Car news today: HiLux back on top and Tesla tanks for April sales, new electrics inbound for Volkswagen, and more – 05 May 2025
Lukas Foyle
Contributor
Thanks for joining us this Monday, May 05th 2025. Notably in car news today: latest VFacts sales figures show Toyota HLux back on top of sales while PHEVs and Tesla sales falter, Volkswagen bolsters its new ID4/ID5 electric twins line-up.
Toyota on top of the sales charts as Tesla and PHEVs see big sales dips
For the first time in almost two years, the once dominantToyota HiLux is back at the top of the Australian sales charts in April, according to the latest new-car VFacts sales data.
Toyota sold 4121 HiLuxes in April, just pipping arch rival Ford Ranger(4031 units) by a narrow margin. Toyota took out four of the top ten sales spots by sales volume, including third place (RAV4, 3808 units), fifth place (Prado, 2233 units) and eighth spot (Corolla, 1660 units). Ford also grabbed fourth place (Everest, 2234 units).
While sales of most of April’s top ten were down year-on-year since April 2024, the (unsurprising) big mover was Toyota Prado, its new generation helping the nameplate see a 12-month gain of a whopping 1200 percent upswing.
The big losers were Tesla, with a 76 percent drop year on year against a plummeting electric car landscape (down 44 percent YOY), while PHEVs also copped an expected strong downward swing (62 percent down) in tandem with the abolishment of Fringe Benefit Tax exemptions in March.
Aussies get more choice with two new Volkswagen EV variants
Volkswagen Australia will release the ID4 GTX and ID5 Pro to local markets, four years after their initial 2021 release in Europe. The two vehicles will be offered alongside their recently released sister-cars: the ID4 Pro and ID5 GTX.
The Volkswagen ID.4 GTX has a recommended retail price (RRP) of $69,990, and the ID.5 Pro is priced at $62,990 (RRP). Volkswagen claims the two vehicles will complement the pricing of its internal-combustion vehicles.
Powertrain offerings will be familiar to those following the ‘ID’ family. The ID4 GTX uses dual electric motors to produce 250kW, while the ID5 Pro uses a single rear-mounted electric motor to output 210kW. The two outputs mirror the ID5 GTX and ID4 Pro respectively.
In a similar bout of Deja-Vu, the ID5 Pro has a claimed range of 543km (WLTP), just 1km shy of the ID4 Pro. The ID4 GTX has a claimed range of 511km (WLTP), losing to its counterpart by an earth-shattering 11km.
Revised Mazda CX-60 punches above its weight class with new variants
Mazda Australia has released a 2025 update to its CX-60 premium SUV. Two new variants spearhead the launch, with new base-model Pure and value focused mid-spec Touring.
The CX-60 Pure is one of the cheapest premium SUVs on the market, with Mazda offering a limited-time drive-away (DA) price of $53,990, which is $6,810 cheaper than the once base model CX-60 Evolve.
Meanwhile, the mid-spec CX-60 Touring focuses on premium front passenger comfort, bringing black leather upholstery, heated and power adjustable front seats, and seat/mirror memory as standard equipment for a starting price of $58,240 (list).
The 2025 update to the CX-60 promises improvements to Mazda’s eight-speed automatic, a suspension overhaul with claims of a more comfortable and stable ride, and improved driver safety aids. Mazda has also rolled out major price restructuring affecting all CX-60 models.
Why 2026 could be a big year for the Leapmotor C10
Leapmotor first released the C10 to the Australian Market in November 2024. Now, plans have surfaced for the C10 to receive huge updates back in its Chinese home country… Will Australia see the same abundance of features next year?
The headlining event for the 2026 Leapmotor C10 update is an overhauled powertrain. The C10 gains a larger LFP battery, now 75kWh, which Leapmotor claims will bump range from 420km (WLTP) to 605km (CLTC). Leapmotor has also made the jump to 800V architecture, meaning greater electronic efficiency across the board.
The Leapmotor C10 will undoubtedly have a faster rapid-DC charge time thanks to its new 800V system, although an official figure is yet to be revealed. What has been revealed is a 50kW bump in power, meaning the C10 now produces 220kW and can sprint from 0-100km/h in a claimed 5.9 seconds.
Other improvements to the Leapmotor C10 include a 50W wireless phone charging, new LiDAR sensors, and a more responsive infotainment system. The C10 is currently available in Australian markets from $45,888 before on-roads. Leapmotor has not made an official comment on whether Australia will receive its revised C10 for 2026.
Chasing Cars founder Tom Baker’s comparison review of the 2025 Tesla Model Y and 2025 Volkswagen ID4was published, and highlights the marginal price difference between the two models, and a head-to-head interior comparison.
Baker investigated the real world range of both the Model Y and ID4, Testing both urban and highway environments in similar conditions. The ID4 was able to best the Model Y by a slim margin, with an urban range of 631km (545 for Model Y), and highway range of 490km (487 for Model Y).
On the road, Baker applauds the Model Y for excellent sound insulation, noting that overall cabin noise is quieter than in the ID4. He awards the ID4 with points for a better ride quality, crediting Volkswagen’s Dynamic Chassis Control system and 15-stage adjustable suspension dampers.
Both vehicles are extremely competitive in the midsize electric SUV market, with great refinement and competitive offerings. Baker notes that “(this is) the hardest comparison tests he has judged in over a decade”.
Want to know the verdict? Tom Baker’s comparison test is live on the Chasing Cars YouTube Channel
