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Need help picking a ute for work? Want one that can double up as a family vehicle after hours or for the weekend?
Here's a helpful comparison of the features and capabilities of the nine best utes on sale in Australia.
The Triton has the longest warranty of any of the utes here, with a 10-year guarantee, so long as you have it serviced according to Mitsubishi's maintenance intervals. The 2.4-litre engine isn't the most powerful here, but it's reasonably frugal. It also happens to be one of the best-looking dual-cab utes on sale. Plus, it has many modern safety assists.
The Triton has a Finder score of 80.50%. Reviewers most commonly praised the Triton's pricing, safety equipment and its SUV-like handling. Towing capacity is a little down on some of its rivals, but you should read more into how towing limits are calculated – there's more to it than the brochure figure.
1 x USB input, 2 speakers, 2 x 12V accessory socket, 6.1-inch display with touchscreen, AM/FM radio, auto up/down driver's side window, CD player, manual temperature control, side and rear window demisters, tilt & telescopic steering column, vinyl floor covering
Control & handling*
Double wishbones, coil springs and stablisers at front, power steering, rear heavy duty leaf springs and brake drums, Super Select II 4WD (on 4WD models), Trailer Stability Assist, vented front disc brakes
Driver*
Adjustable speed limiter, Bluetooth® voice control & audio streaming, cruise control, manual driver's seat adjustment, multi-function steering wheel controls and power-adjustable door mirrors
Exterior*
6 tie-down points (dual-cabs), 16-inch steel wheels with full-size spare, halogen exterior low, high & DRL
Security*
Auto door lock, engine immobiliser, keyless entry with central door locking
Engine
2.4L turbo diesel
Power & torque
133kW @ 3,500RPM, 430Nm @ 2,500RPM
Fuel
7.8L per 100km
Safety
2 x ISOFIX on dual-cabs, Active Stability Control (ASC), Active Traction Control (ATC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Override System (BOS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist system (EBA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), rear view camera and parking sensors (on double cabs), Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
Word on the street, from both car reviewers and the ute-buying public, is that the Ford Ranger is one of the best work utes on sale. The Ranger stable is varied, with stripped-back workhorse models, special editions and even a performance model in the Ranger Raptor. That thing is like a road-legal Baja car.
The Ranger has a Finder score of 85%, sharing the top spot with the VW Amarok. Reviewers loved the Ford Ranger's handling, the excellent SYNC 3 infotainment system, the safety features, the general build quality and the powertrains.
2 x USB ports, 4 speakers, 8.0-inch colour touchscreen, AM/FM stereo, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, FordPass Connect (with embedded modem), lower dashboard 12V power outlet, power windows front (auto driver), rear window defrost, single-zone manual climate control, SYNC3, vinyl flooring, windscreen mounted USB port
Control & handling*
Power steering, Trailer Sway Control
Driver*
4.2-inch Multi-Function Display, 6-way manual driver seat-adjustment, auto on/off headlamps, Bluetooth®, cruise control, power-adjustable side mirrors
Exterior*
16-inch steel wheels
Security*
Remote keyless entry
Engine
2.2L turbo diesel, 3.2L turbo diesel or 2.0L bi-turbo diesel
Power & torque
118kW @ 3,200RPM/385Nm @ 1,600-2,500RPM (2.2 diesel). Up to 157kW @ 3,750RPM/500Nm @ 1,750-2,000RPM (2.0-litre bi-turbo)
Fuel
6.5L per 100km
Safety
2 x ISOFIX on dual-cabs, ABS, Adjustable Speed Limiter, Auto High Beam, Autonomous Emergency Braking (pedestrian detection), Beltminder – all positions, Driver Impairment Monitor, Dynamic Stability Control, Emergency Brake Assist, Emergency Assistance, Emergency Brake Light, Hill Launch Assist, Lane Keeping Aid, Load Adaptive Control, Roll Over Mitigation, Traffic Sign Recognition, Traction Control System
Airbags
Driver & front passenger, front seat side and side curtain full length
The Nissan Navara is priced to compete. It's also the meanest and most clean-looking ute on sale as of 2021, in our opinion. Nissan, after popular demand, finally gifted the Navara with a similar grille design to its huge US cousin, the Titan. The Japanese car-making giant also made waves when it adopted a multi-link rear coil spring suspension config over a conventional, hard as nails, leaf spring set-up.
Like the Ford Ranger, there's a twin-turbo variant of the engine on sale. The best Navara on fuel uses 7.2L/100km, according to the brochure.
