Ute News

You know things are getting serious when a US pick-up style ute’s towing capacity reaches the 8.0-tonne mark.And that’s exactly what’s happened with the introduction of a factory 5th Wheel Hitch option for the MY26 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD.The new feature will be available from Q3 2026 build, offering the choice of a 50mm pin coupling or a 3.0-inch ‘gooseball’.As the name implies, a pin coupling uses a solid vertical pin and is best suited to off-road or agricultural towing, while a gooseneck ball uses a large, heavy-duty ball-and-socket connection in the load bed and is more appropriate for large on-road trailers.The package incorporates a factory air brake system “specifically designed, tested and installed as an integrated package.”It includes a chassis structure and bed attachment plate, added trailer connectors at the front of the load bed, trailer brake airlines and additional interior controls and warning lights for the driver.Once the 5th Wheel Hitch option box is ticked its installation will be included in the Silverado’s local left- to right-hand drive remanufacturing process and covered by GM’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty but is not available for purchase separately.Launching the option, GM Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Jess Bala said, “The new Genuine 5th Wheel Hitch option expands what Silverado 2500 can already do, while preserving the premium refinement and heavy-duty performance they expect from the vehicle.”It’s worth noting an 8000kg towing capacity means Silverado’s fitted with the fifth wheel will be NB2-certified so specific licensing requirements apply, and GMSV advises prospective buyers to check in with their relevant state or territory roads authority for further details.Pricing

Ford’s utes are about to undergo one of the biggest changes ever with the brand’s boss turning to Formula 1 for help in competing with Chinese rivals. Ford’s global boss Jim Farley believes the key to his company's success lies in Formula 1 know-how, according to an interview with British motoring publication Autocar.“One of the biggest gifts that Formula 1 ever gave Ford was our skunkworks team in California. Almost every one of them either comes from Formula 1 or is a huge F1 fan," Farely told Autocar. Ford made a return to F1 in 2026 with a technical collaboration with Red Bull racing. The partnerships sees Ford co-develop hybrid powertrains for both the primary Red Bull and junior Racing Bulls teams.  That gives Ford access to the experience and know-how of the pinnacle of motorsport, and this has led to the formation of Ford's top-secret skunkworks - Universal EV.Based in California’s Silicon Valley, Universal EV has developed an electric vehicle platform that can be fitted into a range of vehicles from pick-ups to sedans, hatches and vans.While Ford hasn't confirmed all of the vehicles that will use the Universal EV platform, yet, it has released a teaser video of its design and engineering teams working on sketches of its upcoming small pick-up that’s expected to revive the Ranchero name.The missing piece of the puzzle, according to Farley, is aerodynamics which will allow smaller batteries to be used. And this is where he wants more F1 input into the skunkworks program. But, it's not proving easy."It turns out that finding people who love motorsport who want to 'build a buffet in Vegas' – a $30,000 EV that's nice-looking and fun to drive - is hard," he told Autocar."A lot of people want to stay in F1 and the challenge is picking people from motorsport who can actually design a breakthrough product. But when people see what we did with this skunkworks, they will say: 'Wow, that's cooler engineering than a hypercar. They will be shocked."The reference to a $30,000 EV by Farley hints at the small pick-up which Ford says it hopes to sell for the same price.The pick-up will be a smaller sibling to the F-150 Lightning Ford and will likely use the Universal EV platform, with a possible 2027 launch.Whether it makes it to Australia is another question. That might only be possible if the vehicle is produced in right-hand drive for markets such as the United Kingdom.We might not see the Ranchero arrive in Australia anytime soon but the Universal EV platform will likely underpin other Ford models to be sold locally.This is not the first time Farley has pivoted Ford's direction in the hope of surviving the threat posed by the popularity of affordable and high-tech Chinese vehicles.In 2024, Farley declared to British publication Car Magazine that Ford was ”getting out of the boring car business and into the iconic-vehicle business”.Although in the same year he also told the Guardian, “We have to start to get back in love with smaller vehicles. It’s super important for our society and for EV adoption.”In 2025 Farley announced that he wanted Ford to be "the Porsche of off-road”, referencing the brand's involvement with off-road racing and applying that skill and engineering to its adventurous vehicles.Currently Ford has a limited number of models in its Australian range, with the Mustang sports car, Ranger ute and Everest SUV bringing in the lion's share of sales.

