Is Australia’s ute addiction harming us?

Utes have risen to real prominence in Australia over the past 15 years.

Last year, they took the first, third and fourth spots in the top 10, compared back to 2010 when there was only one, in third place.

Overall, utes enjoyed nearly 20 per cent of a 1.2-million-plus market in 2024. That’s almost 240,000 units. In contrast, their 2010 share was 14 per cent of a 1.03m market, or just over 153,000 sales.

Which raises a question.

With the vast majority being diesels, are Australians breathing in more noxious fumes now than 15 years ago? After all, back then, most utes were either of the smaller one-tonne variety or lighter car-based locally-made Holden and Ford Falcon-based models with six-cylinder/V8 petrol options.

Diesel quality has improved since 2009, due to lower-sulfur content among other measures, but harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide emissions contribute to chronic health problems, including respiratory issues.

To find out if Australians breathed easier 15 years ago, we’re comparing the top-three sellers of 2010 with their modern equivalents.

In descending order, the 2010 trio consist of the best-selling Holden Commodore (offered in V6/V8 petrol), Toyota Corolla (four-cylinder petrol) and Toyota HiLux (4-cyl petrol/diesel, V6 petrol). Their 2024 counterparts are the Ford Ranger (4-cyl diesel, V6 diesel/petrol), Toyota RAV4 (4-cyl petrol/petrol-electric hybrid) and HiLux (4-cyl petrol/diesel).

For each model, we took each powertrain combination on offer and calculated what their range-average combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures were, to see how much better off or otherwise we were back then.

Given the sheer number of diesel utes available in 2024, as well as how much larger and heavier they’ve become to better-meet legislation and/or consumer demand for extra performance, safety and features, we expected that the class of 2010 would be at a distinct advantage.

The results absolutely shocked us.

2010

Holden Commodore: 11.5L/100km, 259g/km

Toyota Corolla: 7.4L/100km, 175g/km

Toyota HiLux: 11.4L/100km, 275g/km

2024

Ford Ranger: 8.6L/100km, 218g/km

Toyota RAV4: 5.6L/100km, 128g/km

Toyota HiLux: 8.3L/100km, 211g/km

When combined, the top-three models of 2024 averaged out to 7.5L/100km and 186g/km, as opposed to 2010’s 10.1L/100km and 236g/km.

In other words, fuel consumption has been slashed by more than 25 per cent, while CO2 emissions are down by over 21 per cent.

And while you can argue the-then predominantly-hybrid RAV4 did a lot of the heavy lifting for the top three in 2024, even today’s now-ageing HiLux is 27 per cent more economical than its 2010 equivalent.

That’s mainly due to the Toyota ditching the thirsty 4.0-litre V6 petrol option. But other measures help too for all the models in question, including more gear ratios (a four-speed auto was still commonplace in 2010), improved aerodynamics, better powertrain efficiencies and helpful tech like stop/start and increased electrification.

Crunching some other numbers, even if you replace the 2010 HiLux with 2010’s fourth-placed Mazda 3 (8.1L/100km, 194g/km), the 2024 trio remain ahead, since the 2010 range-average fuel/CO2 figures only drop down to 9.0L/100km and 209g/km.

So, yes, there are more utes on the road now than ever before, but progress in technology and the proliferation of hybrids have helped cut the environmental impact and pollution of our best-sellers.

Keep in mind, too, that this year has seen the launch of the Ranger plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), while the next-generation HiLux is imminent, meaning the range-average consumption and emissions should drop on our two most popular utes.

But, of course, there is still a long way to go.