Best Dual-Cab 4x4 Ute 2021

Six years ago, carsales began pitting the cream of the 4x4 dual-cab crop head-to-head to determine which was best, and since then we’ve revisited this booming segment every two years to name Australia’s top ute.

There’s such a lot of activity in the market right now that we simply couldn’t settle for a ‘top 10’ showdown when it came to the Best Dual-Cab 4x4 Ute 2021.

Therefore, there are 11 utes here, many of them new-generation models with advanced technology and higher capabilities than we’ve ever seen, while significant upgrades to their major rivals have kept the pack close and the competition tighter than ever.

Our 2021 ute comparo includes plenty of newcomers that have received full-model changeovers since our last test in 2019: the 2021 GWM Ute, 2021 Isuzu D-MAX, 2021 Jeep Gladiator and 2021 Mazda BT-50 are all completely new models attracting plenty of attention in the marketplace.

There have also been major upgrades to most of the utes we saw last time: the 2021 Ford Ranger, 2021 Mitsubishi Triton, 2021 Nissan Navara and 2021 Toyota HiLux – Australia’s favourite new vehicle for the past five years.

The SsangYong Musso, LDV T60 and Volkswagen Amarok continue on largely as before – in the high-grade specs we’re looking at here, at least – and for the better part remain unchanged, although running changes help keep them fresh.

All of these models have been extensively tested and compared previously by our most senior journalists – both on road and off, over terrain we know well.

That this year’s line-up contains more all-new models than ever, as well as the largest group of utes we’ve ever compared, reflects the fact that 4x4 utes are now right up there vying with mid-size SUVs as Australia’s most popular vehicle type.

Dual-cab 4WD utes appeal to the broadest range of buyers of any vehicle segment. They were once mostly the domain of trade and agricultural buyers, but now more than ever recreational and family buyers are climbing aboard.

For this broad church of buyers it’s important we cover off every aspect of ownership.

That’s why we pulled apart these 11 utes in seven key areas: safety, technology, comfort/convenience, towing/payload, cost of ownership and capability both on and off the road, including performance/economy and accessory availability.

Some buyers will rate certain attributes of a vehicle more highly than others, and so may come to a different conclusion by the time we get to the verdict.

But there can be only one winner in this contest, and we’re confident we’ve found the Best Dual-Cab 4x4 Ute in 2021.

Long gone are the days when an easily-pinpointed and relatively small number of almost identically-specified and similarly-priced competitors populated the dual-cab 4x4 ute segment. In 2021, the ute market is incredibly fragmented.

In this review we’re homing in on the top-selling premium variants, choosing the standard luxury grade in each range to narrow the field to the most popular comparable vehicles.

While the field we’ve selected has a wide price range – from the low $30,000s to more than $75,000 – this is not a comparison of the ‘most trinkets for your dollar’. An expensive ute can still be good value for money.

We’re here to determine the best ute overall, judged across the seven categories we’ve listed below.

That’s why we’ve excluded special-edition, halo premium performance or specialty off-road models such as the Ford Ranger Raptor.

Even so, there are some marked differences in specifications between seemingly direct model competitors.

Adding to diversity in the segment are utes from relatively new (or recently returned) brands such as Great Wall Motors (GWM), LDV and SsangYong.

At least all offer four-wheel drive, comparable payload and towing capacities, and – for the most part – the latest in infotainment and safety technology.

All of the 4WD dual-cab utes we’ve selected are powered by turbo-diesel engines matched to automatic transmissions, except for the petrol V6 Gladiator.

The increasing importance of private buyers, rather than business operators, in this segment now requires the ute to be equal parts luxury car and practical workhorse.

Floor carpet and an interior light are no longer considered luxuries in this segment; the amount of bling and number comfort and convenience features offered in today’s premium ute is comparable to the similarly priced passenger cars and SUVs many buyers are migrating from.

More on Comfort and Convenience here

Light commercial vehicles are no longer short on safety features either, thanks not only to occupational health and safety legislation but also private buyers seeing value in safety inclusions for their families – just as they do in an SUV or traditional passenger car.

While utes are safer today than they’ve ever been, we’ll show you how there are some remarkable differences in the level and sophistication between them.

More on Safety here

Infotainment connectivity, multimedia equipment and audio features are as much a priority for dual-cab 4WD utes as any other segment, so we’ll take a close look at how well each ute matches those requirements.

More on Technology here

While you expect a turbo-diesel to be economical, some are more efficient than others, impacting not only your wallet but how far you can travel before needing to refuel – especially important when touring in the back-blocks.

While these are not performance cars, for many the ability to safely overtake or easily lug a trailer up a freeway hill is an important consideration.

Buyers also expect utes to have a high degree of refinement and sophistication, not only on the highway and in town but during a holiday across the Simpson Desert as well. All the brochures and sales pitches in the world won’t tell you what a ute is really like to live with.

Some utes are better at blending on-road and off-road requirements than others, so we’ve distilled our experience with all of them to tell you which is best.

More on On-Road Performance here

Many people need or want to subject their 4WD dual-cab ute to one of the key uses for which it was designed – travelling in the bush, sometimes in tough off-road environments.

With more off-road smarts than ever at their fingertips, which manufacturer builds the best ute for when the going gets tough away from the bitumen?

More on Off-road Performance here

The vehicles on test here are traditionally known as one-tonners, but some utes have a payload capacity much closer to that benchmark than others.

We’ll not only look at which utes can shoulder the most load, but which can realistically accommodate it best.

Many ute buyers want to tow a heavy trailer. As utes are compromised in their maximum weight capacities when it comes to heavy trailers and payload, we’ll examine all the weight thresholds to work out which vehicle offers the best compromise, together with real-world stability, braking and engine performance when towing.

More on Towing and Payload here

Dual-cab 4x4 utes require as much or even more regular servicing and maintenance than any other vehicle, especially if they are worked hard.

But whether it’s a tool of trade, a weekend warrior or simply a family car, it’s important to know how much your ute will cost to service, how expensive tyres are, how generous its warranty is and what it’s likely to be worth when it’s time to sell.

More on Ownership Costs here

So without further ado, let’s find out which model is the Best Dual-Cab 4x4 Ute for 2021.

Read The Verdict here

Best Dual-Cab 4x4 Ute 2021 contenders:
Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2
GWM Ute Cannon-X
Isuzu D-MAX X-Terrain
Jeep Gladiator Overland
LDV T60 LUXE
Mazda BT-50 GT
Mitsubishi Triton GSR
Nissan Navara ST-X
SsangYong Musso Ultimate
Toyota HiLux SR5 Volkswagen Amarok Highline TDI580