JAC News

Utes are one of the most popular body styles according to Australian new-vehicle sales, but in recent years some of the bigger name models have increased in price.There's a new breed of ute that's undercutting the old guard, and they're mostly from China.So what are the three cheapest utes in Australia?CarsGuide’s reviewers not only know the answer but we also know what they’re like to live and work with day in and day out.Due to the huge number of ute variants available in Australia, we are focusing on the most popular body style and variant - the 4x4 dual-cab pick-up. So something like a Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux or Nissan Navara, but in this case, more affordable alternatives that can get the job done on a budget.Without further ado, here’s the top three most affordable utes in Australia;GWM’s popular dual-cab Cannon in entry-level Premium guise is currently the most affordable 4x4 dual-cab ute in Australia with a drive-away price of $39,490.The Cannon benefited from a significant update in 2025 that introduced revised exterior styling, a fresh looking cabin and a new engine.The Premium has an extensive standard features list including 18-inch alloys wheels, LED headlights and LED tail-lights, roof rails, side steps, damped tailgate, power-folding mirrors, chrome sports bar, a spay-in bedliner and proximity unlocking.Also standard is single-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch media touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, synthetic leather upholstery and a wireless phone charger.The Premium has a 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, four-wheel drive and a braked towing capacity of 3200kg.CarsGuide reviewers like the excellent value and quality of the Cannon, but didn’t like the intrusive steering assistance and the ergonomics of the gear shifter.China's LDV has a newer and shinier ute in its stable now in the shape of the big, bold Terron 9 (a twin of the MG U9), but the ageing T60 Max continues on.Currently priced at $41,042, the T60 is more than $12k cheaper than the most affordable Terron 9.Standard gear includes a 10.25-inch multimedia screen, six-speaker audio, two USB ports, a 12-volt outlet, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paddle shifters, keyless entry, auto emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control.It's powered by a gutsy 160kW/500Nm four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and a 3500kg towing capacity. Payload is 1040kg.We haven't had a chance to review a T60 in a while but CarsGuide reviewers said while safety improvements have helped the ute, the onboard tech is patchy and outdated, and the steering and braking is too heavy. The powertrain might be gutsy but it's still rough on the road.KGM’s (formerly SsangYong) Musso might not have the superstar status of some utes but it’s popular among those after a hardworking machine and its low price has seen it earn a place here in our most affordable top three. As a Korean brand, the KGM is also the only non-Chinese ute on this list. Keep in mind, though, that KGM will bring its next-gen ute to Australia about the middle of 2026 to replace this model and it’ll likely cop a price increase from the $42,500 drive-away price of the current entry-grade ELX.Standard features on the ELX include 17-inch alloy wheels, twin 12.3-inch displays for media and driver instruments, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.There’s also a six-speaker stereo, HID headlights with LED daytime running lights and silver roof rails.Powering the Musso ELX is a 133kW/400Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine with a six-speed automatic. Braked towing capacity is 3500kg.CarsGuide reviewers like the Musso's comfort and space, and its refined driving manners, but didn’t like how some safety items were only offered on top-of-the-range grades. JAC’s T9 arrived in Australia in 2025 and since then the entry-grade Oasis has undergone a price drop of nearly $5000 to land it here in the top three for $42,662 drive-away.Standard features include 18-inch alloys wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, a sprayed tub liner and sports bar.There’s leather upholstery inside, a 10.4-inch media screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a power driver's seat and wireless phone charging.Powering the T9 Oasis is a 125kW/410Nm 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo-diesel. The braked towing capacity is 3200kg. CarsGuide reviewers like the T9’s tough styling, strong value and its ability to do what will please most people. The things we don't like include the lumpy power delivery of the engine, and the intrusive safety tech. 

Previewed at last year’s Melbourne Motor Show, the JAC Hunter hybrid ute is closing in on local launch with an extensive local engineering evaluation program.

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.

