Don’t buy that Ford Ranger just yet! Here are the new utes coming to Australia soon that you should keep an eye on (2024)

One-tonne utes are big business in Australia with the top three selling models last year being the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, and Isuzu D-Max, and the segment accounting for nearly 20 per cent of all new car sales in 2023.

And it seems like everyone wants a slice of the pie, with new brands and refreshed models all coming soon to try and jostle for position on the podium.

Are they worth paying attention to? Let’s dive into the upcoming models that you should be on your radar if you are in the market for a new workhorse.

The new ute that has the potential to make the biggest splash is undoubtedly the Kia Tasman.

As the South Korean brand’s first ute model, Kia might not have the history or reputation of something like the Ranger or HiLux, but given the success of models such as the Sportage, Seltos, and all-electric EV6, the Tasman is bound to be popular.

Details are still to be confirmed, but the Tasman is expected to be powered by the same 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine as the Sorento, which makes 148kW/440Nm in the large SUV.

Kia knows how important it is to have an output close to the segment benchmark of 150kW/500Nm, so expect a little fiddling under the bonnet to tweak that output.

Likewise, a 3500kg braked towing capacity, close-to-one-tonne payload, and a capable four-wheel-drive system is a must for success.

Can the Tasman eat away at the Ranger and HiLux’s dominance? We will know from mid-2025.

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Not content with just serving up affordable electric cars, BYD has come to market with a plug-in hybrid in the form of the Sealion 6 mid-size SUV and will follow that up with the Shark ute.

Expected to touch down in Australia late this year, all things going to plan, the Shark will differ itself from the rest of the dual-cab ute crowd by being the first to offer a plug-in powertrain.

Under the bonnet of the BYD ute will be a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that is paired with two electric motors, resulting in a combined output in excess of 316kW.

And for those paying attention, that makes it more potent that the 298kW Ford Ranger Raptor powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6.

The Shark will also be quicker to the landmark 100km/h time, needing just 5.7 seconds to accelerate to triple digits.

However, the Shark won’t be as capable as other diesel-powered rivals, offering up just 2500kg of braked towing capacity, as well as independent rear suspension that is expected to suffer under heavy load.

Making up for that is an all-electric driving range of up to 100km, and combined fuel consumption average of just 7.5 litres per 100km.

Nissan’s third-generation Navara has been around since 2014, albeit with a number of substantial updates over the last decade.

However, it isn’t hard to see why the Nissan workhorse has struggled in the sales charts against newer, more modern rivals like the Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton.

So, what can we expect from the next-generation Navara?

The new ute model is expected to be revealed later this year, and could land Down Under as early as 2025.

The next Navara will also share its underpinnings with the Triton, as Nissan and Mitsubishi are both members of a global alliance which also includes French brand Renault.

As such, the Navara will lose its coil-spring rear suspension set-up in favour of leaf springs, making it more competitive against rivals when laden.

The Navara will also likely borrow the Triton’s engine, a 2.4-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel, which is good for 150kW/470Nm – giving it a boost from the current car’s 140kW/450Nm output.

Of course, the Navara will sport Nissan styling, so expect to see the brand’s signature V-motion front grille, as well as a unique interior to stand it apart from its Triton cousin.

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While Ford was the first to confirm a plug-in hybrid ute for Australia in the form of its Ranger, it will likely be beaten to market by the BYD Shark.

Still, the Ranger badge carries a lot of cache with buyers, so it might be worth waiting for this model’s 2025 release date before making a purchase decision.

Ford Australia has already confirmed the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain will only be available in higher-spec grades, so expect this fuel-frugal workhorse to cost upwards of $75,000 before on-road costs.

Pairing a 2.3-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor, Ford claims the Ranger PHEV will have the highest torque output of any other Ranger – petrol or diesel – so that figure should exceed 600Nm.

An all-electric driving range of around 50km is also available, which should be more than enough for the average tradie who drives less than 40km a day, according to Ford.

However, electrification hasn’t dulled the Ranger’s capabilities, with the PHEV powertrain still able to offer a 3500kg braked towing capacity and a similar, close-to-one-tonne payload capacity of the diesel version.

But what if you're ready to skip hybrid altogether and go from a diesel ute straight to an all-electric one?

Isuzu has you covered here with its new D-Max EV, expected to launch in 2025 in international markets and then make its way Down Under at some point thereafter.

Only a concept has been shown so far, but the tailpipe-emissions-free version swaps its 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder for a dual electric motor set-up, which punches out 130kW/325Nm to all four wheels.

And if that output doesn’t sound all that impressive, keep in mind that torque in an EV is available from the get go, so the D-Max EV should be one of the most spritely workhorses available.

Fitted with a 66.9kWh battery, the D-Max EV will also be good for around 300km of driving range before needing a charger.

And if you are working your ute hard, the D-Max EV is still able to tow a maximum braked capacity of 3500kg and offer up a payload of up to 1000kg, keeping these aspects – at least – competitive.

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