Off road

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 PHEV The 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 PHEV Australia 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 PHEV GWM 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 PHEV The 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 EV The 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 BEV An 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 EV The 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 PHEV The 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.

Subaru has confirmed the details of its new Uncharted small electric SUV ahead of its mid-year launch. There is no official news on pricing yet, but we can expect it to be cheaper than Subaru’s other EV on sale in Australia, the mid-size Solterra SUV, which starts from $63,990, before on-road costs. The Uncharted is based on the Toyota C-HR+, which is due to launch Down Under in 2027. It will rival the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia EV3 and be a more affordable alternative to the premium Volvo EX30.  It will also take on key Chinese competitors such as the Zeekr X. The car comes with Subaru’s all-wheel drive system as standard, so it could have a leg up over its competitors. It has a 252kW dual electric motor set-up, which enables a 0-100km/h time of five seconds.  It is equipped with a 75kWh battery from Chinese specialist CATL and initial Subaru estimates suggest it will have a driving range of 525km (WLTP). This is more driving range than the Kona Electric or base model EV3.  A DC fast charge at 150kW will juice up the car from 10-80 per cent in around 30 minutes.  The car comes with 211mm of ground clearance, lending all-terrain capability.  On the inside, the Uncharted features neat technology including a 14-inch central touchscreen display along with a raised digital driver display. The car has dual wireless phone chargers with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.  It also has 1500W vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, meaning large devices can be powered directly from the car.  The Uncharted's exterior design features sharp creases in the bodywork, along with a sloping roofline, with the car riding on 20-inch wheels.  The Uncharted is the latest of Subaru’s SUVs as the brand battles increasing National Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) pressures and relative recent sales decline.  Along with the already on sale mid-size Solterra, the Uncharted will launch around the same time as the large Trailseeker. Subaru has sold around 5000 cars in Australia up to February 2026, compared to nearly 6500 this time last year. 

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 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series is preparing for an all in brawl. The big, bad and brawny SUV is king off the road, but it is about to have a lot of new competitors that’ll bring luxe interiors, potent performance wearing new and iconic names. One new entrant has already landed in showrooms while two more big names are expected in the next two years. Here are the biggest challengers lining up to take on Australia’s default big 4WD. The LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol have been in a Rocky and Apollo Creed-style slugfest for decades. Now a new version of the Patrol, dubbed Y63, has been revealed and is due in Australia towards the end of next year. The bruising off-roader switches out its V8 engine for a potent 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6, which makes 317kW and 700Nm. Those outputs trump the LandCruiser’s 3.3-litre diesel twin-turbo motor that pumps out 227kW and 700Nm. Nissan has also assured us it will be 24 per cent more efficient than the outgoing V8, which puts its usage about 11L/100km that will ease some of the pain at the bowser. It'll be swimming in new tech and have proper off-road ability. The return of the Pajero completes the big three of Japanese 4WDs, which dominated Australian regions for so long. The new Pajero hasn’t been confirmed yet by Mitsubishi but big blocky 4WD test vehicles have been spotted around the world, including in western Victoria by CarsGuide. The new vehicle will replace the now defunct Pajero Sport off-roader, and it is believed it'll drop the Sport name and be simply called Pajero. There are still a lot of unknowns, but it is believed to be based on the current Triton ute, which means a rugged ladder frame and diesel grunt. Expect it to use a version of 2.4-litre bi-turbo-diesel engine, but it could make more than the 150kW and 470Nm in the Australian-specification Triton. The door has been left open for the new Pajero to use an SUV-like monocoque platform like the Pajero’s of old, but it is more likely to be based on the Triton. It is expected to be revealed this year with Australian sales to follow not long after. This one delivers the biggest curveball to the big three Japanese 4WDs. Denza, which is a sub-brand of BYD, has just launched the B8 and slightly smaller B5 off-roaders in Australia. Denza Australia’s COO Mark Harland told CarsGuide people are trading in a range of vehicles including LandCruisers and Prados as they switch to the new Chinese entrant. The B8 has a lot going for it. It uses a plug-in hybrid set-up that combines a turbo-petrol 2.0-litre engine with twin electric motors for a total 425kW and 760Nm. Denza claims that is good enough to propel it from a standstill to 100km in 4.8 seconds.  It is fitted with a circa-37kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery, which delivers a claimed EV-only driving range of 100km. It is also cheaper than the LandCruiser, starting at $91,000, before on-road costs. The B8 has a braked trailer towing capacity of 3500kg and a wading depth of 890mm. The base seven-seat version only gets a rear diff lock, while the more expensive six-seater variant features a front and rear diff lock set-up. Wading depth is 890mm.

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.

