Quick-Shift News Brief: 2026 Audi Q5 Pricing in Australia, GV60 Magma Goes Hot, Baby LandCruiser Rumors, and Hertz Sells You a Car

School-run traffic, lukewarm coffee, and a glovebox full of toll receipts—yep, that kind of morning. Between lanes, I caught up on what matters today: the 2026 Audi Q5 pricing for Australia, a spicy Genesis EV, off-road whispers, and a rental giant reinventing itself. Here’s the bit you’ll actually use when you’re deciding what to test-drive next weekend.

Australia Gets the 2026 Audi Q5 (plus a Spicy SQ5 Sportback)

The headline you’ve been pinging me about: Audi has announced pricing for the 2026 Audi Q5 in Australia, along with the SQ5 Sportback. I won’t sugarcoat it—premium midsizers rarely feel like a bargain at first glance. But Audi’s clearly betting that tech, refinement, and safety will earn their keep.

2026 Audi Q5 pricing in Australia: what’s the pitch?

• A cleaner, calmer cabin with the big-screen, few-button approach. I noticed right away how much less “busy” modern Audi dashboards feel during night drives—less scatter, more signal.
• Driver assistance gets top billing. Expect adaptive cruise and lane-centering that behave more like a helpful co-driver than a nanny. I’m hoping for natural steering inputs rather than ping-ponging between lines.
• Ride isolation has been the Q5’s party trick. On broken suburban bitumen the current model floats without feeling vague; if they can add sharper steering without losing that hush, we’re in business.

SQ5 Sportback: the enthusiast angle on the Audi Q5

• Tauter suspension and bigger brakes, with that coupe-ish roofline that makes it feel a bit illicit at the school pickup. It’s still a family car—just with a cheeky wink.
• In the current SQ5, I’ve loved the way it digs out of tight roundabouts—torque right where you need it. If the new one adds more steering feel, it’ll be a sneaky back-road ace.

How the 2026 Audi Q5 stacks up vs rivals

One more four-ring nugget: there’s a “baby e-tron” EV hatch floating around test loops. If it distills big-car quiet into a city footprint, it could be the stealth pick for inner suburbs where street parking is sized for scooters and optimism.

Genesis Turns the Heat Up: GV60 Magma EV Breaks Cover

Genesis took the GV60, tossed it into a volcano, and called it Magma. The first mainstream performance model from the brand’s new sub-label looks serious: track-leaning aero, purposeful stance, and that “don’t cook the battery” thermal management enthusiasts keep asking for.

• Repeatable pace is the mission. My biggest gripe with many fast EVs is one-hot-lap syndrome. Magma suggests it can keep punching.
• If it preserves the GV60’s comfy daily manners, you’ll have a weeklong commuter and a Saturday-afternoon curve carver in one.

Rugged Corner: Baby LandCruiser, LC300 Plug-In, and a Bigger G-Wagen

The off-road rumor mill is rattling like a toolbox in a tray. Word is Toyota’s cooking a “baby LandCruiser”—boxy, compact, genuinely useful—while the LC300 may gain a plug-in hybrid twist. Across the fence, Mercedes reportedly wants an even larger G-Wagen. Because obviously the world needed a bigger square.

I’ve bounced the big rigs down rutted fire trails and across tight alpine switchbacks. The trick isn’t brute force—it’s control. A PHEV LandCruiser that can creep on silent torque could be the neighbor-friendly trail weapon we didn’t know we needed, assuming weight doesn’t go silly and there’s still room for a full-size spare.

Honda’s 0 Series Electric SUV Aims for Tokyo Spotlight

Honda’s 0 Series EV SUV is angling for a Tokyo debut and could head to Australia. Honda’s best stuff shows up in the fine print: steering that feels natural from the first turn, packaging that makes small spaces feel big, seats that don’t break your back on a five-hour slog. If they pour that DNA into a clean-sheet EV, this could be a reboot moment.

• Expect minimalist design, clever storage, and efficiency over headline drag races.
• Daily livability will make or break it. Fingers crossed for intuitive infotainment and assists that don’t nag.

