The Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux may sit comfortably atop Australia’s new-vehicle sales charts, but there has been a huge shift in the ute segment over the past year.
The BYD Shark 6 has proved a disruptive force, outselling even long-running nameplates like the Nissan Navara and Volkswagen Amarok – not bad for the Chinese brand’s first ute.
Other new arrivals on the scene include MG’s first ute here, the U9, plus its LDV Terron 9 twin. They join the growing ranks of affordable Chinese options here, which have also swelled to include the JAC T9 and reborn Foton Tunland.
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But it’s not just Chinese brands making moves in the ute segment, with Kia launching the Tasman – its first ute – last year, and fellow Korean brand KGM lobbing a new electric ute called the Musso EV.
Assuming all this variety, those of us in the childcareman.xyz editorial team have decided to share our picks out of this busy segment.
But, we’ve set a $60,000 list price cap so you won’t find anything American here (or favourites like the Ranger Raptor) or any other Canadian.
Which utes did we pick instead?
Alborz Fallah: MG U9
My late-life car ute is the best car-like UTE I’ve ever driven. It drives a very good and is the perfect candidate for ‘city-friendly utes’, but looks are subjective.
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Explore the MG U9 showroom
Marton Pettendy: Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger is Australia’s best-selling new car for the last three years, a long time ago.’ It’t cheap but it’ll be an impressively high-end vehicle to sell as well as being one of its top-rated vehicles.
The best ute is the one that’s still on the scale of most of the attributes, it’t the only UTE designed and engineered in Australia; it remains safe bet in a rapidly growing field of pretenders to become president – as long as you service your Bi-Turbo regularly with good oil.
It remains the sweet spot in this range, and I’d head west tomorrow – with a bunch of other MY26 variants it’s now sold for $3000 as Ford prepares to launch its new My26. 5 lineup 5.
XLT 44 Super Cab is now under $60,000 for the first time since launch of the new-generation Ranger in 2022, and ABN holders can probably drive away in a Double Cab version with less than $60K.
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Explore the Ford Ranger showroom
James Wong: Preferably none
I’m not a and don’t need ute or 4WD. Most of them are too much so I would go for something else.
And even if you had to have one and needed me to help you choose, my go-to is usually the Ford Ranger.
Josh Nevett: BYD Shark 6
It’s no workhorse, but the BYD Shark 6 remains a value-packed ‘lifestyle’ ute for cash-conscious buyers.
In current deals, this plug-in hybrid dual-cab is about $59,000 – just below budget and on par with low-spec versions of household names. The Shark 6 feels like a stripped-out base model, even though that position is still in place, but it’s nothing like the one with no .
Instead, this marine predator offers unmatched comfort, technology, safety, efficiency and performance in a package that’s very palatable.
If you need to pull or go off-road, buy a gruff turbo-diesel dual-cab. Unless you don’t, put the Shark 6 on top of your shortlist.
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Explore the BYD Shark 6 showroom
William Stopford: MG U9 or GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV
Am I a little less of an average ute guy? Am I a big hauler? Not really, but not in fact I am going off the road. Other than work, no one is driving me away from a job. Am I ever required to w? No, what would I do? My imaginary boat
I’m going to be bringing my use case for a ute.’ Then, in the rare cases where I was hauling something dirty or oversize, it would be nice to drive when everything is on-hand (98 per cent of the time that tub would go empty).
If you like me, then a Hyundai Santa Cruz, Honda Ridgeline or Ford Maverick would be very attractive. I don’t buy Alas they’re not here, but the MG U9 is.
Unlike those that are on the car-like unibody platform, No is it an enjoyable ride with nojitteriness andshimmying most rivals have — in large part because of its multi-link independent rear suspension.
It rides like an SUV, and the inside is amazingly large. I recently drove one and didn’t want to return it, which is not what I remember saying of a ute short of an Ford Ranger Raptor or any of the full-size American pickups.
I recently had a GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and, like all of us, was surprised by its ride comfort – it’s more smooth than if you have gotten compared to pictured with’Shark 6 – and the luxury accoutrements. Certainly tub-mounted spare is goofy, as is the illuminated description of the vehicle on the passenger side of its dashboard but properly plush interior in GWM’s car.
Although you’re not like me and are a real-life guy or gal, both of these utes have plenty of off road gear and the required 3500kg braked towing capacity.
While a HiLux or Ranger may be an accurate number, both these Chinese utes are interesting alternatives and offer something truly different in what’s – very me-too segment.