My 2.0-litre bi-turbo Ford Ranger is coming up to its last discounted Ford dealer service at 60,000km. Do I stick with Ford and have some peace of mind for future issues (specifically, the wet timing belt) or do I take it to my qualified local mechanic for future servicing? He tells me he is able to do it and still have the vehicle covered by the warranty, which is until 2028.

Chinese giant GAC might be new to Australia, but its ambitious plans to be a top-ten automaker here in just five years will be led by a brand-new dual-cab ute. This incoming model, which GAC Australia CEO Kevin Shu says will be on the market in 2027, will be a brand-new ground-up model built with Australia in mind from the beginning. “As you know, our promise to the market is 10 new models in five years, so up until now, with the Aion UT [hatchback] we have four models, and for next year we will have three models, including a larger SUV and a pick-up truck,” Shu said. Shu wasn’t forthcoming on more details on the under-development ute model, he did confirm to CarsGuide that it would be developed under the main GAC brand, which predominantly specialises in combustion and hybrid models, rather than the EV-focused Aion or Hyptec sub brands. This opens the door to a more conventional combustion-led effort for the upcoming new ute challenger. Tightening emissions laws in Australia and globally, plus rising fuel prices, there is a strong chance for a hybrid, too. As GAC’s director of aftersales, Andrew Ratajczak says: “At GAC we have everything." “We’re not just stuck with PHEV, we’re not just stuck with BEV, we have such a wide spread of variation for our drivelines and our power supplier source for drivelines. It gives us such versatility to the market. “If the data comes back that this is where the demand is, we can do it. We don’t have to develop something unique - we can put something together out of the box from what we already have in our portfolio.” As for styling, we’ve had our digital artist Thanos Pappas come up with a ute based on the tough-looking design aesthetic of the brand’s GS8 large SUV, which seems the obvious fit for the “large SUV’ product Shu is suggesting for a 2027 launch. The main thing Shu confirmed is the new ute will break cover imminently at least in concept form at the Beijing motor show in late April. GAC has the advantage of seeing the different levels of impact its rivals are having on the extremely competitive landscape in Australia, which one Kia executive described as “the Olympic Games of utes”. BYD’s Shark 6 plug-in hybrid was the runaway success of 2025, shifting an impressive 18,073 deliveries despite its less-than-industry-standard towing capacity and payload. In comparison GWM’s Cannon Alpha managed a lesser number for the year, with just 2524 sales including the PHEV. These two ground-breaking hybrid utes differ in offering the two prevailing kinds of hybridisation, with the Shark 6 focusing on a bigger battery between the frame rails, driving the axles primarily via electric motors, while the GWM Cannon Alpha maintains a traditional gearbox, low-range transfer case, and solid linkages to each axle, with the electric motor inside the transmission. Chery will be the next to mix-up the space later in 2026 with its unique diesel plug-in hybrid system, which will also focus on mechanical ability rather than sheer battery size, in a similar vein to the GWM ute. Meanwhile other rivals provide an idea of what not to do. The middling success of Ford’s PHEV Ranger suggests buyers are looking for the longer range the Shark 6 offers, while Kia’s Tasman is a cautionary tale giving buyers what they want on the design front. One advantage for GAC, which the brands executives are keen to remind us, is the company’s deep ties with Toyota. It says this will help set it apart from other Chinese automakers when it comes to build quality, reliability and after-sales support, with the brand’s planned 100-strong dealer network and parts supply arrangements being modelled off shared experience with Toyota in China. The hybrid ute space looks to intensify massively by 2027, with JAC introducing its plug-in imminently, and Nissan’s China-built Frontier Pro being strongly hinted at by the Japanese brand as part of a dual-prong ute offering in Australia. Needless to say, GAC’s ute effort will have to be headline-grabbing if it wants to break into the market with such tough competition.

Aussies have just been shown what they are missing out on with the Toyota LandCruiser FJ. Four new concepts on the LandCruiser FJ have been revealed as part of a showcase at the Thai motor show. The concepts are named Meridian, Nature Explorer, Legendary and Street Cruiser. They are designed to demonstrate the potential uses for the car and they show just how at home it would be in Australia. The LandCruiser FJ has already been ruled out for an Australian launch due its 2.7-litre petrol engine not meeting Australian regulations. It may be an option for Australia down the line if it adopts a cleaner engine. Meridian is shown in a swamp-like environment, featuring roof racks holding bags, a shovel and outdoor equipment. It highlights the FJ’s off-roading potential and living in rugged environments. Nature Explorer builds on this by adding a set of spot lamps on the front of the car and a roof top tent and awning, boasting that the car can be used for weekend camping trips. These first two concepts of the LandCruiser FJ would fit in perfectly with Australian life, given the popularity of off-roading and camping and the countless perfect locations available. Street Cruiser develops a new lifestyle to the previous two concepts, swapping the wilderness for the city. It is featured with roof-mounted spoilers and a sleek pattern design of black and grey paint. The car also has a bike rack installed at the back of the car, carrying an e-bike. Legendary has plenty of the previous FJ Cruiser’s character, with a similar yellow colour to the car that launched in the 2000s. The black exterior cladding has been painted the same colour as the body work. It is a retro recreation of its predecessor. These concepts were designed to show off a range of accessories available on the LandCruiser FJ. There are three option packages all priced at around the equivalent of $1500. The Unbound Explorer package includes underbody protection, mudguards and a snorkel, while the Freedom Journey pack adds a roof platform. The Urban Unique pack has a grille garnish, spare wheel cover, side door mouldings, fuel tank cap, side visitors and dash cams. These concepts will only fuel demand for the LandCruiser FJ in Australia, but it seems like it will be several years before it becomes an option.

