The cars discontinued in 2023 that we’ll miss the most
This year, a number of compelling vehicles exited the Australian market. You can read a full list of every vehicle discontinued during 2023 here, but there’s really not a dud among them. From affordable hatchbacks and family crossovers through to…
The CarExpert team’s predictions for 2024
We don’t have a crystal ball, but we follow the automotive industry closely. After all, it is our job. Consequently, we can see the direction car companies and markets are taking – though there’s always the opportunity for a surprise….
What to know when buying your first car
Buying your first car is a life-changing moment. It brings freedom and responsibility in equal amounts. It’s also a graduation from bicycles, scooters and public transport – and walking – and opens a path to new possibilities. Finding the right…
Australia’s largest car dealer group targeted by cyber attack
Eagers Automotive, Australia’s biggest automotive dealer group, has been struck by a cyber attack this week. As reported by GoAutoNews Premium, some of the dealer group’s IT systems appear to have been compromised by a cyber attack that affects both…
Podcast: Best and worst of 2023, plus what’s to come in 2024!
It’s the CarExpert Podcast Christmas Special! The guys are feeling very merry and dive into the wrap up of 2023 at CarExpert. Sean, Scott and James discuss their favourite cars of the year, the biggest disappointments, what to look forward…
2024 Skoda Octavia RS review
For decades the Skoda Octavia RS has been a favourite for practical car buyers who want something a bit sporty. WATCH: Paul’s video review of the MY21 Octavia RS It remains one of the most convincing options for a buyer…
BYD plug-in hybrid ute spied in Australia
A camouflaged prototype version of the forthcoming BYD ute has been spied on an Australian freeway ahead of its local launch in the second half of 2024. This as-yet unnamed BYD dual-cab ute prototype was captured and shared to the…
Genesis G80 update: Quieter, smoother sedan in Australia in 2024
Genesis has detailed the mechanical changes it has made to its G80 sedan, after revealing the updated model earlier in December. The updated Genesis G80 sedan will launch in Australia in mid-2024, and the Korean luxury brand says more details…
Updated Volkswagen Golf getting sharper look, bigger screens
The Golf is no longer Volkswagen’s best seller here or in Europe, but CEO Thomas Schäfer has teased an updated version as one of its key launches for 2024. In a video by the Volkswagen brand CEO, he said 2024…
2024 Porsche 718 Boxster review
The Porsche Boxster as we know it is on its last legs. Orders for the current 718 Boxster (and its Cayman coupe cousin) will close in the middle of 2024, and its replacement will be electric. Porsche has committed to…
The top five opinion pieces of 2023
Now while we don’t publish as many opinion pieces as we do car news or reviews here at CarExpert, this year we published many that got the attention of you, our loyal readers. Our opinion pieces are just that, opinion,…
2024 Mazda BT-50 SP Pro review
The current-generation Mazda BT-50 has been on sale locally for three years now; that’s long enough to see the dual-cab ute segment move on. WATCH: Paul’s video review of the BT-50 LE Based on the Isuzu D-Max, the BT-50 is…
The best cars the CarExpert team drove in 2023
2023 is coming to a close and it’s time to start reflecting on the year that has passed. The CarExpert editorial team have driven countless new cars during this year, ranging from small city hatchbacks to large pickups. The following…
2024 SsangYong Rexton Ultimate review
The SsangYong Rexton range has been updated for 2024 and beyond, and yes, it’s still called a SsangYong! WATCH: Paul’s video review of the MY22 Rexton Ultimate The Korean brand – that nation’s number-three seller behind Kia and Hyundai –…
The top five reviews of 2023
Just like that, 2023 is coming to a close! This year, there were plenty of major vehicle launches in Australia, and CarExpert published over 300 new car reviews. Here are the new car reviews you were most excited about this…
2024 Aston Martin DBX707 review
Pushing Aston Martin’s hugely powerful DBX707 at a proper nine-tenths through endless hairpins and back-to-back twisties high above the Sardinian coastline was proof that Aston’s ultra-luxury SUV was the new benchmark in performance and luxury in a crossover. In fact,…
The CarExpert team’s biggest disappointments in 2023
Another year is going, going, gone in the automotive world. That means it’s time to reflect on the good, bad, and ugly. Here are the stories, trends, and cars that most disappointed the CarExpert team in 2023. William Stopford The…
These are the states with double demerit points these holidays
You should drive responsibly all the time, but there’s another reason to be on your best behaviour on the roads during the holiday period: the double demerit points some states will be doling out. Below, we’ve included a guide to…
What electric car owners should do while driving these holidays
More and more Australians are purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) and with the holiday period approaching, many owners will be hitting the road – and there are a few things they should know. During the holiday season, it’s expected more electric…
What is novated leasing, and how does it work?
