CAR ADVICE

There have been many highs and many lows in the automotive world this year, so these are the highlights from the Drive team. With another year relegated to the annals of automotive history, there have been a number of highs and lows over the last 12 months. And Drive has been at the forefront of it all as the biggest automotive publisher in Australia with multiple streams of content across various media. We look back and give our take on the best and worst of 2024. Alex Misoyannis, Deputy News Editor – Hit: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N It’s easy to criticise the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N from your sofa at home. $111,000 is a power of money for a Hyundai, it can only cover 450km on a charge (at best), and in an Instagram reel, the synthetic engine noises sound terrible. But drive one and it’s a different story. It’s fast but approachable, spacious but hides its size reasonably well, there’s plenty of grip when you want it (and trick differentials when you don’t), and the simulated ge...

You may have heard of car brands sharing platforms, engines, technologies and even whole models – with different badges – but the latest Mazda and Toyota tie-up involves a colour. Toyota has unveiled a new model with a hero colour that will be familiar to customers who shop around before their next vehicle purchase. The Toyota Corolla Cross small SUV is now available in the US in Soul Red Crystal, the multi-layer ‘hero’ colour of Mazda’s cars for almost a decade. While there is a long history of collaboration between Toyota and Mazda – from hybrid technology to entire models wearing the other brand’s badges – sharing of a colour is rare in the car industry. It is made possible by a joint-venture factory owned by the Japanese car makers in the US state of Alabama, which produces Toyota Corolla Cross and Mazda CX-50 SUVs for the North American market. MORE: Mazda updates one of its most iconic elements for 2023 It’s for this reason that it is unlikely Australia-bou...

The facelifted 2025 Tesla Model Y electric SUV has been spied testing in Europe ahead of its expected reveal in the coming weeks. New spy images of the facelifted 2025 Tesla Model Y electric SUV have emerged out of Europe ahead of its formal unveiling expected in the coming weeks. The images reveal the design changes coming to the Model Y in clearer detail than before, confirming it will receive a new split headlight design to further differentiate the Tesla SUV from the Model 3 sedan it is based on. Tesla is expected to unveil its newest Model Y – codenamed ‘Juniper’, following the Model 3 ‘Highland’ facelift revealed in 2023 – within weeks, with Chinese media reporting mass production has commenced at the brand’s factory in Shanghai. MORE: Tesla Model Y delivery times blow out in Europe, hinting at 2025 ‘Juniper’ update Once unveiled, the 2025 Model Y will likely reach Australian showrooms within two to three months – suggesting it could be on local roads by t...

Stone chips are almost inevitable when driving on Australian roads. We talk to the professionals on how to fix and prevent stone chips. Photo: IStock/eyfoto There’s nothing more frustrating than finding those tiny chips in the paint on the front of your new car. RELATED: How much does it cost to wrap a car? You can always avoid roads with loose surfaces, but sometimes, even small stones can make their way onto major roads, only to be flicked up by other cars. But is there a way to stop this from happening? We spoke to the professionals to find out how to prevent and fix stone chips on your vehicle. How to prevent stone chips The most popular option to prevent stone chips in 2024 is a paint protection film or PPF. It essentially wraps a portion or the whole car with a clear contact that repels debris and can even save you from scratches in the event of a light accident. Because the clear wrap is a soft and flexible material on top of the paint, which is hard and chippable...

The upgraded Ford Ranger Super Duty ute has been spotted on Australian roads, testing in single-cab and extra-cab guises before next year’s launch. The 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty has been spotted testing in Australia, seen in new single-cab-chassis and extra-cab-chassis formats for the first time globally. Images and a video posted to the Official Next-Gen Ranger Group Australia on Facebook show partly camouflaged, single-cab and extra-cab Ranger Super Dutys testing in Victoria ahead of its launch in 2026, promising an upgraded 4500kg tow rating among other heavy-duty upgrades. It is believed to be the first sightings of the new Ford ute on camera in Australia, after a dual-cab-chassis model was captured testing in November 2024 in the United States near Ford’s global headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. Image credit: Official Next-Gen Ranger Group Australia The latest spy images indicate the single-cab-chassis Super Duty will add a tubed side stirrup step to its...

Ford, Toyota and GWM led the pack on Drive’s YouTube channel for 2024, while viewers also showed interest in new hybrid SUVs. Another year is almost over, so it’s time to look back at the stories most popular with Drive readers in 2024 across our news, reviews and advice content. In this edition, we’ve compiled a list of the Top 10 most-watched videos in 2024.  Over the last 12 months, viewers were most-interested in a comparison between the Toyota HiLux GR Sport and Ford Ranger Raptor , while content on the new GWM Tank 500 off-road seven-seat hybrid SUV also proved popular.  Other popular videos in 2024 included what the GWM Tank 300 is like to live with, the Nissan Patrol Warrior , choosing between the Toyota Yaris and Yaris Cross , and reviews of hybrid SUVs from GWM , BYD and Hyundai .  Grab your popcorn – the list below represents the most watched videos of 2024 on Drive’s YouTube channel. 10. 2024 BYD Sealion 6: Australian first drive ...

While decorating your car is a right of passage, these Aussie drivers decided to take it one step further with their custom number plates. Image: Facebook When it comes to owning a car, decorating your vehicle to suit your personality is one of the best experiences associated with driving. However, custom number plates seem to be the preferred choice of decorations among Australian drivers, with multiple social media groups dedicated to spotting some of the funniest, most obscene and unique custom plates in the country. RELATED: Unusual licence plate exposes little-known road rule As an example, the Facebook group Stupid Number Plates Australia has become a cultural online staple for Australian drivers, accruing over 70,000 members who delight in sharing personalised licence plates that you won’t see every day. To offer some insight into the creativity and sense of humour of Australian motorists across the country, Drive has compiled a list of the funniest custom number ...

The BYD Shark 6 ute’s high-power SUV sibling is set for Australian showrooms, if a photo of a left-hand-drive prototype – with export-market branding – testing locally is a guide. Credit: BYD EV Owners Australia group on Facebook . BYD’s plug-in hybrid challenger to the Toyota Prado – the Fangchengbao Bao 5 – is all but confirmed for Australia after a disguised prototype was spotted testing on local roads this week. It is set to ditch its home-market name – which translates to ‘Formula Leopard Leopard 5’ – for BYD Denza B5, as part of the Australian launch of the Chinese firm’s Denza luxury sub-brand. The Bao 5/Denza B5 is a large five-seat, off-road, plug-in hybrid SUV similar in size to a Ford Everest or Isuzu MU-X , and slightly shorter nose to tail than a new Toyota Prado . MORE: 2024 Fangchengbao Bao 5 review The example spotted in Melbourne by BYD EV Owners Australia Facebook group member Brian is left-hand drive, and disguised in a black wrap, but a sear...

Drive’s new-car assessments have wrapped up for 2024 with a few surprises on the ‘most-read list’ – including a $120,000 electric sports car. Another year is almost over, so it’s time to look back at the stories most popular with Drive readers in 2024 across our news, reviews and advice content. In this edition, we’ve compiled a list of the Top 10 car reviews clicked on in 2024 . Drive assesses around 400 different cars each year in our Melbourne and Sydney garages – in addition to the endless number of local and international launch events our journalists attend annually. In 2024, our most-read list was led by the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – no surprise, as the RAV4 is Australia’s second-best-selling car, and medium SUVs are the most popular type of vehicle. However, new-car sales data doesn’t always translate to what our readers are most interested in, with some surprises – including the MG Cyberster electric sports car and the new-generation Ford Mustang – making the list...