CarSorted Verdict:
- Cheapest five-star: MG HS Vibe, $34,990 RRP, or the Chery Tiggo 7 Urban at $29,990 drive-away.
- Hybrid: Hyundai Tucson Hybrid ($42,850, five stars, 1,900 kg towing) or the thriftier RAV4 Hybrid ($45,990, 4.5 L/100km), which ANCAP hasn't rated yet.
- Plug-in: Geely Starray EM-i from $37,490; the Extended Range does 136 km WLTP for $41,490.
- Electric: Leapmotor B10 from $37,888; the bZ4X is the cheapest to charge on our sums.
- Towing and AWD: X-Trail ST tows 2,000 kg for $38,305; the CX-5 is the cheapest AWD at $39,990.
- Wait for: the new Tucson (mid-2027, reported), next Haval H6 (early 2027, reported) and RAV4 GXL PHEV (Q1 2027, confirmed).
The mid-size SUV is the car most Australian families end up in, and it's the busiest corner of the market for change heading into 2027. A new Tucson is coming. GWM has a new Haval H6 on the way. Toyota is adding a cheaper RAV4 plug-in. Geely is bringing the Monjaro. Meanwhile, prices on the Chinese brands keep moving and a handful of ratings lapse at the end of next year. So the useful question isn't only “which is best?”. It's also “is the one I want about to change?”.
This guide works from 231 mid-size SUVs on sale in our directory on 12 November 2026, all five-seaters between about 4.5 and 4.8 metres long and priced at or under $80,000, from 66 nameplates and 35 makes. If you need a car this month, our 2026 mid-size SUV guide ranks the 19 most cross-shopped and stays current. This one gives you one pick per question, who it suits, what to watch, and a short “buy now or wait” call for each. The facts, side by side. Your decision.
The picks at a glance
One row per question, with the figure from our row for that car on 12 November 2026 and its price basis. RRP is before on-road costs; drive-away includes them (Victoria). Detail and runners-up for each are below.
| Question | Pick | Winning figure | ANCAP on record | Buy now or wait? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest five-star (RRP) | MG HS Vibe | $34,990 RRP | 5 stars (2024) | Now; offer to 31 Dec |
| Cheapest five-star (drive-away) | Chery Tiggo 7 Urban | $29,990 drive-away | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Cheapest five-star hybrid (RRP) | MG HS Excite Hybrid+ | $39,990, 5.2 L/100km | 5 stars (2024) | Now |
| Five-star hybrid all-rounder | Hyundai Tucson Hybrid | $42,850, 582 L, 1,900 kg | 5 stars (2021) | Negotiate; new one mid-2027 |
| Lowest fuel use (hybrid) | Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid 2WD | 4.5 L/100km, $45,990 | Hasn't been rated | Wait for a rating if it matters |
| Cheapest five-star plug-in (RRP) | Geely Starray EM-i Complete | $37,490, 83 km WLTP | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Longest WLTP plug-in range under $50k | Starray EM-i Inspire Extended Range | 136 km for $41,490 | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Cheapest five-star electric (RRP) | Leapmotor B10 Style | $37,888 RRP | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Cheapest to run (electric, home charging) | Toyota bZ4X FWD | About $646 a year | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Cheapest 2,000 kg tow rating (RRP) | Nissan X-Trail ST 2WD | $38,305 RRP | 5 stars (2021) | Negotiate; new one reported |
| Cheapest all-wheel drive (RRP) | Mazda CX-5 G25 Pure AWD | $39,990 RRP | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Biggest boot | Volkswagen Tayron 150TSI Life | 885 litres | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
Compare these picks side by side
6 of them on 200+ specs, price, safety and running cost in one view.
Each price is that car's stored figure with its basis and check date. Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Buying now or waiting: how to use this guide
Most mid-size SUVs don't change much from one year to the next. Several of the big sellers do in 2027. Hyundai Australia's own site says the all-new Tucson is “coming soon in 2027”, and Hyundai has told media it lands mid-year, hybrid only at launch. GWM has told media the next Haval H6 arrives early in 2027. Toyota has confirmed a mid-range RAV4 GXL plug-in hybrid for the first quarter. Geely Australia says the Monjaro EM-i plug-in arrives in the first half. And Nissan's local boss has been quoted saying the next X-Trail will be here by the end of 2027.
Our rule of thumb through this guide: buy now when the car isn't changing, the price is on the manufacturer's list or on a drive-away offer you can use before it ends, and the ANCAP rating will stay current for a while. Wait when a replacement is confirmed and close, or when the car you want is about to pick up a powertrain you'd rather have. Negotiate when a replacement is coming and the outgoing car is still in stock, because that's exactly what a dealer wants to move.
One more thing. “Confirmed” and “reported” aren't the same, and we keep them apart. Confirmed means the manufacturer has said it on its Australian site or in an Australian release. Reported means Australian motoring media have it, often from the manufacturer's local people, but the manufacturer hasn't put it on its own page. Neither gives you a price until the price list is out.
