Articles by Tim Nicholson

A new cut-price EV has been spied testing in Australia and this one isn’t from China.CarsGuide spotted an example of Indian carmaker Mahindra’s XEV 9e being tested on the streets of Melbourne, pointing to a likely local launch in the not-too-distant future.Mahindra’s Australian arm would not comment on the future of the electric SUV but CarsGuide understands it could be in showrooms before Christmas.The XEV 9e - the company’s first EV offered in Australia - is a tall, imposing car in the metal, with a high-set boxy rear end, sloping tailgate and squared off front end. It measures 4790mm long, 1905mm wide and 1690mm tall, with a 2775mm wheelbase.A Mahindra Australia spokesperson said the company regularly tests future models Down Under.Mahindra conducts suspension and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) testing on internal combustion engine (ICE) cars in Australia, while the company also does calibration testing on EVs. That work involves testing for charging infrastructure compatibility and over-the-air updates and telecommunications networks.Mahindra told CarsGuide back in July last year it was “committed to selling EVs in Australia in the not-too-distant future”, and while the company couldn’t officially confirm the models at the time, a spokesperson added “the BE 6e and XEV 9e are a good indication”.The XEV 9e is a rival for medium-sized Chinese-made electric SUVs like the BYD Sealion 7, Zeekr 7X, Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5 and the freshly launched MG S6 EV.Pricing is a mystery at this stage but you can bet Mahindra will maintain its strategy of undercutting all mainstream and many Chinese brands.Looking at rivals, the BYD Sealion 7 starts from $54,990 before on-road costs and the Kia EV5 is $56,770. But expect the Mahindra to start from the low-to-mid-$40,000 mark, not far off the smaller Geely EX5 (from $41,990 BOC).Both the XEV 9e and the related BE 6 are built on Mahindra’s new in-house INGLO EV platform and artificial intelligence software, which Mahindra says is the “fastest automotive mind in the world”.Both models come with a choice of a 59kWh and 79kWh battery pack. Mahindra says the BE 6 has 682km of driving range and the XEV 9e has 656km when fitted with the 79kWh unit.The BE 6 has a more angular, dramatic design more inline with the look and size of the Subaru Uncharted. It’s unclear if both models or just the XEV 9e will end up in Australian showrooms.One electric Mahindra model that is unlikely to make it Down Under is the XUV 3XO EV that was revealed in January, with the company ruling the tiny electric SUV out for now.Mahindra’s current Australian line-up consists solely of internal combustion engine models, with not even a hybrid on offer. It includes the compact XUV 3XO, mid size XUV700 and large Scorpio off-roader. A new Mahindra ute is also imminent.As well as capitalising on the boom in EV sales spurred by high fuel prices, Mahindra is also likely to benefit from more EVs now that the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard has kicked in when the XEV 9e hits our shores.Keep an eye on CarsGuide.com.au as more local details, including pricing and specification, come to hand.

