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Australia's is a ute-dominated country. Or more specifically, it's a country dominated by a handful of utes — the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, forever duking out for spots one and two, and the Isuzu D-Max, which last year had a firm grip on third position on the sales charts. But the times they are a-changing, and there's a new crop of incoming ute metal intent on rewriting the rules, not just on powertrains, but on sales, too. The question is, can Australia's big three keep their place at the top of the charts? Or will their position come under threat from one of these new competitors. If it's the latter, here is how each will do it. Kia Tasman The ute that arguably has the best shot at upsetting the order at the top of the charts is the incoming Kia Tasman, which will launch in Australia next year. Kia here has made no secret of its bold ambitions, with the brand targeting 20,000+ sales here. Should they exceed those targets (and they'll certainly want to) they would be closing in on the D-Max, which moved 31,202 units last year. To do it, Kia is promising a "benchmark" ute, though, when compared to come other entrants, it's also one that sticks true to the diesel dual-cab standard. For one, the Kia Tasman will be offered with a four-cylinder diesel engine, with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions, and two- or four-wheel drive. It will be aiming to hit the other key metrics, too — expect 3.5-tonne towing, a one-tonne payload and genuine off-road credibility, too. Where it is unique, though, will be in the offering of a seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, which will join the brand's lauded and very successful local ride and handling program, delivering a ute that feels tailored to Australia's conditions. Critically, that will give the Kia broad crossover appeal, talking directly to the growing number of Australians for whom a dual-cab ute doubles as a family car. If Kia can make the Tasman both comfortable and car-like, it will be a win for that market. It will also lean into Kia's tech-forward focus, with the spy pictures we've already seen showing a premium-looking cabin filled with a sizeable central touchscreen and a digital dash, both appearing to be 12.3 inches each. "We're definitely aiming for (the benchmark)," Kia Australia's product planning chief, Roland Rivero, has told CarsGuide. "We're not mucking around when it comes to the ute. We want to make sure that the first attempt at a ute from our brand is one that's going to do well in our market." BYD Shark Successful or not, the BYD Shark will change the ute game in Australia, with the brand eager to prove a plug-in hybrid powertrain is a better solution than the ever-popular diesel engine. And, on paper at least, the argument stacks up, with the brand promising a tonne of torque and power from the combined petrol engine and electric motors, a useable EV driving range, and a total range in excess of 1000kms. "It's called DMI, or Dual Motor Intelligence. And it's not a hybrid as you know them," BYD importer Luke Todd has told CarsGuide. "For Australia, in my opinion, I'm so happy that we ended up bringing this one first and not the pure electric, which will come probably a year or so later. the BYD Shark will change the ute game. (Image: Digimods Design) "It is the best of both worlds - 100kms range on pure electric, and then switch over to the dual-motor technology. So we're going to have a vehicle of circa-1000kms, if not more range, but when you're driving around the city you'll be fully electric." The powertrain is still under wraps for now, but expect it to feature a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with one or more electric motors. For clues, we look to the BYD Fang Cheng Bao 5, which pairs its engine with twin electric motors (one at each axle) to deliver a sizeable 500kW and 760Nm. And because of its plug-in hybrid powertrain, the brand says it will offer another feature that it says will set it apart from the competition. The brand calls it "Tradie Mode" and, like an EV, the Shark will offer a regular power plug powered by its on-board battery, allowing you to charge tools, or power your campsite if you're off camping or fishing. Unlike an EV, however, you need not worry about running the battery flat, because the petrol engine is waiting in the wings to get you home. JAC T9 You might never have heard of JAC - or perhaps you remember them from when it was last selling trucks in Australia - but JAC is back, and it means business. Its first offering will be the T9, which — at a glance — follows the dual-cab script pretty closely. There'a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine making 125kW and 410Nm (tick), a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes (tick) and a payload of 1000kgs (tick). But what sets the JAC apart is price. It is being billed as a "luxury ute" and it will be offered in two trims, the Oasis, at $42,662 before on roads, and the slightly more up-spec Haven at $45,630, and both are offered with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. You might never have heard of JAC. That is bloody cheap, by the way. That entry point is about $8000 less than the cheapest 4WD D-Max, for example, and the equipment list is stacked. There's 4WD with an electronic locking rear diff, a 10.4-inch central screen, a second 7.0-inch instrument cluster, leather trim, LED lighting all around and a spray tub liner. The utes will be joined by a massive dealership rollout, with the brand promising 50 showrooms across the county. "JAC aims to become a mainstream automobile in the Australian market, and we will only increase our investment in terms of the Australian market in terms of research and development," Xiang Xingchu, the JAC Group Chairman, has told CarsGuide.
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