Toyota Bundera Reviews

You'll find all our Toyota Bundera reviews right here. Toyota Bundera prices range from $2,640 for the Bundera 4x4 to $4,070 for the Bundera 4x4.

Our reviews offer detailed analysis of the 's features, design, practicality, fuel consumption, engine and transmission, safety, ownership and what it's like to drive.

The most recent reviews sit up the top of the page, but if you're looking for an older model year or shopping for a used car, scroll down to find Toyota dating back as far as 1985.

Or, if you just want to read the latest news about the Toyota Bundera, you'll find it all here.

Toyota Reviews and News

The utes to beat high fuel prices
By Tim Gibson · 31 Mar 2026
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 PHEVThe 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 PHEVAustralia 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 PHEVGWM 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 PHEVThe 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 EVThe 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 BEVAn 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 EVThe 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 PHEVThe 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.
Read the article
Relief from high fuel prices confirmed
By Dom Tripolone · 30 Mar 2026
The federal government has halved the fuel excise for three months.The headline-grabbing cut will reduce fuel prices by 26.3 cents a litre when it comes into effect next Wednesday.That will push the average national price of diesel below the $3 mark to about $2.86, according to today's price.Unleaded petrol will drop to about $2.27, but prices are likely to continue rising until the excise cut comes into effect.This temporary fuel relief will save families roughly $20 per trip to the bowser, according to Treasurer Jim Chalmers.“What we’re announcing today will reduce the cost of a 65-litre tank by about $19. So it is a substantial cost-of-living relief. It is timely, it is temporary, and it is responsible,’’ said Dr Chalmers.The average tradie driving a dual-cab Toyota HiLux or Ford Ranger could expect to save about $21 when filling the tank to the brim.“The cost of what we are announcing today is $2.55 billion, depending, of course, on the amount of demand in the system over that three-month period.“But the initial costing is $2.55 billion, and the revenue foregone by delaying the increase in the heavy vehicle road user charge is about another $53 million.”The government made it clear this would be a temporary cost saving measure and warned a prolonged war with Iran would have dire economic impacts.It revealed its four point plan to tackle the fuel crisis if it gets worse.Currently Australia is at level 2 of the four point plan, which is a long way off fuel rationing.Level 4 is where the government moves to protect critical services including emergency services, utilities and key industries. The plan states fuel will be allocated fairly across states and territories.
Read the article
Will petrol and diesel cars be banned?
By Laura Berry · 30 Mar 2026
Will the current war in Iran mean a ban on petrol and diesel vehicles? My view is no, it won’t directly cause a ban on combustion cars. But the ban is still coming and the Middle East conflict will fastrack it. For starters a date has already been set for ban on petrol and diesel cars in the United Kingdom, where from 2030 sales of new vehicles with combustion engines will cease. The European Union has a 2035 ban but previous to the Iran war this was watered down.China, which in February was our main source of vehicles, is also focused on building and developing electric cars.As for Australia, only the ACT has set a goal of phasing out the sale of new combustion powered cars by 2035.That could all change now and by this I mean be fastracked.Until now the reasons for switching to electric vehicles were mainly ethical and environmental, with emissions and cleaner air being the carrot. The problem is nobody really  wants to eat a carrot, even if it’s good for us. But faced with the prospect of not eating at all because the weekly fuel bill for two cars is now $300 and the price of groceries is going up because of the soaring cost of transport, that really changes things.Interest in electric vehicles has never been this strong. We can see it in real time by the traffic coming to carsguide.com.au and we know our competitors are witnessing the sharpening of this focus on EVs, too.Towards the start of 2025 there had been a slow down in global interest in EVs and a renewed take up of hybrids. The price premiums attached to electric cars, the limited driving range and lengthy charging times were to blame, but all things early adopters, and even slightly later ones, were willing to endure. The rest of the car buyers were too put off by the downsides of EVs and stuck with the convenience and familiarity of petrol or perhaps bought a hybrid. But now the price of convenience appears to be reaching a point where suddenly an EV sounds like a good idea. At the time of writing 95 RON premium unleaded was $2.70 per litre. An increase of about $1 per litre or 60 per cent in the space of a month. The prohibitive cost now of petrol combined with the looming threat of Australia running out of it in less than three weeks, plus reports of servicing stations already running dry now make an electric car suddenly seem like not such a bad idea after all, even to the most hardcore fans of fossil fuels.The problem is bigger than just consumers not being able to afford petrol, it’s the soaring cost of goods, which are distributed through Australia’s enormous freight network that relies on diesel.The Australian government is responsible for setting such low minimum fuel reserves all in the name of a free market. The current situation could see it either mandate that the industry maintain a higher level or reduce the risk entirely of being held hostage like this again and ban