The last quarter century of automotive history have seen a bevy of appealing models come to market, but which ones would the Drive team buy with their own cash?

The automotive landscape is vastly different now than where it was 25 years ago, with dual-cab utes and SUVs reigning supreme over hatchbacks and large sedans.

There has been so much model activity since 2000, not all of them good, but there have been a few standout models that have piqued the interest of the Drive team.

These are the cars from the last 25 years that the Drive team would actually buy and own.

Audi C6 RS6 – Bailey Mackin, Publishing Manager

The C6 RS6 is just so good. I just think it’s got performance, it’s got style, it’s got practicality because its a wagon, and it’s NOT an SUV.

And it has a freaking Lamborghini engine in it!

Isn’t this the ultimate all-rounder? I just need to find $200,000…

Ferrari 456M GT – Ben Zachariah, Journalist

An impossible question to answer, given the sheer volume of fantastic cars we’ve seen come and go over the past 25 years. There’s a handful of models from each car manufacturer over that period I’d love to own, but if it’s got to be one, then it’s got to do everything.

The Porsche 996 911 GT3 would be amazing, but on wet or lazy days, it wouldn’t fit the bill. The Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series is another special car, but misses out because there’s no manual gearbox to play with.

The original Audi R8 V8 manual is an absolute jack-of-all-trades, as is the BMW E39 M5, but there’s one car that pips them both – and just sneaks in under the 25-year rule: The Ferrari 456M GT.

One of few front-engined V12 cars to come with a six-speed manual, the 456 has a subtle yet stunning design, can fill the role of a supercar when you want it to, can perform as a long-distance GT, or can be used to pop down to Woolies in. I can only imagine the joy of owning a 456 would far outlast the thrill of owning a racing car with number plates, or some crazy exotic hypercar that’s too low or wide to park anywhere.

Kia Sportage – Isabella Kendall, Digital Publishing Specialist

I’d get back into another Kia Sportage.

I had a Kia Sportage as my first car and it was fantastic, reliable and practical.

And if that was an old one, I can only imagine how good the new one would be.

Lotus Elise with a Honda K-swap – Tung Nguyen, News Editor

Weird choice, I know, but I am a car modder at heart and the Lotus Elise platform is so appealing to be because of how much of a blank canvas it can be.

Imagine the K20 engine out of a Honda Civic Type R, sending drive to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual.

Now pair that with wider wheels, stickier rubber, and the roof down and you have a recipe for motoring nirvana.

And yes, a louder exhaust would be a given.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio – Alex Misoyannis, Deputy News Editor

If only there was a wagon version of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, because I suspect a few of my colleagues might’ve picked one of these.

Combine the body of the most attractive four-door car on sale with a ripper Ferrari-derived twin-turbo V6, an epic exhaust note, a nicer interior in the latest models, and sedan practicality for an excellent daily driver.

Buy one new to access the full three-year/100,000km warranty – and my nearest Alfa Romeo dealer is only seven kilometres away. Sign me up.

Audi RS6 – Jordan Hickey, Journalist

It’s a cliché, but if there’s one car I’ll always default to when someone asks ‘what would you actually own?’, it’s the Audi RS6.

After I win the lotto, of course. A big 565-litre boot at one end with a twin-turbocharged 463kW/850Nm 4.0-litre V8 at the other end. It’s the ultimate daily driver, and I’m glad cars like this still exist. 

Porsche 992 GTS Targa – James Ward, Director of Content

To me, the Targa can do it all, brilliant on a sunny day, shielding when it rains, looks amazing, sounds amazing, and turns head with the fancy roof folding mechanism.

Let’s face it, I’m an old man now, so a 911 totally fits my vibe.

Porsche 911 GT3 – Tom Fraser, Journalist

Money no object, I’d be putting my name down for a Porsche 911 GT3 in a heartbeat. Nothing offers the raw experience of a racecar built for the road quite like a GT3 and I’ve been lucky enough to drive a few examples over the years.

To a lesser, more affordable extent, I’d love to own a Honda Civic Type R. It’s one of the best-driving cars under $100,000 and everything from the looks, the interior, and the technology appeals to me.

It’s clear that I’m still an enthusiast at heart with these two choices, perhaps 10 years into the future I’ll be eyeing off a Kia Carnival with envy.

Toyota Century – Kez Casey, Production Editor

This one stretches the dates a little, being introduced in 1997, but with production until 2017 the second-generation Toyota Century‘s blend of imposing, upright styling, and silky-smooth V12 engine is a brilliant mix.

It’s neither fast, nor particularly high-tech, and that’s okay. Tradition, comfort, and luxury matter here.

Anything built from 2005 onwards with the more civilised six-speed automatic, wool interior, and guard-mounted mirrors could find a happy home in my garage. All the more so in navy blue.

The post 2000-2024: The one car of the last 25 years we at Drive would actually buy appeared first on Drive.

While the styling hints at the Minis that have come before it, the new electric Cooper range is a very different critter. With a different dedicated EV platform compared to its petrol siblings, has the Mini spirit been maintained?

2025 Mini Cooper SE Favoured

Despite looking the same on the outside, and from the inside, Mini now offers two distinct versions of its Cooper hatch range.

Like before, petrol versions are built on BMW bones called the UKL1 platform. It’s an older chassis architecture used on the previous-generation Mini hatch range, while models like the Countryman use a larger UKL2 structure. The electric versions of the Cooper family are different, though. Rather than making an electric architecture fit a compact combustion-engine platform, Mini has turned to Great Wall Motors (GWM) for a co-developed architecture.

Does it make any material difference? A change in platform can sometimes make or break a vehicle, so we hit the road in the 2025 Mini Cooper SE Favoured to find out if the brand’s appealing dynamics and playful nature have been maintained for a new generation.

How much is a Mini Cooper electric?

With the new 2025 model, Mini has expanded the Cooper electric range. Last year Australian buyers could only access a single Cooper SE model with a paltry 222km claimed driving range. The new model comes in two variants, Cooper E and the sportier Cooper SE, with 271km and 362km of driving range (according to older NEDC testing) respectively.

The Cooper E starts from $53,990 plus on-road costs with a 135kW/290Nm motor, while the Cooper SE tested here kicks off from $58,990 and steps up to a 160kW/330Nm motor. An electric version of the high-performance Cooper JCW will arrive in Australia sometime in 2025.

Mini still offers the ‘classic’ combustion-engined Cooper S alongside, priced from $51,990 to $56,990 plus on-road costs. In this case you get a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine producing a slightly lower 150kW and 300Nm, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic sending power to the front wheels.

Comparing like-for-like, the Cooper SE Favoured wears a $58,990 sticker, while the Cooper S Favoured is $4000 less.

Even from the entry-level, all Mini Coopers come standard with autonomous emergency braking, cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert as well as front and rear parking sensors, a driver’s head-up display (but no traditional instrument cluster), and keyless entry and start.

Inside there’s a 9.4-inch circular infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six-speaker stereo, cloth and faux-leather trim, sports seats and steering wheel, and a wireless phone charger.

By moving up to the Cooper SE and its ‘Favoured’ trim level, extra features like a panoramic glass roof, 18-inch alloy wheels, full faux-leather seat trim, electric adjustable front seats with heating in sportier John Cooper Works design, 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio, 360-degree cameras, lane-keep assist, speed-sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control are also added.

Mini doesn’t have the trendy urban EV car park to itself, but its three-door form factor is somewhat unusual. Most competitors have opted for five-door practicality as either hatchbacks or compact SUVs.

The Jeep Avenger aims to bring classic Jeep design to the modern day (much like Mini has) and trades hard on that adventure heritage, even though the Avenger is a two-wheel-drive compact SUV. The $54,990 mid-spec Avenger Limited offers a 115kW/260Nm motor and 396km (WLTP) range.

If it’s Euro and retro you’re after, the Abarth 500e aims to deliver the throwback styling of the defining 1950s original in a package that’s altogether more premium and fashionable. The styling is a blend of retro chic and colourfully aggressive. Priced from $58,900, the sporty 500e gets a 114kW/235Nm motor and delivers a claimed 252km of range.

If the performance side of the Cooper SE is more appealing to you, the MG 4 XPower may not carry the badge cachet of the Mini, but for $55,900 you get a larger hatch with a longer 460km driving range and an insane 300kW/600Nm, although it may not be as dynamically adept as the Cooper SE.

The Mini is also positioned right in the heart of EV territory with models as diverse as the Tesla Model 3, Smart #1, Renault Megane E-Tech, and Hyundai Kona all vying for attention at similar price points.

How big is a Mini Cooper electric?

Make no mistake – the Mini is not big, but it’s hardly compact either. Well, in relative terms.

There’s no escaping this car’s footprint. The Mini is just 3858mm long, 1756mm wide, and 1460mm tall, with a 2526mm wheelbase. That makes it much smaller than something like a Toyota Corolla hatch (but just a little taller). The impact is then felt in the interior, although not as much as you might think.