Chery has revealed its game-changing diesel plug-in hybrid ute will be called the Stockman when it lands in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year. The Chery Stockman, previously known as 'KP31', was confirmed today after the brand put a call out for names that prompted more than 20,000 submissions. The Stockman was one of nine names shortlisted among Bushwalker, Ironbark, Longreach, Mate, Orca and Outrider.Chery said the Stockman name reflects the capability, endurance and versatility of its first ute.The Stockman will join the Australian market as the first-ever PHEV diesel ute in what could shake-up the diesel-only dominant segment. It will also look to build on the work done by the BYD Shark 6 turbo-petrol PHEV, which has been one of the only few utes to experience sales growth in Australia over the past few months. The Stockman will be powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and electric motor duo said to produce substantial amounts of power and torque.Chery has claimed the ute will have a 1000kg payload and 3500kg braked towing capacity, matching much of its diesel-only competition Down Under. The brand has high expectations for its new ute model with Australian Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris telling CarsGuide earlier this year that it needs to be successful.“I believe that Chery has one chance to prove that we can build and deliver a highly-capable ute,” Harris said.“We are being a bit demanding. We want all of that diesel capability so that we can deliver what we say we want to deliver. But we also want the on-highway and the fuel efficiency benefits and the NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) benefits of having super hybrid at the same time.”Chery will reveal more details about the Stockman closer to its launch Down Under.

A new front in the ongoing ute wars has opened, with fresh reporting that Toyota and BYD will soon have plug-in hybrid ute options sitting beneath the HiLux and Shark 6.The monocoque, or car-based, ute offerings are taking shape in South America, where manufacturers clearly keen to expand beyond the saturated dual-cab market are plotting their next move.That begins with the Mako, expected to be called the BYD Shark 5 in international markets, which will reportedly nab a different plug-in hybrid powertrain to its Shark 6 older brother.In Brazil, the Mako is a plug-in hybrid producing an expected 175kW, and promising a circa-100km EV-only driving range, along with a choice of two- or all-wheel drive.But the Mako is the ocean's fastest shark, and it seems global markets will be sticking true to the name, upping the power to more like 200kW. The powertrain in question will reportedly be borrowed from the Sealion 6 SUV, pairing a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor. Unconfirmed reports of Toyota's smaller ute offering are now emerging from the same region. The ute, based on the Corolla Cross and currently codenamed Project 150D, will reportedly score its own plug-in hybrid system.In huge news for the brand, reports out of Brazil point to the 150D adopting the powertrain from the Toyota Prius, which pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors.Total system output would be around 166kW, while the e-CVT is joined by a second electric motor to enable eFour all-wheel drive.According to reports, the smaller Toyota ute will launch in South America in the first half of 2027, while the BYD Mako is expected to launch in the final quarter of 2026, giving the Chinese brand a headstart from a global sales perspective.Australian launch timing is at this point unclear, but both Toyota and BYD have said the door is open to ute models below the Shark 6 and HiLux, so watch this space.

