Utes

The incoming D24 Nissan Navara ute may not be the only ute model in Nissan Australia’s line-up for long, according to suggestions from the local arm’s top brass.Nissan Australia has only just launched the new-generation 2026 Nissan Navara, but there’s an international sibling waiting in the wings to join the Australian-focused ute.The Chinese-built 2027 Nissan Frontier Pro, which borrows the Frontier name used for the Navara in the US, has a possibility of joining the new Navara here to fill the electrification gap currently seen in the ute space.With the popularity of the BYD Shark 6, it would also make sense for Nissan to offer a rival plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute here in Australia.The Frontier Pro is a similar PHEV ute, developed by Nissan’s Chinese partner Dongfeng, which sells it in China as the Z9 GE.Rather than replacing the diesel-powered (for now) Navara, it seems there’s room for both models in Nissan Australia’s showrooms.Outgoing Nissan Oceania Managing Director Andrew Humberstone says the strength of the Navara nameplate is just some of the reason there’s scope for the two products to coexist.“Navara as a nameplate is very strong, it’s like Patrol,” he told CarsGuide. “The powertrains can potentially change, but the product name Navara and its heritage here is very strong.”“There’s five generations… it’s got a long history. It’s a trusted brand on its own. We’ve built Warrior on the back of that as well, so we have a real Australian heritage with what we’ve done with this one.“The strength of Navara is something I would not underestimate. If I could use the Navara name or the Patrol name over another name I almost certainly would.”But with Nissan Australia not yet fully committed to the Frontier, it’s unclear whether the brand will look to bring that model here or wait for electrification in the Navara to be a possibility.Even if Navara does end up with hybrid (or any other kind of electrification) in its line-up, Humberstone says the two utes aren’t a case of ‘one or the other’.“I would see them as very different products… if you look at the design. Could those run parallel? Potentially, yeah, there’s no commitment on that product coming in yet, but at the national partner meeting we did discuss it at length.“We think it’s a great product, there’s lots of investment committed to that product. Going forward the markets will be named that are getting that within the next two to three months. And then once we have that we can potentially share more details.”Humberstone has previously said - in mid-2025 - he would like to see both models land Down Under, but this more recent suggestion that both would work in the line-up as parallel offerings shows the brand is gathering more information while keeping it on the cards.

