Ford Cobra Reviews

Ford has reported heavy losses.The brand has reported a $11.1 billion net loss in the fourth quarter of this financial year — its worst financial performance since the GFC in 2008, or the Great Recession. Headlining the losses for the company is a five per cent decline in fourth-quarter revenue to $45 billion, with adjusted gross earnings more than halving to $1 billion.This is despite record full-year revenue for the company increasing to $187.3 billion.This reflects a difficult overall year for the Blue Oval, with gross losses of $8.2 billion, due to electric vehicle asset value decreases, and $2 billion worth of tariffs. Electric vehicle sale underperformance has forced Ford to axe production of its F-150 Lightning full-size pick-up, with it failing to stimulate sufficient demand after a turbulent four-plus years on sale. As part of these EV adjustments, Ford's in-progress BlueOval City manufacturing facility in Tennessee will build internal combustion F-150s instead of the Lightning variant.Ford has not given up on its EV ambitions, with the brand planning five new budget models, which will launch by 2030 in the US. This includes an all-electric ute in 2027 called the Ranchero, which will look to capitalise on the raging success of the petrol-powered Maverick. Ford’s diesels have been the foundation of its sales success in Australia, with the Ranger ute and Everest SUV some of best sellers in the country. It is unclear at this stage whether Ford will bring across some of these emerging electric models to offset potential New Vehicle Efficiency Standard impacts.Ford is not an exception to impacts from tariffs and EV, with others cutting projects before they get off the ground to avoid losses. Late last year, it was reported Kia had canned plans for an electric full-size pick-up, which would have been a competitor to the F-150 Lightning. Toyota is also holding off on its plans for a small affordable ute for similar reasons. 

The rise and rise of Chinese car brands in Australia is testing the legacy brands like never before.Relative newbies like BYD, Chery, GWM and MG are eating away at sales of carmakers with long histories in Australia.What will 2026 bring for those historic brands in Australia? For some it will be a make or break year. The Federal Government’s emissions reduction scheme is also expected to start having more of an impact this year.We make some predictions about what sort of year the non-Chinese brands in Australia’s top 10 will have in 2026.Toyota may have stumbled in the January sales figures, down 22.3 per cent year on year, but the company put that down to stock irregularities with the changeover to new HiLux and low stock of outgoing RAV4.Don’t expect too many more stumbles in 2026 from Brand T. A new RAV4 is just around the corner and from what we’ve heard, there’s quite the order bank for the family-friendly hybrid SUV for the coming months.There’s not a lot of new product coming in 2026, but the hybrid LandCruiser 300 Series might give the off-roader a boost. Either way, expect Toyota to remain number one by a comfy margin come the end of the year.Mazda is in an interesting position. The Japanese carmaker has had mixed sales success with its range of large rear- and all-wheel drive SUVs. The BT-50 ute remains a steady seller, and ageing models like the Mazda3, CX-3 and CX-30 continue to enjoy strong interest, despite a raft of new challengers, largely from China.It will finally launch a couple of proper EVs in 2026, the Mazda6e sedan and CX-6e SUV, which are built in China through its local partner Changan. They’re not expected to add significant volume to Mazda’s tally. A new-gen CX-5 should give Mazda a leg up in 2026, but the much-needed hybrid won‘t arrive until 2027, which will likely blunt sales in the coming 12 months.Ford will continue to rely almost exclusively on its Ranger and Everest twins for sales volume this year. The Ranger was Australia’s top-selling vehicle in 2025 (56,555 units) and the Everest was the most popular large SUV (26,161).Beyond solid sales for the Transit Custom van and Mustang sports car, it’s