Not every brand in Australia needs a ute, says Honda
The Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux utes have been the best-selling vehicles in Australia for the past decade – the HiLux from 2015 through 2022, the Ranger since.
In 2025 alone, they've been joined by new entrants including the Kia Tasman – the South Korean brand's first dual-cab ute – as well as the Chinese BYD Shark 6 and LDV Terron 9.'Does every brand need one? No,' Honda Australia CEO Jay Joseph told CarExpert. 'Do we need one? Not necessarily, but if we have one it needs to be the right one.'
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal.
Above: Honda Ridgeline
Among the top 10 best-selling brands in the first half of 2025, Hyundai and MG are the only not offering a dual-cab ute, but MG will introduce the U9 – twinned with the LDV Terron 9 – later this year, leaving Hyundai an outlier.
Looking at the top 20 brands' sales to the end of June, only six don't have a dual-cab ute in showrooms.
That includes Honda Australia, which finished 19th on the sales chart over the first six months of the year.
The Japanese brand does make a dual-cab ute – the second-generation Ridgeline – which it manufactures and sells in the US, but it isn't planned for an Australia berth anytime soon.
'Regardless of what a brand needs, it doesn't make sense to bring one to market that doesn't suit consumer needs,' Mr Joseph said.
'The current Ridgeline – as it's configured in the United States – Australian customers expect more towing capacity than that offers, [and] obviously right-hand drive sort of takes it off the table, and it's not this product that's in its ninth year.'
The Ridgeline uses unibody construction – like passenger cars – where the most popular dual-cabs in Australia use body-on-frame construction which is preferred for off-roading.
At 5339mm length, it's only slightly longer than a HiLux, and is powered by a 209kW/355Nm 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with a towing capacity of 2286kg – well short of the benchmark 3500kg tow rating of leading dual cabs sold here.
'In terms of a ute – and it's been a long question for Honda for many years – in some ways, yeah we'd love it and we'd love to have had it for a number of years, but it's not available,' said Honda Australia managing director Rob Thorp.
'We've seen growth opportunities in the market without that [a dual-cab ute] in our product portfolio right now.'
'Even when you look at the markets as they are, there's still a lot in passenger, in SUV, and there's a lot of opportunity in those segments that we are probably more nationally aligned to.
'If one's available [a ute], we'd look at it – but it's not something we desperately, desperately need to be successful.'
Nikkei reported earlier this month that Nissan has commenced discussions with Honda to supply it with a ute out of an under-utilised plant in the US.
Should this ute eventuate, it could potentially be related to Nissan's body-on-frame Frontier, however like that model it could be left-hand drive-only.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Sun
23 minutes ago
- Herald Sun
2025 Nissan Ariya prices and details
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Nissan has finally confirmed Australian details for its long-awaited Ariya electric car. Landing in showrooms six years after it was unveiled in concept form and more than three years after going on sale in Europe, the Ariya's debut was delayed by government red tape surrounding Australian Design Rules that require a unique 'top tether' anchor point for child seats. Nissan's Ariya electric car hits showrooms in September. Picture: Supplied Its arrival has been timed to help soften the blow of new emissions laws that punish popular – but thirsty – cars such as the Nissan Patrol. The brand's long-awaited alternative to the Tesla Model Y shapes up as a family-friendly SUV of a similar size to the Volkswagen ID. 4 and BYD Sealion 7. Set to arrive in September, the Ariya has sharp prices that undercut some rivals. Priced from $60,595 drive-away, the entry-level Nissan Ariya Engage undercuts the cheapest Tesla Model Y by about $3500. Nissan's 12.3-inch digital dash and 12.3-inch infotainment screen are great to have, as is the brand's 'ProPilot' suite of driver assistance features that can handle stop-start traffic jams. The Ariya has had a delayed introduction. Picture: Supplied But a closer look at the Nissan's spec sheet shows where the brand has cut corners. Equipped with a front-mounted motor as standard, basic front-wheel-drive versions of the car have 160kW of power and need 8.0 seconds to reach 100km/h, making them significantly slower than a rear-wheel-drive Tesla, which needs 5.9 seconds to reach the same mark. The Ariya's 385km claimed range also lags behind the Tesla's 466km. And the basic Ariya promises to be a cold place on winter mornings. Most electric cars have heated seats as standard – the cheapest Tesla Model Y has them in the front and rear – as EV cabins can take longer to warm up without a hot combustion engine under the bonnet. The electric Ariya follows in the wheel tracks of Nissan's Leaf. Picture: Supplied Nissan customers who want heated seats in the front and rear need to upgrade to the Ariya Advance + for $68,995 drive-away. The model also benefits from a larger battery with 504km of claimed range, plus a 10.8-inch head-up display, panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats and a power sliding centre console. At the top of the range, the all-wheel-drive Nissan Ariya e-4orce adds a rear-mounted electric motor to