2026 Forthing Taikon 5 price and specs: Australia's most affordable mid-size EV SUV starts at $36,990

A range extender hybrid (REEV) differs from a conventional plug-in hybrid (PHEV). In a standard PHEV, the petrol engine can drive the wheels directly or work alongside the electric motor. In a range extender, the petrol engine never drives the wheels. It acts only as a generator to charge the battery while the car is moving. The electric motor is the sole source of propulsion.

This setup means the Taikon 5 Range Extender Hybrid drives like a pure EV at all times. The 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (75kW/130Nm) kicks in only to top up the 31kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery. Total combined range is up to 937km.

Forthing has confirmed four model grades at launch, split evenly between the two powertrains. Drive-away pricing covers all on-road costs, meaning the figures below are what buyers pay to take delivery, with no further charges beyond optional paint.

Metallic paint adds $600 RRP across the range. Within each powertrain, the price gap between Luxury and Exclusive grades is $3,500, covering the equipment differences set out below. Moving from Range Extender Hybrid to BEV at the same trim level adds $2,000.

Get a novated lease quote

Standard equipment is generous for the price. Both grades get a 14.6-inch infotainment screen, wireless smartphone mirroring, six airbags and a full suite of driver assist systems including autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The Exclusive grade adds the comfort and convenience features buyers typically pay more for elsewhere.

Luxury standard equipment:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Lane departure warning and lane keep assist
• Front and rear collision warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert and blind zone warning
• Door exit warning
• Adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition
• Six airbags (front, side and curtain)
• Bi-LED headlights
• Rear parking sensors
• Tyre pressure monitors
• Height and reach adjustable steering wheel with illuminated controls
• Four one-touch auto-up and auto-down power windows
• FM/AM and digital radio
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 14.6-inch infotainment screen
• 8.8-inch driver information display
• 10-way electric driver seat with ventilation and massage
• 4-way electric front passenger seat
• Rear-view camera
• Dusk-sensing headlights
• Scrolling rear indicators
• Heated side mirrors
• Imitation leather upholstery

Exclusive adds:

• Power tailgate
• Front parking sensors
• Rear privacy glass
• Power folding side mirrors
• Wireless phone charger
• Leather steering wheel
• 360-degree panorama view camera
• Panoramic glass sunroof (opens above front seats)
• Six-speaker audio (up from four)

One item missing from both grades is a powered passenger seat beyond 4-way adjustment, and there is no head-up display on either trim. The Taikon 5 is front-wheel drive only across the range, with no all-wheel-drive variant offered at launch.

The follow feature are exclusive to the BEV model only

• Space-saver spare tyre and wheel jack kit (Exclusive only)
• Push button start (Range Extender Hybrid uses keyless start)

The Taikon 5 lands in a crowded segment. Each powertrain faces a different set of rivals, and pricing position varies significantly depending on which one is compared.

BEV rivals

The Taikon 5 BEV competes against the Geely EX5, BYD Sealion 7 and MGS6 EV. At $38,990 to $42,490 drive-away, it undercuts all three rivals by a wide margin, though it gives up range and motor power to do so.

Pricing for the Geely EX5 and BYD Sealion 7 is before on-road costs (ORC), while Forthing, MG and the Taikon 5 BEV figures shown are drive-away. Drive-away pricing typically adds $2,000 to $3,000 depending on state, so the gap to rivals is smaller in practice than the headline figures suggest.

REEV rivals

The Taikon 5 Range Extender Hybrid competes against the Geely Starray EM-i, BYD Sealion 6 and Leapmotor C10 REEV. Its 170km electric range is the longest of the group, ahead of the Leapmotor C10 REEV and well clear of both Geely and BYD.

The Leapmotor C10 REEV's electric range is officially quoted on the more generous NEDC cycle rather than WLTP. The WLTP-equivalent figure shown is an estimate based on third-party testing, since Leapmotor has not published a local WLTP figure for the REEV variant. The same caveat applies to the BYD Sealion 6, where Zecar's earlier coverage also used NEDC figures.

Both powertrains use lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry which provides more flexibility to utilise the full electric range for every day use. Both also support vehicle-to-load (V2L) at 3.5kW, letting the car power external appliances or equipment through an adaptor, useful for camping, tools on a job site, or as backup power during an outage.

BEV

An 80kW DC peak charging rate is modest by current EV standards, where many rivals now offer 100kW or more. For most owners doing the bulk of their charging at home overnight, this matters less than it would for someone relying mainly on public fast chargers.

Range Extender Hybrid

Both the BEV and Range Extender Hybrid charge at the same speed for the 30 to 80 per cent DC fast-charge window, despite the smaller 31kWh battery in the hybrid. That reflects the lower 40kW peak charging rate on the Range Extender, against 80kW on the BEV.

Forthing backs the Taikon 5 with the same warranty term across both powertrains, but service intervals differ slightly given the added mechanical complexity of the petrol engine and generator in the Range Extender Hybrid.

The 7-year warranty matches what several rival new-energy brands offer in Australia, including BYD and GWM. Whichever variant is chosen, owners should budget for slightly more frequent servicing on the Range Extender Hybrid due to the added 12 months / 15,000km interval against the BEV's 20,000km cycle, a result of the petrol engine needing more regular checks than a pure electric drivetrain.

The Forthing Taikon 5 arrives as the most affordable mid-size electric SUV in Australia. The BEV undercuts the Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7 on price, while the Range Extender Hybrid offers class-leading electric range for a PHEV at 170km. Backed by the Ateco Group's distribution network, the Taikon 5 gives Australian buyers a genuine budget-friendly option in the new-energy SUV segment.

Get a novated lease quote