Australian families looking for up-sized family accommodation in a new SUV may want to keep an eye on what’s new for 2026.
Australia’s large SUV class offer a broad scope of models – everything from car-based three-row family haulers, to efficient EVs and plug-in hybrids, alongside capable off-road warriors, can be found here.
With so many new models – and new brands – in the Australian market, it can be hard to know where to start.
We’ve put together a list of the new models worth keeping an eye on in 2026.
A new-generation Audi Q7 is set to debut, bringing a much-needed boost to Audi’s biggest SUV.
It won't be Audi’s biggest model for long though, with an even larger Q9 set to follow. In the Q7, expect a range of combustion and plug-in hybrid engines, with full details for Australia set to follow later in 2026.
The BYD Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid is the first seven-seat model from BYD.
It blends a claimed electric-only driving range of 103 to 152km, depending on the version. The Sealion 8 is no pretender in the large SUV class either, with spacious seating in all three rows and a high level of standard equipment.
A new variant of the large, five-seat Cadillac Lyriq range is coming to Australia and will be the first official appearance of Cadillac’s high-performance ‘V’ range of vehicles.
A 459kW/880Nm dual-motor drivetrain sees the Lyriq-V capable of a 0-60mph (97km/h) sprint time of 3.3 seconds – the fastest of any Cadillac model yet.
As a companion model to the Lyriq, the Cadillac Vistiq takes Cadillac’s luxurious, unabashedly American style and super-sizes it into a three-row SUV.
As with the rest of Cadillac’s Australian line-up, the Vistiq will be an electric vehicle, promising powerful performance and a long driving range.
Chery’s answer to the likes of the Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Palisade may be the brand’s most expensive model so far, but it still maintains a budget price, with big SUV dimensions at a medium SUV price point.
The plug-in hybrid Tiggo 9 offers a staggering 170km of claimed electric range. The longest of any PHEV vehicle in Australia.
You may not be familiar with Denza, but the new brand is the luxury arm of China’s BYD and promised to kick off in Australia with a range of upmarket off-road capable 4x4s.
The Denza B5 plug-in hybrid will deliver Range Rover-like levels of luxury with a price closer to a Toyota Prado. Based on the underpinnings of the BYD Shark 6, the Denza B5 will offer around 90km of electric range, and massive combined outputs of 400kW and 760Nm.
Set to closely follow the launch of the slightly smaller B5, the Denza B8 will follow the plug-in hybrid, body-on-frame format of its smaller sibling.
With dimensions larger than a Toyota LandCruiser 300, and a 2.0-litre petrol plug-in hybrid powertrain with 425kW and 760Nm, the Denza B8 should be able to cover around 90km on electric power and over 900km of combined range from a full charge and a single tank of petrol.
An update in late 2025 saw the Mustang Mach-E gain more powerful motors, and depending on the variant, changes to batteries, range estimates, and charging speeds.
Despite increasing pressure from rivals, Ford hasn't discounted the Mustang Mach-E, instead raising prices slightly, covering the change with a higher level of standard equipment.
Another Chinese brand has thrown its hat into the Large SUV plug-in hybrid ring.
The Tank 500 is already a familiar sight on Australian rides, but now a PHEV version joins the existing hybrid. The move to a plug-in powertrain means the third row of seats has been ditched in favour of seating for five, but none of the Tank 500’s off-road credentials have been dimished.
The second-generation Hyundai Palisade has arrived in Australia, and builds upon the already impressive first-gen model, with a much more upmarket look and feel.
With the Sanfa Fe having already set the tone with a premium interior and spacious dimensions, the Palisade goes bigger and bolder again, with Range Rover-inspired styling and a powerful but efficient hybrid powertrain.
While its arrival may not take place until late in the year, all eyes should be on the Jeep Wagoneer S when it arrives.
The sleek new SUV slots in where the previous Grand Cherokee left off, offering svelte styling and impressive performance, with a 3.5-second 0-100km/h time. Unlike the old Grand Cherokee SRT, however, the Wagoneer S will be an all-electric model – a first for a full-size Jeep model.
A new flagship model for Kia’s three-row electric SUV will bring a massive dose of performance and unapologetically bold styling.
Set to become the most expensive Kia model to date, the EV9 pairs a 375kW powertrain and simulated gear shift driving mode with a three-row SUV body that offers space and versatility in a package for keen drivers.
Mitsubishi has confirmed that it will have a large flagship SUV by the end of 2026.
That model looks likely to be a successor to the Pajero Sport, but will drop the ‘Sport’ suffix and revive the Pajero name. Likely to borrow heavily from the mechanical package of the Triton, the new large Mitsubishi is set to offer off-road capability and spacious seating for seven.
Porsche is preparing to hedge its bets with the new Cayenne Electric, selling it alongside the continuing petrol and PHEV range.
Set to debut in the second half of 2026, the Cayenne will maintain Porsche’s high-performance focus, while also bringing a previously unseen level of high-tech digitalism to the brand.
The new-generation Subaru Outback gets a rugged new look, and a boxy style that makes it more rugged than ever, but at its heart, the new Outback retains its road-friendly underpinnings and Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive.
Expect to see versions of the current model’s 2.5-litre petrol and 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engines with light revisions. The Outback could also introduce a new, more off-road focused, Wilderness model, though this is yet to be confirmed for Australia.
A new model from Subaru, the Trailseeker is an Outback-sized electric SUV that is closely related to the slightly more compact Solterra.
A larger cabin and bigger boot make the Trailseeker a more versatile family SUV, but the interior sticks with a five-seat layout and does not stretch to seven seats.
Goodbye Tiguan Allspace, hello Tayron – Volkswagen has changed the name of its seven-seat SUV, but the core concept remains the same.
In 2026, the Tayron range is set to expand beyond the current petrol-powered versions, with plug-in hybrid versions capable of covering over 100km in EV mode.
The 2026 Volvo XC90 takes the familiar seven-seat SUV and updates it with a more modern look and new technology.
A choice of mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid engines, and an impressive list of standard features keep the XC90 fighting in the face of fresh new rivals.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
