Car news, 27th February ’25: How GWM will beat BYD Shark 6, Golf pricing locked in, BYD targets Hyundai Santa Fe and the new cheapest electric SUV

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Thanks for joining us on February 27th. Chinese brand BYD has outlined why its plug-in hybrid ute will be a hit, Australia has a new cheapest EV (for now…), new Golf pricing and BYD mulls Kluger killer. 

Browse this issue:

• Why GWM’s plug-in ute will beat the BYD Shark 6
• Volkswagen’s updated small car icon priced for Australia
• Hyundai Santa Fe rival on BYD’s radar as it plans to double sales
• Australia’s new cheapest electric SUV… for now
• GWM Cannon 2025 reviewed

Why GWM’s plug-in ute will beat the BYD Shark 6

• Top brass at BYD claims its Hi4T all-wheel-drive system fitted to the Cannon Alpha plug-in hybrid is superior to the BYD Shark for off-road capability and towing, thanks to physically locking differentials.

• With impressive outputs of 300kW and 750Nm along with 110km EV-only driving range, the Cannon Alpha plug-in hybrid will go on sale in Australia in April from $63,990 drive-away. Comparison coming? You bet. 

Volkswagen’s updated small car icon priced for Australia

• The Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf range has been priced for Australia with a three-strong core range from $38,690 for the new entry-level Life. The next trim up is the Style at $43,690 and the R-Line remains the non-performance flagship for $47,990, all before on-road costs. 

• Next up its the fast ones, with the revised and punchier 195kW GTI hot hatch priced from $58,990, while the flagship AWD R also gets a power boost to 245kW for $70,990. 

• All Golfs benefit from revised suspension tuning, fresher technology inside and a streamlined set of options packs. 

Hyundai Santa Fe rival on BYD’s radar as it plans to double sales

• BYD is serious about rapid expansion, with plans to souble sales again in 2025. How will it achieve this? More and more relevant product. 

•  “Whatever is available in China we need to bring to Australia – we need to fill out [BYD’s] product portfolio because we don’t have enough product… We need to make sure we have a full product portfolio,” said EVDirect CEO David Smitherman.

• Following the cut-price Atto 2 and luxury expansion with new Denza brand, a three-row family SUV is next on Smitherman’s radar as a rival to the Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Santa Fe. 

Australia’s new cheapest electric SUV… for now

• For cheeky bragging rights, MG has slashed $14,000 from the price of the current ZS EV, making it $36,888 drive-away — a mere $102 of dollars below the Chery Omoda E5. 

• MG has cut the retail price to clear existing stock of the ZS EV ahead of its S5 replacement that’s related to the MG4 hatchback. 

GWM Cannon 2025 reviewed

• Production specialist Tom Place published his review of the facelifted GWM Cannon, reflecting on recently updates that has sought to improve the overall appeal of this budget ute.

• Tom praised the Cannon’s strong value proposition, shift to a gruntier 2.4L turbo-diesel engine and the bolstered towing capacity that now caps the limit at 3.5-tonnes

• However he raised concerns with the general ride and refinement and some build quality issues of the ute.

• Ultimatley Tom found that the Cannon was still good value for the price and ute owners would do well to test drive the Chinese ute before looking at more expensive options.