Ford has launched a teaser site for its upcoming electric ute, a smaller sibling to the F-150 Lightning.Due in 2027, the apparently mid-size ‘truck’ has been spied testing numerous times, and a QR code on some versions of the new model’s camouflage can be scanned, leading you to a site called ‘You Spotted a Unicorn’.The section of Ford’s US website shows behind-the-scenes footage of the new model’s development and planning, with links to be kept in the loop when more information comes to hand.US outlets have been spending time trying to discern what the new ute’s interior might look like based on the exterior footage, or how closely related the new model will be to the existing Ford Maverick ute.It will be built on the Universal Electric Vehicle platform, and Ford gave a possible hint to its name in the statement that said “the herd arrives next year” on the site alongside “we’re testing this prototype early”.Use of the word ‘herd’ could suggest an animal name. The first one that often comes to mind for ‘herd’ is ‘Buffalo’ but that’s also the name of a car in the Grand Theft Auto universe - conveniently one that mixes influence from the Ford Mustang and Dodge Charger.Rumours also abound that Ford will revive the Ranchero name, which had previously been used on a car-based ute. and generally applies to someone who works on a cattle ranch.What is expected of the new model is a more affordable entry point into Ford’s EV ute family, with the F-150 Lightning being much larger. The new ute is expected to be smaller than the Ford Ranger.The development of the new model is so different to previous undertakings by Ford that there’s even a new team dedicated to its planning.“We recruited the most technically skilled and creative professionals from inside and outside Ford to drive a radical change in how we develop an electric vehicle,” said Ford boss Jim Farley last year.“The work of this highly talented team has evolved into a critical enabler of our electric vehicle strategy. These electric vehicles will be lower cost, and not compromised in any way.”Ford is aiming for a starting price around US$30,000, or just over A$40,000 when directly converted.

Chevrolet has released a substantially upgraded 2027 version of its Silverado 1500 full-size pick-up with the headline change being adoption of the latest, sixth-generation ‘LS6’ version of GM’s small block V8 in 5.7- and 6.6-litre form.GM hasn’t released specs for the 5.7L and 6.6L V8s but dealer and industry reports point to outputs of around 300kW/580Nm and 350kW/680Nm, respectively. Scheduled to hit US showrooms before the end of the year, the new Silverado will continue to offer four powertrain options in North America - the two petrol V8s as well as an “enhanced” version of the 2.7-litre ‘TurboMax’ four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and the ‘Duramax’ 3.0-litre turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder.The Silverado 1500 is currently sold in Australia in two trim levels - LTZ Premium and ZR2, powered by the now out-moded 6.2-litre ‘EcoTec3’ naturally aspirated petrol V8.In the States the 2027 Silverado will boast seven trims - ZR2, Trail Boss, Custom Trail Boss, Work Truck, Custom, Silverado (formerly LT) and High Country.Introducing the Silverado LS6 engines, GM Executive Chief Engineer Mark Dickens said, “We pushed these engines through an extensive testing and validation process to make sure they deliver the durability, capability and dependability Silverado customers expect.”The LS6 engine debuted in the Corvette earlier this year in 6.7-litre (400kW/705Nm) form and the Silverado powerplants will be produced at GM’s Flint Engine Operations centre in Michigan as well as its Tonawanda Propulsion plant in New York State and the St. Catharines Propulsion facility just over the border in Ontario, Canada.As well as the new under-bonnet hardware the updated Silverado features a revised exterior with a new nose treatment incorporating LED headlights, tweaked LED tail-lights, chunkier wheel arch fenders and rocker panels as well as a standard dual exhaust (on Custom grade and above).Inside, the revised dash is highlighted by a new “edge-to-edge display” comprising a 16.3-inch central media display and a 12.2-inch digital instrument screen.A head-up display and 11.5-inch front passenger screen are standard on the ZR2 and High Country.The Z71 package will now be standard on 4WD models in the US, including skid plates, hill descent control and off-road suspension.When contacted for comment on potential local launch timing for the new Silverado a GM Australia & New Zealand spokesperson told CarsGuide, “Whilst we are excited by the news of the next generation Silverado, currently we have no announcements to make on future models for the ANZ region.”