New car reviews are the backbone of CarsGuide’s offering to its readers and viewers. The aim is to provide in-market buyers with the independent information they need to make an informed purchase decision and interested browsers with enough detail to satisfy their curiosity.

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

Despite a huge onslaught of fresh competition in the Australian ute market, November new car registration figures show established players continue to lead the category by a healthy margin.

A Chinese Ranger chaser has beefed up its range.

JAC has confirmed four new versions of the T9 turbo-diesel dual-cab ute will be launching in Australia in November.

Beijing's plan to safeguard Chinese companies from reputational damage from dodgy exporters - but will it affect Australia?

Chinese carmakers aren’t just winning over Aussies with affordable electric SUVs, the same manufacturers have quickly established themselves as serious competitors in the popular ute segment that's dominated by the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. Just this year we’ve seen a stack of new Chinese utes models arrive in Australia to join some already well-established players. So, here’s the ultimate list of Chinese utes in Australia to help you keep up to date with what’s on the ground now and those expected to arrive soon.BYD has taken Australia by storm with its affordable electric cars, but wading into the treacherous and competitive waters of the ute segment inhabited by the likes of Toyota’s HiLux and Ford’s Ranger was brave. BYD, however, didn’t just wade in, it backstroked in during late last year and stole a sizable chunk of the market with the Shark 6 becoming the fourth best-selling 4x4 ute on the market so far in 2025.The Shark 6 is a plug-in hybrid that uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with two electric motors for a combined output of 321kW and 650Nm. Braked towing capacity is 2500kg.The GWM Cannon is the most established Chinese ute in Australia and is popular for its combination of good looks and good value.The Cannon dual-cab has a 2.4 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit making 135kW and 480Nm. Braked capacity is 3500kg.JAC’s T9 arrived in Australia in late 2024 and there are currently two grades on sale - the Oasis and the Haven. Powering the T9 is a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine making 120kW and 410Nm, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Braked towing capacity is 3200kg.LDV’s Terron 9 is the latest member of the brand’s growing ute family. Larger in every way than the T60 both in dimensions and grunt.Powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four cylinder making 163kW and 520Nm, the Terron 9 has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.An eTerron 9 electric version could also be arriving in Australia soon. The LDV T60 is the smaller stablemate of the Terron 9 and is powered by a 160kW/500Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, mated to an-eight speed automatic, with a six-speed manual gearbox also available. LDV upgraded the T60 in 2025 and this T60 Max, as it's called now, has a higher braked towing capacity of 3500kg.The new Foton Tunland arrived late in 2025 a very different vehicle to the one we used to know with strikingly handsome exterior and lavish looking cabin.All variants have a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with a 48V mild hybrid system, with outputs of 120kW and 450Nm.Chery has confirmed that it will bring a plug-in hybrid ute to Australia to compete against BYD’s Shark 6 in 2026 and the Rely P3X could be it.Rely is one of the many brands owned by Chery, along with Omoda and Jaecoo which are already in Australia. Rely showed off the P3X recently at the Chengdu motor show and it's very likely one or both of these will be vehicles to be picked and arrive wearing a Chery badge.The P3X appears to have all the ingredients to make it a tough rival to the BYD Shark 6 with its ladder frame chassis and 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine with dual electric motors.MG’s U9 arrives right about now and could be a game changer, even if it’s based on a ute that’s already here - the LDV Terron 9.MG’s bosses say that the U9 will come with a choice of diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains, and that variety, along with its good looks and expected affordable price point, will make it a big market disrupter. A 3500kg braked towing capacity is confirmed as well - possibly only on the diesel.Unlike all the other utes here the Geely Riddara doesn’t sit on a ladder frame and is far more car-like and lifestyle focused than a work truck.Still, there’s definitely a market for a small and comfortable little ute like the Riddara RD6, which is likely to come to Australia with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.When it does come isn’t certain, with Geely appearing to concentrate more on growing its passenger car line-up first.