Mitsubishi Triton 2026 News

Mitsubishi could be planning an all-out hybrid assault with its new Pajero 4WD and Triton ute.The Japanese brand is reportedly planning to make its Thai manufacturing facility a production and export hub for electrified vehicles. Mitsubishi builds the Triton ute in Thailand and will produce the coming Pajero there, too.Mitsubishi Motors Chairman and CEO Takao Kato made the announcement on a recent visit with the Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, according to Nikkei Asia.The Japanese carmaker’s Thai production facility will reportedly be focusing on producing electrified versions of the Triton ute, as well as the forthcoming Pajero SUV.This indicates that Mitsubishi could be fast-tracking electrified versions of both the Triton and Pajero. The former vehicle is currently only available with diesel engines and the latter hasn’t been revealed yet, but it’s expected to share componentry.Around the reveal of the current, sixth-generation Triton ute in 2023, Mitsubishi had claimed it was developing an electric version.In October 2025, Mitsubishi Engineering Fellow Kaoru Sawase told CarsGuide the Japanese carmaker is still looking to make an electrified version of the Triton, but it’ll now more likely have a hybrid powertrain.“Of course there’s a need to reduce CO2 emissions,” said Sawase.“So along with the flow of the times, there is a need to develop Triton HEV, so we are working on that.”“So first we have to work on hybrid, not the way of plug-in hybrid.“In the past, we have announced to launch the battery electric vehicle Triton. But now the reaction has shifted a little bit.“We are now trying to quickly launch the electrified vehicle.”It’s worth noting that Mitsubishi already makes electrified vehicles at its Thai manufacturing plant. These include the Xforce Hybrid, Xpander Hybrid and Xpander Cross Hybrid.There are currently no Mitsubishi plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) or electric vehicles (EVs) made in Thailand.Globally the Japanese carmaker has already committed to introducing 13 new models, including five hybrid and PHEV models, over the next five years.It’s unclear how many of these new electrified models will be produced in Thailand.Although diesel-powered vehicles are still incredibly popular in Thailand, the local government is looking to boost and incentivise the production of electric vehicles (EVs).This has already caught the attention of many Chinese carmakers who have set up Thai production hubs for export markets. Examples include BYD, Chery, GWM and MG.This pressure from the Thai government and the investment from Mitsubishi to introduce more Thai-made electrified vehicles may benefit its Australian arm if the vehicles produced launch locally.Mitsubishi did receive credits last year from the recently instated New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) in Australia for beating its fleet CO2 targets, however these targets are tightening every year.One of the few ways of reducing the company’s fleet CO2 emissions, besides buying credits from other carmakers, is by introducing more low-emissions vehicles, like hybrids and EVs.Mitsubishi already offers the Outlander PHEV and has remaining stock of the discontinued Eclipse Cross PHEV in Australia.The Japanese carmaker has also confirmed it will be launching an EV that has been co-developed with Taiwanese carmaker Foxtron in Australia before the end of 2026.At this stage Mitsubishi hasn’t confirmed any other electrified vehicle launches in Australia yet.