effectively double its power output, resulting in a 0-100km/h time slashed to 5.6 seconds. It also has Nappa leather, 20-inch wheels and upgraded towing capacity to help justify an asking price of about $77,395 drive-away. The brand has not confirmed an Australian debut for the sportier Ariya Nismo model. Nissan sells Ariya Nismo models overseas. Photo: Supplied Nissan's key advantage over the likes of Tesla is a 10-year warranty that applies to models serviced throughout its considerable dealer network. Customers who service their cars externally get a five-year guarantee. The Nissan Ariya has been on sale in Europe since 2022. Warwick Daly, deputy director of marketing and mobility, Nissan Australia, said it is 'exciting to see Nissan's long history in the Australian electric vehicle space continue in the Ariya, which pairs incredible design, a clever and spacious interior, intelligent driving systems with advanced battery and motor technology to deliver a truly thrilling drive'. 'Understandably, a lot of people have been waiting for the Ariya to arrive in Australia, and I'm so excited that customers can now place orders,' he said. Under the skin of Nissan's Ariya electric car. Picture: Supplied The Ariya is a vital part of the strained Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. It shares underpinnings with the Renault Megane E-Tech, as well as Renault's upcoming Alpine A390. Originally published as 2025 Nissan Ariya prices and details
7NEWS
37 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Suzuki Australia wants more diverse models, including sportier Swift
Suzuki Australia general manager Michael Pachota says he wants to fill the Swift Sport -shaped hole in the brand's local lineup, as well as bolster the wider range with different body styles and powertrains. The Swift Sport, based on the previous-generation hatch, has been out of production for Australia since revised safety regulations regarding autonomous emergency braking (AEB) came into effect earlier this year. There has been no word from Suzuki globally on on a new Swift Sport based on the new-generation mild-hybrid hatch, and Suzuki's local division says it's in the dark as well. 'We haven't been told anything at all. We get surprised from time to time by Suzuki Japan,' Mr Pachota told CarExpert. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Above: Suzuki Swift Sport generations (L-R): First, second, third, and 2025 Swift Champions concept 'They're very confidential when it comes to their development, and we only get certain visions based on, for example, evolutions of product sometimes, other bits and pieces. Swift Sport is possibly a hot topic globally, I just await any news on it.' The Swift Sport is a simple vehicle in principle. Take an otherwise affordable, economical hatch, make it look a little tougher, fit a more potent engine, and keep prices attainable while you're at it. This was certainly the case for the outgoing third-generation Swift Sport. It featured a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 103kW of power and 230Nm of torque, the option of a six-speed manual or automatic, and started at $29,990 before on-roads. This was only $200 pricier than the 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder found in the Swift GLX Turbo, which had just 82kW and 160Nm. At the bottom of the range was a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 66kW and 120Nm, priced from $23,490 before on-roads. Above: Current-generation Suzuki Swift Hybrid The current Swift Hybrid, meanwhile, features a 12V mild-hybrid system and a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder engine producing 61kW and 112Nm. It's not clear what could power a potential new Swift Sport, but Suzuki still offers small-displacement four-cylinder turbo engines available in other Suzukis such as the S-Cross, which can still be had with the warm hatch's 103kW/130Nm Boosterjet turbo-four. 'Just like you, we're sitting here waiting and hoping that there might be something there. But if there isn't, to be fair, the current product line is selling quite well, so I'm happy with it,' Mr Pachota told CarExpert. Suzuki's Indian subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki, did reveal the hotter-looking Swift Champions model earlier this year, but that wasn't much more than a concept. The Swift is Suzuki's second-best-selling model in Australia with 1935 delivered in the first half of 2025, while the Jimny is well ahead with 4365. Above: Suzuki Swift Champions concept Mr Pachota said he's keen for more than just a new Swift Sport though, telling CarExpert he'd be open to anything and everything from commercial vehicles and utes to different types of electric vehicle (EV). 'I have an appetite for anything else outside of my product portfolio. So anything that I can get to add to the Australian product lineup, both hands are up,' he said. 'Different segments, different opportunities, you know. And we're the small car specialists, so we kind of play in the same kind of area. But if there's growth as an opportunity, I'm all for it. 'The market globally is evolving all the time, so we're gonna evolve with it.'
Canberra Times
37 minutes ago
- Canberra Times
Honda won't follow BYD, MG in bringing a luxury brand to Australia
Likewise, Acura's MDX was sold here during its first generation as a Honda. Subsequent North American-built Acuras have been produced only in left-hand drive however, ruling them out for our market."Acura has been in other markets over time – of course the States – and Acura is pretty solid in Canada as well," Mr Joseph added.
