2025 Hybrid Volkswagen: Latest Updates and Analysis
2025 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV vs. Kia Carnival Hybrid vs. Toyota Sienna Hybrid
Minivans are the sweatpants of the automotive world: unfashionable.
but very practical. Throw in a hybrid powertrain to keep the fuel.
bills down, and they can become even more satisfying to own.
Granted, a minivan is not a Porsche 911, but have you ever tried to.
transport a papier-mâché volcano science project in a GT3? Can't be.
Even with most buyers choosing three-row SUVs for family transport,.
Toyota, Chrysler, and Kia all still build minivans. So does Honda,.
but the Odyssey isn't available as a hybrid, and we'll have the.
Volkswagen [website] sit this one out as it's an EV and also one-third.
more expensive than the mainstream minivans.
Here's a look at how the hybrid Kia Carnival, Toyota Sienna, and.
Chrysler Pacifica compare in terms of specs, equipment, and pricing.
Toyota pushed all its chips onto hybrid minivans back in 2021, when.
it made the hybridized Sienna the only variant sold. A moment of.
silence here for the nearly 300-hp V-6–powered minivan Toyota built.
as its last nonhybrid hurrah. Now the front- or all-wheel-drive.
Sienna has a a [website] four-cylinder engine paired with two (for.
FWD models) or three electric motors and a [website].
nickel-metal-hydride battery pack for a total of 245 horsepower.
The Sienna is pretty darn quick for a sliding-door whale, taking [website].
seconds to hit 60 mph in our testing. The transmission is a.
Chrysler will still sell you a minivan with a V-6 in it, hybrid or.
not, and the plug-in-hybrid version offers plenty of power. With a.
[website] Atkinson-cycle V-6 and two electric motors, total output.
for the Pacifica PHEV is 260 horsepower. The transmission is.
continuously variable, like the Sienna, but power goes only to the.
front wheels. The battery pack is lithium-ion and larger capacity.
than the Toyota's at [website] kWh. As such, it offers 32 miles of.
pure-EV operation, suitable for the school run or getting groceries.
In our testing, at [website] seconds the Pacifica was only a few tenths.
slower than the Sienna in getting up to 60 mph.
Kia is the sole manufacturer to pair both turbocharging and hybrid.
technology in its minivan, and the Carnival Hybrid also has a.
six-speed automatic rather than a continuously variable.
transmission. A [website] turbo-four-cylinder pairs with a single.
electric motor and a [website] lithium-ion battery pack for a total of.
242 horsepower. Power goes solely to the front wheels, and the.
Carnival provides near-identical acceleration figures to the.
Modern parenting does often have you rushing around, but minivan.
buyers are likely far more interested in fuel economy than in how a.
van might perform in the Saturday Get to Soccer Practice Grand Prix.
It turns out the Sienna again comes out on top, scoring EPA ratings.
Because the Pacifica is a plug-in powertrain, the EPA doesn't assign.
it city or highway fuel-economy figures, only a combined number: 30.
mpg. In Car and Driver's 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, however,.
the Pacifica returned 33 mpg, identical to the Sienna's result.
The Kia Carnival's EPA ratings come in at midpack, with estimates of.
34/31/33 mpg city/highway/combined. However, in C/D's real-world.
75-mph highway driving test, the Kia's result trailed the other two.
Overall, the Toyota's the best all-rounder, but if your driving mix.
is less highway oriented, the Kia is in the hunt. However, if.
short-range around-town commutes are part of your day to day, the.
Pacifica is the only minivan that can do that using no gasoline at.
Chrysler 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Kia 2025 Kia Carnival.
No SUV, no matter how cleverly the seats fold, can touch a minivan.
for sheer interior roominess. All three vans here are on pretty.
equal footing, as Chrysler's flexibility ace in the hole—the brand's.
Stow 'n Go fold-away second- and third-row seating—is not available.
in the PHEV version of the Pacifica, owing to the large battery pack.
Chrysler 2025 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV. Toyota 2025 Toyota Sienna.
Our previous comparison test of 2022 and 2023 models revealed the.
Sienna as the most democratic with passenger volume, offering the.
same 58 cubic feet for the each of the first two rows of seats, the.
same as offered up front in the Pacifica. Third-row seating also.
rates the highest in a tie with the Pacifica, at 47 cubic feet for.
each. The Carnival has the most room up front at 62 cubic feet, but.
the smallest third row at 46 cubic feet. The Carnival's middle row.
is 59 cubic feet, and the Pacifica has the smallest middle row at 54.
