Your questions answered: How much longer will V8s be available in Australia?

You don’t need experts to tell you that plenty of Aussies still yearn for a V8. We’ve got one headlining our letters page this week.

It’s indicative of the split new-car market. Plenty of people are looking to lower their fuel use and/or help out the environment, but there’s also a love of the characteristic roar that is a visceral part of owning a V8.

And, yes, we also have people chasing efficiency, including one yearning for an EV but without the luxury of off-street parking.

We also have some Subaru SUV interest, with one reader trying to choose between two alternatives.

Question: I’ve always wanted a V8 and I love the look of the new Ford Mustang. Ideally I’d wait a few years, but I’m worried there won’t be any V8s available years from now. Will V8 engines still be around for a while? Will I still be able to buy my Mustang in 2028? My fingers are crossed! – Jennifer

Answer: There’s no doubt the V8 is under serious pressure. A lot of brands are downsizing to help meet increasingly tougher global emissions standards.

The Toyota LandCruiser recently dropped its V8 and late in 2026 the Nissan Patrol will switch from a V8 to a V6 turbo. Even the mighty Ram 1500 will soon switch to a V6, in the same way the rival Ford F-150 has gone V6.

Obviously we don’t have locally made V8s anymore and many luxury and performance brands are switching to smaller engines in place of the mighty V8; even Mercedes-AMG and Ferrari have started embracing smaller-capacity engines with fewer cylinders.

The Mustang is a rare exception in the (relatively) affordable muscle car class in still being available as a V8 (there’s also a great four-cylinder turbo, but the V8 is the one you’d have). Even better is that it’s a naturally aspirated V8, something that gives it a fantastic soundtrack – it’s seriously addictive!

As for Mustangs in the future, we’d expect V8 versions to be available for a while yet.

There’s certainty still demand for them, although in 2025 it’ll get tougher for Ford to sell them because of the incoming New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES).

The complex emissions regulations limit how much CO2 cars can emit. But it looks at it over the fleet of vehicles a brand sells.

So a manufacturer can offset thirstier vehicles with low emissions or zero emissions options such as EVs.

For brands selling plenty of hybrids or EVs the task should be relatively easy and still allow them to sell thirstier vehicles for those who want them.

Ford has struggled with EVs and hybrids in Australia, so with what we know now the company has a big task ahead.

What we don’t know, obviously, is everything in the future product pipeline, some of which could make it easier to sell cars such as Mustangs.

The upcoming Ranger plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will be super important. Let’s hope Ford prices it sensibly – unlike some of the EVs it initially brought Down Under – to get some decent sales cut-through.

As for how much longer V8s will be around, clearly they won’t be the mainstream powerplants they once were.

But we’d expect V8s to still be playing a role in supercars and other specific applications for many years – possibly decades – to come.

Question:

Answer: Anything is possible with money! But the short story is it wouldn’t make sense to add blind-spot warning to a car that doesn’t have it.

Blind-spot warning typically uses radars embedded in the rear bumper or taillights and is integrated into the wiring and software of the car.

If it was a later-model car where it was available on other variants in the range you might be able to get away with it by utilising existing mounting points and wiring.

But the complexity of adding carefully calibrated hardware would make it far too expensive.

And, as you’re learning, most people won’t want to take on the task.

You’d be better off looking for a second-hand car that is slightly newer (pretty much everything these days gets blind-spot warning) and has the systems already integrated.

It’ll likely be cheaper than retrofitting an older vehicle.

Question: I’m in a real conundrum and desperately looking for some sound advice. I’m a solo mum of a beautiful, car-loving, 18-month-old.

In 2020 I sentimentally bought a 2010 Volvo C30. I’d lived in Sweden for a long time and love the styling and grunt of these cars but – as it turns out – it was a terrible decision as they are too low for Australian roads, expensive to fix and diabolical for transporting a baby.

I persevered for a year after my child was born, crawling through a heavy driver’s side door clinging to my tiny son.

I could stretch to about $20K upfront but anything more than that would require finance.

