Australian ute buyers are a beautifully suspicious bunch. Give them a new plug-in ute and they will ask three questions before the coffee cools. How much is it, what can it tow, and how much can it carry?
The JAC Hunter PHEV now has answers. Reservations open from 5pm AEST on Tuesday, May 5, with JAC Motors Australia saying the new 4×4 plug-in hybrid ute will start from under $50,000 MSRP. That number should make everyone else in the ute aisle giggle uncontrollably, but Toyota and Mitsubishi, and Ford might well gag on a wee bit of hubris.
The headline figures alone should keep the gagging going. JAC says Hunter PHEV makes 360kW, has 3500kg braked towing capacity and carries a 915kg payload across the range. It also claims up to 1005km of combined range and 1.6L/100km combined fuel use on the NEDC cycle.
Above: 2026 Sealion 8 Premium a 359kw Beast
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ABOVE: JAC Hunter PHEV in testing and launch imagery.
That last part needs the usual real-world eyebrow, because NEDC numbers can be optimistic little creatures. Still, the point is not subtle. JAC is trying to make a plug-in hybrid ute look useful first and clever second.
Price towing and payload
The hardware is a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine working and dual electric motors. There is a 31.2kWh LFP battery, 4WD, front and rear differential locks, and vehicle-to-load power for tools, camping gear or any portable appliance that turns a campsite into a small suburban kitchen. Again, Ranger PHEV looks like a cattle dray in comparison.
The towing number is the big swing. JAC says the Hunter PHEV keeps its full 3500kg braked towing capacity, rather than offering a greener drivetrain with an asterisk hanging off the tow bar. For buyers who haul vans, trailers or work gear, that is where interest turns into calculators.
JAC has also given the ute a local testing touch-up. Under Project No Shortcuts, Hunter completed a 50,000km Australian validation program covering heat, heavy rain, rough unsealed roads and long-distance touring. That homework on a new ute brand has to show before anyone hands over serious money, but we suspect even Kia’s Tasman looks last century when the tech is side by side..
| Price | Under $50,000 MSRP |
| Power | 360kW |
| Braked towing | 3500kg |
| Payload | 915kg |
| Combined range | Up to 1005km, NEDC |
| Fuel use | 1.6L/100km combined, NEDC |
| Battery | 31.2kWh LFP |
| Drivetrain | 4WD with front and rear differential locks |
| Reservation date | Tuesday, May 5 at 5pm AEST |
Why Hunter PHEV matters
There is outside engineering credibility in the mix too. JAC says Michael Barber from Multimatic contributed to the ride, handling and steering balance, with the aim of making the Hunter behave under load rather than only looking capable in bus shelter posters.
Ahmed Mahmoud, Managing Director at JAC Motors Australia, says the aim was to deliver a work-ready ute with class-leading power, serious towing ability and strong efficiency without premium pricing. That is a neat pitch, and one that will resonate with trusty tradies if the sub-$50K starting point holds once drive-away numbers arrive.
Reservations are now open at JAC’s Australian Hunter site, with an hot, no-steak-knife offer for the first 1000 customers who reserve and take delivery. The pitch is easy to understand, and not easy for rivals to ignore. If Hunter PHEV can put plug-in hybrid running costs, proper towing and a super-low starting price in the same driveway, the ute market may have to find a new excuse.
The ute battle is no longer a Hilux/Ranger affair, it is more like, why pay much more for them, only to get much less.
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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