The state of mid-size SUVs heading into 2027
The 231 rows split like this: 73 petrol, 50 hybrid, 45 plug-in hybrid, 52 electric and 11 diesel. That's a big shift from a few years ago, when this class was mostly petrol with a diesel option. Today twelve makes sell a mid-size hybrid in our set, from Toyota and Hyundai to MG, GWM and KGM, and 15 sell a plug-in. Every RAV4 we list is now a hybrid or plug-in.
Safety ratings are mostly good news: 173 of the 231 rows hold five stars. But 46 hold no result at all, and that includes some big names. We hold no ANCAP result for the sixth-generation RAV4, which launched unrated, the new Haval H7, the petrol Jaecoo J7 and the J7 plug-in AWD, the KGM Torres or the Leapmotor C10 range extender. A missing rating isn't a bad result. It's no data, and we won't borrow an older model's stars to fill it.
Pricing is the other story. Chinese brands keep pushing the floor down: a five-star Tiggo 7 is $29,990 drive-away and an MG HS Vibe $34,990 before on-roads, with an MG offer taking it to $31,990 drive-away in NSW for cars sold and delivered by 31 December. Many of those prices are campaigns with end dates, so in this guide we quote the end date wherever the manufacturer prints one.
How we picked
What counts as mid-size. We sort by measured length, not marketing labels: five-seat SUVs from 4,500 to 4,799 mm. That catches the RAV4 (4,600 mm), Tucson (4,640), CX-5 (4,690), X-Trail (4,690) and Model Y (4,792), and it leaves seven-seaters to our 2027 family car guide and our 2027 seven-seat hybrid and electric guide. We cap the price at $80,000, so luxury badges above that line are out.
Prices. An RRP is before on-road costs; a drive-away price includes them. We never rank one against the other. RRP picks only use prices whose source on our row is the manufacturer's own configurator, price feed, list or release: 110 of the 231 rows. Rows with an RRP we estimated from a drive-away price, or with no named source, appear in the tables but don't win a price pick. Drive-away figures are Victorian; 73 rows hold one.
Running costs. We use the same sum as our car pages: 15,600 km a year (300 km a week), the official combined figure, and $1.95 a litre for regular unleaded, $2.10 for premium, $1.90 for diesel and 30 cents a kWh at home. Plug-in hybrids are costed with the battery flat, from the manufacturer's charge-sustaining figure, because that's the honest worst case. Only 16 of the 45 plug-in rows hold that figure; the rest get no estimate rather than a guess.
Safety. We show the ANCAP result our row holds and its year. Where we hold none, we say ANCAP hasn't rated it or we have no data. Nothing here is called the safest, because the star count alone can't rank that fairly (ANCAP explained).
CarSorted
Shortlisting already?
Compare any two side by side or see this month's manufacturer deals. Figures come from manufacturers' own published documents.
Cheapest five-star mid-size SUV: MG HS Vibe, $34,990
Why. The HS Vibe is $34,990 before on-road costs on MG's national configurator, the lowest manufacturer-sourced RRP of any mid-size SUV in our set with a five-star ANCAP result (2024). It has a 507-litre boot, a 1,500 kg braked towing rating and uses 6.9 L/100km, which is about $2,099 a year in fuel on our sums. MG's offers page has the Vibe at $31,990 drive-away in NSW for cars sold and delivered by 31 December 2026, so the gap to the cheap drive-away cars is smaller than the RRP suggests.
Who it suits. A family that wants a five-star, full-size mid SUV for the least money and doesn't tow anything heavy. What to watch. MG's warranty on our row is 10 years or 250,000 km, but it comes with servicing conditions, so read them before you rely on it. The petrol HS is thirstier than the hybrids. Value grade. The Vibe, or the Excite Hybrid+ at $39,990 if you do a lot of suburban driving: 5.2 L/100km, about $1,582 a year.
Close behind on a published RRP: the Nissan X-Trail ST at $38,305 (five stars, 2021, 585 litres), the Hyundai Tucson petrol at $39,350 (five stars, 2021) and the Mazda CX-5 at $39,990 (five stars, 2025). The BYD Sealion 5 plug-in is cheaper again at $33,990, but ANCAP gave it three stars (2026), so it doesn't win a five-star pick.
On drive-away: Chery Tiggo 7 Urban, $29,990
The Tiggo 7 Urban is $29,990 drive-away on Chery's advertised price (our row doesn't record the state), with five stars (2025), seven years of warranty with no kilometre limit and a five-year capped servicing total of $1,445. It uses 6.9 L/100km, the same $2,099 a year as the HS. We don't yet hold a boot figure or a towing figure for the petrol Tiggo 7, so check both at the dealer. The plug-in Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban is $34,990 drive-away with five stars (2025), a 475-litre boot and 93 km of electric range on the older NEDC test.