unclear if Ford will be able to draw volume from anywhere else. As reported, the Blue Oval is expected to offer a China-sourced Bronco ‘New Energy’ medium SUV as a rugged looking alternative to the BYD Sealion 6. But we can’t see Ford increasing its sales by much in 2026.The two Korean giants, Hyundai and Kia, will continue to battle each other this year. In 2025 Kia just edged its sister brand by 5000 sales and it managed third place in January this year. A continued EV push with the EV4 and updated EV6 will add incremental volume, but the new-gen Seltos small SUV won’t land until later this year.There’s still life in the Sportage and Sorento, with new versions not expected until 2027. Both models continue to be strong sellers so expect Kia to either tread water or do a little better than last year.Hyundai has a solid model range, including CarsGuide’s overall 2026 Car of the Year, the Santa Fe and the best Medium SUV under $130K, the Ioniq 5. In terms of new metal, the biggest addition will be the Elexio EV. A mid-size SUV, it will be priced keenly and take on the related Kia EV5, as well as the BYD Sealion 7.New-gen versions of the popular Tucson medium SUV and i30 sedan are not due until next year, but we could see a facelift to the Santa Fe soon. But Hyundai should remain steady overall in 2026.The other non-Chinese top 10 brand is Mitsubishi. The Japanese carmaker is in a period of flux, having just launched the more expensive new-gen ASX, but losing the Pajero Sport and Eclipse Cross.The big news is the return of Pajero (or Pajero Sport), which has already been spied testing in Australia, by none other than CarsGuide’s own Production Editor, Jack Quick.Timing for this is unclear and it might not land until next year, leaving Mitsubishi to battle the Chinese giants for another challenging year.

Ford is planning five new budget models, including utes and SUVs, according to Automotive News. The Blue Oval will introduce five models priced under US$40,000 (under $55,000) by 2030 as it builds up its affordable options. These models will offer the brand some competitive alternatives to ever-expanding lineups from Chinese rivals.The first model will be an all-electric ute in 2027, potentially called Ranchero, built on its new Universal EV platform and part of a push into affordable EVs for the brand.It is expected the ute will have a price tag of about US$30,000, which is circa-$46,000.The Universal platform differs from the Global Electrified 1 platform used by the Ford Mach-E SUV. Electric ute options remain scarce and pricey in the market, with Toyota’s coming HiLux EV the most notable example so far.Ford recently ended production on its F-150 Lightning full-size pick-up EV due to slow demand.President of Ford Blue and Model e Andrew Frick said the five models would employ a variety in the power set-ups, wearing new names and focusing on affordability.“It will be across our lineup of cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and it will be multi-energy,” Frick told Automotive News.  “That’ll start to fill in the product side, but we have work to do to help affordability in the near term more tactically.“I would say there’s probably 10 actions that we’ll do to help affordability.”Frick’s comments also outline that SUVs will form part of the five incoming models under the budget plan. Nothing further has been confirmed on that front yet, but it is unclear if Australia will see these budget models, given they will be built in America and likely be left-hand drive.These electrified models could assist Ford in Australia, offering valuable credit towards its Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) situation, with most of its current models being internal combustion powered.The Blue Oval only has a plug-in hybrid version of its best-selling Ranger ute as well as the Mustang Mach-E SUV and Transit Custom EVs.Ford’s last SUV model on sale in Australia was the Escape, which never took off in Australia. It is anticipated Australia will get a China-built variant of the Ford Bronco SUV to fill this space, which uses a range-extender hybrid set-up. 