If you've filled all three rows with passengers, then the Carnival.
is the cargo champion, with 40 cubic feet behind the rearmost seats,.
besting the Sienna's 34 and the Pacifica's 32. If you've just got.
the first two rows filled, then the Pacifica has the edge, with 88.
cubic feet of cargo space, just besting the Carnival's 87 and well.
ahead of the Sienna's 75 cubic feet. Remove the middle row and the.
Carnival is the overall move-the-kid-to-college winner, with a total.
of 145 cubic feet compared to the Pacifica's 141-cubic-feet max. You.
can't remove the middle seats in the Sienna, but with them folded.
With all that space available, minivans are both a great tool for.
daily passenger-carrying duties and also for recreation. Never mind.
all the glossy brochures showing rugged SUVs in nature, a minivan is.
pretty much unbeatable for hauling camping gear.
If you're going to tow a modest pop-up trailer or maybe a small.
boat, then the Toyota Sienna is your safest bet. It can tow up to.
3500 pounds, whereas the Kia Carnival Hybrid can only manage 2500.
pounds with trailer brakes or 1000 pounds without. Chrysler doesn't.
recommend you tow with the Pacifica PHEV, just the nonhybrid model.
Because every Sienna is a hybrid, it's the least expensive to get.
into, with the LE model starting at $40,635. But the Carnival is.
only slightly more expensive at $42,235 for the base LXS model. The.
Kia's top-spec SX Prestige model, at $54,335, is thousands less than.
the Sienna's Platinum top trim ($58,355), but the Toyota has a.
resale advantage, especially with the availability of all-wheel.
The plug-in version of the Pacifica starts at $52,750, but it does.
come with more equipment than the base model Toyota or Kia. In.
Pinnacle trim, it's priced at $61,480, making it the most expensive.
hybrid minivan you can buy. That lithium-ion battery back and.
Ram's gas-powered pickup trucks were, collectively, the sixth.
bestselling vehicle in the United States last year, racking up.
In a world where most new mainstream vehicles are built to fit.
a mould, the Deepal E07 brings with it a sense of innovation.
Maserati might be thought of more as a luxury brand than a.
racing brand today, but for many, many years it built.
dedicated race cars, even competing i......
2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specs: EV priced for Australia, delayed again
The 2025 Volkswagen [website] has been priced for Australia ahead of customer deliveries beginning mid-year – almost 18 months after the electric SUV was first due in showrooms.
Volkswagen launched the [website] overseas in December 2020, with first Australian deliveries initially due in late 2023, before being pushed back to July 2024, then December 2024, then March 2025 and now finally “around mid-2025”.
In that time, Australia’s electric vehicle (EV) market has gone through a significant period of growth but has now slowed down, despite more affordable models being introduced to local buyers.
The [website] – initially launching in rear-wheel drive Pro guise only – is priced from $59,990 before on-road costs.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Volkswagen says that makes it more affordable than the similarly equipped, petrol-powered Tiguan R-Line, which is priced from $60,590 before on-roads.
It also undercuts the upcoming updated Tesla Model Y Launch Series by about $3400, with Volkswagen’s EV boasting a advanced driving range to the tune of about 80km.
The [website] Pro is also $1000 more affordable than the related Cupra Tavascan Endurance, which has identical outputs but a slightly shorter driving range and lower DC fast-charging rate.
For context, the Cupra comes from China while the [website] comes from Germany.
A more powerful, all-wheel drive version of the [website], called the GTX, is set to debut later this year at a higher – but as-yet undisclosed – price.
Model Price before on-road costs 2025 Volkswagen [website] Pro $59,990.
There’s just one variant available at launch.
Volkswagen [website] Power 210kW Torque 545Nm Drive type Rear-wheel drive 0-100km/h time [website] seconds Battery capacity 77kWh (net) Driving range (WLTP) 544km Maximum AC charge rate 11kW Maximum DC charge rate 175kW.
Volkswagen [website] Length 4584mm Width 1852mm (excl. mirrors) Height 1640mm Wheelbase 2771mm Boot capacity 543L (seats up).
The Volkswagen [website] is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia.
Service intervals and pricing are yet to be revealed.
The Volkswagen [website] has not yet been issued an Australian safety rating by ANCAP, however it achieved a five-star result in New Zealand and Europe after testing conducted in 2021 by Euro NCAP.
Autonomous emergency braking Pedestrian and cyclist detection.
Matrix LED headlights with adaptive high-beam.
3D-effect tail lights with dynamic turn signal.
Power-adjustable and heated front seats with memory.
An Exterior Style package is available for an extra $900, adding:
Volkswagen hasn’t yet detailed the colour choices for the [website] Pro, however it’s confirmed metallic paint will be a $1000 option.
Three years after previous prime m......
