Today’s Drive: Electric hatches with real range, an elegant wagon rethink, and a van that nicks the “big car” crown

I love days like this. On one end of the garage, there’s a tiny hatch promising honest-to-goodness electric range for the school run. On the other, a slab-sided van winning hearts by out-thinking SUVs. In between: a Range Rover plotting its first EV without binning the beloved V8, and a tasteful take on the M5 Touring that reminds us subtlety still sells. Coffee down, let’s get into it.

Small cars, big energy: BYD’s Dolphin PHEV, Leapmotor’s spicy hatch, and a Parisian Twingo cameo

CarExpert reports BYD has revealed a Dolphin plug-in hybrid with a claimed 105 km of electric-only range. That number matters. In my experience, anything north of 80 km lets you do real life—commute, groceries, kid drop-offs—without dipping into petrol until the weekend. If BYD keeps the price sensible and the cabin tech friendly, that’s a genuine EV-on-weekdays, road-trip-on-Sundays proposition.

Also from CarExpert comes a note that Leapmotor’s electric hot hatch could be “upgraded” for global showrooms. Australia isn’t locked in yet, which is a shame; right-hand-drive markets are hungry for compact EVs with a pulse. The opportunity here is simple: give us a car that feels as cheeky as it looks—quick steering, eager throttle mapping, and the kind of suspension that laughs off a nasty city pothole without spilling your long black.

Then there’s Autocar’s charming detour: a tour of Paris in a Twingo, with Renault’s boss at the wheel. That’s not just PR—it’s a statement. The city car still matters, and when the person with the biggest office is driving, you get the sense Renault wants to nail the brief: tiny footprint, easy money running costs, and a personality big enough to win the café curb.

• BYD Dolphin PHEV: Claimed 105 km EV range aimed at daily driving without fuel.
• Leapmotor hot hatch: Global upgrades mooted; Australia decision still pending.
• Renault Twingo in Paris: Boss-driven demo underscores city-car relevance.

Luxury at both ends: a small-SUV standout and Range Rover Sport’s EV play

CarExpert has also named its 2026 Choice winner for Best Luxury Small SUV. They’re a picky bunch, and this award usually rewards the stuff you only notice after a week’s living: how quietly the doors seal, if the second row makes adults happy, whether the driver display reflects just the info you want and nothing more. The segment’s gotten viciously good lately; whoever’s topped it will have aced noise isolation, ride polish over sharp edges, and the kind of lane-keeping that helps rather than nags.

Up a size or three, Carscoops confirms the Range Rover Sport is getting its first EV, and—praise be—the V8 isn’t going anywhere. That’s the right kind of hedging. The last time I hustled a V8 Sport up a rain-soaked B-road, it felt like rolling thunder in a Savile Row suit; there’s a heft and pace to it that batteries will need to carefully emulate. Keep the V8 for the faithful, bring the EV for the future. Also, please give the EV the same stately driving position and the cabin tranquility the Sport already owns; it’s half the mystique. If they can streamline the software niggles and make cable storage less of a game of boot Tetris, even better.

Design corner: Bovensiepen’s tasteful muscle and a tidier M5 Touring

Motor1 spotlights a familiar Bavarian hand—an ex-BMW designer—giving the M5 Touring a more elegant stance. Carscoops, meanwhile, has Bovensiepen’s 05 GT, a masterclass in restraint that still promises a wallop. The through line is clear: fewer creases, more confidence. I’ve long believed the fastest-looking cars don’t need to shout; they just need to sit right on their wheels, pull their lines tight, and let proportion do the heavy lifting. Judging from today’s images and descriptions, that’s exactly the vibe—grand touring, not grandstanding.

A van that outsmarts the “big car” brief

Autocar has crowned Kia’s “game-changing” van its favourite big car of 2026. And honestly? I get it. The family wagon that happens to be a van is the industry’s most effective open secret. You get real space—bikes, prams, that flat-pack sofa you swore would fit—plus a driving position that saves your back. The latest Kia take reportedly nails packaging and flexibility; imagine an Alpine ski weekend with friends where everyone’s gear actually fits without playing luggage Tetris, then picture the Monday school run with sliding-door sanity in a tight drop-off zone. That’s the sort of daily brilliance that beats on-paper glamour.

• Why it wins: Packaging, ease-of-use, and cabin flexibility over spec-sheet fireworks.
• Who should care: Growing families, ride-share drivers, and anyone whose weekends involve kit.
• What to watch: How Kia prices it against plush SUVs—and how it rides when loaded.

Quick takes

• City EVs are pivoting from concept-y promises to real-world range numbers. The BYD Dolphin PHEV’s 105 km claim is the right kind of headline.
• Performance wagons don’t need wings to be exciting. Elegant design ages better—and likely helps residuals.
• Range Rover keeping the V8 while launching an EV? That’s brand stewardship done right.

Conclusion

From a van that thinks like a family to a hatch that actually covers a week of commutes on electrons, today’s news felt deeply practical—and a little romantic. Elegance in design is back, small cars are getting serious about range, and the icons are evolving without losing their souls. That’s a good Monday in my book.

FAQ

• How far can the BYD Dolphin PHEV drive on electricity? BYD is claiming up to 105 km of electric-only range, enough for most daily commutes.
• Is the Leapmotor electric hot hatch coming to Australia? Not yet. CarExpert notes global upgrades are being considered, but Australia isn’t locked in.
• Will the Range Rover Sport EV replace the V8? No. According to reporting, the Sport’s first EV will arrive alongside the V8, not replace it.
• What makes Kia’s van a “game-changer”? Autocar cites packaging and usability—the stuff that turns big-car ownership into an easy, everyday experience.
• What’s the deal with the elegant M5 Touring and the 05 GT? An ex-BMW designer’s take tidies up the M5 Touring’s look, while Bovensiepen’s 05 GT champions restrained styling with serious performance intent.