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Toyota defends RAV4 price rises up to $6000

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The Japanese giant has argued new-generation technology and safety features make up for the new RAV4’s price hikes up to $5930. RAV4 Cruiser. Toyota has pointed to the “value proposition” offered by the new RAV4 after prices surged by up to $5930 with the switch to the new-generation model in showrooms now. The entry-level RAV4 GX now starts from $45,990 plus on-road costs – up $3730 – or about $50,000 drive-away, and climbs to about $65,000 drive-away for the top-of-the-range hybrid – before the plug-in hybrid, which exceeds $70,000, is considered. It may represent sticker shock for buyers upgrading from a five-year-old RAV4, as the RRP of today’s GX is higher than a well-equipped, front-wheel-drive Cruiser hybrid – with a sunroof, leather seats, and more – in 2021, before inflation. Few new cars are as affordable as they were five years ago, and Toyota argues the features built into the base model are worth the price rises. MORE: 2026 Toyota RAV4 to skip ANCAP safety r...
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Geely reveals new hybrid tech claimed to be significantly more efficient and powerful than Toyota

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While Toyota has been a dominant player in the hybrid space for decades, Chinese car giant Geely wants to take the technological lead. Geely has unveiled a new-generation hybrid powertrain technology at the 2026 Beijing motor show , which the car maker claims will set a new benchmark for efficiency. Separate to the electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain offerings already seen in Geely vehicles, this new ‘i-HEV’ closed-loop hybrid system (similar to Toyota’s layout) utilises a high-efficiency petrol engine and AI-driven software to achieve what Geely says is record levels of fuel efficiency. To that point, Geely has earned itself a Guniness World Record for the lowest level of fuel consumption from a mass-produced hybrid vehicle. MORE: Geely reveals EVA Cab autonomous robotaxi to rival Tesla, launching 2027 Set during a highway loop in the Chinese city of Hunan, a Geely Emgrand hybrid sedan demonstrated a consumption figure of 2.22L/100km. Using this new hybrid powe...
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The secret sticker inside your car that can save petrol

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Did you know your car has a sticker inside it with information that can help you save fuel? Here’s how to find it and why it’s important. Fuel is expensive right now. But you already knew that. Did you know, however, that having under-inflated tyres can make your car less fuel-efficient? RELATED: How a simple car tweak dramatically changed my fuel consumption According to the RACV , when your tyres are under-inflated, they create more ‘rolling resistance’, meaning you need to accelerate more, which puts pressure on your engine and makes it consume more petrol than it should. “For every 1psi drop in tyre pressure, fuel efficiency can decrease by up to 0.3 per cent, leading to higher fuel costs over time,” the RACV website states. Fortunately, there is a sticker inside your car called a ‘tyre placard’, which will tell you the recommended tyre pressure for your car. What does PSI mean? The measurement for tyre pressure most commonly used in Australia is called PSI, which st...
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GWM Tank 700 V8 confirmed, likely for Australia

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GWM’s flagship off-road SUV, the Tank 700, has been confirmed to receive a V8 petrol engine, with Australia likely to be one of the key markets for the new powertrain. GWM has confirmed its Tank 700 flagship off-road SUV will lead the roll-out of a newly-developed V8 petrol engine, alongside a high-performance supercar. At the 2026 Beijing motor show , GWM chairman Jack Wei told Australian media, including Drive , a future version of the Tank 700 “will also use a V8 engine”. “In the future, the Tank 700 will also use a V8 engine,” Wei said. “The supercar uses a high-performance V8, while the Tank 700 uses a normal V8. “This is completely opposite to the current environment or trend in China; it does not fit the Chinese market. MORE: GWM is developing a supercar ‘better’ than Ferrari “We developed this V8 to meet the needs of more global users, in markets such as Australia and New Zealand.” Details shared by GWM at the motor show suggest the petrol V8 will be twin-...
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Freelander 8 revealed as Chinese-made electrified reboot of Land Rover SUV

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A storied Land Rover badge is coming back on a Chinese car co-developed with Chery, powered by electric and range-extender hybrid drivetrains. The Land Rover Freelander has returned 25 years after the launch of the original on a new SUV brand half-owned by Chinese car giant Chery, due in Australian showrooms in 2027. After the debut of a concept in recent weeks, the revived Freelander marque has revealed a “production-intent model” of its first road car, the seven-seat Freelander 8 , at an event in China distinct from the ongoing Beijing motor show . Freelander is a joint-venture between Chery and Land Rover , spun off to sit outside of both marques’ regular line-ups, and planned to spawn six models in three years, focused on hybrid and electric power. Australian arrivals are due sometime in 2027, with local testing to occur in the meantime. MORE: Freelander joins Jaecoo, Omoda, and Lepas under Chery Australia umbrella The Freelander 8 may look small, but overseas ...
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The most stolen cars in each suburb of Victoria revealed by this tool

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This interactive tool shows the most commonly stolen vehicles in every part of Victoria during 2025, based on latest data. A new crime statistics tool shows the most commonly stolen vehicles in every part of Victoria based on 2025 data. But a mismatch between police intelligence figures and official crime statistics means the picture is incomplete. This tool, created by Drive , gives only an indication of the most stolen cars in each area of Victoria, and the totals provided should be considered an underestimation. The data has some limitations, as it only includes around 17,500 of the approximately 27,500 cars stolen in Victoria in 2025. Click or tap between the suburb, postcode, and council (LGA) tabs to search for the most stolen vehicles of any area in Victoria during 2025. You can also select the ‘my vehicle’ tab to search for a specific model of car to see where it ranks for theft rates in Victoria. The dataset that this tool is built from was provided to Drive by ...
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2026 Kia Sportage S diesel AWD review

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There are a few cars where the base model could be considered the gem of the line-up, but with rumours that Kia is going to be narrowing powertrain options, the diesel Sportage S could be the one to buy before it’s too late. Skip ahead: Summary Design Value Interior Fuel efficiency Infotainment Ownership Costs Drive Comfort Safety Verdict 2026 Kia Sportage S diesel The medium SUV segment is one of the most contested in Australia, accounting for nearly a quarter of the market in 2025. Unlike the ute segment that only has a handful of big players, the medium SUV market has a number of strong contenders, making the choice increasingly difficult for buyers – particularly with respect to incoming brands, too. For those who have been a fan of the segment for the past two decades, the majority of the noticeable names have stayed the same – Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander, Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Subaru Forester, and of course the Kia Sporta...
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