If you have your heart set on a ute but can’t decide what to buy, the range of choices available nowadays is mind-boggling.But a lot of the utes on offer cost more than $60,000.So, what’s available with a sub-$60,000 price-tag and may actually be a good buy for you?Here’s our guide to budget-friendly workhorses.Warning: you don’t get champagne on a beer budget and that’s fine because lots of people (including me) prefer beer anyway. The point is: when you’re shopping in the cheaper part of the market you have to be prepared to make some compromises on quality, ride and handling and overall drivability, and ultimately accept that there’ll always be trade-offs – sometimes minor and sometimes not so minor.(Note: For the purpose of this yarn we’ll focus on dual-cab 4WD utes as they offer the most flexibility in terms of passenger- and gear-carrying functionality ... and because I want to focus on them.)Read on.This top-spec Tunland has plenty of standard features for the price, is adequately capable off-road and offers a reasonable driving experience all-round.It has a 2.0L four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine (120kW/450Nm), a 48V mild-hybrid system, a reasonably calibrated off-road traction control system, and front and rear diff locks.The engine and eight-speed auto transmission produce a sluggish driving experience on sealed surfaces, and it feels underpowered, but the set-up works better at low-speed 4WDing more than anything else.If you plan to do anything beyond formed trails in dry weather than think about swapping out the showroom-standard Giti 4x4 AT71 tyres (265/70R18 116T) for some more-aggressive all-terrain tyres.Towing capacity? 3500kg.Foton Australia offers a limited range of accessories for the Tunland (including tonneau covers, roof platforms and towbar kits) but the Australian aftermarket industry is more than capable of kitting you out with everything you’ll need for your Tunland and there’s gear across all price points to suit every budget.The Musso has an impressive features list, is a capable 4WD, and yields a decent driving experience on sealed and unsealed surfaces.And with the optional XLV pack, it gets a longer wheelbase (110mm extra), a 300mm longer tub and 90kg of extra payload over the standard Musso (880kg rather than 790kg).It has a 2.2L four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine (133kW/420Nm), a six-speed automatic transmission, part-time 4x4 and an auto-locking rear differential.This is a rather sluggish ute and the powertrain is not particularly efficient, but the Aisin auto is a reliable, well-proven transmission and the Musso does well with what it has.Towing capacity? 3500kg.KGM Australia offers a range of accessories for the Musso (including hard lids, ladder rack kits and “premium” underbody protection) and if you can’t find what you want in KGM genuine accessories, then you can always tap into the lively Aussie aftermarket sector.The top-shelf Cannon XSR is the most capable 4WD of this bunch and – coming in at a little more than $50,000 drive-away (nationwide, at time of writing) – you get a lot for your money.This ute has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine (135kW/480Nm), twin lockers, a snorkel, underbody protection and Cooper Discoverer AT3 all-terrain tyres – so it is set up for off-road adventure straight off the showroom floor.And it does perform well off-road.The engine and nine-speed auto is a tractable pairing and well suited to the demands of 4WDing, easily able to muster and harness more than enough power and torque on- and off-road when needed – although it does exhibit pronounced lag at times and that auto can be patchy during daily driving duties.Towing capacity? 3000kg.GWM Australia and New Zealand has a variety of accessories (including bull bars, tow bars, and canopies) and if GWM doesn’t have what you want, Australia’s well-stocked aftermarket sector will likely be able to sort you out as soon as humanly possible.More a lifestyle ute than a 4WD ute, the BYD Shark 6 has rattled the market’s cage with its blend of premium features, refinement and all-round driveability. At $57,990 (excluding on-road costs), this ute offers a lot in an appealing package.The Shark has a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid system* (321kW/650Nm), a 30kWh battery and, in basic terms, the petrol engine — and regen braking — feed power into that battery during general driving. It has a single-speed reduction gear/dedicated hybrid transmission, which enables electric-only driving and hybrid operation, switching between modes based on throttle demand and battery level.(* Note: The new Shark 6 Performance will have a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and dual electric motors, claimed to deliver total outputs of 350kW and 700Nm.)Worth noting here is that the Shark does not have 4WD, it has an all-wheel drive system split between the front and rear, and Drive modes include Eco, Normal and Sport and Terrain modes include Sand, Snow, Mud and Mountain.But this Shark 6 is actually impressive off-road, as long as it’s driven within its scope of capability: light to moderate off-road conditions — that is, if possible, stick to well-maintained dirt tracks in dry weather; do not take on any ‘4WD/high ground clearance only' tracks, prolonged sand-driving or rock-crawling.Towing capacity? 2500kg.BYD Australia offers a range of accessories (including “deluxe” bull bars, roof racks, and suspension upgrade kits) and if they don’t stock what you want/need, feel free to buy through the Aussie aftermarket.The other brands on this list are still in their relative infancy in this country – compared to established car-makers in Australia, such as Toyota et al – and there are lingering concerns about after-sales service (or lack thereof), availability of parts, and long-term reliability with these newer brands that have to be taken into account.There are no such concerns with Mitsubishi or its well-proven Triton.While a Premcar-developed Raider ($74,990 drive-away) would be the pick of the Tritons, a less expensive GLX-R Is on the cards here.This ute has 2.4-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo diesel engine (150kW/470Nm), a six-speed automatic transmission and, while it is comfortably mid-range in terms of price, it gets the higher-spec variants’ Super Select II 4WD, an impressive legacy set-up, which enables this ute to be driven in all-wheel drive mode (and centre-diff unlocked), so it’s safe to use on high-traction sealed surfaces.This engine, auto and Super Select II 4WD is an impressive combination – smooth, nimble and torquey – and offers a decent all-round driving experience on- and off-road.Towing capacity is 3500kg.Out of this five-strong mob of utes, the Triton is the best in terms of value for money, baked-in brand trust, parts availability, and ultimately resale value.Bonus: there are plenty of aftermarket accessories (OEM or otherwise) available for the Triton.