Mini’s three-door form is a little unusual for a market that prefers five-door hatchbacks, but Mini’s designers have taken this as an opportunity to maximise front seat space. You sit a little low, but have decent head room, and even though the interior is narrow, it never feels too hemmed in.

The one dimension that’s lacking is the driver’s footwell. The front-wheel intrusion pushes the driver’s foot across, and drivers with big feet may find themselves brushing the brake when aiming for the accelerator.

Mini has removed the fold-down armrest from the previous-generation cars and replaced it with a fixed driver’s armrest attached to the seat. To me it looks and feels like something you’d find on a cheap office chair and felt too high, and often in the way when trying to manoeuvre.

The new interior design themes rely heavily on textiles and interesting surfacing, so you get a fabric-covered dash and door trims, lots of ambient lighting, air vents that look almost hidden (plus one that actually is hidden directly below the infotainment). The dash lighting is projected for a cool mottled effect, and the door pulls are large plastic slabs. The design detail they impart looks great in photos, but feels a bit like outdoor furniture to the touch.

Controls are largely run through the touchscreen, but physical buttons and dials for drive modes, volume and track skip, gear selector, and some climate functions are retained.

Door pockets are a good size, and the console offers a wireless charge pad and a pair of cupholders within easy reach. There’s a small lidded bin between the seats, but it opens toward the passenger and essentially blocks itself from the driver.

The rear seats are, naturally, on the smaller side. Access is via manual tilt and auto slide front seats to make getting in and out more spacious. The available entry space isn’t massive, but nimble adults can make it work. At 169cm I had enough room, and if your front passenger is polite enough they can free up workable knee room. Slightly taller occupants will fit too, but not too much taller.

Whereas the previous Mini has almost no knee room, this one works much better. It’s not seating you’ll want to use all the time, but it’s handy to have all the same. The rear seat is designed for two occupants, with a bump in the middle for some extra lateral support. There’s no rear armrest or ventilation into the rear, though.

The boot is very compact. At just 210 litres, the compact footprint of the boot floor offers just enough space between the backrest and boot to squeeze in a laptop bag. You’ll pop in a couple of grocery bags, or a quick shopping spree, but you’ll often need to fold the rear seats for more space.

Does the Mini Cooper electric have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

In an impressive point of difference from other new cars, Mini’s new generation of products features a circular infotainment screen – not just a square screen framed by a round housing, but an actual 9.4-inch circular display.

Within Mini’s Operating System 9 it looks great, with display elements configured to utilise the round display, and a series of ‘classic Mini’ throwbacks, like a full-size speedo that can be shown on the screen.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are offered via a wireless connection, though these show up square within the display, but the background wallpapers extend to fill out the space and make it look more integrated. The system also features FM and DAB radio, integrated satellite navigation with augmented-reality directions, and access to Mini Connected Services.

The Cooper SE also features a head-up display in lieu of a traditional instrument display – and this is handy as the speed info located at the top of the round screen feels just a little out of view.

The system is built on a version of BMW’s latest infotainment platform, and has a lot of deep-dive menus, although with a much simpler visual language, the icons in the Mini are far easier to interpret than those of a BMW. Most of the transitions and animations are smooth, although CarPlay did experience some interesting glitches at times, though only ever briefly.

The deep-dive work Mini has done to give this car its own visual identity is significant. Things like the power-use meter, which turns into a spinning daisy as the car recuperates energy, are neat touches that give a tip of the hat to the Mini brand’s pop culture emergence during the ’60s and ’70s.

The Cooper SE comes with three years of complimentary access to Mini Connected Services. Via a paired smartphone you can check your vehicle’s location, remotely lock or unlock doors, precondition the cabin, check range and charging status, and more. Mini then offers a range of services with variable pricing depending on what you’re after and how long you’re looking to sign up.

Is the Mini Cooper electric a safe car?

Neither Australian testing body ANCAP nor European affiliate Euro NCAP have crash-tested the new Mini range at the time of writing.

It’s important to note, too, that if this testing does take place, platform differences between the petrol and electric versions mean that results may differ between the two powertrain types.

What safety technology does the Mini Cooper electric have?

The previous-generation Mini Hatch didn’t exactly go overboard with safety and driver assist features, but this new model catches the Cooper up on the kind of tech you’d expect to see.

The Mini Cooper now comes with dual front airbags, front-seat side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, and a centre airbag between the front seats to prevent head-clashes in an accident.

Autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with safe exit alert, and rear cross-traffic alert and intervention are all standard on the Cooper SE.

Driver assist tech covers speed sign recognition (linked to the cruise control and speed limiter), adaptive cruise control with steering assist, tyre pressure monitoring, auto lights and wipers plus high-beam assist, and parking assistant to help you get into spaces and reversing assistant that recalls your moves into a space to make getting out of a space easier.

On the road, these systems really shine. It’s clear Mini’s parent company, BMW, puts a lot of time and effort into ensuring these systems are tuned to feel natural and complement, rather than clash with, the driver.

How much does the Mini Cooper electric cost to run?

Mini offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty on its vehicle range, although vehicles used commercially (as rentals or ride-share) are capped at 200,000km. The EV battery carries an eight-year/100,000km warranty – a match on time, but shorter on distance than most battery warranties that typically run to 160,000km.

Servicing can be accessed via either a four or six-year service plan. The four-year package is priced at $1200, while the six-year package is priced at $1775. Mini uses ‘condition based’ service intervals, which suggest maintenance when due rather than a set schedule. In most cases the likely interval will be every two years.

An annual insurance quote came to $1860 from a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

What is the range of a Mini Cooper electric?

The Mini Cooper E runs a smaller 41kWh battery, but the more powerful Cooper SE uses a larger 54kWh lithium-ion battery, and Mini quotes two different driving range figures. Under the WLTP standard used by most brands, Mini claims a 402km range, but under the NEDC test cycle (an older test method) there’s 362km of claimed range.

In my time with the car consumption was lower than claimed, returning 13.5 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometres versus 14.1kWh/100km as claimed. My time was spent doing the typical run to and from work in slow, but still moving, traffic. The weekend saw some more enthusiastic driving on the open road, but still nothing that dented range significantly.

Charging speed is capped at a low-ish 95kW, but given the small size of the battery, a higher peak charge rate may not make a huge impact by the time charging ramps up and down as the battery fills. At 95kW, Mini says charge times should be 30 minutes from 0–80 per cent. On a 50kW charger, a full charge would take an estimated one hour and 10 minutes, or around 53 minutes to 80 per cent.

Because of the relatively small battery, charge times on even slow chargers aren’t particularly long, making it easy to grab charge and go on the road. At home, a 3.6kW (on a 16-amp power point) charger could see around 65 per cent of charge replenished in 10 hours. Enough to keep you running day to day without the need to install a dedicated charger.

What is the Mini Cooper electric like to drive?

Modern Mini cars have built a reputation for being agile and fun to drive. It’s a big part of the traditional Mini appeal, but with an electric motor in place of a petrol engine and traditional transmission, does that reputation live on?

In most ways, yes. The Mini Cooper SE still has a playfulness to the way it drives. It doesn’t hide the fact it’s front-wheel drive, but it has been carefully honed and set up to deliver the best of what that means.

The 160kW electric motor feels strong, and yet it’s never unruly. You can slingshot between bends without spinning up an inside wheel, or pushing into unchecked understeer.

The Cooper SE feels pert off the line, but not slingshot fast. You get a moment of scrambling off the line – playful rather than out of hand. It’s also set to behave much like other BMW Group EVs with a surprisingly strong punch if you ask for overtaking urge at 70 or 80km/h. Almost imitating the kickdown of a traditional transmission.

The EV-style features of adjustable regen, through three steps plus an adaptive mode, are available. There’s also a B mode, which prioritises brake regeneration, and this can be used as a one-pedal drive mode, with a nice smooth control. The handover from regen braking to physical brakes at low speeds can feel a little notchy, and the brakes are often noisy when operated at low speeds.

For anyone heading cross-country, road noise is well managed. High-pitched noises are filtered out (the annoying ones) but lower rumbles still make their way in, though not in any way that’s unbearable.

Ride quality is firm, which pays to keep in mind. It’s not stiff or rough, but it will thump over some bumps and dips in a very unflattering way. The upside is level cornering and good resistance to diving and squatting when braking and accelerating.

The only iconic Mini aspect that hasn’t fully survived the transition to this new platform is the steering. It’s still quick and nimble, but it feels a little dull. The fine feedback and adjustability of earlier Minis are missing.

Dial through Mini’s ‘experience modes’ and you might recognise some of the kitsch names as more familiar drive modes. There’s Core (normal), Green (or eco), and Go Kart (sport mode once upon a time), but then there’s also Balance, Timeless, and Vivid modes that are more about the infotainment and ambient lighting situation than they are about the driving.

