Today in Cars: Hybrid Palisade sticker shock, Australia’s cheapest EV SUV, and the CarPlay battle heats up

I started the morning like any other—coffee in a travel mug, tyres still carrying a whisper of last weekend’s backroad dust—only to be jolted more awake by price tags than caffeine. Big SUVs are getting greener and dearer, Chinese EVs are piling in with disruptive pricing, and tech execs are now subtweeting Apple on stage. It’s a strange, fascinating time to be into cars. Let’s get into it.

Big SUVs, bigger bills: Hyundai Palisade goes hybrid (and nearly $90k), Mitsubishi ASX climbs $13k

Hyundai’s 2026 Palisade arrives as a hybrid flagship and, per today’s headlines, launches at almost $90,000. That’s not loose change—that’s “are we still talking Hyundai?” territory. I’ve always liked the current Palisade’s sofa-plush ride and honest, family-first packaging; if the new one doubles down on refinement and fuel economy with a hybrid, it could justify the premium for buyers who want luxury without chasing a German badge.

On the other end of the size scale, the 2026 Mitsubishi ASX is up by a hefty $13,000. I’ve driven more ASXs than I can count in hire fleets and press pools—they’re simple, honest runabouts. A jump like this usually means major tech and safety upgrades, but it will need to seriously move the game to keep its value story intact. I’ll reserve final judgment until I’ve crawled through the spec sheets and driven it back-to-back with rivals.

• 2026 Hyundai Palisade: New hybrid flagship; price nudges “near-luxury” territory.
• 2026 Mitsubishi ASX: Big price rise suggests big changes inside.

Australia’s budget EV shake-up: Leapmotor B10 lands, Zeekr surges—and Lynk & Co sits it out

Australia’s cheapest electric SUV now wears a Leapmotor badge. The 2026 Leapmotor B10 undercuts the usual suspects and brings the fight straight to BYD and MG. I haven’t driven the B10 yet, but I’ve spent enough time in China’s latest wave of EVs to know they’re quick to impress with cabin tech and value. The real test will be service, software updates, and resale confidence.

Meanwhile, Zeekr’s new 9X flagship reportedly racked up around 40,000 orders in the first hour. That’s an eye-popping number, and it tracks with the buzz I’ve felt around Zeekr’s recent metal—sleek, techy, and built to a standard that makes legacy brands nervy. Interestingly, Zeekr’s boss says sister brand Lynk & Co “doesn’t make a lot of sense” for Australia. That’s a rare bit of corporate clarity: pick your strongest horse for the market and feed it.

• 2026 Leapmotor B10: Now the cheapest EV SUV in Australia.
• Zeekr 9X: Flagship launches with huge early demand.
• Lynk & Co: Not on Australia’s near-term roadmap, per Zeekr leadership.

Workhorse watch: Next-gen Toyota HiLux details emerge

The 2026 Toyota HiLux continues to drip-feed clues. Every ute buyer I talk to asks the same two questions: will it tow better and will it use less fuel? Expect electrification of some sort to be in the conversation—mild or full hybrid tech is becoming table stakes—and chassis updates to keep it competitive with Ranger. I drove the current HiLux across rutted farm tracks last month; it’s tough but can get choppy when unladen. If Toyota smooths that ride without losing the bulldog reliability, they’ll sell every one they can build.

Industry cash watch: JLR seeks another $4B as production restarts

JLR is reportedly looking for another $4 billion in emergency funds while it restarts production. Cash crunches and start-stop production are brutal for supply chains—and for customers waiting on deliveries. Jaguar and Land Rover have nailed desirability lately; the trick now is stability. I’ve had to rearrange more than a few test schedules around delayed cars—fingers crossed this restart sticks.

Battery breakthrough (on paper): 50% more range, same size

Autocar flags a radical EV battery that boosts range by 50% with no size increase. That screams next-gen chemistry—think high-silicon anodes or solid-state principles—promising big gains without swelling packs. The engineer in me is thrilled; the pragmatist remembers that packaging a lab result into a warranty-friendly car takes time. If even half that uplift hits showrooms this decade, EV design levers change overnight: fewer cells, less weight, lower cost, or simply much longer legs.

Software spat: Ford CEO throws shade at Apple’s CarPlay Ultra

Ford’s top brass isn’t sold on Apple’s expansive “CarPlay Ultra” vision and is pushing for built-in AI assistants across the lineup. I get the tension. Automakers want control of the screen, data, and updates. Drivers want familiar phones and fluid UX. I spent a week in LA traffic swapping between wireless CarPlay and a native system; when the native voice assistant nailed a complex nav request, it felt magic—but CarPlay was still the place my podcasts and messages lived without drama.

Autonomy meets the law: Driverless car does a naughty U-turn, gets… nothing

Police reportedly pulled over a driverless car after an illegal U‑turn and couldn’t issue a ticket. It’s the perfect 2025 problem: who’s liable when nobody’s behind the wheel? The operator? The owner? The code? On a closed loop in Phoenix years ago, I watched a safety driver hover over the wheel as the car hesitated at a construction zone. We’ve come a long way, but edge cases still tie knots in legal code—and human patience.

Quick take: Tesla Model Y, still the reference point

Autocar revisited the Tesla Model Y, and that tracks with my own seat time. It remains the EV benchmark for efficiency and charging ecosystem, with performance that ranges from brisk to genuinely quick depending on spec. The ride can skew firm on 20-inch wheels, and the minimalist cabin still divides opinion, but as a tool for long-distance electric travel, few beat a Y—especially if you live near healthy Supercharger coverage.

Real-world wallet check: Do you need GAP insurance?

Autocar also asks the sensible question: what is GAP insurance, and do you need it? In plain terms, GAP covers the “gap” between your car’s current value and what you still owe if it’s written off. With prices rising and depreciation doing what it does, it can be worth it on financed cars, high-depreciation models, or if you put little down. Shop around—dealers aren’t your only option.

What stood out to me today

• Electrification is no longer the budget choice—Palisade proves hybrids can sit at premium money.
• China’s EV wave is real and organized: Leapmotor on price, Zeekr on prestige.
• Utes are poised for hybrid tech, and the HiLux will set the tone for the tradie set.
• The dashboard is the new battleground; cars are becoming software experiences with wheels.

Conclusion

From nearly-$90k family haulers to bargain EV newcomers, today’s sheet metal paints a split-screen picture: prices climbing at the top, value marauders at the bottom, and software running the show in between. As ever, the best car is the one that fits your life. I’ll be chasing seat time in all of these—on rough roads, in school runs, and yes, in the left lane—so we can sort hype from reality.

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