Australia’s 10 cheapest new utes in 2025

Australia is undoubtedly a ute-heavy market, with some models beating out SUV favourites to be the best-selling vehicles in the country.

While there’s a lot of emphasis put on many high-end and flagship models with nicer engines and more gear, there is still a strong market for base-level workhorses that won’t break the bank for individuals and businesses.

As we did six months ago, we’ve laid out the 10 cheapest new utes currently on sale in Australia. Many are fleet-focused models that are rear-wheel drive and have a manual transmission, and there has been some shuffling in the pricing order.

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For consistency, we’ve ranked each model using drive-away pricing for private buyers in New South Wales, as that’s Australia’s most populated region.

Some brands offer nationwide drive-away pricing, which would make their models difficult to compare against others that exclude on-road costs.

Pricing also varies slightly from state to state (and territory) due to tax differences, and some brands offer different pricing for ABN holders.

We’re also only taking into account the initial purchase cost of the ute. Ongoing costs like fuel, servicing, and insurance haven’t been considered.

Click on a model in the table above to jump directly to its information on the page, or continue scrolling for the full article

Isuzu D-Max

As was the case six months ago, Isuzu Ute Australia (IUA) is currently offering a drive-away deal that means the entry-level D-Max undercuts the base Toyota HiLux. The latter is still Australia’s most affordable ute based on recommended retail pricing.

The Isuzu D-Max range currently starts at $32,700 before on-road costs or $32,990 drive-away for the SX single-cab chassis 1.9-litre 4×2 High-Ride manual.

Pricing extends to $71,500 before on-roads or $68,990 drive-away for the top-spec X-Terrain dual-cab pickup 3.0-litre automatic 4×4. There’s also the Walkinshaw-developed D-Max Blade, which is a limited-production model that costs $77,990 drive-away.

The 1.9-litre turbo-diesel in the entry-level D-Max doesn’t produce as much power or torque as the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, though it’s claimed to be more fuel efficient. It also has a reduced towing capacity – 2800kg for the manual and 3000kg for the automatic.

Interested in buying an Isuzu D-Max? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Isuzu D-Max

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Toyota HiLux

The Toyota HiLux has been at the top of Australia’s ute market for some time, and remains thereabouts despite being overtaken by the Ford Ranger in 2023.

Most of the Ranger’s sales are in the more profitable 4×4 ute segment, while Toyota topped the 4×2 ute segment with the HiLux last year with a stronger cohort of fleet buyers.

The HiLux range currently starts at $27,730 before on-roads for the Workmate single-cab chassis 4×2 manual, or $35,164 drive-away if you live in New South Wales. It extends to $74,310 before on-roads for the GR Sport dual-cab pickup 4×4 automatic.

The cheapest version of the HiLux is lower-riding and powered by a 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine instead of Toyota’s 2.4-litre turbo-diesel.

Interested in buying a Toyota HiLux? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Toyota HiLux

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Mazda BT-50

The current-generation Mazda BT-50 is a twin-under-the-skin with the Isuzu D-Max and is made in the same Thai factory, but it received a mid-life update that went on sale earlier this year.

Tweaks included revised aesthetics, a new infotainment system for certain grades, and a larger digital instrument display. All that brought price rises across the board, but the BT-50 is still among the cheapest utes in Australia.

As with the D-Max, power still comes from either a 1.9-litre or 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine. The former is fitted to the range-opening BT-50, the XS 4×2 single-cab chassis, which is priced from $36,400 before on-roads or $38,990 drive-away, thanks to a current offer.

The range extends to $71,500 before on-roads for the top-spec SP 4×4 dual-cab, which is fitted with Isuzu’s 3.0-litre engine.

Interested in buying a Mazda BT-50? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Mazda BT-50

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Mitsubishi Triton

The new-generation Triton range just became much cheaper, as Mitsubishi has finally added cab-chassis and club cab versions of the ute after more than a year of only dual-cabs.

Their addition brought the beginning of the range down to $34,490 before on-road costs, or around $39,563 drive-away in New South Wales based on third-party estimates for the GLX 4×2 single-cab chassis manual.

They’re still powered by the same 2.4-litre bi-turbo-diesel four-cylinder as the rest of the range, but they’ve also brought manuals to an otherwise automatic-only range.

Mitsubishi has yet to show pricing for this model on its online configurator. The Triton range tops out at $63,840 before on-roads for the top-spec GSR 4×4 dual-cab.