Our take: the Tiggo 7 is the cheapest five-star way into this class we can find. The HS gives you a printed boot figure, a towing rating and a hybrid option, and once MG's drive-away offer is counted the gap narrows, though the two offers are quoted for different states. Tiggo 7 vs MG HS | Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid vs MG HS.
Buy now or wait? Buy now if the price works. Neither the HS nor the Tiggo 7 has a replacement announced. If you're cross-shopping the Haval H6, wait: GWM has told media the next-generation H6 lands in early 2027 with a hybrid expected to lead, and the drive-away prices on our current H6 rows came from an offer that has now ended, so ask for today's figure (H6 story).
Best hybrid: the all-rounder and the fuel saver
Fifty rows in the set are regular hybrids that never need plugging in. For most families who can't charge at home, this is where the sensible money goes. Two cars stand out on our figures, for different reasons.
All-rounder: Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, $42,850
Why. The Tucson Hybrid is $42,850 before on-road costs on Hyundai's list, with five stars (2021), a 582-litre boot, a 1,900 kg braked towing rating and 4.9 L/100km on regular unleaded, about $1,491 a year. That's the joint-most towing, the second-biggest boot and the joint-lowest fuel figure of the five-star hybrids on a published RRP. The Kia Sportage S HEV matches it closely (586 litres, 1,900 kg, 4.9 L/100km, five stars from 2022) and Kia gives you seven years of warranty against Hyundai's five, though our $44,450 for it doesn't yet name its source.
Who it suits. A family that wants a hybrid, tows a box trailer or a small camper, and wants a current five-star result. What to watch. An all-new Tucson is coming in 2027, and the current car's 2021 rating runs to 31 December 2027 on our record.
Fuel saver: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, $45,990, 4.5 L/100km
The sixth-generation RAV4 GX Hybrid 2WD is $45,990 before on-road costs on Toyota's list, with the lowest combined figure of any hybrid in the set (4.5 L/100km) and the biggest hybrid boot (705 litres). Our row lists 95 RON as its minimum fuel, which costs it at about $1,474 a year; on regular unleaded it would be lower. The catch is safety data: ANCAP hasn't rated the new generation (RAV4 launch story). That's not a bad result, it's no result. Towing is 800 kg braked in 2WD and 1,500 kg in AWD.
Our take: on our sums the RAV4 and Tucson cost almost the same to fuel. The Tucson is $3,140 cheaper on RRP, tows more in 2WD form and holds a five-star result; the RAV4 has the bigger boot and the newer design. If a current ANCAP result matters to your family, the Tucson wins today. Tucson vs RAV4 | Sportage vs RAV4 | Tucson vs Sportage.
The other hybrids worth a look
The MG HS Excite Hybrid+ is the cheapest five-star hybrid on a published RRP at $39,990 (5.2 L/100km, 1,500 kg towing). Nissan's X-Trail ST-L e-POWER is $45,990 with 5.4 L/100km, but our row rates it to tow just 670 kg. The Subaru Forester Hybrid is $47,990 with all-wheel drive on every grade and five stars (2024), at 6.2 L/100km. GWM's new Haval H7 HEV arrived in October 2026 from $45,990 drive-away on GWM's configurator, with a 586-litre boot and all-wheel drive, but ANCAP hasn't rated it yet (H7 story).
Buy now or wait? For the Tucson, wait or negotiate. Hyundai Australia's register-your-interest page says the all-new Tucson is a hybrid coming in 2027, with an XRT grade, and Hyundai has told media mid-2027 (Tucson story). There's no price yet. For the RAV4 Hybrid, buy now if you're comfortable without an ANCAP result; nothing replaces it. For the Sportage and Forester, nothing has been announced.
Ways to buy
For the 4 cars on this page.
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From ≈$103/wk(≈$446/mo)
Estimate on the Chery Tiggo 7 at $27,250 estimated RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Lease the Leapmotor B10Best plug-in hybrid: Geely Starray EM-i
Why. The Starray EM-i Complete is $37,490 before on-road costs on Geely's Build & Price, the lowest manufacturer RRP of any five-star (2025) plug-in in the set. It holds 83 km of WLTP electric range, a 428-litre boot, seven years of warranty with no kilometre limit and a $1,489 five-year capped servicing total on our row. The Inspire Extended Range at $41,490 steps up to a 29.8 kWh battery and 136 km of WLTP electric range, the longest electric range stated on the WLTP test of any plug-in in this guide under $50,000; the Leapmotor C10 range extender holds 145 km, but our row doesn't name the test (Starray Extended Range story).
Who it suits. A family with off-street parking whose weekday driving fits inside the battery, which for the Extended Range covers a typical commute several times over. What to watch. Towing is rated at 750 kg on our row, and we don't hold a battery-flat fuel figure for it, so we can't cost the long trips. The boot is on the small side of the class.
