Australia’s Cheapest 4x4 Utes

10 of the Nation’s Cheapest 4x4 Utes for Buyers Watching the Budget

How often have any of us questioned the sanity of someone (usually friends and family) that paid over the odds for an average car or went out and bought a car that barely meets the Collins Dictionary definition of a car?

Tag something as ‘cheap’ and it immediately presents as a sub-standard, perhaps shoddy, alternative to full-priced competitors. It gets even more critical if the vehicle is a ute, for example, purchased for work and tasked with being reliable, efficient, and cheap to run.

One of the most popular genres of cars is the 4x4 ute. There are 13 brands of 4x4 utes on the Australian market and from them, 24 models. Of these, it may surprise you that there are a dozen 4x4 utes on the new vehicle market in Australia that cost less than $55,000, and five of those come with ‘drive away’ prices.

These are single-cab, expanded cab, and dual-cab models with a factory tub (no alloy tray) that could service most tasks around the home, hobby farm, trade business, and delivery sectors. Some have familiar brand names, others perhaps not.

Here’s a list of some of the cheapest 4x4 utes now on the market. The prices are attractive — one Mahindra dual-cab is half the price of a Toyota Hilux, for example —but keep in mind the role the ute will play.

Nissan Navara 2.3 SL Auto Dual-Cab

Price: $47,350 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.3-litre, 4-cylinder bi-turbo diesel

Power/torque: 120kW/403Nm

Transmission: 7-speed auto; 2-speed transfer

Fuel consumption: 7.2 L/100km

Towing: 3500kg

Payload: 1146kg

Warranty: 5-year/unlimited km

Comment: Strong factory backup with a reliable diesel engine and good parts availability.

Ford Ranger 2.0 XL Auto Dual-Cab

Price: $50,380 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder bi-turbo-diesel

Power/torque: 154kW/500Nm

Transmission: 10-speed; 2-speed transfer

Fuel consumption: 7.6L/100km

Towing: 3500kg

Payload: 1023kg

Warranty: 5-year/unlimited km

Comment: Hard to beat Australia’s favourite ute. The new generation is durable and efficient with no manual gearbox.

GWM-Haval Cannon Ute 2.0 SL Auto Dual-Cab

Price: $42,490 drive-away costs included

Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power/torque: 120kW/400Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto; 2-speed transfer

Fuel consumption: 9.4 L/100km

Towing: 3000kg

Payload: 1050kg

Warranty: 7-year/unlimited km

Comment: On-road costs and the 7-year warranty are attractive. Although the durability is good, the suspension is harsh.

Isuzu D-MAX 1.9 SX Auto Crew-Cab

Price: $50,200 plus on-road costs

Engine: 1.9-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power/torque: 110kW/350Nm

Transmission: 6-speed auto; 2-speed transfer

Fuel consumption: 6.9 L/100km

Towing: 3000kg

Payload: 1150kg

Warranty: 6-year/100,000km

Comment: A solid brand with excellent off-road ability. The so-so 1.9L can be replaced with better 3.0L diesel option for only $2000 more. 

LDV T60 Max Pro Dual-Cab

Price: $41,042 drive away

Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder bi-turbo diesel

Power/torque: 160kW/500Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto; 2-speed transfer

Fuel consumption: 9.3 L/100km

Towing: 3000kg

Payload: 925kg

Warranty: 7-year/200,000km

Comment: LDV has come a long way. The 7-year warranty gives peace of mind, however, LDV still has rivals that may offer more for your buck.

Mahindra PIK-UP Ute S11 Diesel 2.2 Dual-Cab

Price: $38,500 drive away

Engine: 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power/torque: 103kW/320Nm

Transmission: 6-speed auto; 2-speed transfer

Fuel consumption: 8.8 L/100km

Towing: 2500kg

Payload: 1035kg

Warranty: 5-year/150,000km

Comment: Backed by a huge agricultural and 4WD business. The new auto box ups the ante, and despite the low tow rate, this is a surprisingly strong — and affordable — option.

Mazda BT-50 XT Dual-Cab 3.0 Manual

Price: $52,580 plus on-road costs

Engine: 3.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power/torque: 140kW/450Nm

Transmission: 6-speed manual; 2-speed transfer

Fuel consumption: 7.7 L/100km

Towing: 3500kg

Payload: 1095kg

Warranty: 5-year/unlimited

Comment: Probably can’t go wrong with any big-name LCV maker. The BT-50 XT does everything right, but budget-buyers may prefer to save by getting a different brand.

Ssangyong Musso Dual-Cab Diesel 2.2 ELX Auto

Price: $39,000 drive away

Engine: 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power/torque: 133kW/400Nm

Transmission: 6-speed auto; 2-speed transfer

Fuel consumption: 8.6 L/100km

Towing: 3500kg

Payload: 800kg

Warranty: 7-year/unlimited km

Comment: The reinvigorated Korean carmaker has recently improved the Musso’s value appeal, and it has all the ingredients to put it on a tradie’s shopping list. The $39k price is a limited-time offer.

Toyota Hilux Workmate Dual-Cab 2.4 Auto

Price: $50,235 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power/torque: 110kW/400Nm

Transmission: 6-speed auto; 2-speed transfer

Fuel consumption: 7.8 L/100km

Towing: 3000kg

Payload: 955kg

Warranty: 5-year/unlimited km

Comment: Not a lot of fizz but the Hilux always remains a go-to LCV with great parts availability. Plus, if you're hungry for more power, why not pay $2200 and upgrade to the 2.8-litre diesel?

Volkswagen Amarok TDI405 Core Dual-Cab Auto

Price: $52,990 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power/torque: 125kW/405Nm

Transmission: 6-speed auto; 2-speed transfer

Fuel consumption: 8.0 L/100km

Towing: 3500kg

Payload: 1042kg

Warranty: 5year/unlimited

Comment: A South African-made Ford with VW badges is a good thing and leapfrogs the previous Amarok. Unfortunately, this Amarok is not cheap and the accessories are also pricey.

Start Your Search for a New Ute with OnlyCars.com.au

It's no secret that Aussies love their utes, and with more affordable options hitting the market every year from big players and small manufacturers alike, it's never been easier to find a reliable workhorse that won't break the bank.

If you're thinking that it might be time to upgrade, start your search for a new ute with OnlyCars. With thousands of online listings and more being added every day, we make it easy to find your dream vehicle. Find your car today!

For a great deal on financing your new purchase, contact Australia's best reviewed finance broker on 1300 Credit (1300 273 348) today or visit CreditOne.com.au