Celine Nolan

Kia Australia has printed fats tiny print of its new, slick-styled K4 midsize sedan that replaces Cerato in its local line-up and arrives in showrooms this month.

The K4 nameplate, which aligns mannequin nomenclature with world convention, successfully puts the Cerato nameplate to pasture after two decades on sale in Australia.

Heroic new exterior styling, a new interior invent and new platform aim to revitalise Kia’s play in the cheap discontinuance of the passenger automobile market, where K4 in actual fact carries over outgoing Cerato’s petrol-handiest powertrain blueprint and familiar variant (S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line) structure, with Safety Pack augmentation all once more a price-option on the sinful S.

On the other hand, K4 pricing is up tremendously on the outgoing MY24 Cerato line-up.

Pricing begins from $30,590 record for the entry K4 S, up $3530 on the outgoing identical Cerato S. The S with Safety Pack, at $32,690, represents an develop of $4630.

The mid-vary Sport enters at $35,190 (up a whopping $6030), whereas the Sport+ lists for $37,590 ($5280), or pricier than the outgoing turbocharged Cerato GT-Line (was $36,860).

The flagship of the K4 line-up, the GT-Line, is $42,990, a immense $6130 develop over its Cerato-badged forebear.

To debut as a four-door handiest, the K4 sedan would possibly be joined by a 5-door hatchback “in leisurely 2025,” says Kia.

The fastback-tackle silhouette, low beltline, ‘Tiger face’ front fascia and Kia’s now corporate ‘Massive title-Scheme’ front and tail lamps, the K4 melds exterior invent cues from each and every its fresh ‘EV’ lineup and its stalwart Stinger substantial sedan. It sits on a series of 16- (S), 17- (Sport and Sport+) and 18-fling (GT-Line) wheels.

At 4710mm prolonged, the K4 is a fats 200mm longer than the outgoing Cerato and certifiably mid-dimension, whereas promising improved interior house (56mm extra rear legroom). Boot house is substantial, too, now 508 litres.

Within, the K4 adopts EV9-tackle invent and tech cues, featuring twin-12.3 digital displays and 5-fling HVAC touchscreen on all variants from Sport via to GT-Line. The sinful S gets a four-fling LCD driver’s allege their personal praises.

A new Double D-minimize steering wheel aspects, whereas the vary gives a series of cloth (S and Sport) or synthetic leather-basically based (Sport+ and GT-Line) orderly. Interior constructing aspects no fewer than 10 diversified sustainable and recycled gives.

Powertrain decision is the familiar 2.0 naturally aspirated four-cylinder pretty for 112kW and 198Nm, with front-drive and 6-hasten torque converter computerized, for grade S via Sport+. Right here suspension is strut front and torsion beam rear.

The GT-Line is the sole variant offering a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol four outputting 142kW and 264Nm, all once more front-wheel drive if here with an eight-hasten computerized transmission. The flagship is the sole model featuring a multi-link rear discontinuance and furthermore suits better (305mm front/284mm rear) brakes.

Consumption colorful, the 2.0L versions are ADR rated at 7.4L/100km mixed, whereas the turbo GT-Line brings a thriftier 6.7L/100km claim.

As is oldschool with many Kia Australia gadgets, the dash, handling and steering equipment has been localised by the importer’s local pattern physique of workers after “hundreds of kilometres” of attempting out R&D.

The K4 arrives in a series of eight diversified colours, including four new hues known as Interstellar Gray, Fiery Red, Wave Blue and Honeydew and four carryover Cerato colours. Top price colours start air of traditional Snow White raise a $600 upcharge.

Kia K4 2025: prices in Australia

All prices listed are sooner than on-road costs (whereas relative pricing is MY24 Cerato).

• S: $30,590 (up $3530)
• S with Safety Pack: $32,690 (up $4630)
• Sport: $35,190 (up $6030)
• Sport+: $37,490 (up $5280)
• GT-Line: $42,990 (up $6130)

Thanks for becoming a member of us this Wednesday January 15th 2025. Particularly in car info as of late: renders for the Toyota Hilux receive emerged showcasing the unusual ute and Isuzu is making prepared to open its facelifted MU-X across key markets including Australia.

Browse this divulge:

• Toyota Hilux rendered following first scrutinize photos
• Isuzu MU-X to receive facelift for 2025
• BYD Seal updated and tag diminished
• Subsequent-generation Cupra Lean to be EV-handiest
• Reviewed: 2025 Deepal S07

Toyota Hilux rendered following first scrutinize photos

• Renders of the Toyota Hilux receive been shared across the online following the publication of the first scrutinize photos of the unusual 4×4 dual cab being tested in Thailand.
• The renders published by Healight Mag (who took the preliminary scrutinize photos) along with fashioned renderers Kolesa.ru and KDesign AG present off the key receive cues of the unusual mannequin.

