New Cars Aren’t Always Super-Expensive!

If you are looking to buy a new car, and your budget allowed a price ceiling of $40k ($40,000), then there is a plethora of opportunity for you out there at the car lot.  It has been interesting to observe the changing winds in the car industry.  The onset of a wide variety of more affordable new electric vehicles (EVs) becoming available to buyers has meant that the opportunity to own a new EV is becoming much more attainable.  There are still some EV issues that need to be seen to before living with an EV becomes a seamlessly easy way of life; however, for some people, the switch to owning an EV has been a good move.  If you can charge your vehicle at home, and most (if not all) of your travel is short distances in a city/town environment, then you’re well on the way to being a happy EV convert.  Or maybe you are reading this and are feeling smug that you are already a happy convert.

Definitely, there are also many more new hybrid vehicles (vehicles that use battery power to enhance the fuel economy of the internal combustion engine (ICE)) that you can buy.  In my humble opinion, these are the best new vehicles to buy, particularly if you want good fuel economy and low emissions but spend time travelling between townships and cities.  They offer the best of both worlds. Let’s face it: Australia’s EV infrastructure is improving but still has a long way to go before it is anywhere near perfect. 

There are still some great new ICE vehicles that use petrol or diesel on the market for a decent price.  Fuel economy has gotten better and better for these types of vehicles, so they still offer a new-car buyer a solid purchase.  Thus, particularly if you are employed in any trade that requires travelling plenty of kms, an ICE vehicle or hybrid can’t yet be beaten on practicality.  You only need to look at the latest new car sales list to read that ICE and Hybrid utes and SUVs still remain the top purchases.

OK, so what’s out there for under $40k (at the time of writing? 

Hybrid Cars/SUVs

• GWM Haval Jolion SUV Hybrid
• GWM Haval H6 SUV Hybrid
• Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid
• Hyundai Kona SUV Hybrid
• MG3 Hatch Hybrid
• Toyota Camry Sedan Ascent Sedan Hybrid
• Toyota Corolla Hatch Hybrid
• Toyota Corolla Sedan Hybrid
• Toyota Corolla Cross SUV GX Hybrid
• Toyota Yaris Cross SUV Hybrid
• Toyota Yaris Hatch Hybrid

ICE Cars/SUVs/Utes

• Chery Tiggo 7 Pro SUV
• Chery OMODA 5 SUV
• Fiat 500 Hatch Dolcevito
• Ford Puma SUV
• GWM Ute
• Honda CR-V SUV
• Honda HR-V SUV
• Honda ZR-V SUV
• Hyundai i30 Hatch
• Hyundai Venue SUV
• Hyundai i20 Hatch N
• Isuzu D-MAX Cab Chassis SX High Ride Ute
• Kia Sportage SUV S
• Kia Cerato Hatch
• Kia Cerato Sedan
• Kia Picanto Hatch
• Kia Seltos SUV
• Kia Stonic SUV
• LDV T60 Ute Max Pro
• LDV D90 SUV
• LDV G10 Van+
• LDV V80 Van
• Mahindra PIK-Up Ute
• Mahindra PIK-UP Cab Chassis
• Mahindra PIK-Up Ute Light Truck S+ 4×4
• Mahindra XUV700 SUV 4×4
• Mazda CX-5 SUV
• Mazda 3 Hatch
• Mazda CX-30 SUV
• Mazda CX-3 SUV
• Mazda 2 Hatch
• Mazda 3 Sedan
• Mazda 6 Sedan
• Mazda BT-50 Cab Chassis XS Ute
• Mazda 2 Sedan
• MG ZS SUV Excite
• MG MG5 Sedan
• MG ZST SUV
• MG HS SUV
• Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SUV
• Mitsubishi ASX SUV
• Mitsubishi Triton Cab Chassis GLX Ute
• Nissan Navara Cab Chassis SL Ute
• Nissan Juke SUV
• Nissan QASHQAI SUV ST
• Renault Captur SUV
• Skoda Kamiq SUV
• Skoda Karoq SUV
• Skoda Scala Hatch 85 TSI Ambition
• Skoda Fabia Hatch Monte Carlo Edition 150
• SsangYong Musso Ute ELX
• SsangYong Korando SUV
• Suzuki Swift Hatch
• Suzuki Vitara SUV
• Suzuki Ignis SUV
• Suzuki S-Cross SUV
• Toyota C-HR SUV GXL
• Toyota Hilux Ute Workmate
• Toyota Hilux Cab Chassis
• Toyota RAV4 SUV GX
• Volkswagen Polo Hatch
• Volkswagen T-Roc SUV City Life
• Volkswagen T-Cross SUV

