Best hatchbacks and sedans coming to Australia in 2024 and 2025
12/04/2024 11:42 PM
Here are the upcoming hatchbacks and sedans to look forward to in Australia over the next 18 months.
SUVs and utes may dominate the sales charts, but there’s still life on ‘old-school’ types of cars – hatchbacks, sedans and station wagons.
Last year 182,277 cars in one of these three body styles were reported as sold, and deliveries over the first eight months of 2024 were up 10.3 per cent in a new-car market up 6 per cent.
And while established nameplates are steadily dropping out of the market – from the Volkswagen Passat to the Renault Megane – there are plenty of new models coming to Australia for hatchback and sedan buyers.
Here’s everything on the horizon.
Audi A3/S3 – H1, 2025
A new look for the Audi A3 small hatch and sedan is on the way, accompanied by updates to its S3 four-cylinder high-performance derivative.
It will be one of the first Audi models to introduce the company’s new front-end design language, with a frameless grille and less chrome – plus mild changes to the interior design and infotainment technology.
Prices are yet to be confirmed for Australia, but expect increases of some form over the current models, which are offered with 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engines in the A3, or a higher-output 2.0-litre turbo-petrol in the S3.
Revisions are also expected for the flagship RS3 five-cylinder hot hatch and sedan in Australia next year, but precise arrival timing has not been locked down.
MORE: All of our Audi A3 coverage in one click
MORE: All of our Audi S3 coverage in one click
REVIEW: 2025 Audi A3 review: International first drive
MORE: 2025 Audi S3 hot hatch, sedan facelift unveiled with more power
Audi A5/S5 – H1, 2025
Farewell petrol-powered Audi A4, hello Audi A5.
Audi has reshuffled the line-up of its competitor to the BMW 3 Series for the new-generation range, replacing a broad range of A-series cars – the A4 Sedan, A4 Avant wagon, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe and A5 Cabriolet – with just two: the A5 Sedan and A5 Avant.
All petrol and diesel-engined Audi models will wear odd-numbered names, while electric cars will carry even numbers, leaving the door open for an electric A4 e-tron at a later date.
The new A5 is larger than the old A4, with a new architecture, more contemporary bodywork, and a redesigned interior with a 11.9-inch instrument display, super-sized 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, and an optional 10.9-inch front passenger display.
Powering the A5 is a range of four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines – some with mild-hybrid assistance – while the S5 has been renewed for another generation, with an uprated 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 matched with a dual-clutch transmission.
MORE: All of our Audi A5 coverage in one click
MORE: All of our Audi S5 coverage in one click
MORE: 2025 Audi A5 revealed – A4 replacement coming to Australia, including S5
Audi A6 e-tron/S6 e-tron – Mid-2025
Just as the petrol Audi A4 has become the A5, the German car maker’s electric offering in the next size class up wears the A6 e-tron badge.
The A6 e-tron shares its Premium Platform Electric (PPE) underpinnings with the new Q6 e-tron electric SUV, rated for up to 750km of driving range on a single charge – or Melbourne to Adelaide, at least in lab testing.
Highlights include up to 405kW from the high-performance S6 e-tron variant – capable of 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds, the quickest variant until the RS6 e-tron arrives – plus a 21-minute 10 to 80 per cent fast charge if you can find a plug that’s powerful enough.
It wears styling similar to the A5 – with flush-fitting door handles and a streamlined look – plus up to three screens inside.
The electric A6 e-tron is set to initially be sold alongside the petrol A6, but its replacement will adopt the A7 badge when it arrives in the next 18 months.
MORE: All of our Audi A6 coverage in one click
MORE: All of our Audi S6 coverage in one click
MORE: 2025 Audi A6 e-tron electric car detailed, including S6 e-tron
Audi S e-tron GT/RS e-tron GT (facelift) – Mid-2025
The second Audi to fit batteries in place of a petrol or diesel engine, the e-tron GT sports sedan, is due to undergo a mid-life update towards the middle of next year in Australia.
Mirroring updates to its Porsche Taycan sibling, the facelifted e-tron GT is vastly more powerful, alongside refreshed exterior and interior styling, and longer driving ranges across the line-up from larger battery packs.
The top-of-the-range RS e-tron GT Performance develops 680kW – making it the company’s most powerful road car by a margin of more than 200kW – while it’s now rated for up to 604km of driving range.
The regular e-tron GT variant has become the S e-tron GT, while all models gain exterior styling changes, a new steering wheel, refreshed front seats, and chassis changes including trick active air suspension.
