Utes are Australia's favourite vehicles, and the market has never offered more choice. Alongside the long-running diesel favourites there are now plug-in hybrid utes, new Korean and Chinese contenders and a fresh generation of HiLux. The best ute for you depends on whether you tow, carry heavy loads, go off-road or mainly drive in town.
This guide shortlists the best utes on sale, with a separate list of the best picks under $50,000. Prices were checked on 2 November 2026. Where a manufacturer price could be confirmed it is labelled official, and where we relied on independent pricing data it is labelled third-party. Drive-away and before on-road costs prices are kept separate, as explained in our guide to on-road costs.
Best utes in Australia compared
The table covers every ute on our shortlist. It is not a ranking.
| Model | Price range | Price type | Source | Powertrains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota HiLux | $33,990 to $71,990 | List price, before on-roads | official | Diesel and mild hybrid |
| Ford Ranger | $37,130 to $90,690 | List price, before on-roads | third-party | Diesel, V6 diesel, PHEV |
| Mitsubishi Triton | $37,090 to $65,590 | List price, before on-roads | third-party | Diesel |
| GWM Cannon | From $34,990; Hi4-T from $50,990 | Drive-away | official | Diesel and PHEV |
| Kia Tasman | $42,990 to $74,990 | List price, before on-roads | third-party | Diesel |
| Isuzu D-MAX | From $44,200 (SX 4x2 crew cab) | List price, before on-roads | third-party | Diesel |
| Nissan Navara | $53,348 to $68,418 | List price, before on-roads | official | Diesel |
| BYD Shark 6 | $55,900 to $62,900 | List price, before on-roads | third-party | PHEV |
| Volkswagen Amarok | $55,990 to $83,990 | Drive-away | official | Diesel and petrol |
Best utes under $50,000
These are the cheapest entry points to each popular ute. Most sub-$50,000 versions are two-wheel drive or work-spec models, so check the variant before you compare.
| Model and variant | Price | Price type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota HiLux WorkMate 4x2 single cab chassis manual | $33,990 | List price, before on-roads | official, December 2025 launch |
| GWM Cannon | $34,990 | Drive-away | official |
| Mitsubishi Triton entry variant | $37,090 | List price, before on-roads | third-party |
| Ford Ranger XL 4x2 single cab chassis | $37,130 | List price, before on-roads | third-party, MY27 |
| Kia Tasman S 4x2 | $42,990 | List price, before on-roads | third-party |
| Ford Ranger XL 4x2 double cab pick-up | $43,530 | List price, before on-roads | third-party, MY27 |
| Isuzu D-MAX SX 4x2 crew cab | $44,200 | List price, before on-roads | third-party |
| Kia Tasman S 4x4 | $49,990 | List price, before on-roads | third-party |
The GWM Cannon is the only ute here with a manufacturer-confirmed drive-away price below $40,000, which makes it the clearest value pick. Remember that stamp duty on a ute can be lower than on a car in some states, such as Victoria's $5.40 per $200 rate for new utes. See stamp duty on new cars by state.
Toyota HiLux
The new-generation HiLux launched in December 2025 with list prices from $33,990 for the WorkMate 4x2 single cab chassis manual to $71,990 before on-road costs, according to Toyota Australia. Its strengths are reliability, resale value and a huge dealer and parts network. It suits buyers who want a low-risk choice. Toyota is currently offering a deposit bonus on the HiLux SR5 through Toyota Finance, and wait times have improved.
Ford Ranger
The Ranger is Australia's best-selling vehicle and offers the widest spread of variants, from the XL work ute to the Raptor, plus a plug-in hybrid. MY27 pricing reported in August 2026 runs from $37,130 for the XL 4x2 single cab chassis to $90,690 for the Raptor before on-road costs. Third-party pricing. Ford had not confirmed these figures on a page we could access. If you are weighing the hybrid, read our Shark 6 versus Ranger PHEV comparison, and check the latest Ranger recall if buying used.