petrol and diesel car sales in favour of electric ones, which can be powered by a fuel we can produce ourselves.The second option wouldn’t be the choice of the $6 trillion-a-year global oil and gas industry. And an industry that’s worth that much has enormous sway.But then the collapse of entire economies wouldn’t be the choice of most governments.Decoupling from oil and gas is impossible in less than 50 or even 100 years. Whether we like it or not the industry pervades every part of our lives. Killing the industry would also see the collapse of entire economies.Plenty of car companies are ready for electric vehicles, especially new Chinese brands, but for many vehicle manufacturers EVs are a side hustle.This scenario play into the hands of new electric brands such as Zeekr with the 7X mid-szied SUV, BYD with the Sealion 7 SUV and even the established Koreans such as Kia with the EV3 small SUV.Does it mean the end of diesel SUVs such as the LandCruiser? Possibly, unless Toyota has an electric version up its sleeve ready to be pulled out in the next 10 years.So what you'll probably see is the EU and UK setting new firm deadlines for the discontinuation of sales for new cars with combustion engines at about 2035 or sooner. Australia will likely follow suit.Industry, freight and agriculture will be exempt until hydrogen infrastructure is in place and that will take much longer.What we may see in the short term is a temporary ban on the use of petrol and diesel passenger cars in order to preserve fuel stock for industry, freight and vital services such as emergency vehicles. That’s a real possibility if the war moves into an uncontrolled phase.So while the permanent ban of new petrol and diesel cars won’t be directly caused by the Iran war, it will be a catalyst for the ban. In the meantime, it’s probably wise anyway to purchase an EV anyway and provide a bit of security and future proofing for your own household, not to mention saving thousands in fuel bills each year.
Read the article
'We won't survive': Toyota's China warning
By Andrew Chesterton · 28 Mar 2026
In a stunningly frank admission, Toyota's global CEO has called on its supplier network to help it deliver more cars more quickly to its customers, warning that without major change "we won't survive".That's the word from Toyota CEO Koji Sato, who told his supplier group that customer waiting lists are too long, productivity is too low, and efficiency lags its competition."Unless things change, we will not survive,” Sato said, as reported by Automotive News.“I want everyone to acknowledge this sense of crisis."Right now, we in the automotive industry are battling for our very survival. A difficult battle lies ahead. We must work together as one and strengthen our ability to prevail."To do that, we need to improve productivity across the board. Both as individual companies and as an industry, let’s transform how we fight to ensure our survival.”While the automotive heavyweight's speech focused on efficiency and collaboration between Toyota and its vast network of suppliers, his focus was on building more cars quickly, reducing customer wait times and "building better cars".Toyota in Australia has at times been plagued by long waiting times on its most popular models, including the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and LandCruiser models. Mr Sato appears to be suggesting those wait times could be driving customers to other brands.“We continue to keep many customers waiting. Many of these stoppages stemmed from equipment or quality issues at both Toyota and our suppliers,” he said.“To enable us to make more cars, we must step things up a gear in areas such as building quality into every process.”This speech follows a seven-point plan revealed by Toyota in January, which Mr Sato calls his "plan of action", to ensure the long-term survival of Japan's automotive industry.Step one in the plan is to lock down a stable supply of rare earth materials and lithium, given Japan’s dependence on their import. That puts the country on a collision course with China, who has exerted influence over supply chains.Step two is to forgo an EV-only approach to its future, with Toyota’s long-touted “multi-pathway approach” that focuses on hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure-petrol powertrains in the mid-term.Step three is to invest in the most circular economy possible, linking brands together in tracing data and componentry.Step four is to take a lead out of Korea and China’s books, with both countries only too happy to embrace international expertise, be it in design or engineering.Step five is to chase-down Tesla in vehicle autonomy - a field Japan was once a leader in - by removing regulatory roadblocks and introducing a locked-in deadline for full autonomy.Point six is to reform the taxes applied to vehicle sales in Japan, which can add up to thousands of dollars over the ownership cycle of a vehicle.And finally, point seven is to lower production costs by having commmon componentry at scale, and building efficiency into the supply chain.
Read the article
New 4WDs coming to take down LandCruiser
By Dom Tripolone · 28 Mar 2026
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.
Read the article
Huge twist for Toyota icon
By Tim Gibson · 27 Mar 2026
