Best Utes
1.RAM 2500
8.3
1 badge available
$172,950 - $175,950*MRLP
What we love
- -Unparalleled towing performance
- -Cabin space and comfort are exceptional
- -Updated tech and infotainment
What we don't
- -Right-side column shifter feels out of place
- -Price means it's out of range for some buyers who could really use it
- -Brakes need some footwork to pull up quickly
2.Chevrolet Silverado
8.0
2 badges available
$130,500 - $138,000*MRLP
What we love
- -Engineered to tow, and does it smartly
- -Spacious and luxurious interior
- -Covers country miles easily and in comfort
What we don't
- -Infotainment falling behind the times
- -Active safety kit no match for smaller utes
- -Size makes it a handful around town
1 badge available
$163,000 - $163,000*MRLP
What we love
- -Effortless V8 diesel engine
- -Cabin quality and comfort
- -Sensational long-haul highway touring ability
What we don't
- -Capped-price servicing please
- -Turning circle is a whopper
- -Longer warranty would be a bonus
4.Volkswagen Crafter
7.9
3 badges available
$59,750 - $165,490*MRLP
What we love
- -Good loaded performance
- -Loads of interior comfort and practicality
- -Flexibility through the various options
What we don't
- -Low gearing yields high revs on the highway
- -Some additional standard inclusions would be nice
- -Rear-view camera should definitely be standard
5.Volkswagen Amarok
7.8
4 badges available
$55,490 - $82,990*MRLP
What we love
- -High-quality and functional interior – including those brilliant seats
- -Specification sweet spot – almost everything you want and expect at this price level
- -Economical when touring
What we don't
- -Fiddly infotainment and heater controls
- -Doesn’t love cold mornings
- -No tonneau cover for $74K?
6.Ford Ranger
7.7
7 badges available
$36,880 - $90,440*MRLP
What we love
- -Extra spend over Sport spec feels like good value
- -Light-truck tyres and Bilstein dampers are an improvement for off-roading
- -Off-road driving modes and turn assist work well
What we don't
- -Firmer suspension and stiffer tyres yield a jiggling ride
- -Cheaper than a Wildtrak X, but still not exactly cheap
- -Want a diesel V6? Too bad.
7.Isuzu D-MAX
7.7
6 badges available
$32,700 - $70,500*MRLP
What we love
- -Robust, well designed and fit for purpose
- -Engine is efficient in the real world
- -Updates make a good thing even better
What we don't
- -X-Terrain is priced steeply now
- -Unladen ride still firm on poor surfaces
- -Engine could be slightly more refined
8.Jeep Gladiator
7.6
2 badges available
$78,250 - $87,250*MRLP
What we love
- -Stands out from the crowd
- -Comfortable, practical, well-equipped
- -Strong drivetrain performance
What we don't
- -Big turning circle, harder to park
- -Thirst for fuel
- -Busy ride on knobbly tyres
9.SsangYong Musso
7.6
4 badges available
$40,000 - $49,500*MRLP
What we love
- -The combination of value, kit and warranty is hard to beat
- -Surprisingly refined and quiet diesel engine
- -Well-made and comfortable interior
What we don't
- -Lacking ground clearance for off-road driving
- -Also missing a bit of polish through the throttle and gearbox
- -Rear centre seatbelt is lap-only, some safety kit is missed in this spec
10.Mitsubishi Triton
7.5
4 badges available
$30,740 - $63,840*MRLP
What we love
- -Impressive progress made all-round compared to outgoing model
- -10-year capped-price servicing is competitive
- -Top-spec model is more affordable than equivalent HiLux and Ranger
What we don't
- -Significant price rise – erodes Triton's value proposition
- -Overall performance improvement still doesn't quite compete with the top-sellers
- -Driver attention monitor is overzealous and sometimes inaccurate
Drive's Best Cars
Drive's team of experts reviews and rates hundreds of the latest models each year to help you find your next new car. Browse our Best Car lists to discover how different models rank against each other and what our team loves and doesn't love about these top-rating vehicles.
* ‘MRLP’ is the manufacturer’s recommended list price as provided by our data provider and is subject to change, so is provided to you for indicative purposes only. Please note that MRLP is inclusive of GST, but is exclusive of any options and does not include on-road costs such as registration, CTP, stamp duty and dealer delivery. Where an MRLP is stated as a price range, this reflects the lowest to highest MRLP provided for that model range across the available variants.
Subscribe to Drive
Latest news, reviews and offers.
