Commercial News

The Toyota HiLux is entering what might be the most important year in its history, with the deck never so heavily stacked against what was once Australia's best-selling vehicle.

To write that Jeep is in trouble is not news. The American off-road brand has been in major decline in the Australian market for years.The real question is — can Jeep survive 2026? Because there is some hope beyond that, but first Jeep must make it there.Instead of thriving in this SUV-dominant era, Jeep has found itself struggling to retain buyers or find news ones. The decision to drop the Grand Cherokee, once the backbone of the brand in Australia and the best-selling large SUV just over a decade ago, was seen as a sign parent company, Stellantis, is preparing a retreat from Australia.The brand is adamant that is not the case and the late 2025 introduction of the 2026 Gladiator and the incoming updated Wrangler are a sign the brand isn't ready to quit yet.Jeep could continue on selling its two core models, the reality is those would be lucky to each pass 1000 sales annually, leaving the brand in a precarious position with the Grand Cherokee gone.Instead, Jeep has to spend 2026 holding on for a better future. There is hope on the horizon, in the form of the new-generation Compass, which was revealed in early 2025 and was originally touted as coming in ‘26, but a Jeep Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide no official timing has been locked in.While it could sneak in by the end of ‘26, it’s more likely to be ‘27 by the time the Compass arrives. When it does, it would finally give the brand a fresh small SUV to compete in one of the biggest segments of the market, where the current model is literally one of the least popular models.The new Compass is bigger and more spacious than the current model and sits on the same underpinnings as the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008, so it will introduce European-style ride and comfort; something that could help woo buyers back to Jeep.Fortunately for Jeep Australia, while there will be an all-electric variant, Jeep is also offering the new Compass with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains to give it broad appeal.Will this be enough to revive Jeep’s fortunes in Australia? Unfortunately not, at least not unless the new Compass is a runaway sales success. But it does have the potential to give the brand a much needed boost.Certainly more than the electric Avenger has done or the possible addition of the Recon mid-size electric SUV or larger, more premium Wagoneer S have the potential to do.It’s telling that the Grand Cherokee is on-track to remain the brand’s best-selling model in 2025, despite being axed as early as March. The Wrangler may be iconic, but it’s an extremely niche vehicle, and the same is true of the Gladiator.Perhaps the biggest problem for Jeep Australia is that the problems aren’t local. Jeep is struggling in its home market, and naturally that is where the focus will be to ensure the long-term survival of a brand that was forged in battle but has become a synonym for off-roaders.Like so many brands it got caught up in the excitement/legislation around electric vehicles and strayed too far from its core principles, wasting billions of dollars on 4xe vehicles that are so far proving to be deeply unpopular; certainly the Grand Cherokee 4xe did not find its mark in Australia.Stellantis is now looking to invest many more billions into reinvigorating Jeep’s US manufacturing operations, to try and revive its sales at home. What that means for Jeep in Australia remains unclear, but 2026 will all be about hanging on and hoping for a brighter future.

Toyota put a lot of effort into developing the current wide-track version of its top-selling HiLux ute and for now it’s a notable absence in the new-generation model line-up.

If there is one topic that dominated the conversations around both Hyundai and Kia in 2025 it was utes.

Ford Australia has issued a recall for its Transit Custom and Tourneo vans due to a risk of toxic gases potentially leaking into the cabin under certain driving conditions.