The other plug-ins: battery flat and towing
Compare plug-ins on the battery-flat figure, not the label, because the label assumes a full battery every trip. The BYD Sealion 5 holds the lowest battery-flat figure in the set at 4.5 L/100km (about $1,369 a year never charged), then the Sealion 6 at 4.72 (five stars, 2023). For towing, the GWM Tank 300 Hi4-T plug-in is rated to 3,000 kg, from $57,990 drive-away, and the Skoda Kodiaq plug-in to 1,800 kg with 110 km of WLTP range and a 745-litre boot for $59,990 drive-away. The Haval H6 PHEV drive-away price on our row came from an offer that has ended. Our 2027 plug-in hybrid SUV guide goes deeper.
Buy now or wait? This is where 2027 brings the most choice. Toyota has confirmed the RAV4 GXL PHEV 2WD for the first quarter of 2027 with 121 km of WLTP electric range and the XSE 2WD's 201 kW system, and hasn't announced a price (RAV4 PHEV story). Geely Australia says the Monjaro EM-i arrives in the first half of 2027 with up to 170 km of WLTP electric range quoted, again without a price (Monjaro story). If you want a Toyota plug-in for less than the XSE, wait for the GXL's price.
Best electric mid-size SUV
Fifty-two rows in the set are electric, and every one holds a WLTP range figure on our rows, so we can compare range fairly here.
Cheapest five-star: Leapmotor B10, $37,888
The B10 Style is $37,888 before on-road costs on Leapmotor's Australian pricing, with five stars (2025), a 490-litre boot and 361 km of range. At 17.2 kWh/100km it costs about $805 a year to charge at home on our sums. The B10 Design Long Range is $40,888 with 434 km. Next on a published RRP: the Geely EX5 at $41,990 (475 km, five stars 2025, but a 302-litre boot) and the GAC Aion V at $42,590 (510 km, five stars 2025, eight years of warranty).
Cheapest to run and longest range under $60,000: Toyota bZ4X FWD
The bZ4X FWD is $55,990 on Toyota's list and uses 13.8 kWh/100km, about $646 a year at home, the lowest of any electric SUV in the set on our sums. It also holds the longest range on our rows of any EV under $60,000 RRP at 591 km, five stars (2025) and a $950 five-year capped servicing total. The Tesla Model Y RWD is next at about $651 a year, with five stars (2025), 466 km and an 854-litre boot, the biggest of any electric SUV here. The cheapest all-wheel-drive EV on a published RRP is the Leapmotor C10 AWD at $53,888 (five stars, 2024).
Our take: range is a lab figure. With a full car, a roof box or highway speeds, plan on noticeably less, and if you can't charge at home our running-cost sums don't apply, because public fast charging costs several times more per kWh. EV charging guide | Model Y vs bZ4X.
Buy now or wait? Mostly buy now. Zeekr has already updated the 7X for 2027 with more power and the same $57,900 starting price (7X story). An updated Geely EX5 is on sale in China, but Geely Australia hasn't given a date (EX5 story). Electric prices have been falling, so check the manufacturer's current list on the day.
Best for towing: Nissan X-Trail, and the 3,000 kg option
208 of the 231 rows hold a braked towing figure and 41 are rated to 2,000 kg or more. The cheapest of those on a published RRP is the X-Trail ST 2WD at $38,305 on Nissan's 30 September 2026 release, with five stars (2021), a 585-litre boot and 7.4 L/100km (about $2,251 a year). Above it: the petrol Mazda CX-60 G40e at 2,500 kg from $51,640 (the D50e diesel tows 2,000 kg and uses 5.0 L/100km, about $1,482 a year), the Volkswagen Tayron at 2,500 kg, and the Tiguan at up to 2,300 kg.
If you tow a real caravan, the GWM Tank 300 is the one five-seat SUV in this size class rated to 3,000 kg, from $47,990 drive-away for the Lux diesel on GWM's page (five stars, 2022). It's a ladder-frame four-wheel drive, so it rides and handles like one, and its boot is smaller than a RAV4's. Remember a towing rating comes with a tow-ball download limit and a gross combination mass, and a full family and luggage eat into both (cars that tow 2,000 kg | towing guide).
Check a 1,500 kg trailer against four of the picks that publish their masses: the rig check compares the trailer with each car's tow rating, payload and gross combination mass.
Sitting out: the Nissan X-Trail ST 2WD 5-seat (no kerb weight, GVM or GCM on record), the Mazda CX-60 G40e Pure (no kerb weight, GVM or GCM on record), the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid (no kerb weight, GVM or GCM on record) and the Mazda CX-5 G25 Pure AWD (no kerb weight, GVM or GCM on record).
Not enough rows hold the figures this tool needs, so it is not shown here.
Buy now or wait? Negotiate on the X-Trail. Nissan's local managing director has been quoted in Australian media saying the next X-Trail will be here by the end of 2027; Nissan hasn't published a date or a price. The current car's 2021 rating runs to 31 December 2027 on our record.