Go Kart gives a cheeky ‘wahoo!’ cry when selected, and definitely wakes the Cooper SE up. You’ll find the acceleration more willing and the steering just a little weightier to enhance that expected Mini-ness.

Should I buy a Mini Cooper electric?

Brimming with personality, packed with fun design features, and still as enjoyable on the road as it’s ever been, the new Mini is a lot like the old Mini, just in a more tech-forward package.

The image a Mini Cooper conveys is paramount, and the new Mini delivers. Although the electric version may not be as closely related as its styling might suggest, Mini has meticulously woven its DNA into the car, and that hard work pays off.

With a design direction that screams Mini, and a focus on driving dynamics, the new Cooper SE easily slots into the Cooper S legacy. While it may not be the most versatile or powerful EV available for the money, it is one of the more eye-catching and what it lacks in space it makes up for in attitude.

For urban thrill-seekers looking to prioritise fun in a compact package, the three-door Mini well and truly delivers to the brief.

How do I buy a Mini Cooper electric? The next steps.

Mini dealers have a strong buffer of stock already, so arranging a test drive shouldn’t be a problem. But if you have your heart set on a particular colour, you may have to wait a few weeks for delivery.

If an electric Mini appeals to you, you can find the full range of Mini electric vehicles for sale on Drive Marketplace. If you’d like to discuss colour and trim options, or arrange a test drive, you can do so at your nearest Mini dealer.

If you want to stay updated with everything that’s happened to this car since our review, you’ll find all the latest news here.

The post 2025 Mini Cooper SE review appeared first on Drive.

Plenty of new cars joined Australian showrooms in 2024 – but no shortage of models departed, including a few fan favourites.

An unprecedented number of new-car brands are destined for Australia over the next 12 months, which are set to make the local market one of the busiest in the world.

But as new manufacturers – and new models – arrive, it’s natural for others to depart.

Here is a list of every car cut from Australia in 2024, either in the form of its production run ending this year – or its maker confirming the vehicle will soon reach the end of the road.

Is there a car we’ve missed? And which cars will you be sad to see go? Let us know in the comments.

Audi A4 range

The Audi A4 badge debuted in Australia in 1995 as the brand’s renamed rival for the BMW 3 Series, but it will soon meet its end.

Not that Audi is vacating the mid-size car class, however.

The A4 and A5 will merge for the next-generation range, feeding in the A4 sedan, A4 Avant wagon, A5 Sportback, A5 coupe and A5 Cabriolet, and spitting out an all-new A5 Sedan – which, despite its name, has a Sportback-like hatchback tailgate – and A5 Avant wagon.

Also reaching the end of the road are the S4 and RS4 high-performance derivatives, though a new S5 has already been unveiled – and is due in Australia in the first half of 2025, alongside the A5 – and a new RS5 is coming.

If the A4 is to return, it will be an electric vehicle, under Audi’s new naming structure.

Since the start of 1998 – when detailed records still accessible to media begin – close to 56,500 Audi A4 sedans and wagons have been sold in Australia, plus an estimated 1300 A4 convertibles in the early 2000s, before the open-top became the A5.

MORE: 2025 Audi A5 revealed – A4 replacement coming to Australia, including S5
MORE: All of our Audi A4 coverage in one click

Citroen

Orders for new Citroen vehicles in Australia closed on 1 November 2024 after 101 years – the longest continuously-running car brand in the country.

History books will show the brand exited showrooms with four models – the C3 city hatch, C4 small SUV, C5 Aircross mid-size SUV, and C5 X high-riding hatchback/wagon – which have recorded 144 sales over 11 months in 2024.

Over the past 26 years, Citroen has reported 36,201 new vehicles as sold. Toyota has delivered more new RAV4 SUVs in the past seven months alone.

Its best year on record was 2007, when 3803 vehicles were reported as sold – with the C4, then a hatchback, accounting for two in five of those.

MORE: Citroen to leave Australian new-car market, ending 101-year history
MORE: All of our Citroen coverage in one click

Ford Puma

Ford Australia continued its cull of cars that aren’t utes, vans, heavy-duty SUVs, or models with a Mustang badge in 2024 when it discontinued the Puma.

The Romanian-built city SUV won the Drive Car of the Year Best Light SUV award three years in a row – 2023, 2022 and 2021 – but it has been one of the slowest sellers in its category since launch in late 2020.

Ford has reported 9089 Puma SUVs as sold since its introduction – compared to about 60,000 Mazda CX-3s over the same period.

When the petrol Puma’s discontinuation was announced in February 2024, the US car giant said the electric Puma Gen-E was still planned for local showrooms, but plans to sell the battery-powered version were later scrapped.

MORE: Ford Puma Gen-E electric car – plug pulled for Australia
MORE: Petrol-powered Ford Puma axed in Australia
MORE: All of our Ford Puma coverage in one click

Jaguar E-Pace, I-Pace, XE, XF and F-Type

The relaunch of the Jaguar brand – with a range of boldly-styled electric cars sold at higher prices, aimed at Bentley and Porsche rather than BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – is underway.

As part of the plan, Jaguar’s current line-up will be axed, and five of the six models the company sells – the E-Pace small SUV, I-Pace mid-size electric SUV, XE and XF sedans, and F-Type sports car – were shelved in 2024.

All five are still listed on the Jaguar Australia website, but global production has ended, and the only cars available are those left in dealer stock.

The F-Pace – the brand’s top seller – has exited production in the UK, but is set to continue to be built for other markets in limited numbers until early 2026.

It is yet to be confirmed how long it will last in Australia, but the SUV is still available to configure on the company’s local website.

Over their lives, Jaguar Australia has sold 5811 XFs (since 2008), 1162 F-Types (since 2013), 4332 XEs (since 2015), 5238 F-Paces (since 2016), 3710 E-Paces (since 2018) and just 377 I-Paces (since 2018).

MORE: Jaguar reveals radical new electric car after controversial rebrand
MORE: What is going on at Jaguar?
MORE: All of our Jaguar coverage in one click

Kia Cerato

The Kia Cerato name is set to disappear from Australian showrooms in the coming months, after more than two decades.

Kia’s next-generation small car will switch to the K4 name, aligning it with the K3, K5 and K8 models sold by the brand overseas.

Since the Cerato name debuted in mid-2004, more than 202,000 vehicles have been reported as sold locally with that badge – across hatchbacks, sedans and coupes – about 30,000 cars ahead of Kia’s second-best-selling nameplate in Australia, the defunct Rio city car.

MORE: 2025 Kia K4 sedan – Cerato successor one step closer to Australia, hatch to follow
MORE: All of our Kia Cerato coverage in one click

Lamborghini Huracan

As with the Kia Cerato, the Lamborghini Huracan name is disappearing from showrooms, but the vehicle will be replaced by a new-generation model wearing a different badge: Temerario.

Powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 assisted by electric motors, the Temerario lacks the V10 of its predecessor, but makes up for it with more power, improved performance and the promise of sharper handling.

VFACTS sales reports published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries do not split Lamborghini supercar sales by model.

Instead, the data lists 890 vehicles as sold since the start of the Huracan’s first full year – 2015 – across the Huracan, its Gallardo predecessor, and the larger Aventador and Revuelto model lines.

MORE: Lamborghini Huracan V10 sold out, hybrid V8 replacement coming
MORE: 2025 Lamborghini Temerario revealed with plug-in hybrid V8
MORE: All of our Lamborghini Huracan coverage in one click

LDV V80

One of Australia’s oldest new cars, the LDV V80 is planned to end production this year before autonomous emergency braking – safety technology te van lacks – becomes mandatory for new light-commercial vehicles in March 2025.

The V80 was launched in Australia with the LDV brand in 2013, but it can trace its origins to 2004 – when LDV was an independent British brand, rather than Chinese-owned – and earned a two-star safety rating in 2015, before the addition of electronic stabilty control elevated it to three stars.

Since 2014 – when LDV sales began to be published under then-new distributor Ateco – 4839 examples of the V80 van have been reported as sold locally, as well as 112 examples of the now-defunct V80 bus.

It will not be directly replaced, with LDV instead fielding the similarly-sized G10 – now a nine-year-old design that is soon to be updated – and latest-generation Deliver 7 launched in 2024.

MORE: LDV V80 van to be axed in Australia
MORE: All of our LDV V80 coverage in one click

Maserati Ghibli, Levante and Quattroporte

Maserati’s oldest models – the Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans, and Levante large SUV – departed Australian showrooms in 2024.

Production of the Ghibli and Quattroporte is understood to have ended closer to the end of 2023, but the final examples reached showrooms in 2024, alongside the end of the Levante.

The Ghibli and Quattroporte are set to merge into a new electric sedan sized similarly to the former – with the name of the latter – while an electric Levante is also planned, but their launches have been pushed back from 2025, to 2028 and 2027 respectively.

