CAR ADVICE

Regular BYD family electric SUVs sold in Australia will one day be capable of recharging as quickly as filling with petrol. Electric-car fast-charging technology capable of replenishing a battery from 10 to 97 per cent full in nine minutes will not remain the preserve of the six-figure Z9 GT super wagon from its Denza luxury brand. That is according to Denza Australia chief operating officer Mark Harland, who told Drive an expansion of the ‘Flash’ charging technology to cheaper models from Denza and BYD , is inevitable. “I look at the Flash charging the way I look at Formula One,” Harland said in recent weeks. “So Z9 GT right now is the pinnacle of technology for BYD, Denza – the family, if you will. M ORE: Denza mid-size SUV to rival Zeekr 7X on Australian wishlist “In the coming years – I would say it’s not going to happen overnight – in coming years, we take that technology and it trickles down across the range in Denza [and], further...

Once the domain of the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, MG’s IM5 all-electric sedan is now dominating the premium passenger car space. It is no secret that new-car buyer preference has shifted heavily away from what once-popular passenger cars to SUVs, but interest in large luxury sedans in particular has drastically dwindled in all but one model. According to VFACTS sales data to the end of April this year, only 469 premium large sedans over $70,000 have sold, a drastic 33.9 per cent decline over the same period in 2025. Segment stalwarts like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class are both down – by 14.3 and 80.8 per cent respectively – despite new and refreshed models being recently made available in showrooms. MORE: MG’s IM eyeing faster sales growth with new models and premium play Leading the pack however, is newcomer MG IM5 , which has notched 148 new registrations so far this year, which accounts for 31.6 per cent of the ...

Achieving a maximum five-star safety rating is something some car manufacturers decide not to chase, according to Euro NCAP. Certain car brands are sacrificing safety to keep prices low, according to Euro NCAP, but homologation rules will keep all vehicles at a bare minimum safety level believes the organisation. Speaking to Australian and New Zealand media, Euro NCAP technical director Richard Schram said there are car brands willing to accept a sub-five-star safety score. “I can’t speak about the Australian market because it does slightly differ than the European, but for the European market, we what see is [for example] Dacia as a brand clearly doesn’t aim for five stars,” Schram said. “They want to be at the budget [level], but they will aim for three [stars]. MORE: Chinese car safety systems to be refined due to global NCAP alignment “What you will see there is its significantly better than regulation, but they made some clear choices – ‘...

Not all Chinese car brands are having a good time in Australia this year, with some struggling to make an impact in the competitive market. China is now officially the largest source of new cars in Australia, but some brands are doing it tougher than others when it comes to capturing local market share. With BYD , GWM , MG , and Chery now firmly entrenched in the Top 10 list and paving the way to success, it has highlighted that not every Chinese marque might not be able to follow in their wake. Yes, these big Chinese players are proving mighty popular for local buyers – and increasing their share monthly – but just how much have they grown this year? And conversely, who are some of the Chinese brands that have proven less popular than last year? MORE: Chinese car safety systems to be refined due to global NCAP alignment BYD – Australia’s overall second-best-selling brand last month – has increased its year-on-year share by 110.8 per cent to 25...

The 2026 Federal Budget has been presented, with plenty of commitments, but just a few surprises for motorists. The 2026 Federal Budget offers a theme of ‘resilience and reform’ with initiatives that weave their way through an ocean of acronyms and numerical data. Among the small-business support packages, tax offsets and healthcare programs though, are a number of items that impact motorists around the country, albeit with significant focus on low and zero-emission cars. Here are the 2026 Federal Budget winners and losers on the road… MORE: Fuel excise to return in full, but a road user charge is still on the way WINNERS Affordable EV buyers: Changes to the fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemption on EVs will see cars priced up to $75,000 still able to claim a 100 per cent FBT (Fringe Benefit Tax) exemption until 31 March, 2029. Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners: Expect to see more public EV chargers thanks to a $40-million funding c...

There’s a new police operation hitting Victorian roads to keep pedestrians safe, but it alone won’t solve the problem of rising deaths. Victoria Police have launched an operation in response to high pedestrian deaths in April, but more needs to be done to curb rising pedestrian deaths, says one road safety expert. Road Policing Acting Assistant Commissioner, Justin Goldsmith said while May traditionally has Victoria’s highest numbers of pedestrian deaths, the six pedestrian deaths recorded in April have police concerned. Police will be targeting at-risk areas informed by their intelligence. “This is not about levelling blame at anyone, this is about saving lives and reducing the amount of trauma on our roads,” Goldsmith said “Pedestrians have little to no protection, so when they’re involved in a collision with a vehicle, the consequences can be catastrophic.” “We’ll be focusing on behaviours that puts pedestrians at risk of being involved in a...