
EOFY $2000 cashback on Peugeot 3008 Hybrid Fastback
The incentive applies across the 3008 Hybrid Fastback range, which includes two model grades – Allure and Premium – starting at $52,990 before on-road costs and before the cashback offer.
The broader 3008 lineup is the brand's best-selling passenger vehicle in Australia – with the Peugeot Partner van its overall leader –although sales across the range have been down almost 25 per cent in the first five months of the year.
The third-generation 3008 Hybrid Fastback was launched in late 2024 and despite the name, isn't a full hybrid but instead uses a 48V mild-hybrid powertrain (MHEV).
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
This means a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor built into the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which can help the 3008 start, drive at low speed and coast to save fuel.
It gives the 3008 Hybrid in either Allure or Premium model grades a claimed combined fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km – not bad for a five-seat SUV the same size as a Toyota RAV4 or Mazda CX-5.
The Allure comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, 'Orbital' black door mirrors and Peugeot 'Signature' LED tail lights.
Obsession Blue exterior paint is a no-cost option but any of the other five colours will add $690 to the price.
Standard interior equipment includes keyless entry, leather-and-fabric combination seats, a leather-wrap steering wheel and digital instrument cluster.
Part of the edgy cabin design is the standard 21-inch curved infotainment touchscreen, while there's also dual-zone air-conditioning and rain-sensing wipers for the acoustic windscreen.
Wireless smartphone charging is fitted on both model grades, as is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The 3008 GT Premium is a considerable $12,000 more than the Allure, priced at $64,990 before on-road costs and the $2000 cashback offer.
For the extra cash, the GT Premium gets a black-painted contrasting roof and rear spoiler, 'Pixel' LED headlights and 'Claw Effect' LED tail lights.
Inside, there's Nappa leather seat upholstery with the driver's seat adding 10-way electric adjustment and memory function, while both front passengers score extendable seat cushions, seat heating and cooling as well as a massaging function.
The driver gets a full leather-wrap steering wheel – with Lane Centering added to the driver assistance suite – while there's touch-sensitive LED interior lighting, too.
Rear passengers don't miss out, with heated outside rear seats, back-seat armrests and a panoramic roof stretching to the second row, while a hands-free tailgate is also standard on the 3008 GT Premium.
Safety tech across both model grades includes AEB, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and rear-cross traffic alert, with a surround view camera also standard.
The 3008 comes with Peugeot's five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with capped price serving costing $1890 for up to five years.
MORE: Everything Peugeot 3008
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
French automaker Peugeot is offering $2000 cashback on its 3008 Hybrid Fastback until June 30, 2025.
The incentive applies across the 3008 Hybrid Fastback range, which includes two model grades – Allure and Premium – starting at $52,990 before on-road costs and before the cashback offer.
The broader 3008 lineup is the brand's best-selling passenger vehicle in Australia – with the Peugeot Partner van its overall leader –although sales across the range have been down almost 25 per cent in the first five months of the year.
The third-generation 3008 Hybrid Fastback was launched in late 2024 and despite the name, isn't a full hybrid but instead uses a 48V mild-hybrid powertrain (MHEV).
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
This means a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor built into the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which can help the 3008 start, drive at low speed and coast to save fuel.
It gives the 3008 Hybrid in either Allure or Premium model grades a claimed combined fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km – not bad for a five-seat SUV the same size as a Toyota RAV4 or Mazda CX-5.
The Allure comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, 'Orbital' black door mirrors and Peugeot 'Signature' LED tail lights.
Obsession Blue exterior paint is a no-cost option but any of the other five colours will add $690 to the price.
Standard interior equipment includes keyless entry, leather-and-fabric combination seats, a leather-wrap steering wheel and digital instrument cluster.
Part of the edgy cabin design is the standard 21-inch curved infotainment touchscreen, while there's also dual-zone air-conditioning and rain-sensing wipers for the acoustic windscreen.
Wireless smartphone charging is fitted on both model grades, as is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The 3008 GT Premium is a considerable $12,000 more than the Allure, priced at $64,990 before on-road costs and the $2000 cashback offer.
For the extra cash, the GT Premium gets a black-painted contrasting roof and rear spoiler, 'Pixel' LED headlights and 'Claw Effect' LED tail lights.
Inside, there's Nappa leather seat upholstery with the driver's seat adding 10-way electric adjustment and memory function, while both front passengers score extendable seat cushions, seat heating and cooling as well as a massaging function.