The outgoing Quattroporte introduced in 2013 is the sixth generation of the badge since 1963, while the other two models are the first generations of each nameplate.

VFACTS sales data shows 2342 Levantes (since 2016), 368 Quattroportes (since 2013, when sales data began to be reported), and 1860 Ghiblis (since 2014).

MORE: Australia’s last new rear-wheel drive V8 sedan about to be sold by Maserati
MORE: All of our Maserati coverage in one click

Mini Clubman

The final examples of Mini’s unconventional six-door hatch – the Clubman – rolled off the production line in early 2024, amid a range-wide overhaul for the company’s line-up.

About 1.1 million examples were produced for global markets since the nameplate debuted in 1969, though the modern version was not introduced until 2007, under BMW’s ownership of the brand.

The first modern Clubman was a five-door – two front-side door, one rear-side door on the right side of the car, and two rear ‘barn doors’ to access the boot – before the latest version added a second rear-side door, for a total of six.

Mini Clubman sales in Australia were grouped with the regular Mini hatch range until the end of 2013.

Since 2014 – a year before the second modern generation was launched – 3191 Clubmans have been reported as sold, including 514 in its best year, 2016.

The Clubman has been indirectly replaced by the Mini Aceman, a five-door electric hatch-styled-SUV that is larger than the conventional five-door Mini, but smaller than the Clubman, and without its characteristic rear barn doors.

MORE: Final Mini Clubman built after 1.1 million sales
MORE: All of our Mini Clubman coverage in one click

Peugeot 508

The Peugeot 508 was cut from Australian showrooms in September 2024, as part of a reshuffle of the French brand’s range that saw it axe all plug-in hybrids, and delay plans for new electric vehicles.

The latest-generation 508 launched in 2019 with a single 1.6-litre petrol-only variant priced from $53,990 before on-road costs, but in the following five years the line-up went plug-in hybrid only, priced from $82,915.

This pricing was a vast departure from the previous 508, which limboed to $36,990 at points in its life – as well as its predecessors, such as the 407 and 607.

MORE: Peugeot 508 axed in Australia
MORE: All of our Peugeot 508 coverage in one click

Porsche 718 petrol

The petrol-powered Porsche 718 twins – the Boxster convertible and Cayman coupe – have been on sale in their current generations for close to a decade, but the end of the road has come, orders closing locally in May 2024.

For Australia and Europe, at least – the latter axed due to the 718 not meeting new cybersecurity rules – with production for the US market set to continue into 2025.

The next 718 will be an electric vehicle, launching first in convertible form, but recent reports suggest the new model previously planned for a 2025 launch is “well behind schedule”.

MORE: Porsche 718 – petrol Boxster and Cayman dropped ahead of electric replacements
MORE: All of our Porsche 718 coverage in one click

Porsche Macan petrol

As with the 718, order books for the petrol-powered Porsche Macan closed in Australia in May 2024 – at a similar time to Europe – with dealer stock expected to last the SUV until close to the middle of 2025.

It has been replaced by an electric vehicle, with a starting price $33,000 higher than that of the outgoing petrol version.

While the transition from petrol to electric in Australia will see the latter arrive as the former is discontinued, there will be more overlap in markets such as the US.

MORE: Petrol-powered Porsche Macan, 718 Boxster and Cayman axed to make way for electric models
MORE: All of our Porsche Macan coverage in one click

Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series V8

The 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 in the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series is technically just a model variant – rather than an entire model line – but such is its significance to Australia that we are mentioning it here, rather than the model grade section below.

Toyota’s last V8 in Australia, the single-turbo ‘1VD-FTV’ has been offered in the 70 Series since 2007, and has gained a cult following.

Production of V8 versions of the LandCruiser 76 Series wagon, 78 Series Troop Carrier, and 79 Series cab-chassis in WorkMate and GX grades ended in September 2024.

The 79 Series GXL is not planned to follow until the fourth quarter of 2025 (October to December), but its demise was announced in 2024, so it earns a place on this list.

Sales of the 70 Series will continue, but with a smaller – although more powerful – 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine.

MORE: Official – Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series V8 axed
MORE: All of our Toyota LandCruiser coverage in one click

Honourable mentions

A number of vehicles saw particular model grades axed in 2024, even if other variants in the range will remain on sale into 2025 and beyond. These include, but are not limited to:

• Aston Martin DBX, regular variant
• Audi A1 30 TFSI
• Audi A5 Coupe and Cabriolet
• Bentley Continental GT, Flying Spur V8 non-hybrids
• BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
• BMW 320i, 330e
• Chery Omoda 5 GT
• Genesis GV80 diesel
• Honda Civic VTi LX
• LDV D90 diesel
• Lexus ES250
• Mazda 2 Pure, plus manual
• Mazda CX-3 Sport
• Mazda MX-5 RF base model, plus base automatic Roadster
• Peugeot 308 wagon
• Peugeot 308, 408 and 3008 plug-in hybrids
• Non-hybrid variants: Toyota RAV4, Kluger, Yaris Cross, C-HR, Corolla Cross, Camry, Corolla and Yaris (excluding GR performance models)

The post Every car discontinued in Australia in 2024 appeared first on Drive.

From mythical creatures to complicated numbers, these road signs found around the world can lead to your head aching if you’re not a local.

Despite an abundance of universal road signs that are straightforward, some countries occasionally have some signage that can leave anyone without local or insider knowledge scratching their heads.

To the uninitiated, Australia’s eclectic mix of signage – ranging from warnings about camels, bandicoots, wombats, and kangaroos and the like to those aimed at tackling driver fatigue – would be enough to intimidate even some of the most seasoned drivers.

RELATED: ‘Normal in Australia’: The local road signs baffling tourists

With this in mind, Drive has compiled a list of some of the funniest, unique and downright confusing road signs around the world shared on social media.

Here’s what we found.

Cape Town, South Africa: Beware of penguins under your car  

If you’re thinking about travelling to South Africa, there are some road signs warning drivers to look under their parked cars before leaving as there’s a chance a penguin could be hiding under the vehicle.

For example, this signage found in the Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town warns visitors to keep an eye out for the flightless bird.

While this might seem fake, a local Cape Town driver shared a photo of this occurring in a viral Reddit thread from 2021.

In the photo, the penguin can be seen hunched over and seeking shelter under a vehicle, much to the amusement of commenters.

“Don’t judge, do you have any idea how hard it is to be a penguin, my dude just needs an escape, if only for a few hours,” one Reddit user added, while another remarked “That’s more cool than annoying, I would feel [honoured]”.

Similar warning signs can be found in Phillip Island, Victoria, where the local penguin colony is a popular tourist attraction.

Alabama, US: Who? What? Where?

While most drivers are used to clear and concise directions, this specific road sign found in the southern US state of Alabama reads more like a complicated equation than a simple guide.

The signage mixes a range of directions, and seemingly random numbers as well as sprinkling of words such as “business” and ”trucks”.

Despite similar signs around the US circulating on social media, this example was spotted in Alabama and uploaded to Reddit, with some locals and commenters sharing their opinions about the convoluted signage.  

“It is kinda crazy to expect someone driving along to ingest that all at a glance,” one user wrote.

“I have driven through that intersection several times. Glad to see someone finally posted this ridonculous [sic] collection of signs,” another one added.

“This is why people end up in Alabama, they can’t find their way out,” a Reddit user stated.

However, one Reddit user did break down the confusing road signs when they explained: “You just locate the road number and direction that you need and follow its sign. If your road and direction show up twice, and one is labelled ‘business’, that is going to be the slower route, which will take you through a more densely populated area with more traffic lights and such”.

“The non-business route will largely bypass that sort of thing,” they added.

Palermo, Italy: The math ain’t mathing

Speaking of complicated equations, this sign spotted on an unspecified stretch of road in Palermo, Italy – the capital city of Sicily – warned drivers of incoming road closures in its native tongue, which is made more confusing for visiting drivers by the inclusion of seemingly nonsensical numbers.

The photo was posted to the social media platform Reddit on October 2024, where the original poster explained: “Traveling in Italy. What do these signs mean?”.

One commenter added: “I know what a white sign with a red edge means, but I’m sure this sign means more than that”.

To save you the headache, the signage loosely translates as ‘road closed to traffic from 15+350 to 15+650’. To avoid any further confusion, the warning sign notes that in 15km, there will be a 300m stretch of road that is closed from its starting point of 350m at the end of the 15km.

Iowa, US: Swifties save lives

While road authorities’ main focus is saving lives, some transport departments aren’t exempt from jumping on witty pop culture references to make their road safety messages more memorable.

In the case of Iowa’s Department of Transport, workers have previously capitalised on the notoriety of singer Taylor Swift by cheekily embedding her lyrics on highway signs warning drivers to focus on the road ahead.