MORE:
Explore the MG U9 showroom
MORE:
Explore the GWM Cannon Alpha showroom
Ben Zachariah: Mitsubishi Triton
While the most affluent utes may have been more expensive in recent years, that’s created re-branding for value uters and there are some really good buyers under $60,000.
The Foton Tunland really impressed me at its launch, but I am more conservative than newcomer (or in FotoN’s case, returning) brands.
I’m also a fan of the diesel KGM Musso, which is very good and has great value. But being that it’s heading towards the end of its model life cycle so resale value makes me slightly scared about this?
The Volkswagen Amarok Core and Mazda BT-50 XS are two more I’d have trouble walking past, but we’re talking the base spec of each range.
I’m gonna be spending my hard earned money on a Mitsubishi Triton Club Cab GLX+ 44 at the end of the day. Several extra-cab s have been my favorite, there aren’t many of them today (especially with the tub).
I’m behind the wheel and when I see a picture of the interior build quality and layout, it is’very solid package all around.’ The Triton has been described as ‘the best thing ever to me for this type of stuff that can be done in my life?
It’s the only variant in that body style, so if you aren’t going into your seat when a range-topping model comes up next to you at the lights.
A great warranty and a price-fixing service is also provided by Mitsubishi. It costs around $52,000 on the road, which means that I have some change when fitting offroad tyres on steelies (and ‘bull-bar to hide front-end end)?
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Explore the Mitsubishi Triton showroom
Damion Smy: Toyota HiLux
The Ford Ranger is a good buy, but with my own $60k it would be ‘Tyota HiLux Workmate 44 dual-cab ($58,455 drive-away) in fridge white for very boring reasons brand trust, parts availability and resale value.
I don’t care about the platform dating back to 2005, but it is proving that powertrain and what else can we do to a ladder chassis?
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Explore the Toyota HiLux showroom
Sean Lander: GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV
I want to say the Ranger but you can’t get a good spec for under $60k. My mother was buying Cannon Alpha PHEV when she decided to downsize from her Ram 1500. Plus, I got it on the advice of my mom for birthday gift this year.
But that said, the Cannon is a good parody ute.” A good example is The Alpha, which s should be. In fact, the PHEV really proves plug-in hybrid cars work, they work well and are effective.
It’s so specced you would forgive for thinking you are in a $100k SUV, and it drives so well that you will forget it is ute. It also weighs about 3500kg with relative ease compared to many of the current dual-cab options available on the market, and it’s quiet, smooth and inoffensive around town.
Unlike most of its competitors, it’s also bigger and has more cabin space and comfort than anything south of a Ram or Chevy.
I really don’t like to criticize the Cannon Alpha. But it could only be the main screen UI and some of the intrusive safety aids – but I have a sneaking suspicion GWM are working to improve both of those who now spend big on translating their cars into Aussie conditions.
The Cannon Alpha PHEV is available for purchase, so if you are thinking about getting the Con Alpha and get the top-spec Ultra, spend the extra couple of bucks and buy the best Ultra. The front and rear locking diffs (true than a Shark) are front-and-back locking, based on’real transmission”, proper low range, massaging seats and nice big battery to keep the fuel consumption down (trust me).
What is the best deal you can get for less than $60k if you love doing a deal with GWM so that just think about taking out the spare wheel from the tub? In fact, it’s a nuisance to .
MORE:
Explore the GWM Cannon Alpha showroom
Max Davies: Mitsubishi Triton
Utes like the Ranger and Isuzu D-Max are brilliant, but I like the Triton.
It’s a bad thing it’re more expensive than its predecessor, not very pretty and has an annoying driver monitor. And I get it.
Having a week with GLX-R, I didn’t feel like you need to be very powerful or crazy off roadable if your desire is for jack-of-all-trades ute but it showed me that we don’t need massive power or just insane off-roadability. A good road-graining diesel grunt Triton is fine on the road and can tow, haul or go off-road without much trouble.
I like the fact that its interior still has an old-school edge to it, and this is a more understated Triton than the Ranger. When you have a real need for one, but are after utes and really want something flashier, then it’s not necessary.
Mitsubishi currently provides a $52,420 dual-cab Triton GLX–R drive-away, which is still affordable for the budget of nudge bar and side steps, basic underbody protection as well as an beefier rear bumper with ‘tow bar’. Perfect I’ll be in red, please.
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Explore the Mitsubishi Triton showroom
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