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.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. 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.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’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.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.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.

Mitsubishi has signalled its intent to experiment with more factory-backed Triton variants, including a GVM upgrade following on from the success of the Ford Ranger Super Duty and the popularity of such upgrades in the aftermarket.The company’s GM of Product Strategy and PR Bruce Hampel earmarked “something more customised” to buyer needs was coming.“We’re letting money walk out the door if they go to ARB or Ironman,” Hampel said of a potential factory GVM upgrade, which would take the Triton above 3500kg GVM.“It’s something we’re in discussions with MMC [Mitsubishi Motors Corporation HQ in Japan] about to upgrade suspension, either genuine from-the-factory, or a licensed accessory similar to what competitors are doing at the moment. We haven’t got a formal agreement at the moment, but it’s under study.”“It’s similar to what Raider does. It offers dealers the ability to offer customers a more tailored solution to what they’re looking for in the intended usage of their Triton.”“If we can’t offer it in the dealership then they’ll just go to the aftermarket. But that’s an inconvenience to them because then they take on all the risks and voiding the warranties and these types of things. So it is more attractive if we can offer it to them at the point of sale," he said.Of course, another, but perhaps less likely opportunity for the brand to provide something above of the usual dual-cab category will come from the brand’s just-announced plan to build an American pick-up as a platform-share with the Nissan Frontier, part of a refreshed tilt to secure market share in the USA and Canada.The tepid success of already-locally-converted and factory-backed projects, the Toyota Tundra and Ford F-150, may make a locally-upgraded Triton a more appealing alternative.Hampel said “many eyes in Japan” were following the progress of the new locally-developed Raider variant with its significant off-road focused suspension overhaul from Premcar. He said “when it is a success” it could open the door to more localised variants.“ this style of program is something they can trust distributorships with local expertise - we’re leading the way of going down that path,” Hampel added.“There will be opportunities to go further.”His comments not only apply to a potential GVM upgraded version, similar perhaps in intent (but maybe not with the same deep chassis upgrades) as the Ford Ranger Super Duty, but also even more hardcore off-road versions with even deeper capability further up the price scale.While Ford’s take on the heavy duty model completely re-engineers the Ranger chassis to be heavier gauge, and reaches into its international parts catalogue for upgraded drivetrain components, it seems more likely a heavy-duty Triton would be more limited to suspension components.The brand has earmarked further electrification in the future as a source for more power, rather than an engine from MMC’s Fuso commercial division or a local tune for the current 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel unit, which was been labelled prohibitively expensive by Hampel - even if the brand were to lean on the existing expertise of its Premcar partner.As to what this could look like we may have to wait and see what the brand does with the long-mooted return of the Ralliart brand, which is expected to be the next step for the current Triton.Hampel confirmed there would be no Ralliart without an increase in power, which could open the door to more opportunities for the brand.“We’re in constant discussion with them, working on those next-level programs, but we’ve got to prove what we can do, and what we’ve done so far,” he said.“With the change to electrified options as well, that opens up a different path to having a step-up in performance level.“As we transition into HEVs, PHEVs, and ultimately BEVs and these types of vehicles, we could use electrification as the differentiator.”As to how far Mitsubishi will end up going - you’ll need to watch this space. Discussions were preliminary enough the brand admitted that it hadn’t considered a GVM upgraded Triton being exempt from Australia’s tough new emissions regime (NVES), as such an upgrade could move it into commercial-vehicle-exclusive classification territory alongside the Ranger Super Duty.In the meantime, Mitsubishi will have plenty on its hands for the remainder of 2026 as it gears up for the arrival of its much-hyped next-generation Pajero as its flagship 4WD offering, as well as a new fully-electric small SUV from its partnership with Taiwan’s Foxconn.

