Today’s Auto Brief: EV elbows out, ute deals in, and a van that just won’t quit

If the industry had a mood ring today, it’d be flickering between electric blue and practical beige. New EVs jockey for attention, Ford’s doing sharp deals while teasing a family SUV future, Audi managed to be both brilliant and bonkers in the same news cycle, and Toyota’s venerable HiAce refuses to head into retirement. Here’s what matters, with a little lived-in perspective from someone who’s spent more weekends in car parks than is probably healthy.

EV tug-of-war: Kia undercuts, Tesla tweaks, Volvo peeks

Kia’s 2026 EV4 arrives with the sort of pricing headline that makes spreadsheet warriors smile: it undercuts the Tesla Model 3 in Australia. That matters. The EV4 is a sedan—refreshing in a world addicted to crossovers—and feels like the pragmatic choice for commuters who want range without range anxiety about their mortgage. If it follows Kia’s typical playbook, expect straightforward trims, a sensible long-range option, and the kind of cabin ergonomics Kia has been quietly nailing for years. I’ve done thousands of kilometres in their current EVs; the learning is clear: simple, logical interfaces beat flashy gimmicks during a rainy 6am commute.

Tesla, meanwhile, has given the 2026 Model Y a bigger screen while keeping prices unchanged in Australia. I ran a Model Y long-termer a while back; the screen is your everything—HVAC, mirrors, trip data, even glovebox. Bigger isn’t just “nicer,” it’s easier to nail the right touch target on a corrugated country road. That’s a meaningful quality-of-life upgrade if you live your life on the move and don’t want to go spelunking through menus at 110 km/h.

Then there’s the leaked Volvo EX60, a shoo-in to sit between the EX40 and EX90. From what’s peeking out, the design reads like modern Volvo—clean surfaces, “Thor’s Hammer” lighting, almost Scandi furniture vibes on wheels. I’ve always liked how Volvos ride on rotten surfaces—calm, measured, rarely crashy—and if the EX60 inherits that DNA, it’ll be a soothing antidote to shoutier EVs.

EV notes from the driver’s seat

• Charging cable storage: Tesla still wins for floor packaging, Kia often gives you an honest-to-goodness underfloor cubby. Tiny detail, big daily impact.
• Infotainment polish: Tesla runs fast; Kia’s recent systems are calmer and clearer. Volvo tends to feel grown-up—minimal, but not bare.
• Ride and noise: Expect Volvo to be the library, Tesla the efficient open-plan office, Kia the smart home with soft-close doors.

Ford’s double feature: Ranger deals now, Bronco family SUV later

If you’ve been fence-sitting on a Ford Ranger in Australia, the latest deals are shaving thousands off. That’s not pocket lint. On rough gravel I’ve always admired how the current Ranger keeps its tail neat with a load in the back—especially in the mid-grade trims where tyres and springs live in harmony. Whether you’re eyeing an XLT as the work-home hybrid or a Wildtrak for family-and-jet-ski duties, a healthy discount can be the difference between a clever buy and a long, regretful stare at your repayment schedule.

Further out, Ford’s leadership has been hinting at a Bronco-branded, Kodiaq-rivalling family SUV for 2027. Read that as a big, road-focused crossover wearing a bottle of adventure cologne—likely three-row capability, but with the styling swagger people wanted when they first heard “Bronco.” If Ford gets the tuning right—light steering in car parks, proper highway calm, and a lane-keep that actually keeps—that could be the Europe-friendly family hauler the brand’s been missing.

Audi’s week: a silly-speed TT headline and clever tech that likes a slide

Australian police nabbed a learner driver in an Audi TT allegedly clocked at 226 km/h—with a “supervisor” who turned out to be disqualified. Yes, it’s outrageous; yes, it’s also a reminder that roads are not racetracks. I’ve done plenty of high-speed work—but on closed facilities, with marshals and medics and tyre temps checked like a neurosurgeon washing up. Keep it there, folks.

On the other side of the Audi ledger, new tech trials reportedly led to some sideways consequences. That tracks with what I’ve experienced in recent years: torque-vectoring diffs and predictive stability systems that don’t just save you, they sometimes egg you on—so long as there’s runoff. The best modern driver aids can feel like a quiet co-driver who’s very good at Scandinavian flicks. It’s wizardry, but it belongs where cones outnumber trees.

Toyota HiAce: the van that won’t die (and shouldn’t)

Over two decades in, Toyota’s HiAce in Japan keeps getting updates. Twenty-two years is an eternity in car time, yet the HiAce soldiers on because tradespeople and shuttle operators worship uptime more than anything. The latest round reportedly tweaks safety and cabin kit. I once moved a one-bedroom flat in a HiAce and finished with a shoulder shrug instead of an ice pack—that’s its magic: simple controls, tough materials, and a ride that won’t rattle your fillings out on pockmarked urban shortcuts.

Dodge’s two-model moment: how do you save the badge with a snarl?

Dodge is down to two models. The brand still has name equity, but the modern brief is brutal: emissions rules, shifting tastes, and customers who won’t tolerate trash interiors. If I were holding the keys:

• Build a compact performance crossover with genuine steering feel and a punchy hybrid—lightweight wheels, near-premium cabin, real seats.
• Offer a rear-drive-biased electric muscle car with characterful drive modes (not just fake noise, but meaningful pedal mapping and slip allowances).
• Price honesty: undercut premium rivals by a whisker, overdeliver on materials and warranty.
• Dealer experience tuned like a pit stop: transparent trade-ins, quick finance, service loaners that aren’t punishment.

Do that, and the badge lives not by nostalgia alone, but by product that earns its place in the present.

Quick hits and takeaways

• Looking at an EV soon? The Kia EV4’s pricing move turns up the heat on Tesla’s sedan; the Model Y’s bigger screen sweetens the family-SUV status quo.
• Ford shoppers in Australia: Ranger deals are real and timely; if you tow, test with your trailer—some trims ride better under load.
• Volvo’s EX60 leak suggests another calm, family-friendly EV option on the way.
• Audi headlines swung from “don’t do that” to “that’s clever tech”—car control belongs on track, full stop.
• Toyota HiAce updates prove the industry’s most valuable feature is reliability you can schedule your business around.

Conclusion

Today felt like a snapshot of the market’s split personality: EVs iterating fast, bread-and-butter utes getting sharper deals, and old warhorses like the HiAce quietly doing the real-world work. Somewhere between the showroom sizzle and the jobsite grind sits the sweet spot. As ever, drive what fits your life, not your neighbour’s Instagram.

FAQ

• Did Tesla raise Model Y prices in Australia with the 2026 update?
  No—prices are unchanged, but the car gets a bigger screen and other tweaks.
• Is the Kia EV4 really cheaper than a Tesla Model 3?
  Yes, in Australia the EV4 is positioned to undercut the Model 3 on price.
• When will Volvo reveal the EX60?
  The EX60 has leaked ahead of an imminent reveal; official timing hasn’t been detailed here, but it appears close.
• Are there current deals on the Ford Ranger?
  Yes—Australian buyers can save thousands, depending on trim and offer timing. Shop around and confirm build dates and inclusions.
• What’s new with the Toyota HiAce after all these years?
  Toyota continues to refine safety and cabin features in Japan, keeping the long-running van relevant for businesses.