Two months into my three-month media loan of the 2026 Kia EV3 GT-Line Long Range and the little electric SUV has become part of the family.It fits perfectly in my cramped carport, and looks good there to boot. And, importantly, my partner is a fan.But is it a match made in heaven? There’s definitely a lot to like about the EV3, but in this instalment I deep dive into practicality, design and more. If you’re keen to learn more about pricing, spec and what the EV3 is missing, check out my first instalment.Kia’s current design language made its debut with the large and in-charge EV9 a few years back. That filtered down to all the other EVs and even to internal combustion models like the K4 and facelifted models like the Sportage.But I think the EV3 is the most successful example of that design philosophy to date. I mean, it looks like a Transformer! What more could you want?It’s a blocky SUV but with some curves, specifically on the EV3’s nose. But that duality works and never contradicts itself.Beyond the beautifully boxy silhouette, other winning design elements include the sharply shaped, blacked-out wheel arches and other chunky black elements like the roof rails, mirror caps, lower front and rear bumpers, pillars and the extended C-pillar. The black 19-inch GT-Line alloy wheels add to the vibe.The Volvo-esque tail-lights help frame the tailgate beautifully and the side view of the rear third of the EV3 is my favourite angle. That’s where the Transformer vibe is at its most pronounced.The headlights are in keeping with many current Kia models and look great. If you look closely you should count 12 tiny square LED elements on each side. And those lights are exceptional at night. But more on that in next month’s instalment.The EV3’s dimensions are 4310mm long, 1850mm wide and 1570mm tall (GT-Line is 10mm longer and taller than other grades) with a 2680mm wheelbase.It looks short in terms of length and tall in terms of height, but a quick look at rivals shows it’s exactly as long as a BYD Atto 2, but 20mm wider and 105mm shorter.That wheelbase isn’t as long as a Zeekr X (2750mm), but it’s got more space between the wheel arches than the Atto 2.While the exterior is something to behold, interior design is well executed without moving the game forward.Kia’s twin integrated screens dominate the dash which includes a mix of textured hard plastic, fabric, brushed aluminium panels and an ambient light bar.Two-tone interior and seat trim (light grey and mid-dark grey) brightens up the cabin and the two-tone steering wheel looks super cool.But how does it all function?Living with the EV3 every day for more than two months now, it’s clear this little car has some big ticks in the practicality column, but there are also some quirks and, frankly, some poor choices.Let’s start up front. Getting into the EV3 is the first quirk. The proximity key is temperamental. It constantly locks and unlocks the car if you hover near the vehicle. Just when you think it’s open, nope! Locked. It seems only French carmakers Renault and Peugeot know how to successfully operate this tech.Also, it has pop-out exterior front door handles, presumably for better aerodynamics. They’re the sort of handles where the rear arm pops out. Regardless of whether you’re left or right-handed, it feels awkward grabbing the handle, but more so if you have something in your dominant hand and you need to use the other one. A regular flush door handle you can put your hand under would suffice.Once in the driver’s seat it’s not hard to find your perfect driving position. The 10-way power-adjustable front seats help here. The seats are another quirk because they are not uncomfortable by any means, quite the opposite. But the back rest has a rounded shape, rather than traditional side bolsters and it makes for an odd sensation. But the base is comfy and supportive. I prefer nice cloth or synthetic suede to real or fake leather seats, but the Kia has the latter and it does the job.The height of the EV3 ensures ample headroom up front and there’s decent space across, although you might bump elbows with your passenger because of the central armrest.There’s more than enough legroom up front, but my knee regularly bumps the steering wheel-mounted gear selector stalk when I get in the car and occasionally when driving. If it were a little higher up it wouldn’t be an issue. I appreciate carmakers moving gear shifters from the console to make room for other things so I’m not mad at the stalk location.The only buttons are auto parking and auto hold on the centre armrest/table. There’s also a volume wheel on the centre stack, thankfully.While the air con is controlled via an always-on screen between the multimedia and driver display, you can change the mode, temperature and fan speed via toggles underneath. They feel nice to touch.Under the 12.3-inch multimedia screen you’ll find haptic buttons for nav, home and search. You can also do this via the touchscreen but it’s nice to have the option of a button.Kia’s head-up display is bright and clear and while the main driver display has a lot of information, it’s also clear and doesn’t overwhelm.Kia’s multimedia set-up is pretty solid. It consists of large tiles and sub menus and you can touch and swipe to your heart’s content. The EV3 includes connected services via 'Kia Connect' (in-car and app), so you can check the weather, your calendar, voice memos and EV data all through the screen. It’s a clever, high-tech car but, again, the tech never overwhelms.There’s a pair of USB-C ports under the dash and a wireless charging pad