√Jump the queue! New cars available to buy – and drive away

Most major car brands have been gripped by chronic stock shortages and lengthy delivery delays for the past two years. But some green shoots are starting to emerge amid the auto alley armageddon.

Two years of crippling stock shortages and record waiting times for new cars is starting to come to an end – if you’re prepared to shop around and know where to look.

Production line slowdowns and shipping bottlenecks have caused havoc across the car industry and pushed waiting times from three months to two years and beyond.

While popular car brands Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai and Kia still have a long wait for most models – and supply remains too patchy for us to create a reliable list – Drive has unearthed a number of vehicles across various market segments that are available to buy and ready to go today.

Here is our Top 10 list of new cars with immediate delivery and ready to go today – or have comparatively short waiting times of a few weeks rather than a few months.

Warning: not every dealer has all these cars listed but we canvassed enough showrooms across the following brands to know that if one dealer doesn’t have stock, the next one probably will.

Ford Ranger XL and XLS

The waiting times for the top-end versions of the new-generation Ford Ranger such as the XLT, Sport and Wildtrak – especially variants equipped with the optional turbo diesel V6 – stretch from six to 18 months.

But Ford dealers are struggling to get customers to even open the door on the Ford Rangers with the cheap seats, steel wheels and vinyl floors.

Perhaps it’s the ugly halogen headlights that are the real turn off, but whatever the reason, the basic Ford Ranger XL and XLS seem to be sale proof.

Which is why Ford is blasting radio ads in all major capital cities – and regional areas – to help clear the decks (and showroom forecourts) of the ugly ducklings of the Ford Ranger family.

All models come with the full suite of advanced safety tech; the standard single-turbo 2.0-litre diesel is perky enough for light-duty use and super-efficient.

So if you’re desperate to get into a new Ford Ranger and can live with the dull appearance and duller performance of the halogen headlights – a clear signal to others you’re in the cheap seats – you can drive away in a new ute today.

Ford Everest Ambiente and Trend

As with the Ford Ranger ute – with which the Ford Everest 4WD shares its core ingredients and architecture – buyers are gravitating to the top-end models, particularly turbo diesel V6 variants.

But if you’re content with a lower grade version of the Ford Everest – that still comes with advanced safety and most mod-cons – and the twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel, you can be in the traffic before Christmas, if not by next weekend.

We reckon the Ford Everest is better value in Ambiente or Trend model grades any way, so this really is a win win.

LDV T60 Max

Here’s an opportunity to beat a price rise and drive away in a new ute today.

The 2023 LDV T60 Max has just been unveiled and comes with price increases of up to $4000.

But thousands of 2022 LDV T60 max utes are due to dock in the coming weeks and they will be at the old price.

The 2022 LDV T60 Max Luxe auto costs from $41,490 drive-away (add $500 for metallic paint), but the 2023 LDV T60 Luxe (which gains new wheels, fender flares and sail plane garnish on the ute tub) will costs from $45,490 drive-away (add $500 for metallic paint).

Mazda CX-5

Mazda dealers across the board have told Drive there are still long waiting times for the Mazda3, CX-3 and CX-30 hatchbacks.

But if you’re after a mid-size SUV – one of Australia’s most popular vehicle categories – there are reasonable supplies of the Mazda CX-5 around the place.

You may need to shop around for the right model grade and colour (we reckon the basic model is all you need), but we are assured they are out there.

MG HS

Stock of the MG 3 hatch and MG ZS city SUV remain tight, but dealers are reporting good incoming supply of the MG HS SUV.

As with any brand, shop around until you find the exact colour and model grade that’s on your wish list.

Suzuki Swift

The darling of the city-car class is back in stock after patchy supplies over the past couple of years.

It may take a several calls to a few Suzuki dealers to find the colour and model grade you’re after, but they are out there.

Downside? Suzuki Swift prices have risen sharply during COVID, so be prepared for some sticker shock – and be sure to shop around.

Suzuki Vitara

The Suzuki Vitara previously had waiting times of six months or more.

But supply is starting to turn up. Same rules apply: it could take several calls but you should be able to secure a car within weeks rather than months.

Although the Suzuki Vitara is approaching the end of the road in this current model cycle (an all-new model is due next year or 2024), it is holding its age well and is one of our favourite under-rated cars in the city SUV segment.

Volvo XC40

We weren’t expecting this. The Volvo XC40 small SUV was in hot demand and tight supply throughout most of COVID but now they’re starting to become more freely available.

Our pick is the cheapest model. It still has most advanced safety aids covered, is powered by a perky engine, and has wonderfully comfortable suspension over bumps in the daily grind.

Downsides? This Volvo XC40 will be the last offered in Australia with petrol power. Volvo is turning its back on petrol engines and switching to electric-only models in Australia from 2026 – four years ahead of the same switch by Sweden.

Volkswagen T-Cross, T-Roc, Tiguan Allspace and Touareg

Dealers have started called Volkswagen ‘SUVW’, such is the focus on the booming faux-wheel-drive segment.

Supply of the Volkswagen Polo and Golf hatchbacks remain tight because, we suspect, Volkswagen has diverted any spare semiconductors towards the more popular and more profitable SUV range.

Several Volkswagen dealers canvassed by Drive said there are good supplies of the baby VW T-Cross SUV, small VW T-Roc, mid-size VW Tiguan Allspace seven-seater, and flagship Touareg SUV.

As ever, shop around, compare prices, and double check the exact car you want is in showroom stock or Volkswagen’s inventory – and is not a figment of the dealer’s imagination.

Jeep Gladiator

Well, here’s a surprise. Jeep dealers are choking on the Gladiator ute after the price went up by $10,000 in less than 12 months.

Now there are Jeep Gladiator utes gathering dust in dealer forecourts across Australia. Some even have “sale” signs on them.

It turns out Australian buyers are more discerning – and more financially savvy – than Jeep had anticipated, and are avoiding the Gladiator in droves since the price hikes.

Still, if you want a good looking and capable truck and have money to burn, you can get behind the wheel of a new Jeep Gladiator before the summer holidays.

Some Jeep dealers will be so delighted to see you they will even get the vehicle ready for you in a few days.

All these unsold Jeep Gladiators are starting to cost dealers a lot of money on their floorplan (the monthly fees paid by showrooms to keep floor stock) given the rising interest rates.

Want a deal? Try to negotiate towards the end of the month when the dealer is staring at a spreadsheet with the latest floorplan costs. They’d be delighted to get a Jeep Gladiator off their books and into your driveway.

The post Jump the queue! New cars available to buy – and drive away – today appeared first on Drive.