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.
With all this variety, those of us in the CarExpert editorial team have decided to share our picks out of this bustling segment.
However, we’ve imposed a $60,000 list price cap, so you won’t find anything American here, nor favourites like the Ranger Raptor.
Which utes did we pick instead?
Alborz Fallah: MG U9
The best car-like ute I’ve driven of late. Looks are subjective but it drives exceptionally well and makes an ideal candidate for a city-friendly ute.
MORE: Explore the MG U9 showroom
Marton Pettendy: Ford Ranger
It’s not cheap, but the Ford Ranger has been Australia’s top-selling new vehicle for the past three years for good reason.
It’s still the benchmark when it comes to most of the attributes that make a great ute, it’s the only ute designed and engineered in Australia, and it’s still the safest bet in a rapidly growing field of pretenders to the throne – as long as you service your Bi-Turbo regularly with quality oil.
The XLT is still the sweet spot in the range, and the one I’d head west in tomorrow – and along with a bunch of other MY26 variants it’s now scored a $3000 price cut as Ford makes way for its updated MY26.5 lineup.
That means the list price of an XLT 4×4 Super Cab is now under $60,000 for the first time since launch of the latest-generation Ranger in 2022, and ABN holders can probably drive away in a Double Cab version for under $60K.
MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom
James Wong: Preferably none
I don’t have a need for a ute or 4WD and generally find them excessive, so I’d go for something else.
But, if you had a need for 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.
Current deals see this plug-in hybrid dual-cab come in at around $59,000 drive-away – just below budget, and on par with low-spec versions of household names. Yet, despite that positioning, the Shark 6 feels nothing like a stripped-out base model.
Instead, this marine predator offers unmatched comfort, technology, safety, efficiency and performance in a package that’s very palatable.
Buy a gruff turbo-diesel dual-cab if you need to tow or travel off-road. But if you don’t, stick the Shark 6 at the top of your shortlist.
MORE: Explore the BYD Shark 6 showroom
William Stopford: MG U9 or GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV
I’m not much of a ute guy. Do I haul much stuff? Not really. Do I go off-road? Other than for work, no. Do I ever have any need to tow? No, what would I tow? My imaginary boat?
So, my use case for a ute would be something that has a decent-sized tub for the rare instances I’d be hauling something dirty or oversized, but which would be comfortable to drive in all scenarios – including the 98 per cent of the time that tub would be empty.
If you’re like me, then, a Hyundai Santa Cruz, Honda Ridgeline or Ford Maverick would be very appealing. Alas they’re not sold here, but the MG U9 is.
No, it’s not based on a car-like unibody platform like those, but this body-on-frame ute has a comfortable ride without the jitteriness and shimmying most rivals have, in large part due to its inclusion of multi-link independent rear suspension.
It rides like an SUV, while the interior is fantastically spacious. I drove one recently and didn’t want to give it back, and that’s not something I recall ever saying of a ute short of a Ford Ranger Raptor or any of the full-size American pickups.
I also recently had a GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and, likewise, was surprised by its ride comfort – it’s smoother than a Shark 6 – and the amount of luxury accoutrements. Yes that tub-mounted spare is goofy, as is the illuminated depiction of the vehicle on the passenger side of the dashboard, but the GWM’s interior is properly plush.
Even if you’re not like me and are a genuine ute guy or gal, both of these utes have plenty of off-road gear and the requisite 3500kg braked towing capacity.
A HiLux or Ranger may be a known quantity, but both of these Chinese utes are intriguing alternatives and offer something genuinely different in what’s a very me-too segment.
MORE: Explore the MG U9 showroom
MORE: Explore the GWM Cannon Alpha showroom
Ben Zachariah: Mitsubishi Triton
The most popular utes may have gotten a lot more expensive in recent years, but that’s created a new segment for value utes – and there are some really great options for buyers for less than $60,000.
The Foton Tunland really impressed me at its launch, but I find myself leaning more towards conservative options rather than newcomer (or in Foton’s case, returning) brands.
I’m also a big fan of the diesel KGM Musso, as it offers huge value and great quality – but being that it’s heading towards the end of its model lifecycle, resale value has me a little scared.
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.
Ultimately, I’d probably put my hard-earned down on a Mitsubishi Triton Club Cab GLX+ 4×4. I’ve long been a fan of extra-cab utes, and there aren’t many that exist nowadays – particularly paired with a tub.
The Triton is a solid package all around, and I always find myself appreciating the interior build quality and layout when I’m behind the wheel.
Being that it’s the only variant in that body style, it means you won’t be sinking into your seat when a range-topping model comes up beside you at the lights.
Mitsubishi also offers a great warranty and capped-price servicing, and being that it costs around $52,000 on-road, that leaves me with some change to fit off-road tyres on steelies and a bull-bar to hide the front-end.
MORE: Explore the Mitsubishi Triton showroom
Damion Smy: Toyota HiLux
The Ford Ranger is tempting, but with my own $60k, it would be a Toyota HiLux Workmate 4×4 dual-cab ($58,455 drive-away) in fridge white for extremely boring reasons: brand trust, parts availability, and resale value.
The powertrain is proven, and I don’t care if the platform dates back to 2005 – what else can we do to a ladder chassis?
MORE: 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. Plus, I convinced my mother to buy a Cannon Alpha PHEV when she decided to downsize from her Ram 1500, so I really need to stick by my recommendation if I want to get a birthday present from her this year.
That said, the Cannon is a great ute. The Alpha is even better. And the PHEV really does prove that plug-in hybrid vehicles can work, and work well.
It’s so well-specced you would be forgiven for thinking you are in a $100k SUV, and it drives so well you will forget it is a ute. It also tows 3500kg with relative ease compared to a lot of the current dual-cab ute options on the market, and it’s quiet, smooth and inoffensive around town.
It’s also bigger than most of its rivals, offering way more cabin space and comfort than anything south of a Ram or Chevy.
I genuinely struggle to fault the Cannon Alpha. The only thing that could improve is 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 given they are now spending big to translate their cars to Aussie conditions.
If you are thinking about getting the Cannon Alpha PHEV, spend the extra couple of bucks and get the top-spec Ultra. Front and rear locking diffs, a real transmission, proper low range, massaging seats and a nice big battery to keep the fuel consumption down (trust me, it’s much better than a Shark).
GWM love doing a deal so you can most likely find one for under $60k – just think about removing the spare wheel from the tub. It really is a nuisance.
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 flawed: it’s more expensive than its predecessor, not very pretty, and it has an annoying driver monitor. I get it.
But spending a week with a GLX-R showed me you don’t need massive power or crazy off-roadability if you want a jack-of-all-trades ute. The Triton does fine on the road with enough diesel grunt, and it can tow, haul, or go off-road without much hassle.
The Triton is more understated than the Ranger, and I like that its interior still has an old-school edge. If you’re after a ute and have a genuine need for one, you really don’t need anything flashier.
Mitsubishi currently offers the Triton GLX-R dual-cab for $52,420 drive-away, which leaves plenty of budget for a nudge bar, side steps, basic underbody protection, and a beefier rear bumper with a tow bar. Perfect – I’ll have it in red, please.