The 2026 Australian ute price war just exploded. Ford Ranger Hybrid and Kia Tasman slash prices by up to $15,000 as 4x4 ute sales crash. Plus Suzuki dethrones Honda, Albo backs Aussie made EVs, Volvo EX60 lands. This week the Aussie car market hit a breaking point. Two major 4x4 dual cab utes just slashed five figure prices as 4x4 ute sales fall over 8.3 percent in 2026. The Kia Tasman has been cut by up to 13,000 dollars and the Ford Ranger Hybrid is down by almost 15,000 dollars. Is this the start of a full blown ute price war in Australia? Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says there is no reason why Australia cannot build cars again, specifically EVs. We unpack whether local Aussie car manufacturing is realistic in 2026, or just political theatre. Suzuki has officially dethroned Honda to become Japan's number two automaker, driven by a 40 percent market share in India. We break down how the little giant is quietly dominating global sales. We also expose the obscure Australian road rules that are draining driver wallets, including a 350 dollar fine for honking your horn, and reveal where Victoria's most dangerous drivers actually live. Finally, we get behind the wheel of the 2027 Volvo EX60 P6, the fully electric successor to the XC60 and arguably the most important launch of the year for the Swedish brand. Read the full editorials Ute price war Kia Tasman: https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/2026-kia-tasman-prices-cut-by-up-to-13k-as-ute-market-cools-152065/ Ford Ranger Hybrid price cut: https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/2026-ford-ranger-hybrid-range-slashes-prices-152054/ Albo on Aussie EV manufacturing: https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/no-reason-why-we-cant-pm-pushes-for-aussie-made-evs-152075/ Suzuki dethrones Honda: https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/the-little-giant-suzuki-dethrones-honda-152069/ Australia's most dangerous drivers: https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/revealed-victorias-most-dangerous-drivers-mapped-152080/ Obscure Aussie road rules: https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/the-obscure-road-rules-draining-aussie-drivers-wallets-152085/ 2027 Volvo EX60 P6 review: https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/2027-volvo-ex60-p6-review-152088/ Smash the like button. #FeannLetsTalk #FordRangerHybrid #KiaTasman #UtePriceWar #carsales
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Car manufacturing in Australia won't happen again. There's no economies of scale, at all.
Why would any sane person buy a Ranger
car manufacturing in Oz, pull the other one
Albo licks windows and doesn’t know 💩
The PM wants manufacturing that can be converted to war production and a full car production line can make nearly anything the military might want. Casting, forging, pressing, machining, sewing. Its part of the reason Trumps puppet masters wanted manufacturing back min the US. Plus supply chain security.
Got a Cannon Alpha PHEV. Can see why they are selling loads of them - awesome ute. Well built, luxury inside, and a beast off-road.
If Albo says it. Don't believe it. Liebor words have no integrity.
Remember that the sales of the BYD Shark in April 2025 was high as people were getting in on the last month of the FBT exemption for PHEVs.
China has flooded the EV market in Australia. Why would we make cars here? Albo He's a total idiot out of touch with the real world
Hopefully we can have car manufacturing back in Australia hopefully the prime minister isn't talking rubbish
The Kia Tasman is a lemon. After picking up the ute, the big surprise was that it came without a reverse camera in the 2026 ute with a tray. I warn people not to buy it. Dealers have no idea how to add one and are even willing to pay a ridiculous amount. It’s a joke, Kia.
because they were so over priced to start with and people still bought them now things are getting tighter they relise how over priced they are and they cant get away with it
Honda’s continued sales slump doesn’t surprise me, but seeing Suzuki climb into second place behind Toyota absolutely does. That's impressive.
Building cars in Australia is the most stupid idea Albo has come up with - and that is saying a lot.
I'd question speed camera data equating to a "dangerous" road. More like the speed limit is set too low.
"Let's build cars in Australia" Sounds more like a Chris Bowen statement. Never mind, I'm sure our policy of Net Zero, high wages and high energy costs will work in our favour.
I feel like the reason UTE sales are slowing down, is because for the last few years, they have been the best selling type of car. People aren't going to buy what they already have, infinite growth is something every company wants, but fails to realise it isn't realistic.
Honda needs to bring the Ridgeline to Australia. Would sell like hotcakes
Mitsis were doing the price drops for the last year or so.
The sale price & reviews were all good so I actually went to the Kia dealer to buy a Kia Tasman but on close inspection it was too ugly to wake up to every morning so I didn't buy it.