Australians love utes – but so many models never reach our shores

Australia’s  two top-selling vehicles are the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, with the ute market accounting for a huge slice of Australia’s new car market, so why are brands so afraid to try something different?

Utes account for around one in five new car sales in Australia, and medium SUVs sell in slightly higher numbers, accounting for another fifth of new car sales each year.

Which begs the question, why is no one willing to blend the two together?

Australia’s ute market is comprised almost entirely of body-on-frame utes. Basic commercial vehicle origins, resulting in rugged vehicles designed for heavy-duty use.