MORE: All of our Audi e-tron GT coverage in one click
MORE: All of our Audi RS e-tron GT coverage in one click
MORE: 2025 Audi e-tron GT update revealed with huge power boost
Cupra Leon (facelift) – Mid-2025
The Volkswagen Golf’s sporty Spanish sibling, the Cupra Leon, is in line to receive its mid-life update in Australia next year, across petrol and plug-in hybrid derivatives.
Changes include more aggressive exterior styling with triple-triangle LED daytime-running lights, an updated interior with a larger touchscreen and illuminated control sliders, and a new Sennheiser stereo.
Power for the plug-in hybrid version has been boosted from 180kW to 200kW thanks to a larger engine, while the Sportstourer wagon – coming to Australia for the first time – now matches the VW Golf R on kilowatts in its flagship guise.
There will also be a new 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine to open the model range in Australia, but it’s expected to come at the cost of the mid-grade VZ.
The petrol Leon hatchback range is due in Australia mid-year, alongside or shortly before the Leon wagon, as well as the plug-in hybrid hatch.
MORE: All of our Cupra Leon coverage in one click
MORE: 2025 Cupra Formentor and Leon facelifts unveiled, still a while away from Australia
MORE: VW Golf GTI's Spanish twin facing the axe
Honda Civic update – Launched
Honda has given its latest-generation Civic a mid-life update, with refreshed styling and new technology.
Leading the changes is the addition of a more affordable hybrid variant, priced from $49,900 drive-away – which replaces the petrol-only VTi LX variant to make the whole line-up, Type R hot hatch aside, hybrid-only.
MORE: All of our Honda Civic coverage in one click
MORE: 2025 Honda Civic price and specs
Kia K4 sedan – Q1, 2025
The Kia Cerato nameplate will be retired in Australia with the arrival of the new Kia K4 in early 2025, launching first as a sedan, ahead of a hatchback likely to follow towards the end of the year.
Kia will now sell the K4 range globally, and under one name – rather than a mix of Cerato, Forte, K3 and Ceed to describe the various small cars the South Korean car giant has previously offered in different regions – as part of a consolidation of its petrol model line-up.
Alongside the name change, the new K4 adopts all the latest technology from larger, new-generation Kia models.
There is more futuristic exterior styling with hints of the flagship EV9 electric SUV, a redesigned interior with dual 12.3-inch screens, and a choice of 2.0-litre non-turbo and 1.6-litre turbo petrol engines.
Prices are expected to increase, and the entry-level model may exceed the $30,000 drive-away mark for the first time.
MORE: All of our Kia K4 coverage in one click
MORE: 2025 Kia K4 sedan – Cerato successor one step closer to Australia, hatch to follow
Mercedes-AMG E53 – H1, 2025
The newest petrol Mercedes-AMG version of the E-Class offers V8-like power with up to 101km of electric-only driving range – and it doesn’t wear a 63 badge.
The new Mercedes-AMG E53 is powered by an updated version of its predecessor’s 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder petrol engine, now developing 330kW/560Nm.
However, it is now matched with a 120kW/480Nm electric motor for combined outputs of up to 450kW in launch-control mode – claimed to enable a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.8 seconds.
That’s a match for the power output of the outgoing twin-turbo V8-powered AMG E63, though it could hit 100km/h from a standstill four-tenths of a second quicker.
The plug-in hybrid system is rated for up to 101km of electric driving range from a 21.2kWh battery, while adaptive suspension, large performance brakes and wider bodywork aid on-road performance.
MORE: All of our Mercedes-Benz E-Class coverage in one click
MORE: 2024 Mercedes-AMG E53 revealed as 450kW six-cylinder hybrid
Polestar 5 – Q4, 2025
Polestar’s expanding electric-car range is due to add its second sedan next year, the Audi A6 e-tron or Porsche Taycan-sized Polestar 5.
Underpinned by a new aluminium bonded chassis developed in the UK, flagship versions are targeted to develop 650kW and 900Nm – more than every Tesla except the Model S and Model X Plaid, which aren’t sold in Australia.
It is based heavily on the Polestar Precept concept car shown in 2020, and is planned to offer an 800-volt electrical architecture for faster charging speeds.
MORE: All of our Polestar 5 coverage in one click
MORE: 2024 Polestar 5 electric car more powerful than Porsche, Tesla
Porsche Panamera (range expansion) – Q4, 2024
Two versions of the new-generation Porsche Panamera launched in Australia earlier this year – the base petrol V6 and flagship plug-in V8 Turbo E-Hybrid – but the range is planned to expand further later in 2024.