The Nissan Navara has a Finder score of 75%. Reviewers liked the tough design, towing capacity, refined ride, engine fuel economy, dimensions and zesty acceleration.
1 USB A rear centre console charging port, 1 USB-A/1 x USB C (centre console), 2 x 12 V outlet, 4 x tie-down points, 4-way front passenger seat with manual slide & recline, 6 speakers, 8-inch colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, A/C, AM/FM radio, power windows (auto up/down for driver), rear air vents in centre console, rear window defroster, UV & heat rejecting windscreen, vinyl floor front and rear covering
Control & handling*
Front ventilated brake discs, rear drum brakes, independent double wishbone with front stabliser bar, 5-link rear suspension, power steering
Driver*
6-way driver seat with manual slide/recline/height adjustment, 7.0-inch advanced drive assist instrument cluster display, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system & audio streaming, cruise control, digital speedometer, manual tilt adjustable steering column, power-adjustable door mirrors, steering wheel audio controls
If you want a V6 diesel, the Amarok is your only option. It's a little longer in the tooth than most of its competitors – in fact, it's now discontinued in key international markets, pending a replacement, that's coming next year.
The Amarok has a very high Finder score, matching the Ford Ranger, at 85%. Car reviewers gushed about the smooth, silky V6 diesel. They also praised its refined handling and the high-end interior build quality.
1 x 12V socket, 4 cargo area load restraints, 6 speakers, 6.3-inch colour touchscreen display, AM/FM, App Connect USB interface for Apple CarPlay & Android Auto and MirrorLink, AUX and SD card slot, CD player, external USB input, heat insulated tinted glass, power front and rear windows with one touch up/down, remote operated close and open feature, rubber cab flooring, single-zone A/C
Control & handling*
Double wishbone and anti-roll bar front, leaf spring and stabiliser bar rear, power steering, front ventilated brake discs, rear drum brakes (rear vented discs on more powerful V6 models), Trailer Sway Stability Control, Mechanical Diff Lock, selectable 4MOTION Transmission
Driver*
Audio, phone and Multi-Function Display controls on steering wheel, Bluetooth® phone connectivity with contacts display, cruise control, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, leather covered steering wheel and gearshift knob, Multi Function Display (MFD Plus), Multi-function Display or Bluetooth® audio streaming operation via touchscreen audio unit, optical parking system display and rear view camera, power-adjusted door mirrors with heating function, rear parking sensors, voice commands
The one most people associate with the word "ute", the HiLux is consistently the best-selling model. It's a relentless force. You'll pay a little more for Toyota's reputation, but it's basically the Hoover or Jet Ski of the ute world.
The Toyota HiLux has a solid 79.67% Finder score. Reviewers liked the new-styling, the modernisations such as Bi-LED headlights and infotainment upgrades. The HiLux was praised for its comfort and little ripper engines.
1 x power accessory sockets, 2 speakers, 8-inch colour touchscreen display with AM/FM tuner, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, Bluetooth® connecivity, driver's auto up/down window, large glove box, manual A/C, power front & rear windows, USB input, vinyl flooring
Control & handling*
Power steering, vented front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, front double wishbones and leaf spring rear suspension
Driver*
4.2-inch Multi Information Display, cruise control, manual tilt steering and telescopic reach steering column, power-adjustable mirrors, steering wheel switches with telephone and voice recognition
Exterior*
16-inch steel wheels, auto on/off headlamps, halogen DRLs
Security*
Alarm, engine immobiliser, power door locks, remote keyless entry
ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hill-start Assist Control, Pre-Collision Safety system with pedestrian and daylight cyclist detection, reverse camera (pick-up only), Road Sign Assist and Active Cruise Control (High-speed), Toyota Safety Sense - Lane Departure Alert, Traction Control (TRC), Vehicle Stability Control
Airbags
Driver frontal, side chest, side head & driver knee
Until recently, the BT-50 was actually a T6 Ford Ranger beneath the outer body panels. However, late last year, Mazda switched the third-generation BT-50 onto the Isuzu D-Max platform. Isuzu reportedly solely developed the ute.
The BT-50 is riding the D-Max's coat-tails when it comes to the new safety tech fitted. The second-gen BT-50 had a Finder score of 78%. Interestingly, the D-Max is cheaper than the BT-50.
