A better Toyota HiLux! 2026’s top 6 American cars, SUVs and utes denied to Australians with the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Maverick and Rivian R1S on top of the wish list

In 2026, there are a number of intriguing new models designed and engineered expressly for North America that we think would resonate with Australians.

While some are certainly flash and expensive, all are exceptional in some special way.

We identify our favourites, and reveal why we’re denied them. Let’s go.

Toyota Tacoma

2026 Toyota Tacoma

The latest Toyota HiLux is… better than before.

An appreciable improvement over the previous model launched in 2015, it evolves the series in key safety, comfort and multimedia areas.

But the HiLux is far from the best, being a rehash of a much-older design compared to the leading Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and Kia Tasman.

Which is where the US-market Tacoma steps in… and up.

However, though it uses the TNGA-F body-on-frame platform related to the latest LandCruiser 300 Series and Prado 250 SUV ranges, it is currently a left-hand-drive-only (LHD) proposition, made in Mexico chiefly for North America, so out of bounds for us.

But – as Toyota Motor Company Australia’s (TMCA) departing sales boss Sean Hanley recently revealed to CarsGuide – Tacoma is high on the local wishlist, as part of a broader ute strategy that would also include HiLux.

“They could live side by side,” he said. “And I think that's the diversity of the requirement of that particular segment and its customers. (Tacoma) would be a more high-end vehicle.

“I think that there's a market for that vehicle in the right configuration alongside HiLux.”

This one-two ute approach would please both traditionalists and provide a more-effective, premium-positioned weapon against larger, stronger competition.

But, it won’t happen in 2026, as the local team appears to await an evolved Tacoma (or similar) that’s said to be in the pipeline for global markets, with more-suitable engine options for Australians than the existing 2.4-litre turbo and turbo-hybrid petrol-powered choices. And possibly cheaper sourcing than from America.

If you’re a Toyota fan and the latest HiLux doesn’t quite do it for you, the right Tacoma cannot come soon enough.

Oh, and while you're at it, can TMCA also release the US-market retro-style round-light Prado 250 to Oz, please?

Ford Maverick

2026 Ford Maverick Tremor

Five years after storming North America, the Maverick continues to sell better than ever, with over 155,000 units shifted in the US alone last year.

Made in Mexico, the ute that looks like it was designed by Ikea isn’t the first of its type. But where the Ford differs from other car-based monocoque-bodied dual-cab utes is in its perfect proportions: it seems consumers love the compact yet confident pick-up look.

Yet that’s not the only reason why we reckon the Maverick would win over Australians. A sub-$40K asking price, for starters, would help, given the cheapest new Ford passenger vehicle, the base Everest, costs nearly $60K. And the petrol-hybrid powertrain would woo more than a few would-be BYD Shark 6 buyers.

So, why can’t we buy one here? The official reasons are no right-hand drive (RHD) production and a lack of production capacity keeping up with demand, though the fear of stealing sales from Ranger must surely also factor in. Yep, the fear of cannibalism from within is real at Ford.

Rivian R1S

2026 Rivian R1S

With timeless styling, a sumptuous cabin for seven, alluring luxury and the option of up to four electric motors, the R1S is an American flagship SUV EV that seamlessly blends performance, opulence, practicality and desirability.

And while a massive battery pack ensures outstanding range, the Rivian’s off-road prowess makes this a reinvented Range Rover for today.

The bad news is that RHD seems unlikely. While many top-end full-sized SUV EVs miss the mark for consumers, the R1S provides a most-compelling alternative. It even helped achieve a “most loved brand” accolade from Consumer Reports in 2024, highlighting this newcomer’s immense achievement.

Rivian R1T

2026 Rivian R1T

We’ve already spotted R1S’s related electric ute sibling at Ford’s Australian headquarters, presumably undergoing competition evaluation, suggesting the Ranger may eventually follow suit. But that’s another story.

It also speaks volumes about how esteemed this 600km-plus luxury pick-up is. Classy, capable and high quality, it seems to embody the polar opposite of a Tesla Cybertruck. And we’re here for that.

But the only RHD Rivian coming will be this year’s smaller, all-new R2 SUV, but that’s only currently confirmed for the UK.

You’d think the R1T would be a no-brainer in ute-obsessed Australia. Pity.

Dodge LB Charger

2026 Dodge Charger range

Unlike every other Charger since 1966, today’s eighth iteration breaks from the traditional American muscle-car formula.

Built on an albeit heavily-modified premium platform also underpinning a number of larger Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Maserati models within the Stellantis portfolio, the sleek, evocative body offers three-door and five-door liftback styles, rather than the expected two-door coupe or fastback designs associated with so-called pony cars.

With no V8 Hemi in sight, today’s Charger spec consists of twin-motor and triple-motor all-wheel drive EV choices, or a 3.0-litre twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder petrol engine dubbed ‘Six Pack’. Fans of Australia’s legendary Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 of 1971 would know exactly what that entails.

But inevitably we miss out again. Yes, Autogroup International does offer a remanufactured RHD version for an undisclosed premium, but we imagine it would be far-more expensive than the $85K-plus Ford Mustang GT.

Lucid Air

2026 Lucid Air

The Lucid Air represents the pinnacle of American luxury sedan development.

Exquisitely designed, beautifully packaged, blisteringly fast and incredibly efficient even by EV standards, this ultra-high-tech alternative to a Mercedes-Benz S-Class pushes flagship-sedan boundaries with the no-compromise vision of a company determined to succeed against near-insurmountable odds.

More romantically-inclined automotive historians might liken the Air as kin to ambitious but doomed heroes like the 1937 Cord 810, early Lincoln Continentals and even the Tucker 48 Torpedo, but the sheer competence and abilities of the Lucid mean this is a Tesla Model S smasher for the head as well as the heart. Except, not for Australians.