Hyundai ute coming in 2021

Are dual-cab utes the new SUVs?

With annual sales of the versatile hay-haulers continuing to skyrocket and brands like Mercedes-Benz this year entering the fray with the X-Class, it certainly seems that way.

Hyundai is working on its own light-commercial ute too, a bona-fide Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger competitor that will tow big loads, carry five passengers and have a 1000kg payload capacity. And it won't look anything like the Hyundai Santa Cruz lifestyle ute pictured throughout this story.

According to Hyundai Australia's PR boss, Bill Thomas the ute project is underway but it's yet to be given production approval by Hyundai HQ in Seoul, South Korea.

Australia would naturally be a boom market for a Hyundai ute but the Asian car giant is studying other markets for sales suitability too.

"The vehicle certainly needs to be international [to be approved] and needs to sell in proper volume, and I believe the [viability] studies have taken in all markets including South East Asia.

"The other aspect to it is that we'll need somewhere to build it. So there's been talk of having to build a new factory to manufacture the pick-up," he explained.

Despite the significant hurdles that need to be overcome, the local Hyundai spokesman's tone was bullish, saying we could see the ute within about four years.

"It's a big engineering job, almost certainly a HiLux-sized ute. We're looking at probably 2021," he said.

"The form of the vehicle and the powertrain and the dimensions are still to be decided but we understand it's in progress now, so it's very exciting," stated Thomas, who stressed that Hyundai's Australian operation was eager to add a ute to its showrooms.

The rise of the humble ute, or pick-up truck as they're called overseas, has been rapid and it's forced companies such as Mercedes-Benz and Renault to piggy-back off an existing ute, namely the Nissan Navara.

The time and money required to develop an all-new ute from the ground up is mind-boggling. Throw in an entirely new factory and you're looking at a multi-billion-dollar investment.

Hyundai has proved incredibly resourceful over the past two decades, transforming itself from a bumpkin brand to a respected car-maker.

"The brand image is right for a pick-up," insisted Thomas, "so assuming the engineers get their work done properly, which we're very confident they will, that's a great brand-builder for the Hyundai name and a good volume vehicle."

Expect plenty of Aussie input into the design, engineering and feature set too.

"As with pretty much all Hyundai vehicles, it'll be tested in Australia. Hot-weather testing happens here, so there's no problem with durability. We don’t think there's a huge problem with reliability. We think we're one of the more reliable brands and with a long warranty we can back that up," said Thomas.

"To have a competitive pick-up in that space would be positive. We've already proven that Hyundai commercial vehicles work well, in the form of the iLoad and the iMax. They're selling well, they're strong vehicles.

"We'll have to wait and see, but we're very excited by it."

We couldn't help but ask if the brand's German-based performance division, N, might get their hands on the Hyundai ute too, bring a Ford Ranger Raptor competitor to the market early in the near decade.

Thomas' only response was a smile.