EVs (Hatchback/SUV)

• GWM Ora Standard Hatch
• BYD Dolphin: Hatch
• MG ZS EV Excite SUV
• MG4 Excite Hatch
• Nissan Leaf Hatch

Some of us are on an even tighter budget.  We would love a new a car, but… Well, here’s some good news:

Six new cars under $25,000 (All ICE)

• MG3 Hatch
• Kia Piccanto Hatch
• MG ZS SUV
• Kia Stonic SUV
• Suzuki Ignis SUV
• MG MG5 Sedan

These prices are typical, but have a chat with the helpful team here at Private Fleet, as we may be able to land you an absolutely stellar deal. Also check out our reviews to get more details.

Introducing The Jetour

I’ve always loved the exterior of the Land Rover Defender, whether old or new.  Its boxy shape and rugged appearance are perfectly crafted for off-roading.  The short front and rear overhangs are just perfect for clearing steep entry and exit points on a slope.  Of course, there is also the legendary Defender’s 4WD powertrain that is the rock of what makes this an immensely capable 4×4 off-road machine.  However, there is another vehicle coming to Australia with that same chunky, boxy shape and talented off-road skills. This new machine comes to us from China and will be available to buy down under in 2025.  Let’s take a closer look, and by this, I mean you’ll need to look really closely to make sure it is a Jetour and not a Defender.  A big hint is to read the brand name that runs across the front of the bonnet!

It is said that we all have a double of ourselves somewhere in the world (I know I do).  This double basically looks like us.  Land Rover Defender’s double or doppelganger (German for “double walker”) would surely have to be the new Jetour.  The Jetour is a vehicle that was designed to be a luxury crossover brand in 2018 and is the creation born from the Chery Holding Group, often known simply as Chery.  Chery is an automotive group currently based in the eastern Chinese city of Wuhu.  Born in 1997, Chery has grown and developed in a diversified manner with automobiles as its primary business.  Over time, Chery have created automobiles, gotten involved in automotive parts, finance, property and modern services.  Chery now has over 300 member-enterprises; these include Chery Automobile, Chery Commercial Vehicle, Chery Jaguar Land Rover, Chery Finance and Chery Technology. 

The Jetour T2 large off-roader does look really good in the metal, with its square boxy body shape, bold wheel arches and big rubber, high ground clearance, a swinging tailgate with a spare tyre on the outside, big solid bumpers, and an interior that won’t mind getting dirty from an adventure Outback.

Similar again to how Land Rover has designed its latest Defender, the 2024 Jetour T2 is built around a monocoque body, which is a design that offers loads of structural rigidity and stiffness for tackling the rigours of serious off-roading.  The monocoque body is the perfect solid foundation for the Jetour T2 4×4’s advanced all-independent chassis.  An independent suspension means that all four wheels can drop and ride over large obstacles individually and independently of what the other three wheels are doing at the same time.  This enhances the ability to obtain maximum traction at each wheel, perfect for progressing through tricky and slippery terrain. 

The new Jetour will come with the option of either a 1.5-litre or a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine to power the 4×4, and the engine’s power is sent through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for ensuring optimum engine torque is harnessed at all times.  Having a ground clearance rated at 220 mm, and with the engine’s drive sent to all four wheels via the full-time 4×4 system, this is an exciting new off-road SUV for the Adventurer needing a new vehicle to get them to a remote location. 

We’re looking forward to it, and be sure that we’ll review it fully when it makes it over here.

Some New American Muscle For 2024

Like American made stuff?  You’ll probably like Harleys and a pancake breakfast, follow the NBA, and celebrate Independence Day.  This might be a stretched and oversimplified generalisation, but I can see why many people still appreciate an American-made automobile.  They are usually large, powerful, and comfortable vehicles to travel in.