Mitsubishi has confirmed its performance ambitions for the Triton - and perhaps even its upcoming Pajero - won’t end with the locally-tuned Triton Raider, as it gears up for a long-teased Ralliart revival.Mitsubishi’s local GM of Product Strategy and PR Bruce Hampel said: “We’ve got aspirations to go a step higher again in the future if this thing proves to be successful.”Hampel said that “step higher” would be for both price and capability, and would “bring back some of that more emotional brand heritage”.He’s likely talking about Mitsubishi’s long-dormant Ralliart performance name, which may hinge on the success of a car like the Triton Raider. The company’s Japanese HQ had a close interest in the Triton Raider to gage the taste for a higher-priced Triton.“There are a lot of eyes in Japan that are eagerly following the progress of this program, or have been following it since we started. But now that we’re at the point where we’re on sale, they’ll be reviewing what’s happening with an eye to understand whether this type of model, which is new for Mitsubishi using a second stage modification process, is something that they can entrust their distributorships with to deliver successfully with local expertise.“When it’s successful, there are going to be opportunities to go further and expand more, both within Australia and potentially into other global markets as well,” Hampel said.The first port-of-call for the Premcar tuned Raider could be New Zealand with an eye to going even further in the future.The Premcar-tuned Triton Raider is a significant overhaul and the new flagship for the ute’s range in Australia. It includes beefed-up suspension with custom-developed shock absorbers, an increase in ride height, a larger profile all-terrain wheel and tyre package, a 20mm overall increase in width, and various genuine accessories added on to increase the visual appeal.It costs from $74,990, moving Triton into unforeseen pricing territory, a $9400 step-up from the previously range-topping GSR trim level.So what would it take for a Ralliart model to earn its place at an even higher price-point than that? Hampel has some thoughts.“We stopped short of putting the Ralliart badge on this vehicle because we were mindful of what customer expectations are of the Ralliart brand," he said.“And the Raider, while we expect it to resonate very well with customers, it’s more typical of what customers do with typical aftermarket modifications to create the style of vehicle they will then go and modify further.“We didn’t feel it was quite worthy of the Ralliart branding. But we do have alignment with Mitsubishi Motors to continue the study and to reinstate the Ralliart brand in Australia and re-install it, properly, globally as well.“So we’re in constant discussion with them and working on those next-level programs but we’ve got to prove what we can do, and what we’ve done so far.”One thing Hampel confirmed was there would be no Ralliart without more power than is currently on offer from the Triton’s 2.4-litre turbo diesel (150kW/470Nm).“Ralliart needs more uniqueness to the vehicle in terms of its appearance, higher levels of suspension sophistication, and ideally more performance from the powertrain,” he said.“The engine is the most difficult one to not have fully done by the manufacturer, with the extensive durability testing, and it’s very expensive to go through that whole process.“Yes, Premcar can do it, but it comes at a significant cost, so to do that you really need global behind us with their view to a global market with that kind of product.”As to what that could look like? Hampel pointed to a potential hybrid solution.“With the change to electrified options as well, that opens up a different path to having a step-up in performance level,” he said.“As we transition into HEVs, PHEVs, and ultimately BEVs and these types of vehicles we could use electrification as the differentiator.”Next for Mitsubishi in Australia will be the long-awaited arrival of the next-generation ground-up Pajero 4WD, and a fully electric small SUV from its joint-venture with Taiwan’s Foxconn, both due to be on-sale before the end of 2026.