Ford and Geely could be about to team-up and use the Blue Oval’s European factory, according to a report in Reuters.The brands are reportedly in talks for Geely to use Ford factory space in Europe to produce vehicles to be sold on the continent, which would allow Geely to skirt tariffs placed on Chinese built cars. The pair discussed a potential framework for shared vehicle technologies, which included automated driving functionality.The talks are said to be at an advanced stage and have been going on for months.Delegations from both companies have traveled to their counterparts’ respective headquarters over the past few weeks. Innovation in car automation and seamless technology from Chinese brands has long been admired by CEO Jim Farley.Farley said back in 2024 that Chinese automakers presented an “existential threat” to the Western automotive industry.He has praised the Xiaomi SU7 electric sedan, which he admitted at the time he had been driving for months.Earlier this week, it was reported the Blue Oval was about to begin building electric cars with Xiaomi in the United States.It is now believed the joint-venture will not happen after both companies ruled out the move publicly. This differs from Ford’s response to these Geely rumours with the Blue Oval telling Reuters: “We have discussions with lots of companies all the time on a variety of topics. Sometimes they materialise, sometimes they don't."Geely did not comment on the potential of the partnership. Such a move would offer some benefits for Geely, with the company likely able to avoid the EV tariffs imposed by the European Union on Chinese car importers.Ford currently has manufacturing plants in Germany, Romania and Spain, which would allow Geely to tap into factories already built in the region. Other Chinese automakers have already made the jump to European manufacturing, including Leapmotor building cars in Stellantis’ Spain plant. Ford could also gain valuable EV technologies from Geely, with the brand already having several electric-only models on sale.This could be particularly important for Ford, as emissions standards continue to tighten around the world, especially in Australia. Australia’s tough New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) will see brands incur fines on vehicles that do not meet emissions standards. Selling electric vehicles accumulates credits for manufacturers, which can then be sold to other brands Down Under or mitigate against a its high-emissions vehicles. Geely technologies could assist Ford in gaining the electrified vehicle architecture for models, such as between Renault and Geely on models like the incoming Filante hybrid SUV.Ford Australia told CarsGuide earlier this year the brand is more focused on consumer demand rather than emissions limitations.Nearly all of Ford's models sold in Australia employ internal combustion engines, with models like the Ranger ute and Everest SUV being some of the most popular in the country.

The best ute in Australia? Wow, this is the big award in the 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards programme. Let's get into it, shall we?Our 10-strong shortlist for one of the most competitive segments has been whittled down to a top three, and – of course – a winner. But not before plenty of healthy and sometimes pretty vibrant debate between the members of the CarsGuide Editorial team.In the end, though, the choice seemed obvious, and overwhelming. So read on to find out the winner of the 2026 CarsGuide Car of The Year – Best Ute Starting Under $85K category.But first, a note. The runners-up are listed in alphabetical order based on the model name. There's no traditional podium here, just three finalists and a winner. Now, on with the show.Want to know just how strong an offering the Ford Ranger is? Every single CarsGuide judge voted for it in one way or another. It didn't score enough first-place votes to take the top prize, but it was in every single judge's top three.Our judging panel praised its capability and the breadth of its offering (especially now with Super Duty and plug-in hybrid variants).Admittedly, some suggested the plug-in Stormtrak variant felt a little "cynical" for its underwhelming EV performance, while others loved it, but all agreed the Ranger remains among Australia's best utes."It might no longer be the outright benchmark, but it is superior to almost every other ute in lots of ways," said Managing Editor Tim Nicholson.First year on sale and first appearance on the CarsGuide COTY podium! Not a bad effort for Kia's first-ever dual-cab offering, the Tasman.Our judges agreed that while the styling might be controversial, there is nothing opinion-splitting about the way the Tasman drives, or the attention its designers have paid to its cabin, which is by far the best in the business."It does the workhorse thing really well, and with a long warranty. It's big inside. It has got a stunning interior. It has a big tub. Kia has come from nowhere and they have swung really hard at this," said CarsGuide Contributing Journalist Byron Mathioudakis.No single ute had a more significant impact on Australia's dual-cab market than the BYD Shark 6 last year, which not only attracted more than 18,000 customers across 2025, but did it without some of the key weapons in the traditional ute arsenal.To succeed in Australia, utes must be powered by a diesel engine. They must be able to tow 3.5 tonnes. And they need to be able to carry a tonne. But it seems nobody issued these three commandments to BYD, because the Shark 6 can't do any of that, and it was the fourth best-selling ute in the country last year – with, it must be pointed out, just the one body style and trim. In place of the diesel donk is a plug-in hybrid petrol powertrain that has seriously resonated with Aussie consumers – forging a path other manufacturers far more established in the ute scene are now scrambling to follow – and it scored big on style and technology with our judges, too."The big thing for me is the ambition of the product, and the way that it's just turned the segment upside down," said CarsGuide Deputy News Editor Tom White."You could argue the segment had become a bit stagnant and boring, and I think Shark 6 just overhauls it completely."