Mitsubishi Triton
The current Triton is priced from about $37,090 to $65,590 before on-road costs, based on third-party data. It is usually one of the best value 4x4 dual cabs once dealer offers are applied, and it underpins a possible future Honda ute.
GWM Cannon
GWM lists the Cannon from $34,990 drive-away, and the Cannon Hi4-T plug-in hybrid from $50,990 drive-away for the Lux and $54,990 for the Ultra. The Hi4-T is rated to tow 3,500kg. It suits buyers who want the most equipment for the money.
SOURCE CONFLICT. Our Cannon Hi4-T launch report quoted $47,990 drive-away at launch, while GWM's current price is $50,990 drive-away. The launch price appears to have been a time-limited offer, so use the current figure. The larger Cannon Alpha is also available with a new 3.0-litre diesel.
Kia Tasman
Kia's first ute uses a 2.2-litre turbo diesel with 154kW and 440Nm, tows up to 3,500kg and carries up to 1,000kg, according to Kia Australia. Third-party pricing runs from $42,990 for the S 4x2 to $74,990 for the X-Pro before on-road costs. Kia notes the five-star ANCAP rating applies only to the S 4x4, SX and SX+ variants.
Isuzu D-MAX
The D-MAX has a reputation for simple, tough mechanicals and low running costs. Third-party pricing starts at $44,200 for the SX 4x2 crew cab and $52,200 for the SX 4x4, with the X-RIDER at $59,500 before on-road costs. Isuzu has scrapped the D-MAX EV for Australia, and its new 2.2-litre bi-turbo diesel is not coming here yet.
Nissan Navara
Nissan's February 2026 pricing lists the Navara SL at $53,348, the ST at $56,765, the ST-X at $63,177 and the PRO-4X at $68,418 before on-road costs. It is a comfortable dual cab, and a plug-in hybrid is on the way.
BYD Shark 6
The Shark 6 is a plug-in hybrid ute with strong performance and very low fuel use around town. Third-party pricing lists it from $55,900 to $62,900 before on-road costs. BYD is offering $4,000 cashback on orders placed between 1 October and 21 December 2026 and delivered by 31 December 2026, as covered in our BYD cashback report. Check its towing capacity and payload before buying, and run your VIN through the latest Shark 6 recall.
Volkswagen Amarok
The Amarok shares its platform with the Ranger but has its own styling and tuning. Volkswagen lists drive-away prices from $55,990 for the Core and $59,990 for the Life, up to $80,990 for the PanAmericana and $83,990 for the Aventura. It suits buyers who want a premium feel.
Other options worth considering
- Mazda BT-50. Shares much of its hardware with the D-MAX. Current pricing was not confirmed for this guide.
- Ford Ranger Raptor. The high-performance off-road Ranger, from about $90,690 before on-road costs in third-party data.
- KGM Musso. A budget-friendly dual cab with a long tub option. Pricing not confirmed for this guide.
- LDV Terron 9 and JAC T9. Newer Chinese-brand alternatives. Pricing not confirmed for this guide.
Coming soon
- The Nissan Navara PRO plug-in hybrid is due in 2027 with a claimed 300kW and 3,500kg towing.
- The Chery Stockman diesel and PHEV ute is expected in February 2027.
- A hydrogen fuel cell HiLux is confirmed for Australia in 2028.
Pricing for these models is not confirmed. New vehicle efficiency rules may also push some ute prices up, as explained in will utes and 4WDs cost more in 2027.
How we chose these utes
We focused on the most popular and most competitive utes on sale, favouring those with strong towing and payload, good safety ratings, broad dealer support or sharp pricing. Prices were checked on manufacturer pages and media releases on 2 November 2026, or labelled third-party where a manufacturer price could not be accessed. For sales trends, see our September 2026 sales report. Ownership costs matter too, so check car rego cost by state, our best value new cars guide and the cheapest cars to run.