Mitsubishi has revealed competitive pricing for its rough and ready version of the Triton ute.The 2026 Mitsubishi Triton Raider will be in dealerships in June priced from $74,990, which is both the recommended retail price and drive-away figure.The Raider is a co-development between Mitsubishi Australia and Australian engineering and manufacturing firm, Premcar, which also helps produce the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior.The Raider is based on the current range-topping Triton GSR grade, which retails for $65,590 before on-road costs.While it’s not quite a Ranger Raptor rival, the Raider is more of a direct competitor to off-road focused ute grades like the Isuzu D-Max Blade and Ford Ranger Tremor, as well as two upcoming pick-ups, the new Volkswagen Amarok W600 and next-gen Navara Pro-4X Warrior.When it comes to pricing the Triton undercuts the Ranger Tremor ($75,090 BOC) and the D-Max Blade ($80,900 BOC). Pricing for the other two models is yet to be revealed.As reported, the Triton Raider gains a specially developed front and rear suspension damper package for better wheel control, and it comes with Bridgestone AT002 all-terrain tyres, gripping a heavy-duty ROH ‘Assault’ 18-inch alloy wheel.Ride height has increased by 25mm at the front while the rear is up by 15mm. The front and rear tracks have also increased by 20mm.Other physical and visual changes include an upgraded side protection bars and sports bar with red inserts and stronger underbody protection.The powertrain has not been upgraded so it continues to use the Triton’s 2.4-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine offering outputs of 150kW/470Nm.Colour choices include ‘White Diamond’, ‘Black Mica’, ‘Blade Silver’ and ‘Graphite Grey’.Inside the Raider comes with everything from the GSR, including black leather seats with orange stitching, but it adds ‘Raider’ branded head rests and badging in the console.Keep an eye on our Mitsubishi Triton Raider launch review in the coming weeks.

Mitsubishi is soon releasing the Australian-fettled Triton Raider and if it’s a success the Japanese brand claims there’s room for something above – perhaps with Ralliart in the name.Mitsubishi Australia General Manager Product Strategy and Product Public Relations Bruce Hampel said the Japanese carmaker has many iconic sub-brands, including Ralliart, but for the time being is trying to build the brand name with the Triton Raider.“We’ve positioned this vehicle above the GSR. I guess with the rally raid theme is really what we to pursue and that really helped us inform the Raider naming for this particular variant,” said Hampel.“It’s really our first foray we’re breaking new ground for Mitsubishi in that higher price bracket compact pick-up segment, which is quite extensive in the Australian market.”It’s worth noting that Mitsubishi offered the limited-production Triton Xtreme in 2023, which was co-developed by Walkinshaw. It’s still the most expensive new Triton to date at $71,990 before on-road costs.“So we’re really seeing how goes, how well we’ve managed to deliver the customer needs and how well that’s resonating with them,” added Hampel.“The goal is ultimately to build the brand and pull on our heritage, and part of that is the history we have with our sub-brands in the Australian market.“And if successful then, yes, we’ll continue taking the next step.”Ralliart is an iconic, high-performance sub-brand for the Mitsubishi brand that has its roots in rally racing.The Ralliart name is still affixed to certain, range-topping versions of the Japanese carmaker’s vehicles.The last Mitsubishi model offered in Australia with a Ralliart badge was the Lancer in 2015. Sitting below the Evolution, it was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that’s mated with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and sent drive through an all-wheel drive system.There have been many versions of the Triton Ralliart offered in other markets across many generations now, however they have largely been decals and aesthetic packages.There is demand for souped-up dual-cab utes in Australia, particularly stirred up by the Ford Ranger Raptor with its 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine.The forthcoming Triton Raider has been developed in partnership with Melbourne-based engineering and manufacturing firm, Premcar.Although the 2.4-litre bi-turbo diesel engine doesn’t produce any