Ute News

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.

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.

Last year saw a paradigm shift in Australia’s new-car market.The introduction of the government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) catapulted Australia’s emissions regime from the 1980s into the 21st century, and many brands began re-thinking their line-ups in Australia as the clock started on tough fines.Perhaps the biggest and most unprecedented change was the rise of the BYD Shark 6, which pretty much single-handedly proved the dual-cab ute class can be electrified, while the Chinese juggernaut stormed its way up the charts, helping to permanently re-shape the make-up of Australia’s favourite automakers.In the first months of 2026, the shift has continued. China has now become the number one source of new cars to Australia, finally taking over from Japan and Thailand.But what can we expect to look back on by the end of this year? What will change and how will your new car buying experience be re-shaped?Making predictions is always dangerous, but with another fuel crisis hitting hard, we can be fairly certain of at least a few outcomes — let’s see what we think.The dawn of the diesel-hybridChery’s headline-grabbing news from the past few months has been the confirmation of its upcoming diesel hybrid ute, codenamed KP31, for Australia.The upcoming and much-hyped Chery ute will bring what many buyers are asking for - diesel capability with plug-in hybrid fuel consumption.We know more about this upcoming ute thanks to its reveal in China under Chery’s commercial arm, Rely.It will use a new ground-up ‘Kaitan’ platform, and will maintain solid links to the axles - more like GWM’s Cannon Alpha PHEV than the BYD Shark 6.It will also be hoping to seize on the plug-in hybrid ute trend, which BYD has kick-started, and many of its rivals are now seeking to emulate. Whether the extra capability and allure of diesel is enough to make it the next hot thing in dual-cabs remains to be seen.More storied automakers will look to China for helpNissan has made it fairly clear that it will look to China for help, with its appealing range of Chinese-built vehicles benefitting from Chinese hybrid and EV know-how and rapid development cycles. The latter, which has become known as ‘China Speed’ in the industry, will cut the time it takes to do things that once meant long waits, like the conversion to right-hand drive and the various changes required to meet compliance regulations in obscure markets like Australia.No doubt Nissan’s most sought-after Chinese-built model will be the Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid dual-cab, long suggested by executives to be an emissions-friendly alternative to be sold alongside the Mitsubishi Triton-based new-generation Navara in the Australian market.Nissan’s Chinese portfolio doesn’t end there. The brand also has an array of well-received-in-China electric cars, including the N7 sedan and upcoming NX8 SUV as ideal replacements for its ageing Pathfinder, and NVES-friendly supplemental models to the hybrid X-Trail and Qashqai.Nissan certainly isn’t the only brand that might be forced to turn more to China to bolster its line-up. Ford, facing a particular cliff with NVES in the coming years thanks to its diesel-heavy sales footprint of Rangers and Everests might need to import cars like the Chinese ‘New-Energy’ plug-in hybrid Ford Bronco (related to the American Ford Bronco in design only) as a more appealing emissions-friendly option for its more adventure-curious buyers.Even Toyota, whose line-up is already heavily hybrid may need to turn to its Chinese joint-ventures for more price-sensitive zero emissions models like the GAC Aion V-based bZ3X which was recently announced in right-hand drive for the Hong Kong market. Watch this space.The top-10 will continue to be re-shapedAt the end of 2025 there were three Chinese brands in the top 10 in Australia: GWM in seventh position, BYD in eighth position, and MG in 10th.Already in the first few months of 2026, this ranking has continued to shift. BYD has already unseated GWM as Australia’s favourite Chinese brand and has vaulted Mitsubishi, landing in sixth position through the first two months of the year.This puts it within striking distance of Hyundai in a tightly contested race for a top-three position (there are less than 1000 sales between Mazda, Ford, Kia and Hyundai in the next four positions below Toyota), which BYD bosses bravely predicted for 2026.GWM is holding position in seventh, but Mitsubishi might not be able to hold it at bay for long.Chery is one to watch in 2026, as it has managed to leapfrog MG and clinch eighth position so far this year.Other more recent arrivals from China also have brave top-10 predictions. GAC could be the next brand to leap up the charts following in the footsteps of its contemporaries. While it may seem farfetched now, the Toyota-allied