on its latest Q5 mid-size SUV for a new Sportback variant, with sleeker looks and a slightly smaller boot.The 2025 Audi Q5 luxury SUV has gained a sportier, more streamlined Sportback variant, due in Australian showrooms late next year.The second generation of the Q5 Sportback shares the more practical Audi body’s underpinnings, interior and much of its bodywork, but adds a sloping roofline for a unique look and less luggage space.Design changes appear to be limi
  • Novated leasing opens to 67 per cent of Australia’s workforce

    A new technology platform means millions more Australians can now access the federal government’s generous electric car FBT exemption, potentially saving thousands of dollars on a new EV.
    Sponsored by OlyOly and Hyundai are helping to make it possible for millions of Australians to take advantage of the government’s EV Discount, potentially saving thousands of dollars on a new eligible electric car. Oly is changing the game of the novated leasing process by creating an industry-leadi
  • ‘E-scooters are not toys’: Safety pleas made as one child injured in accident every three days

    Police, government and community leaders are calling for people to take e-scooter riding more seriously as a new study reveals the horrifying rise in serious injuries.Almost two-thirds of people riding privately-owned e-scooters in Queensland are injuring themselves so badly they need the second-highest level of emergency response when they get to a hospital, new data has revealed.According to new research between the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) and the Royal Brisbane and Women&rs
  • 2025 BMW M5 true power output revealed

    Did BMW tell a white lie with the new M5’s power outputs? One owner may have just outed the German car maker, with his M5 exceeding expectations on the dyno.The new-generation 2025 BMW M5 has received criticism since it launched, due to the super sedan being slightly slower and significantly heavier than the model it replaced.But a relatively small YouTube channel may have just caught BMW in a lie about its M5.The extra weight is due to BMW fitting the M5 with a plug-in hybrid system, rate
  • General Motors to join F1 with Cadillac in 2026

    It’s official: Formula One has made an agreement with GM to enter the sport in 2026 as a new team – with the full support of the FIA, unlike the earlier Andretti partnership bid – expanding the grid.Formula One has signed an in-principle agreement with US car giant General Motors to join the F1 grid in 2026 under the Cadillac brand – with full support from F1’s governing body, the FIA – after an earlier proposal for a 2025 entry was rejected.Cadillac will join
  • Toyota plans two more electric cars for Australia by 2027

    While sales of Toyota’s current range of hybrid-powered vehicles are booming, the Japanese automotive giant will continue to grow its range of electric cars for the Australian market.Toyota Compact Cruiser EV concept
    Toyota is on track to increase its range of electric vehicles for the Australian market, and has committed to introducing two new EVs over the next 12 months.
    Speaking to Drive at the recent launch of the Toyota LandCruiser Prado, local Vice President of Sales and Marketing Se

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