more power or torque, the suspension and tyre package has been tweaked to make this Triton more capable on- and off-road. There are also tougher looks.Using the model year 2026 (MY26) version of the Triton GSR as a base, the Raider gains Yamaha horizontally mounted dampers to further reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).There’s a unique front and rear suspension damper package with the front damper gaining an internal rebound spring to create more wheel control on a variety of surfaces.Other tweaks include 18-inch ROH ‘Assault’ alloy wheels finished in a unique brushed bronze finish that are wrapped in Bridgestone AT002 all-terrain tyres.As a result of the suspension and tyre package, there is a 25mm ride height increase at the front, 10mm ride height increase at the rear and 20mm wider track width.Matching the brushed bronze alloys, there are a range of exterior highlights and decals with the same finish. Additionally there are upgraded side protection bars, underbody protection and a sports bar with unique red highlights.Inside the Triton Raider receives black leather upholstery with orange stitching and Raider branding embroidered into the front headrests. There’s also a Raider badge fitted on the centre console.At this stage Mitsubishi hasn’t detailed pricing for the Triton Raider, though it is likely to be more than the current flagship GSR trim, which is priced at $65,590 before on-road costs.This means the Triton Raider could be closer to $70,000 before on-road costs.

Diesel fuel prices have been skyrocketing in Australia, making buyers think twice about running costs.According to NSW fuel price data, diesel is up to $1 per litre more expensive than petrol on average, sitting on average at over $3 per litre.Diesel sales were already in decline, but sustained higher fuel prices appear to have accelerated this trend.What may surprise some, though, is that petrol car sales are decreasing at a faster rate than diesel. Diesel sales have declined 10.1 per cent compared to February 2026 and 4.8 per cent overall this year. Petrol sales for the same periods have declined by more than 20 per cent and nearly 18 per cent, respectively. This equates to almost 22,000 less vehicles sold compared to this time last year. Diesel sales have only declined a little over 4000 units compared to March 2025. There were 28,364 diesel sales in March 2026 as opposed to 34,694 petrol ones, but if petrol sales continue to decline at the same rate, it will not be long before diesel is the top selling non-electrified fuel type for vehicles.Diesel also still more than doubles the sales of electric month-on-month, but EVs are rapidly catching up.One of the key reasons for these differences is many brands are ditching pure petrol models for electrified variants, as Australia's new vehicle efficiency standards start to impose big consequences for higher-emitting engines. For example, most of Toyota’s major models are now hybrid only, such as the Yaris hatch, Camry sedan and RAV4 SUV. There have also been talks of brands completely cutting petrol options from their line-ups, such as Chery.Local Chief Executive Officer Lucas Harris told CarsGuide earlier this year it is something he is eager to see happen.  “Personally I would hope that we get to that point because the super hybrid driving experience, in particular Chery’s super hybrid driving experience is so good and I think it is much better than ICE,” Harris said.“The more people that try it, the more consumers go that way. We’ll be led by demand so if all of a sudden nobody is buying an ICE Tiggo 7, and they're only buying Tiggo 7 super hybrid, it probably doesn’t make much sense to continue bringing an ICE product that consumers don’t really want.”Other brands have echoed these comments in the past as they move to predominantly hybrid and electric line-ups. In February, for example, Hyundai was number two for hybrid sales in Australia, a title it may lose to BYD's popular range of plug-in hybrids like the Shark 6 and Sealion 6. BYD, meanwhile, is already hybrid and electric only.Diesel utes still dominate the sales charts, the Ford Ranger and the Toyota HiLux leading the way, with the Isuzu D-Max also in the top 10. Both the HiLux and D-Max experienced subtle growth, while the Ranger had a near 10 per cent decline compared to last month.  Best-selling diesel cars in March 2026  