that is excellent for two reasons. It has a rubberised mat so your phone stays in place even when cornering, and the charger actually charges your phone. So many in-car chargers just heat up your phone and barely add charge, but this one does what it says on the tin. Thank God!Storage is a mixed bag in the EV3. The door bins will fit smaller, narrower bottles only. The base is actually huge but the door armrests impede it. The EV3 has a medium-sized glove box.I’d like to tell you about the EV3’s central storage bin between the drive and passenger, but there isn’t one. Well, not in the GT-Line anyway. Air and Earth grades get a conventional storage bin under the front central arm rest, but Kia’s product planners opted for a small pull-out table instead.It’s a pointless inclusion. I have only once used this function when I was running late for my mother’s birthday and had to write in a card on the run. Aside from that, it’s pretty useless. I’d much rather a covered storage compartment because currently the only secure storage space is the glove box. Under the armrest/console/table is a large open space with plenty of room for small bags. That space includes two cupholders that open up if you require even more space. But the cupholders are quite low and far from the driver and passenger’s reach. These would've been better placed higher on the central console.One thing I can’t fault is the overall feeling of quality to the cabin materials. It feels like a well built, robust cabin.Moving to the rear seats, you’ll find ample headroom, but toe room under the front seats is limited. Knee room behind my 184cm driving position is just okay. The front seat backs are made from quite hard plastic so you wouldn’t want the seat to be too far back.Amenities back there include map pockets, a USB-C port on the back of both front seats, knee-level air vents, a small nook on the back of the console and a fold-down arm rest with shallow cupholders.There’s no chunky transmission tunnel because it’s an EV.Rear seats are flat but reasonably comfortable and the chunky head rests are adjustable.Earth and GT-Line grades get a standard power tailgate, which is always welcome and the boot comes with a light and side nooks.Kia says the EV3 can swallow 460 litres of cargo with all seats in place and it’s a sizeable space, especially given the compact dimensions of the car.I love the two-level boot floor. You can place the removable floor at the same level as the tailgate lip, making for ample secure under-floor storage, or place it lower for larger items. Very clever.A front trunk can stow 25 litres which is enough for a charge cable. The bonnet has gas struts, too, which I always appreciate.Sadly the EV3 only comes with a tyre repair kit and not even a temporary spare wheel. Not uncommon for EVs, but Australians deserve better.I clocked up just under 1000km of driving in the past month and the trip computer says it was a more efficient few weeks than my first instalment. It showed 16kWh/100km, which is a tick under Kia’s claim of 16.2kWh. Not a bad result.Factoring in usable battery capacity and my efficiency figures, the real-world range this month was about 488km.That’s it for my second instalment of the 2026 Kia EV3 GT-Line long-term review. Keep an eye out for my final instalment in a few weeks and an accompanying video wrapping up my time with the car and outlining everything I like and don’t like about this appealing little EV. Acquired: February 2026Distance travelled this month: 968kmOdometer: 6931kmAverage energy consumption this month: 16kWh/100km

Mitsubishi has revealed competitive pricing for its rough and ready version of the Triton ute.The 2026 Mitsubishi Triton Raider will be in dealerships in June priced from $74,990, which is both the recommended retail price and drive-away figure.The Raider is a co-development between Mitsubishi Australia and Australian engineering and manufacturing firm, Premcar, which also helps produce the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior.The Raider is based on the current range-topping Triton GSR grade, which retails for $65,590 before on-road costs.While it’s not quite a Ranger Raptor rival, the Raider is more of a direct competitor to off-road focused ute grades like the Isuzu D-Max Blade and Ford Ranger Tremor, as well as two upcoming pick-ups, the new Volkswagen Amarok W600 and next-gen Navara Pro-4X Warrior.When it comes to pricing the Triton undercuts the Ranger Tremor ($75,090 BOC) and the D-Max Blade ($80,900 BOC). Pricing for the other two models is yet to be revealed.As reported, the Triton Raider gains a specially developed front and rear suspension damper package for better wheel control, and it comes with Bridgestone AT002 all-terrain tyres, gripping a heavy-duty ROH ‘Assault’ 18-inch alloy wheel.Ride height has increased by 25mm at the front while the rear is up by 15mm. The front and rear tracks have also increased by 20mm.Other physical and visual changes include an upgraded side protection bars and sports bar with red inserts and stronger underbody protection.The powertrain has not been upgraded so it continues to use the Triton’s 2.4-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine offering outputs of 150kW/470Nm.Colour choices include ‘White Diamond’, ‘Black Mica’, ‘Blade Silver’ and ‘Graphite Grey’.Inside the Raider comes with everything from the GSR, including black leather seats with orange stitching, but it adds ‘Raider’ branded head rests and badging in the console.Keep an eye on our Mitsubishi Triton Raider launch review in the coming weeks.

