Buying on a budget: Australia’s five cheapest new dual-cab 4x4 utes

The cost of living is soaring and everyone wants a bargain, right? Well if you’re in the market for a new dual-cab 4x4 ute – Australia’s most popular new vehicle type – you’ll be happy to know there’s never been more choice, especially at the bottom end of the market.

While many would like to ease into one of the most popular examples, that’s a $50K minimum spend these days (the Toyota HiLux starts from $48,235 and the Ford Ranger at $48,280, both plus on-road costs).

So with plenty of new (and not so new) budget players in the four-door 4x4 ute market, there are significant savings to be made. In fact, you can walk away with $20,000 or more left in your pocket by opting for a less popular model.

The question of course is are they any good? Here’s out verdict on the five cheapest new twin-cab 4x4 utes currently available in Australia.

While an all-new Mahindra Pik-Up is due by 2026, for now we have a very basic dual-cab 4x4 ute that first arrived in 2007 and, despite a touch-up here and there, looks every bit of 16 years old.

The Indian-built Mahindra Pik-Up is more a workhorse for tradies or farmers rather than a ‘lifestyle’ dual-cab for the school run or family weekends away. It has very few creature comforts, engine refinement is nothing special and ride quality is abrupt, even for a ute.

Despite a minor refresh in 2020 and the more recent addition of an automatic transmission, the Pik-Up is far from ergonomically sound or particularly safe (its now-expired three-star ANCAP rating dates back to 2012).

But it is a rugged, no-frills dual-cab 4x4 ute – and Australia’s cheapest. The bonus is that even with an automatic transmission, there are several Pik-Ups currently advertised on carsales at the moment for as little as $35,790 drive-away, making it the cheapest auto option too.

How much does a Mahindra Pik-Up S10+ manual cost?
Price: $32,990 drive-away
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 103kW/330Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 8.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
Max payload/towing: 995kg/2500kg
Safety rating: None

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The current SsangYong Musso has been with us since 2018 but had a refresh in 2021, bringing a new nose, and is due yet another update comprising a new front clip, wheels and refreshed interior by year’s end. Mechanicals will stay much the same.

For now, the Korean-made Musso is the surprise player at the cheap end of the dual-cab 4x4 ute segment. It makes sense as a city dweller in its standard (short) guise with a 1.3m-long tray, which also comes with independent multi-link coil rear suspension.

Ride quality, powertrain refinement and overall presentation are all very good. Added to that is the long warranty – seven years/unlimited km, even for commercial use – plus a 3500kg towing capacity (although the 800kg payload isn’t class-leading).

Yet the SsangYong does not quite offer the performance, technology or refinement of better utes. What might make it even harder to get over the line as a family vehicle is that there is no crash safety rating for the Musso.

How much does a SsangYong Musso ELX manual cost?
Price: $35,790 drive-away
Available: Now
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 133kW/420Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 7.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
Max payload/towing: 800kg/3500kg
Safety rating: Not tested

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On face value, the GWM Ute is tremendous value and the most feature-laden ute here. It is stacked high with all the right safety gear (and a current five-star ANCAP rating) and the latest tech and convenience features. It also looks the part and offers plenty of room inside.

Where it falls down is how some of the gear actually works. For example, the lane-keeping assist is over-sensitive and the infotainment system sometimes difficult and clunky to operate.

Meanwhile its quiet and smooth 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is laggy and lacking the power of many competitors, and the 4WD system lacks sophistication.

But there’s a lot of ute for your money here, even if $38,490 drive-away buys you only the most basic GWM Ute Cannon 4x4 auto cab/chassis.

How much does the GWM Ute CC Cannon cost?
Price: $38,490 drive-away
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 120kW/400Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.4L/100km
Max payload/towing: 1050kg/3000kg
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2021)

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The LDV T60 Max was first seen in Australia in 2017 and has had a couple of refreshes since then, the most recent coming late last year. An with the promise of an all-new model coming soon, the current T60’s sharp pricing might not last.

While it’s a good-looking truck and holds the title of Australia’s most powerful four-cylinder ute, it’s one that lacks the polish, tech and safety kit of the market leaders. The 2.0-litre biturbo diesel has considerable lag off the line, followed by strong mid-range urge, and a considerable thirst.

With the Pro variant’s heavy-duty suspension, there is none of the smooth, compliant ride you’ll find in the current Ranger. The ride is very firm. And while the Borg-Warner four-wheel drive system is sophisticated on paper, its clunky operation off-road as the system releases (to avoid binding) doesn’t shout refinement.

And the T60’s five-star ANCAP safety rating dates from 2017 and the Chinese-built ute lacks key safety aids such as autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

But the seven-year warranty introduced last year adds to the T60’s appeal, and there are new T60 Max Pro currently listed on carsales for as little as $33,990 drive-away – almost as cheap as a Mahindra!

How much does a LDV T60 Max Pro manual cost?
Price: $41,042 drive-away
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder biturbo-diesel
Output: 160kW/500Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 9.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
Max payload/towing: 935kg/3000kg
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)

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The Mitsubishi Triton is yet another ute due for renewal soon (next February) and we know the all-new replacement for Australia’s third most popular ute will be more expensive than before, so get in now if you want a cheap ute wearing the triple-diamond logo.

The current Triton has been around since 2015 and with that comes some advantages and disadvantages. Its cabin feels oddly old-school in its proportions, with a high step-up to get in but seats low to the floor. The 2.4-litre turbo-diesel is not the quietest around and has turbo lag under 1500rpm.

The Triton’s ride is among the least cohesive in its class and its body flex doesn’t help on a rough road, where all sorts of rattles interrupt the otherwise hushed cabin ambience.

Technology and safety features are also nothing special, especially at this entry trim level, with the Triton lagging behind the best in class and even some in this group. While it was awarded five stars by ANCAP back in 2015, that rating has now expired.

However, let’s not forget that this ute comes from one of the world’s biggest ute makers and one of the most established automotive brands in Australia, where it has the largest dealer representation of all the utes listed here.

The Triton’s engine is also one of the most efficient in its category, build quality is among the best in this group of budget models and let’s not forget the Triton has the longest warranties of all utes at 10 years/200,000km – provided every service is done at a Mitsubishi dealer.

At $41,440 plus on-road costs, the Triton GLX dual-cab/chassis 4x4 manual is the priciest of this handful, but for under $45K ($44,690 plus ORCs) you’ll also get a tray and auto – and probably even better deals as the new model approaches.

How much does a Mitsubishi Triton GLX manual cost?
Price: $41,440 plus on-road costs
Available: Now
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 133kW/430Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
Max payload/towing: 1079kg/3100kg
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2015)

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