Australia’s love affair with utes is waning, as diesel prices rise and people become aware that huge pick-ups might not suit all lifestyles.
Even so, Australian ute fans are spoiled for choice with new models coming from all around the globe. Here we’ve got three of the latest from Japan, China, and Korea – three nations with vastly different stories to tell.
Nissan Navara
The Japanese car industry has been doing it tough, and the new Nissan Navara is evidence of that.
You don’t have to be a detective to realise this Navara is not particularly new, and that it’s really a Mitsubishi Triton.
The sort of compromises the Japanese industry must make.
MORE: Full Details: 2026 Nissan Navara
Priced from about $58,000 in basic Navara SL trim with steel wheels and an unlined tray, the Navara ST-X shown here will set you back about $69,000 drive-away.
That’s steep, but you do get a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty that extends to 10 years and 300,000 kilometres of coverage if you get servicing done at official Nissan dealers.
Doing so makes sense, as maintenance is cheap at less than $500 per year for the first five years.
The Navara doesn’t feel particularly modern given its premium price. The 9-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard is among the smallest in this class, and the 7-inch driver display wedged between an analog speedometer and tacho almost feels apologetic. Having said that, physical controls for the stereo and airconditioning are great to have.
Out on the road, the 2.4-litre twin-turbo engine under the bonnet needs 7.9L/100km of diesel to make 150kW and 470Nm. It gets the job done but feels coarse at times, particularly at low speed where a gruff stop-start system shakes the car to life.
It’s better when put to work. Capable of proper off-roading, the Navara will also carry a tonne in the tray and tow 3.5 tonnes, a claim not every ute can match.
NISSAN NAVARA
PRICE: From $57,990 drive-away
ENGINE: 2.4L turbo diesel, 150kW and 470Nm
WARRANTY: 5-yr/u’ltd km
SERVICE: $2495 for 5 yrs
THIRST: 7.9L/100km
TOWING: 3500kg
PAYLOAD: 1024kg
BYD Shark 6
The BYD Shark 6 isn’t the first ute from China, but it is the first Chinese ute that made this car industry sit up and pay attention.
It has also grabbed the attention of Australian motorists, with sales climbing even as drivers turn away from the utes class.
Priced from about $62,600 drive-away, it undercuts this Navara by several thousand dollars while feeling far more modern. Luxuries like heated and cooled seats trimmed in faux leather are standard, and you get a 15.6-inch central touchscreen augmented by a 10.25-inch driver’s display that makes the Navara feel prehistoric.
MORE: BYD Shark 6 reviewed
It’s a similar case under the bonnet, where the plug-in hybrid Shark abandons convention to combine a compact 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with twin electric motors to produce a combined 321kW and 650Nm – more than twice the power of your average diesel ute.
The result is magnificent on tar, where it feels smooth and powerful – much like an electric vehicle.
A big battery gives around 80 kilometres of electric range, contributing to claimed 1.7L/100km fuel economy on short trips. But longer drives will see that figure climb into the teens, and hitching a caravan or heavy trailer will see exceeding 20L/100km, and a total driving range of 300-odd kilometres.
And it’s important to recognise the Shark can only tow 2.5 tonnes.
It’s also a road-biased machine without the low-range transfer case and mechanical looking differentials of traditional utes such as the Tasman, which makes it less capable in really tough conditions.
MORE: BYD Shark named 2026 Car of the Year
BYD SHARK 6
PRICE: From $62,660 drive-away
ENGINE: 1.5L turbo hybrid, 321kW and 650Nm
WARRANTY: 6-yr/150,000 km
SERVICE: $3955 for 5 yrs
THIRST: 1.7L/100km
TOWING: 2500kg
PAYLOAD: 850kg
Kia Tasman
Korean car companies have prayed for a dual-cab ute with a diesel engine, great off-road abilities, class-leading interior, and handsome exterior styling for more than a decade.
Kia almost got exactly what it asked for with the Tasman, but the look made a shocking first impression, and deep discounts within a year of its launch suggest it hasn’t clicked with Aussie drivers.
The Tasman SX shown here was recently cut from $58,490 drive-away to $51,990 drive-away, and range-topping X-Pro models have been slashed by more than $10,000.
Under the skin, it’s a damn good thing. Powered by a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine with 157kW and 440Nm, the basic motor shared with the Sorento and Carnival won’t win arguments at the pub.
MORE: Kia Tasman takes aim at Australia’s best utes
But it’s a strong performer that feels smooth on the road, helped by an eight-speed automatic with low-range gears that makes the most of its shortfall in torque.
And the cabin is an absolute ripper, with the best driving position here, comfortable seats and a layout that feels quite modern. Twin 12.3-inch digital displays either side of a 5-inch climate control panel work well, and they’re easier to get on with than the Shark’s occasionally tricky menus.
The Tasman feels the most sorted off-road – you can feel the effort that’s gone into making sure its suspension works really in mixed conditions, helped by sophisticated traction control systems and driving modes. It matches the Navara’s 3.5 tonne towing claim, too.
MORE: Kia Defends Tasman ute styling
KIA TASMAN
PRICE: From $49,990 drive-away
ENGINE: 2.2L turbo diesel, 154kW and 440Nm
WARRANTY: 7-yr/u’ltd km
SERVICE: $2810 for 5 yrs
THIRST: 7.6L/100km
TOWING: 3500kg
PAYLOAD: 1025kg
The Verdict
All three of these are impressive vehicles, and choosing a winner isn’t easy.
If you want something really rugged and dependable with a proven track record, I think it’s got to be the Nissan Navara. If you need a great all-rounder that is easily the best of the three off-road, then for me, it’s the Kia Tasman.
And if you’re honest with yourself, you don’t really do a lot of off-roading and you’re a bit of a city slicker that likes the way that cars drive on the road, then the Shark is the one.