• The unusual-gen Hilux is predicted to be an evolution of the sizzling mannequin somewhat than an all-unusual mannequin love the US market midsize ute within the Tacoma, with the cab displaying to be nearly entirely unchanged.
• Adjustments are viewed at the entrance on the opposite hand, with the renders displaying the Hilux carrying a thinner headlight receive and a squared-off honeycomb grille, whereas the rear hind lights snatch inspiration from the US-market Tundra corpulent-dimension ute.

Isuzu MU-X to receive facelift for 2025

• Expected to land in Australian dealerships for the length of the first quarter of 2025, is a facelifted Isuzu MU-X.
• Key exterior updates encompass redesigned grille, various LED headlights, a brand unusual wheel (18in or 20in looking out on mannequin) and changes to the rear terminate. The inner is also space to receive a makeover, similar to the 2024 Isuzu D-Max.

• Safety phases are space to build better also, with the inclusion of pedestrian detection at junctions, rear imperfect traffic braking, and a 360 diploma digicam. USB-C ports can even be standardised within the 2025 MU-X.
• Engine alternate suggestions receive but to be confirmed, on the opposite hand it is expected the 1.9L turbo diesel will be retained, as effectively as the introduction of a better 2.2L turbo diesel variant. Would possibly maybe perhaps this be the tip for the feeble 3.0L 4JJ3 powerplant?

BYD Seal updated and tag diminished

• Coming in 2025 is a revised BYD Seal, including a tag good buy of as a lot as $3578 looking out on which mannequin grade you pick out.
• Pricing across the BYD Seal fluctuate begins from $46,990 as a lot as $61,990. This figure does now now not encompass on-road payments.

• There are three grades to desire from. Starting with the Dynamic, then Premium and at closing Performance. The terminate-spec Performance mannequin boasts all-wheel drive, and 390kW of electrical energy.
• Chassis tweaks receive been made to 2025 models, as effectively as the welcome enhance of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Subsequent-generation Cupra Lean to be EV

• Cupra has supreme gone on file to train contemporary Leon models will continue with interior combustion engines for one other decade. With the message of danger now now not petrol heads, you continue to receive a whereas.

• Cupra has confirmed on the opposite hand, that the next-generation Leon will “positively be electric.”
• The contemporary Leon is immediate accessible with either turbocharged petrol or journey-in hybrid alternate suggestions.

Deepal S07 2025 reviewed

• Chasing Autos deputy editor Curt Dupriez’s evaluate of the Deepal S07 went reside, marking our first drive of the unusual EV and any car under the Deepal set.

• The only real real S07 grade is a RWD priced at a sensible circa-$50k tag, with a healthy fluctuate speak which comes discontinuance to 500km.

• Nevertheless, Dupriez learned that the unhappy calibration across the board from the intrusive and inaccurate security methods to the potential the car drives used to be a extensive flip off.
• Dupriez concluded that the S07 used to be a promising electric SUV with so a lot going for it on the opposite hand it fell short in too many serious areas, leaving the door open for its many Chinese language opponents to head away a better impression.

READ: Link to written evaluate

The next divulge of Car News This day will be published on Thursday 16th Janurary at 4.30pm Sydney time.

It became as soon as a document 12 months for Australian fresh-vehicle deliveries in 2024, if simplest correct sneaking past 2023 by much less than half of a per cent with 1,220,607 items.

The conclude result became as soon as boosted by an outstanding first half of of 2024, where lengthy-standing customer orders from 2023 had been eventually fulfilled.

This moreover helped Toyota to its most inviting annual resolve for imprint spanking fresh-vehicle deliveries – 241,296 beating its outdated most inviting of 238,983, location motivate in 2008.

Midsized SUVs had been one more time Australia’s popular automobile form, with 278,717 deliveries protecting utes (229,219 deliveries) within the bridesmaid attach.

For the rundown on the country’s popular particular person devices (business trucks no longer integrated), right here’s Chasing Autos‘ corpulent records to the Top 100 most inviting-promoting autos in Australia final 12 months.

No 1 most standard automobile: Ford Ranger (62,593 deliveries)

Ford’s domestically developed ute has held onto the No.1 crown it stole of the Hilux in 2023, with its 2024 deliveries simplest fractionally down on the outdated 12 months.

The animated yards had been completed by 4×4 variants, which accounted for nearly 58,000 of the Ranger’s entire, where the Ford ute became as soon as third in 4×2 sales (4633 items) – within the motivate of the Hilux (7660) and Isuzu D-Max (6163).

