Price war brings lower priced electrified SUVs and people movers

Prospective buyers of hybrid-powered three-row large SUVs and people-mover electric vehicles (EVs) are in for a treat, with cheaper options and price cuts announced for two key models.

Leading the charge in the hybrid category is Kia, thanks to an expansion of the hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) options in its popular Sorento large SUV range.

The new base S hybrid front-wheel drive (2WD) grade kicks off from $56,380 (all prices are before on-road costs unless otherwise stated), making it some $15,000 cheaper than the GT-Line 2WD hybrid that buyers had to stretch to for the privilege of electrification.

However, Kia has bumped up the price of the latter by almost $1000 as a result – it’s now from $71,290.

But, as a result of costing considerably less than a Toyota Kluger all-wheel drive (AWD) hybrid (from $62,410), the new entry-level Sorento hybrid ought to boost the sales lead of what is currently Australia’s best-selling seven-seater SUV that isn’t derived from a diesel-powered body-on-frame utility (namely 4x4s like the Ford Everest, Toyota Prado and Isuzu MU-X diesels).

Still with Kia but on the Sorento PHEV front, the newly-announced S PHEV AWD from $70,880 represents another $15,000 saving over the previous least-expensive PHEV version, the GT-Line PHEV AWD (now from $86,790) that remains the range flagship.

Now undercutting the Mazda CX-80 P50e Touring PHEV AWD from $75,250, the S PHEV AWD is only beaten on price by the freshly-announced Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid PHEV AWD from $59,990, as well as its (albeit much cheaper though smaller and front-drive-only) Chery Tiggo Urban PHEV 2WD from $45,990 drive-away amongst large SUV seven-seaters.

Note, too, that both Sorento hybrid and PHEV varieties are also now available in the mid-tiered Sport/Sport+ grades, starting from $59,000/$63,930 and $73,500/$78,430 respectively.

Meanwhile, consumers searching for an electric people mover (or MPV multi-purpose vehicle) may also be around $15,000 better off this week, thanks to a massive price cut on what is already Australia’s least-expensive choice, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz Pro RWD (rear-drive) 7 Seater LWB (long wheelbase).

Formerly commencing from just over $100,000 drive-away in standard solid white (or nearly $3000 more for a colour and over $6000 extra for the more-iconic two-tone schemes that evoke the retro Kombi look, as pictured), the German EV is now $84,990 drive-away.

To put these price cuts into context, comparable (though somewhat larger) EV MPV rivals, like the LDV Mifa 9 and Zeekr 009 out of China kick off from $104,000 and $135,000 respectively, while the van-based Mercedes-Benz eVito Tourer starts from nearly $140,000.

If you don’t need three rows of seats, VW does also offer the ID.Buzz Pro RWD as a five-seater short-wheelbase proposition from $79,990 drive-away, which puts it within striking distance of many hybrid and PHEV-powered SUVs, though this is essentially an overgrown hatchback with exceptional levels of space inside and comes with a smaller battery pack (79kWh versus the LWB’s 86kWh) for slightly less range (422km versus 452km).

Keep in mind, too, that the newly-discounted VW people mover is currently set to last only until the last day of 2025 (or, as the company warns, until stocks last), whilst going for desirable options will push up prices significantly.