CAR ADVICE

An all-new dual-cab ute should be a recipe for success for Nissan in 2026, but as models like Pathfinder and Patrol are left to languish, and with X-Trail as the only volume seller, can a rebadged Triton in Nissan clothes carry the brand to success? Nissan Navara Nissan’s sales forecast for 2026 could head in any direction , as crucial new models arrive, and others are held back due to production timing. The new Navara ute is a crucial new model for Nissan , as utes so often are for mainstream brands, but for the first time in its history, the Navara isn’t an all-Nissan product. Born out of the platform and engine-sharing alliance between Mitsubishi and Nissan, the familiar-looking Navara is almost entirely a Mitsubishi product. Nissan has changed the front-end styling a little, and given the Navara its own suspension tune, which begs the question – will that be enough to prop up Navara sales. MORE: Nissan says people movers are superior to SUVs, at least for Japan N...

Honda wants to remind buyers that it is an enthusiast-oriented brand, with a heavy focus on racing and driver involvement at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon. 2025 Honda Civic RS petrol Honda appears to be re-inventing itself as a brand with genuine enthusiast appeal , while at the same time keeping a firm eye on its eco-conscious credentials. At the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon , Honda is set to unveil a new version of the Civic hybrid , equipped with the simulated gear shift technology from the new Prelude , while the Prelude itself will be shown as a racing-oriented custom concept. The Civic hybrid, officially called the Civic e:HEV RS, will debut a new version of the existing Honda Civic hybrid range. It will become the second Honda production model to feature S+ Shift technology, Honda’s form of a simulated gear shift system that gives its otherwise stepless hybrid drivetrain the feel of a traditional transmission. MORE: 2025 Honda Civic hybrid review – Australian first ...

The big-dollar listings on Drive Marketplace show that savvy buyers have been able to cash-in on the right supercars. Savvy new car buyers in Australia know that not every car is an investment opportunity, but the three most expensive listings on Drive Marketplace right now show the investment potential of the right car. While the two most expensive classifieds make sense as recent ultra-exotic, high-performance supercars, the third-highest listing might be a surprise for all but the most die-hard petrolheads. Granted, asking price and selling price can be two different things, but based on the former, the three most expensive listings on Drive Marketplace have gone up in value. 1995 Porsche 911 Turbo – $899,990 By far the biggest money earner on the list is this 1995 Porsche 911 Turbo, currently listed for $899,990, or a casual $598,770 more than its original 1995 list price. In 1995 the Porsche 911 Turbo offered almost unfathomable performance, with a twin-turbo ...

An investigation by Bloomberg attributes 15 deaths to entrapment caused by Tesla’s electronic door release system in crash situations. An ongoing investigation by news outlet Bloomberg reports that Tesla’s electronic door release system could be responsible for at least 15 deaths in the United States. The report filed by Bloomberg analysed crash data going back to 2012, following multiple reports by owners that Tesla ’s electronically operated doors could fail to operate following a crash. Using information supplied by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) , the report focused on accidents with reported fatalities that involved a fire, and included not just Tesla, but all car manufacturers, based on data compiled between 2012 and 2023. Bloomberg reveals that of the almost 70 models on sale in the United States with an electronic door release system, Tesla accounted for the highest number of consumer complaints. MORE: Tesla Model Y L six-seater appro...

Ford’s global CEO Jim Farley says the Blue Oval made a ‘mistake’ in offering a full product line-up similar to Toyota, Hyundai and Kia. Ford Focus Ford wants to focus on specialised products , such as commercial vehicles, sports and electric cars, saying it was a “mistake” to be a full-line manufacturer similar to Toyota, Hyundai and Kia. In an interview with Argentina’s La Nacion , Jim Farley, the global CEO of Ford , said the brand’s “costs were not competitive with Toyota and Hyundai / Kia ” for smaller vehicles, such as the Fiesta and Focus . “For many years in our home market, in the US, Ford had never been successful with small cars,” Farley said. “I came from Toyota – the heart and soul of Toyota is the Corolla , and I also launched the Yaris in Europe – so I knew a lot about the small car business. MORE: 2026 could be a make-or-break year for Ford Australia Ford Global CEO, Jim Farley “It was a spiritual moment for Ford to be a full-line manufacturer, but...

The fault could cause reduced vehicle performance and affect the cooling operation of its hybrid system, according to the recall notice. Great Wall Motors Australia has recalled 1445 examples of its 2025 GWM Cannon Alpha, GWM Tank 300 and GWM Tank 500 hybrids , citing a potential fault with their high-voltage wiring harness .  The affected vehicles are stamped 2025 models, affecting the Cannon Alpha Plug-In Hybrid, the Tank 300 Hybrid, and the Tank 500 Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid.  The recall notice, lodged with the Department of Infrastructure, says: Due to a manufacturing defect, the shielding ring in the high voltage wiring harness may not be properly grounded.  “This can reduce the effectiveness of electromagnetic shielding, which may cause abnormal communication with the engine and transmission control systems. “As a result, warning lights may illuminate, vehicle torque may be reduced, and cooling performance of the hybrid system may be affected....