Interested in buying a Mitsubishi Triton? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Mitsubishi Triton

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KGM SsangYong Musso

The first dual-cab ute in this list is the KGM SsangYong Musso, which is also the first with a 4×4 drivetrain. Though that’s not directly comparable to the 4×2 models seen up to this point, it’s still a cheap ute.

A starting price of $40,000 drive-away for the base ELX is also a great on-paper value proposition, and it’s a price that hasn’t changed since we last compared Australia’s cheapest utes.

The range does now top out at $50,500 for the Musso Ultimate Luxury XLV. All are powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and offer 4×4 drivetrains as standard.

Interested in buying a KGM SsangYong Musso? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything KGM SsangYong Musso

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Nissan Navara

Our current generation of Nissan Navara has been on sale for some time and is now nearing the end of its life cycle. It’s still available as a single-cab chassis model with a 4×2 drivetrain.

The range opens with the SL 4×2 single-cab chassis for $36,428 before on-roads or $41,359 drive-away and maxes out at $71,643 before on-roads for the Australian-built Pro-4X Warrior by Premcar.

Interestingly, the base Navara is available with only an automatic transmission, even though a manual gearbox is available further up the range in 4×4 variants.

All Navara models use the same 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, though lower grades feature one turbocharger while upper-spec variants score a twin-turbo setup.

Interested in buying a Nissan Navara? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Nissan Navara

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GWM Cannon

GWM’s Cannon just received an update with a more powerful engine, but it has since been dual-cab-only. That’ll soon change, as GWM is bringing back cab-chassis models with a smaller, less powerful engine.

They’re yet to arrive though, which means the Cannon range currently opens at $41,490 drive-away for the Lux 4×4 dual-cab thanks to a deal active until the end of June.

The most expensive Cannon is the XSR 4×4 dual-cab, which costs $50,990 drive-away. All dual-cab Cannons are fitted with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel and nine-speed automatic transmission.

Cheaper models arriving imminently will feature a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel and eight-speed automatic gearboxes, as was available with the pre-update ute.

Interested in buying a GWM Cannon? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything GWM Cannon

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Ford Ranger

While the Ranger topped the 4×4 ute segment last year – and new vehicle sales as a whole – the HiLux took the crown in the 4×2 category. Still, bog-standard Rangers are among Australia’s cheaper utes.

The Ranger lineup starts at $36,880 before on-roads or $42,241 drive-away for the XL Hi-Rider single cab-chassis 4×2, and extends to $90,440 before on-roads for the beefed-up Raptor. The most expensive non-Raptor Ranger is the Platinum 4×4 dual-cab for $80,640 before on-roads.

There are now also plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants joining the lineup, which range in price from $71,990 to $86,990 before on-roads. All other variants utilise either four-cylinder or V6 turbo-diesels, or a V6 turbo petrol in the case of the Raptor.

No manual transmissions are available across the Ranger lineup, which means its one of the only utes in Australia to be automatic-only.

Interested in buying a Ford Ranger? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Ford Ranger

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LDV T60 Max

Two Chinese utes round out the top 10, and the first is the LDV T60 Max – another dual-cab only ute.

The base LDV T60 Max Pro is currently $43,253 drive-away for private buyers, thanks to a deal in place until April 30. Typical pricing is $45,253 drive-away.

LDV’s most expensive T60 Max is the Plus Mega Tub LWB for $51,674 drive-away, down from $53,674 drive-away typically.

All variants use a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel and feature a 4×4 drivetrain as standard.

Interested in buying an LDV T60? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything LDV T60

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JAC T9

JAC is one of the newest brands to launch in Australia, and its first vehicle here is the T9 dual-cab diesel ute.

There are currently only two trim levels available, and the cheapest is the Oasis 4×4 dual-cab for $42,662 before on-roads or $46,329 drive-away.

On top of that is the Haven 4×4 dual-cab for $45,630 before on-roads, though JAC is offering a “$3000 grant” until April 30 for first-time T9 buyers that would bring the starting price down to $43,329 drive-away.

Both variants use a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

JAC also has the all-electric T9 EV ute overseas, though it’s not confirmed if it’ll be coming to Australia. Recently revealed was the Hunter PHEV, which will be coming to Australia in early 2026.

Interested in buying a JAC T9? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything JAC T9

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