Celine Nolan

Chery has confirmed its Omoda 9 mid-dimension SUV will assemble its Australian debut in the third quarter of 2025.

The trip-in five-seater currently launched as an moral-hand driver in the UK — approximately one three hundred and sixty five days after its March 2024 Chinese launch, the set apart apart it sells below the catchy title of Exceed Xingtu Yaoguang C-DM.

The launch of the Omoda 9 coincides with father or mother company Chery’s resolution to fall the ‘Chery’ prefix to future Omoda merchandise, with an Aussie naming rollout slated to beginning up imminently in the mid-three hundred and sixty five days.

Expected to launch as a trip-in hybrid, the Omoda 9 will rival the upcoming Toyota RAV4 PHEV and outgoing Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which is made up our minds to receive a mid-lifestyles exchange by the head of this three hundred and sixty five days. Competitors from China consist of the Haval H6GT PHEV and BYD Sealion 6.

The Omoda 9 measures 4775mm lengthy, 1920mm huge (other than mirrors), 1671mm grand, and runs on a wheelbase of 2800mm, making it for sure midsize, and nearly dimensionally a similar to the Sealion 6.

We predict that the Ozmarket Omoda 9 will debut with the a similar, single tidy providing which headlined its UK launch. The ‘one dimension fits all’ Noble tidy package is headlined by an extremely grand trip-in hybrid all-wheel drive powertrain, which claims a blended output of 330kW/700Nm.

The high-output drivetrain combines a 105kW 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine with three electric motors. Two are mounted for the length of the three-tempo hybrid transmission, setting up 75kW and 90kW, and a closing 120kW electric motor is mounted correct now to the rear axle.

Omoda claims a blended EV-simplest using fluctuate of 145km (WLTP) – impressive for a PHEV, and attributed to a limiteless 34kWh battery. The hybrid powertrain, alongside with a 70-litre gasoline tank, manner the car can inch up to 1127km. As for charging, an 80kW snappy DC payment from 30 to 80 percent will grab 28 minutes.

RRP starts at £36,937.50, which equates to around $AUD 77,000. Chasing Autos understands the retail label of the Omoda 9 is more doubtless to commerce for our market, with a more cheap pick around the $60,000 label.

This would level-headed expose a $15,000+ top class over the outgoing BYD Sealion 6 — arguably the Omoda 9’s closest competitor, and priced at $Forty five,524 driveaway.

Within the UK, the Omoda 9 runs on 20-scramble wheels, and offers five irregular paint colours: a free of payment ‘Quartz White’, top class ‘Hawk’s Glance Grey’ for £1000(~$AUD 2085), and Andesite Grey, Peridot Inexperienced, and Onyx Dim, all priced at £750 (~$AUD 1565).

Omoda 9 Noble highlighted parts:

• 12.3″ Central LCD Existing
• Wireless cell phone charging – 50w ability, cooled
• Wireless Android Auto & Apple Carplay
• APA Automated Parking (self park honest)
• 540° Panoramic Leer Digicam with clear survey
• Driver seat 6 methodology electric adjustment
• Passenger seat 4 methodology electric adjustment
• Energy Panoramic Sunroof (Opening)
• SONY 14 speaker audio system
• Head-Up Existing (HUD)
• Air-conditioning with 2d row outlet

Ford, a staple trace within the Australian market, has a unfold of updates and original variants on the formulation for 2025 and 2026, including the E-Transit Custom, Ranger PHEV, Ranger Worthy Responsibility, F-150 Lightning, and most doubtless a RHD Bronco.

E-Transit Custom and PHEV

Automobile form: Commercial van

Open: July/August

Ford Australia has confirmed the Ford E-Transit Custom will doubtless be arriving between July and August starting at $77,590, earlier than on-road charges, for the Pattern LWB. A tricked-up Sport SWB charges $seventy nine,990.

The Transit E-Custom fills an even space within the industrial van market as a mid-dimension elephantine-electrical workhorse. Main rivals could per chance be the upmarket $98,951 (RRP) Mercedes-Benz eVito and $59,990 LDV eDeliver 7.

The Transit E-Custom is powered by a single rear-mounted electrical motor, which produces 160kW and 415Nm. Energy is disbursed to the rear wheels by a single trip transmission.

