CAR ADVICE

New data shows certain areas bore the brunt of Victoria’s car theft increase last year. Use this map to see if theft got better or worse in your area. Car theft increased by 61 per cent in some areas of Victoria last year, but plummeted in others. New data shows that despite a 10 per cent state-wide increase, some Local Government Areas (LGAs) were hit much harder than others in 2025. The map below shows how car theft changed from 2024 to 2025 across Victoria’s LGAs. Where vehicle theft increased and decreased in Victoria in 2025 Figures released this month show Victoria recorded 32,013 motor vehicle theft offences in 2025, a 10 per cent increase from 2024, and the highest total number in more than 20 years. All motor vehicle theft offence figures in this article also include attempted motor vehicle theft offences, which historically account for around 14 per cent of total recorded offences, with Victoria Police typically combining both actual and attempted motor vehicle ...

Not fazed by the fuel crisis, the off-road variant of Australia’s top-selling US pick-up is now available with a limited-time finance offer. The 2026 Ram 1500 Rebel is now available with new paint options and a low-interest finance offer in the lead-up to the end of the financial year (EOFY) . The 4.99 per cent interest rate applies to in-stock Ram 1500 Rebel pick-ups purchased by approved ABN holders through Ram Trucks Finance by the end of June. No deposit is required, and it will carry a 48-month loan term with a maximum 40 per cent final payment. MORE: Ram CEO promises upcoming Ranger rival will be a ‘real truck’ Ram 1500 Rebel in Granite Crystal grey. The Ram 1500 is the country’s top-selling US pick-up, with the off-road-oriented Rebel joining the line-up last year, powered by a 313kW/635Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged six-cylinder ‘Hurricane’ petrol engine. It is priced at $141,950 before on-road costs, and gains Bilstein suspension, unique off-road whee...

The abolition of quality controls it sees as too stringent could form part of Toyota’s answer to the threat from high-volume, low-cost competition from China. The outgoing CEO of Toyota has declared the impact of rising Chinese car brands a “crisis”, and has called for the axing of quality controls on tiny components hidden in vehicles that it believes are unnecessarily stringent. As reported by Automotive News , Koji Sato – who has vacated the CEO position as of today, April 1 – last week addressed a conference of 700 executives from 484 companies that produce parts for Toyota vehicles on the threat its neighbour poses. “Unless things change, we will not survive,” the executive said. “I want everyone to acknowledge this sense of crisis.” Sato, who took the role of Toyota CEO in 2023, made the impassioned plea as one of his last duties as CEO at the Japanese automaker, with his replacement, Kenta Kon, officially becoming CEO from today. MORE: New Toyota Celica details firm...

US car giant General Motors is being taken to court by lawyers representing owners of Chevrolet Silverado pick-ups with allegedly defective V8 engines. More than 10,000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pick-ups are the subject of a class-action lawsuit in the Federal Court of Australia for V8 engines with alleged defects as serious as “complete engine failure”. Australian owners can sign up for the class action here at no cost – and could receive compensation if the case is successful – irrespective of whether they have experienced engine problems in their vehicle. Silverado 1500 pick-ups fitted with the ‘L87’ 6.2-litre V8 have “serious engine defects affecting performance, reliability, and safety” resulting in “significant engine problems,” according to the firm leading the collation of class-action registrations. MORE: Chevrolet Silverado V8 engine recall expands to Australia and NZ, 10,000 pick-ups affected locally General Motors Specialty Vehicles ( GMSV ) – the factory i...

Not to be confused with the movie and video game of the same name, Subaru has announced its third – and potentially cheapest – electric car for Australia. Subaru has confirmed the Uncharted electric SUV for Australian showrooms in the middle of this year, as its smallest battery-powered model yet. It will be the third Subaru electric car sold in Australia, after the Solterra mid-size SUV and Trailseeker high-riding wagon, and is the sibling to the Toyota C-HR BEV due locally 12 months later, in mid-2027. Prices are yet to be confirmed, but the Uncharted is likely to undercut the larger Solterra, which starts from $63,990 plus on-road costs. It will be powered by dual electric motors for all-wheel drive and a claimed 252kW, claimed to enable a zero to 100km/h acceleration time of five seconds. A front-wheel-drive version sold overseas won’t be offered in Australia. MORE: Subaru BRZ to gain turbo all-wheel-drive special, but you can’t buy it It uses a 74.7kWh CATL ...

The CEO of Volkswagen has assured that the company has learnt from its foray into touch-sensitive interior controls, and will work hard to reverse the trend across new vehicles. Mk8 Golf interior. Volkswagen executives have blamed previous management for the rollout of touch-sensitive controls in its vehicles that have drawn criticism – and prompted a return to physical buttons. The German car giant says it is heading back to basics with intuitive driver operation, covering everything from how you get into its cars to what they’re called. In an interview with the Top Gear website, Volkswagen’s CEO Thomas Schäfer promised that the company had learnt from the forward-thinking, but ultimately flawed, design work implemented on the brand’s core models. “In the ‘old’ days we made a long list of requirements and features, but people didn’t feel comfortable using [the end product], Schäfer said, referring to the current generation of Volkswagen models. MORE: Volkswagen launches...

Is it safer to reverse into a parking space or reverse out? We asked, you voted – and one method was the clear winner. Despite recommendations from road safety experts, thousands of Australians refuse to reverse into a parking space, arguing that it is neither safer nor more convenient than driving nose-first, according to a survey conducted by Drive. In a 23 March article , we asked whether it was better for drivers to reverse into a parking space or reverse out. RELATED: Is it better to reverse into a parking space? Experts weigh in According to experts and road safety data, reversing into a parking space is the safer option and is favoured by fleet operators and commercial vehicles. It seems the official advice is aligned with the court of public opinion, which voted overwhelmingly in favour of reversing into a parking space. Of the 8894 people who responded to Drive ‘s survey titled Is it better to reverse into a parking space? , a total of 4928, or 55 per cent, voted ...

The removal of Mazda’s rotary dial in the CX-5 could push more customers who prefer physical controls to CX-60. Mazda Australia has admitted the new-generation CX-5’s all-touchscreen controls for infotainment and climate will not be for everyone, but the Japanese brand has a solution. According to Mazda Australia boss Vinesh Bhindi, customers tossing up between the CX-60 and runout CX-5 would look at differences like sizing and price to determine a model best suited to them. However, with the third-generation CX-5’s introduction of a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system (up from 12.9 inches), which also incorporates climate controls and physical buttons, Mazda’s rotary control dial is now unnecessary. The control knob will continue to be offered in the CX-60 for the time being, giving customers another consideration point, according to Bhindi. MORE: Mazda CX-5 turbo engine won’t live on in CX-60 Mazda CX-5 interior featuring touchscreen controls. “This time ...

A wave of Chinese brands has already reshaped Australia’s market, and it’s only gaining momentum, driven by sharp pricing, high-spec features, and a strong push into electric and hybrid vehicles. Australia’s automotive market has seen a sharp influx of new car brands, with 2026 shaping up as a particularly pivotal year.  Many of these newcomers are Chinese brands, entering with competitive pricing, comprehensive kit, and a strong focus on electric and hybrid vehicles.  Last year alone saw brands like Geely , Jaecoo , and Deepal enter the market, just to name a few – and the pipeline is far from slowing. This year is set to bring even more arrivals, including a luxury arm of an established marque, another Chery offshoot, and a brand we’ve already seen on our roads before. Australia is increasingly becoming a key destination for global expansion rather than an afterthought, further heightening competition. Here’s a list of the new cars brands earmarked for Austra...