.jpg)
Utes are the biggest segment in the Australian car market and have been for years.
Among those utes have been some consistently successful ones, but there is a new era emerging to threaten the established pack.
Fleets and private buyers are more closely considering the running costs of a predominantly diesel-powered segment.
-
Most fuel efficient diesel utes: 2026 diesel-powered utes ranked by fuel cost, including Mazda BT-50, Isuzu Ute D-Max, Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and more
-
Diesel not giving up in Australia as 2026 Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux stay strong with petrol sales declining fast due to hybrids such as Toyota RAV4
-
2027 JAC Hunter comparison to rival plug-in hybrid utes the 2026 BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha and Ford Ranger Hybrid
Electrified alternatives are increasingly, but will we see the established pack dislodged this year?
With five months worth of sales data to look at, here are the best-selling utes in Australia predicted for 2026.
Ford Ranger
 (1).jpg)
There will be no surprises the Ford Ranger is still sitting at the top of this list.
It continues to hold the title for the best-selling ute in Australia, despite a year-on-year decrease.
Ford has already shifted more than 20,000 units, which is more than any other rival so far.
The Ranger recently saw the popular 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel variant phased out, with Ford providing a cheaper single turbo unit as well as wider availability of the popular 3.0-litre V6 engine, and the brand has also added a range of unique Super Duty variants to bolster its line-up.
Toyota HiLux
The HiLux has also held onto its second-place spot up to April and will be expected to carry on this momentum, despite it, too, experiencing year-on-year drops.
It still holds a clear lead over the rest of the chasing pack, with more than 17,000 sales so far this year, no doubt helped along by the arrival of the new-generation version late last year.
Toyota will launch an electric version of the HiLux later on this year, to complement the current diesel-only range.
BYD Shark 6
BYD’s plug-in hybrid ute has well and truly garnered the attention of buyers, especially in a market where fuel prices are a primary consideration.
The Shark 6 was one of the only utes to experience growth in 2025 and it has carried on this form into this year, and is on track to surge past the Isuzu D-Max in the coming months.
With more than 6000 sales already in 2026, the ute is BYD’s second-best selling model, highlighting its importance to the brand’s top-two spot for April.
BYD has added two new variants to the Shark 6 in 2026. A cab-chassis, and a new performance variant, which pushes towing capacity up to 3500kg.
These new variants could open up new buyers for the ute Down Under, and push it up the standings further.
Isuzu D-Max
The D-Max ute has sold steadily compared to April 2025, 4x2 variants picking up a solid boost so far, while the 4x4 variants are down.
Based on its more than 8000 sales so far, we can expect the D-Max to stay on track for a finish in the top five, even though the Mitsubishi Triton is fast approaching.
An electric version of the D-Max is also not out of the question for the brand, with it recently launching in Thailand alongside mild hybrid variants.
Mitsubishi Triton
The Triton has experienced a resurgent run on the sales charts so far in 2026, with more than 8000 sales, compared to around 7000 up to May 2025.
Based on this start, you can expect the Triton to be in around the top places again come the end of the year.
Mitsubishi recently unveiled a hardcore version of the ute called the Triton Raider, which has received specific tuning from Aussie engineering company Premcar. It is not a limited edition, and the brand is no doubt hoping it will help continue its renewed push up the sales charts.