The flagship Turbo S E-Hybrid produces a claimed 575kW from a 441kW twin-turbo V8 and electric motor, for a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 2.9 seconds.
Meanwhile, the Panamera GTS uses a detuned, non-hybrid 366kW/660Nm version of the V8, backed by blacked-out styling, a lower ride height, sports exhaust, suede-like interior trim and other changes.
Prices start from $486,100 before on-road costs for the Turbo S E-Hybrid, while the handling-focused Panamera GTS is $340,600 before on-roads.
MORE: All of our Porsche Panamera coverage in one click
MORE: 2024 Porsche Panamera price and specs – V8 confirmed alongside 1000Nm flagship
Skoda Octavia (facelift) – Select on sale now, RS early 2025
Skoda is one of the few ‘mainstream’ car brands left with a wagon in its showrooms, and the coming months will see a facelifted Octavia liftback and wagon reach showrooms.
There are new front and rear bumpers, upgraded matrix LED headlights with a new signature, and refreshed alloy wheel designs, while on the inside there’s a new 13-inch touchscreen incorporating support for ChatGPT artificial-intelligence technology.
Safety technology has seen an update, with revised traffic-sign recognition and auto parking technology.
Arriving first is a Select grade with a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine, ahead of a Sportline variant – plus a flagship RS, now producing 195kW from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine – early next year.
MORE: All of our Skoda Octavia coverage in one click
MORE: 2025 Skoda Octavia price and specs: Select trim leads cheaper facelifted line-up
MORE: 2025 Skoda Octavia facelift unveiled, due in Australia next year
Skoda Superb – H1, 2025
The largest traditional ‘passenger car’ in Skoda’s range, the Superb, is due to enter a new generation in Australia early in 2025.
A single Sportline variant is expected to be offered across liftback and wagon body styles, powered by a 195kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine – 11kW less than today’s model – matched with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
A twin of the new-generation Volkswagen Passat not sold in Australia, the 2025 Superb wears sharper exterior styling, a longer but narrower body, and an all-new interior with a 12.9-inch touchscreen and a row of multi-function rotary control dials.
MORE: All of our Skoda Superb coverage in one click
MORE: 2024 Skoda Superb revealed, due in Australia early 2025
Toyota Camry – Launched
The Tesla Model 3 ended the Toyota Camry’s 28-year winning streak in the mid-size sedan category in 2022, but a new Camry has arrived in Australia, ready to retake its crown.
It is now offered only a hybrid, after the petrol-electric version of the outgoing model accounted for more than 90 per cent of deliveries.
However, as previously reported by Drive, the new Toyota Camry is not all-new, but rather a heavy update of its predecessor, with updates to most body panels, familiar underpinnings, and a redesigned interior.
Prices start from $39,990 plus on-road costs for the three-variant range.
MORE: All of our Toyota Camry coverage in one click
MORE: 2025 Toyota Camry price and specs – New hybrid-only sedan costs more
MORE: 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid review – Australian first drive
Xpeng P7 – 2025
Australia-bound Chinese car maker Xpeng is preparing to follow up its first SUV and people mover models due locally with a large sedan.
Precise details are yet to be confirmed for Australia, but the P7 sedan is on the cards for local showrooms in 2025.
Soon to be superseded by a newer P7+ model in China – which could come to Australia in its place – the P7 is rated for up to 576km of WLTP electric driving range, and a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.1 seconds in select models.
MORE: All of our Xpeng coverage in one click
MORE: Xpeng wants to be a household electric car name in Australia
Volkswagen Golf (facelift) – Q2, 2025
The mid-life facelift for the eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf is due in Australian showrooms towards the middle of next year, with regular, GTI and R derivatives all scheduled to arrive at the same time.
There are mild changes to the exterior styling – with slimmer headlights, restyled bumpers and new wheel designs – as well as updated safety technologies.
The biggest upgrades have been applied inside, where Volkswagen has ditched the much-maligned touch-sensitive steering wheel controls, and there is now a larger 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen with new software, and illumination for the touch control sliders beneath it.
The GTI has received a power boost from 180kW to 195kW, while the R is up from 235kW to 245kW, matching the 20 Years special edition offered in the outgoing range. The regular Golf range is expected to retain a 110kW 1.4-litre turbo engine locally.
MORE: All of our Volkswagen Golf coverage in one click
MORE: Volkswagen Australia announces new model onslaught
MORE: 2025 Volkswagen Golf facelift unveiled with GTI
The post Best hatchbacks and sedans coming to Australia in 2024 and 2025 appeared first on Drive.