There are more ways to keep yourself in nice cars than paying outright or taking out a secured loan. One increasingly talked-about method is the novated lease. A novated lease is a three-way agreement between you, your employer, and a…
2024 Toyota RAV4 XSE Hybrid review
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is still hot property, but it’s becoming easier to get in Australia. Wait times for the electrified SUV hit between 18 and 24 months during the COVID pandemic, and are currently sitting at around 12 months…
Ford’s global boss hits the track in inaugural visit to Australia
The worldwide boss of Ford, Jim Farley, has made a rapid-fire pre-Christmas visit to Melbourne. It was his first trip to Australia since he became chief executive officer of the Ford Motor Company in October 2020. Mr Farley was accompanied…
2024 BYD Seal review | CarExpert
Rapidly growing Chinese carmaker BYD, which also makes electric buses and trains, has already told the Australian media it wants to be the number one car brand here by 2030. The car you see here, its latest flagship sedan called…
2025 Polestar 3 electric SUV pricing confirmed for Australia
The 2024 Polestar 3 hasn’t even reached Australia yet and already pricing and specifications have appeared online for the 2025 model. The information, published by industry guide Redbook, shows tweaked pricing for MY25 models due in June. The base Long…
2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed review
Like its Triton sibling, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport often loses the limelight to segment favourites – like the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X. That’s not because it’s a bad vehicle, far from it. It remains one of the more sharply-priced…
Podcast: Civic Type R, November VFACTS and win free fuel!
This week, the panel talks the latest VFACTS sales figures and how Australia is on track for an all-time record. Mitsubishi wins a case in the High Court and the question is raised, should we have access to more monitoring…
2024 Chery Omoda 5 review
In 2023 Chery returned to Australia after an absence of nine years with the Omoda 5 crossover, a rival to the likes of the strong-selling MG ZS and GWM Haval Jolion. I had the opportunity to drive the Omoda 5…
Maserati Ghibli 334 Ultima, Levante Ultima review: First drive
It’s the end of the road for the V8 engine at Maserati, and the company is sending it off in style with limited editions of the Ghibli sedan and the Levante SUV. The 2024 Ghibli 334 Ultima and the Levante…
Chery Australia thinks it can succeed with plug-in hybrids where others failed
China’s Chery has hit back at plug-in hybrid (PHEV) deniers, arguing other manufacturers haven’t given the drivetrain tech a proper shot at making it in Australia. Speaking with CarExpert, newly appointed managing director for Chery Australia, Lucas Harris, said that…
2024 Nissan Navara price and specs
The Nissan Navara ute range remains unchanged in terms of pricing and standard specification for the 2024 model year. The range opens at $33,050 before on-roads for the Navara SL 4×2 manual single-cab chassis, and extends to $70,765 before on-roads…
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI review
The new Volkswagen Golf GTI needs to meet some seriously high standards. Its parents, grandparents, and great grandparents are hot hatch royalty, and if you trace its family tree far enough you’ll find the car that arguably kickstarted the genre…
MG 5: Chinese brand details safety fixes for Australia
The MG 5 received one of the few zero-star ratings ever issued by safety authority ANCAP, but its maker is making changes to avoid a repeat performance. MG is deploying a range of fixes in 2024, both hardware and software,…
VW’s new electric Scout off-roaders to get their own platform
Ever since Volkswagen announced it was reviving Scout as an electric-only brand for pickups and SUVs, people have been wondering what platform the marque will use, and how it will meet its 2024 unveiling deadline. The brand’s CEO, Scott Keogh,…
UN climate summit calls on world to ‘transition away’ from fossil fuels
The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP28, is the first UN climate summit to call for a move away from fossil fuels – but some have argued it hasn’t gone far enough. Many nations, including the US…
2023 MG HS Plus EV Essence review
The MG HS Plus EV has become Australia’s top-selling plug-in hybrid in recent times, taking the crown from longtime PHEV leader, Mitsubishi. WATCH: Paul’s video review of the HS Plus EV Excite MG sold more than 1500 over the first…
Hyundai set to launch budget electric SUV in right-hand drive
Hyundai India is reportedly gearing up to offer a more affordable electric SUV in 2025 to rival vehicles like the MG ZS EV. According to Autocar India, the vehicle will be based on the internal-combustion Creta, Hyundai’s developing market small…
Renault begins selling off stake in Nissan
Renault will soon sell down its stake in Nissan, although it still retains — for now — a controlling interest in the Japanese firm. Starting on December 13, local time, Renault will sell 211 million Nissan shares back to the…
2024 Mini Countryman price and specs
Mini Australia has detailed the initial versions of the new-generation Countryman SUV ahead of its local launch in the first quarter of 2024. The 2024 Mini Countryman launch range will consist of the petrol-powered Countryman C and S. High-performance JCW,…
Podcast: New LandCruiser 70 Series, Ineos Grenadier driven and win FREE fuel!