China’s rise in Australia does not threaten the existence of Honda, the company says, as the historic brand highlights its solid model range, aftersales and heritage as points of difference to newer rivals.The comments come just weeks after BYD announced it was about to flood the Australian market with 30,000 new cars in the coming months, as it and other Chinese brands - namely GWM, Chery and MG - push further into Australia’s top 10 sales charts.China’s aggressive plans to be the world’s top automotive producer has already had some impact on Honda’s global plans.In a statement announcing the cancellation of the ‘0’ Series EVs in March, Honda said Chinese buyers’ shift of focus from hardware to software-based features and shorter model development cycles has “intensified the competition”.“In such a difficult competitive environment, Honda was unable to deliver products that offer value for money better than that of newer EV manufacturers, resulting in a decline in competitiveness.”When asked by CarsGuide if Japanese carmakers can still compete with China given the speed with which Chinese brands change tech and update models, Honda Australia Director - Automobiles Robert Thorp acknowledged China has “ a number of competitive advantages that they're rightly exploiting”.He said they’re doing a good job of bringing products to market and connecting with customers quickly, but added that Honda continues to be competitive in many areas.“Just because they have that, it doesn't actually mean we can't compete with that. We have other advantages within our global business, and even advantages here locally that we think that we need to exploit too. So we have a brand and a heritage that, in Australia, has been close to 60 years, globally, closer to 80, that is built on us demonstrating to customers that when you buy a Honda, we'll look after you.“Whether that's a vehicle, whether it's a motorcycle, whether that's a power product or a marine engine. And you can't build that trust overnight. It takes years and years,” he said at the 2026 CR-V launch.Thorp highlighted Honda’s strong points, some of which have been serious weak points for Chinese brands like BYD, GWM and MG.“You can't build the sort of supply chains that we have and the ability to look after customers long after they've built the vehicle. So that, you know, there's an absolute peace of mind. The relationship we have with our Honda centers and our network is built over a number of years, and the heritage and connection and emotional connection… we have with our customers, that's built over a number of years.”Aftersales and customer care has been an issue for many newer Chinese brands in Australia as sales growth outpaced companies’ ability to build parts distribution centres and supply chains. This left a lot of customers without parts and allowed frustration to build. Each of those brands is in the process of addressing the shortfall.Thorp explained how Honda’s reputation for quality and refinement will also ensure the brand remains competitive.“There's a quality in the drive and the quality of the vehicles that you can tangibly see and touch and feel, and you can see on the spec sheet, but there's those other elements that are harder to explain. It's that sort of feeling you get when you actually sit in a car and drive a Honda that I think allows us to hopefully demonstrate that, yeah, we actually have a number of winning features that allows us to compete.”“So whilst, yeah, it's tough, it's challenging, but we're very comfortable that with the total package that we can provide to our customers, we've got a compelling proposition that can succeed in this market.”If there was still any doubt about Honda’s long-term prospects, Thorp said Honda’s global HQ is “100 per cent” committed to the Australian market.Despite Honda’s current line-up receiving almost exclusively positive coverage from experts, and being loved by owners, Thorp admitted Honda still has work to do to get more people into its models.Asked what the reason more people aren’t buying Honda’s despite the impressive product and aftersales offering, Thorp said: “Look, there's a thousand things, and you can't really narrow it down to one or two, but it's a combination of factors.“Certainly our marketing, I think our marketing and our brand positioning, we maybe weren't skilled at that as what we should have been. And I think what we've been doing the last sort of 12-to-18 months, we've, we've basically brought in a brand new team. We've got internal experts. We've actually recast our agency partners. We're recutting our website, and I think that you're starting to see some of the fruits of that come through.”A new advertising and marketing campaign has just rolled out and Honda Australia has launched a much-improved new website. You can even buy a Honda online now.

