Car news, 13 December ’24: Suzuki Swift hit with one star ANCAP safety rating, Toyota’s next electric car unveiled for Europe, and more

The new Suzuki Swift boasts big gains in refinement over the previous model, is impressively efficient and is a staunch reminder of how good small cars It’s impressively efficient and light weight, but is Suzuki’s new Swift Hybrid good enough to out-gun the best-selling and newly revised MG3?

There are some real oddities in the new-car market. It’s well established that mid-size family SUVs do well, as it is true that affordable small cars have Plucky 4WD gets more safety and equipment but does that make it a more compelling buy at new-found price?

“New” is an interpretive label, particularly when officially applied to 2026’s ‘New’ Vitara Hybrid – or Vitara Turbo Hybrid, depending on your Suzuki A power drop and a price hike complement the debut of hybrid drive in the now 11-year-young Vitara

With Suzuki’s local line-up slowly frittering away after Australian Design Rules halted import of key models - Jimny three-door, S Cross, Vitara, Swift Indian-sourced compact crossover brings funky styling to Suzuki’s local line-up, but it comes up short in a number of key areas

Could Suzuki’s S-Cross possibly be the most high-achieving small SUV offered to Australia buyers in the past decade? Possibly (if perhaps not probably). Is the most expensive model variant in Suzuki’s Aussie line-up the hidden gem of its importer’s range? And why isn’t the S-Cross more popular?

Whenever I’m in a Suzuki Jimny, tradition dictates I select Sheryl Crow’s My Favorite Mistake from my playlist. Not because I’m particularly a fan of the More practical and now with two extra doors, is the Suzuki Jimny XL a viable family 4x4 SUV? We throw the kids in and give it the week-long test

The five-door version brings newfound practicality to the Jimny nameplate. But in doing so, has it lost its core charms?

The Suzuki Ignis is a thrifty way to get around town, but does the tiny SUV live up to the claim as being all the car you’ll ever need?

Click the video above to watch our video review of the 2014 Suzuki S-Cross.

We've finally driven the all-new, fifth-generation Mitsubishi Pajero on Australian soil – literally! – in this first taste of what it's like off-road from behind the wheel of a range-topping GSR.

Ferrari has finally brought back the iconic gated manual gearbox. Except it hasn’t – not quite. The 12Cilindri Manuale is the first three-pedal Ferrari in The gated shifter and clutch pedal are back at Ferrari – but the conventional manual hasn’t made a full return. The distinction matters, but not as much as you’d think

Leapmotor has struggled to make its mark in a market swamped by affordable Chinese electric vehicles. At a time when rivals are experiencing explosive With lots of tech and a pricepoint to turn heads, is the new BO5 hatchback the car to firmly put China's Leapmotor on the map in a crowded EV market?

Swedish-branded, Chinese-built hyper GT is huge on style, manic in pace and reasonably priced. But can it seduce with enough charisma to find Aussie buyers?

Kia’s petrol-powered K4 hatch appears to be fighting a losing battle against the wave of sharply priced small Chinese EVs. But for the purists, there’s still plenty to like

Volvo puts itself in the key midsize electric luxury SUV buyers’ conversation with first electric equivalent of its best-seller

On the July morning that our newest long termer, the 2026 RAV4 GXL AWD, landed in the Chasing Cars garage, Toyota’s medium SUV was about to celebrate its Australia’s most popular SUV, in desirable yet affordable GXL trim, has rolled into the Chasing Cars garage for a proper long-term test. Can it live up to the hype?

Thanks for joining us this Thursday 10 October 2024. Notably in car news today: Volkswagen unveils its latest SUV, the Tayron, and Tesla debuts itsIn car news: VW unveils Tayron SUV, and Tesla debuts new longer-range Model 3.

Suzuki Australia has announced local pricing and specifications for its redesigned Swift small car, with the cheapest variant priced under $25K. Suzuki will launch its next Swift in Australia starting from $24,490 driveaway

Suzuki has confirmed its new-generation Swift will come to Australia in 2024. The fourth generation was previously unveiled at the Tokyo Mobility Suzuki’s top-selling car in Australia will debut a new generation on local roads next year.

After several teasers of what looked like a production-ready ‘concept’, the next-generation 2024 Suzuki Swift has finally been revealed in production Suzuki has finally unveiled its next generation small car which debuts a new-generation ‘hybrid’ engine and could soon come to Australia.

Pricing for the pint-sized BYD Atto 1 electric vehicle has come in about $1000 lower than expected, with a list price of $23,990 plus on-road costs Modest power output and battery size help BYD achieve low price for base model, while gruntier, rangier up-spec grade demands a further $4000

Suzuki has pulled the covers off its next-generation Suzuki Swift small car, although they are still calling it a ‘concept’. The small hatchback was The brand has physically revealed what to expect of its next generation small hatchback.

Set for official reveal at the Japan Mobility Show later this month, Suzuki has released an image previewing the next-generation of the Swift small The fourth-generation of the Suzuki Swift small hatchback has been previewed in ‘concept’ form ahead of its official reveal

A mild hybrid electric system could reduce emissions and boost performance in Suzuki’s much loved warm hatch

Suzuki is rumoured to be unveiling a next-generation Swift in 2022 that will increase the current performance and safety on offer.

Two of Australia’s cheapest compact cars gain much-needed safety improvements

Thanks for joining us this Friday, February 7th 2025. Notably in car news today: Jimny three-door and other Suzuki models retired due to ADR regulations, Notably in car news today: Jimny three-door and other Suzuki models retired due to ADR regulations, Nissan looking for new suitors as Honda merger deal falters, and more.

Suzuki Australia has teased pictures of a toughened up Jimny variant before it goes on-sale

Renault has declared its interest to build a Suzuki Jimny-rivalling compact off-roader, which will be known as the Bridger. Detailed alongside Renault’s Bridger Concept car developed by Renault should be in production by the end of 2027, with a choice of electric, hybrid, or petrol drivetrains

In car news: Pricing and specifications have surfaced for Hyundai’s facelifted 2025 Tucson midsize SUV range, and Audi’s full Q4 E-tron lineup revealed for Australia.

Rising fuel prices and a higher cost of living has made running a vehicle in Australia difficult for a lot of people. And while there are Chasing Cars takes a look which cars, other than hybrid or full electric, are the most fuel efficient

We take a look at the cheapest new cars available on the Australian market and how much they will cost to run.