The latest to arrive is the JAC Hunter PHEV.

Priced from below $50,000 plus the usual costs, the Hunter plug-in hybrid dual-cab Ute provides a healthy 360kW of power and a claimed 1,000Nm of torque. Those are stunning figures. Towing is rated at 3500 kg as well.

JAC also claim that the Hunter will have an EV only range of up to 100km and a range of over 1000km from a fully charged battery and petrol engine.

JAC claims that they have tuned the Hunter for Australia’s harsh conditions with over 100,000 km of localized testing.These include ling distance durability, towing heavy loads, hit weather, dirt roads and city and motorway driving.

There are two models available and the top spec includes standard features like:

• Front and rear differential locks (optional for Hunter Pro)
• Electronic adjustable and Heated front seats
• Five off road drive modes
• 360° panoramic view camera and a
• Rear 220V accessory socket

There is strong competition, with models like BYD Shark 6, Cannon Alpha PHEV, Foton Tunland, MG U9 and others.

One thing is for sure, Ute buyers in Australia have never had as much choice as now. They just need to make the right choice for their needs and not be lured by headline figures and low prices.

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Im Rob Fraser

Readers can find all the specifications HERE.

Readers can find more details about the JAC Hunter PHEV – HERE.

TO LISTEN TO THE JAC Hunter PHEV – RADIO REVIEW CLICK BELOW

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In dark grey, it means business: that wide Singleframe grille, 20-inch Audi Sport wheels, red brake calipers, and a full-width light bar stretched across a low, fastback tail.

Inside, it’s every bit the Audi. An 11.9-inch Virtual Cockpit, a 14.5-inch touchscreen angled to the driver, ambient lighting through the doors, and a lit door release that greets you every time you reach for the handle.

Now the numbers. 270 kilowatts, 500 newton-metres, zero to 100 in 5.1 seconds. The 25.9 kilowatt-hour battery gives up to 97 kilometres on electric, with quattro all-wheel drive putting it all down.

But here’s the thing. Around town, it’s a hushed electric commuter. Drop it into Sport, and it wakes up: planted, sharp, and genuinely quick.

Five-year unlimited warranty. Eight years on the battery. And priced the same as the petrol A5, from $89,900 before on-roads.

The Audi A5 e-hybrid. Quiet when you want it, quick when you don’t, and priced like it has nothing to prove.

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Readers can see the full specifications Audi A5 e-hybrid HERE 

Readers can find more details about the Audi A5 e-hybrid – HERE.

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Audi A5 e-hybrid – Buyers could also look at:

Buyers of the Audi A5 e-hybrid are in unusual territory. The number of sedans is reducing with many crossover style vehicles moving into the space.

Potential choices could be

• Toyota Camry SL Hybrid, 
• Peugeot 408 GT Hybrid, 
• Genesis G70, 
• Lexus ES, 
• Alfa Romeo Giulia,

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Well, BYD, hoping to expand the appeal have just announced two additional models.

A trade ready Shark 6 Dynamic Cab-Chassis and a new range-topping Shark 6 Performance pickup.

These will sit alongside the existing Shark 6 Premium pickup.

The designers expanded the line-up to meet the needs of trade, fleet, and Aussie families.

They offer superior Dual Mode (DM) Super Hybrid performance, improved all-wheel drive capability, and refined on-road comfort.

Ironman is developing an optional tray for the trade ready cab chassis.

The new 2.0-litre turbo DM Super Hybrid in the Shark 6 Performance boosts total system power and torque to 350kW and 700Nm, respectively. That will allow a 3500kg towing rating.

Shark 6 customers benefit from three intelligent driving modes.

• EV Pure Electric Mode: the petrol engine is switched off.

• HEV Series Mode: the petrol engine does not drive the wheels. Instead, it acts like a portable power station.
• HEV Parallel Mode: The motors and the petrol engine work together in harmony to drive the wheels at the same time.

With 6.6kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability and multiple 230V outlets (one in-cabin, three in the tub) plus a V2L adaptor adding two more sockets, Shark 6 can power tools, appliances and camping gear on the go.

Pricing is from $55,900 through to $62,900 plus the usual costs.

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Readers can find more details about the BYD Shark 6  – HERE.

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Driven by the need to meet the draconian NVES rules in Australia, a few brands are now offering PHEV Utes.

The JAC Hunter PHEV is based on the T9 Dual Cab Ute.

Powered by a  powerful plug-in hybrid petrol-electric engine. It  combines an efficient all-new 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. This has front and rear electric motors and  delivers 385kW of power and 1000Nm of torque.

On paper those figures are substantial. But recent history has shown us that in PHEVs that doesn’t always translate to real word driveability.

JAC is targeting an electric-only driving range of at least 100km* from Hunter’s state-of-the-art lithium-iron phosphate battery pack.

This will allow reasonable range for daily drives.

Also available is a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) system. Allowing owners to power tools, appliances, and even provide emergency backup power from the vehicle’s battery.

As well as an extensive localised testing regime and suspension tuning, the JAC Hunter comes with front and rear differential locks alongside five off-road drive modes.

Inside there is a 10.4-inch digital touchscreen and infotainment system. With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. For the driver there is a fully digital 10.25-inch instrument cluster.

Reservations for the JAC Hunter PHEV are available from 5^th of May, with vehicles arriving in dealerships from mid-2026.

For the first 1000 orders there is a free home charger on delivery of their Hunter.

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Readers can find more details about the JAC Hunter PHEV  – HERE.

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With its larger 25.9 kilowatt-hour battery, you can commute up to 100 kilometres on pure electric power, while Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel drive ensures precision in every corner.