Minivans are the sweatpants of the automotive world: unfashionable but very practical. Throw in a hybrid powertrain to keep the fuel bills down, and t......
The Kia Concept EV2 previews a future production model that's probably too small to be sold on our shores.
The EV2 has a bulldog-like appearance with......
2025 Volkswagen ID.5 price and specs: Electric coupe SUV priced for Australia
The 2025 Volkswagen [website] will arrive mid-year at a $13,000 premium above its [website] sibling, with the coupe-styled SUV getting more equipment and power.
Volkswagen today confirmed the all-wheel drive [website] GTX will be priced from $72,990 before on-road costs, $13,000 more than the rear-wheel drive and less-equipped [website] Pro.
It’s a $1500 saving on the mechanically identical Cupra Tavascan VZ, however the [website] GTX’s price is just $500 more than the updated Tesla Model Y Long Range, which will be able to accelerate faster and run longer on a single charge.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Customer deliveries of the [website] are due to begin in mid-2025, the latest delay for the electric SUV and its [website] twin.
The [website] was initially due in the second quarter of 2024, then the fourth quarter (October to December), then by Christmas 2024 before the most recent timing of March 2025.
While the [website] is designed more like a traditional SUV, the [website]’s rear end is more rakish, and it’s launching first in the all-wheel drive GTX guise, unlike the former which is initially coming as a rear-wheel drive Pro.
Model Price before on-road costs 2025 Volkswagen [website] GTX $72,990.
There’s just one variant available at launch.
Volkswagen [website] Power 250kW Torque 679Nm Drive type All-wheel drive 0-100km/h time [website] seconds Battery capacity 79kWh (net) Driving range (WLTP) 528km Maximum AC charge rate 11kW Maximum DC charge rate 175kW.
Volkswagen [website] Length 4599mm Width 1852mm (excl. mirrors) Height 1618mm Wheelbase 2771mm Boot capacity 549L (seats up).
The Volkswagen [website] is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia.
Service intervals and pricing are yet to be presented.
The Volkswagen [website] has not yet been issued an Australian safety rating by ANCAP, however it achieved a five-star result in New Zealand and Europe after testing conducted on the [website] in 2021 by Euro NCAP.
Autonomous emergency braking Pedestrian and cyclist detection.
Adaptive cruise control with stop and go.
20-inch Ystad black and diamond-cut alloy wheels.
Matrix LED headlights with adaptive high-beam.
3D-effect tail lights with dynamic turn signal.
Power-adjustable sports seats with heating and memory.
12-speaker, 480W Harman Kardon sound system.
Volkswagen hasn’t yet detailed the colour choices for the [website] GTX, however it’s confirmed metallic paint will be a $1000 option, while premium metallic paint will set buyers back $1300.
Honda Malaysia (HM) will be launching three new models in 2025. This was ......
The best-selling version of the Toyota LandCruiser Prado is getting a five-seat option.
Toyota Australia has confirmed the GXL, previously offered on......
Jeep is leaning in to its off-roading roots with a new pair of patents it filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office earlier this year.
Market Impact Analysis
Market Growth Trend
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.3% | 10.0% | 10.5% | 11.6% | 12.3% | 12.7% | 12.8% |
Quarterly Growth Rate
| Q1 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.9% | 11.7% | 12.4% | 12.8% |
Market Segments and Growth Drivers
| Segment | Market Share | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Connected Cars | 35% | 14.2% |
| Autonomous Driving | 22% | 18.5% |
| EV Technology | 28% | 21.9% |
| Telematics | 10% | 9.7% |
| Other Automotive Tech | 5% | 6.3% |
Technology Maturity Curve
Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity:
Competitive Landscape Analysis
| Company | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Tesla | 16.9% |
| Waymo | 12.3% |
| NVIDIA DRIVE | 10.7% |
| Bosch | 9.5% |
| Continental | 7.8% |
Future Outlook and Predictions
The 2025 Hybrid Volkswagen landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changing threat vectors, and shifting business requirements. Based on current trends and expert analyses, we can anticipate several significant developments across different time horizons:
Year-by-Year Technology Evolution
Based on current trajectory and expert analyses, we can project the following development timeline:
Technology Maturity Curve
Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity, influencing adoption timelines and investment priorities:
Innovation Trigger
- Generative AI for specialized domains
- Blockchain for supply chain verification
Peak of Inflated Expectations
- Digital twins for business processes
- Quantum-resistant cryptography
Trough of Disillusionment
- Consumer AR/VR applications
- General-purpose blockchain
Slope of Enlightenment
- AI-driven analytics
- Edge computing
Plateau of Productivity
- Cloud infrastructure
- Mobile applications
Technology Evolution Timeline
- Technology adoption accelerating across industries
- digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
- Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
- new digital business models emerging
- Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
- emergence of new technology paradigms
Expert Perspectives
Leading experts in the automotive tech sector provide diverse perspectives on how the landscape will evolve over the coming years:
"Technology transformation will continue to accelerate, creating both challenges and opportunities."
