CAR ADVICE

Prices for Ford’s offering to the plug-in hybrid ute segment have dropped below the best-selling BYD Shark 6, depending on where you live, in the lead-up to the new financial year. Ford is offering promotional price cuts on its Ranger plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) by as much as $10,000 as part of end-of-financial year deals. As part of the promotion, XLT, Sport, and Stormtrak versions of the Ranger PHEV can be had from $62,000, $66,000, and $73,000 drive-away, respectively. These compare to regular retail prices of $71,990 before on-road costs, $75,990, and $86,990 for the XLT, Sport and Stormtrak, respectively. The Ranger Wildtrak PHEV is not part of Ford Australia’s sale; it is positioned at $79,990 before on-roads. It means the XLT undercuts the BYD Shark 6 Premium in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Western Australia, where its $57,900 plus on-road costs RRP translates to more than $62,000 drive-away. MORE: F...

This map shows the 357 locations Victoria Police can place their mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras in May 2026. While mobile phone and seatbelt detection camera positions can vary month to month in Victoria, police are obliged to publish the potential locations for public transparency. Mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras are mounted high up on portable trailers and photograph drivers from above as they pass. The cameras detect if the driver is using a mobile device illegally, or failing to wear their seatbelt in a legal fashion. The map below shows mobile traffic cameras in their latest approved locations around Victoria. May 2026 mobile phone and seatbelt detection camera locations Victoria Hover your mouse over, or tap, the red symbols to see more information about each camera’s location and reason for its potential placement. These spots are not just picked at random, with various justifications used by Victoria Pol...

Chery is on track to operate six SUV brands in Australia by the end of next year – and it thinks you will understand the differences between all of them. A top Chery executive has claimed its array of sub-brands – set to number six in Australia by the end of next year – is an asset that helps it stand out against the likes of Toyota, rather than a source of confusion. The Chinese car giant is due to complement its current Chery , Omoda and Jaecoo marques locally – the latter pair sold through the same dealer network – with Lepas later this year, and iCaur and Freelander in 2027. It is before Jetour – a brand under the Chery umbrella internationally, but set to be distributed separately to the main head-office operation in Australia from next year – is included in the tally. All six Chery-run brands sell SUVs available or standard-fit with some form of hybrid or electric power, instead relying on styling and price point as differentiators. MORE: Chery ...

All cars for sale are generally safe, according to Euro NCAP, but its grading system allows buyers to determine what is best for them. Euro NCAP has gone on record to dispel the notion that customers should only buy cars with five-star safety ratings, stating local homologation rules are enough to ensure vehicles are fit for the road. When asked by Drive to explain its rating system, which is also shared by ANCAP , Euro NCAP secretary general Dr Michiel van Ratingen said every car that comes to market is fundamentally safe because of homologation rules – known as Australian Design Rules (ADRs) locally. “There are no unsafe cars because otherwise regulations would not be doing their job,” van Ratingen said. “Regulations set the baseline, what they believe is sellable in the European market. NCAP is not a black and white system, it has five levels, so it has five levels of safety in my view, that’s how I look at it. MORE: Safety body hits back at car brand...

The name of Chery’s upcoming plug-in hybrid ute will be decided in the coming weeks from nine shortlisted options, whittled down from 20,000 public-submitted entries. Nine names are in contention for Chery’s upcoming diesel plug-in hybrid ute, currently known by its KP31 codename, ahead of its Australian arrival later this year. Chery has confirmed nine public submissions that have made its shortlist: Outrider, Orca, Ironbark, Bushwalker, Stockman, Longreach, Ridgeback, Terra, and Mate. Some names have obvious Australian links, such as Mate, while others have been applied to utes sold locally before, including Stockman on a Suzuki and Longreach on a Ford Falcon. Trademark filings point to a longer list of options for the KP31 or other future Chery models, outside the fan-submitted shortlist, with the brand also filing to protect Mankarra, Warlu, Terravon, Pioneer, Vanguard, Altrex, Wayfarer, and Trailmaster in recent months. MORE: 2027 Chery Tigg...

With a range rated for up to 1600km, the 2027 MG IM8 could be well suited for unique Australian driving conditions, according to the brand. MG’s incoming IM LS8 – or IM8 as it might be known – is geared specifically for Australia’s unique requirements, according to a brand executive. Speaking to Drive , IM Motor regional general manager for Asia Pacific Steven Xu said the large SUV, due to launch in the first half of 2027 with its extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain, is expected to find an audience locally. “According to customer feedback, it’s really very hot [the large SUV segment],” Xu said. “They like the big cars, especially they like the new kind of powertrain because they like the driving feel of the EV, but they also enjoy the driving range that can be extended to over maybe 1500km. MORE: MG’s premium IM brand set for major model expansion “This means you can drive it as an EV in the city for work, but on the weekend, you...