Best Utes in Australia 2027: Ranked on Safety, Towing and Warranty

Image credit: Mitsubishi Motors Australia

This is the 2027 edition of our 2026 ute guide, rebuilt from our directory rather than carried over. Every figure was read from the car's own row on 9 October 2026, and every “cheapest”, “most” and “only” below was worked out across the set we name. Prices carry their basis. Plug-in utes get their own guide: Best Electric Utes in Australia 2027.

How we ranked them

The set is every ute and cab-chassis on sale in our directory, 190 rows from 19 makes. We left out the Volkswagen Crafter cab-chassis, which is a van underneath, and the Hyundai Mighty Electric, a 4.5-tonne light truck. Then four tests, applied to each nameplate using any of its versions: a five-star ANCAP result on record; a 3,500 kg braked rating; the longest warranty; and, to break ties, the highest payload any version carries. No hidden weighting. Fourteen nameplates pass the first two tests, covering 133 rows.

The 2027 ranking

1. Mitsubishi Triton: ten years of warranty

Seven versions from the GLX 4x2 at $43,690 to the Raider Premcar at $74,990, all RRP. Every one is rated at 3,500 kg, holds a five-star ANCAP result (2024) and carries a 10-year warranty, among among the longest of any ute on sale here. 150 kW, 7.5 to 7.7 L/100km, and up to 1,093 kg of payload (the GLX-R 4x4). Read the Triton review, or line it up: Triton vs Ranger, Triton vs Tasman, Triton vs D-Max.

2. Kia Tasman: seven years, and the most payload of the ranked seven-year utes

From the S 4x2 at $42,990 to the X-Pro 4x4 at $74,990 RRP. 3,500 kg across the range, 154 kW, 7.4 to 8.1 L/100km, up to 1,124 kg of payload, and a 7-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Our record shows five stars (2025) on the S, SX and SX+, and no ANCAP result for the X-Line and X-Pro. Prices went up in September; see what changed below. Compare: Tasman vs Ranger, Tasman vs HiLux, Tasman vs Cannon.

3. LDV Terron 9: a tonne-plus payload on seven years

Two grades, Origin ($50,990) and Evolve ($55,990), both RRP. 163 kW, 3,500 kg, five stars (2024), 7.9 L/100km, up to 1,100 kg of payload and a 7-year or 200,000 km warranty. Compare: Terron 9 vs Triton, Terron 9 vs Tasman.

4. GWM Cannon: the cheapest drive-away price in the top 14

GWM sells on drive-away pricing. The diesel Premium is $40,490 drive-away but rated at 3,200 kg; the Lux at $42,490 drive-away is the cheapest version with 3,500 kg, and one of the cheapest drive-away prices of any ute that passes our first two tests. Five stars (2021) on the Premium, Lux, Ultra and Vanta, with no result on record for the XSR; up to 995 kg of payload and a 7-year warranty. The new Cannon Hi4-T PHEV (from $50,990 drive-away) is covered in the electric ute guide. Compare: Cannon vs Shark 6, or read our GWM ute guide.

5. JAC Hunter PHEV: the plug-in in the top five

The Hunter PHEV Pro is $49,988 RRP ($53,113 drive-away in Victoria): 360 kW, 100 km of electric range, 3,500 kg, 915 kg of payload, five stars (2024) and 7 years or 150,000 km. The Hunter PHEV X has no price on record. JAC's diesel T9 also has five stars but is rated at 3,200 kg, which keeps it out of this list.

6. GWM Cannon Alpha: bigger, and three powertrains

The Lux Diesel starts at $52,990 RRP; the newer 3.0-litre diesels are drive-away priced (Lux 3.0L $58,990, Vanta 3.0L $63,990); the Ultra HEV is $64,490 RRP; and the PHEVs start at $57,490 drive-away. All seven are rated at 3,500 kg and carry a 7-year warranty. Five stars (2024) on every version except the Vanta 3.0L, which has no result on record. A transparent-chassis camera view is standard on every Cannon Alpha in our record. Payload tops out at 821 kg. Compare: Cannon Alpha vs Ranger, Cannon vs Cannon Alpha.

7. Isuzu D-Max: six years and up to 1,350 kg

From the SX Single Cab Chassis 4x2 at $41,243 to the Blade at $87,284 RRP. 3,500 kg across the range, five stars (2022) on most versions, 6 years or 150,000 km, and up to 1,350 kg of payload. We hold 21 D-Max rows, 14 of them without a price yet, so the price range covers the seven priced ones. Compare: D-Max vs Ranger, D-Max vs BT-50, or the Isuzu ute guide.