— Industry Expert
"Organizations must balance innovation with practical implementation to achieve meaningful results."
— Technology Analyst
"The most successful adopters will focus on business outcomes rather than technology for its own sake."
— Research Director
Areas of Expert Consensus
- Acceleration of Innovation: The pace of technological evolution will continue to increase
- Practical Integration: Focus will shift from proof-of-concept to operational deployment
- Human-Technology Partnership: Most effective implementations will optimize human-machine collaboration
- Regulatory Influence: Regulatory frameworks will increasingly shape technology development
Short-Term Outlook (1-2 Years)
In the immediate future, organizations will focus on implementing and optimizing currently available technologies to address pressing automotive tech challenges:
- Technology adoption accelerating across industries
- digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
These developments will be characterized by incremental improvements to existing frameworks rather than revolutionary changes, with emphasis on practical deployment and measurable outcomes.
Mid-Term Outlook (3-5 Years)
As technologies mature and organizations adapt, more substantial transformations will emerge in how security is approached and implemented:
- Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
- new digital business models emerging
This period will see significant changes in security architecture and operational models, with increasing automation and integration between previously siloed security functions. Organizations will shift from reactive to proactive security postures.
Long-Term Outlook (5+ Years)
Looking further ahead, more fundamental shifts will reshape how cybersecurity is conceptualized and implemented across digital ecosystems:
- Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
- emergence of new technology paradigms
These long-term developments will likely require significant technical breakthroughs, new regulatory frameworks, and evolution in how organizations approach security as a fundamental business function rather than a technical discipline.
Key Risk Factors and Uncertainties
Several critical factors could significantly impact the trajectory of automotive tech evolution:
Organizations should monitor these factors closely and develop contingency strategies to mitigate potential negative impacts on technology implementation timelines.
Alternative Future Scenarios
The evolution of technology can follow different paths depending on various factors including regulatory developments, investment trends, technological breakthroughs, and market adoption. We analyze three potential scenarios:
Optimistic Scenario
Rapid adoption of advanced technologies with significant business impact
Key Drivers: Supportive regulatory environment, significant research breakthroughs, strong market incentives, and rapid user adoption.
Probability: 25-30%
Base Case Scenario
Measured implementation with incremental improvements
Key Drivers: Balanced regulatory approach, steady technological progress, and selective implementation based on clear ROI.
Probability: 50-60%
Conservative Scenario
Technical and organizational barriers limiting effective adoption
Key Drivers: Restrictive regulations, technical limitations, implementation challenges, and risk-averse organizational cultures.
Probability: 15-20%
Scenario Comparison Matrix
| Factor | Optimistic | Base Case | Conservative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implementation Timeline | Accelerated | Steady | Delayed |
| Market Adoption | Widespread | Selective | Limited |
| Technology Evolution | Rapid | Progressive | Incremental |
| Regulatory Environment | Supportive | Balanced | Restrictive |
| Business Impact | Transformative | Significant | Modest |
Transformational Impact
Technology becoming increasingly embedded in all aspects of business operations. This evolution will necessitate significant changes in organizational structures, talent development, and strategic planning processes.
The convergence of multiple technological trends—including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and ubiquitous connectivity—will create both unprecedented security challenges and innovative defensive capabilities.
Implementation Challenges
Technical complexity and organizational readiness remain key challenges. Organizations will need to develop comprehensive change management strategies to successfully navigate these transitions.
Regulatory uncertainty, particularly around emerging technologies like AI in security applications, will require flexible security architectures that can adapt to evolving compliance requirements.
Key Innovations to Watch
Artificial intelligence, distributed systems, and automation technologies leading innovation. Organizations should monitor these developments closely to maintain competitive advantages and effective security postures.
Strategic investments in research partnerships, technology pilots, and talent development will position forward-thinking organizations to leverage these innovations early in their development cycle.
Technical Glossary
Key technical terms and definitions to help understand the technologies discussed in this article.
Understanding the following technical concepts is essential for grasping the full implications of the security threats and defensive measures discussed in this article. These definitions provide context for both technical and non-technical readers.
adaptive cruise control intermediate
hybrid intermediate
electric vehicle intermediate
API beginner
How APIs enable communication between different software systemsplatform intermediate
Related Articles
