best ute in australia 2023 Page 184

“Best ute in Australia 2023” is like picking the best pie at the servo—depends whether you want gravy, spice, or just not scalding your tongue. Here are the front-runners and why they’ll either delight you or send you back to the lot.

• Ford Ranger — Pros: polished tech, strong V6 option, comfy ride, 3,500 kg towing. Cons: pricier trims, wait times, thirsty if pushed.
• Toyota HiLux — Pros: legendary reliability, stellar resale, huge dealer network. Cons: ride/refinement trail the best, performance is adequate not exciting.
• Isuzu D‑Max — Pros: value, safety kit, tough 3.0‑litre diesel manners. Cons: cabin feels utilitarian, engine noise under load.
• Mitsubishi Triton (MY23) — Pros: sharp pricing, Super Select 4WD on some trims, long warranty. Cons: older platform in 2023, smaller cabin.

No single winner—match the pros to your life (boats, campers, or just kerb appeal) and your wallet will forgive you. Test-drive them back-to-back and your backside will pick faster than any spec sheet.