I also work in sustainability and climate consulting, so would love to buy a hybrid or EV. But I’m not sure they’re reliable in my price range and – living in an apartment in Melbourne’s Albert Park (without car parking) – I’m uncertain about charging infrastructure.

So, here’s my thinking for which I’d love some advice:

I’m really nervous and lost when it comes to EVs. And what to do in general! – Rhianna

Answer: I’d give up on trying to hang onto the Volvo any longer. Cool little hatch but with only two doors it’s not very practical as a family car and will likely start costing you more.

The used car market is looking good at the moment.

First, though, let’s tackle the EV/hybrid thing.

Working out whether you can live with an EV will depend on the charging infrastructure near you and how far you drive.

Check apps such as PlugShare and ABRP to see what’s available near you. Keep in mind that the faster the charging, the more expensive it’s likely to be.

I’ve had a quick look around Albert Park and there are options, including Tesla chargers in St Kilda and South Melbourne, each available to non-Tesla EVs.

But they’re not cheap, so while it’d be cheaper than petrol (just) you’re not going to get a big EV benefit using them all the time.

Ideally you want access to a slow AC charger where you can charge overnight at much cheaper rates. Then the EV benefits really start to kick in.

Do you have any friends nearby with a garage you could borrow once every few days? Or could you hire a garage with a powerpoint (a regular powerpoint would be fine).

If not, then a hybrid could make more sense.

It sounds like you don’t need the space of a mid-size SUV for the two of you.

So something like a Toyota Corolla Hybrid would be ideal. It doesn’t have an enormous back seat or boot, but it’s got back doors and would be fine for one child.

We’d suggest avoiding the private import models (usually wagons and Corolla Fielder models) because there can be challenges sourcing parts.

The prices are holding up well, though, on Corolla Hybrids so you may struggle within your budget.

Also check out the Toyota Prius C. It’s smaller than a Corolla but solid buying.

Also keep an eye out for Camry Hybrids Many have huge kilometres on them (likely former ride-share cars) so look for something that’s had an easier life.

A left fielder could be a Hyundai Ioniq hybrid (not an Ioniq 5 or 6 but a plain old Ioniq). There aren’t many of them and it was basic motoring, but a good one should look after you.

And, of course, you can revert to your larger SUVs. As a general rule, though, the bigger you go, the more you’ll pay.

So instead of a CX-5 or X-Trail also look at a Mazda CX-30, Kia Seltos or Hyundai Kona.

Answer: The Enyaq is here now, there just aren’t many of them on the road. Skoda launched it in Australia a few months ago, albeit with a price tag that is higher than the big sellers in the EV market.

As you may know, it shares its underpinnings with other Volkswagen Group vehicles, including the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 (each of which has been delayed, yet again) and the Cupra Tavascan (which is due soon).

We generally like it, although it’s obviously not cheap.

Question:

Answer: It’s easy to mount a case for either the Forester or the Outback, especially if you’re looking to occasionally venture beyond the bitumen.

Whereas most rivals charge extra for all-wheel drive, with the Subarus it comes as standard. So trips to the snow or down a gravel road are that little bit easier.

And Subaru’s four-wheel drive system is relatively simple but very effective.

As for which is best, the Forester ticks most of the boxes. It’s spacious and functional and is one of the better driving mid-sized SUVs.

The current car has been around a while and we’re expecting a new one sometime in 2025.

Step up to the Outback and it instantly feels more mature and grown-up. Comfort levels are a step up and it has a bit more cabin space, adding to that.

If you can stretch the budget, it’s worth it.

Less impressive are the non-turbo engines. The 2.5-litre has to work hard and never feels like it has much muscle. It’s one of those engines that gets the job done but never leaves you particularly satisfied.

The 2.4 turbo in the Outback adds more pull, which works well on the open road.

Don’t bother with the hybrid. It doesn’t offer the sort of fuel savings some may expect in a hybrid.

Subaru is working on a new hybrid system, which we should see sometime in 2025.

The Subaru line-up should also expand in 2025, too.

And as you may know, the Outback Wilderness is heading to Australia, bringing with it some tweaks to up its already decent off-road ability. It looks pretty cool.

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