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As the dust settles on a very busy month that included the world’s biggest motor show in China, a number of important new models from across the board – and globe – have emerged.
These are also the next-wave cars, SUVs and four-wheel drives that prove Australia is at an electrification tipping point. Let’s check them out.
Look out, BYD Shark 6 – you’re in for some competition. Due next year to sit below the full-sized Patrol four-wheel drive, the Terrano is a medium-sized off-roader wagon based on the also-upcoming Frontier Pro ute, meaning tough body-on-frame construction that can take a beating.
But it’s still advanced, with plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) tech, as well as a likely diesel option. Sourced from China, pricing should be very competitive.
Slightly smaller than the acclaimed Kia EV3, the Ioniq 3 will target the MG 4 and other electric hatchbacks when it arrives early in 2027.
Expected to kick off from around $40,000, this stylish, Türkiye-made Korean EV will offer up to 500km of range, a roomy interior and sporty driving dynamics.
Ford Australia desperately needs a success beyond the Ranger ute/Everest SUV twins, and the Chinese-built Bronco PHEV could be it.
Arriving early next year, the retro-themed off-road looks actually hide a monocoque-bodied, on-road-focused urban family runabout, promising nearly 200km of EV-only range, strong performance and sub-$50,000 pricing. The target is the BYD Sealion 6.
Germany’s least-expensive EV hasn’t yet been confirmed for Australia, but given the Polo supermini’s enduring appeal, don’t rule it out.
Created to be “a true Volkswagen” by being capable, affordable and durable, the ID. Polo melds simplicity and practicality in a chic, dynamic and user-friendly package. Quality at reasonable cost. And the GTI version is meant to be a blast.
Value-brand Chery’s shamelessly Land Rover Defender-esque V27 is a chunky large SUV EV with a range-extender 1.5-litre turbo engine, allowing up to 200km of range and over 1000km combined.
Pencilled in for a second-quarter 2027 Australian launch, it offers both 2WD and off-road-ready four-wheel drive. Being a Chery, count on super-aggressive, circa-$60K pricing.
Set for release later next year, the fifth-gen X-Trail steps up against the freshly-redesigned Toyota RAV4 hybrid with far-more angular styling and a higher-quality interior, reflecting the upgraded mechanicals lurking underneath.
These include an evolved e-Power range-extender EV set-up, promising improved efficiency, as well as wider tracks for greater on-road ride and handling characteristics. Conventional petrol models will also arrive.
Can a Chinese brand break into the six-figure luxury sphere to take on Germany’s finest? GWM hopes so, with the $100K-plus Wey V9X under evaluation for Australia.
Opulent and spacious to the extreme, this 5.3-metre three-row 2.0-litre turbo PHEV SUV can offer over 350km of EV-only range, ultra-fast charging and more than enough muscle to keep up with up-spec Mercedes-Benz GLS grades – at nearly half the price.
Chery’s litany of sub-brands now includes Freelander, a joint-venture with Britain’s Land Rover, name-checking an almost-forgotten (but successful in Europe) mid-sized SUV that ran from 1997 to 2015.
The Freelander 8’s design references that vehicle, but is way larger, offering three rows of seating, whilst using an electrified Chery architecture with EV and EREV choices. Count on $70,000-plus pricing when the big SUV arrives by mid-2027.
The second-gen Atto 3 EV was unveiled in Beijing last month, and it will arrive in Australia sometime later this year or early in 2027.
But it may adopt the Atto 5 badge to reflect its larger sizing, increased sophistication and bigger battery, allowing for nearly 600km of range in the most-expensive version. And we hear the old model may sell alongside the newcomer with ‘value pricing’ as the Atto 3 Evo.