brand has access to the right products at similarly aggressive prices, with hybrids and plug-ins featuring heavily in its line-up, which the brand recently told CarsGuide is set to include a large SUV and ute before long.China-owned MG, too, will be playing defence, launching a range of more affordable vehicles as it looks to hang on to its top-10 position.Thailand is down, but not outThailand at various times has been one of the locations from which most Australian cars are sourced. Toyota, Honda and Ford have historically sourced many models from there, with the current top-selling Ranger, HiLux and D-Max all being sourced from the country.It has dropped down the list, as Chinese-built cars have increasingly been sourced for Australia from both new and historic brands. With even the Kia EV5 and Hyundai Elexio being Chinese-built Korean cars for the Australian market.But Thailand’s importance looks to be re-asserted as more Chinese brands establish strategic manufacturing facilities in the South East Asian auto hub.Obvious advantages are the fact that cars are built there on dedicated right-hand drive production facilities, freeing up space in Chinese factories to focus on other left-hand drive markets, while favourable government kickbacks, a free trade agreement with Australia, and a domestic market with an increasingly large taste for electrified vehicles will keep Thailand important for years to come.Big SUVs will be the next Chinese automaker battlegroundIn case you haven’t noticed, many big Chinese brands have shifted their focus. While utes and affordable hatchbacks and small SUVs continue to be all the rage, in their quest to actually generate profits, many Chinese brands have thrown huge amounts of resources into developing large luxury electric and plug-in hybrid models.The five-meter-long SUV space looks to be the next major battleground for these automakers, with Zeekr’s much-hyped plug-in hybrid 8X large SUV earmarked for an Australian arrival, and no doubt MG’s luxury IM marque will be looking to import versions of its LS8 or LS9.GAC has announced its next move will be a large SUV (likely the car known as the GS8 in China), while Leapmotor will move into new territory with its D16 and BYD’s Great Tang flagship have created some major buzz.Will they sell in Australia? With more fuel-conscious than ever new car buyers still crying out for more affordable electric options than the Kia EV9 for example (from $97,000) and Chinese automakers heavily incentivized to seek higher profit margins in markets like Australia, it seems possible we could be inundated with models like this in the latter part of the year.

Is Chery about to out-name the BYD Shark 6 ute? It's possible, given a mystery trademark has now appeared that would give the brand a literal shark-eating dual-cab.Chery has trademarked the name "Orca" in Australia, and the trademark specifically references "SUVs; sport utility vehicles ; sports utility vehicles ; pick-up trucks; pick-up truck caps; trucks; commercial vehicles".The orca, or killer whale, is also the only known predator of the great white shark, suggesting some naming gamesmanship could be at play here, given BYD has named its sales-storming ute the Shark 6.But there is one complicating factor – Chery has asked the Australian public to help name its first ute, with more than 20,000 entries received and a shortlist soon to be announced.“We knew Aussies would have a strong view on what makes a great ute, and the response to this competition has absolutely reflected that," said Lucas Harris, Chery Australia's COO."To receive this many entries is a tremendous result, but just as importantly, entrants took the brief seriously and explained why their name belonged on the ute, making the shortlisting process both exciting and difficult."The catch is that while the Orca name has been accepted as of March 18, 2026, the application was first lodged in June 2025, which suggests it was an early name option for the ute, before the public competition was opened.Still, if Orca has been suggested, and it makes the shortlist, Chery could have a Shark-hunting diesel dual-cab ute on the cards.When it arrives in Q4 this year, Chery's ute promises to be a game-changer in terms of powertrain, given it pairs a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine paired with an electric motor or two and a battery to deliver the country's first diesel plug-in hybrid ute.The brand is promising a 3.5-tonne towing capacity, a 1000kg payload, and proper off-road kit like diff locks.“I believe Chery has one chance to prove that we can build and deliver a highly capable ute,” Mr Harris has told CarsGuide.“And so to do that, it needs towing capability, payload capability, all-terrain capability. Particularly all-terrain capability, you know, you get people towing caravans on the beach. You really do need the torque and power delivery that a diesel gives you down low to be able to do those things.”