Step inside the “Digital Stage.” A stunning, curved OLED panoramic display wraps around the driver, featuring a 14.5-inch touchscreen and the iconic Audi Virtual Cockpit.

From the sustainable, high-end cabin materials to the world-first panoramic sunroof with switchable transparency, every detail is engineered for luxury and innovation.

The 2026 Audi A5. It’s a bold new chapter for the brand, and the new benchmark for the performance hybrid.

Readers can see the full specifications HERE 

Readers can find more details about the Audi A5 e-hybrid – HERE.

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Audi A5 e-hybrid – Buyers could also look at:

Buyers of the Audi A5 e-hybrid are in unusual territory. The number of sedans is reducing with many crossover style vehicles moving into the space.

Potential choices could be Toyota Camry SL Hybrid, Peugeot 408 GT Hybrid, Genesis G70, Lexus ES, Alfa Romeo Giulia,

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In short, each vehicle manufacturer must meet an increasingly restrictive average CO2 emission for its fleet or face penalties. This penalty will translate to higher prices for our vehicles.

The best way for manufacturers to meet the NVES targets is to sell a heap of Electric vehicles.

The problem is that buyers are showing they don’t want EVs.

Demand has dropped from almost 10% last year to 4% or recorded sales this year. Initial demand was met by early adopters and second wave buyers. Government agencies, large corporations, and some individual stragglers are the only people buying EVs.

EV’s make some sense for localised urban travel. The have zero driving emissions which helps pollution.

However, sales of Hybrids and PHEVs are booming. These vehicles make sense for the long distances Australians travel. They are convenient, economical and don’t restrict our lifestyles. FBT exemptions fuel demand for PHEVs..

The NVES legislation is yet another example of legislation where a government simply gets it wrong and is out of touch with everyday Australians.

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I’m Rob Fraser

Readers can find more details about the NVES – HERE

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What is different about this PHEV is what they call the Super Hybrid System

As a Plug In Hybrid, the SHS system combines many of the benefits of both EV and a hybrid without the drawbacks. It provides silent, swift acceleration in full-electric mode, or can switch to hybrid- petrol mode for long-range efficiency and quick refuelling.

The EV only range is estimated at around 100km That’s a handy range. Coming from an 18.3kWh capacity battery.

Powered by a fifth-generation 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. This engine produces 105kW/215Nm, while the single electric motor has 150kW and 310Nm of torque.

They send power to the front wheels via a single-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT).

This Stepless Electric Hybrid System offers four driving modes—pure electric, series, parallel, and energy recovery.

There is a claimed 1200km range from all power sources. I have yet to assess that.

However, the pricing of $47,990 driveaway is something to take notice of.

With the Australian market embracing the benefits of hybrid technology over pure EV vehicles, this Is a smart vehicle for the brand to release.

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I’m Rob Fraser

Readers can find more details about the Jaecoo J7 SHS – HERE

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Pricing starts from $71,990 through to $86,990 plus the usual costs.

There are four models available. XLT, Sport, Wildtrak, and the special launch edition Stormtrak

Power comes from combining a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine with a 75kW electric motor (e-motor) and 11.8kWh (usable) battery. Total power is 207kW and maximum torque is 697Nm.

This will allow the Ute to have a payload of up to 937kg and tow 3500kg.

RANGER PHEV comes with a 10-Speed Automatic Modular Hybrid Transmission. There is a choice of both drive and EV only drive modes.

The full-time 4WD system was first introduced to Ranger with the 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel.

One really clever feature is the availability of standard Pro Power Onboard.

There is a single 10-amp, 2.3kW socket in the cabin, and twin 15-amp, 3.45kW sockets in the tray.

Pro Power Onboard uses the 11.8kWh battery to provide potentially hours of energy to worksite equipment, campsites, or even a caravan directly from the Ute.

The new model is due in Australia sometime mid-year and I for one am looking forward to driving it.

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I’m Rob Fraser

Readers can find more details about the Ranger PHEV  – HERE

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Other articles

• Ford Ranger PHEV – everything you need to know
• Ford Electric Ute
• Ford Electric Hybrid 4WD Ute coming 2025
• Ford Ranger PHEV – Plug-in Hybrid announced due in 2025

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Not only is it elegant in design but is lacks for almost nothing inside.

The seats are especially comfortable and for the front two occupants there are heating and ventilation and a Multi choice massage function. Let me tell you it works well.

The drivers instrument cluster is a 3D design with multi functionality. Again, it screams Peugeot innovation.

I love the flat bottom and top steering wheel that sits below the raised I cockpit. It allows, for me, perfect positioning of the steering wheel without any obscuring of the instruments.

The 10-inch central touch screen is amongst the best in class for clarity and functionality.

The whole interior ergonomics are first class.

Powering the 408 PHEV is a 1.6L turbocharged petrol engine with a 12.4 kWh battery. This allows around 45km of pure EV only driving, or you can use it as a normal hybrid. You can also save the EV drive if you wish.

The Peugeot is a delight to drive. Its smooth, quiet and comfortable. Its one of those cars that just feels right as soon as you sit in it.

Available by order only the 408 PHEV is definitely worth a drive if you are after a premium PHEV.

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I’m Rob Fraser

Readers can find more details about the Peugeot 408 PHEV  HERE 

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Instead of the Peugeot 408 PHEV buyers could look at:

Plug in Hybrid vehicles or PHEV are a mixed bag. They can be great and practical, or they can be misused. Either way there aren’t many available.

Buyers could look at the: Audi Q5 PHEV, Citroen C5-X PHEV, Mazda CX-60 PHEV, Lexus NX PHEV

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