Best Dual-Cab 4x4 Ute 2021: Technology

Keeping up to date is a challenge for car-makers when technology is shifting at such a rapid rate – and when the expectations of car buyers are moving at equivalent speed.

Yet the model lifecycle for dual-cab utes is typically much longer than SUVs and traditional passenger cars – almost double the timeframe, in fact – which puts the onus on manufacturers to continually update as far as possible based on their existing vehicle architecture.

Among our 11 contenders for the Best Dual-Cab 4x4 Ute 2021, all offer Bluetooth phone and audio streaming and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity.

All have a variety of USB, 12V and 240V charging ports, although the top-selling 2021 Toyota HiLux curiously only has one USB port up front.

Despite being 10 years since Ford’s Australian-developed T6 Ranger was first unveiled, it has not been left behind in the technology stakes. Among its regular updates since then, Ford has thrown a lot of effort into keeping the Ranger’s cabin tech contemporary.

Not only does the Ranger have a broader suite of tech features than even the very latest ute arrivals tested here, it all works better than in most of its competitors too.

Despite new-generation models including the Isuzu D-MAX, Mazda BT-50 and GWM Ute Cannon-X having a laundry list of tech features, they are not as seamless in actual operation as the Ranger, with screen freeze, slow response or no response to touch or voice commands experienced by our testers on various occasions.

The Ranger’s highlights include an embedded modem and the FordPass smartphone app to remotely start the vehicle (the latter being a feature offered on rival models as well, via the remote key fob), as well as an emergency assist call facility. The only component not quite as competitive is the Ranger’s six-speaker audio versus the eight or nine speakers in some of the others.

The GWM Ute is the only vehicle here to offer wireless phone charging, and only it and the Ranger offer a dash-cam power outlet.

If you mourn the loss of old-school 1990s tech with which to play your Coldplay CDs, don’t worry: the Ranger, HiLux and Volkswagen Amarok still come with a CD player.

Incorporating all the latest tech is one thing; having it all function well is another. In that respect, the Ranger is the most straight-forward to use because its SYNC3 infotainment menus are simple and the system just works.

The near-identical D-MAX and BT-50 infotainment systems have a great breadth of features but do not have intuitive menus and have all sorts of warning beeps and bongs that require a deep dive into the menus to turn off.

The Toyota’s system is less well featured but also less fussy, although for some the small buttons on the screen are fiddly to use.

Despite the GWM Ute’s extensive tech features, it’s not all smooth sailing in operation either. We found a tendency for the Apple integration to work intermittently, and for the radio to turn on unexpectedly (and only turn off by switching off the vehicle).

The infotainment system on the LDV T60 can also be a bit temperamental, with touch-screen menus freezing occasionally.

As for the rest of the utes here, they may lack the comprehensive features but did not show up with any functionality problems.

Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2 key technology features:
Infotainment screen size: 8.0-inch
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Yes
Bluetooth/audio streaming: Yes
CD player: Yes
DAB+ digital radio: Yes
Embedded sat-nav: Yes
Speakers (number): 6
Traffic sign recognition: Yes
Voice recognition: Yes

GWM Ute Cannon-X key technology features:
Infotainment screen size: 7.0-inch
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Yes
Bluetooth/audio streaming: Yes
CD player: No
DAB+ digital radio: No
Embedded sat-nav: No
Speakers (number): 6
Traffic sign recognition: Yes
Voice recognition: Yes

Isuzu D-MAX X-Terrain key technology features:
Infotainment screen size: 9.0-inch
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Yes*
Bluetooth/audio streaming: Yes
CD player: No
DAB+ digital radio: Yes
Embedded sat-nav: Yes
Speakers (number): 8
Traffic sign recognition: Yes
Voice recognition: Yes
* Wireless Apple CarPlay

Jeep Gladiator Overland key technology features:
Infotainment screen size: 8.4-inch
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Yes
Bluetooth/audio streaming: Yes
CD player: No
DAB+ digital radio: Yes
Embedded sat-nav: Yes
Speakers (number): 9
Traffic sign recognition: No
Voice recognition: Yes

LDV T60 LUXE key technology features:
Infotainment screen size: 10-inch
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Yes
Bluetooth/audio streaming: Yes
CD player: No
DAB+ digital radio: No
Embedded sat-nav: No
Speakers (number): 6
Traffic sign recognition: No
Voice recognition: Yes

Mazda BT-50 GT key technology features:
Infotainment screen size: 9.0-inch
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Yes*
Bluetooth/audio streaming: Yes
CD player: No
DAB+ digital radio: Yes
Embedded sat-nav: Yes
Speakers (number): 8
Traffic sign recognition: Yes
Voice recognition: Yes
* Wireless Apple CarPlay

Mitsubishi Triton GSR key technology features:
Infotainment screen size: 7.0-inch
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Yes
Bluetooth/audio streaming: Yes
CD player: No
DAB+ digital radio: No
Embedded sat-nav: No
Speakers (number): 6
Traffic sign recognition: No
Voice recognition: Yes

Nissan Navara ST-X key technology features:
Infotainment screen size: 8.0-inch
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Yes
Bluetooth/audio streaming: Yes
CD player: No
DAB+ digital radio: Yes
Embedded sat-nav: Yes
Speakers (number): 6
Traffic sign recognition: No
Voice recognition: Yes

SsangYong Musso Ultimate key technology features:
Infotainment screen size: 8.0-inch
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Yes
Bluetooth/audio streaming: Yes
CD player: No
DAB+ digital radio: No
Embedded sat-nav: No
Speakers (number): 6
Traffic sign recognition: No
Voice recognition: Yes

Toyota HiLux SR5 key technology features:
Infotainment screen size: 8.0-inch
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Yes
Bluetooth/audio streaming: Yes
CD player: Yes
DAB+ digital radio: Yes
Embedded sat-nav: Yes
Speakers (number): 6
Traffic sign recognition: Yes
Voice recognition: Yes

Volkswagen Amarok Highline V6 TDI580 key technology features:
Infotainment screen size: 6.5-inch
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Yes
Bluetooth/audio streaming: Yes
CD player: Yes
DAB+ digital radio: No
Embedded sat-nav: No
Speakers (number): 6
Traffic sign recognition: No
Voice recognition: Yes