One billboard photographed in 2017 went viral on social media after a driver snapped the highway sign that read: “Old Taylor can’t come to the phone… she’s driving” – which drew inspiration from one of Swift’s best-known songs Look What You Made Me Do.

Despite various state transport authorities jumping in on pop culture trends over the years, the US Federal Highway Administration previously condemned the idea of using humorous and obscure pop culture references for road safety signage across the country.

According to a January 2024 report by US news outlet AP News, the Federal Road authority said signs should be “simple, direct, brief, legible and clear” when sharing important safety information with drivers.

Scotland, UK: Kraken jokes

Despite an abundance of unique animal warning signs found on local roads across Australia, this one located in the coastal Scottish village of Tongue might be the most confusing for tourists.

Depicting an octopus playing with the silhouette of a car, the unique road sign can be found at the Kyle of Tongue Bridge, with the image going viral on Facebook.

One tourist who snapped the photo posted it to the social media platform where it generated more than 12,000 likes and was shared 5000 times, with most commenters likening the depiction to the mythical colossal squid, the Kraken.

“So that’s where the Kraken lives!” one Facebook user stated, while another commenter added: “I thought Krakens liked warmer waters!”. However, the meaning of the signage is a little less mythical and more mundane, with the road sign warning drivers they are driving close to the sea.

The post ‘More cool than annoying’: The weirdest road signs surprising tourists around the world appeared first on Drive.

While keeping your car clean is not a legal requirement in Australia, it’s considered an offence in other countries around the world, with some penalties ranging from $40 to $1284.

In November 2024, a Victorian man went viral on social media after being fined for driving a vehicle overloaded with rubbish and obscuring his view of the road.

According to a 9 News report, the motorist drew the attention of Victoria Police after officers discovered the driver’s view was limited to a small makeshift hole in the sea clutter in his van.

RELATED: The country where it’s mandatory to pick up hitchhikers

“Police weren’t even sure if the driver had seen them, given the lack of visibility out of his front windscreen,” 9 News said.

“The van was covered with rubbish and held by duct tape, with only a tiny hole for the driver to see out of,” the report added.

The 65-year-old driver was issued a defect notice after Victoria Police found the Mercedes-Benz van had not been registered in three years while the motorist had an unregistered licence.

While there’s no Australian road rule mandating drivers to always keep their cars clean, it’s a different story in the Middle Eastern countries of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to the Royal Oman Police, “driving with a vehicle that is dirty internally and/or externally” is considered an offence and can lead to an OMR10 ($AUD40) fine.

Additionally, drivers in Oman can also be penalised for having an “unclear view through the rear window due to dirt or obstacles hindering the view” and any guilty driver can be hit with an OMR10 penalty.

While Omani road authorities didn’t definitively state why these road rules are required, local and overseas reports claim cleanliness is a significant part of local culture, which is why pollution, such as littering, abandoned vehicles, or dirty cars, is a fineable offence.

It’s a similar story in Oman’s neighbouring country of the United Arab Emirates, where drivers can get penalised for leaving dirty vehicles in public spaces.

According to the local news outlet Khaleej Times, drivers in the capital city of Abu Dhabi, as well as Dubai, can be fined AED500 ($AUD214) for violating the road rule.

In more severe cases, drivers can also be fined AED3000 ($AUD1284) or have their vehicles impounded if the car is left abandoned in public spaces for an extended period of time.

Additionally, the local newspaper said Municipal officials in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafara region claimed the road rule was put in place “to prevent any health hazards and not tarnish the aesthetic appearance of the city”.

To enforce the rule, daily inspections are conducted by local officers, and any driver found to violate this road rule is given a 15-day gracing period to clean their vehicle or risk getting their car impounded.

The road rule was introduced in July 2019, with some residents previously sharing their experiences with Khaleej Times.

“I was surprised when I returned to Dubai [after going on vacation], I got a fine of DH500 for not keeping my car clean,” one local explained.

“I parked my car near my house, and there was no one to take care of it. Now, before travelling, I will leave my car at the office and give the key to one of my colleagues. The parking is indoors, and my car will not collect dust while I’m away,” they added.

The post ‘A $1200 fine?’: The countries where it’s illegal to have a dirty car appeared first on Drive.

The last quarter century of automotive history have seen a number of nameplates disappear from the landscape. Here are the ones that hit Drive the hardest.

A lot can happen in 25 years, and looking back from now to the turn of the century, the automotive landscape hasn’t been immune to shifting consumer tastes or financial woes.

And because of such a volatile market, it means models, and even full brands, have felt the squeeze and had to be retired to make way for changing appetites.

Here are the saddest automotive demises of the last 25 years according to the Drive team.

Holden Commodore – Tom Fraser, Journalist

How can you not be heartbroken about the loss of local manufacturing and the humble Holden Commodore? A nameplate that ran for 42 years, the Commodore was a huge reason behind my love of cars and it’s clear I’m not the only one.

I loved how Holden continually put effort into fine-tuning the Commodore, and it’s true what they say – the final generation VF Series II was genuinely a world-class car.

I count myself lucky that I was a part of the automotive media industry while the Commodore was around. Being able to drive and test the car on home turf was hugely special and it gave me a newfound appreciation for Australia’s engineering, design, and manufacturing prowess.

Ford Falcon – Ben Zachariah, Journalist

It could well be argued that the Holden Commodore is the saddest model to disappear over the past 25 years, but I’m going to name the Ford Falcon as taking the title.

While Ford of Europe was always treated as the misunderstood intellectual sibling by Detroit, Ford’s Australian arm was treated like an ugly cousin.

In many ways, Ford Australia did a better job with new models than those that came out of Michigan, but vehicles like the Falcon and Territory were never appreciated enough or given the opportunity to thrive on a global scale.

There’s zero doubt in my mind the Falcon XR6 Turbo and XR8 would have found popularity on US soil with both civilians and law enforcement alike – if marketed correctly. But it was killed off, and without that threat looming, Holden soon cancelled the Commodore – leading to the demise of one of the greatest rivalries in automotive history.

Kia Stinger – Jordan Hickey, Journalist

Like many others, the Kia Stinger was a victim of ‘right car, wrong time’.

Similar to sister brand Hyundai’s i30 N hot hatch released at a similar time, the Stinger was a sudden change for the brand, introducing a rear-wheel-drive sedan with a twin-turbocharged V6 to the market.

While the Stinger did well in Australia relative to its closest competitors – amid the rise of hugely-popular SUVs and utes – with use as a highway patrol vehicle in some states to fill the void left by the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon V8s, it sold in modest numbers globally.

Kia pulled the plug in 2022, five years after its introduction, without a successor. 

Not only was the Stinger itself a cool car, but it also had a cool name far more interesting than the likes of EV6 (Electric Vehicle Number 6?) or K4 (Kia Number 4?). Here’s hoping Kia brings the Stinger name back, electric or not.

Saab – James Ward, Director of Content

Everyone wants something different, and Saab was that for people.

Over its run, Saab showed countless times that it considered drivers and style more than it looked for outright mass appeal favouritism.

Even today, clever features that we saw in 900s and 9000s are missing from modern cars.

The thoughtful nature of Scandinavian design and engineering ensured architects and advertising executives always felt at home in a roll-neck sweater.

Has Polestar stepped in to fill the void to be the Saab of tomorrow?

Ford Territory – James Ward, Director of Content

Australia’s own SUV remains one of the most comfortable and dynamically capable vehicles ever to have been produced for the SUV market.

It was flexible, stylish, and filled with clever features (coin trays and split rear window, the standouts).

The loss of local manufacturing at the time focused on Falcon and Commodore, but given large car buyers were already diminishing in significant numbers, the real loss was the Territory SUV that was killed at a time when the segment was still in its boom phase.

Vale Territory.

Saab – Alex Misoyannis, Deputy News Editor

Plus one on James’ answer here.

Saab did things differently. You could argue it didn’t do things successfully, given where the brand ended up, but the Swedish firm departed showrooms with a long history of interesting design, engineering and, when its parent company’s bean counters weren’t micromanaging it, genuine innovation.

How many other car companies have named a sports car after a fighter jet?

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X – Kez Casey, Production Editor

While it may not be the first thing to come to mind for most, Mitsubishi’s final Evolution model painted a picture of a bigger shift, away from sedans, and away from affordable performance.

With the Evolution line tracing its way back to real rally competition cars, multiple Evo generations punched above their weight when it came to ability.

There was a halo effect for Mitsubishi too – just look at the number of look-alike Lancers you still see today that weren’t real Evos.

While cars like the WRX and Civic Type R still exist, the former hasn’t kept pace, while the latter is priced as a premium product.

Add to that the dwindling number of small hatches and sedan as SUVs take over and the Evo X paints a picture of better times for driving enthusiasts.

The post 2000-2024: The saddest car demises of the last 25 years according to Drive appeared first on Drive.

