Chery KP31 First Look: Australia’s First Diesel PHEV Ute

I’ll start by clarifying, KP31 is a development name for the ute, eventually they’ll give it a cool name like the Chery Starscream, the Chery Growler or hear me out…the Chery Ironhide!

Now, when I found out Chery’s new ute would be at the Chery Tech Day a few weeks back, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect and to be fair, most utes have become rather bland in 2026. So, when the covers came off the KP31, I found myself genuinely surprised, Chery just revealed a very desirable and highly customisable 4×4.

Tough, Fun, and Surprisingly Cool

The pre-production static vehicle on display wore a satin grey paint finish that suited it perfectly, giving the KP31 a purposeful, almost military quality without crossing into try-hard territory. The round headlight design with ring DRLs is a distinctive choice in a segment drowning in angular, aggressive lighting signatures, and it works. Paired with aggressive 285/70 R17 all-terrain tyres, a snorkel, and a tub rack loaded with 4×4 recovery tracks, the concept looked ready for an overland adventure rather than a shopping centre car park.

Large Chery lettering front and rear makes no apologies for the badge, and at 5,610mm long and 1,925mm tall on the concept (the production version trims to a more practical 5,450mm), this is a properly imposing vehicle. The design reads as both tough and fun, which is a harder balance to strike than it sounds.

Built for the Job

Chery Australia CEO Lucas Harris set the tone for the announcement clearly: the KP31 has been designed around “what ute buyers need and want, not just what Chery thinks they want.” That kind of market-led thinking is exactly what Australian buyers deserve, and the specifications back it up.

The KP31 rides on a true body-on-chassis construction, which will reassure buyers who’ve been watching the market’s slow drift towards monocoque alternatives. A removable rear tub adds genuine versatility, opening the door to flat trays or fully custom body configurations. Payload comes in at 1,000kg, and towing capacity is rated at 3,500kg, both competitive figures for the segment.

The Technology Story

Here’s where things get genuinely interesting. The KP31 will arrive as the world’s first plug-in hybrid diesel ute, and that alone deserves attention.

The diesel powertrain centres on a 2.5-litre turbocharged unit boasting 47% thermal efficiency, which Chery claims is class-leading. Compared to an average diesel powertrain, they’re promising 10% better fuel efficiency and 30% less vibration, the latter being a particularly meaningful claim for buyers who spend long hours behind the wheel on rough terrain.

As Lucas Harris put it at the event: “We’re incredibly excited to finally reveal the KP31 ute concept vehicle, and this marks the next step in bringing it to the Australian market. It’s also riveting to be the first brand to offer a diesel PHEV in the dual-cab ute class, which will be our key point of difference compared to the competition.”

A petrol PHEV variant is also planned for 2027, broadening the appeal of the platform further.

How It Stacks Up

With a Q4 2026 launch target, the KP31 will enter a fiercely contested market. Here’s how its announced specifications compare against the established top selling 4×4 utes:

The KP31’s payload and towing figures are competitive rather than class-leading, but that’s not really the headline. No other ute on sale in Australia offers a diesel PHEV system, and if the efficiency and NVH claims prove out in real-world driving, Chery will have a genuinely compelling argument for buyers who are curious about electrification but not ready to sacrifice diesel torque or range.

So, lets have a look below at how it stacks up against the current PHEV 4×4 ute competition:

A few things jump out immediately. Every other PHEV ute on the market or confirmed for Australia pairs its electric motor with a petrol engine, which makes the KP31’s diesel PHEV combination genuinely unique. More practically, the KP31’s 3,500kg towing capacity outpaces every current PHEV rival by a full tonne, and its 1,000kg payload is the strongest in the group by a considerable margin.

The BYD Shark in particular highlights the trade-off buyers currently face with PHEV utes. It’s an impressive and stylish machine, but its payload and towing figures fall short of what many working ute buyers require. The KP31 appears designed to avoid that compromise entirely.

Worth noting that specs for some rivals are subject to change, and the KP31’s figures are still based on concept-stage announcements. But on paper, if Chery delivers what it’s promising, the KP31 will be the most capable PHEV ute in Australia by a meaningful margin when it arrives in late 2026.

And more importantly, the turbo diesel engine should mitigate the ridiculous real-world fuel consumption figures that some of its competitors experience once the battery is depleted.

Early Verdict

There are still plenty of details to be confirmed closer to launch, and a static concept vehicle is a long way from a production model in a showroom. That said, Chery has clearly done its homework on what Australian ute buyers actually care about, and the diesel PHEV technology gives the KP31 a point of difference that no competitor can currently match. I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel when the time comes.

The KP31 is due in Australian showrooms in Q4 2026. Watch this space.