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.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?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.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.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.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.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.

Why do the full-sized American dual-cab pick-ups cost so much in Australia?In 2019, the price gap between the range-topping Ford Ranger Raptor mid-sized ute from $75,990 and the cheapest Ram 1500 Express from $79,950, was less than $5000.But, while today’s Raptor has jumped to $90,690, the least-expensive Ram has leaped to $141,950 in Laramie Sport and Rebel grades.The price difference between the two utes is 10 times more than what it used to be.So, what gives, especially when, back in its US home market, said Rams kick off from just over $A92,000 post-currency conversion. Even with the cost of shipping, shouldn’t the 1500 slip in at under $100K?As it turns out, not a chance.Not even with lower ex-factory pricing for third-party importers Ateco Automotive, since the Ram, like all of the full-sized American utes, must undergo highly complex and very expensive transformation processes before and after each model lands on Australian soil.One that goes well beyond swapping the steering wheel over to the proper side.To start with, even prior to launch, there are mandatory Australian compliance and Australian Design Rules certification assessments required to be conducted in conjunction with the original manufacturer and factory. This can take months or years to complete.Once the green light is given, and a suitable vehicle engineering firm such as the Walkinshaw Automotive Group is chosen (as is the case with Ram as well as General Motors Special Vehicles’ Chevrolet Silverado and the Toyota Tundra), the utes can then be shipped over to the various remanufacturing facilities in Australia.Post customs, we’re talking about traditional production-line factory processes here, complete with all the necessary specialised equipment and skills required to handle intricate conversions.It’s worth keeping in mind that all the utes are imported as complete vehicles, in original left-hand drive (LHD) configuration, from North America, before being stripped down to thousands of pieces in Melbourne, in preparation for right-hand drive (RHD) conversion. Engines, body panels, lights, axles, wheels, dashboards, seats, trim, wiring looms… the works.One of the upshots of all this is the level of Australian engineering expertise that has been kept alive since local full-vehicle manufacturing ceased here in 2017. Many of the employees are ex Holden, Ford and Toyota.Taking in management, engineering, production-line and supplier-related personnel, the headcount in Australia alone is said to exceed 3000 people between all four brands.And still the costs add up.Then the utes undergo the remanufacturing processes, using bespoke parts necessary to meet both RHD and ADR requirements.Note that these can run up to 500 or more unique pieces per vehicle, depending on model, with many sourced within Australia using local suppliers, though some original North American factory assistance does also occur at times.It’s also worth bearing in mind that some of these parts can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to tool up here.Some vehicles require over 80 man-hours to complete the conversion job. Ram says its 200-plus production-line staff can make up to 20 utes per day, or 100 per week, depending on demand.Plus, significant investment has already been undertaken to boost production capacity, in larger and more efficient production facilities at Walkinshaw Automotive Group in the lead up to the latest Ram, Silverado and Tundra.Whether these currently run at their intended capacity following the 17.5 per cent sales downturn in full-sized American utes in Australia is not known.All this has to happen before the finished, RHD utes leave their remanufacturing facilities, to be stored and then trucked to dealers right around the country. Distribution is yet another massive expense that needs to be factored in.Then there is the added cost of meeting customer expectations.While nobody will confirm this on the record, we understand that the Australian remanufacturing processes extend to significantly improving the quality compared to the original factory source, creating extra cost to the models sold here.With over 800,000 F-Series trucks (making it America’s best-selling vehicle, period), 577,000 Silverados (at number two) and 374,000 Rams (in fifth spot overall) sold in the USA last year, the market is hyper-competitive, meaning costs are cut to keep prices low and production is fast to meet demand.The step-up in quality for Australians extends to ordering higher-specification audio, display screens, seating and trim components from the manufacturer, or replacing inferior parts with better locally-supplied items. Hard plastics and fibreglass materials just won’t cut it at the retail prices required to make a profit on these utes.Furthermore, local consumers are used to a high degree of equipment and demand best-possible safety, adding tens of thousands to the bottom line.Little wonder, then, that each model now starts at well over $120,000 on the road when it finally makes it to dealer forecourts throughout Australia, extending to nearly $200,000 for luxury grades and over one-quarter of a million dollars for specialty versions like the (now discontinued but still in stock) high-performance Ram TRX.Whether the market is willing to sustain six-figure utes at profitable volumes is another matter, but at least now you know why American pick-ups are so expensive in 2026.

