Daily Brief: Toyota RAV4 Price Hike, C-HR EV Confirmation, Genesis Goes Cheaper, Jeep Teases, and Lambo Plays Dress-Up

I started the day thinking about the Toyota RAV4—as one does when you’ve got school runs, a muddy dog, and a side road that looks like it was laid by a budget committee. Funny thing: the news cycle had the same mood swings I did. Sensible crossovers, value plays, recalls, and a Lamborghini that makes you want to quit emails forever. Coffee? Yes. Two, actually.

Toyota RAV4 Price Rise, C-HR EV Confirmed for Australia

2026 Toyota RAV4: Price Up to $6000 Higher, But With More Kit

Australia’s 2026 Toyota RAV4 will cost more—up to $6000 more depending on the grade. Ouch. But when I last drove a hybrid RAV4 back-to-back with rivals on the same battered suburban loop, the Toyota felt like it had extra bracing in its bones. The car just shrugs off potholes. If this update brings a fatter safety stack, bigger screens, or improved efficiency, the spend might pencil out over a decade of school gates and Bunnings runs.

• Headline: RAV4 price rise in Australia up to $6000.
• Likely trade-off: More standard equipment and driver assistance tech.
• Still the sweet spot: Hybrid variants for fuel savings and resale strength.

Toyota C-HR EV: The Brand’s Cheapest Electric in Australia

On the flip side, Toyota’s confirmed a C-HR EV for Australia—the brand’s most affordable electric there. That tracks. The C-HR has always been the fun-size alternative to RAV4’s sensible loafers. If they nail the price and keep the cheeky styling, this could be your inner-city buddy. I’ve always liked the C-HR seating position in traffic—perched, but not bus-tall. My only ask: give the cable a proper cubby. The old cargo well never loved extra clutter.

Is the Toyota RAV4 Still Worth It After the Price Hike?

Short answer: probably. The Toyota RAV4 has that “set-and-forget” feel day to day, especially in hybrid guise. Power delivery is calm, there’s enough shove (roughly 160 kW in hybrid AWD versions), and cabin noise sits low enough that you can hear your kids arguing about the AUX lead. If Toyota bundles in extra safety and better infotainment, the value case stays intact—even with the sharper sticker.

Genesis GV80: Updates In, Base Price Down

Genesis is pulling the opposite move. The 2026 GV80 gets updates and chops $10,000 off the base price in Australia. The last time I slogged a GV80 down a coastal highway, it felt like a rolling spa—calm steering, a cabin as hushed as a library after hours, and massage seats that made me look for unnecessary detours. A price cut on top of updates? That’s a needle threaded straight at the German establishment.

Recall Watch: Mercedes-Benz EQA and EQB

Mercedes-Benz has recalled EQA and EQB models over a potential fire risk. If you own one, don’t wait—call your dealer with your VIN and book the remedy. Recalls are part of the modern EV tapestry, yes, but the language here is serious enough to bump it to the top of your to-do list.

• Models: Mercedes-Benz EQA, EQB
• Issue: Fire risk (manufacturer recall)
• Action: Contact your retailer with your VIN to schedule the fix

Mainstream Update: 2026 Nissan Sentra

Meanwhile, the 2026 Nissan Sentra keeps plugging away, the sedan that refuses to be swallowed by crossover mania. I’ve always appreciated its grown-up ride and straightforward cabin. If Nissan keeps the ownership costs low and quietly modernizes the tech, it’ll remain the commuter you recommend to the friend who asks, “What won’t drive me mad or bankrupt?”

Industry Moves: New Ford of Europe Boss Faces a Reset

Autocar says the new Ford of Europe chief inherits a knotty puzzle: shifting emissions rules, thin margins, and the tightrope walk between icons and EV future. If Ford can protect its fun-to-drive DNA while cleaning up the small-car lineup, there’s a path. It’s not a press-release problem; it’s a product problem. Slow, hard work.

Teasers and Toys: Jeep’s Countdown, Lamborghini’s Gentleman Racer, Gordon Murray’s Unicorns

Jeep’s Countdown: Wild Card Incoming

Jeep’s teasing something “wild.” Hard-core off-roader? Performance special? Both? If you spend weekdays in stop-and-go and weekends on washboard trails, this one could be your new screensaver.

Lamborghini’s Gentleman Racer Concept

A concept aimed at gentleman drivers—track-first thrills without full-race maintenance. I live for these. Less lap-time obsession, more theater. The sort of thing you’d trailer to a private day, then dine out on the story for weeks.

Collector Corner: All Five Gordon Murray S1 LMs… Then Four

Someone bought all five Gordon Murray S1 LMs and decided four was enough. If you’re in a position to edit a collection like that, you already know the appeal: surgical handling, exquisite design, scarcity that makes auction paddles tremble.

From the “You Can’t Make This Up” File: Kia Optima Theft Saga

A Motor1 oddity: a Kia Optima stolen from a driveway and found… basically around the corner. The punchline nods to the now-infamous “USB” theft trend. If you drive an older Kia/Hyundai model in that conversation, a visible steering-wheel lock is still the best 30 bucks you’ll ever spend. It’s not glamorous. It works.

Quick Takeaways

• Toyota RAV4 costs more, but likely packs more standard tech.
• Toyota C-HR EV confirmed as the brand’s most affordable electric in Australia.
• Genesis GV80 price drops make it a sharper luxury value.
• Mercedes EQA/EQB recall: call your dealer with your VIN—don’t sit on it.
• Nissan Sentra stays sensibly excellent for commuters.

Final Word: Is the Toyota RAV4 Still the Benchmark Family SUV?

If today’s news had a headline act, it’s the Toyota RAV4—price up, expectations higher. In my experience, it earns its keep with a planted ride, calm hybrid power, and a cabin that’s quiet enough to hear the back-seat peace talks. Meanwhile, Genesis leans into value, Jeep hints at a new toy, and Mercedes owners need to make a quick phone call. Wherever you land—family SUV shopper or track-day daydreamer—there’s movement worth watching. And if you’re parking a theft-prone older sedan tonight, throw on the wheel lock. Trust me.

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