1 x 12V power outlet, 1 x USB charging point, 2 speakers, 7-inch colour touchscreen, air-conditioning, auxiliary 3.5mm input, Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio capability, digital radio, driver & passenger seat height/rake and slide adjustment, power windows, USB Android Auto, wireless & USB Apple CarPlay
Control & handling*
Heavy-duty rear leaf springs, independent front double wishbones with coil springs and anti-roll bar, vented front disc, drum rear brakes, Trailer Sway Control
Driver*
4.2-inch Multi-Information Meter Display, Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio capability, cruise control
Exterior*
17-inch steel wheels
Security*
Alarm, engine immobiliser, remote central locking
Engine
3.0L turbo diesel
Power & torque
140kW @ 3,600RPM, 450Nm @ 1,600-2,600RPM
Fuel
7.7L per 100km
Safety
2 x ISOFIX, Attention Assist, Auto Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitoring, Brake Assist, Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK) - overtaking, Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Halogen Daytime Running Lamps, High Beam Control (HBC), Hill Descent Control, Hill Launch Assist, Intelligent Speed Limiter (ISL), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane-Keep Assist System (LAS), LED auto on/off headlamps, Manual Speed Limiter, rain-sensing wipers, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), reverse camera, Roll Over Protection, secondary collision reduction, Traction Control System, Traffic Sign Recognition, Turn assist, underbody impact protection
The D-Max was very recently completely redesigned. It seems the changes were hugely successful, as many now view the D-Max as the benchmark for ute safety. It's a great looking ute too.
Finder's Alex Jeffs drove the new D-Max in December. After testing the D-Max, Jeffs said:
I am a big fan of the new D-Max, and in my opinion, if you are looking at a new 4x4 ute, this is certainly worth a look. In my view, and those of many others, it is right at the top of the segment pile.
4 speaker sound system, 7-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, easy-clean vinyl flooring, lockable glovebox, manual A/C, power windows with one-touch up and down for driver's window, tool storage behind seats
Control & handling*
Front independent double wishbones, stabiliser bar, rear leaf-springs, vented front discs, rear drums, power steering
Driver*
6-way adjustable driver seat, auto headlights, auto high beam, come home light, power door mirrors, smart MID with digital speedometer, steering wheel with cruise/audio and voice recognition controls, tilt and telescopic reach steering wheel
Exterior*
17-inch steel wheels
Security*
Central locking with keyless entry, engine immobiliser
Engine
3.0L turbo diesel
Power & torque
140kW @ 3,600RPM/450Nm @ 1,600-2,600RPM
Fuel
7.2L per 100km
Safety
2 x ISOFIX, ABS, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with stop & go (automatic transmission), auto wipers, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), day/night interior rear view mirror, Driver Attention Assist, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Intelligent Speed Limiter, Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keep Assist (auto only), Manual Speed Limiter, Misacceleration Mitigation (auto only), Post-Collision Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), reversing camera, Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), Turn Assist with AEB, under front steel skid plate
The grandad of the ute world is no slouch! This thing is a diehard ute, used in mines and other rough conditions that would leave other pick-ups running for cover.
It might not have the flashiest specs, but it does have the bare minimum of the things you do need. Plus, many buyers are attracted by its 4.5-litre, turbo diesel V8. For some reason, Toyota doesn't publicise payload info, but the LandCruiser 70 is good for towing up to 3,500kg.
Car reviewers generally view the LandCruiser 70 as unkillable, utilitarian and dependable, with a lionhearted diesel at its core.
Comfort*
1 x USB input, 2 speakers, 2 x USB charging ports, 6.1-inch touchscreen display, A/C, all weather floor mats, AM/FM radio, glove box, sat-nav with live traffic, Toyota Link, vinyl seat trim
Control & handling*
Front and rear vented discs, front coil springs and anti-roll bar, leaf springs rear, power steering, snorkel
Driver*
Blueooth® connectivity
Exterior*
16-inch steel wheels
Security*
Engine immobiliser
Engine
4.5L turbo diesel
Power & torque
151kW @ 3,400RPM/430Nm @ 1,200-3,200RPM
Fuel
10.7L per 100km
Safety
ABS, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Active Traction Control (A-TRAC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
Airbags
Driver & front passenger, curtain shield and driver's knee airbags
Relative newcomers to Australia, Ram Trucks import US pick-up trucks and convert them to right-hand drive, with factory support, locally in Melbourne.
The results are staggering. Ram produces some of the most impressive utes in the country. They have ridiculous towing capacities, of up to 4,500kg, with the larger 2500 able to haul just under 7,000kg thanks to its 6.7-litre diesel.
