Six new utes coming in 2020

Everyone knows the Toyota HiLux has been Australia’s favourite new vehicle – bar none – for the past four years, that the Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton are regular top-five sellers and that this country is among the world’s top three or four ute markets.

But what’s with our fascination for the high-spec dual-cab 4x4 utes that attract so many Aussies? The answer is value and versatility. In terms of bang for your buck, the most popular four-door one-tonners simply can’t be beat.

A far cry from the feeble-handling, rough-riding, safety-subbing workhorses of old, today’s utes combine car-like levels of ride, handling, safety, technology and accommodation with the sort of load-lugging, trailer-hauling and go-anywhere capability that no passenger car can match.

So it’s no wonder they’ve become the vehicle of choice for tradies, families, weekend adventurers, hard-core off-road enthusiasts and grey nomads alike, especially in rural areas where they make most sense.

Current coronavirus-related supply and demand issues aside, utes are big business and there’s never been more choice in the market. But choosing the right ute for you is about to get harder, as you’ll see from this list of six all-new models due on sale here this year.

And that’s without counting the all-new RAM 1500 full-size pick-up due in 2020, or the redesigned Mitsubishi Triton, Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok and LDV T60 that will follow, plus the first mid-size utes to come from Hyundai, Kia and RAM.

The local launch of Jeep’s first proper dual-cab 4x4 ute has been delayed by seed contamination during shipping, but is already on sale with a sky-high starting price ahead of first deliveries by the end of June.

Price: From $75,450
Engine: 209kW/347Nm 3.6-litre petrol V6
Tow capacity: 2721kg
Payload: 620kg
ETA: June

The all-new replacement for Australia’s fourth most popular dual-cab 4x4 ute will bring a radical upkick in safety, design, refinement and infotainment, and is also due for local release in June.

Price: From $45,000 (TBC)
Engine: 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel
Tow capacity: 3500kg
Payload: 1024kg
ETA: June

Having split with Ford, Mazda’s next-gen ute will be twinned with the new D-MAX, so expect the same body styles, powertrains and safety/connectivity tech, but bespoke styling.

Price: From $45,000 (TBC)
Engine: 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel
Tow capacity: 3500kg
Payload: 1024kg
ETA: July

Delayed from July to around November, the upgraded Toyota HiLux should bring more aggressive frontal styling, an uptick in engine outputs, a fix for the problematic diesel particular filter and perhaps increased towing capacity for automatic variants.

Price: From $45,000 (TBC)
Engine: 130kW/450Nm 2.8-litre turbo-diesel (TBC)
Tow capacity: 3500kg
Payload: 950kg
ETA: November

The new-look MY21 Nissan Navara Series 5 will be released here by the end of this year, bringing revised front-end styling and more equipment, potentially including the autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping systems offered by its more popular rivals.

Price: From $45,000 (TBC)
Engine: 140kW/450Nm 2.3-litre turbo-diesel
Tow capacity: 3500kg
Payload: 931kg
ETA: December

The all-new replacement for China’s rugged Great Wall Steed won’t be called the P-Series, Cannon, Pau or Poer here, where its arrival could slip into early 2021. It could be the dark horse of this lot, with pricing up to $10,000 lower, although its payload and towing specs may not match them.

Price: From under $40,000 (TBC)
Engine: 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel
Tow capacity: 3000kg-plus
Payload: 1000kg-plus
ETA: December (TBC)