The Toyota Celica could be revived with a hybrid set-up.The Celica revival project at Toyota began in 2024, when it was announced by now former Vice President Yuki Nakajima. It has now been confirmed the car is likely to utilise a hybrid set-up, which could be either plug-less or plug-in, and it will have four-wheel drive, according to UK publication Autocar.It has been rumoured this hybrid set-up could deliver a whopping 300kW.Gazoo Racing marketing manager Mikio Hayashi said there are still many variables at play as the Celica crawls towards launch.“The displacement size of 1.6 litres , for example, cannot meet emission regulations. So we have to consider the possibility of a 2.0-litre,” Hayashi told AutoCar."We are thinking about various sizes, but we are not at a stage where we can tell you exactly what size it is. Nothing has been decided yet about whether it will be a standard hybrid or plug-in hybrid.”It seems like the 2.0-litre engine could be winning the race at the moment, with progress being made according to Hayashi. “We are continuing to develop that. We have high expectations,” he said. "We cannot point to a timeline but can say we are making steady progress.”The news comes after Toyota’s potential entrant for the 2027 World Rally Championship was spotted undergoing testing, featuring in a Celica-style shape. This appears to be a clear indication of the brand moving away from the GR Yaris for its rallying competition.It also improves the chances we will see the return of two iconic Toyota names, with the MR2 also seemingly nearing a return. The brand has filed intellectual property filings in both Australia and Japan for ‘MR2’ and ‘GR MR2’, respectively. It has been confirmed this car will also feature a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol hybrid all-wheel drive set-up and is rumoured to produce 370kW and 550Nm.Despite these details, it still looks like the Celica and the MR2 remain several years away from production.
Read the article
Toyota stuns with new LandCruiser previews
By Tim Gibson · 26 Mar 2026
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.
Read the article
Fuel rationing's devastating effect exposed
By Dom Tripolone · 25 Mar 2026
The federal government’s emergency fuel plan could devastate ute and 4WD owners.Documents acquired by former crossbench senator Rex Patrick reveal the government’s emergency fuel response plan, which could include fuel rationing.The documents, which paint a worst case scenario, show a $40 limit on fuel would be enforced. This would limit workhorse utes to extremely short daily driving ranges.Average diesel fuel price in NSW on Thursday 25th of March is $2.957, which buys you about 13.5 litres of diesel.Most dual-cab utes have 80-litre fuel tanks, which means $40 fills up about 16 per cent of a tank.More concerning is that drivers could be restricted to a little more than 100km of driving.Most dual-cabs use somewhere in the vicinity of 8.0 litres of fuel per 100km driven, according to lab tests.In the real world those figures are much higher. CarsGuide’s GVM road tests — which includes significant driving time at the vehicle’s maximum payload — paints a far worse picture.In those tests fuel usage on popular utes such as the new Toyota HiLux and the Volkswagen Amarok jumped to 10 litres per 100km.So, if you use a ute to haul a load or equipment or if you tow, you could be sweating if fuel rationing is enforced in Australia.Factor in a lot of tradies living in major city urban fringes and regional areas and any measure could slam the brakes on those industries.Energy Minister Chris Bowen has currently ruled out implementing the $40 fuel limit, and told Sky News the proposal is out of date.“This plan has existed since 2006. It’s got various ways things might roll out, which governments can work with. It’s sort of a suite of options.“I’ve pointed to this plan in the past and been saying, look there are preparations in place for the very worst case... in that sense, it’s a bit of an out of date document in terms of that $40 approach,” he said.
Read the article
Budget Toyota LandCruiser's price confirmed
By Dom Tripolone · 24 Mar 2026
Toyota’s mini LandCruiser FJ has finally launched overseas, with a very sharp price.The rough and tumble 4WD has launched in Thailand — where it is built — with prices starting at the equivalent of about $55,900 Down Under.That puts the mini 4WD on par with lower grades of the new RAV4 hybrid, which unlocks off-road adventuring at a bargain price.Toyota is still blocking the FJ LandCruiser for coming to Australia for now.Toyota Australia’s former Vice President of Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley told CarsGuide at the 2025 Tokyo Motor Show it would not be available to Australia because the 2.7-litre petrol engine only adheres to Euro 5 emissions regulations.“The LandCruiser name in Australia would be very appealing, but the hardcore reality we are facing in our country… variable regulations, new criteria, new vehicle efficiency standards,” said Hanley.“It’s not about NVES, it’s just about regulations.“We’re moving to Euro 6 emissions standards. That’s the reality,” he said. The culprit is a 2.7-litre petrol engine, which was previously found in entry-level HiLux variants, that makes 120kW and 246Nm in the FJ LandCruiser.There are rumours out of Japan Toyota may install the same 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine with mild hybrid assistance as the current Toyota HiLux ute and Prado 4WD.This would likely deliver a huge performance bump to a max of 150kW and 500Nm, but a detuned version could be used to further lower emissions.Any diesel FJ LandCruiser won’t be available until at least 2029, according to reports.Hanley said at the time if the FJ LandCruiser’s engine did meet Euro 6, which the HiLux’s engine with AdBlue does, the company would be more likely to consider it for Australia.“If it was Euro 6, I would reconsider it,” said Hanley.“If it does turn out to be a Euro 6 engine, and if it does turn out to be that way, which it could… then that’s something we could re-examine.”Pocket-sized off-roaders are the flavour of the month, with Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover working on a small G-Wagen and Defender, respectively.Both those are expected to be electric, with plug-in hybrid power a possibility depending on buyers’ tastes.BYD’s Denza has shown 4WDs are willing to embrace plug-in hybrid power for off-roading, with the recent launch of the B5 and B8 Prado and LandCruiser 300 Series rivals.
Read the article
Game over for diesel utes
By Tim Gibson · 24 Mar 2026
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.
Read the article