Utes

The new-generation Mitsubishi Triton range marks the biggest change for the model in a long time: a new bi-turbo engine (150kW/470Nm), new chassis and suspension, overhauled design (with a longer wheelbase), and increased towing capacity, among a raft of changes.The new mid-grade GLX-R sports a few extras beyond what the lower-spec vehicles get - most importantly, Super Select 4WD-II.

BYD said the Shark 6 has the Ford Ranger PHEV licked in one key area, also suggesting the Chinese brand isn't concerned about a towing disparity between the two models.And that area, said BYD, is all-electric driving range, with the 29.58kW battery in the Shark 6 ($57,900 before on-road costs) delivering a claimed engine-free range of 100km.The Ford Ranger, for the record, promises to deliver 'over 45km' of EV-only range from its 11.8kWh battery."I'm very respectful of the competitors, but I think we've always thought that the growth has got to be in PHEV, right? And I feel as though for who the owner is and the ute buyer is, they're looking for a bit further on the range piece, and comfort and those kind of things," said BYD importer EVDirect's CEO, David Smitherman."We've packaged the vehicle exactly for that. And I feel as though we are essentially trailblazers in that piece. We're very happy with where our product."Where the Ford Ranger reclaims spec-sheet bragging rights is towing, with the Blue Oval's plug-in ute rated to tow 3.5 tonnes, compared to the Shark 6's 2.5 tonnes.But even that, said Smitherman, isn't seen as a hindrance, with the executive suggesting that a big towing number is "not what every Australian wants"."We've been very upfront about, two-and-a-half-tonne towing and feedback's been great. I don't feel as though that's what every Australian wants."Now it's fair to say Ford disagrees with that viewpoint, with the brand leaning into towing as its ute's point of difference. In confirming pricing for the four-model Ford Ranger PHEV range ($71,990 - $86,990 before on-road costs), the brand was quick to point out that its ute didn't require "sacrificing any of the core capability".“The addition of PHEV to the Ranger lineup marks the first time in history that Australia’s best-selling nameplate has been offered with an electrified plug-in hybrid option, with the backing of an extensive nationwide dealer network. We can’t wait for our customers to get behind the wheel,” said Andrew Birkic, President and CEO, Ford Australia in a statement.“Our Aussie engineering and design team have created a plug-in hybrid that allows diesel ute buyers to begin their electrification journey without sacrificing any of the core capability that they need from a truck – whether they use it for work or play."

As the flagship model grade in GWM's facelifted Cannon line-up, it naturally costs more. At $49,990, it's about $9000 more, in fact. So you’d expect it to have more of everything. It doesn’t.

The 2025 JAC T9 isn't going to tempt you from your Ford Ranger Raptor or Toyota HiLux GR Sport. You know it, and they know it, too.Instead, the T9 is being positioned as a value-packed Chinese 4x4 dual-cab that can do enough of the ute stuff to satisfy most people, and with a price so sharp it might make people wonder if they need to tow a full 3.5 tonnes after all...

The Vanta is GWM’s way of telling us that its facelifted Cannon ute can be just as tough as much pricier alternatives form other makers.