If you think you’re seeing a lot more new utes with unfamiliar badges on them, you’re probably not alone.The arrival of new utes from predominantly Chinese brands like the 2026 MG U9, JAC T9 and of course the BYD Shark 6 might seem sudden, but those in the industry have been familiar with many of the seemingly new models for years.Don’t fret, though, we ran the numbers to see just how speedy the rise in new Chinese utes landing in Australia has been, because while the models themselves have been around for a while, some of them have become much more popular lately.In fact, you’re really not just imagining it - a few years ago the number of Chinese utes arriving annually doubled. Over the past decade, the total number of Chinese utes sold in Australia over a year has gone from less than 1000 to almost 40,000.And while the total number of utes sold each year overall also rose, from 190,000 to 235,000 over the same time, you don’t have to be a mathematician to see the massive increase in market share for Chinese brands.Years ago, Great Wall (now GWM) was laying the groundwork, building a more reliable reputation over time and learning how discerning many Aussie ute buyers can be. Anecdotally, early Great Wall utes were hated by mechanics, but GWM now has more than 120 dealers and a seven-year warranty.By the mid-2010s, things were improving, Great Wall utes and the Foton Tunland were still really the only Chinese utes here, racking up annual sales in the hundreds and making up less than 0.5 per cent of the new ute market.In the first couple of years of the 2020s, LDV had arrived and was doing much of the heavy lifting while GWM was in a lull before new generation Cannon utes showed up.Through 2021 to 2024, Chinese utes made up around 6-8 per cent of the new ute market in Australia, though 4x2 utes didn’t follow the trend, with brands focusing on cracking the 4x4 market rather than fighting with the big players in the fleet space.This decade has seen the presence of Chinese utes rise from being sold in the hundreds or four-digit thousands to finally cracking and exceeding 10,000 sales comfortably each year, perhaps with the increasing cost-of-living pressure and subsiding mistrust of early Chinese utes from the ‘bad old days’.But 2025 was the year it really changed, and one name is responsible: Shark.Not Australia’s most storied golfer, but BYD’s plug-in hybrid ute. In 2024, 6.8 per cent of new utes sold in Australia were from Chinese brands - in 2025, that jumped up to 16 per cent.About 15,600 Chinese utes sold in 2024 versus just shy of 37,700 in 2025 comes thanks to the 18,000 new BYD Shark 6 utes bought by Australians in 2025. The total number of utes sold (across 4x2 and 4x4) in Australia didn’t even increase as much as the number of new sales the Shark 6 brought in, 229,219 sales in 2024 is only a few thousand less than the 235,614 sold in 2025.And it doesn’t seem to be slowing, with the Shark 6 performing well even into its second year on sale and helping maintain a 17.6 per cent market share for Chinese utes in the first two months of 2026. Even if BYD’s game-changer doesn’t maintain its place leading the Chinese ute charge, there’s a strong chance it continues to build upon the enthusiasm for the category built up by the likes of GWM.