Now, there are some current car sale outlets in Australia that specialise in importing and selling a wide range of imported cars from the USA, old and new.  The American Car Company and Dazmac are probably the most recognised businesses.  The American Car Company’s mainstays of fresh new imports are the latest GMC Sierra (a tough light truck/ute) range, Ford F-150 (another tough light truck/ute), Toyota’s Tundra (yet another tough light truck/ute), and the sensational Dodge Hellcat performance muscle cars.

However, there are also some other mainstream American models you can buy that are easily bought and are available for buyers on the lookout for a brand-new American machine.  Chevrolet, Ford, Jeep, RAM Trucks, and Tesla should all ring a bell, and these American icons can be found on numerous showroom floors throughout Australia.  Private Fleet’s team members are happy to engage in getting you the right American car for the right price.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet has a superb version of their own tough light truck/ute in the form of the big Chevrolet Silverado HT.  This is a big, powerful, and tough truck that has space to burn in the cabin and remains one of the most comfortable and stylish models of its type in its class, and it carries all the modern technology and safety you’ll need for serious work and play. 

Ford

Ford F-150

Like the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford’s F-150 is a big, classy tough light truck/ute that comes in two variants.  Its strong underpinnings and rugged powertrain make this a perfect workhorse and prime business statement.

A true American legend is the Ford Mustang.  Now onto the seventh-generation model, the Mustang is Ford’s longest standing model name, with the very first Mustang starting off its production a long way back in 1964.  Currently, in 2024, you can buy yourself a sensational wind in the hair experience with a brand-new Ford Mustang Convertible GT.  This performance car brand also offers the Ford Mustang as three variants of the 2024 Ford Mustang Coupe.

Jeep

A big global American player and a longstanding brand, Jeep still champions a range of comfortable, spacious SUVs and utes, all of them delivering formidable off-road capability when the occasion demands itself. 

Jeep’s flagship model, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, is a spacious, powerful, luxurious 4×4 SUV that can happily spend time in a city environment.  Shake off the shackles of the urban jungle and head out to the wild blue yonder, and this vehicle provides some of the most serious off-roading ability you can find. 

Just look at the Jeep Wrangler, and all three of the current models will trumpet “I’m a serious off-road, 4×4 machine!” A Wrangler is a load of fun, too!

Jeep Compass is another great SUV from Jeep with all the goodies, 4×4 ability, and a great size for the family.

The Jeep Gladiator is a model perfect for the builder and tradie who needs to get a long way off the beaten track to commence work.  It’s also fun for recreational use and a good tow machine.

RAM

RAM Trucks are the other American-made tough light truck/ute brand you can look to for your seriously good King of the Road experience.  The RAM 1500, RAM 2500, and RAM 3500 models are all available. 

• RAM 1500.  There are six versions you can buy in Oz.  In America, the 1500 is considered to be the “light duty” version, but it still delivers up to 295 kW of power and 558 Nm of torque, plus up to 5783 kg of towing capacity and a 953 kg maximum payload.
• RAM 2500.  There are two versions of the RAM 2500 available here in Australia.  The RAM 2500 harnesses up to 306 kW of power and 582 Nm of torque.  The mighty 6.7-litre Cummins turbodiesel engine gives drivers an 8972 kg tow rating.
• RAM 3500. The RAM 3500 Laramie is the top of the range.  Offering 306 kW of power and 582 Nm of torque, with this version it has been built to cope with a jaw-dropping tow capacity of almost 16 tonnes (16,000 kg).  Being a Laramie model, it also gets all the luxury and comfort features.

Tesla

Here is the battery electric vehicle (BEV) with American roots.  You are sure to have heard about Tesla, so, if you are wanting to buy a new Tesla in 2024, there are three models of the Tesla Model 3 Sedan and three models of the Tesla Model Y SUV available.

Sweet Scandi Designs For 2024

There are three main brands of Swedish-designed cars made in 2024.  We all know about Volvo; some of us may know of Polestar, and maybe a few of us have heard about Koenigsegg.  Apart from Scania, who makes trucks and other things, it’s the aforementioned manufacturers that are creating and making new vehicles.

