Toyota Ute: HiLux Prices, Models and Which to Buy

If you're searching "Toyota ute" you're after the HiLux, and the short answer is there's really just one Toyota ute on sale in Australia right now. It comes in a big spread of variants though, from a bare bones 4x2 work truck at $33,990 before on-road costs all the way up to the SR5 4x4 at $63,990 before on-road costs. So the real question isn't "which Toyota ute", it's "which HiLux", and that depends on whether you want a cheap tool for the job site or a proper family and touring dual cab. I'll walk you through the whole range below, then show you where rivals actually beat it on value so you can decide with eyes open.

The Toyota ute range at a glance

Every HiLux uses the same 2.8 litre turbo diesel making 150kW, so power isn't the thing that separates the models. What changes is the cab shape (single, extra or double), drivetrain (4x2 or 4x4), trim level, and whether it's got the mild hybrid V-Active tech. Here's the lay of the land, cheapest to dearest:

• Toyota HiLux WorkMate 4x2 Single Cab Manual | $33,990 RRP | 2 seats | tows 2900kg | the entry point
• Toyota HiLux WorkMate 4x2 Single Cab Auto | $35,990 RRP | 2 seats | tows 2900kg
• Toyota HiLux WorkMate 4x4 Single Cab Auto | $45,990 RRP | 2 seats | tows 3500kg
• Toyota HiLux WorkMate 4x2 Double Cab Auto | $47,990 RRP | 5 seats | tows 2900kg
• Toyota HiLux WorkMate 4x4 Extra Cab Auto | $52,490 RRP | 4 seats | tows 3500kg
• Toyota HiLux SR 4x2 Double Cab Auto | $52,990 RRP | 5 seats | tows 2900kg
• Toyota HiLux WorkMate 4x4 Double Cab Auto V-Active | $53,990 RRP | 5 seats | tows 3500kg
• Toyota HiLux SR 4x4 Double Cab Manual | $54,990 RRP | 5 seats | tows 3500kg
• Toyota HiLux SR 4x4 Double Cab Auto | $54,990 RRP | 5 seats | tows 3500kg
• Toyota HiLux SR 4x4 Double Cab Auto V-Active | $57,990 RRP | 5 seats | tows 3500kg
• Toyota HiLux SR 4x4 Extra Cab Auto V-Active | $59,490 RRP | 4 seats | tows 3500kg
• Toyota HiLux SR5 4x4 Double Cab Manual | $63,990 RRP | 5 seats | tows 3500kg

All prices above are RRP, so before on-road costs. Add rego, stamp duty and dealer delivery and you're looking at a few grand more on the road for each one.

The pick of the range

Best value work truck: HiLux WorkMate 4x2 Single Cab

If you just need a Toyota ute to haul gear and don't care about back seats or going bush, the WorkMate 4x2 Single Cab Manual at $33,990 before on-road costs is the cheapest way into the badge. The auto version is the WorkMate 4x2 Single Cab Auto at $35,990 before on-road costs, and honestly for a work vehicle most people should just pay the extra two grand for the auto if it's spending its life in traffic. Both tow 2900kg, which is plenty for a small trailer or a couple of trade trailers. Two seats only, so this is a tool, not a family car.

Best all-rounder for families who tow: HiLux SR 4x4 Double Cab

For most people reading this, the sweet spot is the SR 4x4 Double Cab Auto at $54,990 before on-road costs. You get five seats, proper 4x4 for beach and gravel, and the full 3500kg braked towing that the 4x2 models can't match (they're capped at 2900kg). The manual SR 4x4 Double Cab is the same $54,990 if you genuinely want to row your own gears, but almost nobody does in a dual cab these days. This is the HiLux that does school run, boat ramp and camping trip without complaint.

If you want the mild hybrid tech: SR 4x4 V-Active

The V-Active variants add Toyota's 48V mild hybrid system to the 2.8 diesel. The SR 4x4 Double Cab Auto V-Active is $57,990 before on-road costs, which is a $3,000 jump over the standard SR auto. The V-Active setup is aimed at smoother stop-start and slightly better economy rather than more grunt, since power stays at 150kW. Worth it if you do lots of stop-start city driving. If you mostly do open road kays, the saving might not pay for itself.

