Commercial Reviews

Still don’t reckon diesel is on the chopping block in Australia? Well strap in, because another nail in its coffin has just arrived in the shape of the JAC Hunter PHEV.And with it comes a like-for-like comparison. See, the Hunter shares its underpinnings with the diesel-powered T9 ute, giving the brand’s customers a choice – take the new petrol-electric version, or stick with the cheaper diesel.And having driven both, the people in the latter camp should be able to be counted on one hand. It’s not that the Hunter feels like the best ute in its segment, it’s more that the combination of petrol power and electric propulsion massively improves the drive experience compared to the one with a diesel donk.But more on that in a moment. For now, let’s dig deeper into the details.The Hunter has been JAC’s long-promised volume play, and while we test drove this one in Australia, it’s not actually the ute that will be launching here wearing a sub-$50k price tag later this year.For perspective, the cheapest BYD Shark 6 ute, the Premium, is $57,900, while the Ford Ranger PHEV Stormtrak is currently around $73k drive-away. So the Hunter is sharp.JAC has also commendably joined the localised-ride-and-handling community (like GWM, and Kia and Hyundai before it), recruiting former Holden chassis engineer Michael Barber to fine-tune the Hunter for our conditions.We’re talking more than a nip and tuck here. Barber says he went through 50 damper rebuilds to get the Hunter where he wanted, which was a ute that feels tighter, more responsive to inputs and more confidence inspiring than the JAC products to have come before it.The catch is that, while the work is reportedly done, it hasn’t entirely made its way to the vehicles we’ve tested. Some changes are present (notably a focus on noise, vibration and harshness and the fitment of better acoustic glass), but not all of them. And the brand says the cars that eventually go on sale here will drive very differently to these ones.What we can tell you, though, is a bit more about the powertrain, and how it works. The PHEV system here pairs a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with twin electric motors (one at each axle) to produce a total 360kW. It doesn’t feel like that much power, to be honest, though the progress is smooth and definitely doesn’t feel underpowered once underway. It is a slow-ish getaway from a standing start, though – we were recording (very unofficial) runs to 100km/h of around 8.5 seconds.Part of the slower-than-expected take-off, I think, is that the different power sources all kick in at different times. The on-screen display suggests the rear motor starts first, which is then joined by the front motor, and then – at around 30km/h – the petrol engine kicks in, adding a noticeable boost in performance. Again, it does not feel underpowered, and the power delivery provides a constant urge when everything is humming along altogether. And it’s infinitely smoother and more predictable than the diesel-powered alternative.The other focus for JAC has been proper work-ready performance. The Hunter will tow 3.5 tonnes no matter the battery state (I think because the software won’t let it fall below 20 per cent charge), combined with a 915kg payload, front and rear diff locks and five pre-programmed off-road modes. Clearly JAC is taking the demands of the Aussie market seriously.On board is a V2L connection, while a 31.2kWh LFP battery (with 45kW DC fast charging) delivers an all-electric driving range of around 100kms, and contributes to the total driving range (so with a full battery and a full tank) of more than 1000kms on the NEDC cycle.Our brief preview test included what I would describe as moderate off-road challenges, including a couple of deep gullies and some pretty steep dirt climbs, and the Hunter did it all easily enough that it felt like it had plenty more to give. Interestingly, it’s also very quiet off-road – I had to check whether the petrol engine was running a couple of times, and it was.On the road, the Hunter feels a marked improvement over the diesel T9, even if it doesn't feel as spritely under foot as some of its plug-in rivals. The transition from electric power to petrol power feels subtle and unobtrusive, and the steering is good for the segment, too – though even on my very brief trip I was desperate to turn off the overzealous driver attention monitor, which loved a happy beep and bong.It also has that kind of jittery ride quality a lot of unladen utes have, but it's impossible to pass judgement on that stuff yet, as we haven't driven the finished product. On price and spec alone, the Hunter looks as though it will draw plenty in for a look. And if Mr Barber can deliver an Aussie masterclass in ride and handling, it should attract plenty more.But for that we'll have to wait and see.

Ford's ground-breaking Ranger Super Duty brings unprecedented load-hauling and towing abilities to the medium-sized ute segment combined with tank-tough construction and advanced off-road smarts, so is this the ultimate workhorse for tradies?

The ninth-generation Toyota HiLux is not really new in the true sense of the word, it's an update with substance. There are no real major mechanical upgrades to the HiLux so has Toyota done enough to warrant your attention?

