Two affordable Chinese utes, featuring designs reminiscent of the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500, are set to make their way to Australia by the end of September 2025. The Foton Tunland V7 and V9, which made their Australian debut at the 2025 Melbourne Motor Show, are poised to enter the competitive ute market as rivals to the GWM Cannon Alpha. These models will fill the size gap between the Ford Ranger and the Ford F-150, offering Australian consumers more choice in the growing mid-sized ute segment.
The Foton Tunland line-up will be distributed in Australia by Inchcape, the same distributor behind Subaru, Peugeot, and Chinese brand Deepal. These models, already available in South America and the Philippines, mark Foton’s return to the Australian market following a previous attempt in the last decade that wasn’t as successful. Both utes share a similar body structure but differ in design; the V7 sports an F-150-inspired front end, while the V9 mimics the Ram 1500.
Under the hood, both the V7 and V9 will be powered by a 120kW/450Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Both models also feature a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, similar to the one found in the Toyota HiLux, aimed at improving fuel efficiency. Foton claims that these utes will offer a segment-leading braked towing capacity of 3500kg, which is on par with mid-sized utes such as the Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton. However, this is less than the 4500kg towing capacity found in larger full-size utes like the latest Ram 1500 Laramie Sport and the new Ford Ranger Super Duty.
The V9 offers an upgraded suspension system, featuring coil springs at the rear, in contrast to the V7’s leaf-spring suspension. This makes the V9 more sophisticated and comparable to rivals like the Ranger, HiLux, and GWM Cannon. The V7 will be available in both 4x2 and 4x4 configurations, with dimensions slightly larger than the GWM Cannon Alpha, measuring 5617mm in length, 2000mm in width, and a 3355mm wheelbase. The V9, which is only available in four-wheel drive, is closer in size to the Ford F-150 short-wheelbase model, measuring 5797mm long, 2090mm wide, and with a 3505mm wheelbase.
Overseas versions of both models come equipped with six airbags and a suite of safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The cabins also feature high-end touches like nappa-like leather upholstery, a 14.6-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and digital instruments.
Further details about the Australian versions of the Foton Tunland V7 and V9 are expected closer to their launch. While specific pricing and features are yet to be confirmed, the Melbourne Motor Show provided a glimpse of what consumers can expect from these new utes when they arrive in Australia.