2nd most standard automobile: Toyota RAV4 (58,718 deliveries)

In a outstanding 12 months for Toyota’s medium-sized SUV, the RAV4 nearly doubled its 2023 sales to pass from fourth attach on the charts to the runner-up space final 12 months. With 55,902 sales applying to petrol-electric variants, the RAV4 moreover established itself because the supreme-promoting hybrid of 2024.

On the other hand, with fresh explain opponents persevering with to roll in for the RAV4 Hybrid, so an expected predominant update for the model shall be indispensable sooner in attach of later to attend its 2025 fortunes.

Third most standard automobile: Toyota Hilux (53,499 deliveries)

Hilux’s toddle as Australia’s most standard model became as soon as resulted in 2023 by its nemesis, the Ranger, and a 12 per cent drop in sales final 12 months saw the ute overtaken for second attach in 2024 by its SUV stablemate, the RAV4.

The Hilux is a pensioner in automobile-lifecycle terms – now a decade dilapidated in latest originate – so one more podium is unruffled impressive. It’s moreover the fourth consecutive 12 months Toyota’s ute has exceeded 50,000 deliveries.

Fourth most standard automobile: Isuzu D-Max (30,194 deliveries)

Isuzu Australia’s ute dropped off the podium for 2024 but deliveries remained above 30,000 with correct a 3 per cent decline 12 months on 12 months.

One more round of updates final 12 months (with simplest puny increases in sticky label costs) helped to retain it contemporary. The D-Max-essentially essentially based MU-X SUV positioned 15th within the sales charts with 17,978 items to full one more stellar 12 months for Isuzu.

Fifth most standard automobile: Mitsubishi Outlander (27,613 deliveries)

The Outlander midsized SUV has replaced the Triton ute as Mitsubishi’s standard resident within the Top 10, shifting up from 2023’s seventh attach thanks to a 14 per cent sales plan larger. It outperformed its Nissan platform twin, the X-Path, by larger than 10,000 items. With tough results all the scheme through its showroom, Mitsubishi will moreover be happy with almost 75,000 sales overall.

Sixth most standard automobile: Ford Everest (26,494 deliveries)

Ranger may perhaps unprejudiced protect finish the No.1 headlines, but in a draw the connected Everest SUV is a larger account – storming into the annual Top 10 for the first time with an big 76 per cent plan larger in deliveries.

The blended results allowed Ford to leapfrog Mazda for second attach within the fight of the vehicle brands. It moreover gave the Everest bragging rights over the Toyota Prado, which fell out of the Top 10 for 2024 after a 52 per cent plummet – though without peril outlined by a toddle-out piece before the fresh-generation model launching in the direction of the tip of ultimate 12 months.

December’s figures – Prado 2687 v Everest 2476 – options to an big fight in 2025.

Seventh most standard automobile: Toyota Corolla (24,027 deliveries)

Corolla represents a fightback from puny autos after hatchbacks and compact sedans had been fully purged from final 12 months’s Top 10.

A 20 per cent 12 months-on-12 months jump introduced the Toyota – which went completely hybrid in 2024 – motivate into the massive league. The Kia Cerato, up a huge 156 per cent, became as soon as the supreme other puny vehicle to characteristic within the head 20.

Eighth most standard automobile: Mazda CX-5 (22,835 deliveries)

Mazda’s midsize SUV is undoubtedly a eternal fixture within the head 10, even supposing it has been usurped because the nation’s popular sports actions utility automobile by the RAV4. In 2024 the CX-5 suits the an identical attach as 2023, with sales barely modified.

Ninth most standard automobile: MG ZS (22,629 deliveries)

MG’s compact SUV thrashed all competition in 2023 but issues had been closer in 2024 with ZS deliveries lowering 23 per cent.

The conclude result became as soon as absolute self perception refined by the crossover of outgoing and fresh generations mid 12 months, whereas the ZS became as soon as moreover missing more reasonably priced, petrol-simplest variants that arrive in early 2025. We’d be tremendously stunned if the ZS wasn’t within the head 10 one more time for 2025.

10th most standard automobile: Kia Sportage (22,210 deliveries)

Sportage, whereas continuously somewhat standard, is one more model discovering itself in weird and wonderful territory within the head 10, propelled by a 41 per cent plan larger over 2023.

It added a petroleum-electric hybrid variant in 2024, though so too did its Hyundai relative, the Tucson, which became as soon as a couple of areas motivate in 12th with 19,061 deliveries (down 10 per cent). A facelifted model due within the second quarter shouldn’t wretchedness its potentialities of repeating the head 10 feat in 2025.