WLTP differ of the Transit E-Custom is quoted as 337km, even when this could per chance rely upon the wheelbase, quantity of seats, and desired wheel dimension. It aspects a 64kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) lithium-ion battery with an estimated 10-80% price time of 32 minutes. On AC energy, the 11kw procedure completes a elephantine price in around 6.7 hours.

Scamper-in hybrid versions are readily available, too, from $67,590, earlier than on-road charges.

Read extra: Ford E-Transit Custom electrical van 2024 review

Ranger PHEV

Automobile form: Dual-cab Ute

Open: June 2025

Ford is bringing a hybrid variant of the most standard Ranger twin cab ute to the Australian market in mid-2025. The Ranger PHEV will doubtless be offered in four variants, starting with the $71,990 XLT and scaling to the $86,990 Stormtrak.

The PHEV twin cab ute market is ripe in Australia, with most moving two varied manufacturers plating within the gap.

The 2 valuable rivals of the Ranger PHEV could per chance be the competitively priced $57,900 BYD Shark 6, and 4 wheel force succesful GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, priced from $63,990 force-away.

The Ranger PHEV is powered by a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and single electrical motor, with a mixed output of 207kW / 697Nm.

The electrical motor is mounted between the engine and 10-trip old computerized, and aids in sending energy to the elephantine-time 4 wheel force procedure.

Ford has quoted an electrical using differ of 49km (WLTP) for the Ranger PHEV. Combined gas consumption is presupposed to be 2.9L/100km, with a 70L gas tank and 11.8kWh battery.

Now not like its rivals, the Ranger PHEV most moving supports AC charging, with a peak AC price price of 3.5kW. This means a elephantine price on AC energy takes around 4.5 hours.

Read extra: Scamper-in hybrid twin-cabs when in contrast on paper! How does the 2025 Ford Ranger PHEV stand up towards BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha?

Ranger Worthy Responsibility

Automobile form: Commercial/heavy responsibility ute

Open: 2026

Ford Australia will free up a industrial and mercurial centered Ranger Worthy Responsibility some time in 2026. The price is but to be disclosed, but quiz to pay between $90,000 and $110,000 (Sooner than on-road charges).

The dear rivals of the Ranger Worthy Responsibility could per chance be the $119,950 (RRP) Ram 1500 and the $130,500 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium.

The Ranger Worthy Responsibility sports activities 18-stride metal wheels wrapped in 33-stride tyres and affixed to eight lugs — a heavy responsibility choice from Ford. Moreover, the Ranger Worthy Responsibility has a 4500kg GVM, 4500kg towing capability and an 8000kg GCM.

Ford has vocalised its prioritisation of designing a succesful, work and off-road centered ute aligned with what mercurial merchants are searching for. Present see footage test this ute will doubtless be even extra industrial-centered than the present Ranger.

The Worthy Responsibility will procedure in single and twin cab variants, with metal tray, leaf sprung rear, and element-fitted snorkel.

Read extra: Ford Ranger Worthy Responsibility 2025: first thought at the massive Aussie-developed 4×4 ute

Bronco / Bronco Raptor

Automobile form: Off-roader

Open: One day, we hope…

World boss of Ford Jim Farley thinks “an exact-hand force Bronco is price a are attempting”. Admittedly, this became once in step with introducing the Bronco to the UK, but Australia could maybe vastly steal pleasure in a UK Bronco beginning regardless.

The Bronco — which shares its underpinnings with the Ranger ute — has been spied in Australia on multiple cases as it became once in part developed right here.

If the Bronco were to be offered in Australia, it would rival the $75,950 (RRP) Jeep Wrangler, $30,490 Suzuki Jimny, $105,000 Ineos Grenadier and $92,402 Land-Rover Defender. The Bronco has arguably been as culturally foremost within the united states as the Mustang.

No Australian puny print exist for the Bronco. On the opposite hand, it’s offered within the US with three powertrain choices: a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, a 2.7-litre turbocharged V6 petrol, or a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol. All three engine variants are mated to a 10-trip old auto. A six-trip manual is optioned with the four cylinder.

Read extra: Is It Better Than A Ranger Raptor? (Ford Bronco Raptor 2023 Evaluation)

Sportage (facelift)

Vehicle form: Mid-measurement SUV
Launch: July

The Kia Sportage has criminal launched its mid-existence facelift, that includes revised styling interior and out, added tech and safety parts, a preference of all-wheel pressure for hybrid variants and revisions to the turbo petrol powertrain.