Scott returns to the Podcast to tell Sean and James all about the new Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series; James fills us in on his off-road test of the new Ineos Grenadier; and the guys chat about Ford slashing the price…
Australian farmers show electric cars can work in the middle of nowhere
Buying a small electric car mightn’t be the obvious choice for farmers in regional Australia, but that’s just what one Western Australia couple has done. Jeffrey Johnson and his partner Kirsti run a 1750-acre property and own a MG ZS…
2024 Ford Everest review | CarExpert
The current-generation Ford Everest body-on-frame SUV has been on sale in Australia for well over 12 months now, and there’s still plenty of demand for the V6 turbo-diesel variants. There is also a wide range of Everests with the four-cylinder…
Can’t wait for a Nissan Qashqai? Have you considered…
The recently redesigned Nissan Qashqai occupies a sweet spot in the Japanese brand’s range. It’s larger and more refined than the Juke, without being quite as large as the X-Trail. It’s technically a small SUV, but it’s on the larger…
Q&A with Paul Harris, managing director for McLaren Asia Pacific and China
After attending the global launch of the new McLaren 750S, we sat down with the brand’s managing director for Asia Pacific and China at its Sydney reveal, Paul Harris. “The 750S really has taken McLaren to a completely new level,”…
The sorry state of New South Wales’ road network revealed
Testing conducted by Australia’s road assessment program shows less than 0.3 per cent of roads in New South Wales have the highest rating for safety. More than 15 per cent of the roads tested in the state received a one-star…
2024 Mitsubishi Triton review: First drive
It’s one of the most important new models for Mitsubishi – the all-new Triton. We’ve finally had our first chance to get behind the wheel of the new Triton at an off-road setting in regional South Australia – it’s also…
MG set to bring RAV4-sized electric SUV to Australia
MG’s next-generation Marvel R mid-sized electric SUV is looking likely for Australia. Autocar reports the new range-topper will go on sale in the UK in 2025. Images of a new MG SUV have appeared on the European Intellectual Property Office…
2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series review: Automatic four-cylinder driven
Toyota has finally gone and done it. LandCruiser 70 GXL Wagon The Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series has seldom been offered with an automatic from the factory (it has happened before though), and it’s been a V8 in Australia since 2007….
Toyota once built an 86 Shooting Brake
Toyota in the US has detailed a number of different concept cars from its Calty Design Research team that were never shown to the public and never reached production. One of the most notable is the so-called X86D concept, essentially…
2024 Suzuki Jimny XL review
The Suzuki Jimny XL takes what has been a cult classic and makes it practical with the addition of two doors, more legroom in the second row, and new infotainment technology. Nonetheless, it carries the same naturally aspirated engine as…
Mercedes-AMG G63 getting sports car suspension tech – report
Mercedes-AMG is reportedly giving the blocky G63 greater performance both on and off road through the introduction of new suspension technology. Autoblog reports the Mercedes-AMG G63 will feature optional hydraulic semi-active roll-control suspension for the 2025 model year. Mercedes-AMG debuted…
Ford Ranger v Toyota HiLux: Which will be 2023 sales champion?
The venerable Toyota HiLux ute has been Australia’s top-selling vehicle for seven years in a row and is the leader with one month left in 2023. But it has a serious challenge on its hands to keep the crown, with…
Alpha dog? GWM’s more premium Ranger rival could get new name in Australia
Great Wall Motor has successfully filed a trademark application for the name “Cannon Alpha”, which could be used on its upcoming, more premium ute Down Under. The filing was made under Class 12 for “Vehicles for locomotion by land, air,…
2024 Lexus UX 300e review
Lexus has given its first electric car in Australia, the UX300e, a significant overhaul. Rather than a normal nip-and-tuck, it’s fitted a new battery pack that helps extend the claimed range by more than 100km in a bid to make…
Tesla Cybertruck accessories include pop-up tent, light bar
The first few customer deliveries of the long-awaited Tesla Cybertruck electric ute have taken place in North America, with the company also detailing the initial range of optional accessories that will be available. At this stage Tesla hasn’t detailed any…
2024 SsangYong Musso XLV review
The SsangYong Musso has been a surprise success story for the Korean brand in 2023, with record sales and a revamped model range sure to keep the momentum going. This is the newly added Adventure model in the line-up, which…
Volkswagen Amarok: Australian supply improving
The second-generation Volkswagen Amarok got off to a bit of a slow start, hindered by supply issues, but it’s turning over a new leaf. Volkswagen expects supply issues out of the South African plant to be resolved during the first…
Every new Volkswagen coming to Australia in 2024 and beyond
2024 will be a milestone year for Volkswagen in Australia as it finally launches its first electric vehicles (EVs). Four new EVs are due during the year, while Volkswagen has also confirmed the ID.2 electric hatchback for our market –…