Chevrolet Silverado: Five-Year Warranty Now Standard (with a Price Nudge)

GMSV has slapped a five-year warranty on the Silverado. For the caravan crowd and tradies, that’s real-world peace of mind. The trade-off is a price bump, but honestly, downtime costs more than dollars if you’re hauling for work. Make sure you understand coverage on accessories and towing hardware before you sign.

• Five-year coverage feels right for hard-working utes.
• Check service intervals and parts availability—support matters more than spec sheets when you’re on the road at dawn on a Tuesday.

Small SUV With Big Weekend Energy: Suzuki Fronx Hybrid

The Suzuki Fronx Hybrid is the kind of city-sized SUV that secretly plans your Friday. Upright, light on its feet, and easy to park, it sips fuel like it’s counting coins. If it keeps that classic Suzuki featherweight feel, it’ll dance through traffic and squeeze into beachside spots the bigger crossovers only dream about.

Industry Pulse: Audi/VW Turbo Settlement and Hertz’s New Side Hustle

Audi and VW Settle Turbocharger Lawsuit

Car and Driver reports Audi and Volkswagen have settled a class-action lawsuit regarding turbocharger repairs. Translation: depending on your model, VIN, and paperwork, you might see reimbursements or extended coverage. If you’ve paid for turbo work, keep your receipts handy and watch for official notices.

Hertz Becomes an Online Used-Car Dealer

Hertz is selling cars directly online now—with a little Tom Brady stardust. Expect late-model, well-documented ex-rentals. My long-standing rental-car rule: check tires and brakes closely, and scan the interior for hard-use clues. Fleet maintenance is usually thorough, but a proper test drive tells the truth.

Motorsport Cooldown: McLaren’s Title Math and Martin’s Surgery

Over in F1, Singapore could be where McLaren locks up the 2025 title if the permutations go their way—Autosport has the chalkboard math. Street circuits punish impatience; keep it clean and the champagne might pop under Marina Bay’s neon glare.

MotoGP’s Jorge Martin had successful collarbone surgery. Timelines are fuzzy, as ever. Bones heal; confidence on the brakes takes longer. Wishing him a smooth reset.

One Last Cautionary Tale: Set Your Park Brake

A viral clip flagged by Carscoops showed a Subaru slipping into a lake after a moment’s distraction. We’ve all been there—calls, kids, chaos. Build the habit: park brake every time, especially on an incline. Two seconds, lots of saved drama.

What I’ll Be Watching Next

• Whether the 2026 Audi Q5 keeps its signature quiet ride while sharpening steering versus X3 and GLC.
• GV60 Magma’s lap repeatability—no one buys a “hot” EV to go fast once.
• Baby LandCruiser packaging: proper roof rails, washable floors, full-size spare, done.
• Honda 0 Series UI: please, no menu-diving for climate on the motorway.

Conclusion

The 2026 Audi Q5 pricing news sets the tone for a day where usability and personality matter as much as power figures. From lava-hot EVs to quiet off-road torque and trucks with real warranties, the best new metal feels purpose-built for actual lives. Bring on the test drives—and yes, I’ll take the Q5 on that nasty stretch of suburban bitumen first.

FAQ

How much is the 2026 Audi Q5 in Australia?

Pricing has been announced by Audi Australia, with exact figures varying by trim and options. Check local dealer listings for drive-away pricing in your state.

Is the SQ5 Sportback coming with the 2026 Audi Q5 launch?

Yes, the SQ5 Sportback is part of the announcement. Expect tauter suspension, bigger brakes, and the coupe-style roofline to return.

Is Toyota really making a plug-in hybrid LandCruiser 300?

It’s reported but unconfirmed. A PHEV LC300 would likely focus on low-speed EV crawling and strong cooling for towing.

What is the Genesis GV60 Magma?

A performance-focused GV60 variant from Genesis’s new Magma sub-brand, aiming for sharper responses and better thermal management for track work.

How does Hertz’s online used-car sales work?

Hertz now lists cars for direct purchase online. As with any ex-fleet vehicle, get a pre-purchase inspection, test drive it, and pay attention to tires and brakes.