Starting with styling, the Sportage is receiving a new-behold grille and updates to the rear bar, promising to present a “Sorento-impressed” behold. Vertically stacked ‘well-known person intention’ LED headlights, new alloy wheel designs, and two new paint colours will also carry out their debut within the upcoming mid-300 and sixty five days release.

Interior, the Sportage positive aspects a redesigned two-spoke steering wheel and a 12.3-jog multimedia imprint, which now entails Kia’s Linked Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) linked services.

The hybrid Sportage will maintain a six-velocity venerable automatic, whereas petrol variants descend Kia’s seven-velocity DCT in favor of the the same eight-velocity automatic bizarre by the diesel.

Kia has announced the initiating heed of the soon-to-release Sportage as $37,990 sooner than on-toll road prices – a $3000 top rate over the new $34,995 introductory ticket.

Pricing will increase with paunchy small print in our Kia Sportage pricing and specs chronicle under:

2026 Kia Sportage expands hybrid technique to field Toyota RAV4 more sturdy

EV6 GT (Facelift)

Vehicle form: Mid-measurement SUV
Launch: Q2 2025

A spread of updates is anticipated to shall be found in Australia for the 2025 Kia EV6 GT.

High energy has risen from 430kW and 740Nm to 478kW and 770Nm when the “originate adjust” pressure-mode is chosen. Utilizing fluctuate has increased from 342km to 355km, and it is a long way urged that the facelift EV6 will payment sooner.

Scurry, going thru and safety characteristics had been extra improved with a new belt-pressure steering column and a bolstered chassis.

Exterior adjustments hang occurred, with new entrance and rear bumpers, redesigned headlights, revised 21-jog alloy wheels and charming green brake calipers.

Pricing appears to be like to be to be unchanged in South Korea, giving hope that the Australian pricing of $ninety nine,950 (plus on-toll road prices) could well per chance remain unchanged.

Kia EV6 GT 2023 overview

EV9 GT

Vehicle form: Flagship Huge SUV
Launch: Mid-300 and sixty five days 2025

Kia’s three-row immense electrical SUV, the EV9, is receiving a new GT variant which boasts a further 91kW over the prevailing GT-Line.

The EV9 GT will in finding an Australian-bizarre suspension tune, upgraded brakes with neon green calipers, an electronic restricted-scurry differential, and Kia’s Virtual Instruments Shift, which emulates an eight-velocity automatic.

Cosmetically, the GT receives 21-jog alloy wheels with 285/45R21 Continental tyres, a new grille, and re-designed entrance and rear bumpers. Interior, the EV9 GT could be a six-seat configuration, total with Alcantara-accents.

The value of an EV9 GT will in fact exceed the $121,000 ticket of the prevailing EV9 GT-Line.

Wow: The EV9 Is Severely Correct, But No longer Low-value! (Kia EV9 2024 Review)

Vehicle form: Ute
Launch: July – August

Kia’s unparalleled hyped Tasman ute has been slated for a July originate to raise on the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger. The Tasman is packed with tech, a happy and properly-realizing-out interior, and serious off-toll road ability.

The Tasman parts criminal one powertrain offering: a 154kW/441Nm 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel mated to a venerable eight-velocity automatic. Both 4×2 and 4×4 variants of the Kia Tasman could be obtainable upon originate.

Constructed on a ladder-body chassis, the Tasman can carry a payload over one tonne (1124kg) and could well per chance tow a braked load of up to 3500kg. Within the Tasman, you’ll safe an electronic trailer brake controller, automatic rear locking differential, and pressure selector for RWD, 4wd, and 4LOW.

Pricing of the Tasman starts at $42,990 sooner than on-toll road prices for the rotten 4×2 version, with 4×4 variants starting from $49,990 RRP. 5 grades rush from S, SX, SX+, X-Line up to the flagship, off-toll road-centered X-Official that prices from $74,990.

Kia Tasman 2025: Australian first pressure

EV4

Vehicle form: Fastback sedan
Launch: 2026

As a consequence of shall be found in 2026, Kia’s electrical EV4 is determined out to raise on the Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal, and is styled esteem a fastback sedan with pumped-up SUV undertones. A hatchback version is being produced and released in Europe, making it highly unlikely to behold Australian soil on account of increased logistics prices.

On preliminary release, the EV4 could be offered in two configurations: A rotten mannequin with 58.3kWh battery and 430km (WLTP) of fluctuate, and long fluctuate mannequin with 81.4kWh battery and 630km (WLTP) fluctuate.