China’s Changan has updated its range-extender hybrid (REEV) dual-cab ute for 2026 with more power and a larger battery.The Changan Hunter K50 is now available with a 43.47kWh lithium-ion battery pack which allows for a NEDC-claimed electric range of 192km and a total range of over 1000km.This is more electric range than any plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute currently on offer in Australia, including the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and Ford Ranger Hybrid.For context, the Hunter K50 is still offered with the previous 31.18kWh lithium-ion battery pack in certain variants which allows for 131km of NEDC-claimed electric range.Once the battery charge is depleted, it’s topped up by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that acts as a generator and doesn’t directly power the wheels.Instead there are either one or two electric motors sending power to the wheels. The former is rear-wheel-drive only, whereas the latter has one on each axle, providing all-wheel drive.The extended-range, dual-motor version now has a more powerful total system output of 240kW. The standard-range variant produces 200kW.Another tweak with this model year update includes more robust vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities at up to 22kW. This is up from 3.3kW.At this stage it’s unclear whether this extended-range version of the Hunter K50 will be offered outside of China, however the pre-update, standard-range version is already offered in South Africa.This means there is already a right-hand-drive version of this ute, which suggests a potential Australian launch could be made easier.Changan currently doesn’t sell any of its vehicles in Australia under its namesake brand, however its Deepal brand is currently imported and distributed by Inchcape.In fact, Changan sells a Deepal-branded version of this REEV ute in Thailand already, which is another right-hand-drive market.Additionally, Changan has already rebadged a number of its vehicles as Mazdas as part of its Changan Mazda joint-venture company. These include the Mazda 6e and CX-6e which are both launching in Australia soon.While neither company has confirmed this, a Mazda-branded version of this range-extender ute may be under development as a low-emissions equivalent or successor to the Isuzu D-Max-based Mazda BT-50, which is made in Thailand.It’s worth noting that while Isuzu has already detailed an electric version of the D-Max, Mazda hasn’t done the same with the BT-50. It’s still only diesel-powered.Mazda Australia executives recently shot down claims that it was working on a Mazda-badged version of the Deepal E07 electric ute/SUV.For now we’ll have to wait and see when and what form this ute takes if it comes to Australia.

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.

Ford’s revolutionary ute is coming closer to a reality as prototypes have been spotted testing.Ford’s new electric ute has been spotted testing by US outlet Autopian in California.The dual-cab ute is heavily camouflaged, but it is believed to be smaller than the Maverick, which is an SUV-based ute in the US a size under the Ranger.The new ute is ditching a ladder frame chassis for a new EV platform that will be more SUV-like. This means it won’t be a heavy-hauler or rock crawler, but an urban workhorse designed to carry logs and timber rather than a boat.Images of the tray show a small cargo area, closer in size to what was available in a Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon ute.The new brand-defining ute is likely to be called Ranchero, with the name trademarked in Australia for use on a pick-up truck. It’s also a throwback to an old car-based ute from the US discontinued in the late 1970s.Ford is so serious about its new electric ute that it has assembled an entire “skunkworks” team in California to develop the new low cost electric vehicle platform which will underpin it.“We recruited the most technically skilled and creative professionals from inside and outside Ford to drive a radical change in how we develop an electric vehicle,” said Ford boss Jim Farley last year. “The work of this highly talented team has evolved into a critical enabler of our electric vehicle strategy. These electric vehicles will be lower cost, and not compromised in any way.”The upcoming ute is believed to be the first vehicle to be built on this platform, with a launch date set for 2027. Other bodystyles will also be spun-off from it.Ford is aiming for a circa-US$30,000 (A$42,600) price tag.These small SUV-based utes are the must have item overseas right now.Ford’s Maverick is a smash hit in the US, BYD is preparing its Mako to sit under the Shark 6 and Toyota’s Corolla Cross-based ute has been seen testing in South America recently.