The driver gets a full leather-wrap steering wheel – with Lane Centering added to the driver assistance suite – while there's touch-sensitive LED interior lighting, too.
Rear passengers don't miss out, with heated outside rear seats, back-seat armrests and a panoramic roof stretching to the second row, while a hands-free tailgate is also standard on the 3008 GT Premium.
Safety tech across both model grades includes AEB, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and rear-cross traffic alert, with a surround view camera also standard.
The 3008 comes with Peugeot's five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with capped price serving costing $1890 for up to five years.
MORE: Everything Peugeot 3008
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
French automaker Peugeot is offering $2000 cashback on its 3008 Hybrid Fastback until June 30, 2025.
The incentive applies across the 3008 Hybrid Fastback range, which includes two model grades – Allure and Premium – starting at $52,990 before on-road costs and before the cashback offer.
The broader 3008 lineup is the brand's best-selling passenger vehicle in Australia – with the Peugeot Partner van its overall leader –although sales across the range have been down almost 25 per cent in the first five months of the year.
The third-generation 3008 Hybrid Fastback was launched in late 2024 and despite the name, isn't a full hybrid but instead uses a 48V mild-hybrid powertrain (MHEV).
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
This means a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor built into the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which can help the 3008 start, drive at low speed and coast to save fuel.
It gives the 3008 Hybrid in either Allure or Premium model grades a claimed combined fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km – not bad for a five-seat SUV the same size as a Toyota RAV4 or Mazda CX-5.
The Allure comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, 'Orbital' black door mirrors and Peugeot 'Signature' LED tail lights.
Obsession Blue exterior paint is a no-cost option but any of the other five colours will add $690 to the price.
Standard interior equipment includes keyless entry, leather-and-fabric combination seats, a leather-wrap steering wheel and digital instrument cluster.
Part of the edgy cabin design is the standard 21-inch curved infotainment touchscreen, while there's also dual-zone air-conditioning and rain-sensing wipers for the acoustic windscreen.
Wireless smartphone charging is fitted on both model grades, as is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The 3008 GT Premium is a considerable $12,000 more than the Allure, priced at $64,990 before on-road costs and the $2000 cashback offer.
For the extra cash, the GT Premium gets a black-painted contrasting roof and rear spoiler, 'Pixel' LED headlights and 'Claw Effect' LED tail lights.
Inside, there's Nappa leather seat upholstery with the driver's seat adding 10-way electric adjustment and memory function, while both front passengers score extendable seat cushions, seat heating and cooling as well as a massaging function.
The driver gets a full leather-wrap steering wheel – with Lane Centering added to the driver assistance suite – while there's touch-sensitive LED interior lighting, too.
Rear passengers don't miss out, with heated outside rear seats, back-seat armrests and a panoramic roof stretching to the second row, while a hands-free tailgate is also standard on the 3008 GT Premium.
Safety tech across both model grades includes AEB, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and rear-cross traffic alert, with a surround view camera also standard.
The 3008 comes with Peugeot's five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with capped price serving costing $1890 for up to five years.
MORE: Everything Peugeot 3008
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
French automaker Peugeot is offering $2000 cashback on its 3008 Hybrid Fastback until June 30, 2025.
The incentive applies across the 3008 Hybrid Fastback range, which includes two model grades – Allure and Premium – starting at $52,990 before on-road costs and before the cashback offer.
The broader 3008 lineup is the brand's best-selling passenger vehicle in Australia – with the Peugeot Partner van its overall leader –although sales across the range have been down almost 25 per cent in the first five months of the year.
The third-generation 3008 Hybrid Fastback was launched in late 2024 and despite the name, isn't a full hybrid but instead uses a 48V mild-hybrid powertrain (MHEV).
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
This means a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor built into the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which can help the 3008 start, drive at low speed and coast to save fuel.
It gives the 3008 Hybrid in either Allure or Premium model grades a claimed combined fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km – not bad for a five-seat SUV the same size as a Toyota RAV4 or Mazda CX-5.
The Allure comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, 'Orbital' black door mirrors and Peugeot 'Signature' LED tail lights.
Obsession Blue exterior paint is a no-cost option but any of the other five colours will add $690 to the price.
Standard interior equipment includes keyless entry, leather-and-fabric combination seats, a leather-wrap steering wheel and digital instrument cluster.
