Australia's top 5 favourite utes: 2026 Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux lead the way, but there are some surprises

Australia's favourite utes revealed

Utes are seemingly not going anywhere as they once again featured heavily at the top of the sales charts in 2025.

This is despite many models experiencing sales drop-offs year-on-year as the ute market continues to increase in competitiveness.

Here are the top five best-selling utes heading into 2026.

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1. Ford Ranger

The Ford Ranger was not just the best-selling ute, but the best-selling car in Australia in 2025.

It managed 56,555 sales last year, as it topped the charts, starting from $37,130 (before on-road costs) for the base single-cab chassis.

The Ranger is mainly available with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, producing 125kW and 405Nm or 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with 184kW and 600Nm.

2026 Ford Ranger

However, the once-popular 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel will be cut from the lineup soon.

The range-topping and ever-popular Raptor meanwhile has a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, producing 292kW and 583Nm, with a starting price more than $90,000.

At the other end of the spectrum, the brand now offers a plug-in hybrid, with 207kW and 697Nm, starting at $71,990 - whether it will go on to be a hit with buyers like one of its rivals on the list remains to be seen.

2. Toyota HiLux

The Toyota HiLux is second on this list and came second overall in the car sales standings for last year, with 51,297 units registered.

The base manual single-cab chassis HiLux starts from $33,990, before on-road costs and the range goes all the way up to $71,990 for the range-topping dual-cab variant.

All HiLux models are powered by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces 150kW and 420Nm or 500Nm, depending on whether has a manual or automatic transmission.

Toyota will also be expanding on its range, launching an all-electric version of the HiLux in the first quarter of 2026.

3. Isuzu D-Max

Isuzu’s D-Max is the next best-selling ute in Australia, with 26,839 sales in 2025.

Its price ranges from $36,200 to $80,900, before on-road costs, and it comes with two engine choices which are both turbo diesels.

There is a 2.2-litre four-cylinder option, producing 120kW and 400Nm, and a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, producing 140kW and 450Nm.

The 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine was introduced last year to replace the less efficient and smaller 1.9-litre option.

Despite being one of only two products offered by Isuzu Ute, the D-Max and its related MU-X SUV are enough to propel the brand into a top-10 position in the Australian market.

4. Mitsubishi Triton

Mitsubishi’s ute offering, the Triton, earned its spot in the top five with 18,900 sales.

The Triton was the only ute on this list that experienced a sales bump in 2025 compared to 2024, up for 4.6 per cent year-on-year.

It starts at $34,740 and goes up to $66,140, before on-road costs.

All Triton utes get a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine, which produces 150kW and 470Nm.

2026 Mitsubishi Triton

5. BYD Shark 6

Rounding out the list is the only plug-in hybrid exclusive ute in the top five.

The Shark 6 burst onto the scene in 2025, and achieved a flurry of early sales, guiding it to 18,074 units throughout the year - a decisive success story.

It only comes as a dual-cab in a single trim level, which is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with electric motors, combining for a total output of 321kW and 650Nm.

The plug-in ute starts at $57,900, before on-road costs, and is set to be joined by cheaper cab-chassis variants later this year.