Thanks for becoming a member of us this Tuesday January 7th 2025. Critically in automobile files as of late: Ford Australia tops 100,000 gross sales for the first time since 2008, and Nissan guts the pricing on outgoing Leaf EV.

Browse this converse:

• Ford Australia has easiest gross sales 365 days since 2008
• Nissan Leaf drops to $34,990 driveaway in runout
• Leapmotor C10 whisk-in hybrid confirmed for Europe
• Genesis hyper-electrical belief to scorching lap Mount Panorama
• Reviewed: 2025 Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior

Ford cracks 100,000 gross sales for the first time since 2008

• Ford Australia is celebrating cracking 100,000 gross sales for 2024, the first time the now-import easiest firm has hit triple figures since 2008.
• In step with potentially the most standard VFACT stats, Ford Australia delivered 100,170 vehicles last 365 days, with round 90 p.c of the volume accounting for Ranger and Everest gross sales

• The last time Ford delivered in six-figure volumes used to be lend a hand in 2008 (104,715), then propped up by the in the neighborhood manufactured and now defunct Falcon line-up. On the time Falcon accounted for round 44,000 vehicles, or over 40 per cent of the 365 days’s shipping haul.
• The Ranger ute, Australia’s biggest-selling nameplate, contributed 62,593 items to the haul, virtually two-third’s of Ford complete deliveries for 2024.

Nissan slashes entry impress on Leaf electrical

• Nissan Australia had slashed the entry impress of its rising previous Leaf electrical, which is now on provide from $34,990 driveaway for its ‘precise Leaf’ branded entry variant, offering 39kWh usable battery ability and an advertised 270kms of differ.
• The prolonged(er)-differ Leaf E+ has also viewed a haircut and is now on provide at $44,990. This variant brings a more mighty 59kWh usable battery and a style converse of up to 385km kilometres.

• Whereas the entry Leaf officially lists for $50,990 prior to on-road charges, even though potentially the most standard differ has been on provide at $39,990 and $49,990 driveaway respectively for Leaf and Leaf E+ through extra special of 2024.
• The most standard lineup, whose credentials plunge searching snappy as of late’s shifting EV expectations, is as a result of be changed by a novel technology of Leaf in 2025.

Leapmotor C10 whisk-in hybrid confirmed for Europe

• Leapmotor has locked in the whisk-in hybrid model of its C10 electrical SUV in Europe, with Australia at threat of apply suit – even though it’s now not been confirmed precise but
• Is named the C10 REEV or Fluctuate Extender Electric Automobile, the C10 variant makes spend of a combustion engine purely as a style extender, and not using a bodily connection to the wheels

• The 28.4kWh battery is trim for a midsize PHEV nonetheless, with 145km of all-electrical differ underneath the in total more precise WLTP testing cycle.
• Entire differ is asserted to be in extra special more than 950km, effectively previous that of potentially the most 420km provided by the all-electrical model confirmed for Australia.

Genesis hyper-electrical belief to scorching lap Mount Panorama

• Genesis’s radical X Gran Berlinetta Conception is decided to make its world racetrack dynamic debut on the eminent Mount Panorama all the procedure through the upcoming Bathurst 12 Hour lumber event in unhurried January.
• First and main unveiled to support promote Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo franchise video game in 2023, the X Gran Berlinetta Conception is decided to lap The Mountain by the fingers of ragged Bathurst 1000 winner, Belgium’s Jacky Ickx.

• Moreover location to hit the Mount Panorama is the GV60 Magma Conception, a precursor to the road-going model location to debut Genesis’ fling-snappy Magma sub-impress in manufacturing make this 365 days.

• Genesis is decided to location the World Endurance Championship in 2026 and IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2027, even though it’s unclear how connected the X Gran Berlinetta is to the firm’s motorsport aspirations.

2025 Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior reviewed

• Chasing Autos contributor Zak Adkins’ review of the 2025 Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior used to be printed, to search if the rising previous ute aloof holds up to the rivals.
• The Premcar-tuned Navara impressed with its supple creep quality and uncomplicated off-road ability.

• Nonetheless the Navara is getting on in years and the interior facets and tech are a rotund technology in the lend a hand of its rivals, with the 2.3L twin-turbo engine also somewhat underpowered.
• Adkins concluded that the Navara Pro-4X Warrior used to be a exact buy and a logical step up from the lower grades for those procuring for my 4WD ability and at a impress that vastly undercuts quite loads of its rivals.

READ: Link to written review

The following converse of Car Files Lately will be printed on Wednesday eighth Janurary at 4.30pm Sydney time.