2026 JAC Hunter to be Australia’s cheapest plug-in hybrid ute, undercutting BYD Shark 6

The 2026 JAC Hunter dual-cab is set to become the cheapest plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute available in Australia, undercutting not only the top-selling BYD Shark 6, but the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and Ford Ranger PHEV.

JAC says the Hunter will be priced from “under $50,000” before on-road costs when local order books open at 5:00pm AEST today (May 5, 2026), ahead of first Australian deliveries in the third quarter of this year (July to September).

That would make it cheaper than the current price leader, the PHEV-only Shark 6 dual-cab, which was introduced in February 2025 with a single-spec ‘Premium’ pickup priced at $57,900 before on-road costs, before additional variants – including the Dynamic cab/chassis at $55,900 plus on-roads and the more powerful Performance flagship at $62,900 plus ORCs – joined the range last month.

It would also undercut the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, which is currently priced from $61,490 drive-away for the entry-level Lux variant.

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The four-grade Ford Ranger PHEV lineup remains the most expensive, despite recent price cuts of about $10,000 for outgoing 2026 model-year (MY26) vehicles, and is now advertised from $62,000 drive-away.

“Our focus was simple: deliver a truly work-ready ute with class-leading power, serious towing capability and outstanding efficiency, without the premium price tag,” JAC Motors Australia managing director Ahmed Mahmoud said in a statement.

The first 1000 customers to reserve a Hunter PHEV will receive either a home charger or a $500 JAC genuine accessories voucher.

The Hunter PHEV will be the second JAC model in Australian showrooms, joining the diesel-powered T9 dual-cab ute, and has undergone local powertrain validation and chassis testing.

Full specifications are yet to be confirmed, including how many model grades will be offered, but the Hunter PHEV will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine combined with dual electric motors producing a total output of 360kW.

That’s 10kW more than the new BYD Shark 6 Performance, while the Cannon Alpha PHEV produces up to 300kW and the Ranger PHEV offers a combined 207kW.

JAC has yet to confirm torque figures for the Hunter, though overseas versions produce up to 1000Nm – eclipsing its current PHEV rivals, with the Cannon Alpha being the closest at 750Nm.

A 31.2kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery is claimed to deliver a combined driving range of 1005km, along with combined fuel consumption of 1.6L/100km – narrowly better than the Cannon Alpha which has a larger engine and body.

The Hunter’s electric-only driving range is claimed to exceed 100km, which compares to 98km (WLTP) for the Cannon Alpha, 100km for the Shark 6, and just 49km for the Ranger (both NEDC).

JAC claims the Hunter also delivers benchmark 3500kg braked towing capacity, along with a 915kg payload and both rear and front differential locks.

The Hunter may not hold the title of Australia’s cheapest PHEV ute for long, however. The upcoming Chery KP31 dual-cab – expected to be the first diesel PHEV ute to arrive here – is due in local showrooms later this year, followed by a petrol PHEV version in 2027.

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