These three utes are so close on the specs that matter that the real battle is in the ownership maths. The D-Max costs $3,250 less to buy than the HiLux. The Ranger has the strongest engine of the three. And all three will do the towing and payload job that most buyers actually ask of them. Here is where they genuinely separate.
The Full Spec Battle
| Spec | Ranger XLT V6 | HiLux SR5 | D-Max X-Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (RRP) | $37,130 | $33,990 | $41,243 |
| Engine | 3.0L V6 TD | 2.8L 4-cyl TD | 3.0L 4-cyl TD |
| Power | 184kW | 150kW | 140kW |
| Torque | 600Nm | 500Nm | 450Nm |
| Fuel Economy | 8.7L/100km | 7.6L/100km | 7.2L/100km |
| Towing (Braked) | 3,500kg | 3,500kg | 3,500kg |
| Payload | 1,003kg | 925kg | 965kg |
| Gearbox | 10-speed Auto | 6-speed Auto | 6-speed Auto |
| Screen | 12" | 8" | 9" |
| Warranty | 5yr | 5yr | 6yr/150k |
Purchase Price Plus Five Years of Fuel
Drive-away estimates plus fuel at 15,000km a year. It leaves out insurance, servicing, tyres and resale, because we do not hold those figures and will not estimate them into a total that reads as precise.
| Cost | Ranger XLT V6 | HiLux SR5 | D-Max X-Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driveaway (est.) | ~$69,500 | ~$66,000 | ~$62,000 |
| 5yr Fuel | $12,038 | $10,545 | $9,990 |
| Purchase + 5yr fuel | $81,538 | $76,545 | $71,990 |
On the lines we can actually price, purchase and fuel, the D-Max is the cheapest of the three to get into and keep fuelled. Whether the HiLux claws that back at trade-in time is the open question, and not one we can answer with data we hold.
CarSorted Data Insight
Based on CarSorted's database of Australian vehicles: across all ute variants in our database, the average towing capacity is 3,220kg braked. All three of these utes exceed that at 3,500kg. But the Ranger V6's 600Nm of torque is 20% more than the D-Max's 450Nm, making it the most effortless tower of the three, especially on grades.
The D-Max has among the best fuel economy of any ute with 3,500kg towing in our database. At 7.2L/100km, it uses 17% less fuel than the Ranger V6 (8.7L). For tradies doing 25,000km/year, that's a $695/year fuel saving.
The Verdict
Buy the Ranger if: you want one of the most powerful utes in this class (V6, 600Nm), best tech (12" screen, SYNC4), and the best towing experience. Pay the premium for the V6 experience.
Buy the HiLux if: you buy and sell every 3-5 years and want the safest bet on a deep used market, and you value the dealer and service coverage that comes with the country's biggest network.
Buy the D-Max if: you want the best value right now. Cheapest to buy, cheapest to fuel, 6-year warranty, and more features per dollar than the HiLux. Best for long-term owners who keep their ute 7+ years.
Compare all three on CarSorted with 200+ specs and running cost calculators.