Foton Tunland V7 Reviews

With all due respect to GAC and its plans for a new dual-cab ute — please don’t. Same goes for Hyundai, which has been talking up its plans for a ute in recent months, and Chery that has a yet-to-be-named new ute incoming. We have enough utes in this country.That might sound like a ‘click-bait, hot take’ (and it partially is) but it’s also very much true. The ute market in Australia is getting over-crowded and new additions will make it even more densely packed.Don’t take my word for it, Sean Hanley, the former sales and marketing boss of Toyota has been saying we’ve reached ‘peak ute’ for more than a year. Coming from a man who oversaw the enduring sales success of the HiLux and introduced the Tundra to Australia, that’s a notable position to take. Speaking in January 2025, Hanley said he wasn’t confident that more utes arriving would equal more sales overall.“I’m not necessarily sharing a view that it's going to grow astronomically because of the new entrants,” he said. “It may, I could be wrong, but it’ll be interesting to watch.“Looking towards the future, we already know that the number of ute models available to Australian buyers will expand rapidly. “They’ll be competing for an overall ute market that is likely to remain steady, which suggests that the average sales per model will come down as a result.”That hypothesis was proved correct when the 2025 sales were tallied. The ute segment grew only 2.7 per cent between 2024 and ‘25, despite 12 new entrants from several new brands — including Kia, BYD, MG, Foton and GWM.Go back five years and look at the difference between 2021 and ‘25 and the idea of hitting ‘peak ute’ comes into even greater focus. In that span there was 5.9 per cent sales growth but a 41 per cent increase in the available number of models. Hanley followed up his January comments with more at the launch of the new HiLux late in 2025.“So when I say the ute market's peaked, what I mean is that, well, exactly that, it's peaked. But it's still a significant market, and it will be for the future,” he told CarsGuide."But I think that whole ute market's going to be crazy for the next couple of years. So in the end it doesn't matter what I think. It matters what customers think.”Nissan Oceania Managing Director Andrew Humberstone, seemingly along with GAC and Hyundai management, believes the contrary and the ute market has increased volume in its future.“I don't want to really talk specifically about numbers, but we see certainly an increase in volume,” he told CarsGuide in December ‘25.While BYD has made strong in-roads into the ute market with the Shark 6, cementing itself as a top five selling dual-cab, the reality for most of these new players is they are attracting relatively small volumes.Kia, which set a public goal of 10,000 sales by the end of ‘25 managed less than half of that (4196), while despite a competitive price and bigger-than-average size, the MG U9 managed only 472 sales in the few months it was on sale. Foton split 177 sales between its Tunland V7 and V9 since they hit the market in late ‘25.But even some models that were on sale for the full year in 2025 fared poorly. The Jeep Gladiator found just 332 buyers, while the Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and Volkswagen Amarok all experienced sales drops.Of course, this story won’t stop the new utes from GAC, Hyundai and Chery coming, nor any other brand that wants to join in, but the reality is none are likely to dramatically increase the size of the overall ute market. Instead, the share of the market will just get divided up into smaller and smaller pieces.In the end, natural selection will play its part and the models that don’t sell will simply be overlooked by buyers and are likely to disappear eventually. One way or another, Australia will not have an endlessly growing number of utes to choose from.

The 4x2 ute market is typically favoured by trade and fleet buyers who prioritise workhorse practicality and sharp pricing over upmarket luxuries, but does the new 2026 Foton Tunland succeed in providing all three?

You can't fit 10kg of dirt into a 5kg bag. That feels like an appropriate metaphor for the Australian car industry, where seemingly every few weeks a new car brand arrives to stake its claim on a piece of the market.

2025 was certainly the year of the new car brand coming to Australia.

Foton is on the comeback trail in Australia, but what comes next won’t be an SUV or a larger and more-powerful ute. Instead, the Chinese brand has at least one new value-focused van under consideration, as it seeks to cement its reputation as a provider of no-nonsense commercial vehicles in this country.

The Foton Tunland V9-S 4x4 is the flagship version of the Chinese ute range, starting from $49,990 before on-road costs.With the S standing for ‘Supreme’, it keeps the Ram 1500-aping styling, but scores extra features like vented and heated as well as powered front seats with driver’s side memory, heated outboard seats, a panoramic sunroof, rear privacy glass, a front diff lock, roof rails and more.These build on the V9-L’s dual-zone climate control, heated/folding mirrors, extra USB ports, wireless charger, premium audio, wheel-arch extension cladding, side steps, sports bar, vehicle-to-load power socket, high-and-low ratio gearing, a rear differential lock, all-terrain tyres, off-road driving modes and lockable tray, as well as the entry-level V7-C’s 12.3-inch electronic instrumentation display, 14.6-inch centre touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, a 360-degree camera with transparent-road-below views, a dash cam, front/rear parking sensors and advanced driver-assist systems including auto emergency braking (AEB).But still no digital radio at this stage.Still, the Tunland V9-S has extra size on its side compared to mid-size utes like the Isuzu D-Max, with considerably more space inside as well as a larger tray. And, like the V9-L, the V9-S swaps out the V7-C’s leaf spring rear suspension for a coil-sprung multi-link design. Payload is 995kg.Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, just like the other Tunland grades. It delivers 120kW of power at 3600rpm and 450Nm of torque between 1500-2400rpm, and features a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. About 11 seconds is required in the 0-100km/h sprint, while maximum speed is 160km/h.Finally, the official combined-cycle fuel consumption figure is 8.0 litres per 100km, for a carbon dioxide rating of 211g/km. Expect nearly 940km from the 75-litre diesel tank.