Kia Australia will boldly enter the dual-cab ute market in 2025, alongside the launch of its most affordable electric car yet – models which could see the brand move into second place on the sales charts.

The hotly-anticipated 2025 Kia Tasman ute – the car maker’s first dual-cab ute to tackle the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux – arrives in Australia in 2025, as part of what is tipped to be a record year for the brand.

Due in July next year, the diesel-powered Tasman is strongly focused on the Australian customer and follows utes from other brands – such as Ford and Toyota – in being tested Down Under.

The first vehicle to arrive in Australia with a Kia badge was the 1991 Kia Ceres, a cab-chassis light truck imported privately, with the Kia Mentor small car and Sportage SUV formally launching the brand locally in 1997.

Yet Kia’s global transformation in the past decade, culminating with a new logo in 2022 after its product revolution came with a more upmarket, stylish persona.

The Tasman is looking to mix that style with muddy boots, cattle dogs and wide-brimmed hats in a way the brand hasn’t attempted before.

“The expressive design that we’ve created is obviously – with the market being so well established – had to be something new,” Kia’s Vice President of Next Exterior Design, John Buckingham, told local media including Drive at the unveiling of the Tasman’s unconventional styling.

Given the best-selling vehicle in Australia for much of the past decade has been a dual-cab ute – in the form of the Toyota HiLux and more recently the Ford Ranger – even minor success in the segment could push Kia into new sales territory.

Kia pipped Hyundai – with both brands part of the Hyundai Motor Group – in the Australian sales race in 2023 by less than 1000 cars, doing so despite falling just short of its best annual sales figure, with 77,830 deliveries in 2022.

MORE: Designer reveals why 2025 Kia Tasman ute looks so different

Kia streaked further ahead to be almost 10,000 deliveries clear of Hyundai in 2024, to the end of November.

After sitting outside the Top 10 a decade ago, Kia now sits in fourth position behind leaders Toyota, Ford and Mazda – all of which have a dual-cab ute in showrooms.

While Toyota – whose sales double next-best Ford, and every other brand in Australia – would remain on top without its popular HiLux, Ford would tumble down the order without its Ranger.

Together with the Everest SUV – which uses the same fundamental underpinnings and engines – the Ranger made up 89 per cent of Ford Australia sales in the first 11 months of 2024.

The HiLux – including its SUV spin-off, the Fortuner – made up almost 24 per cent of the brand’s total sales over the same period.

Mazda is the least reliant on its dual-cab ute, with an updated BT-50 coming in 2025 after it made up nearly 16 per cent of its sales – around 1200 BT-50s a month.

Kia is looking to take around a 10 per cent slice of Australia’s annual ute market, meaning between 20,000 and 25,000 Tasman sales.

If Kia comes close to that figure, it would elevate the brand easily into second place overall above both Mazda and Ford and make it only the fifth brand in history to sell 100,000 vehicles in a calendar year.

Kia Australia says an SUV based on the Tasman would also be a worthy potential addition to Australian showrooms, given the Ford Everest’s success, but such a vehicle is not confirmed to be in development.

Yet the Tasman isn’t the only lever Kia will pull in its 2025 showroom showdown.

The brand’s best-seller locally – the family-sized Sportage SUV – will be updated in 2025, with the refreshed version revealed ahead of its arrival in Australia by the middle of the year.

Meanwhile, the existing Sportage is on course for a record year in 2024 – beating its previous best set in 2022 – and head off arch-rival Mazda CX-5 in the process.

Kia will also bolster its line-up with the K4 small car – the successor to the Kia Cerato – launching initially as a petrol-powered sedan sometime between January and March 2025, with a hatch version expected at a later date.

The car maker’s electric line-up will also be bolstered after the delayed late 2024 arrival of the Kia EV5 – a Tesla Model Y rival – following quality issues discovered after the arrival of the first batch of cars that forced an 11th-hour hold-up.

More battery-powered models are on the way with Kia’s electric-car sales in Australia up 24 per cent year-to-date – compared to a 3.1 per cent increase for the broader market.

Yet Kia Australia told Drive local new-car showrooms have hit the limit of ‘early adopters’ with electric-car sales a ‘slow burn’.

Despite this, it said it must sell more electric cars with the introduction of Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) in 2025 – and the EV5 enables it to sell the diesel-powered Tasman under the new rules.

The EV3 small electric SUV – similar in size to the Kia Seltos currently in showrooms – and is due here in March or April 2025 with pricing yet to be announced, but at an estimated $50,000 is likely to see it the most affordable electric Kia yet.

The EV6 is due to be given a facelift in 2025, including an updated EV6 GT performance version – the fastest car from Kia – due alongside the wider range in the first months of the year.

The post 2025 Kia Tasman ute hoped to rocket South Korean brand up Australian sales charts appeared first on Drive.

There are countless big things to see in towns across Australia, from fruit to animals and even beer bottles. Which one is your favourite?

Is there anything more Australian than going on a summer road trip and seeing a ‘big thing’ along the way?

Our love of these now iconic structures is said to go back to the 1960s when sights like the Big Banana were first put on the map.

Nowadays, it has become something of a cult phenomenon to track them down, with Aussies trying to tick as many off their list as possible on their holidays.

While some big things still serve a purpose, many are simply a way to liven up a dull drive, or a handy place to stop for a rest break.

There are thought to be hundreds of big things across Australia, though the exact number is unknown as some aren’t as well publicised as others, or aren’t considered big enough.

Here are some of the most widely recognised big things in each state and territory.

Which is your favourite? Vote in our poll below and tell us why in the comments.

Queensland

Big Pineapple

The Big Pineapple was opened in 1971 on the Sunshine Plantation, which is located between Noosa and Caloundra on the Nambour Connection Road at Woombye.

In its heyday, the 16m-tall fibreglass pineapple attracted more than one million visitors a year, according to Australian Traveller.

The site is open daily, and while there is no fee to visit, to ride the tourist train there is a $100 charge, as well as separate costs to visit the accompanying zoo and Tree Top Challenge course.

There’s also a small on-site cafe and shop.

Big Kangaroo

‘Matilda’ the nine-foot kangaroo has found multiple homes over the years, after making her debut at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in which she delighted crowds by turning her head, winking and releasing hundreds of ‘joeys’ in the form of small children from her pouch, reports Land of the Bigs.

Today she is located at the Caltex Traveston service station, just off the Bruce Highway.

While there’s nothing to do here as such, there’s the servo and fast food chains so it’s an easy place to stop and take a look or have a rest.

Big Cane Toad

The Big Cane Toad, nicknamed ‘Buffy’ by locals, is located along the Bruce Highway in the town of Sarina on Queensland’s central coast.

It’s a fibreglass construction created in honour of the large, poisonous toad that is commonly found in the region, having been introduced to Australia as a pest-control method – though ironically has become a pest in itself, according to Big4 Holidays Parks’s website.

Golden Gumboot

The Golden Gumboot was opened in 2003 as part of a ‘wettest town’ competition held between the neighbouring towns of Tully, Innisfail and Babinda in Far North Queensland.

It’s a 7.9m-high fibreglass structure, which – unlike some other big things – you can climb up via a spiral staircase to get a view of the town of Tully.

There aren’t any other amenities on-site, but because it’s located in Butler Street in the town centre there are plenty of places to eat nearby.

Big Bull

The Big Bull – or six of them rather – is in Rockhampton. The statues are scattered across the city,  which claims to be the beef capital of Australia. 

One of these – the Brahman Bull – can be seen on the roundabout joining the A1 and A4 south of Rockhampton, having been erected there in 2000, while others date back as far as 1978, according to Queensland.com.

Big Easel

The Big Easel is a giant 25m-high depiction of Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers painting, finished in 1999 and is the world’s biggest version of it according to Australian Traveller.

The structure is a nod to the region’s history as a major producer of sunflowers.

It’s located in the town of Emerald where the A4 and the A7 meet. Again, while there’s not anything to do as such, it sits in the town where there are lots of facilities nearby.

Big Barramundi

This giant fish is one of Queensland’s most famous landmarks, having been in the town of Normanton in the state’s north-west since 1995.

It’s 6m long and is one of three barramundi dotted around Australia. 

The Big Barra sits next to Normanton Airport in Burke Development Road as a tribute to the freshwater fish, which is the most common species found in the Norman River.

Big Cassowary

As if this flightless bird is not big enough in real life, a 5m-tall version can be found in Wongaling Beach Shopping Centre in Mission Beach – roughly halfway between Townsville and Cairns.

The massive bird is on Wongaling Beach Road not too far from the shops and local cafes.

The rainforest in this part of Queensland is home to these big birds, with street signs warning motorists to slow down in case they run into the road.

Big Apple

Giving New York a run for its money, Australia’s Big Apple is where all of Queensland’s apple crop is grown.

