Some weeks we drive fast cars, other weeks we gasp at the big business moves from industry players. But this week we spent our time pouring over spreadsheets and making phone calls to find out the information that actually matters to you, the buyer.
Continuing our campaign to sniff out the real-world wait times on some of Australia’s most popular cars, we turned our attention to Subaru and Kia who gave us some honest and detailed answers.
Elsewhere in the car world, we delved into pricing on the 2022 Toyota RAV4 midsize SUV, Kia Sorento large SUV and even the highly anticipated Ineos Grenadier 4WD.
Subaru says owners should expect average wait times of between four to five months when buying a Forester
We also reviewed some important cars this week including the new-generation W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the unstoppable Toyota Land Cruiser 76 series wagon.
But there’s much more to cover so let’s get into the nitty-gritty.
Ford Everest revealed
After extensive teasing Ford finally unveiled the third-generation Everest this week, which is likely to go on sale in the Australian market around late July or early August.
The most significant change to this Ranger ute-based 4WD wagon is the addition of a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 with predicted outputs of 190kW and 600Nm.
The existing 2.0-litre twin-turbo-diesel four-cylinder will still be available, with both paired exclusively to a 10-speed automatic and a full-time four-wheel-drive system in Australia.
Ford unveiled the third-generation Everest with a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel under the bonnet
While the full Everest specification is yet to be revealed, Aussie buyers will be offered a choice of four grades with the Everest Ambiente opening the range, followed by the Trend, Sport and new Platinum grade.
The latter of those appears to be more plush than what we’ve come to expect from the last-generation Everest (and the Titanium it supersedes) and appears to be custom-made to snare buyers away from the Toyota Prado in top-spec Kakadu guise.
We have covered the Everest extensively this week and you can find all the information you need to know in the following article.
Kia EV6 reviewed
After a few scrappy years of innovation and experimentation, EVs seem to be improving at a rapid pace and the Kia EV6 is the latest great example of this trend.
The EV6 is coming to Australia in limited numbers for now but that will change over time, and this midsize SUV (of sorts) is shaping up to be a real delight, according to editor Tom Baker.
The EV6 is coming to Australia in limited numbers in 2022
Reviewing the EV6 GT-Line, Tom praised the entertaining RWD dynamics of the EV as well as it’s 350kW fast-charging ability and conservative energy use around town.
Less impressive is the lack of wireless smartphone charging and the quality of the Meridian audio system but in general Tom was very impressed with what the EV6 had to offer.
For more information, check out our full review in both written and video forms.
Toyota RAV4 prices increase
This week the Toyota RAV4 became the latest vehicle to see a price increase in response to the rising costs of making cars and shipping them to Australia.
All grades saw an increase of some kind, with the entry-level GX hit with a $100 bump, followed by the GXL (+$125), XSE (+$425), Cruiser (+$750) and Edge (+$380), despite no apparent changes in the equipment offered.
Toyota increased the price of the RAV4 across all grades
Chasing Cars reached out to Toyota Australia for clarity around the issue who explained they had “reluctantly” put up the price of the RAV4 and made it clear that any orders placed before 1 March, 2022, would be not affected.
“Toyota strives to avoid price changes beyond model updates and the introduction of new and expanded features; however, from time to time, such changes are made necessary by other factors that can include currency, shipping and manufacturing costs,” said the Toyota spokesperson.
All the cars and SUVs we reviewed this week:
We reviewed two Toyota Land Cruisers this week and we had a very different verdict on each.
First up was the Prado in top-spec Kakadu guise that journalist John Law said had preserved its reputation thanks to the series of tweaks made over the years that have kept this ’Cruiser fresh even 13 years on. For more, check out our review in either video or written form.
Sadly the same could not be said for the 76 Series Land Cruiser that deputy editor Nathan Ponchard said suffered from a juddering ride matched with uncomfortable seats, though it’s not without its charm.
Deputy editor Nathan Ponchard reviewed the 76 Series Land Cruiser
The launch of a new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is always a special thing and editor Tom Baker set out to determine if this new W206 generation is a return to form for the brand.
The Peugeot 3008 GT Sport plug-in hybrid is now available to buy in Australia and while it’s a very appealing buy on paper, the near $80,000 cost required is hard to swallow. So is it a deal-breaker? Read or watch our review to find out.
Mazda has updated the MX-5 with a nifty new braking system that is said to cut down on the convertible’s trademark body roll without ruining the experience for purists.
The Ineo Grenadier is set to arrive in Australia in July this year
Other car and SUV news we covered this week:
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Chasing Cars has put together a written version of the petrol vs electric Sydney to Melbourne race I spoke about last week, that delves into the details we weren’t able to cover in the video.
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Pricing for the Kia Sorento self-charging hybrid has been leaked via a dealer bulletin with a Toyota Kluger-beating starting price of $66,750 before on-road costs, despite being offered exclusively in the highly-equipped GT-Line grade.
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Buyers looking to snap up a new Subaru Outback wagon should expect an average wait time of two to three months according to Subaru Australia, but this can differ depending on the specification.
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And if you are looking at a Subaru Forester midsize SUV expect to wait longer again, with average delays of four to five months, though this too can vary depending on the grade and colour you choose.
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The Ineos Grenadier will go on sale in July this year with prices starting at $84,500 before on-road costs for a basic two-seat version.
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Chasing Cars spotted the Cupra Born EV hot hatch out in Sydney this week during a 10,000km evaluation test ahead of its release later this year.
