Presented by MTF Finance
We're on a mission to find the Car of the Decade and we want your help. Vote for the best cars of the last 10 years and you'll be in to win $2500 for fuel or EV charging.
We've selected finalists in nine categories: Ute, Game Changer, Family SUV, Hybrid/EV, Aussie Big Six, Sports/Performance, Urban, Luxury and... Dud of the Decade.
If you want to read more about the finalists in any of those categories, click on the relevant blue words above. If you want to go straight to the voting page and have your say, you can do that here.
But right now, let's take a look at the contenders for Ute of the Decade.
Ram 1500 (DT-generation, 2021-)
“Remanufacturing” massive American pickup trucks for Australia and NZ has become a big thing over the past decade. Ram, through American Special Vehicles in Melbourne, has been doing it the longest and sold more than anybody else: 35,000 in Australasia since 2015.
The latest DT-generation Ram 1500 is a quality conversion… oops, we mean remanufacture. It covers a wide price/spec range, looks the business and tows big stuff.
Ford Ranger (T6.2-generation, 2022-)
The so-called “T6.2” Ford Ranger (the one with the F150-style C-clamp lights) redefined what we could expect from a one-tonne ute in terms of styling, equipment and on-road dynamics, while maintaining no-compromise 4x4 and towing ability. It contributed to a decade of number-one sales for the Ranger, from 2014-24.
It also brought plug-in power to the Ranger with no compromise in towing or 4x4 ability.
Ranger set standards that most makers of one-tonne utes are still struggling to match. We upset a few apple carts in 2022 by making it our overall Car of the Year, reasoning that many people buy these things as dual-purpose work/family vehicles and the Ranger more than justifies itself in multiple roles.
BYD Shark 6 (2024-)
It wasn’t the first Chinese plug-in ute to be sold in NZ, but the BYD Shark 6 was certainly the first that people really wanted to buy and be seen in.
It looks the part, with truck-like styling. It’s also clever, with a “super hybrid” powertrain that offers close to 100km of pure-electric running, and a backup petrol engine that keeps you moving until you can recharge.
We voted it our overall Car of the Year for 2025. BYD NZ has since bolstered the ranks with the Performance version (bigger engine, more towing ability) and a cab-chassis model.