Tradie

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.

After three years, plus numerous recalls and stop-sales, Ford has finally launched an update for its biggest model in Australia, the F-150. There's now more standard kit plus a new flagship trim, but does it do enough to shake its reputation?

The latest details on Chinese brand JAC's Hunter PHEV (plug-in hybrid) have been revealed – along with some bold suggestions about its price.First revealed at the Melbourne Motor Show in April 2025, the plug-in hybrid powerhouse is now targeting June deliveries ahead of a July on-sale date in Australia.Powered by a new 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine which combines with twin electric motors — one on each axle — the Hunter PHEV produces an approximate 385kW and 1000Nm in total output.Joining the engine and motors is a 31.2kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery, which JAC suggests should deliver an all-electric driving range ofaround 100kms.The brand today confirmed the NEDC efficiency figures for the Hunter PHEV, with the plug-in hybrid ute to use a claimed 1.6L/100km combined, and deliver a total 1005km in total driving range.There will clearly be an off-road focus, too, with the Hunter grade to spawn a small family of utes, including cheaper entry-level models to diff-lock equipped off-road models.While the brand won't be drawn directly on price, JAC is promising "the right ute at the right time, and it will be at the right price", with its local Managing Director, Ahmed Mahmoud, suggesting it could be the most affordable plug-in hybrid ute in the country."Suffice it to say, (the price) is going to be very, very strong," he told CarsGuide.Asked directly whether the Hunter would be cheaper than the $57,900 (drive-away) BYD Shark 6, Mr Mahmoud replied: "It could be".JAC is also yet to confirm the official zero to 100km/h time of the Hunter PHEV, but international reports from is Chinese reveal claim the run takes just 5.9 seconds – about the same as the 5.8-ish seconds the Ford Ranger Raptor has been tested at. "We’re launching the right ute at the right time, and it will be at the right price,” Mr Mahmoud says.“The Hunter PHEV is arriving in Australia mid this year, and we believe it is going to get the attention of Australians looking to move into a plug-in hybrid without compromising on the capability, practicality and toughness they need from a ute.”

The MG U9 all-electric ute has just been approved for sale in Australia, according to federal government filings, adding a new rival to the developing segment.There are limited alternatives in the electric ute segment, making the MGU9 one of the first to hit Australian showrooms. The dual-cab pick-up will take on the KGM Musso EV, which has a starting price of $60,000, drive-away, as well as the incoming Toyota HiLux BEV, launching in the first half of this year. The MG U9 comes with a dual-motor set-up, with the front motor producing 200kW, while the rear motor produces 125kW for a total system output of 325kW. It is also expected to have ample torque to match its power. Documents show it will be an all-wheel drive exclusive model. Battery size is yet to be revealed, but we know it will be based on the LDV E-Terron 9 sold in China, which has a 102kWh battery offering a driving range of 430km (WLTP) - appreciably more than the HiLux BEV's 240km.It has a braked trailer towing capacity of 3500kg, keeping it in line with many of its diesel rivals, and bettering that of the plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6. It can also tow more than the HiLux BEV, which is only capable of lugging 2000kg. It measures up at 5500mm in length, 1997mm wide and 1860mm high with a wheelbase of 3300mm so it is also a size up on the HiLux BEV.We will likely learn more about MG’s new electric ute at next month's Melbourne Motor Show. 

