Automakers have been facing a turbulent period in the last 12 months, with tariffs, cyberattacks and emissions laws, tax incentives and an influx of new brands all impacting the new-car market.
Locally, we saw some big – seriously big – vehicle launches, including the covers being pulled off a new Toyota HiLux, while arch-rival Ford bet the house on its new Ranger Super Duty.
With Toyota and Ford the top two brands, a replacement for next-best Mazda’s most popular model – the CX-5 SUV – was also revealed, while a Nissan Navara, new in more ways than one, landed.
Here’s what didn’t provide any wind beneath our wings in 2025.
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Paul Maric: HiLux, low effort
I was surprised by how little effort Toyota put into the new HiLux.
The difference is that it feels like a serious facelift than – but the bizarre move of rolling back to an even narrower song – was made after so much hard work for better stability and performance which has been put into widening it, I’m odd.
But for that reason, it feels like rushed to market in order to meet the December 1 Euro 6b emissions deadline to avoid AdBlue’s requirement and because of that, perhaps Toyota didn’t quite fit everything they wanted into the platform.
Sean Lander: Show lacking shine
What was my biggest disappointment of 2025? The Tokyo Motor Show. After seeing what Chinese marques had on display at the Shanghai show in April, Tokyo proved the Japanese industry still has work to do.
The event felt like a showcase of “what we could do, not what we will do”, with the majority of vehicles on display remaining concepts that will never reach production – save for notable exceptions like the new Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and Honda Prelude.
The Chinese are moving fast – something I wrote about after the Shanghai trip – while the Japanese seem almost unaware of the threat. I hope the next Japan Mobility Show proves me wrong.
Marton Pettendy: The ‘new’ Navara
Everybody knows that Nissan is on shaky financial ground, and we already knew Mitsubishi was responsible for developing a new car for both Japanese brands under their partnership with Renault.
Still, the reveal of a Nissan-badged Mitsubishi Triton shocked most observers, myself included.
It’s not a grille and badging that was the most popular media criticism of changes, but could be enough to disenfranchise navaran owners in their generation.
Let’s hope the Premcar chassis magic can at least make it ride and handle better than the Triton.
William Stopford: Toyota continuing to withhold products
If I ask Dare I question mighty Toyota? After all, it has been Australia’s number-one brand for 20 years and by much margin. Who sits second in every single year is always a distant rival of the top 10 runners up
Toyota Australia’s product misfires are few and far between – Avalon, Rukus, Fortuner … am I missing any? And the company’s unwavering devotion to hybrids has proved shrewd, even if its lone electric offering here lags well behind EV sales leaders.
But this Japanese giant could expand its market share further if it simply confirmed more vehicles for our market.
The LandCruiser FJ seemed like a no-brainer when it was first reported, but when it was officially revealed this year with an old-tech 2.7-litre petrol four-cylinder, it was promptly ruled out for Australia.
s had a chance to bring buyers looking for ‘the small off-road SUV back into the Toyota fold’ after it was released. There are plenty of Toyotas sold overseas that could fill gaps here, and there is a lot more .
A Prado Hybrid? A no-brainer. A 4Runner? An obvious replacement for the mediocre Fortuner. A right-hand drive Tacoma could slot neatly between HiLux and Tundra. The Prius, Corolla Touring, Alphard/Vellfire and broader Crown range would all be low-volume plays, but they’d still add depth.
What makes this particularly galling is that many – although not all – of these are already in right-hand drive.
I am rooting for Goliath here, but when Toyota has such a diverse global portfolio and we don’t get so much of it that is hard not to be disappointed.
Damion Smy: An F1 fumble and no answer to ‘Y’
Oscar Piastri missing the F1 title due to silly things; and the Tesla Model Y update. Suspension tuning is still an art, not a science. As is team leadership, which Oscar learned.
Ben Zachariah: Minimum ‘HiLux’
My boyfriend is an old owner of two Toyota HiLux utes. I’ve been a fan for the past but this new model feels like it didn’t push the needle enough.