The new 2026 Nissan Navara is based almost entirely on the Mitsubishi Triton, but with altered suspension from Australian firm Premcar.The top-of-the-range Nissan Navara (until the Warrior arrives) is the $68,418 Pro-4X with more design changes, all-terrain tyres, a black sports bar and roof rails, contrast stitching and specific seats with Pro-4X styling.It also includes basics like an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen across the range with digital radio as well as (wired) Android Auto and (wireless) Apple CarPlay, plus things like heated front seats and a power adjustable driver's seat, dual-zone climate and a wireless phone charger are all included, plus a centre limited-slip differential and drive modes more compatible with off-roading.There’s a 150kW/470Nm four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine which is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels or all four depending on 4WD settings.From the Navara’s 75L diesel tank, a claimed 7.7L/100km is used on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle. Hypothetically, if you manage to get close to Nissan’s claimed consumption, you should be able to get more than 900km out of a single tank. The Navara has a tub capable of easily fitting a Euro pallet, according to Nissan’s specs, but with its distance of 1135mm between wheel arches, it won’t fit an Aussie pallet. The tub is almost square, at 1555mm long and 1545mm wide, and 525mm tall. The new Navara inherits the Triton’s maximum five-star ANCAP rating, which was tested in 2024, thanks to eight airbags and a list of safety kit including a surround-view camera, forward collision warning and AEB, front and rear cross-traffic alert, driver monitoring and traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors and trailer sway control.Nissan’s 10-year/300,000km warranty is fantastic but applies only if you service with Nissan. It’s five years with no kilometre limit otherwise. There’s five years' of flat-price servicing at $499 per visit, every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Roadside assist is also free for a decade if you service with Nissan, or a year otherwise.

The 2026 Ford F-150 Platinum is a new, flagship trim in the locally converted pick-up line-up.Priced from $163,950 before on-road costs, irrespective of whether you opt for the short- (SWB) or long-wheelbase (LWB) body styles. This is the most expensive F-150 to date and is more expensive than the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500, however the Toyota Tundra Platinum is still pricier.Power comes from a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine that produces 298kW and 678Nm. This is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with drive sent through a part-time four-wheel-drive system.Like all F-150 variants, the Lariat offers a 4500kg braked towing capacity with a 70mm tow ball. Payload is between 704kg and 724kg, depending on the body style.The F-150 Platinum comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and tail-lights, panoramic glass sunroof, spray-in bedliner, power tailgate with a swing-door section, power side steps, 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen, folding gear selector, fold-out centre console, leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats that are heated, ventilated and have a massage function, plus heated outboard rear seats.The Ford F-150 received a 'Platinum' collision avoidance score from ANCAP in 2025. This only applies to Lariat and Platinum trims and not the base XLT.Standard safety highlights include six airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, as well as a surround-view camera.The F-150 is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty which is fairly average now for mainstream brands, however in the world of American pick-ups this is still generous.There’s also 12 months of complimentary roadside assistance which gets extended every time you service the car when required.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. You can purchase a five-year pre-paid service package for $1968, which averages out to just under $400 per service.

The Nissan Navara ST-X starts from $63,177, before on-road costs, and adds a fair bit over the basics like an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen across the range with digital radio as well as (wired) Android Auto and (wireless) Apple CarPlay.Better suspension, 18-inch alloys, leather-accented and heated front seats and a power adjustable driver's seat, dual-zone climate and a wireless phone charger are all included, plus a centre limited-slip differential, drive modes more compatible with off-roading.A 150kW/470Nm four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine under the bonnet is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels or all four depending on 4WD settings.The 7.7L/100km consumption claim from Nissan, paired with the Navara’s 75L diesel tank, means you should be able to drive more than 900km theoretically. The distance of 1135mm between wheel arches in the tub means it won’t fit an Australian pallet, but a Euro one will fit fine. The overall tub is 1555mm long, 1545mm wide, and 525mm tall.The new Navara inherits the Triton’s maximum five-star ANCAP rating, which was tested in 2024, thanks to eight airbags and a list of safety kit including a surround-view camera, forward collision warning and AEB, front and rear cross-traffic alert, driver monitoring and traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors and trailer sway control.Nissan’s 10-year/300,000km warranty is fantastic but applies only if you service with Nissan. It’s five years with no kilometre limit otherwise. There’s five years' of flat-price servicing at $499 per visit, every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Roadside assist is also free for a decade if you service with Nissan, or a year otherwise.