The Kia Tasman has made its mark.In the slow-burn lead-up to the launch of Kia’s new ute there were doubters, haters and those who were simply nonplussed about the whole thing.It didn’t help that Kia’s ad campaign – which tapped into Australia’s love of sporting icons and starred the likes of Ash Barty, Dylan Alcott, Steve Waugh and numerous others – left a lot of Aussies feeling decidedly unexcited about the launch of the new ute.But surely UFC world featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski, who featured in the ad, didn’t back a dud, did he? Of course, he didn’t.The Kia Tasman is a body-on-frame 4WD with a ladder chassis, rear diff lock (mechanical in all 4WD Tasmans, except the top-spec which has an electronic rear diff lock) and off-road drive modes. It has the latest-generation all-aluminium Smartstream 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine – producing 154kW at 3800rpm and 440Nm from 1750-2750rpm – and that’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s not a hardcore 4WD as is, but the Tasman has ample appeal as a daily driver and that’s ultimately far more important than its 4WD capabilities.In terms of engine and transmission, useable power and torque output, effective driver-assist technology and overall off-road performance, the Tasman is very impressive.Kia may have experienced a slower-than-hoped start to sales of its ute but the Tasman is an intriguing entry in the dual-cab ute market: it’s a premium utility vehicle and at the very top of the class in terms of refinement, comfort and all-around driveability. Attention to detail is impressive, build quality is great, and everything inside and outside of the cabin looks and feels premium.Sure, it could do with more power and torque but it performs ably with what it has. This is an impressive all-round package – functional, comfortable and capable – and it’s a decent 4WD for light-to-moderate off-road touring straight out of the dealership.It can actually tackle reasonable-use off-road scenarios without compromising any of its day-to-day useability and, as such, it’s a strong indication of just what future 4x4s should be like.But to enhance its off-road potential even more, you’ll either opt for some of Kia’s genuine accessories or you’ll tap into the lively Australian off-road aftermarket industry.Kia’s genuine accessories range from tailored rubber floor mats, roadside assist kit and matt black bonnet protector through to a roof rack packing kit, towball-mounted three-bike carrier and electric roller shutter cover.So, why is the Tasman so well suited to an ongoing positive collaboration with our 4WD aftermarket industry? Well, it’s ripe for enhancement, that’s why.For one, Tasman owners can cover up the front end that so many naysayers and style masters have been complaining about – apparently they’re not at all keen on the Tasman’s wide-set headlights. According to those same people, the Tasman either has a ‘face’ only a mother could love, or a ‘face’ that is inherently punchable.Easily fixed. Throw on a bullbar (maybe a Summit MKII from ARB, which doesn’t affect the driver-assist safety systems), a UHF antenna mount, front recovery points and an LED light bar to disguise the nose, as well as, a bit further back, a snorkel (for those pesky creek crossings).And the good news there’s a whole lot more where that came from as top-notch Aussie aftermarket companies such as ARB have led the charge here with a full range of accessories for the Tasman, designed and engineered to make the Kia ute even better off-road than it is as standard.Start off with essential gear such as that aforementioned snorkel and a set of aggressive all-terrain tyres.The Taman’s standard suspension – double wishbone and coil springs upfront, live axle and leaf springs at the rear – is a traditional ute set-up made for heavy loads, but it’s better tuned for a softer, more compliant ride, even unladen, on all surfaces.But it can always be improved: get some aftermarket suspension, a new leaf pack tuned to suit your load-carrying requirements wouldn’t go astray, and a GVM (gross vehicle mass) upgrade while you’re at it.In terms of off-road angles the Tasman does well, especially the X-Pro with approach (32.2 ), ramp-over (25.8), and departure (26.2) angles that are better than standard, especially for a ute with a long wheelbase. It has 252mm of ground clearance and a listed wading depth of 800mm, which is plenty on both counts. However, under-vehicle protection is crucial to shield the vehicle’s vital components (think control arms, sump, transfer case and more) from damaging rock strikes while you steer your Tasman through challenging terrain on your way to Adventure Town! … or at least Bundaberg.For touring and storage, the aftermarket can provide the Tasman with an alloy canopy over the tub to keep your camping gear or work tools secure from thieves and protected from the elements if the weather turns ugly.That same canopy may have a spare wheel carrier at the rear if you so desire and a foldaway ladder so you can access your roof-top tent or whatever camping gear you have stowed away up top on the cargo platform atop the canopy.If your Tasman doesn’t come out of the factory equipped with side steps – as is the case with the top-shelf X-Pro variant – you can treat yourself to some of those (replete with anti-slip tread plates) and also get a set of sturdy side rails to protect the ute’s wheel arches and panels from damage while rock-crawling.Don’t forget to include all-important vehicle-recovery gear onboard, including soft shackles, snatch strap, vehicle recovery tracks and more.There’s plenty of work you can do on – and accessories you can add to – the Tasman (or any 4WD for the matter) via Australia’s aftermarket industry, so crack open your wallet and go for it.

Whether BYD wants to confirm its existence or not, the Chinese carmaker has clearly been working on a smaller, more lifestyle-oriented dual-cab ute to sit under the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute.

Utes have been the dominant force in the Australian new car landscape for the past decade.

Aussies love their diesel utes but with crunching emissions regulations coming into place, it’s unclear how much longer they will reign supreme.

Can any brand knock Toyota off its throne?