The Ford Ranger was the best-selling vehicle in the country for the second consecutive year in 2024.And now there’s another Ford ute on the horizon that looks set to shake up the ute market in Australia.Due on sale here in 2026, the Ford Ranger Super Duty has been touted as a mid-sized ute with “next-level, work-ready capability”, according to Ford.Purpose built for those with harsh job requirements, including emergency service operators, farmers, utilities and forestry workers, miners and infrastructure technicians, the Super Duty will have a 4500kg braked towing capacity, a 4500kg gross vehicle mass (GVM) and an 8000kg gross combined mass (GCM) rating.Let’s take a deep dive into everything we know so far about the Ford Ranger Super Duty.Read on.The Ford Ranger Super Duty is a mid-sized ute intended to be capable of tackling extremely tough work duties that no other standard mid-sized ute is capable of doing straight out of the factory.Details and specs remain somewhat sketchy, but the Super Duty will be, according to Ford, a new ute that's engineered from scratch for heavy-duty applications. It will also be the first mid-size ute to carry the Super Duty badge in Australia.Ford reckons its Super Duty project is a direct response to Aussie customers who want a gung-ho ute capable of hauling big loads, but in a vehicle size that is easier to manoeuvre than a bigger US-style pick-up.The new Ford Ranger Super Duty is intended as a heavy-duty work vehicle for emergency service operators, farmers, utilities and forestry workers, miners and infrastructure technicians, as well as having lots of potential as a recreational 4WD touring vehicle and towing platform due to its “enhanced off-road capability”, so sayeth Ford.The factory-built Ford Ranger Super Duty is covered by a full Ford warranty, and has been designed, developed and engineered in Australia by a 1500-strong crew.Recent testing has been conducted in Australia.If its claimed GVM (4500kg), GCM (8000kg) and towing capacity (4500kg) turn out to be accurate, then the Super Duty is going to be a bloody beast on work sites everywhere, for lugging loads, and for weekend wanderers who want to tow boats, horse floats and the like.For quick reference, in comparison, the Ford Ranger XLT turbo-diesel V6 4x4 has a listed GVM of 3280kg, a GCM of 6400kg and maximum braked towing capacity of 3500kg, and Ford’s long-wheelbase F-150 pick-up or truck offers lower GWM (3265kg) and GCM (7315kg), but equals the Super Duty’s 4500kg braked towing capacity.In terms of styling, the Ford Ranger Super Duty will have new wheels, wider arches than a standard Ranger, an all-new grille design, replete with a new off-road-style front bumper, as well as substantial underbody protection.There are no details about what powertrain the Super Duty will get, but perhaps the Ranger’s 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine (184kW at 3250rpm and 600Nm from 1750-2250rpm), along with the line-up’s 10-speed automatic transmission, will be a good fit. A power and torque boost may even be on the cards, in order for the Super Duty to handle the much-touted heavier loads it may be burdened with.Australia’s Super Duty will likely sport the eight-stud, 18-inch steel wheel and 33-inch all-terrain tyre package of the US Ford F-250 Super Duty.Also, it could be in line to share the Raptor's wheel track, which is 50mm wider than the standard Ranger.No word on suspension yet, but upfront it may be fitted with new front control arms (similar to the Raptor’s cast-alloy units), and it will likely have a leaf-sprung rear axle rather than Raptor-esque coils, as the Super Duty is a vehicle intended for load-carrying and towing.It may also have job-specific accessories such as push-button Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, Trailer Navigation (aimed at ensuring your vehicle and trailer go via a route that the combination will be able to physically travel through) and even on-board scales.The Ford Ranger Super Duty – or Ford Super Duty Ranger as some have dubbed it – will be manufactured at the same Thai facility as most made-for-Australia Rangers.The Ford Ranger Super Duty is expected to be unveiled sometime later this year and is tipped to be on sale here in 2026.An all-new ute sporting major hardware upgrades, resulting in impressively uprated payload and tow ratings, being sold in a ute-hungry market? Name your price…At time of writing, there were no clear indications of what the Ford Ranger Super Duty’s eventual price-tag would be, but expect to pay upwards of $75,000.It will be bigger and built more robustly for heavier duties than those undertaken by standard Rangers.And it will likely be in a price range comparable to the Raptor.Keep reading CarsGuide.com.au to stay up to date with news on all upcoming vehicle releases, including the Ford Ranger Super Duty, which is due to be launched here in 2026.

As the second step on the GWM Cannon ute ladder, the Ultra represents the best value of the line-up.

The Lux is the new entry-level version of the facelifted GWM Cannon ute range, a facelift that has added plenty of zing. Pricing starts at $40,490 which is a pretty sharp proposition in the dual-cab ute world.

Let’s not kid ourselves, the ute segment isn’t by any stretch of the imagination the pinnacle of automotive design.

The BYD Shark 6 dual-cab ute is a five-star car, according to the Australasian New Car Assessment program (ANCAP).