Built in 1978, it’s located 13km north of Stanthorpe along the New England Highway in a place called Thulimbah.

As well as the giant fruit itself, there is a cafe, deli and wine bar.

Big Mango

A 10m-tall statue, the Big Mango can be found in Bowen along the Bruce Highway near the visitor centre for the town.

It celebrates the area’s collection of mango orchards and was erected in 2002 as part of a bid to boost local tourism.

In 2014, the mango made headlines when it suddenly disappeared without warning, but it later turned out fast-food chain Nando’s was responsible and it was a publicity stunt to promote a new sauce.

Big Rum Bottle

Unsurprisingly located at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery in Hills Street, Bundaberg East, the oversized bottle of rum makes for a great selfie opportunity when headed to the site for a tour.

The bottle is 7m tall and was constructed for the World Expo in Brisbane in 1988, according to Land of the Big Things.

Victoria

Giant Murray Cod

This giant fish can be found on the Murray Valley Highway outside the train station at Swan Hill in celebration of the species which was previously abundant in the Murray River in those parts. It’s still there now, but less so.

The tribute is 15m long, 5m wide and 3m high, and according to Melbourne Playgrounds was built as a prop for the movie Eight Ball in 1991. When its life on set was done, locals kept it.

Giant Koala

The Giant Koala is one of Australia’s best-known big things, situated on the Western Highway at Dadswell Bridge between Stawell and Horsham in Victoria’s west.

Unlike many things on this list, it is a tourist attraction rather than just a landmark, with a restaurant and animal zoo on-site.

Known locally as Sam, this 12-tonne fibreglass koala was made in honour of the koala that made headlines when it was photographed drinking from a water bottle offered by a firefighter during the deadly bushfires of 2009.

Big Strawberry

The Big Strawberry is another attraction in its own right, located on a berry-picking farm of the same name.

There you can visit the cafe, indoor playground, try homemade ice creams, jams and wines and of course pick strawberries.

It can be found on the Goulburn Valley Highway in Koonoomoo in Victoria’s north near Shepparton.

Big Ned Kelly

One of Australia’s most notorious figures has been immortalised in the form of a 6m-high statue in the country town of Glenrowan, which is said to be the place of the last siege of the Kelly Gang and where three of its members died, according to the Visit Melbourne website.

The statue is on the corner of Gladstone and Kate Street in front of the post office, having been commissioned to be a free and accessible landmark in 1992.

Big Wine Bottle

This giant wine bottle is a little different to most things on the big things list, in that the intention of it being built was not just for fun.

It was in fact a water tower in the town of Rutherglen, which dates back to 1900, holding the town’s 72,000-gallon water supply.

In 1969, long after it was no longer the main supply, a mesh section was added to make it look more like a wine bottle.

While there’s nothing to do there as such, there are lookouts there and it’s a great place to have a picnic.

New South Wales

Big Banana

Everyone knows Coffs Harbour’s Big Banana. Opened in 1964, it was one of the first big things in Australia.

Located along the Pacific Highway and has possibly the greatest (in size and range) of activities on-site for visitors to enjoy.

As well as the 13m-long banana at the front, there is a restaurant, gift shop, mini golf, toboggan ride, ice skating, giant slide and water park. It’s also very hard to say no to the banana-split.

According to its website, the banana has been there since 1964 when the owner wanted something to make people stop as they passed his roadside banana stall.

Big Merino

Affectionately known as Rambo after a stud ram who lived locally, the Big Merino is a giant monument to the region’s wool industry.

It was built in 1985 and weighs 100 tonnes, is 15m high and 18m long, and is on the Corner of Hume and Sowerby Street in Goulburn.

In 2007, Rambo was relocated closer to the highway after the Hume was re-routed to bypass the town in 1992, according to Australian Traveller.

Inside Rambo you can find a permanent exhibition on the history of wool in Australia, as well as a gift shop and an observation area.

Big Prawn

The 35-tonne Big Prawn was constructed in 1989 to recognise the local prawn industry, but faced demolition after falling into disrepair when the service station it was at closed in 2010.

According to Australian Traveller it was saved by Bunnings in 2013, which spent $400,000 renovating it and adding a 16m-long tail. 

You can find the prawn on River Street in Ballina, with an abundance of local seafood on offer nearby.

Big Potato

Unlike many of the other big things that are made from fibreglass, the Big Potato is made of concrete – though the interior is hollow so visitors can actually go inside, says Atlas Obscura.

Built in 1977 to celebrate the production of potatoes in the region, it measures around 10m long and 4m wide.

The oversized potato is on the Illawarra Highway in Robertson with popular attractions nearby including the local pub and pie shop.

Big Bogan

The Big Bogan is a statue in Pangee Street, Nyngan, which has caused controversy since it was installed in 2015, with a pet dog added next to it in 2022.

The steel structure is almost 6m tall and features some typically Australian attributes such as thongs, an esky, a Southern Cross tattoo and a fishing rod, says Visit NSW.

Big Trout

The Big Trout is a 10m-high fibreglass structure in Baker Street, Adaminaby, a popular trout fishing spot.

It was built by an artist in 1973, though underwent a restoration in 2024 – in fact it had two in six months, after the first was deemed “hideous” and sparked an outcry, reports the ABC.

Big Golden Guitar

Erected in 1988 and unveiled by Slim Dusty, the Big Golden Guitar in Tamworth stands at 12m tall and weighs half a tonne.

It’s a replica of the famous Golden Guitar Award and symbolic of the renowned annual Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The enormous guitar monument can be seen at the Ringers Road Corner of the New England Highway in the town.

On the site is also a cafe, gift shop, and museum.

Tasmania

Big Penguin

The Big Penguin was created as a monument to the town of Penguin, and sits proudly along Main Road.

The fibro-cement penguin has been there since 1975, a nod to the colony of fairy penguins that descend on this corner of the island state’s north-west between September and March each year.

According to Australian Traveller, locals love to dress it up in military costume to commemorate Anzac Day, and in a Santa suit for Christmas.

Big Tassie Devil

Slightly terrifying, the Big Tassie Devil sits out the front of Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary in the small town of Mole Creek. It’s not known exactly how long it has been there, but Land of the Bigs estimates as far back as the 1970s.

Other attractions nearby include the Mole Creek Caves and Melita Honey Farm, as well as making a great pitstop for those travelling to or from Cradle Mountain offering great scenery and walking trails.

Australian Capital Territory

Big Swoop

Not to be left out of the big things list, the ACT’s claim to fame is an enormous magpie sculpture that weighs half a tonne, is 3.5m long and 2.4m high.

It has been recognised as one of Australia’s top 10 big things with a Royal Australian Mint coin series, as well as an Australia Post stamp.

The magpie statue was erected in 2022 but has had to undergo restoration already due to vandalism. In November 2024 it was moved to Petrie Plaza while work is carried out on its usual Garema Place site, reports the Canberra Times.

Northern Territory

Big Stubbie

The Big Stubbie at Larrimah is a great way to break up the long journey between Darwin and Alice Springs and can be found on the Stuart Highway north of Tennant Creek and south of Katherine

It’s a large sculpture of the NT Draught stubby and sits outside the Larrimah Hotel beside a pink panther in a chair and another piloting a gyrocopter, according to Brown Signs.

Big Boxing Crocodile

This crocodile is actually one of three in the NT, the Giant Jumping Crocodile in Wak Wak, and George the Big Crocodile in Darwin, says Australian Traveller.

Weighing in at seven tonnes, the boxing crocodile debuted in 1988 with the aim of attracting more people to the town of Humpty Doo on the Arnhem Highway, approximately 40km from Darwin.

Standing at 13m high, the fibreglass croc wears a pair of red boxing gloves and was inspired by the ‘Boxing Kangaroo’ logo used in Australia’s winning 1983 bid for the America’s Cup. 

According to Aussie Towns, the big croc cost $137,000 to create.

Big Turtle

‘Colin’ the 4m-wide mosaic turtle was built in 2004 to celebrate the new Darwin suburb of Lyons.

He’s located in Garamanak Park near the local community centre in Damabila Drive.

South Australia

Big Lobster

Standing proudly on South Australia’s Limestone Coast on the Princes Highway in Kingston is Larry the 17m-tall lobster, a steel and fibreglass structure built in 1979 and designed to lure passers-by into the nearby restaurant and visitor centre at the time.

These days there is a takeaway located in his tail, along with a cafe, restaurant picnic area and gift shop, according to South Australia’s tourism website.

Big Rocking Horse

Not only is a giant rocking horse a sight to behold for any child, but this one doubles up as a toy factory and shop.

The giant rocking horse is located on Torrens Valley Road in Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills, where there is also a wildlife park and cafe.

Although the 18m-high horse doesn’t actually rock, you can climb through it to look out from three vantage points –the rocker, saddle and head.