Best value all-wheel drive: Mazda CX-5, and the Forester
The CX-5 G25 Pure AWD is $39,990 on Mazda's list, the cheapest all-wheel-drive SUV in the set on a published RRP, with five stars (2025), 1,800 kg towing and 7.4 L/100km (about $2,251 a year). Every CX-5 we list is all-wheel drive. The boot is 466 litres, smaller than the class leaders. The Subaru Forester AWD is next at $45,990, also five stars (2024), with Subaru's full-time AWD on every grade and 1,800 kg towing; the Forester Hybrid trims fuel to 6.2 L/100km for $47,990.
Our take: the CX-5 is the AWD bargain, and the Forester is the one for gravel roads and snow trips. Neither is a hybrid that saves much fuel, so if you only want AWD for wet roads, a RAV4 Hybrid AWD ($49,340, 1,500 kg towing) is worth pricing too. CX-5 vs X-Trail | CX-5 vs Forester.
Biggest boots: Tayron, Model Y, Kodiaq
If the pram, the portacot and the dog all travel together, these lead the class on our rows. The five-seat Tayron 150TSI Life holds 885 litres; our $53,990 RRP for it doesn't yet name its source. The Model Y holds 854 litres. The Skoda Kodiaq Select mild hybrid is $49,990 drive-away on Skoda's page with 828 litres and five stars (2024), and its plug-in sibling holds 745. The RAV4 is the biggest hybrid at 705. Manufacturers measure differently, so take the pram.
Pick two
Any two of the picks, side by side
Tap two to compare price, fuel or energy use, boot and safety.
| Spec | MG HS Vibe | Hyundai Tucson Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $34,990RRP, before on-roads | $42,850RRP, before on-roads |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Fuel use | 6.9 L/100km | 4.9 L/100km |
| Braked towing | 1,500 kg | 1,900 kg |
| ANCAP | 5 starstested 2024 | 5 starstested 2021 |
| Warranty | 7 yrdistance not on record; up to 10yr / 250,000 km if every scheduled service is done in the MG dealer network | 5 yrunlimited km; up to 7yr if every scheduled service is done in the Hyundai dealer network (km limit: no data) |
| Service interval | 15,000 km | 15,000 km |
Figures come from our car database, which is built from Australian manufacturer documents. A blank field reads “No data” rather than a zero or a dash.
Cars in this story
7 cars
Price shown is each car's stored figure with its basis and check date.
See all MG modelsMid-size SUV comparison table
The picks and the main rivals, read live from each linked row. The figures update when the manufacturer's price or specification changes.
| SUV | RRP | Drive-away | Fuel or energy | Boot | Towing | ANCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chery Tiggo 7 Urban | $27,250 est. RRP | $29,990 drive-away (VIC) | 6.9 L/100km | no data | no data | 5 stars (2025) |
| MG HS Vibe | $34,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 6.9 L/100km | 507L | 1,500kg | 5 stars (2024) |
| Geely Starray EM-i Complete (PHEV) | $37,490 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 2.5 L/100km | 428L | 750kg | 5 stars (2025) |
| Leapmotor B10 Style (electric) | $37,888 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 17.2 kWh/100km | 490L | no data | 5 stars (2025) |
| Nissan X-Trail ST 2WD | $38,305 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 7.4 L/100km | 585L | 2,000kg | 5 stars (2021) |
| Hyundai Tucson Petrol | $39,350 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 8.1 L/100km | 539L | 1,650kg | 5 stars (2021) |
| Mazda CX-5 G25 Pure AWD | $39,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 7.4 L/100km | 466L | 1,800kg | 5 stars (2025) |
| MG HS Excite Hybrid+ | $39,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 5.2 L/100km | 507L | 1,500kg | 5 stars (2024) |
| Starray EM-i Extended Range (PHEV) | $41,490 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 1.6 L/100km | 428L | 750kg | 5 stars (2025) |
| Hyundai Tucson Hybrid | $42,850 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 4.9 L/100km | 582L | 1,900kg | 5 stars (2021) |
| Kia Sportage S HEV | $44,450 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 4.9 L/100km | 586L | 1,900kg | 5 stars (2022) |
| BYD Sealion 6 Essential (PHEV) | $42,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 1.1 L/100km (4.72 L/100km as a hybrid) | 425L | 1,500kg | 5 stars (2023) |
| GWM Haval H7 Lux HEV | no RRP on record | $45,990 drive-away (VIC) | 7 L/100km | 586L | 1,500kg | no data |
| Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid 2WD | $45,990 RRP | $50,872 drive-away (VIC) | 4.5 L/100km | 705L | 800kg | no data |
| Subaru Forester AWD | $45,990 RRP | $45,990 drive-away (NSW) | 7.9 L/100km | 496L | 1,800kg | 5 stars (2024) |
| GWM Tank 300 Lux Diesel | no RRP on record | $47,990 drive-away (VIC) | 7.8 L/100km | 550L | 3,000kg | 5 stars (2022) |
| Toyota bZ4X FWD (electric) | $55,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 13.8 kWh/100km | 452L | 750kg | 5 stars (2025) |
| Tesla Model Y RWD (electric) | $58,900 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 13.9 kWh/100km | 854L | 1,600kg | 5 stars (2025) |
Plug-in hybrid fuel figures on the label are measured from a full battery. “No data” means our row doesn't hold the figure yet, not that the car lacks it.