Honda Australia says it has not been greatly impacted by the recent cancellation of the ‘0’ series EVs.The Japanese carmaker announced in March that it was pulling the pin on three new EVs it had already developed - the striking Honda 0 Saloon, 0 SUV and the related Acura RSX. Set to be built in the US, the two 0 models were earmarked for Australia and other global markets.But just before it started production Honda released a statement saying it "determined that starting production and sales of these three models in the current business environment where the demand for EVs is declining significantly would likely result in further losses over the long term”.About two weeks after that announcement, Honda confirmed its long-planned partnership with Sony to build an EV under the new Afeela banner had also been abandoned.Honda Australia Director, Automotive, Robert Thorp said the global decision to drop the 0 Series models was “in response to a whole multitude of factors”, and while the Saloon and SUV were being seriously considered for Australia, they were predominantly for North America.The changing EV landscape in the US under President Donald Trump was one major factor in the decision.However, there are still Honda EVs in the global catalogue that the Australian arm is keen on, including the 0 Series Alpha revealed at last year’s Tokyo motor show.“The remaining vehicle, being the Alpha, which is still part of the product plan globally, is probably going to be more of an Asian-led vehicle. And therefore the decisions to keep that are a little bit different. And certainly for us, we're considering putting our hand up for that,” he told CarsGuide.“And so for us, that's still a potential option for us. And I think that, from that perspective, EVs aren't completely off. It's just really trying to prioritise the investments and where it could be. So for those being North America, for us locally, those models, whilst we put our hand up for those two, they were only ever going to be niche in many respects. So whilst it's a disappointment that we can't potentially access them, they don't fundamentally change our long-term plans or strategies.”The production version of the 0 Alpha is expected to go on sale in Japan and India next year, meaning if it gets the green light for Australia it probably won’t be until 2028 at the earliest.Honda only recently confirmed its first EV for Australia, the tiny 3.6m long and 1.6m wide Japanese Super-One hatchback. Honda is keeping pricing and mechanical details of the Super-One a secret for now, but reports suggest a driving range of about 274km, meaning it is definitely a city-focused EV and will be a niche seller.But another global Honda EV the Australian arm is looking at is the recently revealed, reborn Insight.Up to now the Insight was a hybrid model across three generations, but the fourth-gen version is a mid-size liftback/crossover BEV with driving range of up to 535km (WLTC).When asked if Honda Australia was considering any of Honda’s Chinese-made EVs, and the Insight more specifically, Thorp said “we're constantly scanning the globe for product in the Honda portfolio”.“And if it makes sense and it ticks enough boxes, (those) boxes being can we actually physically bring it to market? Can we make it compliant? Does it actually meet consumer demand? Can we get a volume that's sustainable, etc, etc, etc. Any model that can tick enough of those boxes we’ll always put a hand up and ask for.”Thorp said the cancellation of 0 Series models has not had a major impact on the company’s preparation for the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).“Any change we make, there's an impact. You know whether, if it's 70 per cent hybrid sales to 80 per cent hybrid sales, that has an impact. The date we bring in Super-One and we bring that to market has an impact. Having ‘0’ series in the future or not has an impact. But the variables are numerous and ever changing.“I will say, though, that our current plans and a strategy which have been in place for a long time, with the knowledge of what the NVES parameters are, we're very comfortable that our plan, in the material sense, works.”

Honda’s CR-V has a long history in Australia. The mid-size family SUV doesn’t sell in the numbers it used to, but it’s one of the best cars in its class. And it just got more appealing. Honda has dropped all but two petrol grades and increased the number of hybrid grades from one to four. Is that enough to hold off the new Toyota RAV4?