Ford's potential tie-up with hyped Chinese brand reportedly denied.

Is Australia’s fascination with XXL utes waning?Ten years on from the introduction of the first Ram full-sized pick-up series converted from left-hand drive (LHD) to right-hand drive (RHD) in Melbourne, what was shaping up as a growing segment with massive promise has instead floundered in recent times.In 2025, despite recent introductions of new and/or improved models from Ram, Ford, General Motors and Toyota, sales in the Pick-Up/CC Utes above $100,000 category in Australia tumbled by 17.5 per cent compared to the year before.This has resulted in just 8763 registrations – down from 10,611 units the year before – between four main players: Ram 1500/2500/3500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Heavy Duty, Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra.A very small pool for such big fish to hunt in. And yet there are further pitfalls that lay ahead for the not-so-humble American pick-up as we know it.There are currently other, smaller firms importing and converting specific models from the USA vying for largely the same market.One of the higher-profile ones is Brisbane-based AusEV, that has specialised in distributing and even exporting locally-remanufactured RHD versions of the Ford F-150 Lightning electric vehicle (EV) since 2024. Its main buyers are commercial, mining and agriculture based.Now representing somewhat of a bargain amongst full-sized utes, AUEEV’s Lightning in base Pro 98kWh guise has just had its price slashed by an almost unbelievable $60,000, from $169,990 to $109,990, before on-road costs.This makes it the least-expensive big ute currently offered in Australia, undercutting the cheapest, which happens to be the turbo V6-petrol powered F-150 that Ford Australia also has remanufactured from LHD but by a different entity, by about $5000.With last month’s announcement that global Lightning production has already ceased due to a lack of sales and steep losses, AusEV says that the F-150 Lightning pricing reflects its run-out mode status, ahead of a petrol-electric hybrid replacement – dubbed F-150 Lightning EREV (Extended Range EV) – taking over from 2027.Whatever the case, it’s another thorn in Ford Australia’s side, with its own F-150 finding just 792 buyers last year, due in part to stop-sale actions as a result of technical issues, that are said to have since been resolved with the recently-launched Series II models.Now, whether the F-150 can also fend off further internal competition in the form of the high-profile Ranger Super Duty, which offers some of its towing capabilities but for much less money, remains to be seen.The F-150’s 2025 sales tally was even beaten by the Tundra’s disappointing 837 units, even though it costs substantially more, though whether the Toyota is profitable as a result is not known.Finally, the big ute market in Australia has also come under pressure from Chinese utes like the BYD Shark 6 PHEV (plug-in hybrid EV) and GWM Cannon Alpha, which are slightly larger than most traditional mid-sized utes.At the Cannon’s 2024 local debut, a spokesperson even referred to it as straddling the two ute size classes, though the tape measure suggests this is optimistic.So, what’s changed in the market to cause the big-ute sales decline? Runaway pricing must surely factor strongly.Back in 2018, Ram had enjoyed surprisingly strong sales in a specialist market largely all to its own, thanks to the DS-series 1500 being successfully touted as “Eating Utes for Breakfast” from around $80,000. To put that into context, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak only cost about $5K less.Whilst lacking the latter’s sophistication, safety and finesse, the 1500 boasted both impressive girth and an evocative V8 Hemi gurgle, capturing an enthusiastic outer-suburban and rural niche where size and bulk are assets, not liabilities.But by 2024, the DS-series 1500 had been superseded by the far-more high-tech DT-series, starting from $142K. While the Ram has remained the most popular big ute in its class for eight years running, at 2674 units last year, its share slid by over 17 per cent.Exacerbating the situation is the decision to drop the old Hemi V8 for a high-tech six-cylinder turbo-petrol powertrain which, on paper, is better in every major metric, including performance and economy.But while hardcore fans have complained loud enough worldwide for Ram to reintroduce the V8 in America this year, Australians may have to wait much longer for its return.That said, there are still plenty of unsold 2024 model-year DT 1500 V8s available at dealers around Australia at the time of writing, so maybe the market for such pick-ups has been satiated anyway.Either way, with the high cost of remanufacturing today’s far-more highly-specified utes from LHD to RHD in Australia, it seems almost certain that the days of sub-$100K pricing for these big utes are gone – along with the consumers who bought these in the first place.Will American pick-up sales turn around? Don’t hold your breath.

