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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 2026 Ford F-150 Lariat is now the mid-spec variant in the line-up, following the introduction of the new Platinum flagship trim.Priced from $141,950 before on-roads, irrespective of whether you opt for the short- (SWB) or long-wheelbase (LWB) version. This is aligned with versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500, though it’s still cheaper than the Toyota Tundra.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 769kg and 794kg, depending on the variant.The F-150 Lariat comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and tail-lights, panoramic glass sunroof, spray-in bedliner, power tailgate with a swing-door section, 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen, folding gear selector, fold-out centre console, leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats that are heated and ventilated, 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.

Chinese electric superstar brand BYD experienced a sales slump in 2025 and there’s no sign of it stopping in 2026.So, does this mean the carmaker that rose to popularity with such spectacular speed will come hurtling back down again? Not at all.It might seem a little delayed but the final 2025 financial figures are in for planet Earth and BYD has reported a net profit that’s down by 19 per cent compared to 2024. The naysayers are out in force calling it the beginning of the end for the relatively new electric brand, which shot to success so quickly.  For Australians, BYD seemingly appeared out of nowhere in 2022 with the Atto 3 small SUV with the words Build Your Dreams emblazoned across its tailgate. At the time Tesla was the king of EVs, with the Model 3 being bought in such large numbers even locally that for the first time in 28 years the Toyota Camry was knocked off its best-selling-sedan throne. A decade earlier back in 2011 Tesla owner Elon Musk reportedly laughed at the mere suggestion that BYD, the small company that had gone from battery manufacturer to car maker, could possibly ever be a threat. Then in 2024 BYD was crowned the world largest electric car maker, toppling Tesla.BYD’s total number of cars sold for 2024 was 4.27 million, of which 1.77 million were pure EVs beating Tesla by only 4000 units. But a win is a win. The big sales saw BYD rake in A$164b in revenue for 2024, which once the bills were paid resulted in a net profit of $8.5b.Now the 2025 results are in and net profit is $6.9b this time. There’s your 19 per cent drop on 2024. So yes sure, net profit is down, and looking at that bottom line alone might suggest things are going backwards for the brand, but the actual total number of EVs sold by BYD globally was 2.25 million. That’s a 27.9 per cent increase on 2024.BYD’s revenue for 2025 was $168.6b, so up 3.5 per cent on 2024. While not a huge increase it is a slow down and that can be attributed mainly to competition from competitors in China.Geely is BYD’s biggest nightmare.BYD has been lightning fast to develop, produce and bring an array of new models to market, but Geely has the power that comes with the colossal size and resources of a company with many subsidiaries. Much like Volkswagen, giant Geely can draw on a number of its brands from Polestar to Zeekr, and even Geely itself, to take on the smaller BYD.To say that China’s car market is competitive is an understatement. So fierce is the price war between brands in China that the government had to release a statement warning car makers that the low offers and incentives being made to entice buyers weren’t sustainable.  Just to drive home how seriously close the entire market is flirting with disaster, at the start of this year eight percent of dealerships in China were found to sell vehicles 26 per cent under the whole sale price on average. BYD is understood to engage in such practices along with other brands to increase their market share. The government is clamping down on the practices and it's believed the market is now correcting itself.Domination of the local Chinese market vital for BYD, but it knows true success is also being a big player around the world, with the brand stating it hopes to be within the top 3 car brands for Australia in 2026. There are signs it could be well on the way to achieving that goal with BYD selling 5001 cars in January and 5323 in February in Australia, which has it in sixth place of overall sales this year.Globally, however, the first two months have shown a decline in BYD’s sales. In March Reuters reported BYD’s sales had fallen 41 per cent in February compared to the same time in 2025. This could be a result of the Chinese market and the correction taking place.So, it’s far from all over for BYD, the brand is well on the way to establishing itself in Australia and given the sky rocketing fuel prices due to the war in Iran, it's in an excellent position to grow further with alternatives to pure combustion powered vehicles. 

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 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.