Both EV4 variants exercise Kia’s 400V e-GMP electrical car chassis, headlined by preference of both a 150kW single entrance-mounted electrical motor, or dual-motor AWD that adds a 70kW rear-mounted electrical motor. This platform supports a 10-80 percent DC payment time of 29 minutes for the rotten mannequin, and 31 minutes for the long fluctuate.

Kia is lining up to originate the Slovakian-constructed EV4 hatchback into the European market soon, with legit correspondence claiming a mid-300 and sixty five days release. Manufacturing of the fastback EV4 started in South Korea in mid-March, with six variants officially on sale rapidly afterwards. Quiz the EV4 to kick off within the neighborhood at spherical $50,000.

Kia EV4 electrical sedan could be released in 2025, thought previews compose

EV2 – European Domestic Market

Vehicle form: Compact city SUV
Launch: European release 2026

Kia has confirmed a European release of the EV2, an all electrical compact SUV designed to address the narrowest of city infrastructure. The EV2 is the smallest EV produced by Kia, positioned below the newly released EV3. It is marketed as an all electrical different to the properly established Kia Stonic.

Kia Australia chief product planner, Roland Rivero, published to Chasing Automobiles that “[Kia Australia] has purchased its hand up for as many EV products below the world planning technique. But the EV2 shall be no doubt one of the most more sturdy ones [to secure for local release].”

The EV2 is produced in Slovakia to serve with conserving logistics prices as low as capacity for the European market. Without a free replace settlement between Australia and Slovakia, the EV2 is field to a five percent import tariff, plus unparalleled logistics prices to ship the vehicles to Australian shores.

Kia EV2 and EV3 confirmed in two-solid small EV SUV attack

Worldwide car enormous Geely has printed the first reliable shots of its upcoming hybrid sedan, dubbed the Galaxy A7. The four shots debuted publicly on the in style Chinese language social media platform Weibo.

Geely claims the Galaxy A7 shall be “a brand contemporary benchmark for family sedans”. This can even merely certainly rival the Toyota Camry and can merely doubtless be identical in measurement.

Currently, the exclusively reliable measurement of the A7 is its 2845mm wheelbase, or 20mm longer than its key Jap rival.

Chasing Autos reached out to Geely Australia for added remark on the Galaxy A7 and its viability for birth in the Australian market. “We won’t verify any additions to the Geely Auto Australia differ at this time,” a Geely spokesperson answered.

Alongside the reliable wheelbase measurement, Geely has posted some impressive differ and consumption figures. The claimed blended gasoline consumption of honest 2L/100km unearths the whisk-in format, backed up by a blended differ claim of 2100km.

No metric is posted alongside the figures, even though it is doubtless to be the notoriously lenient CLTC long-established.

It is no longer yet confirmed which Geely-derived PHEV plot will energy the A7, although Chasing Autos speculates this may per chance occasionally portion the twin whisk-in powerplant choices of the outgoing Geely L7 crossover SUV.

This may per chance point out one in every of two ‘Thor PHEV’ powerplants. One is the differ-topping 3DHT/EM-P plot, which combines the output of a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four cylinder, a front-mounted electric motor and three-speed hybrid transmission.

The plenty of is the intro-grade EM-i plot, which uses a much less famous 1.5-litre petrol-four, front-mounted electric motor, and single-speed hybrid transmission.

Within the Geely L7, the differ-topping powerplant moreover good points a rear-mounted electric motor, resulting in a blended output of 492kW. The detrimental model L7 ‘makes develop’ with 242kW.

We take a seat up for the identical engine, transmission, and front/all-wheel pressure choices shall be accessible in the upcoming A7.

Request the whisk-in hybrid plot to derive use of an 18.4kWh or 18.7kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, and EV-exclusively utilizing differ between 80-200km (CLTC).

The BYD Tune Knowledgeable DM-i midsize mosey-in hybrid SUV is being tested on Australian roads below blue-tinged cover in spite of the most up-to-date update to the Toyota RAV4 and MG HS PHEV rival being fully published in China in February 2025.

Observed by Chasing Vehicles on public roads in Sydney’s lower north shore district, the lightly-lined Tune Knowledgeable is white in color beneath its wrap and is carrying a flat roof tray.

Appreciate the small Atto 3 SUV—which became as soon as the first BYD model to initiate in Australia—the Tune Knowledgeable hails from the Chinese language mega-producer’s more traditionally-styled ‘Dynasty’ line of items.

