How Chery's Stockman can beat Shark 6

The Chery Stockman dual-cab ute has the potential to truly rattle the cage of rivals such as the BYD Shark 6 and JAC Hunter PHEV and even more established players like the Toyota HiLux and Nissan Navara.. A diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain is straight away an obvious point of difference for the Stockman range - with a petrol PHEV due here in 2027 - and that's a big deal because, as CarsGuide news editor Dom Tripolone has noted in previous stories, no other ute-maker has delivered a diesel-hybrid set-up to market here, not even Toyota.. With the Stockman due to go on sale here at the end of this year, anticipation is rapidly building, but Chery's ute needs to excel in a few key areas - namely capability, real-world local tuning and price - in order for it to really make a mark in the Australian market..

Read on.. All early signs here are positive.. The Stockman will have a 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine and an electric motor for total outputs of 350kW and 800Nm..

Electric-only driving range will likely be between 80km and 100km.. The diesel plug-in hybrid will be joined by a petrol plug-in version in 2027.. This big ute - measuring 5450mm long (with a 3250mm wheelbase), 2010mm wide and 1890mm high - will have 247mm of ground clearance and be fitted with all-terrain tyres as standard..

Suspension will be a double wishbone set-up at the front and leaf springs at the rear.. Chery has previously stated that the Stockman would have a dual transfer case - with low- and high-range 4WD - and front, centre and rear diff locks, so, on paper, it's well set up for off-roading and dirt-track touring.. The Stockman's tub is claimed to be 1560mm long, 1560mm wide and 500mm deep, so industry standard..

Though Chery has not officially released any payload figures yet, towing capacities for this ute are claimed to be 750kg (unbraked) and 3500kg (braked), so industry standard.. If the Stockman delivers on Chery's capability promises then that's a battle won.. When it comes to an AWD or a 4WD marketed as a "purpose-built" 4WD, the proof really has to be in the off-road pudding..

Car buyers are so sophisticated nowadays that carmakers are increasingly entering into collaborations with companies in order to develop vehicles that greatly benefit from substantial engineering away from the OEM.. Chery has revealed it has enlisted the services of Melbourne-based vehicle engineering firm, Premcar, to manage the Stockman's local ride and handling program in order to tweak the ute's suspension and chassis to ultimately best suit Australian conditions.. Premcar's work on the Navara and Patrol Warriors, among many other vehicle projects, is renowned and has shown that the company can be entrusted with crucial conversion work, engineering upgrades and the fitment of adventure-ready accessories in order to add real value to a vehicle..

Chery Australia Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris has previously told CarsGuide that Premcar staff were "doing assessment and validation across many different aspects of the vehicle and many different driving situations".. "So it's not just off-road, but it's also on-road performance, and they'll give feedback on ride and handling and how the infotainment system works, and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) and how the ADAS (advanced driver assist systems) works." True blue tuning across myriad road and track surfaces in different conditions is welcome, but a car company simply claiming that it has undertaken "local tuning" is not welcome.. In Premcar we trust..

The value-for-money space is one in which the Stockman can be solidly established especially if Chery manages to price the ute in such a way that holds plenty of appeal as an attractive purchase.. Pricing has been tipped to be around the $57,900 mark (excluding on-road costs), which will pit it squarely against the likes of BYD Shark 6 and MGU9.. If the Stockman proves value- and feature-packed, as well as comfortable and capable enough then sharp pricing will make it even more competitive in an increasingly pricey market..

If Chery has created a ute that manages to avoid the flaws and niggles of some other Chinese off-roaders - such as counter-intuitive and complicated touchscreens, intrusive driver-assist tech, clunky off-road traction control systems, and an inability to truly excel in the tough stuff - then it's on its way to getting a real foothold in the Aussie market.. Add in sharp pricing, solid build quality, reliable all-round capability, and an agreeable on-road performance and the Stockman may be able to really crack the whip on its competition.. Note:.

The Stockman is due to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026, when pricing and technical details for the diesel PHEV and petrol PHEV are expected to be announced..