Running costs: fuel, charging, servicing and warranty
Price, fuel or energy use, our annual fuel estimate, warranty and the manufacturer's five-year capped servicing total where we hold one. Price, fuel, warranty and servicing cells read our rows live; the annual figure is our arithmetic from the same rows on 12 November 2026. Divide by 52 for a weekly figure: about $29 a week for a Tucson Hybrid, $43 for a petrol X-Trail and $12 for a bZ4X charged at home.
| SUV | Price | Fuel or energy | Fuel a year (est.) | Warranty | 5-yr capped servicing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MG HS Vibe | $34,990 RRP | 6.9 L/100km | $2,099 | 10yr / 250,000 km | $2,091 |
| Chery Tiggo 7 Urban | $27,250 est. RRP | 6.9 L/100km | $2,099 | 7yr / unlimited km | $1,445 |
| MG HS Excite Hybrid+ | $39,990 RRP | 5.2 L/100km | $1,582 | 10yr / 250,000 km | $2,166 |
| Hyundai Tucson Hybrid | $42,850 RRP | 4.9 L/100km | $1,491 | 5yr / unlimited km | no data |
| Kia Sportage S HEV | $44,450 RRP | 4.9 L/100km | $1,491 | 7yr / unlimited km | $2,613 |
| Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid 2WD | $45,990 RRP | 4.5 L/100km | $1,474 (95 RON) | 5yr / unlimited km | $1,625 |
| Nissan X-Trail ST 2WD | $38,305 RRP | 7.4 L/100km | $2,251 | 5yr / unlimited km | no data |
| Mazda CX-5 G25 Pure AWD | $39,990 RRP | 7.4 L/100km | $2,251 | 5yr / unlimited km | no data |
| Geely Starray EM-i Complete | $37,490 RRP | 2.5 L/100km | No data | 7yr / unlimited km | $1,489 |
| BYD Sealion 5 Essential | $33,990 RRP | 1.2 L/100km (4.5 L/100km as a hybrid) | $1,369 (battery flat) | 6yr / 150,000 km | no data |
| BYD Sealion 6 Essential | $42,990 RRP | 1.1 L/100km (4.72 L/100km as a hybrid) | $1,436 (battery flat) | 6yr / 150,000 km | no data |
| Leapmotor B10 Style | $37,888 RRP | 17.2 kWh/100km | $805 | 6yr / 150,000 km | no data |
| Toyota bZ4X FWD | $55,990 RRP | 13.8 kWh/100km | $646 | 5yr / unlimited km | $950 |
| Tesla Model Y RWD | $58,900 RRP | 13.9 kWh/100km | $651 | 5yr / unlimited km | no data |
| GWM Tank 300 Lux Diesel | $47,990 drive-away (VIC) | 7.8 L/100km | $2,312 (diesel) | 7yr / unlimited km | no data |
| GWM Haval H7 Lux HEV | $45,990 drive-away (VIC) | 7 L/100km | $2,129 | 7yr / unlimited km | no data |
On warranty, MG leads at 10 years or 250,000 km and Mitsubishi offers 10 years or 200,000 km, both with servicing conditions. Jaecoo, Omoda and GAC offer eight years; Chery, GWM, Kia, Skoda, Geely, KGM, Renault, Mahindra, Deepal and Forthing seven. The lowest five-year capped servicing total we hold for a car that takes fuel is Honda's ZR-V at $995, though it holds four stars (2023). We hold a capped total on 116 of the 231 rows, so “no data” often just means the manufacturer doesn't publish one in a form we've recorded. Insurance, tyres and rego vary too much by household to put a fair number on.
Weekly fuel cost at a glance
Put in your own week: school run, commute, weekend sport. The calculator prices the same driving in the RAV4 Hybrid, the Tucson Hybrid, the HS Hybrid+ and the petrol X-Trail. Cars without the figure it needs sit out rather than run on a made-up one.
- Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid 2WD
$986 a year, rated 4.2 L/100km urban, 4.7 extra-urban, 4.5 combined (ADR 81/02)
$19 a week
Lowest - Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
$986 a year, rated 4.8 L/100km urban, 4.9 extra-urban, 4.9 combined (ADR 81/02)
$19 a week
- MG HS Excite Hybrid+
$1,137 a year, rated 4.2 L/100km urban, 5.8 extra-urban, 5.2 combined (ADR 81/02)
$22 a week
- Nissan X-Trail ST 2WD 5-seat
$1,522 a year, rated 9.9 L/100km urban, 6.1 extra-urban, 7.4 combined (ADR 81/02)
$29 a week
Assumes 20 km each way, 10 trips a week, mild weather and the official combined road mix; premium unleaded at $2.10/L, unleaded at $1.95/L. Plug-in hybrids are costed with the battery not charged. Fuel only.
Repayments at a glance
What three of the picks cost a week on finance. The rate and term are assumptions you can change, not a quote or advice.
- MG HS Vibe
$34,990 RRP, ≈$139 a week
≈$601/mo
Lowest - Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
$42,850 RRP, ≈$175 a week
≈$758/mo
- Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid 2WD
$50,872 drive-away (advertised), ≈$212 a week
≈$919/mo
Assumes $5,000 deposit over 5 years at an assumed 7.5% p.a. Estimate only, not an offer of credit or a quote; your rate and repayments will differ.
Estimates only. Based on standard assumptions. Not financial advice. Individual results vary.
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Shopping for a mid-size SUV in 2027? Get the prices as they land
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Budget bands: what your money buys
Here's how the set splits by price. We use the manufacturer's RRP where its source is named, otherwise the Victorian drive-away figure, so each band mixes the two bases. Treat the edges loosely: a car just under a line on RRP can be over it once on-road costs are added.
| Budget | Rows | Nameplates | Five-star rows | Hybrid / plug-in / EV rows | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $40,000 | 29 | 18 | 18 | 1 / 7 / 2 | Tiggo 7, HS, Starray EM-i, B10, X-Trail, CX-5 |
| $40,000 to $50,000 | 70 | 32 | 48 | 22 / 14 / 9 | Tucson Hybrid, Sportage HEV, RAV4 Hybrid, Starray ER, Forester |
| $50,000 to $60,000 | 65 | 34 | 54 | 18 / 11 / 13 | bZ4X, Model Y, CX-60, Kodiaq PHEV |
| $60,000 to $80,000 | 67 | 34 | 53 | 9 / 13 / 28 | IONIQ 5, EV6, Lexus NX, Tiguan eHybrid |
The pattern: under $40,000 it's mostly Chinese brands plus base grades of the X-Trail, Tucson, Sportage and CX-5, with only one regular hybrid. Between $40,000 and $50,000 is the hybrid sweet spot. Over $60,000, electric cars make up the largest group.
Who should buy what
- Lowest price with five stars: Tiggo 7 Urban on drive-away or MG HS Vibe on RRP.
- No plug, low fuel, current five stars: Tucson Hybrid or Sportage HEV, about $1,491 a year in fuel.
- Lowest fuel figure, rating can wait: RAV4 Hybrid, 4.5 L/100km and 705 litres.
- Home charging, short commute: Starray EM-i Extended Range, 136 km WLTP for $41,490.
- Ready for electric: Leapmotor B10 for price, bZ4X for running cost, Model Y for boot.
- Towing a box trailer or small van: X-Trail ST, 2,000 kg for $38,305.
- Towing a caravan: Tank 300, 3,000 kg, or step up to a large SUV.
- Gravel roads and snow: Forester, full-time AWD on every grade.
The safety calendar: ratings that lapse at the end of 2027
ANCAP ratings run for six years, then lapse unless the car is retested. Our records show five mid-size nameplates in the set rated in 2021 and running to 31 December 2027: the Nissan X-Trail, Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Skoda Enyaq and Ford Mustang Mach-E. Two of those, the X-Trail and Tucson, have replacements reported for 2027.
Below five stars on our rows: three stars for the BYD Sealion 5 (2026), and four for the Honda ZR-V (2023), Honda CR-V (2024), Peugeot 3008 (2025) and CUPRA Tavascan (2024). ANCAP hasn't rated, or we hold no result for, the RAV4, Haval H7, Renault Koleos and Arkana, KGM Torres and Actyon, Mahindra XUV700, Leapmotor C10 range extender and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV, among others.
Our take: between two otherwise equal cars, the one rated in 2024 or 2025 has passed a tougher test than one rated in 2021. That's a fair tiebreaker for a family car you'll keep for years.