The one for the ute-and-quad-bike crowd: WorkMate 4x4 Single Cab

The WorkMate 4x4 Single Cab Auto at $45,990 before on-road costs is the bargain of the 4x4 range. Two seats, but you get the full 3500kg tow rating and proper four wheel drive. Farmers and anyone loading a big tray on the back should look here before they look at the dual cabs.

The step up: SR5

Top of the mainstream range here is the SR5 4x4 Double Cab Manual at $63,990 before on-road costs. You pay for nicer trim, better wheels and more kit inside. It's a genuinely comfy dual cab, but you're paying a solid premium over the SR for creature comforts rather than any extra capability. The mechanicals are the same 150kW diesel and 3500kg tow.

Where rivals beat the Toyota ute on value

I'm not going to pretend the HiLux is the only sensible ute in Australia. It holds its value like nothing else and the dealer network is everywhere, but on paper you can get more truck for less money elsewhere. A few worth putting on your shortlist:

• The Kia Tasman S 4x2 at $38,990 before on-road costs is a five seat dual cab with 154kW, 3500kg towing and a 5 star ANCAP rating. That's more power than the HiLux and a full five seats for less than a two seat WorkMate 4x4. Kia's seven year warranty is a big tick too.
• The GWM Cannon Premium at $39,490 before on-road costs and the GWM Cannon Lux at $41,490 before on-road costs give you a fully loaded five seat 4WD dual cab for the money you'd spend on a stripped Toyota. The Cannon Lux makes 135kW and both carry 5 star ANCAP.
• The LDV T60 MAX Pro Auto at $36,990 before on-road costs is the power champ of this cheaper group with 160kW and 3500kg towing. Value is strong, though resale won't touch the Toyota.
• The KGM Musso ELX at $40,500 before on-road costs brings 133kW and 3500kg towing in a comfy, car-like dual cab.
• The Mazda BT-50 XS SC 4x2 at $36,400 before on-road costs is a well built single cab work truck with 3500kg towing and 5 star ANCAP, and shares plenty of its guts with the Isuzu D-Max.
• Newer entrants like the Foton Tunland V7-C 4x2 at $39,990 before on-road costs and the JAC T9 Oasis 4x4 at $42,662 before on-road costs are worth a look if outright price is your main driver, though both are unproven on long-term reliability and resale here.

The honest read: if resale value, servicing convenience and long-term reliability matter most to you, the HiLux earns its premium. If your budget is tight and you want the most kit and capability per dollar today, several of the rivals above genuinely undercut it.

How to choose your Toyota ute

Start with three questions. Do you need more than two seats? If no, a single cab WorkMate saves you thousands. If yes, you're into double cab territory and prices start at $47,990 for the WorkMate 4x2 Double Cab Auto.

Do you need 4x4 and the full 3500kg tow? This is the big one. Every 4x2 HiLux tops out at 2900kg towing, while the 4x4 models all do 3500kg. If you're towing a decent caravan or boat, or heading off the bitumen, you need a 4x4. That's the jump from the SR 4x2 Double Cab at $52,990 up to the SR 4x4 Double Cab at $54,990. It's only two grand between those two, so most buyers should just take the 4x4.

Do you want the mild hybrid? The V-Active tech adds around $3,000. It's a nice-to-have for city work, not a must-have.

On running costs, remember every HiLux here is diesel, so factor in higher fuel prices at the bowser but generally good economy on the highway and cheaper long-distance touring. Toyota's capped price servicing keeps maintenance predictable, and the diesel's proven reliability is a big part of why these things hold value.

One thing to keep in mind for city-only families who never tow: a Toyota ute is overkill and thirsty compared to a hybrid. If the ute is more want than need, a Toyota Corolla Hatch Ascent Sport Hybrid at $32,110 before on-road costs or a Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid 2WD at $31,790 before on-road costs will cost you far less to run. But if you genuinely tow, carry loads or go bush, the HiLux is the tool for the job. My pick across the range is the SR 4x4 Double Cab Auto. It's the point where the HiLux does everything most Aussie families and tradies actually ask of a ute without paying SR5 money for badge and trim.