Honda will follow Toyota’s lead by going hybrid only in Australia in the not-too-distant future.Until recently the Japanese carmaker has only offered single high-spec hybrid grades across most of its model lines, including Civic, HR-V, ZR-V and CR-V. But it’s in the process of ramping up the number of hybrid model grades, given the market’s clear shift to electrification.In late 2024 Honda boosted the number of hybrid grades of the Civic small hatch and HR-V small SUV from one to two each, while the updated CR-V goes on sale this month with four available hybrid grades. The ZR-V will follow suit in the next couple of months, too.Honda Australia Director, Automotive, Robert Thorp confirmed the plan to go hybrid only, with the plan set to kick in from sometime next year.“First answer is, yes, I don't have a definitive time, but I will say it's probably not too far away. It's not too far away at all. I'd say somewhere between 27/28 to be honest, it'll be 100 per cent hybrid,” he told journalists at the recent 2026 CR-V launch.“Whilst we've got our line-up set and our plans set, it is always subject to change, you know? So you can lock these things in, but you have to make those adjustments strategically when markets shift or consumer preferences shift, or whatever that may be. So it's hard to be super definitive of a time period when that would be but I'd say within the next 12-18 months, it's likely all of our line-up will be hybrid in nature.”Toyota went hybrid only on all non-performance-focused passenger cars, and all monocoque SUVs in mid-2024. That meant Yaris, Yaris Cross, Corolla, Corolla Cross, C-HR, Camry, RAV4 and Kluger shifted to petrol-electric power only.Honda’s petrol range currently consists of one base HR-V grade, two CR-Vs and three ZR-Vs, but again, the ZR-V line-up will change imminently.The Accord mid-size sedan and soon-to-arrive Prelude coupe are both offered as single-grade hybrid models. And the sold-out Civic Type R hot hatch won’t be impacted.While the hybrid focus makes sense, don’t expect to see increasingly popular plug-in hybrid tech roll out across Honda’s line-up anytime soon.A PHEV version of the CR-V is offered in some markets, including right-hand-drive countries like the UK, but when asked about this, Thorp said:“Probably too early to say.”Given the age of the current CR-V - it was revealed in mid-2022 and went on sale locally in late 2023 - CarsGuide believes Honda Australia will hold off on a PHEV version until the next-gen version, which is still a few years away.Honda has dropped most of the petrol grades from the updated 2026 CR-V, with just two on offer compared with four hybrids. The carmaker is expecting 85 per cent of CR-V sales this year to be hybrid.It also anticipates overall sales to be 80 per cent hybrid as well.

Toyota is not overly concerned with the influx of Chinese car brands in Australia’s top-10 best-selling brands list, despite their increasing market presence.At the end of the first quarter of the year, Toyota remained well out in front with 44,490 units sold, but that represents a 23 per cent drop on the same period last year.Just outside the top five, the Chinese giants are waiting to strike. BYD (17,541) was the sixth best-selling carmaker for the quarter, followed by GWM (14,878), while Chery (11,736) is now in ninth place, and MG (10,595) rounds out the top 10, keeping Isuzu Ute and Subaru out of the list.All four of these Chinese automakers have aggressive targets and plans to grow significantly in Australia, with BYD hoping to one day be the new top brand.Despite the encroaching Chinese brands, Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said he “respects all of Toyota’s competitors”, but highlighted Toyota’s strong product offering and aftersales and customer support as brand strengths.“For us, it's not just about selling a car for us, right? You know, for us, it's all about the customer experience. It's about, you know, making sure that we've got great products, first and foremost, that we can service our customers with,” he told CarsGuide.“But it's also about the brand experience. It's about the aftersales support we give them. It's about the warranty. It's about the resale of the vehicle. It's about the whole end-to-end value proposition that we can enable a great experience at every single touch point with our customers, and that's what's most important for us.“It's not just about the sale of a new vehicle. We want to make sure that we can look after them the whole way across the journey. And you know, we've got an extensive dealer network that is the best in the business that continues to provide that excellent care for our customers. And it's about how we contribute to society as well. So for us, it's a whole end-to-end proposition. For Toyota, that's what it's about.”Some newer Chinese carmakers including BYD have faced scrutiny from owners and pundits over a lack of planning in the early stages of their entry to the market. Parts warehouses took too long to ramp up, parts supply and distribution was poor and customer service was also lacking.Many of the brands including GWM, Chery and BYD have acknowledged these issues and have since put in place measures to address them.Pappas highlighted recent investment in Toyota's parts centres across the country, including in WA, NSW, Victoria and Brisbane, and ways of further improving the customer experience.In terms of wait times for new Toyota deliveries, Pappas said it was currently between three-to-six months, with some exceptions.He dismissed the threat of some of the newer Chinese brands that have ample stock of models and short or no wait times.“We know that our customers, from a wait time point of view –three to six months – if you can give them clarity within that period, it's okay. And that's where we're at at the moment.”