8. BYD Shark 6: six years, plug-in, no payload figure

$55,900 to $62,900 RRP, with a $4,000 BYD cashback on all three until 21 December 2026. Only the Performance is rated at 3,500 kg; the other two are 2,500 kg. Five stars (2025), 6 years or 150,000 km. It ranks last of the six-year pair because BYD publishes no payload figure. More in the electric ute guide and the BYD ute guide.

9. Ford Ranger: the biggest range, five years

Twenty versions in our record, from the XL 4x2 Hi-Rider Single Cab Cab-Chassis at $37,130 to the Raptor at $90,690 RRP, plus the plug-in hybrid. Up to 1,447 kg of payload, the most of the 14 ranked nameplates, and 3,500 kg on every version except the Raptor (2,500 kg). Five stars (2022) on every version except the Raptor, which has no ANCAP result on record. Warranty is 5 years. The XL 4x4 Double Cab Pick-up 2.0 BT is $51,400. Read the Ranger review and compare: Ranger vs HiLux, Ranger vs Amarok, Ranger vs Shark 6.

10. Mazda BT-50

Twenty versions from the XS SC 4x2 at $38,400 to the Thunder at $78,400 RRP, all 3,500 kg, up to 1,357 kg of payload and 6.3 to 8.0 L/100km. Five stars (2022) on most versions. Warranty is 5 years. Mazda repriced much of the range on 4 October.

11. Toyota HiLux

The new-generation HiLux runs from the WorkMate 4x2 Single Cab Manual at $33,990, the cheapest ute on sale here, to $72,490 for the diesel SR5+ and $82,990 for the electric SR5. Five stars (2025) on most versions. The 4x2 diesels are rated at 2,900 kg and the 4x4 diesels at 3,500 kg. Warranty is 5 years. A cool box is standard from the SR5 up in Toyota's documents, which we record as a fridge. Read the HiLux review or the Toyota ute guide.

12 to 14. Nissan Navara, Volkswagen Amarok, MG U9

The new Navara (D27) runs $53,348 to $68,418 RRP with five stars (2024), 150 kW and up to 1,064 kg; compare it with its Triton cousin. The Amarok runs $55,990 to $81,990 RRP with five stars (2022) and up to 1,031 kg. The MG U9 runs $52,990 to $60,990 RRP with five stars (2024) and up to 870 kg; U9 vs Ranger. All three tow 3,500 kg and carry 5-year warranties.

Prices from, by powertrain

The entry price for each ranked nameplate in each powertrain, plus the cheapest utes overall. RRP is before on-road costs; drive-away includes them (Victoria where it varies). GWM sells on drive-away pricing, so its RRP column is blank. Under each row is our weekly cost-to-own estimate for your state.

Diesel

Plug-in hybrid, hybrid, petrol and electric

“est.” marks an RRP held on a drive-away basis in our record, as our directory labels it. GWM figures are GWM's advertised drive-away prices. The table lists entry versions only; each car's page has every grade.

Try them with your own load

By the numbers

• One of the cheapest utes on an RRP: Toyota HiLux WorkMate 4x2 Single Cab Manual, $33,990. One of the cheapest on a drive-away price: KGM Musso ELX, $37,490. Across all 190 rows; the two bases are not compared with each other.
• One of the cheapest with a five-star ANCAP result and a 3,500 kg rating: Ford Ranger XL 4x2 Hi-Rider Single Cab Cab-Chassis, $37,130 RRP. On drive-away pricing, the GWM Cannon Lux at $42,490.
• Cheapest four-wheel drive on an RRP: LDV T60 MAX Pro Auto, $36,990, which has no ANCAP result on record.
• Highest tow rating: Among the highest at 8,000 kg: the RAM 2500 Laramie Cummins, RAM 2500 Laramie Cummins High Output and RAM 3500 Laramie Cummins High Output. 171 of the 190 rows are rated at 3,500 kg or more.
• Highest payload: Ford Ranger Super Duty Single Cab Cab-Chassis, 1,982 kg (one of the highest on sale).
• Longest warranty: Mitsubishi Triton, 10 years. It is the only ute on sale with more than 7.

Off-road and work kit in our record

Our equipment record has four states: standard, optional, not fitted and no data, and a gap in a maker's document is no data rather than a no. Across the 190 rows, these are the rare items we can show as standard: crawl control on the six Ford Ranger Super Duty versions; a transparent-chassis camera view on all seven GWM Cannon Alpha versions; a cooled box on eight HiLux versions from the SR5 up; and V2L on nine plug-in hybrid rows (the Shark 6, Cannon Alpha PHEV, Cannon Hi4-T and Hunter PHEV). A 240V outlet is standard on 48 rows, including 16 HiLux and 11 Ranger versions. No ute row records tank turn. Everywhere else these items are mostly no data, so ask the dealer rather than reading a blank as a no.

