5 vehicles that may have completed effectively in Australia

The Australian automotive market is exceptionally various, with a staggering variety of manufacturers competing for round 1,000,000 gross sales yearly.

However whereas we’ve a bevy of manufacturers right here, we nonetheless miss out on myriad autos which might possible do effectively right here – you want solely have a look at Ford’s world product portfolio for proof of this.

Wanting again on the previous 20 years, there are numerous autos which stand out for being significantly well-suited for our market however which we sadly missed out on. Listed here are a couple of.

Dodge Challenger

After a short run of transformed right-hand drive Mustangs between 2001 and 2003, Ford lastly launched a manufacturing unit right-hand drive pony automotive in 2015 with the sixth-generation mannequin.

However there’s one Mustang rival (effectively, there’s the Chevrolet Camaro too, however we’ll cowl that in a separate article) that was launched earlier than the sixth-generation Mustang and which might have been a star in Australia: the Dodge Challenger.

The Challenger was by no means provided in right-hand drive from the manufacturing unit, which is disappointing because it might have been a strong halo mannequin for the Dodge model globally.

It additionally rode a platform intently associated to that of the Chrysler 300 bought in each left-hand drive markets and right-hand drive markets like ours.

In contrast to the 300 or associated Dodge Charger and Magnum, you would get a V8 engine with a guide transmission.

Really, there have been two V8s out there with a guide: the 5.7-litre within the R/T, and the 6.1-litre of the SRT8. The bottom engine was a 3.5-litre V6.

Does the Challenger have the title recognition of the Mustang? Completely not. In truth, Dodge mightn’t have even been capable of name it that right here, as Mitsubishi’s Pajero Sport predecessor already wore the title.

However given the Chrysler 300 was fashionable for a while, largely as a consequence of its brash American styling and out there V8, it stands to purpose the Challenger might have overwhelmed the Mustang to the punch and change into a robust vendor – at the very least for a coupe.

The Challenger really grew in reputation within the US the older it obtained, overtaking the Camaro. It was by no means as nimble as its rivals, nevertheless it had a again seat that might really match adults.

Dodge gave the Challenger numerous efficiency upgrades throughout its run, together with a extra highly effective base engine (displacing 3.6 litres) and a torquier 6.4-litre V8 for the SRT8 in 2011.

2015 introduced an inside with improved materials high quality and a brand new design. The outside additionally acquired element adjustments.

Extra thrilling was the introduction of the SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat that 12 months. The previous changed the SRT8 and had a extra highly effective 6.4-litre V8, whereas the Hellcat packed a supercharged 6.2-litre rated at 527kW of energy and 881Nm of torque. This engine was additionally provided in Australia within the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.

Dodge wasn’t completed tapping the Challenger’s efficiency potential, introducing the Demon in 2018 that pumped out 603kW on 91-octane gas and 626kW when crammed up with 100-octane gas. It was adopted in 2023 by the Demon 170, which pumped out a dizzying 764kW and 1281Nm.

Even when these wild Hellcat and Demon fashions hadn’t come right here, it’s not exhausting to think about the Challenger placing the battle to the Mustang in Australia with its daring, retro American styling and out there V8 energy.

Kia Borrego/Mohave

The Jeep Grand Cherokee briefly overtook the Toyota Prado in reputation largely as a result of availability of a V6 diesel.

That’s one thing Toyota nonetheless doesn’t supply – at the very least not within the Prado – whereas it took till late 2022 for Ford to introduce a V6 diesel in its Everest.

However do you know Kia has provided a equally sized body-on-frame off-roader since 2008, which since 2010 has been provided with a V6 diesel?

The Mohave was first launched in 2008, and was initially provided with a selection of three.8-litre V6 and 4.6-litre V8 petrol engines.

It was developed with the US market in thoughts, the place it was referred to as the Borrego (after one other American nationwide park, although they spelled this one appropriately).

Kia launched it within the US in 2008, successfully on the worst potential time. There was a monetary disaster and gas costs had been excessive, and gross sales of body-on-frame SUVs this measurement had been plummeting as a consequence. Kia ended up discontinuing the Borrego after a single mannequin 12 months.

However the off-roader lived on in Korea, even receiving a bolder facelift in 2019 that solely barely messed with the automotive’s clear, Peter Schreyer-penned exterior.

Its 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 pumps out 189kW of energy and 560Nm of torque – 5kW greater than an Everest with the identical measurement engine, however down 40Nm.

Had the Mohave come right here with petrol engines, it mightn’t have been profitable. However with a diesel, nevertheless, it might have been a modest hit for the model. Alas, it was solely ever produced in left-hand drive.

The Mohave continues to be provided in Korea, and it’s unclear if or when it is going to be changed.

Honda Pilot

Not for the reason that 2003-07 MDX, a rebadged, premium-priced Acura, has Honda been capable of supply consumers a bigger SUV to fit in above the CR-V.

That has meant if you happen to wished a Honda with third-row seats that may match extra than simply young children, you’ve needed to get an Odyssey. Convincing SUV consumers to get a folks mover as an alternative is a troublesome promote, even when they’re usually extra sensible, and now Honda doesn’t even supply the Odyssey right here.

The US has at all times been an important marketplace for Honda, and it has lengthy provided autos tailor-made for there. That features the unibody Ridgeline ute (since 2006), a singular, bigger Odyssey (since 1999), numerous premium Acura fashions, and the Pilot crossover.

The Pilot was first launched in mannequin 12 months 2003 as a rival to the Toyota Highlander (Kluger), and a platform-mate to the posher Acura MDX.

