Waqas Afzal

Founder and Senior Automotive Editor at AussieMotor, covering automotive news, new car launches, vehicle pricing, buying guides, reviews, and market insights. I oversee editorial quality, fact-checking, SEO, and content strategy, with a focus on providing accurate, practical information that helps car buyers make better informed decisions.

Founder & Senior Automotive Editor

175

Articles

BYD Shark 6 Towing Capacity and Payload Australia 2026: Premium vs Performance vs Cab Chassis

Waqas Afzal18 Min Read

The 2026 BYD Shark 6 range gives Australian buyers three distinctly different towing and load-carrying options. The Dynamic Cab Chassis and Premium are rated to tow 2500kg braked, while the Shark 6 Performance increases maximum braked towing capacity to 3500kg. The headline towing number does not tell the whole story. Kerb weight, GVM, GCM, towball download, passengers, accessories and cargo all determine how much weight a Shark 6 can realistically carry while towing. The heavier Performance has the highest towing capacity but also the lowest nominal payload of the three variants. This guide compares the Shark 6 Dynamic Cab Chassis, Premium and Performance, explains payload and towball weight with practical examples, and shows what Australian caravan, touring and work-ute buyers should calculate before hitching a heavy trailer.

BYD Servicing Costs Australia 2026 EV vs PHEV Service Schedules and Costs

Waqas Afzal16 Min Read

BYD servicing costs in Australia depend heavily on whether you choose a fully electric model or one of the brand’s DM plug-in hybrids. BYD’s current Australian service guide schedules regular EV maintenance every 12 months or 20,000 km, while DM models add petrol-engine oil and filter changes plus other engine and hybrid-system maintenance. This guide compares BYD EV and plug-in hybrid servicing requirements, explains what happens at the expensive major services, looks at published servicing costs for models including the Seal, Sealion 7, Sealion 6 and Shark 6, and explains what Australian buyers should check before relying on a capped-price servicing figure.

Kia PV5 Cargo electric van arrives in Australia from $55,990 before on-road costs

Waqas Afzal5 Min Read

Kia’s PV5 Cargo electric van is listed in Australia from $55,990 before on-road costs, with a 71.2 kWh battery, up to 416 km WLTP range and 4,420 L of cargo space.

Nissan Navara Pro plug-in hybrid confirmed for Australia in 2027 with 300 kW and 3,500 kg towing

Waqas Afzal4 Min Read

Nissan has confirmed the Navara Pro plug-in hybrid ute for Australia in 2027, with a preliminary 300 kW and 800 Nm, about 1,000 kg payload and 3,500 kg braked towing. Pricing and battery details are still to come.

Toyota RAV4 PHEV recall affects 5,925 vehicles in Australia over loss of drive power

Waqas Afzal4 Min Read

Toyota is recalling 5,925 RAV4 plug-in hybrids in Australia over a motor generator control unit fault that could cause a loss of drive power. The repair is free and Toyota will write to owners.

BYD Shark 6 recall covers 32,009 utes in Australia over spare wheel detachment risk

Waqas Afzal4 Min Read

BYD is recalling 32,009 Shark 6 utes in Australia because the spare wheel tray or lifter may be incorrectly positioned and the wheel could detach. The repair is free, so check your VIN.

Is Australia's Public Charging Network Good Enough for a Long EV Highway Trip

Waqas Afzal14 Min Read

Australia sits near the bottom of global public charging capacity per EV on Trading Platforms' IEA-based figures, at about 1.1 kW per vehicle. That sounds alarming for Hume, Pacific and inland road trips, but coastal highway corridors are already workable for many modern EVs if you plan DC stops. This guide separates national averages from real trip readiness, and pairs with our public charging costs post for the money side.

September 2026 Best Selling New Cars in Australia as EVs Outsell Petrol Again

Waqas Afzal12 Min Read

Australia’s September 2026 new vehicle market reached 102,924 on FCAI VFACTS (+0.9%) and 108,778 when Tesla and Polestar deliveries are added. The Ford Ranger led sales, the Tesla Model Y placed third on the combined list, and battery electric vehicles took 24.2% all-sources share to outsell petrol for a second month.

Mazda SUV Range in Australia 2026: CX-3 to CX-90 Prices, Sizes and Which to Buy

Waqas Afzal20 Min Read

Mazda’s Australian SUV range in 2026 runs from the compact CX-3 to seven-seat CX-80 and CX-90 models, with a new CX-5 from $39,990 before on-road costs and the electric CX-6e arriving through dealers. This guide compares sizes, seats, powertrains and manufacturer list prices, and explains which Mazda SUV suits city, family and three-row buyers.

Car Insurance in South Australia 2026

Waqas Afzal16 Min Read

Compulsory third party insurance in South Australia is paid with registration, but it does not repair cars or property. This guide sets out current official rego and CTP figures for 2026, explains the gap between CTP, third party property and comprehensive cover, and shows what published research averages actually say for SA drivers.

BYD Shark 6 Recall Australia Check Your VIN and Get the Free Repair

Waqas Afzal4 Min Read

BYD has recalled 32,009 Shark 6 utes in Australia because the spare wheel support cable could wear and break, allowing the wheel to detach while driving. Owners should check their VIN, contact a BYD dealer and arrange the free repair. This guide explains the affected production ranges, interim precautions and what to confirm before the workshop visit.

Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER Now From $45,990 With New 2WD Hybrids and Rock Creek

Waqas Afzal8 Min Read

Nissan Australia expands the X-TRAIL with 2WD e-POWER hybrids from $45,990 before on-road costs and a seven-seat Rock Creek 4WD from $48,315. The new ST-L 2WD opens the hybrid range $3,090 below the ST-L e-POWER AWD.