It has been there since the 1970s, designed to attract motorists to the area. According to its website, in the 1900s, the property was used to dry potatoes for the troops in WW2 and later as a fruit-glazing factory. 

Big Galah

The Big Galah stands 8m high in front of the Halfway Across Australia Gem Shop on the Eyre Highway in Kimba – marking the halfway point from east to west across Australia.

Opening in 1993, the Big Galah is made of fibreglass on a steel frame and is 8m high and 2.5m wide, weighing around 2.3 tonnes.

According to the local council, in 2021 the Big Galah underwent a full renovation.

Western Australia

Big Tractor

A new addition to the list, WA gained the Big Tractor in 2024, unveiled in Midlands Road, Carnamah, 300km north of Perth.

The tractor is 11.5m tall and 16m long and installing it took two cranes, 800 litres of orange paint and 42 tonnes of steel.

RELATED: Big Tractor joins list of ‘big things’ in Australia

As previously reported by Drive, funding came from local organisers who raised $600,000 to bring the project from idea to reality over the course of three decades.

Big Lollipop

Located, predictably, outside a candy shop – the Yummylicious Candy Shack – this oversized lollipop opened in 2019 in Morgans Street, Ravensthorpe, around 530km south-east of Perth.

It’s almost 8m tall and 4m wide, with locals hoping the enormous sweet treat (not actually edible, sorry) will attract more tourists to the flood-damaged region.

At the time of opening, the shop’s owners put it forward for a Guinness World Record title, but it was denied on the basis it was made from two materials – aluminium and steel – rather than one, reports the Kalgoorlie Miner.

Big Western Rock Lobster

The Big Western Rock Lobster was built in 2005 and is situated on the corner of the Brand Highway and Moreton Terrace in Dongara-Port Denison.

A tribute to Dongara’s reputation as the ‘Rock Lobster capital of Australia’, says Summerstar, the lobster is popular with visitors, many of whom climb on top for a selfie.

This list is not exhaustive – there are more than a hundred big things at least across Australia – but these are some of the highlights.

Which is your favourite? Don’t forget to vote in our poll below and share any you love that we’ve missed in the comments.

The post What are the best ‘big things’ around Australia? appeared first on Drive.

The countdown to the next-generation Toyota RAV4 is well underway – but the Japanese car giant isn’t done with the current model.

The 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid family SUV – Australia’s second-best selling new car – has gained what is likely to be its last update before the new-generation model is revealed within the next 12 months.

Newly-produced RAV4 SUVs are now equipped with wireless Android Auto connectivity – joining the existing wired function, as well as wireless and wired Apple CarPlay.

New-style ‘HEV’ badges have also recently replaced the ‘HYBRID’ branding fitted since launch in 2019, and the blue accents on the Toyota logos have been deleted now the entire RAV4 line-up is hybrid-only.

MORE: Toyota RAV4 goes hybrid-only in Australia as every Toyota hybrid drops petrol-only version

The Toyota website lists the minor changes with a December 2024 update to the RAV4 specification sheet, but it is understood the upgrade may have taken place in November.

No price changes have been announced to accompany the revisions, with the range expected to continue to be priced from $42,260 to $58,360 before on-road costs.

The Model Year 2025 updates are expected to be the last of their kind before the next-generation Toyota RAV4 is revealed sometime in 2025.

MORE: 2026 Toyota RAV4 spied for the first time

Spy photos of the new model on US and Japanese roads have already surfaced online, with evolutionary design changes that may see some components shared with the outgoing model.

As with the latest Toyota Camry, it is expected the next RAV4 will drape mostly- or entirely-new bodywork and redesigned interior over the same footprint as its predecessor, with only minor revisions to the underpinnings.

Drive has exclusively reported the 2026 RAV4 will adopt Toyota’s latest-generation hybrid system, combining a familiar 2.5-litre petrol engine with a more powerful electric motor and lithium-ion battery to improve performance and lower fuel use.

2025 Toyota RAV4 price in Australia

• RAV4 GX hybrid front-wheel drive – $42,260
• RAV4 GX hybrid all-wheel drive – $45,260
• RAV4 GXL hybrid front-wheel drive – $45,810
• RAV4 GXL hybrid all-wheel drive – $48,810
• RAV4 XSE hybrid front-wheel drive – $48,910
• RAV4 XSE hybrid all-wheel drive – $51,410
• RAV4 Cruiser hybrid front-wheel drive – $51,410
• RAV4 Cruiser hybrid all-wheel drive – $54,410
• RAV4 Edge hybrid all-wheel drive – $58,360

Note: 2025 price list expected to match 2024. All prices listed exclude on-road costs.

The post 2025 Toyota RAV4 gains one more upgrade before next-generation model appeared first on Drive.

Drive Safer teaches viewers how to safely and confidently navigate some everyday driving scenarios that could turn dangerous – using the Subaru Outback and Subaru Forester.
Sponsored by Subaru

With the holiday season well underway, it’s fair to say that we’re collectively winding down after another big year and getting ready for a well-deserved break. 

But one place we can’t allow ourselves to take the foot off the pedal (quite literally) is on the roads. 

The Christmas season

Unfortunately, silly season does have a reputation for living up to its name and according to a study by Teletrac Navman, the month of December is consistently the highest for road accidents and fatalities, with the other summer months of January and February placing second and third in that frightening statistic. 

The Christmas season is a time of increased traffic, long-distance travel, congestion, tiredness, and critically – driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances. While you cannot control the actions of other drivers on the road, you certainly can control your own actions and make safe choices based on the car you’re driving. 

On Drive Safer, which you can watch on Saturday at 12pm on Channel Nine, or catch up on 9Now, revered Advanced Driving Expert Ian Luff explains to the Drive team that while humans are the only ones in control of whether a road accident happens or not, having a very safe car means you’re more likely to come out of that accident unscathed.  

For this series of Drive Safer, the Drive team was provided with four of the safest new cars on Australian roads, to demonstrate how a safe car can aid you in a dangerous road scenario that you could face any day. 

Two of those cars were from Subaru, a brand synonymous with safety. And it’s no coincidence that we associate Subaru and safety together: Subaru’s Towards Zero initiative is the brand’s commitment to having zero road fatalities in a Subaru by 2030 thanks to its ongoing safety advancements. 

Meet the Subaru Forester

First up, we have the Subaru Forester, Subaru’s medium-sized SUV. For those familiar with the Forester, you’ll be happy to hear that this 2024 model still comes with the trademark horizontally opposed boxer engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive. 

The Subaru Forester was awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating back in 2019, scoring 94 per cent for adult occupant protection, 86 per cent for child occupant protection, 80 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 78 per cent for safety assist. 

Standard safety equipment in the Subaru Forester includes: autonomous emergency braking and steering, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane centring, adaptive cruise control, reverse cameras with washers, and rear parking sensors.

This car also comes equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist technology, which utilises two cameras mounted into the windscreen to detect, minimise and prevent collisions. 

Meet the Subaru Outback

Then, we have the Subaru Outback, Subaru’s large SUV. This car was awarded a full five-star safety rating by ANCAP when it was tested back in 2021. It received 88 per cent for adult occupant protection, 91 per cent for child occupant protection, 84 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 96 per cent for safety assist. 

Much like other Subarus, the Outback is practical rather than flashy in both its exterior and interior design. 

It has the same boxer four-cylinder engine that we mentioned with the Forester, and it has been generally regarded as a sure-footed, comfortable SUV to drive, with none of the airs and graces that can be a little intimidating in modern cars. 

That’s not to say it’s without its superior technology. The standard safety equipment list is extensive: you have autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection and junction assist, rear AEB, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, autonomous emergency steering, traffic sign recognition, reversing cameras and rear parking sensors. Phew! 

Reliable and steadfast

What we like about Subaru cars in general is that unlike other brands, it doesn’t feel as though Subaru feels the need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the design of its models.

Instead, through ever-progressing safety and technology, Subaru proves itself time and time again as a reliable, steadfast brand – and the sales in Australia speak for themselves.  

Subaru SUVs feel designed for those of us, my family included, who do the usual suburb-to-city commute during the week, but like to get out and have an adventure at the weekends. Any car that is designed for both ferrying your precious cargo and also being adventure-ready needs to keep safety at the forefront. 

And Subaru has gone as far as establishing a whole global safety initiative, such is the brand’s commitment to safety. Towards Zero will aim to reduce road fatalities in a Subaru to absolutely zero by 2030. A lofty ambition for sure, but one Subaru is determined to reach thanks to its world-class safety technology. 

Having the Subaru Outback and Forester as two of the cars we’re highlighting as part of the Drive Safer series feels like an obvious fit. Find out more about these staple SUVs every week on Drive Safer, Saturdays at 12pm* on Channel Nine. 

*Subject to programming changes – keep an eye on your local TV guide for any scheduling changes.  

The post Drive Safer with Subaru Outback and Forester appeared first on Drive.