Ute vs Light Truck: What’s best for business?

When it comes to choosing the ultimate all-round workhorse for your business, is a light-duty truck or a dual-cab ute the better option? Whether you need a reliable tow vehicle, a cargo-carrying machine, or a versatile runaround, the decision isn’t always clear-cut.

For many tradies, the dual-cab ute like the Toyota HiLux is the go-to choice, offering a balance of weekday utility and weekend adventure. But what happens when you need to tow a heavy trailer and haul a lot of gear at the same time? Sometimes, a one-tonne ute just doesn’t cut it.

Enter the light-duty truck, such as the Isuzu NPR Tradepack. With superior towing capacity and higher payload ratings, this vehicle offers serious grunt for those heavy-duty jobs—all while being drivable on a standard car licence. But can it match the comfort, safety, and user-friendly features of a dual-cab ute?

To find out, we put the Isuzu NPR Tradepack and the Toyota HiLux SR through their paces in a series of real-world tests. From load capacity to towing power, fuel efficiency to handling, we’ll help you decide which vehicle truly delivers as the best all-rounder for your business and budget.

Related: Six things to check before buying a full-size US pick-up truck

Related: Five reasons NOT to buy a ute

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