Top 10 car news stories of 2023

Each year there is a distinct trend among CarsGuide’s most read news articles, whether it be a brand or other industry factor.

This past year has been an interesting one from a news perspective as electric cars become mainstream in Australia and Chinese brands erode the market share of established Japanese and Korean brands.

But the key trend this year, aside from the occasional contentious opinion piece, has been utes. Australia’s ute obsession keeps growing and so too does the appetite for ute-focused editorial content. Read on for evidence.

EVs have grown to become a force in the Australian market.

10. Best electric cars arriving in 2023

Ok, so not so much ute-focused to kick us off, but absolutely no surprise to see this article in the top 10 for 2023. EVs have grown to become a force in the Australian market with important models like Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y twins to the BYD Atto 3. This time last year EVs made up just 2.8 per cent of all sales in Australia and now it’s sitting at 7.2 per cent.

Toyota is currently developing the next-gen HiLux right now. (Image: Response.jp)

9. Diesel lives! All-new 2024 Toyota HiLux ute to score TWO diesel engine options and look like a LandCruiser to help hold off the Ford Ranger and Kia Tasman | reports

The HiLux is in a fierce battle for sales supremacy against the Ford Ranger, but Toyota is currently developing the next-gen HiLux right now. The question is, what will it be powered by? Well, check out the article to find out.

Australia will miss out on the high-tech hybrid version of the Prado. (Image: Kolesa.ru)

8. No longer the little brother: The 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado will offer something even the 300 Series and Nissan Patrol can't match | reports

Just weeks before the next-gen Prado’s official reveal, we speculated on what sort of powertrain the hotly anticipated family off-roader would get. While we were right, it looks like Australia will miss out on the high-tech hybrid.

Our resident AdventureGuide off-road expert, Marcus Craft shares why he thinks the government should consider implementing towing licences.

7. Ford Ranger and Toyota LandCruiser owners take note! Why no one should be allowed to tow without a compulsory towing licence | Opinion

The dramatic increase in people towing heavy items like caravans and boats during the pandemic doesn’t look like slowing down. Our resident AdventureGuide off-road expert, Marcus Craft, has a few things to say about that, including why the government should consider implementing towing licences.

CarGuide’s own Richard Berry pulled together an extensive list of cars to steer clear of.

6. Avoid these second-hand cars! Holden Cruze and Captiva, Nissan Pulsar and more are on our lemons list

There are some cars that should just be avoided when looking for an affordable used car, but unless you’re in the know, it’s challenging to be across what models to avoid. Thankfully CarGuide’s own Richard Berry pulled together an extensive list of cars to steer clear of.

2024 is a big year for Kia, with the upcoming reveal of their new one-tonne Hilux rival.

5. Kia's plan for dual-cab dominance! What the 800Nm mega-ute will offer that the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton can't match... yet

Kia has gone from Hyundai’s cheaper and less successful little sibling to a top five player in Australia with models like the Sportage, Sorento and Carnival. But the one thing it doesn’t have is a dual-cab ute. But that’s about to change with the 2024 reveal of its new one-tonne HiLux rival.

Some cars landed in Australia with some rather unusual stowaways.

4. Want to know why it's taking months or years to take delivery of your new car, SUV or ute? It's because they're infested with seeds, snails and bugs!

The pandemic brought many challenges, but this was something that no one saw coming. Thousands of customers were told their newly purchased vehicles faced significant delays at Australian ports due to biosecurity issues. Some cars landed in Australia with some rather unusual stowaways.

CarsGuide's contributing journalist Stephen Ottley explains why we need to quit our ute addiction.

3. Stop buying utes! Study finds our obsession with Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Mitsubishi Triton and others is putting us behind the rest of the world | Opinion

And we are back to utes. But this time with an opinion piece on why, perhaps, you don’t need a ute. Coming from an environmental perspective, the article looked at the damage such vehicles can cause.

A small ute under the HiLux could further enhance Toyota's Australian line-up. (Image: Digimods DESIGN)

2. Forget the HiLux and Tundra: This is the ute that will really change Toyota's game in Australia

The rise and rise of compact pick-ups in the US market has prompted questions about whether models like the successful Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz would work Down Under. Given Toyota’s dominance in the ute market, imagine what Brand T could do with a sub-HiLux ute!

Ferrari is working with various partners to come up with the best e-fuel solution.

1. 'Imagine Toyota putting a billion cars worldwide into the trash compactor just because they haven't been electrified' - Ferrari boss puts faith in "innovation, engineering, science and technology" to keep internal combustion engine relevant and viable

The shift to electrify passenger cars has been more of a challenge for sportscar brands like Lamborghini, Aston Martin and Ferrari than for brands with more diverse portfolios. Ferrari’s Australasian boss was talking up the possibility of e-fuels and how to strike a balance of ICE and EV in an article that was by far our biggest of the year.