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Seven seats or less, these are the large SUVs making their way to Australia in 2024 and 2025. Which will be the most compelling for Aussie car buyers? Read on...
Looking for something a little smaller? Check out our Medium SUV and Small SUV lists to see what's coming for those segments in 2024.
JUMP AHEAD
- Cadillac Lyriq (electric)
- Skoda Kodiaq
- SsangYong Torres
- Genesis GV80 Coupe + SUV facelift
- Lexus GX
- Lotus Eletre
- Mazda CX-80
- Mercedes-Maybach EQS
- Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
- Toyota Prado
- Volvo EX90 (electric)
- GMC Yukon
Cadillac Lyriq – Late 2024
Spearheading the Cadillac comeback – which will be an all-electric brand in Australia – is the $150k Lyriq, which despite its Large SUV measurements is being pitched as a mid-size luxury SUV.
With elegant styling and attention to detail inside and out, the Lyriq is the brand’s first foray into the luxury EV SUV segment globally.
It rides on General Motors’ Ultium scalable architecture which allows batteries from 50kWh to 200kWh capacity – the Lyriq uses a 102kWh version.
While the local line-up is yet to be finalised, the Lyriq is offered in three trim levels in the US, starting with the Tech, then mid-spec Luxury and range-topping Sport.
The Tech uses rear-wheel drive and a single-motor powertrain in the US.
The Sport shown to Wheels in November 2023 wore a ‘600e4’ designation, for 610Nm, electric and dual-motor four-wheel drive.
Cadillac claims a 505km range for the Lyriq rear-wheel drive, and 10km less for the all-wheel drive.
Skoda Kodiaq – Late 2024
The second-generation seven-seat Kodiaq is bigger, sleeker, and adds a hybrid powertrain to its global line-up but will start off with a single petrol model when it arrives in Australia.
An evolutionary design plays host to a 150kW/320Nm version of the familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EA888 engine – up from 132kW – and is teamed with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic.
The cabin sees the gear selector relocated to the steering column, freeing up space, where there’s a larger 12.9-inch centre screen and wireless charging with seven seats and nine airbags standard.
There’s a larger cargo area, up from 270 to 340 litres, expanding to 845 litres with the third-row down, while a new Dynamic Chassis Control system will be optional.
SsangYong Torres – TBC
What would be the first new SsangYong in Australian showrooms for more than five years, the Torres is a mid-sized SUV to rival the Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson.
Torres’ styling has clear Jeep influences but also harps back to SsangYong’s Musso sold here in the late 1990s, but unlike the Musso, the Torres – we’re led to believe – runs an updated version of the Korando platform, making it a monocoque chassis.
While it’s offered with petrol engines overseas, an electric version using BYD supplied batteries was announced in March 2023 – and it’s on the Australian arm’s hit-list.
Dubbed ‘Torres EVX’, the electric SUV uses a 73.4kWh battery pack and 150kW motor on the front axle for a claimed 500km WLTP range
Lexus GX – OUT NOW!
The luxury version of the new Toyota Prado arrived in Australian dealerships in May, ahead of the vehicle it’s based on.
Lexus Australia has confirmed the new GX550 starts from $116,000 before on-road costs, with all variants powered by a 260kW/650Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol.
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The GX can be had in five-, six- or seven-seat guise, with individual captain’s chairs offered in the second row.
The Overtrail variant is sold as a five-seater with all-terrain tyres, black wheel arches, skid plate and the Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System from the 300 Series Landcruiser. The GX will arrive with a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 and 10-speed auto, ahead of a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol hybrid expected to be added later on.
MOREEverything Lexus
Lotus Eletre – timing TBC
Famed British sports car brand Lotus is making a genuine comeback – finally – and is showing it means business with the Eletre luxury SUV.
While it’s made in China, the Eletre – which means ‘coming to life’ in Hungarian (!) – uses the new Lotus-developed Electric Premium Architecture (EPA) and brings a convincing exterior and cabin finish.
Three variants – the $240k Eletre, $269k Eletre S and $315k Eletre R – use a 109kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with 450kW/710Nm in the entry level model bumped up to 675kW/985Nm for the Eletre R, which has a 0-100km/h claim of 2.95 seconds.
Eletre is uncharacteristically heavy for a Lotus, weighing up to 2640kg, but it also breaks with tradition with usable storage space in a 688-litre cargo area split between a boot and frunk (front-trunk).