Volvo

One of the oldest companies in Sweden, Volvo has been making cars since 1927, when Assar Gabrielsson and Gustav Larson worked together to make a substantial car that would be able to withstand the rigours of the Scandinavian climate.  The first model was called the OV4 and had two round lights at the front, and the rectangular carriage with four wheels at the corner design that was typical of the early cars of 1900–1925.  In the 1930s, Gabrielsson and Larson made the rather stylish and streamlined PV36, which proved to be a solid and comfortable means of transport. 

Another standout car Volvo made was the stunning P1800 Coupe of the 1960s.  From the 1980s–2000, Volvo were typically making very comfortable, safe, reliable cars that were typically wedge-shaped or boxy in their outline.  Since the turn of the century, 2000–2024 has seen Volvo continue to make supremely comfortable cars with plenty of style and a more rounded shape that can slip through the air a little easier.  Volvo have continued to excel in the crash testing and crash safety data. 

In 2024, Volvo make a wide range of sedans, wagons, and SUVs.  Current models for Australia include the:

• Volvo C40 SUV (one model), which was the brand’s first small electric vehicle (EV).  A single electric motor or a dual electric motor are available to power the C40.
• Volvo EX30 Wagon (two models), a brand-new EV wagon with plenty of safety.
• Volvo S60 Sedan (one model), one of the most beautiful luxury sedans currently on the road that is powered by a mild hybrid engine that makes it both fuel efficient and swift.  The AWD sedan is loaded with luxury and places a high priory on occupant safety, comfort, and the latest technology.  It is currently one of the best luxury sedans on the market. 
• Volvo V60 Cross Country Wagon (one model).  Offering style, luxury and safety, the V60 Cross Country Wagon offers a credible light off-roading capability along with its perfect take-the-family-on-an-adventure prowess.  Like the S60, the V60 is powered by a mild hybrid engine, is available in AWD, and is loaded with equipment. 
• Volvo XC40 SUV (three models).  The Volvo XC40 offers a choice of petrol engines.  But you can also opt for the fully electric XC40 Recharge model.
• Volvo XC60 SUV (four models).  The Volvo XC60 medium-sized SUV is superbly comfortable, luxurious, and safe.  You have a choice of mild hybrid or powerful plug-in hybrid powertrains. 
• Volvo XC90 SUV (three models).  The Volvo XC90 is a large, luxurious SUV that can seat up to seven occupants.  The mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrains deliver plenty of punch and economy.  This is one of the best vehicles in its class and it’s also very safe.

Polestar

Polestar was founded in 1996 by Volvo Cars’ partner Flash/Polestar Racing and was acquired in 2015 by Volvo.  Polestar was also secured by Greely in 2010.  Polestar vehicles are a brand of automotive vehicles that have their design headquarters in Sweden, but the vehicles are produced in China.  Polestar vehicles are full EVs with luxury and performance, and are considered as a separate EV performance brand from Volvo.  In 2024, Polestar makes stylish hatchbacks, SUVs, and coupes.  The current models for Australia include:

• Polestar 2 Hatch (three models)
• Polestar 3 SUV (five models)
• Polestar 4 Coupe (two models)

Koenigsegg

On 12 August 1994, Christian von Koenigsegg (22 years old) decided to follow his dream and build the world’s greatest sports car.  Thirty years later, the dream lives on.  Having made many models over the three decades, Koenigsegg now offers two models in Australia from an outlet in Victoria:

• 125 Jesko, a supercar powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.0-litre V8 engine which delivers 955 kW of power and as much as 1500 Nm of torque to the rear wheels.
• Gemera, a supercar with four seats.  This is a plug-in hybrid supercar made for touring (rather quickly).  The Koenigsegg Gemera uses a twin-turbo 2.0-litre three-cylinder engine that is also matched up to three electric motors – one electric motor powering the front wheels, and one electric motor on each rear wheel as well.  Combined outputs stand at a whopping 1268 kW of power and 3500 Nm of torque, which is sent through a single-speed Koenigsegg Direct Drive transmission to all four wheels.  The 0–100 km/h sprint is achieved in less than 2 seconds, while the car’s top speed is around 400 km/h.

We’ll add more in-depth reviews of these cars (except for the Koenigseggs) at our car reviews page at some point in the future, so have a look over there to find out more.