Subaru has confirmed it will unveil a first-ever hybrid version of one of its Wilderness models at this week’s New York International Auto Show and the brand’s current US line-up suggests it will be based on the Forester Wilderness. That spells big trouble for rivalling family favourites - the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson - which can't match the Forester Wilderness' ruggedness. Initially developed for North America, there are currently three Wildnerness varieties - the Outback Wilderness launched in early 2021, the Forester Wilderness that followed later the same year and the Crosstrek Wilderness, which arrived in 2023. Typical upgrades include increased ride height with extra ground clearance, greater roof load capacity, revised transmission gearing and all-terrain tyres to optimise low-speed traction, matt black wheels, retuned ‘X-Mode’ off-highway settings and a transmission oil cooler. All are produced at Subaru’s US manufacturing plant in Lafayette, Indiana.  But the US-only factor was side-stepped when the Subaru Outback Wilderness hit Australian off-road tracks in February this year. And Subaru Australia General Manager Scott Lawrence  has previously told CarsGuide to “watch this space” on further Wilderness developments. Subaru currently offers Crosstrek and Forester Hybrid models in the USA, and a Wilderness Hybrid version of the latter is more likely as the Forester Hybrid is built in America while the Crosstrek Hybrid is produced in Japan.  If the new Wilderness variant is indeed based on the Forester it’s likely to feature the current Forester Hybrid’s powertrain that combines a (121kW/212Nm) 2.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors (90kW/276Nm) integrated into the car’s continuously variable transmission (CVT) for total system power of 145kW. You could also expect miserly 6.2L/100km fuel consumption on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle and a 1000km-plus range from every 63-litre tank of fuel. Over and above the upgrades detailed above, the Forester Wilderness features a specific nose treatment including a unique grille, skid plates, fog lights, anodized copper accents, and a glare-reducing matt black bonnet decal. Subaru has also confirmed it will unveil an “all-new, all-electric SUV” in New York, positioned under a theme of “Fast. Family. Fun.” and likely based on the recently released pure-electric Toyota Highlander (Kluger).

China is starting to flex its off-road muscles. Geely is the latest Chinese brand to launch a rough and tumble four-wheel drive in the form of the Battleship 700. It follows the classic 4WD design formula, with a big blocky shape, square shoulders, prominent retro roundish headlights, monster wheels and a spare tyre on the tailgate. There are hallmarks of the Defender, 70 Series and some GWM Tank models in its looks. Geely, like all Chinese 4WD brands, is betting big on plug-in hybrid power to usurp diesel’s dominance in the heavy off-roader segment. Geely’s set-up uses three electric motors, but it hasn’t provided full details. We can look at some of its siblings from Geely's other brands, such as the coming Zeekr 9X. It uses a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and three electric motors to make a whopping 1000kW sent to all four wheels, which enables it to sprint from zero to 100km/h in 3.1 seconds. That’s double the Land Rover Defender Octa Black, which is a beefy off-road monster that pumps out 457kW and 750Nm from its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and mild-hybrid assistance. It also dwarfs the Toyota LandCruiser’s 227kW/700Nm 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel six-cylinder engine and the coming Nissan Patrol’s 317kW/700Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6. With that much electric grunt, you need a big battery. The 9X can be had with either a 55kWh and a 70kWh unit, with electric only driving range of up to 380km via the more lenient China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC). The 9X — like the Battleship 700 — is built on Geely’s 'SEA-S' platform, which uses 900V architecture. This means it will be incredibly fast to charge, with the 9X claiming a 20-80 per cent refill in 8.5 minutes.  UK outlet Autoexpress has also confirmed the battleship 700 is planned to land there in 2028. This puts it clearly on Australia’s radar as it is another right-hand drive market, is closer to China and has a large 4WD buying pool. The report said it has a wading depth of 800mm, has big ground clearance and the brand is considering expanding its off-road modes.