China may hog much of the automotive headlines nowadays, with its aggressively and allegedly heavily-subsidised cheap vehicle-export strategy.But it is the South Korean carmakers Hyundai, Kia and even KGM (formerly SsangYong) that have come of age this decade, through engineering excellence, bold design, visionary product planning and sheer value for money that is the envy of the rest of the world.In fact, every year since 2020, a Korean vehicle has stood out above all others in some way, showing up anything Japan, Germany, France, Italy and America can do.Korea is the actual fear of the rest of the world, and here’s why.China dominates the electric vehicle (EV) segment in many parts of the world with unfeasibly inexpensive models that have democratised the technology.But the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), which includes Kia, that makes the best affordable EVs, due to progressive technologies that, in models like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, have included faster-charging 800-volt architectures, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) tech and other advancements that were the provenance of high-end European marques like Porsche.And let’s not forget the brilliant ballistic missile that is the Ioniq 5 N, a performance grand-touring hot hatch that redefines what an EV can do.HMG invested billions in electrification well before most other mainstream carmakers during the 2010s, gaining experience with early EVs like the original, Toyota Prius-esque Ioniq, Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV, allowing Korea to forge ahead with next-gen models nowadays.Sticking with the Ioniq 5, this is an incredibly talented mid-sized SUV for a number of other reasons besides breakthrough EV engineering, such as for design, interior packaging and overall sophistication.It still turns heads with crisp, timeless design that plays lip service to Hyundai’s first in-house-developed production car (the 1970s Pony), while it has a loping, relaxed refinement that embarrasses most other SUVs, period.For us, the Ioniq 5 remains a leading candidate for the car of the decade, even though it launched back in 2021.In 2026, the Kia EV3 is arguably the best small SUV EV for the money on a number of fronts, especially where Chinese vehicles struggle with, including unintrusive advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) tech, user-friendly vehicle controls, regional steering and suspension tuning and Australia-wide servicing access.More than the sum of its parts, the EV3 simply behaves and drives like a good car should, with few vices or frustrating surprises.Everybody remembers the Kia Stinger of 2017, an ambitious but ultimately doomed final attempt at a large, rear-drive family sedan in the mould of the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon.A glorious failure, it cemented Kia a place in the hearts of performance family sedan fans.Except… its spirit lives on in the award-winning Kia EV6, the just-as-talented but far-sleeker cousin to the Ioniq 5, melding the packaging, practicality and performance of, say, a VF SS or Falcon XR6 Turbo, within an EV proposition.And, guess what, with Millennials and Gen Z buyers rejecting SUVs and crossovers as daggy and boring, it is Kia that is poised to step up with a cool, sleek and sophisticated liftback. So much more mature and charming than a Tesla Model 3.For most of this decade, it has been Korea that has offered Australia’s cheapest new car in the Kia Picanto.Yes, it’s old and one of the smallest on the market, but the Picanto’s proven reliability, solid engineering, decent safety specification, long warranty, dealer-network back-up and decent dynamics make it a dependable and enjoyable runabout.Nowadays the improved second-gen MG 3 is nipping at the Kia’s heels, but Kia has no intention of abandoning the bargain basement in Australia… we hope.Kia has obviously shot itself in the foot with the Tasman because of its kooky, oddball styling.But the sole Korean body-on-frame one-tonne ute is currently the best in its diesel-powered class, with a lovely, refined and roomy interior, excellent workhorse capability, a powerful yet proven and efficient powertrain and pleasing servicing back-up.The Tasman is also impressive to drive, and we do not hesitate to recommend one over its rivals – especially as a long-term ownership proposition.No DPF issues like the Toyota HiLux or engine-belt and transmission problems that reportedly afflicts the Ford Ranger, either. The Kia is a better vehicle than either of these segment best-sellers in our estimation.In North America, the Ford has prised open the car-based, monocoque-bodied, dual-cab ute market wide open with the SUV-derived Maverick, and that’s a deserved success for the hybrid and turbo-petrol-powered pick-upYet it is Korean minnow KGM that has pioneered the similar concept, but as a battery electric ute, with the Musso EV.Along with being a good-looking, comfortable and refined five-seater family car, it is keenly priced, well equipped, decent to drive and everyday-useable thanks to a WLTP range of between 380km and 420km.Plus, and, in keeping with the Musso heritage, there is some ute functionality on offer, including AWD availability and an 1800kg braked towing capacity.There’s nothing even remotely like it in Australia right now that combines all of the above, except from KGM. Which shouldn’t be too surprising, given that the original Korando all the way back in 1983 was named for the contraction of the term “Korea can do”.