Chery wants to combine BYD Shark 6 and Toyota HiLux powertrains into one, with new technology for the Australian market for 2026.
Chery’s first four-wheel drive ute for the Australian market is set to pick up a diesel ‘Super Hybrid’ powertrain, which is yet another new powertrain frontier for the burgeoning segment.
Slated to arrive to the Australian market in 2026, Chery’s first four-wheel drive ute will theoretically combine some powertrain elements of the BYD Shark 6 and Toyota HiLux into one.
This technology could include a plug-in battery rated for over 100km of electric-only driving range, as well a diesel engine for a longer overall driving range.
And according to Chery, this new technology will still carry a circa-1000kg payload and 3500kg braked towing capacity.
While Chery does have a range of internal combustion, hybrid, petrol and diesel powertrains available to choose from for the Australian market, Managing Director Lucas Harris described diesel PHEV as being "very likely".
“We’ve got options for diesel, hybrid diesel, plug-in hybrid diesel and plug-in hybrid petrol (for the 2026 Chery ute)” Harris told Drive.
“Of all the options that are available to us, the diesel plug-in hybrid is I think the most exciting.” Harris continued.
“Because you get all of that low-down torque of a diesel, but then you get the benefits of great fuel economy and a great driving experience on the highway with the plug-in element.”
“Some of those things are yet to be finalised and confirmed, but I think it would be amazing.”
Harris also pointed to the possibility of the Chery ute to only have hybrid options for the Australian market, instead of straight petrol or diesel internal combustion:
“And we’ll be able to have I think a compelling enough price point with that hybrid technology that means: why would you want the old technology?”
Plug-in hybrid diesel powertrains are a rare occurrence in Australia, with petrol being heavily favoured for both hybrid and plug-in hybrid applications in recent years.
Diesel vehicles traditionally have mild hybrid assistance at best, but Audi did bring a diesel plug-in hybrid Q7 to the Australian market. It was only short-lived however, being on sale for 2017 and 2018.
Harris poured cold water on the possibility of an electric ute from Chery any time soon, calling it ‘highly unlikely’ and ‘difficult’.
Chery is also looking at another seven seat SUV for the Australian market, which could be a competitor for the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest.
But as the Chinese car brand looks to expand into more markets and increase sales volume, Harris is campaigning for a hatchback and sedan to be made available for the Australian market.
Sam Purcell has been writing about cars, four-wheel driving and camping since 2013, and obsessed with anything that goes brum-brum longer than he can remember. Sam joined the team at CarAdvice/Drive as the off-road Editor in 2018, after cutting his teeth at Unsealed 4X4 and Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures. Off-road writer of the Year, Winner - Sam Purcell