Outside the ranking, and why

• American full-size pickups: Toyota Tundra ($155,990 to $172,990 RRP, 4,500 kg), Ford F-150 ($114,950 to $163,950 RRP, 4,500 kg), RAM 1500 ($119,950 to $159,950), RAM 2500 ($157,950 to $172,950, up to 8,000 kg), RAM 3500 ($177,950, 8,000 kg) and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2500 HD ($134,500 to $168,000). None has an ANCAP result on record. Compare F-150 vs RAM 1500 or Silverado vs RAM 1500.
• Ford Ranger Super Duty: $82,990 to $99,990 RRP, 4,500 kg and the highest payload on sale; no ANCAP result on record.
• Toyota LandCruiser 70: $76,800 to $83,500 RRP, 3,500 kg; no ANCAP result on record.
• Budget diesels with no ANCAP result on record: LDV T60 MAX (from $36,990 RRP), KGM Musso (from $37,490 drive-away) and Foton Tunland (from $39,990 RRP). All three are rated at 3,500 kg with 7-year warranties.
• JAC T9: five stars (2024) and 7 years, but rated at 3,200 kg. Jeep Gladiator: $84,990, 2,721 kg. Ineos Quartermaster: $105,000 to $118,000, no ANCAP result on record.
• Full-electric utes (KGM Musso EV, LDV eT60) tow 1,800 kg or less, and the HiLux BEV 2,000 kg; they are ranked in the electric ute guide.

What changed since the 2026 edition

• Kia Tasman prices rose on 6 September: the S 4x2 from $38,990 to $42,990, the S 4x4 from $42,990 to $49,990, the SX from $47,990 to $54,490, the SX+ from $54,990 to $62,390 and the X-Line from $61,990 to $67,990 (all RRP).
• Mazda repriced the BT-50 on 4 October: most versions rose (the XT Dual Cab Pickup 4x2 from $45,990 to $49,710, the GT DC 4x4 from $64,900 to $68,160), two single-cab and freestyle 4x2s fell (the XT SC 4x2 from $42,900 to $40,900), and four more versions joined our directory.
• Cuts: the Isuzu D-Max X-Rider Crew Cab 4x4 from $65,242 to $59,500 (1 October); the Ford Ranger XL 4x4 Double Cab Pick-up 2.0 BT from $52,730 to $51,400 (20 August); the Amarok PanAmericana and Aventura by $3,000 each, to $78,990 and $81,990 (26 July).
• Rises: the HiLux SR 4x4 Double Cab Auto from $54,990 to $57,990 and the SR V-Active from $57,990 to $59,490 (4 October); the Amarok Style TDI600 from $70,990 to $73,740 (8 October).
• BYD: a $4,000 cashback on every Shark 6 grade until 21 December 2026.
• New in our directory since May: the GWM Cannon Alpha 3.0-litre diesel (Lux $58,990 and Vanta $63,990 drive-away), the GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV, the 2027 LDV T60 MAX (Pro $39,989 and Luxe $45,253 drive-away), the MG U9 Black Edition ($54,990), the Ford F-150 XLT Black Edition ($118,000 drive-away), the RAM 2500 Warlock ($157,950 RRP) and the new D27 Nissan Navara.

What to wait for in 2027

Coming-soon rows with an Australian maker document behind them: the Chery Stockman Super Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid due in February 2027 (reservations are open) with 3,500 kg, 1,000 kg of payload and a 7-year warranty in our record, no price yet; the MG U9 EV, a full-electric U9 rated at 3,500 kg that MG lists at $78,990, no date published; and the JAC Hunter PHEV Pro Cab Chassis for 2027, no price yet. We also hold placeholders for the next KGM Musso, the JMC Vigus and Grand Avenue, the Jetour F700 and the Isuzu D-Max EV, but none has an Australian maker document behind it yet, so we say nothing more about them here.

Keep reading

Head-to-heads: Ranger vs HiLux | Ranger vs Triton | Tasman vs Triton | Terron 9 vs Triton | Shark 6 vs Triton | Ranger vs T60 MAX

The brands: Mitsubishi | Kia | LDV | GWM | JAC | Isuzu | BYD | Ford | Mazda | Toyota | Nissan | Volkswagen | MG

More guides: Best Electric Utes 2027 | Best Towing Vehicles | Best Cars for Tradies | Best Chinese Cars (2026) | LDV utes | Ute tray sizes

Before you tow: towing capacity explained and towing rules by state. Buying through work: the novated lease guide.