CAR ADVICE

SUVs might be the preferred body style of choice in Australia and across the world, but depending on the scenario, they could prove more dangerous in an accident. One of the main reasons cited for purchasing an SUV over a passenger car is improved safety, but leading researchers believe this is not necessarily true. Australians have clearly voted with their wallets in favour of high-riders over hatchbacks and sedans, with 365,205 SUVs sold in 2025 so far, compared with 81,662 conventional passenger cars. And – in most cases – with more storage capacity, legroom, and an elevated view of the street, it makes practical sense why many opt for this kind of vehicle. However, the notion that SUVs are safer than smaller cars ultimately comes down to who it is safer for in event of a collision – passenger or pedestrian – according to experts. MORE: Cyclists and pedestrians at risk as road fatalities hit a 15-year high What are the experts saying? Monash University Associate P...

A six-seat prestige SUV larger than a Nissan Patrol – with range-extender hybrid power – is on the cards for sale in MG showrooms alongside $25,000 city hatchbacks. MG’s new IM sub-brand – arriving in MG showrooms imminently with prestige electric cars – is set to expand its range with a flagship SUV bigger than a Toyota LandCruiser . And one of the two IM SUV options under consideration is the flagship LS9, which stretches close to 5.3 metres long – bigger than a Nissan Patrol or Mercedes-Benz GLS – and offers V8-like power from range-extender hybrid technology. It is likely to cost well in excess of $100,000 if sold in Australia, given the flagship IM6 mid-size-to-large SUV – an electric Tesla Model Y competitor – tops out at $80,990 drive-away. However, it may not arrive until 2027, leaving IM with just two models – the IM6 and related IM5 sedan – as its only offerings in the meantime, sold in MG dealers alongside MG 3 hatchbacks and ZS small SUVs at a fraction ...

A hybrid car’s frugal fuel consumption is its biggest attraction. But new real-world data reveals that some models are thirstier than advertised. Hybrid vehicles have surged in popularity over the past couple of years, largely due to their frugal fuel consumption in comparison to petrol and diesel-powered cars. According to the latest VFACTS data, 119,359 traditional and plug-in hybrid models found new homes between January and June 2025, with more car makers looking to prioritise petrol-electric options as Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) continues to get more stringent in the next couple of years. RELATED: The small cars that consume the most fuel Despite hybrid cars offering lower fuel consumption, the latest results from the Australian Automotive Association’s (AAA) Real World Testing Program – a government-funded program that tests some of Australia’s most popular cars’ real-world fuel usage – revealed that some petrol-electric models significantly c...

Alfa Romeo’s first EV could receive a price cut, but the Junior Elettrica’s positioning will be dictated by market reception and competition. Alfa Romeo Australia has not ruled out a major price cut for its just-launched Junior Elettrica electrc vehicle (EV) after massive discounting of the mechanically related Jeep Avenger. Wearing a $57,900 before on-road costs pricetag, the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica is already one of the most affordable – and smallest – premium electric SUVs, positioned under the BMW X1 (from $80,600), Lexus UX (from $80,720), and Mini Countryman (from $64,990). However, the Jeep Avenger , which shares the same 115kW/260Nm output and 51kWh battery and wears a recommended retail price of $54,990 in entry-level Limited form, is currently discounted to $40,000 drive-away – a saving of around $16,000. Speaking to Drive , Stellantis product manager Bridget Thomson said Alfa Romeo is open to slashing the price of the Junior Elettrica, depending on marke...

New testing has put the real-world fuel consumption of 30 popular cars – including the new Prado, and a number of Toyota hybrids – under the microscope, outside of a laboratory. Some of Australia’s top-selling cars – from the Ford Ranger ute and Toyota Prado 4WD, to a slew of new hybrids – have used up to 33 per cent more fuel than claimed on the windscreen sticker in new real-world testing. The latest round of tests conducted by the Australian Automobile Association – with Federal Government funding – has placed the real-world fuel consumption of 30 vehicles. Twenty-five of the vehicles tested consumed more fuel than claimed by the manufacturer, up to 33 per cent in the case of the Hyundai Kona Hybrid – and 26 per cent for the Kia Stonic turbo . The Ford Ranger consumed 6 per cent more fuel than claimed in bi-turbo, four-wheel-drive form, while the new Toyota Prado used 8 per cent more than quoted. MORE: Popular new model revealed to use 35 per cent more fuel than ad...

While it might seem like a good idea to let your car warm up in the morning, it might just cost you more than the petrol it’s using. We investigate the question ‘is it illegal to warm your car up?’. Photo: iStock/Willowpix Anyone taught how to drive by older parents or family members would have probably been told that you need to let the car warm up before leaving. RELATED: Is this Australia’s most misunderstood road marking? After all, anything that can prolong the life of the car is a good thing, right? Especially when it’s in the colder months of winter. Well, the act of leaving your car running before you set off could actually land you a number of different fines. Is it illegal to warm up your car before driving?   There is a lot of conflicting information online regarding this question, but in Australia, it could be considered a breach of the law to leave your car idling. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that “idling is not an offence” – in...