MOREEverything Lotus
Mazda CX-80 – timing TBC
Mazda’s ‘premium push’ continues with the CX-80, a three-row SUV that, in tandem with the CX-90, replaces the 2017 Wheels Car of the Year, the Mazda CX-9.
The seven-seat CX-80 sits between the five-seat CX-60 and three-row CX-90 in terms of size and price, with all three using the same large SUV architecture and muscular styling direction.
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2024 Mazda CX-80 imagined by Theottle | © Wheels Media
That means an estimate $70k starting price, while powertrains are expected to include the 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine that makes 187kW/550Nm in the CX-60, and 254kW/500Nm in the CX-90.
The plug-in hybrid powertrain from the CX-60 – a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and 17.8kWh battery – may also be offered.
MOREEverything Mazda
Mercedes-Maybach EQS – mid year
The ultra-luxury Maybach brand’s first electric model, the 5.2-metre long EQS 680 SUV sports the signature two-tone exterior colour scheme, dripping with chrome accents and 22-inch wheels polishing its vault-like look.
The Nappa leather-laden cabin steps up Mercedes’ opulence by adding a Maybach mode that animates the digital instrument cluster, with the back seat serving up twin 11.6-inch touchscreens which allow passengers to modify the navigation, among other commands.
Maybach claims the all-wheel drive electric powertrain delivers 484kW/950Nm and approximate 600km range, with the price expected to be well above $400k – cheap for a Maybach, really…
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
More space, more pace: a new Mitsubishi Triton means a new Pajero Sport SUV spin-off, with the SUV to take full advantage of Triton’s wider track, longer wheelbase and refreshed powerplants.
That means the same 2.4-litre diesel four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic, with 150kW (+17kW) and 470Nm (+40Nm), with improved towing capability – potentially 3500kg compared to the current car’s 3100kg – given Triton’s added muscle.
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2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport imagined by Theottle | © Wheels Media
The line-up is expected to be the same, with the starter GLX 4x2 price leader through to the sport-tiled Pajero Sport GSR 4x4.
More cabin space and improved refinement should be by-products of the larger dimensions, but the question is – will there be a follow up to those wild taillights?
The only question is whether we'll see the new Pajero Sport in 2024 or 2025?
Toyota Prado – Mid 2024
The first new Prado in 14 years arrives in mid-2024 with a squared-up muscular look for the 300 Series LandCruiser-based SUV. Badged ‘LandCruiser 250’ in some markets, the Prado name will continue in Australia.
While two styling themes were revealed last August, one with circular and one with square headlights, Toyota Australia has confirmed the latter for local showrooms.
The new Prado is longer, wider and taller than the outgoing model, and uses the latest TNGA-F body-on-frame platform with double-wishbone front suspension and a four-link rear some models.
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There also electric power steering in place of the current Prado’s hydraulic system, with full-time four-wheel drive.
Powertrains are yet to be confirmed, but Prado is expected to use the mild-hybrid turbo diesel powertrain coming in the HiLux in mid-2024 which offers a claimed 10-percent improvement in fuel efficiency.
Oh, and there could be a ute spinoff, too…
Volvo EX90 – Late 2024
The Volvo EX90 is the electric alternative to the diesel-powered XC90.
It rides on the dedicated electric SPA2 architecture that enables a host of advances including bi-directional charging and a LIDAR scanner enabling full self-driving capability down the track.
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The EX90 will launch here packing a single powertrain using a dual-motor system producing 380kW/ 910Nm with a 111kWh battery pack and all-wheel drive.
Volvo says it has a 600km range but is yet to confirm charging rate – or performance figures, both expected to be similar to the Polestar 3’s – but its bi-directional charging means it could power your home for set periods.
Pricing is expected to be around $140k.
GMC Yukon – 2025
GMC has announced plans to introduce its large Yukon SUV to Australia.
It will target drivers who seek a practical, powerful, and technology-rich vehicle. With a 6.2-litre V8 engine, the Yukon is expected to attract those eager to tow across Australia’s vast landscapes.
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Scheduled to arrive in 2025, this move marks GMC's effort to expand beyond North America. The Yukon features massive 24-inch wheels and, combined with that massive grille, accentuates its muscular stance.
On the inside it gets a large 16.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, and Bose speakers integrated into the headrests. The second row is equally premium, featuring captain’s chairs with the same leather upholstery and headrest speakers.
The conversion to right-hand drive will be managed by the Walkinshaw Group.
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