Top 10 most popular car news stories on Drive in 2024
12/29/2024 04:00 PM
These news stories attracted the most eyeballs to Drive.com.au over the last 12 months, led by the much-anticipated Kia Tasman ute and the new Toyota LandCruiser Prado 250 Series.
Another year is almost over, so it's time to look back at the stories most popular with Drive readers in 2024 across news, reviews and advice content.
In this edition, we've compiled a list of the Top 10 news stories clicked on in 2024.
Over the last 12 months, the Kia Tasman and Toyota LandCruiser Prado garnered plenty of attention, with both vehicles topping this list.
However, safety-related stories also proved popular with Drive readers in 2024, including expired ANCAP crash-test ratings, a proposed speed limit drop, and an official caution issued for a driver caught allegedly travelling 25km/h over the limit.
The list below represents the most-read car news of 2024 on Drive.com.au.
10. Man rear-ends unmarked NSW police car at petrol station
Date published: 27 February 2024
Earlier this year, CCTV footage of a driver rear-ending an unmarked Chrysler 300 SRT police car at a petrol station in Sydney emerged online.
The 28-year-old driver of the Toyota Camry was issued an infringement notice related to negligent driving, and the police officer was taken to hospital for assessment as a precaution.
MORE: Man rear-ends unmarked NSW police car at petrol station
9. Private race track for sale, comes with bonus house
Date published: 21 October 2024
It's not often a race track comes up for sale – let alone one with a residence attached.
Mac's Speedway in Mackay, Queensland – around 1000 kilometres north of Brisbane – has been on the market since October with a 400-metre oval track, several large sheds, and a home.
The property is listed for sale at $AU1.15 million with the sellers willing to negotiate.
MORE: Race track comes up for sale in Queensland, comes with house
8. Speeding driver receives $0 fine for 25km/h over
Date published: 26 August 2024
In August, a South Australian driver was issued a $0 fine for allegedly travelling 85km/h in a 60km/h zone.
Taking to social media, the confused motorist asked for an explanation, with other users pointing out they had been issued with an official caution – despite allegedly travelling at 25km/h over the speed limit.
In South Australia, drivers caught travelling between 20km/h and 30km/h over the limit can be hit with five demerit points and a $1028 fine, while anyone caught at 25km/h to 35km/h over the limit across the border in Victoria faces a mandatory three-month licence suspension.
MORE: A driver was left stunned after receiving surprising fine amount
7. Bankrupt Tesla rival to sell of electric SUVs for $3700 each
Date published: 6 July 2024
Electric car maker Fisker made headlines in mid-2024 when it filed for bankruptcy after months of financial struggles – which led to the manufacturer selling off its remaining batch of Ocean SUVs for as little as $US2500 each.
It followed a halt in production for its Tesla Model Y-rivalling SUV in March, with a 40 per cent price cut at the time – before the cost was almost completely wiped off less than six months later.
Most of the Oceans in good working order were purchased for US$16,500 ($AU26,000), while any damaged vehicles went for $US2500 ($AU4000) and previously-titled vehicles cost $US3200 ($AU5000).
MORE: Bankrupt Tesla rival to sell off electric SUVs for $3700 each – report
6. 2024 Toyota Prado model range revealed for Australia, price rise likely
Date published: 13 February 2024
The Australian model range for the new-generation Toyota LandCruiser Prado 250 Series – one of the most-anticipated new-car launches of 2024 – was confirmed in February.
Toyota confirmed the Prado 250 Series would be available in familiar GX, GXL, VX and Kakadu variants, along with a new Altitude grade adding unique off-road features.
MORE: 2024 Toyota Prado model range revealed for Australia, price rise likely
5. Important regional road closed, forcing a 130km detour
Date published: 22 August 2024
The Black Spur section of the Maroondah Highway in Victoria was closed in August for emergency tree works, forcing a 130-kilometre detour.
While the road was only closed for a few hours, the story generated significant interest, likely because it is the only direct route connecting eastern Melbourne with the Lake Mountain ski resort and the Lake Eildon holiday region.
During the closure, drivers were forced to divert along the Melba Highway to Yea and then reconnect with the Maroondah Highway in Alexandria – adding 130 kilometres to their destination.
MORE: Black Spur reopens after closure, and the detour was 130km long
4. 2024 Toyota Prado price and specs
Date published: 27 May 2024
Australian prices for the LandCruiser Prado 250 Series were confirmed in May 2024, with a price rise of around $10,000 applied to all versions of the family off-road SUV.
The Prado has historically been Australia's best-selling large SUV, and with significant interest in the new-generation model in the lead-up to and following its August 2023 global reveal, it's no surprise the long-anticipated Australian pricing story was one of the most popular news stories on Drive this year.
There was fierce competition between the Kia Tasman and the Toyota Prado as the most-read-about car on Drive in 2024, with substantial combined reach for all news stories published this year about these two models.
MORE: 2024 Toyota Prado price and specs – $10,000 price rise for popular family off-road SUV
3. Every new car stripped of its safety rating from today
Date published: 1 January 2024
Following the introduction of ANCAP's six-year datestamp expiry, the safety rating for many new cars will now expire on 31 December each year.
On 1 January 2024, Drive listed the latest batch of vehicles which lost their safety rating at the end of 2023, including the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mazda CX-5, Ford Mustang, Kia Picanto, Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series single-cab chassis, Volkswagen T-Roc, and Volvo XC60.
The next round of ANCAP safety ratings – first published in 2017 or 2018 – will expire on 31 December 2024 for several new cars.
MORE: Every new car stripped of its safety rating from today
2. Speed limit drop proposed for Australia's largest state
Date published: 4 November 2024
In November, two councils in Western Australia and the Royal Automotive Club (RAC) announced a proposal to introduce lower speed limits to address the state's rising road toll.
The proposed three-year Safer Speeds Trial – which has since been endorsed by one council – will start in early 2025, with regional roads currently signposted from 80km/h to 110km/h reduced to 70km/h or 80km/h.
Speed limits on the outskirts of towns – currently signposted between 70km/h and 100km/h – will fall to 60km/h, major urban roads will be lowered to between 50km/h and 60km/h, and town centres with high pedestrian activity will fall from 50km/h to 40km/h.
MORE: Australia’s biggest state proposes slashing speed limits in new trial
1. 2025 Kia Tasman ute: Everything we know
Date published: 5 June 2024
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the highly-anticipated Kia Tasman ute took the number-one spot in 2024.
In June, Drive News Editor Tung Nguyen explained everything we knew about the new ute to that point – with the story including speculative renderings – generating strong interest from our readers in the lead-up to the Tasman's formal unveiling in late October.
As we now know, the Tasman will launch in Australia in mid-2025 with a 2.2-litre single-turbo diesel engine making 154kW and 441Nm, matched to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.
MORE: 2025 Kia Tasman ute – Price, engines, size and everything we know
RELATED: 2025 Kia Tasman unveiled – New Korean ute to upset Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux
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