The unique was a fairly bland-looking affair, which was changed in 2008 by a a lot bolder-looking mannequin… which in flip was changed by a blandly styled mannequin in 2015.

The present fourth-generation mannequin was launched late in 2022. Like each era of Pilot, the one engine is a petroleum V6 – a bit shocking contemplating Honda’s lengthy historical past of hybrids.

This V6 places out 212kW and 355Nm, and is mated with a 10-speed automated transmission. The Pilot is obtainable with both front- or all-wheel drive.

Very like Subaru with the rival Ascent, Honda doesn’t even promote its flagship SUV within the Japanese market. There’s by no means been a right-hand drive Pilot, which suggests just like the Japanese market we’ve at all times missed out.

Mercedes-Benz GLK

Why Mercedes-Benz didn’t engineer the GLK for right-hand drive is baffling.

The GLK entered manufacturing in 2008 as a rival for the BMW X3, which had been launched right here again in 2004.

Mercedes-Benz was already fashionably late to the phase, however by skipping the GLK in right-hand drive markets it was much more tardy.

By the point its GLC successor arrived right here late in 2015, Mercedes-Benz had been not solely severely overwhelmed to the punch by BMW, however by Audi and Volvo with their Q5 and XC60, respectively, each arriving right here in 2009.

The GLK had really began growth as an SUV for the Good model, virtually twenty years earlier than that model ended up introducing its first SUV.

The explanation for the GLK being left-hand drive-only was as a result of location of the driveshaft, which additionally prevented all-wheel drive variations of different Mercedes-Benz fashions from coming right here.

However whereas, say, an all-wheel drive C-Class would have been a distinct segment mannequin at greatest, the GLK would have undoubtedly been a robust vendor.

Mercedes-Benz conceded on the time it was a mistake to not develop the GLK in right-hand drive, significantly contemplating luxurious SUV gross sales had been booming. Whereas there was speak in the course of the GLK’s lifecycle of a possible right-hand drive model, evidently this was dominated out for value causes.

Because the GLK launched in 2008, it wore the razor-sharp styling the model was identified for on this period… and had a finicky, button-heavy inside like different modern Benzes.

Although it was primarily based on the identical underpinnings because the W204-series C-Class, the GLK wore styling that was extra like a child GL – just like how at this time’s GLB bears a resemblance to the GLS (née GL).

In stark distinction with at this time’s (second-generation) GLC, the GLK had a lineup brimming with six-cylinder engines. Just one engine had 4 cylinders (a 2.1-litre turbo-diesel), with the opposite choices being 3.0-litre and three.5-litre petrol V6s plus a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6.

Dodge Durango

Dodge arrived in Australia at a horrible time, at the very least from a product standpoint.

Oh, certain, its autos featured unmistakably daring styling and neat options like cooled cupholders and tailgate audio system, however they had been tormented by anaemic engines (the antithesis of the vehicles’ muscular styling) and low-cost, plasticky interiors.

The excellent news is within the early 2010s, Dodge – whose guardian Chrysler had divorced Mercedes-Benz and gone by way of chapter proceedings – was overhauling its lineup.

This included rolling out a extra highly effective V6 engine and introducing a lot higher-quality interiors. By this level, nevertheless, Dodge’s world push was tapering off.

We obtained the up to date Journey, however by 2013 it was the one Dodge remaining in Australia. What might have been an American muscle model in Australia ended up being the model of a considerably forgettable household SUV.

One automobile that might have been actually helpful for not solely Dodge but additionally FCA Australia was the Durango.

This was the third era of Dodge’s massive SUV, however not like its body-on-frame, Dakota pickup-derived predecessors it shared its unibody underpinnings with the WK2-series Jeep Grand Cherokee.

It was launched in 2010, and provided FCA’s new Pentastar V6 with 216kW and 350Nm plus an non-obligatory 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 268kW and 530Nm.

The Jeep was promoting up a storm in Australia round this time, even pushing previous the Toyota Prado to change into the best-selling massive SUV in the marketplace in 2014.

It lacked one factor, although: a 3rd row of seating. And that’s one thing the Dodge had (and has – it’s nonetheless in manufacturing at this time!)

After its Commander exited manufacturing in 2010 – a automobile which Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne later mentioned was “was unfit for human consumption” – Jeep didn’t supply a three-row world SUV till the WL Grand Cherokee L that got here right here in 2022.

Having the Durango right here might subsequently have given FCA Australia a bigger SUV to supply in Chrysler Dodge Jeep showrooms, to fit in above the Journey which was bought right here solely with front-wheel drive.

FCA Australia executives did affirm there have been discussions with head workplace a couple of right-hand drive Durango however, very similar to discussions round a RHD Challenger and Charger, these didn’t lead wherever.

The Durango was by no means provided with a diesel just like the associated Grand Cherokee, however that hardly harm autos just like the Toyota Kluger.

The Dodge did finally get one thing different three-row SUVs couldn’t match, except you had been luxurious manufacturers: an enormous V8.

Along with the 5.7-litre V8, Dodge added a good bigger 6.4-litre V8 in 2018 with 354kW and 637Nm. Not content material with leaving it at that, Dodge even put the Hellcat engine within the Durango for 2 separate, transient runs. This pumps out 529kW and 875Nm – that’s one fast college run!

Whereas we’re speaking 2010s Dodges, the up to date Avenger might need had a greater probability towards rivals following its substantial 2011 facelift. It nonetheless had its square-jawed American styling, however had a vastly better-quality inside and an out there Pentastar V6.

There was additionally the Charger, however this might have competed with the Chrysler 300.