Hyundai just unveiled its striking Boulder SUV concept at the New York International Auto Show.The concept gives a glimpse into Hyundai’s ladder frame chassis rugged off-roading future. The Boulder previews its first ladder frame model, which will be a mid-size pick-up truck built in the United States launching in 2030. A mid-size pick-up truck in the US means it will be a similar size to Aussie favourites such as the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and BYD Shark 6.It looks like the new Hyundai ute will be targeted towards the North America market, with an Australian launch unlikely in the short term. This will be the brand's second ute, with a different model expected to arrive in Australia before 2030. Hyundai Australia boss Don Romano told CarsGuide late last year the brand would have a ute ready by the end of 2028. "My work permit goes for another two and a half years. I'm not leaving until it's coming,” Romano said in November 2025.“If they produce what we're talking about at this stage and what we're working on, it's gonna be mind blowing, it's gonna be great. And I really mean that, I'm not just blowing smoke.”It is anticipated to feature a range-extender hybrid set-up. The Boulder concept has a boxy overall design with accentuated fenders and beefed up 37-inch mud-terrain tyres to highlight its go-anywhere potential.The concept itself is similar to the general blueprint of the popular Ford Bronco, which is based on the Ford Ranger ute, and has been a raging sales success in the United States. Adding to this theme is the tailgate-mounted full-size spare wheel, along with roof racks and a roof-mounted light bar.This latest concept comes after US patents of a pick-up truck for the North American market surfaced online. One of the key elements these patents revealed was thought to be detachable doors. It now appears that the doors are in-fact coach-style, not detachable, meaning they open away from the centre of the car. This increases the practicality and loading capacity of the car, like on the old Toyota FJ Cruiser. The Boulder’s interior has a minimalist yet futuristic look, with no large tablet-like screens present, but it does have a panoramic head-up display, which spans the length of the front window. 

Mitsubishi has detailed the 2026 model year (MY26) update for its Triton dual-cab ute line-up ahead of its arriving at local dealers in May.A highlight change is a range of the entry-level manual Mitsubishi Triton GLX variants have been axed.As a result, the entry price has climbed to $37,090 before on-road costs for the GLX 4x2 single-cab chassis automatic.Only one manual trim is left, the GLX 4x4 dual-cab chassis which is priced from $47,940 before on-road costs.Pricing for carryover variants is up by up to $1000, depending on the variant, meaning the range now extends all the way to $65,590 before on-road costs for the GSR trim.However, it’s expected the forthcoming Triton Raider, as previously reported, will cost more than the GSR.Mitsubishi has redesigned the front and rear suspension systems for the MY26 Triton. The front has a lower spring rate and rubber body mounts, while high-response ‘Various Performance Setting’ valves have been added to the front and rear shock absorbers.Additionally, the rear shock absorbers have increased in diameter. This allows the ute to have improved ride comfort and reduced harshness, while maintaining agility.It’s worth noting that the GLX and GLX+ trim retain a heavy-duty four-leaf rear suspension set-up, while the GLX-R, GLS and GSR continue with a standard-duty three-leaf set-up.The flagship Triton GSR in particular picks up Yamaha performance dampers which are fitted horizontally across the front and rear of the chassis.These are claimed to improve straight-line and high-speed stability, while reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).The Triton GSR also picks up the Mitsubishi Connect online telematics system. Using a Telstra 4G cellular modem, it allows for SOS emergency calling, plus remote connectivity features with the smartphone companion app.2026 Mitsubishi Triton Australia pricing:2026 Mitsubishi Triton Australia powertrain and efficiency:2026 Mitsubishi Triton Australia standard equipment:GLX highlights:17-inch steel wheelsAll-terrain tyres (4x4 variants)Halogen headlights7.0-inch digital instrument cluster9.0-inch touchscreen multimedia systemWireless Apple CarPlayTwo-speaker sound system (single-cab models)Four-speaker sound system (club- and dual-cab models)Manual air-conditioning (single-cab models)Climate control (club- and dual-cab models)Fabric upholsteryGLX+ adds:17-inch alloy wheelsRear differential lockFront fog lightsPrivacy glassSide stepsTailgate assist (pick-up only)Two rear USB portsDAB+ digital radioGLX-R+ adds:Black 18-inch alloy wheelsSuper Select 4WD-II (full-time four-wheel drive)Standard-duty suspensionBlack sports barCarpet floorLeather-wrapped steering wheelGLS adds:18-inch grey alloy wheelsBedliner (pick-up models)LED headlightsBlack exterior highlights (NEW)Electric folding side mirrorsDual-zone climate controlAuto-dimming rear-view mirrorKeyless entry and push-button startWireless chargerDashbound-mounted cupholders (NEW)Soft-touch interior trimGSR adds:Yamaha Performance Dampers (NEW)Black 18-inch alloy wheelsBody-colour grilleBlack lower front bumper accent (NEW)Wheel arch mouldingSailplane (pick-up inly)Roof railsLeather upholstery with orange accent stitchingUnique floor matsPowered driver’s seat2026 Mitsubishi Triton Australia optional equipment:The $1500 Deluxe option pack on the GLS adds:Leather upholstery with silver stitchingPowered driver’s seatHeated front seatsThe Terrain Pack (GLX, GLX+, GLX-R and GLS dual-cab models) adds:Steel front protection barSide protection barRear protection barTow barTow ballThe Electric Roll Top Plus Accessory Pack (GLX+, GLX-R, GLS and GSR dual-cab pick-up models) adds:Electric roll top tonneau coverTow barTow ballElectric trailer brake controller and harnessDuster and water defence kitCargo tie townBlack grille emblemA wide range of other option packs and genuine accessories are also available.2026 Mitsubishi Triton Australia safety:The Mitsubishi Triton received a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2024.Standard safety highlights:Six airbagsAutonomous emergency braking (AEB)Rear AEB (pickup models only)Blind-spot monitoringRear cross-traffic alertFront cross traffic alert ($NCO)Lane-keep assistAdaptive cruise control (automatic models only)Traffic sign recognitionDriver attention monitorFront and rear parking sensorsReversing camera2026 Mitsubishi Triton Australia warranty and servicing:The 2026 Mitsubishi Triton is covered by a 10-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty provided you service it at Mitsubishi dealers when required. If you don’t meet the schedule the warranty coverage drops to five years.There’s also 10 years of roadside assistance and 10 years of capped-price servicing.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km. Mitsubishi hasn’t provided servicing costs just yet.

Fuel prices are skyrocketing right now in Australia and Ford is looking for a way to capitalise on selling more of its low-emission vehicles.The Blue Oval is offering a wide range of drive-away pricing offers across its Ranger plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute, as well as the Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit electric vehicles (EVs). All are valid until June 30.2025 model year (MY25) examples of the Ranger PHEV now start at $62,000 drive-away for the XLT trim and extend to $73,000 drive-away for the flagship Stormtrak.The Ranger PHEV usually starts at $71,990 before on-road costs for the XLT and extends to $86,990 before on-road costs for the Stormtrak.The Blue Oval is also offering drive-away pricing offers across the F-150 line-up, as well as on certain Everest and Tourneo models.A table with the full drive-away pricing offers currently available is at the bottom of this story.Ford is also offering an additional $1000 discount on Ranger, Ranger PHEV and Ranger Super Duty models for farming businesses that are registered as Primary Producers. This is valid until June 30.Lastly, Ford is throwing in a $4000 fuel card to select Ranger variants and Everest Trend models that are MY26 and older to help ease the high cost of diesel currently. This is until stock sells out.“These initiatives are designed to help our customers, from small business owners to families, get through this challenging financial period,” said Ford Australia and New Zealand President and CEO Fadi Mawal.“Ford vehicles offer incredible capability, performance and long-term value for money and we don’t want anyone to miss out on getting the best car for their needs because of short-term pain at the pump.“By offering the most fuel-efficient Ranger ever built at a fantastic drive away price, along with an immediate $4000 cashflow injection for ICE customers via a fuel card, we are ensuring that Ford doesn’t just offer great vehicles, but a total ownership solution. We’ve sharpened our pencils to ensure we’ve got our customers’ backs.”

