This week on Chasing Cars: Hilux Rogue upgraded, Outlander PHEV detailed and new-gen Amarok unveiled

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Few things explode onto the market like a new ute in Australia and overnight the all-new Volkswagen Amarok did just that.

We’ve covered the launch of this new V6-powered premium ute across a huge range of articles which you can read about below, but with a new Amarok and Ford Ranger due by the year’s end you can bet it will be exciting.

In other news, we saw a bit of buzz around Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series orders being cancelled in Japan after the world’s largest car manufacturer admitted it quite simply couldn’t keep up with global demand – but luckily, Aussies don’t have to worry.

On the review side of the operation, we published our full thoughts on the new Porsche Taycan GTS and we put our a major update on our GWM Ute long termer after taking a huge trip through the outback. 

Toyota Hilux Rogue Upgraded

The much-loved Toyota Hilux Rogue is set for a major upgrade in the fourth quarter of this year with a wider track, uprated suspension and brakes as well as enhanced safety features all on the cards.

Toyota says all these updates will result in a “significant performance and capability upgrade” just how much impact they’ll really have remains to be seen.

At the same time, Toyota confirmed that a special off-road focused variant will be coming soon to replace Rugged X, which we think will be called the GR Sport.

With two new top-spec Hilux utes, Toyota will be prepared for an onslaught of new utes including the new Ford Ranger Wildtrak and Volkswagen Amarok in 2023.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV priced

The launch of a new hybrid midsize SUV in Australia always lands with the same impact as a bomb going off and that’s particularly true with its actually affordable like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, with a starting price of $54,590 before on-road costs. 

Available with seven seats and a total output of up to 185kW/450Nm and a driving range of up to 87km (WLTP) when just using the electric motors. 

A total of four grades are available, with the entry-level Outlander PHEV Es featuring cloth seats, a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto and a raft of active safety features.

Upper spec models receive quilted leather seats, 20-inch wheels, three-zone climate control and a nine-speaker Bose Premium sound system and cost up to $68,490 before on-road costs.

New Volkswagen Amarok unveiled

The second-generation Volkswagen Amarok has copped some flak for its co-development with the Ford Ranger but the end result looks to be far more than just a badge swap.

While they sit on the same platform and use the same engines, both were also developed in Australia and feature their own unique look, which is more than we can say for other utes developed under a sharing agreement in recent years.

Official Australian specs remain underwraps but we’ve read through the lines to provide you with an educated understanding of what you can expect down under.

Along with the main reveal, we’ve published separate articles on what engines and drivetrain the Amarok has, how much it’s likely to cost and the full story on its development in Australia.

All the cars and SUVs we reviewed this week:

Contributor and all-round terrific bloke Iain Curry tested the Porsche Taycan GTS in sedan guise this week and reckons the new variant has the best driving dynamics of any Taycan – just a shame you can’t get one locally in a wagon version. 

If what you need is a frugal yet smart seven-seat family car then we think the Kia Sorento hybrid should be on your shortlist as this large Korean SUV presents great value for money and a classy cabin that will be easy to live with every day. 

After driving it several thousand kilometres across outback Australia – and quite a lot around town – we shared our latest thoughts on our GWM Ute Cannon-X long-termer.

Other car and SUV news we covered this week:

• Despite Toyota Japan pausing future orders of the Land Cruiser 300 series due to overwhelming demand, the Australian arm has told Chasing Cars the situation remains unchanged here and we think it could sign good news for local buyers.

• This week my talented colleague Zak Adkins has put together a comprehensive guide on every car fitted with a six-cylinder engine and a V8 in Australia – and also if you should consider buying a new or a used car in the time of skyrocketing prices. 

• Kia Australia confirmed that it would be rising the price of the fully-electric EV6 midsize SUV by $4600, the entry-level Air grade now at $72,590 before on-road costs.

• Peugeot announced the initial specs of the inbound 308 and 308 SW wagon, which will arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year in a series of luxurious times and even a plug-in hybrid option. 

• Nissan Australia has confirmed the new Qashqai small SUV will start at $33,890 before on-road costs when it goes on sale in Australia in late 2022.

• The bigger and better-equipped Skoda Fabia will return to Australia this year in a single grade known as the Monte Carlo Edition 150. Priced at $37,990 driveaway it’s quite a bit more expensive than the old model but it also comes with a 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbo engine.