CAR ADVICE

Australia’s new-car market is about to undergo a big shift, with new CO2 rules set to fine automakers for selling high-emissions utes and 4WDs. Here’s everything you need to know. The Australian new-car market is preparing to undergo one of its most significant transformations since the first Holden rolled off the assembly line in 1948. This year Australia will mandate strict new-vehicle emissions standards similar to those in Europe or the US, which will issue credits – or monetary fines – to car manufacturers based on the CO2 emissions of every new car they sell. Known as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) , the rules come into effect today, 1 January 2025 – but lawmakers do not start the count until 1 July 2025. While penalties will be issued directly to vehicle manufacturers, leading car brands have indicated the NVES will make its mark on the types of cars consumers will be able to buy – and how much they will cost. Some car makers have signalled an intent...

Independent safety ratings for many popular new cars in Australia – including the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30 hatch, Audi Q3, Volvo XC40 and Suzuki Jimny – expired overnight. Another round of safety ratings for new vehicles from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) have reached the end of the road. ANCAP will no longer list a safety rating for 24 new vehicles sold in Australia and built after 31 December 2024, following the introduction of its six-year datestamp limit, making crash-test scores achieved in 2018 or earlier no longer valid. Affected vehicles include the Hyundai i30 hatch , Kia Stonic and LDV T60 tested in 2017, along with the Toyota Corolla , Audi Q3 , BMW X5 , Volvo XC40 , Mazda 6 and Suzuki Jimny tested in 2018. The expired ratings only affect vehicles built on and after 1 January 2025, with cars manufactured before this date covered by their original score – despite no specification difference between one car built on 31 December 20...

Australia’s new-car market is about to get a lot busier in 2025. Here’s every new car launching this year – and beyond. Demand for new cars are not as strong as it was at the start of 2024 – but for Australians looking to buy a new vehicle in 2025, there’s never been a better time to be in the market. An unprecedented number of new brands are bound for local showrooms in 2025, set to make what is already one of the world’s most competitive new-car markets even busier. Nearly all hail from China – from Geely to Leapmotor – but there is plenty of new-car launch activity on the horizon from European, Japanese, American and even other Chinese manufactures to look forward to. Among 2025’s most hotly-anticipated arrivals are a flock of utes, from the conventionally-powered but not conventionally-styled Kia Tasman diesel, to plug-in hybrids in the Ford Ranger PHEV and customer deliveries of the BYD Shark 6 . Families ready to go electric can anticipate the BYD Sealion 7 ,...