Toyota’s first electric ute arrives in Australia in the second quarter of the year, but don’t expect to see loads of them on the roads.The 2026 Toyota HiLux BEV will be the first all-electric commercial vehicle to join Toyota’s line-up and it will be available in two grades and body styles.It’s a dual-cab-only proposition but it kicks off with the SR in dual-cab-chassis guise from $74,990 before on-road costs. Opting for the ST with a pick-up body style increases that to $76,490, while the top-spec SR5 is pick-up only at $82,990.That base pricing is $17,000 more than the diesel equivalent SR dual-cab-chassis.For now there are few fully electric ute rivals in Australia. The ageing and unloved LDV eT60 was priced from more than $90,000 when it launched, and the KGM Musso Electric starts from $60,000 drive-away, but this is based on a passenger car platform and is more of an urban lifestyle ute.Another electrified ute option, Ford’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Ranger, runs from $71,990 to a hefty $86,990, while the BYD Shark 6 ($57,900 BOC) and GWM Cannon Alpha (from $61,490 drive-away) are other PHEV utes that might be cross-shopped.Toyota says the HiLux BEV has been developed with government fleets, mining and construction sectors in mind, and this is where the vast majority of sales will come from.Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said the carmaker expects to sell 500 HiLux BEVs in 2026. For reference, Toyota sold 51,297 examples of the internal combustion engine HiLux in Australia last year.He added that private buyers and sole traders were not the main focus for the ute.“We're really targeting certain customers at the moment with that HiLux BEV. You know, we've been piloting with certain fleets on that car, and we've had great feedback, no downtime on the vehicle.“I mean, look, if private buyers want to buy the BEV HiLux, go for it. Great, that's awesome. You know, the more we can promote, the better. But we are targeting the first 500 (sales) towards that sort of mining and government type buyer.”The HiLux BEV is a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup based on the regular ICE HiLux platform. The total system output is 144kW of power and 468Nm of torque which is distributed variably between the front and rear axle for on-road driving.Off-roading is aided by Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select traction control system with six different drive modes.It has a 59.2kWh battery capable of 150kW DC fast charging. Toyota says it can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. AC charging with 10kW three-phase power takes 6.5 hours to get from 10 to 100 per cent.Toyota says the final driving range is yet to be determined but at the moment it is 315km on the lenient NEDC cycle. That would put the WLTP figure in the high 200s.Braked towing capacity is 2000kg, less than most of the diesel grades’ 3500kg figure.The HiLux BEV has a uniquely developed suspension setup with tweaked MacPherson strut front suspension and a De-dion rear leaf spring setup to accommodate the rear electric motor, while retaining the live axle setup of the HiLux.2026 Toyota HiLux BEV pricing before on-road costs2026 Toyota HiLux BEV standard specificationFull standard specification is yet to be revealed but Toyota has announced initial specs.SRLED headlampsColoured front bumperPainted exterior mirrors and door handlesSharkfin antennaSide stepsFabric upholsteryAll-weather floor matsPlastic steering wheelShift-by-wire gear shifterDual-zone automatic climate controlPower windowsKeyless entry and startA 1500W inverter in the centre console12.3-inch multimedia system12.3-inch digital instrument clusterFour-speaker audio systemEmbedded satellite navigationVoice commandWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoDAB+ digital radioTwo USB-C ports in the front and rearSR5LED headlamps with auto-levelingAuto-retracting and heated exterior mirrorsLED foglamps and tail-lightsRear privacy glassLeather-accented upholsteryHeated front seats with powered driver’s adjustmentHeated steering wheelCarpeted floorAuto-dimming rear-view mirrorEight-speaker audio systemWireless phone charger2026 Toyota HiLux BEV standard safety specificationAutonomous emergency brakingRadar cruise controlLane trace assistRear cross-traffic alert‘Rear parking support brake’ (pick-up only)Road sign assistAutomatic high beamPanoramic view monitorFront and rear parking sensors (pick-up only)Tyre pressure monitorEight airbags2026 Toyota HiLux BEV coloursGlacier WhiteFrosted WhiteAsh Slate