Toyota has lifted the lid on a new Yaris Cross with a fresh design that should breathe life into the ageing light SUV.However it looks like we won't see this update Down Under according to a Toyota Australia spokesperson."We are always reviewing opportunities to enhance our local line up, however, at this time, there are no current plans to introduce the updated European variant of the Yaris Cross in Australia."The facelift for the UK and European spec Yaris Cross introduces a new front-end design with a honeycomb mesh grille finished in the body colour, integrated into the front bumper.New LED headlight and daytime running light signatures also feature, as does a lower black cladding section, giving the light SUV a more modern look than the current Australian-spec model.Fresh 17 and 18-inch wheel designs and two new paint options - Precious Bronze with black roof and pillars as well as Persian Salt - are also available.Changes are more subtle inside where the Yaris Cross gains platinum coloured door trim and new sports seats on some grades.No changes have been made under the skin. It retains Toyota’s 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain outputting 96kW/185Nm for a 10.7-second 0-100km/h time.The Australian Yaris Cross also uses a 1.5-litre hybrid setup but it has a lower system output of 85kW and 141Nm.Toyota launched the Yaris Cross in late 2020 as a rival to the Mazda CX-3, Nissan Juke and Ford Puma.It was last updated for Australia midway through last year, gaining additional safety tech and some comfort features.Sales of the Yaris Cross are down by 18.5 per cent in the first quarter of the year, but Toyota has still managed to sell 2456 examples.It is running second in the light SUV sales segment behind the ageing Mazda CX-3 (3489), but it is ahead of the Suzuki Jimny 4x4 (1958), Koia Stonic (1437) and Hyundai Venue (1352).

Denza says its incoming EV tech and charging infrastructure is so good, they will perform as well, if not better, than the brand's DM-i plug-in hybrid technology.In fact, Denza's local Chief Operating Officer, Mark Harland, says charging speeds and total range offered has them thinking twice about importing both PHEV and EV versions of certain models, given the latter delivers similar real-world range and refuelling, and much better performance.Speaking about the brand's incoming Z9 GT, which is offered as both a pure EV and a plug-in hybrid internationally, but will only be offered in electric guise in Australia, Mr Harland said that the brand's fast-charging EVs did the same job as a PHEV."The reason that we're not bringing the DM (PHEV) right now is, if we can offer flash charging and 800 kilometres of range, you're really getting to the point where it's the same kind of range as a DM, and then you're just running a pure EV system," he says."So I can charge it in nine minutes and go over 800 kilometres. It starts to lessen the impact of having a DM. But we're gonna watch, yeah, and if the demand is there, what I know is I can make a call, and I can get supply here pretty damn quick."What Mr Harland is referring to is the brand's 'flash charging', which is now confirmed to begin rolling out in Australia by the end of the year. The technology threatens to change the EV game in our market, effectively tripling the maximum charging speeds currently offered here.BYD’s flash chargers are capable of delivering up to 1500kW of DC charging – enough to take a big battery from empty to effectively full in nine minutes.In the Z9 GT, that means adding 500km of range in about five minutes, and almost fully replenishing its 820km range in less than 10 minutes.The network is expected to be small at first, focusing on metropolitan areas. Central to the idea is to install a big enough central battery to deliver the charge, so that vehicles are not drawing off the grid."It’s something we think can be a real game-changer to the industry, when someone can go for 400 or 500kms in the same time you would fill up at a bowser. They're doing the testing in China to understand the impact on the grid, but they want to back it with a battery, so you’re not drawing off the grid," Mr Harland has previously told CarsGuide.