Part of the edgy cabin design is the standard 21-inch curved infotainment touchscreen, while there's also dual-zone air-conditioning and rain-sensing wipers for the acoustic windscreen.
Wireless smartphone charging is fitted on both model grades, as is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The 3008 GT Premium is a considerable $12,000 more than the Allure, priced at $64,990 before on-road costs and the $2000 cashback offer.
For the extra cash, the GT Premium gets a black-painted contrasting roof and rear spoiler, 'Pixel' LED headlights and 'Claw Effect' LED tail lights.
Inside, there's Nappa leather seat upholstery with the driver's seat adding 10-way electric adjustment and memory function, while both front passengers score extendable seat cushions, seat heating and cooling as well as a massaging function.
The driver gets a full leather-wrap steering wheel – with Lane Centering added to the driver assistance suite – while there's touch-sensitive LED interior lighting, too.
Rear passengers don't miss out, with heated outside rear seats, back-seat armrests and a panoramic roof stretching to the second row, while a hands-free tailgate is also standard on the 3008 GT Premium.
Safety tech across both model grades includes AEB, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and rear-cross traffic alert, with a surround view camera also standard.
The 3008 comes with Peugeot's five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with capped price serving costing $1890 for up to five years.
MORE: Everything Peugeot 3008
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
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ABOVE: Suzuki Swace Hybrid (left) and Suzuki Across PHEV "Our entire product platform going into 2026 will be a hybrid base. We've got Swift Hybrid, Fronx Hybrid, we'll have Vitara Hybrid outside of, for example, the outgoing products that we still may have for sale, like Ignis and Swift Sport, if we still have remaining stock of that, which our dealers will still sell. "Jimny at this stage is not a hybrid, and we don't know if it ever will be. But with that said, Jimny will continue in its current form, and then we'll start introducing more E-vehicles as well." Suzuki's lineup is in flux at the moment. Imports of the S-Cross, Vitara, and Jimny three-door ended earlier this year due to a new Australian Design Rule (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems. 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The company's general manager, Michael Pachota, says Suzuki Australia's "electrification journey is starting", just as the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) begins to fine auto brands which fail to meet tightening CO2 limits across their model ranges from July 1, 2025. "We accelerated that journey as well. So Suzuki Motor Corporation kindly gave us the opportunity to bring in an E-vehicle sooner rather than later based on, obviously, pressures around emissions controls and stuff like that," he told CarExpert. "I think as you can see with the current sales growth in all those areas where there's mild, strong, plug-in [hybrids] or even EVs, I think there's an opportunity for evolution in the Australian market. "I think hybrid itself is the shift. That's where it's going to go. I think in the next decade, you're going to see a complete shift from [internal combustion] engines to hybrid powertrains and a slightly larger percentage of EV sales." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The first model released by Suzuki Australia with hybrid badging was the Swift Hybrid launched in June 2024, which features a 12-volt mild-hybrid system. A similar 12V system now also features in the Fronx Hybrid light SUV launched last month. Unlike more traditional hybrids from brands like Toyota, these mild-hybrid models don't have an electric motor that can drive the vehicle's wheels alone. Suzuki Australia has also confirmed a Vitara Hybrid will launch here early in 2026 alongside the all-electric eVitara, though it hasn't confirmed whether the Vitara Hybrid bound for Australia is a mild-hybrid like its smaller siblings, or a more conventional hybrid. Both powertrain types are offered in the Vitara overseas. Perhaps wisely, the company's stance doesn't appear to dismiss the importance of EVs, nor the Australian appetite for them. Indeed, Mr Pachota suggests EV sales will grow, albeit more slowly than what he expects with hybrids. This is in contrast to recent comments made by Paul Dillon, the general manager of Suzuki's independent importer for Queensland and northern New South Wales, who asked: "whilst the government wants everybody to have them [EVs], does everybody want to have one?". "I just don't think the Australian market wants them [EVs]," Mr Dillon told CarExpert, arguing that EVs and emissions in general are "not a big concern for people in Australia, otherwise the number one selling car in Australia wouldn't be a three-tonne 4×4 pickup". Suzuki Queensland still intends to sell the eVitara, though it cites a lack of enthusiasm from dealers. Even so, the Suzuki