What's coming for mid-size SUVs through 2027
Confirmed means the manufacturer has said it on its own Australian site or in an Australian release. Reported means it's in Australian motoring media but not yet on the manufacturer's own pages. None of these is in the picks above.
| Coming | Type | Timing, as stated | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 GXL PHEV 2WD | Plug-in hybrid, 121 km WLTP | First quarter of 2027 | Confirmed (Toyota Australia); no price |
| Hyundai Tucson (fifth generation) | Hybrid at launch, XRT grade | “2027”; mid-2027 reported | Register-your-interest page (Hyundai Australia) |
| GWM Haval H6 (next generation) | Hybrid expected to lead | Early 2027 | Reported |
| Geely Monjaro EM-i | Plug-in hybrid | First half of 2027 | Confirmed (Geely Australia); no price |
| Lexus NX (update) | Hybrid and plug-in only | 2027 | Confirmed (Lexus Australia); no price |
| Volvo XC60 long-range plug-in | Plug-in hybrid | Second quarter of 2027 | Reported |
| Nissan X-Trail (next generation) | Not yet detailed for Australia | “By the end of 2027” | Reported, quoting Nissan |
Already here and new since the 2026 guide: the Haval H7 (October 2026), the Starray EM-i Extended Range, Jaecoo's MY27 J7 plug-in range with a new all-wheel-drive grade (J7 story) and the updated Zeekr 7X. The Lexus NX update is covered in our NX story and the Volvo in our XC60 and XC90 story. For every body type, see 2027 new cars month by month.
What could change these picks
MG's HS drive-away offer ends on 31 December 2026. An ANCAP result for the sixth-generation RAV4 would change how we show it, and could put it in the five-star picks. Toyota's RAV4 GXL PHEV gets a price before its first-quarter launch, and Geely will price the Monjaro. The new Tucson in mid-2027 replaces our hybrid all-rounder, and the next X-Trail replaces our towing pick. We'll update this guide when any of these happen, or when a price we quote changes.
Other mid-size SUVs on sale
The picks above aren't the only choices. Also in the set, from the variant linked: GWM Haval H6, Jaecoo J7 plug-in, KGM Torres, Renault Koleos, Honda ZR-V, Honda CR-V, Leapmotor C10, Mazda CX-60, Volkswagen Tiguan, Peugeot 3008, Kia EV5, Zeekr 7X, Hyundai ELEXIO, XPeng G6 and CUPRA Terramar. Some current models aren't in the set because our rows don't yet hold a price: the updated Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (from $58,990 before on-road costs on Mitsubishi's list as at June 2026, per our launch story), the Omoda 9 and the BMW X1.
How to choose a mid-size SUV: six checks
- Decide on the plug before anything else. No off-street charging? A regular hybrid is usually the easier and cheaper call.
- Check the tow rating for your exact grade. The RAV4 Hybrid goes from 800 kg in 2WD to 1,500 kg in AWD.
- Check the ANCAP year, or whether there is one. A 2021 rating lapses at the end of 2027.
- Compare on one price basis. Get a drive-away quote in your postcode for each car on your list, and ask when any offer ends.
- Know what's replacing it. If a new model is confirmed and close, wait or negotiate on the outgoing car.
- Drive the shortlist. The figures narrow it down; a test drive tells you about the seats, the ride and the visibility. Our SUVs under $50k guide is a good next read.
Keep reading
Head-to-heads: Tucson vs RAV4 | Sportage vs RAV4 | X-Trail vs RAV4 | Sealion 6 vs RAV4 | CX-5 vs X-Trail | Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid vs MG HS | Tucson vs Sportage
The brands: Toyota | Hyundai | Kia | Mazda | Nissan | MG | Chery | Geely | BYD | GWM | Subaru | Leapmotor | Tesla | Volkswagen
More guides: Best Mid-Size SUVs (2026): buy right now | Best Family Cars (2027) | Best Plug-in Hybrid SUVs (2027) | Best Hybrid Cars (2027) | Best Chinese Cars (2027) | Best 7-Seater Hybrid and Electric SUVs (2027)
Compare what's on sale now
Head-to-heads with the cars this story is about and their closest rivals on sale now, plus the buying guides that cover them.
- Mazda CX-5 vs Toyota RAV4
- Hyundai Tucson vs Mazda CX-5
- Tesla Model Y vs Toyota RAV4
- Hyundai Tucson vs Nissan X-Trail
- Mazda CX-5 vs Nissan X-Trail
- Geely Starray EM-i vs Hyundai Tucson
- Geely Starray EM-i vs Nissan X-Trail
- Geely Starray EM-i vs Leapmotor B10
Buying guides
- Best Plug-in Hybrid SUVs in Australia 2027: One Winner Per Question
- Best Electric SUVs in Australia 2026
- Best Electric Luxury SUV Australia 2026
- Best Small SUVs Australia 2027: Buy Now or Wait?
Or pick any two cars on our compare page, or browse the full car directory.
Shopping for an SUV now?
The facts, side by side. Your decision.
Disclaimer: Figures are from the manufacturers' Australian documents as held in the CarSorted directory on 12 November 2026, with prices on the basis stated beside them. Fuel and electricity estimates are our arithmetic on official figures, not your real-world use. Campaign prices change and have end dates. Timing for coming models is as the manufacturer or Australian media stated it, and can slip. ANCAP results are shown as our rows hold them, with their year. This is general information, not advice. Confirm price and specification with the dealer before you buy.