Fuel prices are soaring across the board whether it is petrol or diesel. Some drivers are being more affected than others as lower fuel efficiency contributes to higher refuelling costs. Here are the most expensive cars to run currently in Australia based on fuel efficiency. Other contributing factors to the high fuel costs on this list include the fact many of the cars have big fuel tanks and require premium fuel.Fuel prices have been calculated using the average prices for fuel in New South Wales and at an average of 15,000km driven per year. Among the heaviest guzzlers is the Nissan Patrol four-wheel drive, with its 5.6-litre V8 drinking fuel at a rate of 14.4L/100km. Its 140-litre fuel tank and requirement for premium unleaded petrol means it costs $364 per fill-up and a total yearly cost of $5617.28. The Patrol will move to a more efficient 3.5-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol, which is expected to reduce fuel costs. The Ford Mustang sports car is another V8 on this list, with its 5.0-litre unit registering average fuel efficiency at 13.6L/100km and a yearly cost of $5310.27.Ford’s other representative is the Ranger Raptor high-end ute, powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine costing $4482.76 per year. The Ineos Grenadier off-roader is the most expensive model to run and costs $5618.50 a year to run, in part due to it being diesel, which has been the fuel type that has increased the most. The Lexus GX550 has refuelling costs of $208 per fill-up currently, costing $4800 for the year, along with nearly $3000 for the Jeep Gladiator, which unlike many on this list can run off E10 fuel.The 6.2-litre petrol V8 found in the Chevrolet Silverado full-size pick-up has an economy of more than 12 litres per 100km, costing $4,356.30 over the year.  Genesis’ GV70 luxury SUV costs more $4400 per year in fuel, a similar figure to the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 variants of the Land Rover Defender. Highest fuel efficiency new vehicles on sale under $150,000 

Diesel utes have been the dominant forces in Australia for the past decade, but that could be about to change.The Ford Ranger and the Toyota HiLux have been the top two sellers in the past 10 years, and they combined for more than 100,000 sales in 2025.The pair have carried on this popularity into 2026, sitting at the top for January and February this year. Other diesel ute rivals such as the Isuzu Ute D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton are selling well. That could be all be about to change sooner than we thought. It could be the case that a perfect storm of external factors will wipe out the diesel in ute in Australia.There is a new factor is emerging that could accelerate the diesel ute’s seemingly inevitable decline. The price of diesel fuel has increased substantially more than petrol, approaching the $3 mark per litre.I went to fill up my diesel car the other day.As I pulled into the service station, a man had just finished filling up his V8 diesel LandCruiser 200 Series. $287 for 99L - he had not even brimmed the tank. You’d get a better rate when topping up your light aircraft with aviation fuel. He asked if I wanted to swap. I politely declined.No doubt big fleet buyers will be watching closely as the costs of purchasing and running these diesel utes shoots up, along with the potential increase in costs as NVES pressures creep in. Fleet sales are crucial to the success of the Ford Ranger and the Toyota HiLux, with them also contributing heavily to other ute brands.Fuel prices will also be an increasingly big head turner for private buyers. Alternatives such as the petrol plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 offer superior fuel efficiency when charged as well as being cheaper to fill up.Toyota announced its all-electric HiLux ute recently, which has been met with a mixed reception due to concerns over driving range and towing capacity, but it at least shows brands are already looking away from diesel. Chery’s incoming KP31 ute will debut in Australia this year with a diesel plug-in hybrid set-up, which is expected to have the 3500kg towing capacity. Something the Shark 6 currently lacks.The popularity of diesel hybrid set-ups will be an indication of the survival chances for the diesel ute in Australia. It could be argued the longer diesel prices continue to rise, the shorter the diesel ute's lifespan will be.Compounding this is new emissions laws.The Federal Government's National Vehicle Emissions Standard (NVES) delivered a rude awakening for some. The NVES sets emissions targets based on CO2 gram-per-kilometre limits. Vehicles sold that fall over the limit subsequently incur liabilities, which will attract hefty fines in the future for brands. Brands incur fines on vehicles sold, which have an interim emissions value of more than zero. Mazda, which sells its BT-50 ute in Australia among an internal combustion heavy lineup, accumulated a whopping more than 500,000 liabilities. Subsequently many brands, including Honda and Mazda have introduced priced increases across key internal combustion models this year.There appears to be two routes for brands. Either pass on the extra costs, or ditch diesel. Diesel utes could be about to skyrocket in price and brands scramble to account for fines on sales.In a more extreme example, Ford CEO Jim Farley recently threatened to axe the brand’s local engineering program responsible for the best-selling Ford Ranger.“Something your government, or any government, has to be very sensitive to around the CO2 glide path. We want to reduce our CO2 footprint, but there’s a level that the customer can’t afford, and not all duty cycles can be electrified,” Farley told CarsGuide.“It’s a completely open market and also pushing CO2 , arguably way beyond the customer requirements.“ needs to decide if they want to help us equalise the cost differential … because this is among the most expensive places to have engineers on the planet.”We have already seen somewhat of a winding back of Ford’s Ranger line-up Down Under, with the brand discontinuing sale of its bi-turbo diesel engine, in favour of a cleaner single turbo variant.