Car reviewers scored the 1500 highly. It's apparently incredibly capable on or off-road. Plus, they have some unique accessory options, like the smart "RamBox". They also boast smooth engines. Fuel economy might not be a strong suit, but pretty much everything else is.
Comfort*
5-inch touchscreen Telematics UCONNECT®3, 6 speakers, auxiliary 12V outlets, Bluetooth®, Driver and passenger seat adjustment manual forward/back and recline, front and rear power windows, manual climate control, rear under seat tool compartment storage, tinted glass windows and windshield glass, USB & AUX jack
Control & handling*
Heavy duty tow bar, front upper and lower A arms, twin-tube shocks and stabiliser, rear five-link with track bar, coil springs, stabiliser bar and twin-tube shock absorbers, power steering
Driver*
3.5-inch Multi-View cluster, adjustable steering column, automatic headlamps, cruise and transmission control, power and heated door mirrors, rear park assist system, reverse camera, steering wheel switches with phone, voice recognition and instrument panel control
Exterior*
20-inch alloy wheels
Security*
Remote keyless entry with ALLSECURE®, tip start
Engine
5.7L V8 petrol
Power & torque
291kW @ 5,600rpm/556Nm @ 3,950RPM
Fuel
12L per 100km
Safety
ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, front fog lights, Hill Start Assist, stability control, Traction control, Trailer Sway Control, Tyre Pressure Monitoring
Airbags
Driver, front passenger, front seat side & curtain
Looking for the best work ute? Need a truck that'll be your ultimate companion on the road, whether it's at work or taking the family out on the weekends? Or maybe you just need a ute that's going to be able to handle what you have to tow each day. Whatever your needs, there's a ute out there for you. Just make sure you understand all of the features that are available, so you don't miss out and can drive away knowing you've made the right choice.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Dual-cab utes. All the vehicles above are dual-cabs (sometimes called crew cabs), meaning you'll have up to five seats in the passenger compartment and a slightly smaller, shorter tray. Dual-cabs are big vehicles that give you the best of both worlds.
Power and handling. Just because you're buying a ute, doesn't mean you should go without comfort. Modern utes have surprisingly comfortable rides, without compromising load carrying. However, some do this better than others. Alex Jeffs says the Ford Ranger is definitely one of the most soft-riding out there, meaning it's comfortable for everyday driving. Many utes are essentially car-like, or at least resemble SUVs, in their handling. Power and torque are something to look for too. Having more power and torque is good, but you need them to kick in low-down in the rev range. That way, your ute is delivering up the most performance, right from the off. You'll notice low-end torque most when taking off while fully loaded or hooked up to a trailer.
Security. Keeping your tools safe is paramount. If you regularly carry expensive equipment or materials, look for utes with lockable hard or roller tonneau covers. These quickly secure the load in the tray and keep things out of sight. Also handy to have is keyless entry, especially if you work solo and need to load heavy materials like bags of cement or adhesives. Must-haves also include central locking, an engine immobiliser and a factory alarm.
Safety. Most new ute models have several active safety assists. You'll also want to check for things like ISOFIX anchors for child seats, as well as airbags for the rear. Having things like Active Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition make long-distance driving less taxing.
Passenger comfort. Some of the tradie-spec utes miss out on fancy passenger comforts, but most offer the bare necessities. Higher trims have things like dual-zone A/C, upgraded audio and contoured leather seat upholstery.
Cost. Look at not only what you'll pay upfront, but running costs like fuel economy. Remember, when full-loaded or towing heavy trailers, fuel economy is going to be markedly higher. Make sure to balance the specs of top-of-the-range models, versus what you'll actually use and the purchase price. You might be able to write-off the cost of your ute thanks to the $150k asset write-off.
Reliability. See what kind of warranty is on offer with the ute, the longer the better. Note, some ute manufacturer's warranties advertised are for non-commercial use. Check online to see if the ute has any common mechanical faults, failures or recalls. You can never be too careful.
Sources: Manufacturer web sites DISCLAIMER: Many of the comments in this article are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information applicability to their own particular circumstances. These utes are presented in no particular order. Prices and features are accurate and up-to-date at the time of publication (Mar 2021)
Ben Gribbin is an automotive writer at Finder. He is a life-long car enthusiast, bringing many years of experience working with and writing about cars. During his time, Ben has been a freelance writer, editor and reviewer for a number of leading publications across the UK. He was voted the Guild of Motoring Writers Breakthrough Blogger in 2015.
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