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

Chinese giant GWM has its sights set on another bumper year in Australia in 2026, and it has bold plans on how to achieve its next ambitious sales target.GWM hit a high of 52,809 sales in 2025 landing in seventh place on the overall sales tally, just 400 sales ahead of BYD, but a hefty 8400 units behind sixth-placed Mitsubishi (61,198).Just five years ago in 2020, GWM’s combined sales in Australia were just 2600. To say the rise has been meteoric is an understatement.But GWM Australia and New Zealand Chief Operating Officer John Kett understands how hard it’s been to get to 50,000-plus sales and how much more of a challenge it will be to grow with an eye on the top five.“So we weren't making any outlandish statements of 100k and our premium brand will be 10k,” he told journalists in Melbourne recently in a not so subtle dig at rival BYD.“We just want to get to 75. So we set ourselves a target of a ‘six’ in front of our number this year.”Hitting a figure of 60,000-plus sales could mean unseating Mitsubishi by the end of this year, but it’s going to be a bigger task to get into fifth place, which is currently held by Hyundai (77,208 sales last year).Kett knows he faces an uphill battle to hit the longer-term 75,000 unit sales target but he said the team has studied its mainstream rivals to see how they got to their positions in the market.“It's even harder to get to 75 (thousand). We're looking at the Hyundais of the world that built scale and are sort of stuck in the 75k zone and have got aspirations to grow. We're looking at Kia, another… well managed business, trying to get from that 75 to 85, you just can't do it with one product, because it doesn't work.“We certainly looked at the history of Mitsubishi and Nissan, the things they've done so well. We've looked at the incredible consumer metrics that Mazda has always got.”Kett outlined improvements to GWM’s aftersales and customer service, with more customer service operators and investigators helping to solve product and quality issues. There’s also a focus on sharpening up the dealer footprint and expanding some spaces.But growth will largely come from continued strong sales of popular models like the Haval H6 and Tank 300, as well as a laundry list of new and updated product.GWM has already confirmed a plug-in hybrid version of the Ford Ranger-rivalling Cannon ute is coming this year, while a new 3.0-litre turbo diesel will soon be offered in the larger Cannon Alpha ute and the related Tank 500 large SUV.A plug-in Tank 300 arrives shortly, and the EV and PHEV compact SUV subbed Haval Jolion Max will also land before the end of the year.The slow-selling Ora EV range will get a boost with at least two new models landing in 2026, including the Ora 5 crossover. And GWM will finally launch its Wey semi-premium sub brand this year, likely starting with the G9 people mover.Kett admitted the brand could be doing more to talk about the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models in its line-up, especially in the Cannon ute stable.“I think with all the hybrids and super hybrids out there, we probably missed an opportunity to talk specifically about our confidence in Hi4-T (plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive powertrain). I mean Cannon Alpha is a ute, right? And we quietly let other brands beat us, and I totally respect that. But I feel like our Hi4-T story both in Cannon and Cannon Alpha will reveal itself as fit for purpose.”Combined sales of the Cannon and Cannon Alpha in the first two months of the year show GWM is ahead of the Mazda BT-50, Volkswagen Amarok, outgoing Nissan Navara and the LDV T60 for 4x4 pick-up sales.

The 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty dual cab chassis is heavier, wider and more robust than a regular Ranger. It’s also packed with features, retains off-road capability and it has a heap of potential as a towing and off-roading platform. The Super Duty is a purpose-built ute with a 130-litre fuel tank, 4.5 tonne towing capacity, 4.5 tonne gross vehicle mass and 8.0-tonne gross combined mass.

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?

There’s now officially a new best-selling Chinese brand in Australia.