Volkswagen Australia is adding two new V6 turbo-diesel variants to the dual cab ute’s local line-up, with the 2026 model year range becoming an almost exclusively 3.0-litre V6 offering.Volkswagen says it has been “guided by feedback from owners, dealers and enthusiasts in placing stronger emphasis on V6 powertrains, while simplifying the range to make choosing an Amarok clearer and more intuitive than ever.”But it’s worth noting, as with its co-developed Ford Ranger ‘twin-under-the-skin’, the 154kW/500Nm 2.0L twin-turbo diesel four from the Amarok Life and Style models has been squeezed out of existence by tightening emission regulations.And, unlike Ford Australia, VW has also made the call to phase out the 125kW/405Nm 2.0L single-turbo four-cylinder diesel, currently offered in the entry-grade Amarok TDI 405 Core.To help pick up the slack, the first of the Amarok’s new 184kW/600Nm 3.0L turbo-diesel entries is the Dark Label V6.Limited to 200 examples, it adds visual drama and a lengthy standard equipment list to the VW ute formula, including:20-inch ‘Matte Black’ ‘Bendigo’ alloy wheelsLED matrix headlights (with black surrounds)Darkened tail-lightsBlack sports bar, side steps, rear bumper, door handles and mirrorsFront bumper ‘X‑design’ in blackBlack front skid plateMatte Black B‑pillar foilRoof rails in Matte BlackSpray‑in tub linerBlack tonneau coverDark Label sticker pack (bonnet, doors, tub sides, tailgate) Pricing and exact arrival timing are yet to be confirmed, but it’s likely to hit showrooms before the end of 2026.Then, in the second quarter of this year, the Amarok W600 special edition will deliver another premium performance option.Locally-developed by Walkinshaw Automotive Group in Melbourne and based on the TDI600 Style, it features the 3.0L turbo-diesel V6 as well as a multitude of dynamic upgrades including a bespoke Koni suspension set-up, 20-inch six-spoke alloy wheels, a full-width LED light bar and (lots) more.Volkswagen believes it will “reinforce Amarok’s position as a leader in driving feel and performance within the dual‑cab segment.”And finally, the 222kW/452Nm 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder powered Amarok Style TSI452 replaces the previous Aventura TSI452 with spec upgrades including: Permanent all‑wheel driveSix drive modesOptional 20-inch ‘Bendigo’ alloy wheelsFor reference, the current Amarok Aventura TSI452 is priced at $79,990, before on-road costs.Volkswagen’s Australian Amarok line-up for MY26 (with pricing yet to be confirmed) will be:Amarok Style 2.3 TSI452Amarok Style 3.0 TDI600Amarok Style (w/ Tray) 3.0 TDI600Amarok PanAmericana 3.0 TDI600Amarok Aventura 3.0 TDI600Amarok Dark Label 3.0 TDI600Amarok W600 3.0 TDI600

With the hammer predicted to drop on EV subsides in the coming weeks, there are growing calls to instead shine the spotlight on Australia's ute segment, where similar tax breaks exist for "commercial vehicles."

Is the Ford Ranger Super Duty actually as good as you've heard? Let's take a look.

Toyota claims the latest HiLux is a 'new generation' of its iconic hay-hauler, but is there enough that's genuinely 'new' to ensure it remains one of Australia's two top-selling utes?