By distinction, the Sealion 6 mosey-in hybrid (PHEV) and Sealion 7 battery EV (BEV) crossovers, both offered in Australia, are sourced from BYD’s more adventurously-styled ‘Ocean’ series.

While the Sealion 6 and Tune Knowledgeable are both PHEVs, the latter is smaller with its 4735mm length, 1860mm width and 1710mm height making the Tune Knowledgeable a quite of shorter, narrower, taller choice with a more magnificent stance in distinction to the Sealion 6’s gentler roofline.

BYD headquarters no longer too prolonged ago seized adjust of automobile gross sales in Australia from frail distributor EV Voice, which established the PRC-basically based fully carmaker domestically and racked up greater than 40,000 gross sales since its leisurely 2022 stamp initiate.

The presence of the Tune Knowledgeable in testing on Australian roads indicates that its maker is never any longer no longer as a lot as concerned with launching the SUV domestically, doubtlessly as an best likely more cost-effective foil to the Sealion 6, which is already priced very sharply from $42,990 sooner than on-boulevard costs.

First launched in China in 2019, the Tune Knowledgeable is an older product than the
Sealion 6. It has obtained two facelifts, with essentially the most most up-to-date happening in September 2024 sooner than more contemporary DM-i PHEV powertrains had been added in early 2025.

To begin with, non-hybrid, petrol simplest variations of the Tune Knowledgeable had been offered however they gather got been discontinued in China in favour of a PHEV-simplest vary.

Customers can resolve between two LFP battery sizes come in in China: 12.9kWh or 18.3kWh, in Ultra or Excellence perfect. All Tune Plus variations combine a 74kW/126Nm 1.5-litre non-turbo petrol four with a 120kW/210Nm entrance electric motor.

Estimated WLTP vary for the 12kWh battery is 60km on electric power and 1000km total vary, with the 18kWh pack extending those figures to 90km and 1050km respectively because of a 52-litre gasoline tank. Each batteries are in a position to a 30-80% DC mercurial-price in around 36 minutes.

The Contemporary South Wales-plated ‘BYD Tune Plus evaluate automobile’ became as soon as registered on 2 Would possibly perchance 2025 with offer kilometres simplest, and became as soon as certified to assemble a tare mass of 1740 kg—which traces up with its Chinese language-spec kerb weight of 1765kg.

Customary specification in China incorporates a 12-drag touchscreen (15-drag in the Excellence), 8.8-drag digital instrument cluster, artificial leather-basically based fully seating, an influence driver’s seat and objective rear suspension.

Staggeringly, as of June 2025, the Tune Plus PHEV costs correct $23,000 AUD in 12kWh Ultra perfect, or $27,000 AUD in beefy-chunky 18kWh Excellence guise—rock-bottom pricing spurred on by a label battle in the Chinese language ‘contemporary energy’ (PHEV and BEV) market which BYD has led.

In Australia, if the Tune Knowledgeable became as soon as positioned beneath the Sealion 6, it would sneak into the excessive-$30,000 vary for an entry-stage model.

An more and more gigantic portfolio of BEV and PHEV items in Australia, which incorporates the Shark 6 hybrid ute, will give BYD an advantage below this nation’s NVES emissions authorized pointers.

Below NVES, credits are awarded to carmakers that beat CO2 targets—and penalties handed out to those in breach—likely most of BYD’s competitors. Manufacturers that beat NVES targets can promote extra credits to producers that might well well in every other case face a ultimate, rising one more income.

In that context, it would manufacture sense for BYD to add one more PHEV crossover—a segment of the market that will warmth up severely in the first half 2026 when the Toyota RAV4 PHEV will land in Australia in contemporary-generation fetch.

Other mosey-ins competing for attention in the house consist of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Lexus NX450h+, and Cupra Formentor VZe.

NVES will warp the economics of most up-to-date car, SUV and ute gross sales in Australia to a significant stage, and this will more and more manufacture sense for carmakers to favour BEV and PHEV items—with that you might also gather of discounting one tactic to induce additional gross sales and possess some distance off from skill fines.

Sales of PHEVs had been incentivised in Australia by capacity of a beefy exemption from fringe advantages tax (FBT) for PHEVs bought through a novated rent structure the utilization of pre-tax earnings—however the FBT waiver became as soon as closed to PHEV gross sales on 1 April 2025, turning into a BEV-simplest abet from that date.