Utes are one of the most popular body styles according to Australian new-vehicle sales, but in recent years some of the bigger name models have increased in price.There's a new breed of ute that's undercutting the old guard, and they're mostly from China.So what are the three cheapest utes in Australia?CarsGuide’s reviewers not only know the answer but we also know what they’re like to live and work with day in and day out.Due to the huge number of ute variants available in Australia, we are focusing on the most popular body style and variant - the 4x4 dual-cab pick-up. So something like a Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux or Nissan Navara, but in this case, more affordable alternatives that can get the job done on a budget.Without further ado, here’s the top three most affordable utes in Australia;GWM’s popular dual-cab Cannon in entry-level Premium guise is currently the most affordable 4x4 dual-cab ute in Australia with a drive-away price of $39,490.The Cannon benefited from a significant update in 2025 that introduced revised exterior styling, a fresh looking cabin and a new engine.The Premium has an extensive standard features list including 18-inch alloys wheels, LED headlights and LED tail-lights, roof rails, side steps, damped tailgate, power-folding mirrors, chrome sports bar, a spay-in bedliner and proximity unlocking.Also standard is single-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch media touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, synthetic leather upholstery and a wireless phone charger.The Premium has a 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, four-wheel drive and a braked towing capacity of 3200kg.CarsGuide reviewers like the excellent value and quality of the Cannon, but didn’t like the intrusive steering assistance and the ergonomics of the gear shifter.China's LDV has a newer and shinier ute in its stable now in the shape of the big, bold Terron 9 (a twin of the MG U9), but the ageing T60 Max continues on.Currently priced at $41,042, the T60 is more than $12k cheaper than the most affordable Terron 9.Standard gear includes a 10.25-inch multimedia screen, six-speaker audio, two USB ports, a 12-volt outlet, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paddle shifters, keyless entry, auto emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control.It's powered by a gutsy 160kW/500Nm four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and a 3500kg towing capacity. Payload is 1040kg.We haven't had a chance to review a T60 in a while but CarsGuide reviewers said while safety improvements have helped the ute, the onboard tech is patchy and outdated, and the steering and braking is too heavy. The powertrain might be gutsy but it's still rough on the road.KGM’s (formerly SsangYong) Musso might not have the superstar status of some utes but it’s popular among those after a hardworking machine and its low price has seen it earn a place here in our most affordable top three. As a Korean brand, the KGM is also the only non-Chinese ute on this list. Keep in mind, though, that KGM will bring its next-gen ute to Australia about the middle of 2026 to replace this model and it’ll likely cop a price increase from the $42,500 drive-away price of the current entry-grade ELX.Standard features on the ELX include 17-inch alloy wheels, twin 12.3-inch displays for media and driver instruments, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.There’s also a six-speaker stereo, HID headlights with LED daytime running lights and silver roof rails.Powering the Musso ELX is a 133kW/400Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine with a six-speed automatic. Braked towing capacity is 3500kg.CarsGuide reviewers like the Musso's comfort and space, and its refined driving manners, but didn’t like how some safety items were only offered on top-of-the-range grades. JAC’s T9 arrived in Australia in 2025 and since then the entry-grade Oasis has undergone a price drop of nearly $5000 to land it here in the top three for $42,662 drive-away.Standard features include 18-inch alloys wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, a sprayed tub liner and sports bar.There’s leather upholstery inside, a 10.4-inch media screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a power driver's seat and wireless phone charging.Powering the T9 Oasis is a 125kW/410Nm 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo-diesel. The braked towing capacity is 3200kg. CarsGuide reviewers like the T9’s tough styling, strong value and its ability to do what will please most people. The things we don't like include the lumpy power delivery of the engine, and the intrusive safety tech. 

Polestar Australia boss Scott Maynard has opened fire on Australia's owners of American-style utes, saying they "use and abuse" FBT and LCT subsidies that are aimed at tools of the trade. In a stinging rebuke of government policy that favours some of the nation's biggest vehicles, as similar rebates for electrified vehicles are under the microscope, the executive suggested the Albanese Government would be better off tightening light commercial vehicle policies towards American pickup trucks."It's actually being used and abused in the light commercial vehicle space," Mr Maynard said. "I was a tradie. That's how I started in this industry, as a tech. So I fully support the subsidy of tools of trade to our trades people. I couldn't be more supportive of it."But these vehicles are not even being marketed as tools of trade. You've got $200,000 American-style utes and pickup trucks marketed as towing caravans and boats, and yet they enjoy the same FBT and LCT let-off, which can be tens of thousands of taxpayers dollars, so that they can never, never turn up on a job site."That is entirely unjust. So if the government sets out to save some of the taxpayers' money handed over in FBT deductions, it should be done in reconciling where its support of light commercial vehicles goes, not supporting the electric vehicle industry."Since 2022, electric vehicles positioned below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold of $91,387 for electrified vehicles, under a novated lease, were no longer eligible for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) obligations. Numbers crunched by the Australian Financial Review found someone who leases a $60,000 car could save as much as $12,000 per year if they opt for an EV over an ICE vehicle.While spurring EV sales, the program is expected to cost $1.35 billion over the 2025/2026 financial year. The incentives are currently under review, with formal submissions closing last month.Similarly, most utes are not subjected to FBT obligations, provided the vehicle can carry a load of one tonne or more, or carry more than eight passengers, or are not primarily designed for carrying passengers. The vehicles must only have "limited" private use. LCT – which generates as much as $1.3b annually – does not apply to “a commercial vehicle designed mainly for carrying goods and not passengers”..Data from the Australia Institute, published in 2023, found the LCT exemption resulted in lost revenue of around $250m per annum on the sale of American pickup trucks.