Mitsubishi has just revealed a new, flagship version of its Triton dual-cab ute that has been tested and developed in Australia.The Japanese carmaker partnered with Australian engineering and manufacturing firm, Premcar, to develop the Triton Raider.The Triton Raider is a version of this dual-cab ute that’s claimed to bring confidence to every drive, whether that be on- or off-road. First examples are due to arrive at dealers by the end of May.Think of it as a rival to the Ford Ranger Tremor, Isuzu D-Max Blade and Volkswagen Amarok W600, among others, as it picks up tougher looks and suspension tweaks, but no extra power.Using the model year 2026 (MY26) version of the Triton GSR as a base, which gains Yamaha horizontally mounted dampers to further reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Premcar completes the second-stage manufacturing process at a facility in Epping, Victoria.There’s a unique front and rear suspension damper package with the front damper gaining an internal rebound spring to create more wheel control on a variety of surfaces.The related Nissan Navara also received a range of very similar suspension tweaks by Premcar, this Triton Raider program is unrelated.Other tweaks the Triton Raider picks up include 18-inch ROH ‘Assault’ alloy wheels finished in a unique brushed bronze finish that are wrapped in Bridgestone AT002 all-terrain tyres.As a result of the suspension and tyre package, there is a 25mm ride height increase at the front, 10mm ride height increase at the rear and 20mm wider track width.Matching the brushed bronze alloy wheels, there are a range of exterior highlights and decals finished in the same car. Additionally there are upgraded side protection bars, underbody protection and a sports bar with unique red highlights.Inside the Triton Raider receives black leather upholstery with orange stitching and Raider branding embroidered into the front headrests. There’s also a Raider badge fitted on the centre console.At this stage Mitsubishi hasn’t detailed pricing for the Triton Raider, though it is likely to be more than the current flagship GSR trim, which is priced at $65,590 before on-road costs.This means the Triton Raider could be closer to $70,000 before on-road costs and potentially the most expensive Triton ever offered locally.This crown currently goes to the Walkinshaw co-developed Triton Xtreme which was sold during 2023 and based on the previous-generation ute.As noted above, neither Mitsubishi nor Premcar made any tweaks to the Triton’s 2.4-litre bi-turbo diesel engine with the Raider. It still produces 150kW and 470Nm and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Utes have been affected substantially by increasing fuel prices, thanks to their large fuel tanks and often thirsty turbo-diesel engines.Diesel fuel prices have jumped to more than $3 per litre, making filling up a diesel ute more expensive than ever.CarsGuide has compiled a list of all the diesel dual-cab pick-up utes on sale, calculating the yearly cost of each at $3.07 per litre (the average price in NSW on 31/3/26) over 15,000km.Isuzu Ute’s D-Max and Mazda BT-50 2.2-litre turbo-diesel variants are the efficiency leaders. The mechanically identical pair of utes cost $3038.02 in fuel in a year, averaging 6.6L/100km.The Ford Ranger’s single turbo-diesel 2.0-litre is next on the list, averaging 6.9L/100km, which equates to $3177.45 over 15,000km. The new mild hybrid Toyota HiLux also has a competitive efficiency figure of 7.1L/100km, which is a little cheaper in fuel than the standard turbo-diesel variants. Three-litre variants of the BT-50 and D-Max vary in cost, given fuel consumption fluctuates between 7.1L/100km and 7.8L/100km depending on the variant.The KGM Musso is one of the thirstiest of the utes, with its up to 9.0L/100km, costing more than $4000 over the course of a year.  The GWM Cannon Alpha diesel was the other ute to exceed the $4000 mark. Concluding the list are the gas guzzling full-size American pick-ups, in Ram’s 2500 and the Chevrolet Silverado HD. Both have V8 diesel engines with a capacity of more than 6.0-litres, meaning they cost more than $7000 over the course of a year.2026 ute fuel figures Australia  *Dependent on variant**Ram does not provide official figures for fuel consumption. This figure is sourced from CarsGuide's real world testing.***Chevrolet does not provide official figures for fuel consumption. This figure is sourced from CarsGuide's real world testing.