The Foton Tunland V9-L 4x4, which starts from $45,990 before on-road costs, is the mid-grade version of the Chinese medium-sized ute, with the L standing for “Luxury”.You can spot the difference between the Tunland V7 and V9 models very easily. Up front, the V9-L and flagship V9-S have horizontal styling themes for the LED lighting that is very similar to the Ram 1500. In contrast, the entry-level and fleet-focused V7-C has a Ford F-150-esque nose cone.Both looks are not only homages to the American full-sized trucks, they inform the up-sized dimensions of the Tunland, meaning they sit half-way between, say, a Toyota HiLux and Toyota Tundra. And all for similar money or less than the established utes.Being a more-lifestyle orientated pick-up, the Tunland V9-L ditches the V7-C’s leaf spring rear suspension for a coil-sprung multi-link design, in the pursuit of greater comfort and dynamic control.Consequently, payload slips to 995kg.Being a luxury proposition, the V9-L gains wheel-arch extension cladding, side steps, a sports bar, vehicle-to-load power socket, heated and powered front seats, dual-zone climate control, heated/folding mirrors, extra USB ports, additional speakers and a wireless charger. Four-wheel drive is also standard, along with high-and-low ratio gearing, a rear differential lock, all-terrain tyres and various off-road driving modes.These come on top of the V7-C’s 12.3-inch electronic instrumentation display, 14.6-inch centre touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, a 360-degree camera with transparent-road-down-below views, a dash cam, front/rear parking sensors and ADAS advanced driver-assist systems including AEB.However, the V9-L does not gain any more performance, meaning it retains the lesser version’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit.Pumping out 120kW of power at 3600rpm and 450Nm of torque between 1500-2400rpm, drive is sent to all four wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. The 0-100km/h sprint-time is under 11 seconds, and top speed is 160km/h.Finally, the Tunland V9-L’s official combined-cycle fuel consumption figure is 8.0 litres per 100km, for a carbon dioxide rating of 211g/km. Over 935km of range is possible between refills of the 75-litre tank as a result.

The Foton Tunland V7-C is the entry-level version of the Chinese mid-sized ute.Kicking off from $39,990 before on-road costs for the 4x2 version and $42,990 before on-road costs for the 4x4, this is the workhorse model aimed at fleet buyers and such, with the C standing for 'Core'.As a result, along with double-wishbone front suspension, the rear suspension comprises of leaf springs for superior carrying and towing capacities. To that end, the V7-C’s payload is 1115kg in the 4x2 and 1050kg in the heavier 4x4.The V7-C is also the only Tunland with the stacked LED lighting treatment that is very reminiscent of the Ford F-150 pick-up truck.Speaking of which, dimensionally the Tunland sits somewhere between a mid-sized ute like the Ford Ranger and full-sized ute like the F-150.Standard kit includes a 14.6-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, a 360-degree camera with transparent-road-below views, a dash cam, front/rear parking sensors and auto emergency braking (AEB) as part of a range of advanced driver-assist systems. But there’s no lockable tailgate for now, or a digital radio.The V7-C 4x4 adds high-and-low ratio gearing, a rear differential lock, all-terrain tyres and various off-road driving modes.For now, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit is the only engine choice on offer across the Tunland range, sending drive via an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.Power is rated at 120kW at 3600rpm and torque at 450Nm between 1500-2400rpm. The 0-100km/h sprint-time is under 11 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 160km/h.The 4x4’s 4WD system, by the way, consists of 2WD-High, 4WD-High and 4WD-Low settings, a mechanical rear diff lock and several off-road modes, but also has a 4A Auto setting.Finally, the Tunland V7-C’s official combined fuel consumption figure is 8.0 litres per 100km (for a carbon dioxide rating of 211g/km). Brimming the 75-litre tank with diesel can mean over 930km between refills is possible.

One of 2025's biggest surprises is how much better the 2026 Foton Tunland is than expected. Aimed at the GWM Cannon and Isuzu D-Max at the lower-end of the mid-sized ute market, the Chinese dual-cab ups the ante by being almost a half-size larger, yet is no more expensive. Good steering, a pleasant cabin and refined mechanicals are bonuses. There are some issues, but this is a pleasing effort.

New Chinese utes have arrived and they are more than $20,000 cheaper than top-end HiLux and Ranger models.The Foton Tunland range kicks off at $39,990 (before on-road costs) for the Tunland V7 two-wheel drive variant and tops out at $49,990 for the full-fruit Tunland V9 S four-wheel drive.That entry point is similar to the petrol-powered Toyota HiLux Workmate two-wheel drive, but it is about $10,000 cheaper than the most affordable two-wheel drive HiLux and Ranger with turbo-diesel grunt.Foton has now opened the order books for the Tunland line-up before deliveries commence later this month. They will initially be available in a select number of dealers in capital cities and major regional towns before the network expands later this year.Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine with 48V mild-hybrid assistance that makes 120kW and 450kW, and is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.Those numbers are down on the competition but all Tunlands can tow 3500kg and have a payload of between 995kg and 1089kg, depending on the variant.All variants have 240mm of ground clearance and 28 and 26 degree approach and departure angles, respectively. Wading depth is 700mm.The V7 is pitched more towards tradies with a payload of more than 1000kg and rear leaf suspension, so think more HiLux Workmate or SR spec.The V9 is more lifestyle-focused, in a similar vein to a Ford Ranger Wildtrak, with a more luxurious cabin and advanced multi-link rear suspension. Foton General Manager Glen Cooper said the Tunland has been tested and tuned for Australian conditions.“The all-new Tunland offers something truly unique – the space and toughness of a larger workhorse, paired with the comfort and driveability of a modern SUV, all without a premium price tag,” said Cooper.Foton is backing the Tunland with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.