Cathy, Thorpey, Kylie and Nikki had just shown the world that Australia can hold its own in sports and culture, we’d given quite a few of our guns away, the Millenial Bug wasn’t such a concern anymore… and three sedans dominated Aussie roads.A quarter of a century ago, the year 2000 was just in the rear-view, and the sales charts looked very different to today.What better time than 25 years later to look back at the cars and brands Australians were heading to the showroom for?Not only were there fewer utes and SUVs being sold, they didn’t even make up a third of the new vehicle sales in the country combined that year. Utes and SUVs were lumped together in the same section of the VFACTS report (the sales figures industry stakeholders, pundits and media receive each month) alongside heavy trucks.Only 8413 new Toyota RAV4s were sold, making the Daewoo Lanos (9029 sales) more popular that year. Compare that to 2025, when the RAV4 ranked second in sales for the year with a whopping 51,947 units, only topped by the Ranger (56,555).Speaking of which, how did our now-favourite utes fare in 2000? The Ford Courier, the Ranger’s predecessor, sold just 6769 units, while the HiLux managed to hop into the top 10 with 21,509 sales. Still somewhat short of its 51,297 in 2025.To be fair, if you’d asked someone if they were buying a Ford ute, the Courier wouldn’t have been the first thing to come to mind. Ford sold 13,698 Falcon utes in the year 2000, putting it well ahead of its Commodore rival’s 6361.That can be explained easily, Holden didn't build a new ute for the VT generation Commodore of the late-’90s, instead continuing to sell the VS ute alongside the VT sedan.The near-new AU Falcon ute (released in mid-1999) had the car-based ute market covered for the turn of the century.Those two now-gone badges, along with the enduring Toyota Camry and the impressive Mitsubishi Magna, were impossible to avoid on Aussie roads then, with the Commodore, Falcon, Camry and Magna being first, second, third and fifth (thanks to the Corolla in fourth) most popular cars in the country in 2000.Between them they contributed to the total 198,766 large passenger cars sold in 2000, which made up 35.9 per cent of the year’s new vehicle sales. In 2025, large passenger cars made up just 2285 sales, or 0.2 per cent of the market.Small cars made up the other major chunk of sales back in 2000, with 154,050 sales being 27.8 per cent of the market. They were 72,222 sales and 6.0 per cent of last year’s market share.The aforementioned Daewoo was in the top 10 brands (just) in terms of sales for the year 2000, but was the only brand in that list that no longer exists.A scroll through the list shows other long-gone names like Daihatsu, Saab and Proton, and one not-so-long-gone name — Citroen.Daewoo Nubira? Daihatsu Sirion? Even the Proton Satria? These forgotten cars all sold in the thousands back then.Giants like Kia and Hyundai have come a long way, too. The brands once known for the Excel or Accent, plus the Kia Rio in its most ‘cheap and cheerful’ phase (RIP) are now global powerhouses with new technology and reliability commonly in the same sentence as their badge names. Hyundai, at least, was still a top-10 player back then.Below, there are tables with the most popular models and brands from the year 2000 and the figures we gleaned from the data — note the badge names have been consolidated so that cars with Commodore (for example) includes all body types.Top 10 cars sold in Australia in 2000Top 10 cars brands in Australia in 2000