It's a big deal when a new-generation Isuzu N Series truck launches and after 16 years, it's finally here. We test the new model to determine if it's better than its truck rivals, but also to see if it's a better buy than a ute.

The ST is the second model in the new Nissan Navara range and starts from $56,765, before on-road costs, and includes basics like an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen across the range with digital radio as well as (wired) Android Auto and (wireless) Apple CarPlay.It also gains alloy wheels, auto-folding mirrors, a leather-accented steering wheel and floor carpet, USB ports in the second row for charging, so it’s probably the minimum grade you’d want if you’re ever going to have kids in the back.Its 150kW/470Nm four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels or all four depending on 4WD settings.From the Navara’s 75L diesel tank, the 7.7L/100km consumption figure theoretically means you should be able to drive more than 900km. But that’s in perfect lab-like conditions.The overall tub is 1555mm long, 1545mm wide, and 525mm tall, but the distance of 1135mm between wheel arches in the tub means it won’t fit an Australian pallet, but a Euro one will fit fine. The Triton’s maximum five-star ANCAP rating applies to the Navara, which has the same eight airbags, surround-view camera, forward collision warning and AEB, front- and rear-cross traffic alert, driver monitoring and traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors and trailer sway control.Nissan’s 10-year/300,000km warranty only applies if you service with Nissan, otherwise it’s five years and unlimited kilometres. Five years' of flat-price servicing at $499 per visit is also included, with intervals at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.Roadside assist is also free for a decade if you service with Nissan, or a year otherwise.

The 2026 Ford F-150 XLT is the entry-level version of this locally converted pick-up line-up in Australia.Now priced from $114,950 before on-road costs, it’s $8000 more than it was pre-update. The short- and long-wheelbase versions are now priced the same.The F-150 XLT is still cheaper than all versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra, though Ram is still offering V8-powered versions of the 1500 for less.Power comes from a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine that produces 298kW and 678Nm. This is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with drive sent through a part-time four-wheel-drive system.Like all F-150 variants, the XLT offers a 4500kg braked towing capacity with a 70mm tow ball. Payload is between 853kg and 878kg, depending on the variant.With this update, the XLT now receives a considerably higher level of standard specification. New inclusions are LED headlights and tail-lights, a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system.This is above and beyond other highlights like 20-inch alloy wheels, a spray-in bedliner, seven-speaker sound system, fold-out centre console, column-mounted gear selector, power-adjustable foot pedals, fabric upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and 10-way power-adjustable front-passenger seat.The Ford F-150 received a 'Platinum' collision avoidance score from ANCAP in 2025. This only applies to Lariat and Platinum trims and not the base XLT.Standard safety highlights include six airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors and a surround-view camera.The F-150 is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty which is fairly average now for mainstream brands, however in the world of American pick-ups this is still generous.There’s also 12 months of complimentary roadside assistance which gets extended every time you service the car when required.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. You can purchase a five-year pre-paid service package for $1968, which averages out to just under $400 per service.

The new 2026 Nissan Navara is based almost entirely on the Mitsubishi Triton, but with altered suspension from Australian firm Premcar.The base SL starts from $53,348, before on-road costs, and includes basics like an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen across the range with digital radio as well as (wired) Android Auto and (wireless) Apple CarPlay.Its 150kW/470Nm four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels or all four depending on 4WD settings.From the Navara’s 75L diesel tank, the 7.7L/100km consumption claim from Nissan means you should be able to drive more than 900km theoretically. Allow for shorter distances in the real world.Crucially, the distance of 1135mm between wheel arches in the tub means it won’t fit an Australian pallet, but a Euro one will fit fine. The overall tub is 1555mm long, 1545mm wide, and 525mm tall.The new Navara inherits the Triton’s maximum five-star ANCAP rating, which was tested in 2024, thanks to eight airbags and a list of safety kit including a surround-view camera, forward collision warning and AEB, front and rear cross-traffic alert, driver monitoring and traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors and trailer sway control.Nissan’s 10-year/300,000km warranty is fantastic but applies only if you service with Nissan. It’s five years with no kilometre limit otherwise. There’s five years' of flat-price servicing at $499 per visit, every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.Roadside assist is also free for a decade if you service with Nissan, or a year otherwise.