Mercedes CLA Wins Big, Zeekr Upgrades, and Why EVs Are Now Cheaper to Own

Send us Fan MailBack with more EV action on Plugged In Australia! In Episode 4, host Shantana from Sydney dives into the Mercedes-Benz CLA's massive awards haul and top safety scores—could this be the premium EV to watch for 2026? We cover Zeekr's quick upgrades to the popular 7X mid-sizer and a peek at their new PHEV 8X, plus Skoda's named seven-seat Peaq flagship rivaling the Kia EV9.Other highlights: Mitsubishi's hot hatch EV tease with Evo vibes, Polestar's policy push on FBT exemptions, Kia and BYD ute battles, range boosts for BMW and Mini, why driver assists aren't cutting road tolls yet, Tesla's million-plus FSD users, VW topping Europe, Ford Mach-E price slashes, and a game-changing study showing EV ownership costs have flipped in Australia. Loaded with news, specs, and real talk for Aussie drivers!Disclaimer:All specifications, pricing, and information discussed in this episode were correct at the time of recording. The electric vehicle market moves quickly, so we recommend you always check the latest details directly with manufacturers, dealers, or official sources.This podcast provides general news and information only, based on publicly available sources and Australian Consumer Law guidelines. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or seek independent professional guidance.Plugged in Australia and its hosts are not responsible for any decisions, misunderstandings, or purchases made based on the content of this show.Sourcing & TransparencyAt Plugged in Australia, all our stories are sourced from publicly available news articles and reports. We do not receive any advance information or briefings from brands or manufacturers.Any analysis or opinions we share are based solely on this public information.Our main sources include (though we also use many others, and they vary by episode):https://www.carsales.com.au/https://www.carexpert.com.au/https://thedriven.io/https://www.carsguide.com.auhttps://autotalk.com.auhttps://www.carsguide.com.auhttps://evcentral.com.auhttps://www.drive.com.au