brand as a whole has been slower to embrace EVs and hybrids than many other brands, evidenced by the long wait for its first EV. Globally, the company offers a handful of conventional hybrids including the aforementioned Vitara, the Europe-only Swace (a rebadged Toyota Corolla Touring Sports wagon), and the India-only Grand Vitara, which Toyota rebadges as the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The brand also offers a PHEV in Europe, the Across, which is a rebadged Toyota RAV4. None of these models are expected to make their way to Australia, but Mr Pachota maintains that Suzuki's local electrification strategy will continue, especially in the context of NVES regulations. "We need to make sure that we establish ourselves in that area to be a sustainable business, and it doesn't end there. The product portfolio will grow and evolve as we go on to the next three to five years," he told CarExpert. ABOVE: Suzuki Swace Hybrid (left) and Suzuki Across PHEV "Our entire product platform going into 2026 will be a hybrid base. We've got Swift Hybrid, Fronx Hybrid, we'll have Vitara Hybrid outside of, for example, the outgoing products that we still may have for sale, like Ignis and Swift Sport, if we still have remaining stock of that, which our dealers will still sell. "Jimny at this stage is not a hybrid, and we don't know if it ever will be. But with that said, Jimny will continue in its current form, and then we'll start introducing more E-vehicles as well." Suzuki's lineup is in flux at the moment. Imports of the S-Cross, Vitara, and Jimny three-door ended earlier this year due to a new Australian Design Rule (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems. The Vitara will be reborn early next year with compliant AEB and electrification, as mentioned, while the Jimny is getting a safety update in early 2026 that will also see it meet the new regulations. Only the S-Cross and Ignis nameplates seem to have met their end locally, though the Fronx Hybrid is intended to at least partially fill the void left by the latter. No information has been revealed about future hybrids or EVs to bolster the brand's electrified lineup. It's worth noting that Suzuki's slow approach to EVs isn't new, and Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki has previously claimed that an EV version of the Jimny would "ruin the best part" of the car. The Jimny is Suzuki Australia's best-selling model by far, more than doubling the sales of the second-placed Swift so far this year. In any case, Mr Pachota says Suzuki Australia will be focusing on its rollout of hybrid vehicles, even if they are mild-hybrids. At the same time, he claims the brand is "very prepared" to "adapt and evolve" to the NVES. "I definitely see [hybrid] as a shift. In Japan, we already offer mild- and strong-hybrid vehicles. We're about to introduce a fully electric vehicle, which is our first fully electric vehicle, eVitara, and it doesn't end there," he told CarExpert. "So I definitely see that space growing. Hybrid's definitely a focus point for us." MORE: Australia isn't ready for EVs, says Suzuki distributor boss MORE: Suzuki Vitara electric, hybrid SUVs locked in for Australia MORE: Suzuki Jimny EV 'would ruin' pint-sized 4×4 – executive MORE: Everything Suzuki Content originally sourced from: As Suzuki Australia gears up to launch its first-ever electric vehicle (EV) in 2026, the brand's local boss says hybrids will continue to dominate over EVs in the coming years. The company's general manager, Michael Pachota, says Suzuki Australia's "electrification journey is starting", just as the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) begins to fine auto brands which fail to meet tightening CO2 limits across their model ranges from July 1, 2025. "We accelerated that journey as well. So Suzuki Motor Corporation kindly gave us the opportunity to bring in an E-vehicle sooner rather than later based on, obviously, pressures around emissions controls and stuff like that," he told CarExpert. "I think as you can see with the current sales growth in all those areas where there's mild, strong, plug-in [hybrids] or even EVs, I think there's an opportunity for evolution in the Australian market. "I think hybrid itself is the shift. That's where it's going to go. I think in the next decade, you're going to see a complete shift from [internal combustion] engines to hybrid powertrains and a slightly larger percentage of EV sales." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The first model released by Suzuki Australia with hybrid badging was the Swift Hybrid launched in June 2024, which features a 12-volt mild-hybrid system. A similar 12V system now also features in the Fronx Hybrid light SUV launched last month. Unlike more traditional hybrids from brands like Toyota, these mild-hybrid models don't have an electric motor that can drive the vehicle's wheels alone. Suzuki Australia has also confirmed a Vitara Hybrid will launch here early in 2026 alongside the all-electric eVitara, though it hasn't confirmed whether the Vitara Hybrid bound for Australia is a mild-hybrid like its smaller siblings, or a more conventional hybrid. Both powertrain types are offered in the Vitara overseas. Perhaps wisely, the company's stance doesn't appear to dismiss the importance of EVs, nor the Australian appetite for them. Indeed, Mr Pachota suggests EV sales will grow, albeit more slowly than what he expects with hybrids. This is in contrast to recent comments made by Paul Dillon, the general manager of Suzuki's independent importer for Queensland and northern New South Wales, who asked: "whilst the government wants everybody to have them [EVs], does everybody want to have one?". "I just don't think the Australian market wants them [EVs]," Mr Dillon told CarExpert, arguing that EVs and emissions in general are "not a big concern for people in Australia, otherwise the number one selling car in Australia wouldn't be a three-tonne 4×4 pickup". Suzuki Queensland still intends to sell the eVitara, though it cites a lack of enthusiasm from dealers. Even so, the Suzuki brand as a whole has been slower to embrace EVs and hybrids than many other brands, evidenced by the long wait for its first EV. Globally, the company offers a handful of conventional hybrids including the aforementioned Vitara, the Europe-only Swace (a rebadged Toyota Corolla Touring Sports wagon), and the India-only Grand Vitara, which Toyota rebadges as the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The brand also offers a PHEV in Europe, the Across, which is a rebadged Toyota RAV4. None of these models are expected to make their way to Australia, but Mr Pachota maintains that Suzuki's local electrification strategy will continue, especially in the context of NVES regulations. "We need to make sure that we establish ourselves in that area to be a sustainable business, and it doesn't end there. The product portfolio will grow and evolve as we go on to the next three to five years," he told CarExpert. ABOVE: Suzuki Swace Hybrid (left) and Suzuki Across PHEV "Our entire product platform going into 2026 will be a hybrid base. We've got Swift Hybrid, Fronx Hybrid, we'll have Vitara Hybrid outside of, for example, the outgoing products that we still may have for sale, like Ignis and Swift Sport, if we still have remaining stock of that, which our dealers will still sell. "Jimny at this stage is not a hybrid, and we don't know if it ever will be. But with that said, Jimny will continue in its current form, and then we'll start introducing more E-vehicles as well." Suzuki's lineup is in flux at the moment. Imports of the S-Cross, Vitara, and Jimny three-door ended earlier this year due to a new Australian Design Rule (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems. The Vitara will be reborn early next year with compliant AEB and electrification, as mentioned, while the Jimny is getting a safety update in early 2026 that will also see it meet the new regulations. Only the S-Cross and Ignis nameplates seem to have met their end locally, though the Fronx Hybrid is intended to at least partially fill the void left by the latter. No information has been revealed about future hybrids or EVs to bolster the brand's electrified lineup. It's worth noting that Suzuki's slow approach to EVs isn't new, and Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki has previously claimed that an EV version of the Jimny would "ruin the best part" of the car. The Jimny is Suzuki Australia's best-selling model by far, more than doubling the sales of the second-placed Swift so far this year. In any case, Mr Pachota says Suzuki Australia will be focusing on its rollout of hybrid vehicles, even if they are mild-hybrids. At the same time, he claims the brand is "very prepared" to "adapt and evolve" to the NVES. "I definitely see [hybrid] as a shift. In Japan, we already offer mild- and strong-hybrid vehicles. We're about to introduce a fully electric vehicle, which is our first fully electric vehicle, eVitara, and it doesn't end there," he told CarExpert. "So I definitely see that space growing. Hybrid's definitely a focus point for us." MORE: Australia isn't ready for EVs, says Suzuki distributor boss MORE: Suzuki Vitara electric, hybrid SUVs locked in for Australia MORE: Suzuki Jimny EV 'would ruin' pint-sized 4×4 – executive MORE: Everything Suzuki Content originally sourced from: As Suzuki Australia gears up to launch its first-ever electric vehicle (EV) in 2026, the brand's local boss says hybrids will continue to dominate over EVs in the coming years. The company's general manager, Michael Pachota, says Suzuki Australia's "electrification journey is starting", just as the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) begins to fine auto brands which fail to meet tightening CO2 limits across their model ranges from July 1, 2025. "We accelerated that journey as well. So Suzuki Motor Corporation kindly gave us the opportunity to bring in an E-vehicle sooner rather than later based on, obviously, pressures around emissions controls and stuff like that," he told CarExpert. "I think as you can see with the current sales growth in all those areas where there's mild, strong, plug-in [hybrids] or even EVs, I think there's an opportunity for evolution in the Australian market. "I think hybrid itself is the shift. That's where it's going to go. I think in the next decade, you're going to see a complete shift from [internal combustion] engines to hybrid powertrains and a slightly larger percentage of EV sales." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The first model released by Suzuki Australia with hybrid badging was the Swift Hybrid launched in June 2024, which features a 12-volt mild-hybrid system. A similar 12V system now also features in the Fronx Hybrid light SUV launched last month. Unlike more traditional hybrids from brands like Toyota, these mild-hybrid models don't have an electric motor that can drive the vehicle's wheels alone. Suzuki Australia has also confirmed a Vitara Hybrid will launch here early in 2026 alongside the all-electric eVitara, though it hasn't confirmed whether the Vitara Hybrid bound for Australia is a mild-hybrid like its smaller siblings, or a more conventional hybrid. Both powertrain types are offered in the Vitara overseas. Perhaps wisely, the company's stance doesn't appear to dismiss the importance of EVs, nor the Australian appetite for them. Indeed, Mr Pachota suggests EV sales will grow, albeit more slowly than what he expects with hybrids. This is in contrast to recent comments made by Paul Dillon, the general manager of Suzuki's independent importer for Queensland and northern New South Wales, who asked: "whilst the government wants everybody to have them [EVs], does everybody want to have one?". "I just don't think the Australian market wants them [EVs]," Mr Dillon told CarExpert, arguing that EVs and emissions in general are "not a big concern for people in Australia, otherwise the number one selling car in Australia wouldn't be a three-tonne 4×4 pickup". Suzuki Queensland still intends to sell the eVitara, though it cites a lack of enthusiasm from dealers. Even so, the Suzuki brand as a whole has been slower to embrace EVs and hybrids than many other brands, evidenced by the long wait for its first EV. Globally, the company offers a handful of conventional hybrids including the aforementioned Vitara, the Europe-only Swace (a rebadged Toyota Corolla Touring Sports wagon), and the India-only Grand Vitara, which Toyota rebadges as the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The brand also offers a PHEV in Europe, the Across, which is a rebadged Toyota RAV4. None of these models are expected to make their way to Australia, but Mr Pachota maintains that Suzuki's local electrification strategy will continue, especially in the context of NVES regulations. "We need to make sure that we establish ourselves in that area to be a sustainable business, and it doesn't end there. The product portfolio will grow and evolve as we go on to the next three to five years," he told CarExpert. ABOVE: Suzuki Swace Hybrid (left) and Suzuki Across PHEV "Our entire product platform going into 2026 will be a hybrid base. We've got Swift Hybrid, Fronx Hybrid, we'll have Vitara Hybrid outside of, for example, the outgoing products that we still may have for sale, like Ignis and Swift Sport, if we still have remaining stock of that, which our dealers will still sell. "Jimny at this stage is not a hybrid, and we don't know if it ever will be. But with that said, Jimny will continue in its current form, and then we'll start introducing more E-vehicles as well." Suzuki's lineup is in flux at the moment. Imports of the S-Cross, Vitara, and Jimny three-door ended earlier this year due to a new Australian Design Rule (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems. The Vitara will be reborn early next year with compliant AEB and electrification, as mentioned, while the Jimny is getting a safety update in early 2026 that will also see it meet the new regulations. Only the S-Cross and Ignis nameplates seem to have met their end locally, though the Fronx Hybrid is intended to at least partially fill the void left by the latter. No information has been revealed about future hybrids or EVs to bolster the brand's electrified lineup. It's worth noting that Suzuki's slow approach to EVs isn't new, and Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki has previously claimed that an EV version of the Jimny would "ruin the best part" of the car. The Jimny is Suzuki Australia's best-selling model by far, more than doubling the sales of the second-placed Swift so far this year. In any case, Mr Pachota says Suzuki Australia will be focusing on its rollout of hybrid vehicles, even if they are mild-hybrids. At the same time, he claims the brand is "very prepared" to "adapt and evolve" to the NVES. "I definitely see [hybrid] as a shift. In Japan, we already offer mild- and strong-hybrid vehicles. We're about to introduce a fully electric vehicle, which is our first fully electric vehicle, eVitara, and it doesn't end there," he told CarExpert. "So I definitely see that space growing. Hybrid's definitely a focus point for us." MORE: Australia isn't ready for EVs, says Suzuki distributor boss MORE: Suzuki Vitara electric, hybrid SUVs locked in for Australia MORE: Suzuki Jimny EV 'would ruin' pint-sized 4×4 – executive MORE: Everything Suzuki Content originally sourced from:


7NEWS
5 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Real-world testing shows Ford Ranger among emissions-breaching models
Some of Australia's best-selling models used as much as one-third more than their official claimed fuel consumption figures – and several breach their regulatory CO2 emissions limits – according to the results of the latest real-world test carried out by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA). The AAA tested the fuel economy claims across 30 of the most popular models sold in Australia, including the Ford Ranger, Mazda 3, Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro. It compared the on-road fuel use and emissions during physical testing with the figures produced by automakers in legally mandated laboratory testing. It found 25 of the 30 evaluated vehicles exceeded their claimed fuel-efficiency figures, while six vehicles (20 per cent of those tested) breached current Australian lab-tested regulatory emissions limits. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. That's despite more accurate testing for cars from Europe, where the Worldwide Harmonised Testing Procedure (WLTP) – designed with input from vehicle manufacturers – intends to produce official fuel-use claims that are closer to real-world results. The Hyundai Kona Hybrid was the worst offender when it came to fuel consumption, using 33 per cent more fuel than its official 3.9L/100km combined economy figure, with AAA achieving 5.2L/100km. Yet Hyundai was at the positive end of the results, too, with its Staria van being one of the best-performing vehicles alongside the Mercedes-Benz GLB 200 mid-size luxury SUV. Both models came within one per cent of their official fuel claims. Vehicles to achieve better than expected fuel economy results include the Ford Transit Custom van, which led with a nine per cent better-than-claimed result. The Lexus NX350h mid-size luxury SUV was the next best at seven per cent, and the Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 and the smaller GLA at three and two per cent better respectively. While the Transit shone, the Ford Ranger – Australia's best-selling vehicle for the past two years and leading the sales charts so far in 2025 – produced excessively high emissions, with results showing 552mg/km of nitrous oxide emissions. The test was for the Ranger XLT with the 3.0-litre V6, which makes 184kW/600Nm. Ford Australia has detuned the same engine for the 2026 Ranger Super Duty, lowering power by 30kW to meet tougher emissions Euro 6d emissions laws coming into effect in Australia from December 1, 2025. The Toyota Fortuner – which uses the underpinnings and engine from the Toyota HiLux – also exceeded emissions limits, as did the Toyota HiAce SLWB and HiAce LWB vans, and the Suzuki Vitara and BMW X1 small SUVs. Yet the Ford Ranger was commendable in its fuel use, posting a result of 8.9L/100km in testing to come within six per cent of Ford's official 8.4L/100km claim. The AAA says it has now tested 114 popular models in Australia, with 77 per cent of vehicles tested using more fuel than advertised. 'Some vehicles perform as advertised, but most do not, and our program is seeking to reward carmakers that deliver genuine financial and environmental savings,' said Michael Bradley, managing director of the AAA, in a statement. The testing comes as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) comes into effect in 2025, surrounded by strong debate across automakers about its effectiveness. Introduced on January 1, 2025, the NVES is designed to lower carbon dioxide emissions at the tailpipe of new vehicles through an annual reduction of legal CO2 limits. Each brand's emissions are measured across all models its sells to establish a fleet-average figure; those in breach are fined, while those below are eligible for regulatory credits. Car companies can buy credits from others to reduce their overall average emissions figure and avoid or lower the cost of fines, which became enforceable on July 1, 2025. While most car companies are in favour of reducing tailpipe emissions from vehicles, debate remains ongoing about the effectiveness of the way NVES has been rolled out. Several auto executives have been publicly critical, most recently including Suzuki Queensland boss Paul Dillion. His comments were made at the launch of the Suzuki Fronx, a light-sized 1.5-litre hybrid hatchback, which will be liable for financial penalties under NVES from 2026. Other automakers, such as electric vehicle (EV) brand Polestar, are in favour of even tougher regulations, with the brand leaving the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) in protest of the public criticism of NVES. Polestar was joined by fellow EV-maker Tesla in quitting the industry body in 2024 over the issue. Below are the fuel consumption results from the latest round of the AAA's real-world testing.