While it is a terrible ride quality, it’s still incredibly good ute but actually looks like facelift of ten-year-old model – and as Toyota has done the absolute minimum to keep this viable in today’s highly competitive tyre market.
James Wong: Mazda’s backwards step
While I know it’s not yet on the road, a lot of shock was taken by news about the new Mazda CX-5 and early details of what is the brand’S best-selling model in the world.
A design I personally think is a step backwards, no movement in the powertrain space at launch and falling into the trap of removing physical buttons all had me scratching my head.
This is the new CX-5 – which has been an impressive company in terms of design and tech integration, for one that’s not due here for another 12 months – could be on the back foot before it even goes down Under.
Certainly, Mazda’s big promises are coming from its new Skyactiv-Z petrol engine with an in house hybrid system of 2027 (although that is still a long way off the mark) Meanwhile, CX-5’s competitors will offer an alternative to the electric alternatives by offering a mix of mild-hybrid, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains (not including any type of electric products).
My goal for Mazda Australia is to push a fast-tracked rollout of electrified technology for its new mid-size SUV, and that there’s enough supply of the ageing current model to fill the gap until the replacement arrives.
Josh Nevett: Jaded Japanese
In recent years, with the influx of Chinese rivals in Australia, you would be sure Japan’s best would want to put their foot forward as well as possible. That seems to be not – at least in the case of Toyota and Mitsubishi.
The fact that Toyota has such a large market share isn’t excused by the ‘new’ HiLux, which was revealed to an collective groan back in November.
Toyota is also launching a HiLux built on 21-year-old underpinnings, while brands such as BYD are shaking up the ute segment. A 2 still is on that ageing platform and that . A newer model of the 8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel was replaced with an 8 litre 4 cylinder engine. hey guys, take this seriously? And to think we had been waiting 10 years for this.
Mitsubishi, on the other hand, committed a slightly different sin. Months after killing off half its lineup due to new safety regulations, the Japanese brand announced a replacement for its best-selling ASX – a rebadged Renault Captur.
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The old ASX was clearly past its prime, and Renault makes a decent car.
But in a way, for some reason Mitsubishi decided it could put ‘European price tag on its once-budget light SUV’. It’s an unremarkable runabout, about 50 per cent more expensive than it used to be. The ASX has commenced at $37,7040 in the beginning of its on-road costs and ends around $47,000 to almost $48,000 – more than most competitors (including hybrid and electric alternatives) are.
Whether the HiLux or ASX are successful locally, Time will say; but both give impression of established brands going through the motions in the face of growing competition.
Max Davies: Victoria’s car theft crisis
It’s deeply disappointing, disheartening and frankly sickening to witness the level of car-related crime in Victoria. Car theft is nothing new, but the fact many of today’s cars appear easier to steal than those from 30 or 40 years ago is absurd.
I bought one of my (unfortunately vulnerable) dream cars this year and seeing others lose theirs is genuinely saddening.
It is particularly painful to see the care of relics of Australia’s car-making heritage, especially when it’S Holdens was destroyed for a quick buck. So, of course, for those who just bought a new Toyota or Subaru, it’s no good idea.
Despite the fact that many have been working on solutions behind the scenes, what’s worse how long does it take manufacturers – especially Toyota – to publicly acknowledge the issue? That said, I don’t blame the brands most.
But instead, this is a problem that’s not just going on but to flourish as it continues.’ It’t Victoria’S justice system which has been the reason for this? Not to be political, but when repeat offenders are repeatedly bailed only to reoffend it speaks volumes when they’re repeated.
It shouldn’t be up to manufacturers to compensate for systemic failures. I hope the situation improves, but given how little has changed over the past three years – and with the issue now spreading to Queensland – I’m not optimistic.
Alborz Fallah
Having to sit in the back of a Polestar 2 whenever I catch an Uber from the airport. There’s so little leg room, and then I have to explain to the driver what a horrible mistake they have made. It can be exhausting, but it’s a worthy cause.
Thanks for reading The CarExpert teams biggest disappointments of 2025