The demise of the diesel ute is approaching.The walls are closing in on the conventional ute as diesel fuel prices soar and the federal government's National Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) starts to bite, signalling the days of the diesel ute might be numbered.The ute is the last refuge for diesel engines in the Australian car industry, with most brands already shifting to petrol, hybrid and electric in other segments.Electrified utes have been gathering momentum in recent years as they look to take the place of traditional diesel power.Here is a list of those which could take diesel's ute crown.BYD Shark 6 PHEVThe Shark 6 has already proven its threat to the diesel ute since it went on sale in late 2024, seeing surging sales.Its sharp price tag at $57,900 (before on-road costs) makes it a cheaper option as a plug-in hybrid ute, and it is competitive with some diesel utes.The Shark 6 uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid set-up, meaning it is far cheaper to run than its diesel rivals (so long as you keep the battery charged).It also packs 321kW and 650Nm, despite modest towing and carrying capacity.It has made a solid impression in its time in Australia, being BYD’s best-selling car in 2025 - form it has carried into this year.Chery KP31 diesel PHEVAustralia will be one of the first markets to see the KP31 when it launches Down Under this year.Technically, the codenamed KP31 is still a diesel, but it does come with plug-in hybrid assistance, and there is a petrol plug-in coming in 2027.Diesel adds a different flavour to the PHEV game in Australia, with it overcoming the lugging and carrying limitations of petrol PHEV models such as the Shark 6.While there is no official news on the power output of the 2.5-litre turbo-charged engine and electric motor, Chery has confirmed it will have a 3500kg braked towing capacity and a 1000kg payload.There will also be multiple locking differentials for rugged off-road ability, which is something missing from the Shark 6.GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and GWM Cannon PHEVGWM will be the only brand to have two plug-in hybrid utes on sale in Australia by the end of this year.It already has the Cannon Alpha PHEV on sale, with a starting price of $61,490 drive-away. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol set-up produces 300kW and 750Nm.The smaller Cannon PHEV recently revealed in China is not too far away, and will offer the brand a cheaper alternative to the larger and more premium Alpha.While the Cannon PHEV keeps a 3500kg towing capacity, its 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and electric motor only produces 185kW.Ford Ranger PHEVThe best-selling Ford Ranger received a plug-in variant in the middle of 2025 in Australia, and starts from $71,990 (before on-road costs).The 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid set-up pumps out 207kW and 697Nm, with maximum payload of 973kg depending on the variant. It has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.Its hefty comparative price tag means diesel sales still far outweigh their electrified sibling.KGM Musso EVThe KGM Musso EV is one of the only new electric utes on sale in Australia, with a drive-away price of $60,000.It comes in two-wheel and all-wheel drive variants, producing up to 266kW and 630Nm.Its 81kWh battery offers a maximum all-electric driving range of 380km, with 10-80 per cent fast charging taking 36 minutes.It only comes with a payload of 905kg and a braked towing capacity of 1800kg.Toyota HiLux BEVAn electric version of the HiLux is a highly-anticipated new model of Toyota’s lineup, with potential to build on the success of the diesel HiLux in a new electrified era.Initial numbers don't paint a pretty picture. It has a provisional 2000kg braked towing capacity, less than the 3500kg on diesel alternatives, including the HiLux. It also only has a payload of 715kg.The other potential drawback on the electric HiLux is that it has a driving range of just 240km from its 59kWh battery, according to WLTP testing.Expect to see the HiLux BEV in Australia soon.MG U9 EVThe U9 electric ute has just been approved for sale in Australia and will hit showrooms in the near future.It comes with a total system output of 325kW from a dual motor set-up and offers 430km of driving range (WLTP), from its 102kWh battery.It also has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg, so it will be in line with its key diesel rivals.Nissan Frontier Pro PHEVThe Frontier Pro is Nissan’s first plug-in hybrid and like many on this list is built in China, and there is strong potential for it to soon be available in Australia.It has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and electric motor, producing 300kW and 800Nm, and is also expected to have a 3500kg braked towing capacity.