Best end of financial year ute deals

The end of financial year might be the best time to nab a deal on any new car, but the deals on a spanking-new ute can be absolutely stratospheric.

But first, some background. It's a little-known fact that, while car dealers make money on the margins in some vehicles and in the sale of add-on extras and servicing, there are also big and juicy cheques on offer from the manufacturers themselves for meeting certain sales targets (and we’re not talking peanuts here  -  these are six- and sometimes seven-figure sums, along with all-expenses paid international trips to glamorous, far-flung destinations). 

Time it right, and your new workhorse might be the final sale standing between a particular dealer and a significant payday, which hands you a staggering amount of bargaining power.

And these targets shift every month, with dealers expected to sell more cars in December (for Christmas) than in January, for example. But in no month are the targets higher than they are in June, with most dealers under pressure to sell more cars in the run up to the end of financial year than in any other month.

Now, add to all that that fact that ute sales are hugely dependent on the financial year, as most owners can lower their tax bill by writing-off at least some of the cost of their new 'work vehicle', and you’ve got the perfect environment to grab yourself a bargain.

So CarsGuide has done a little digging around to uncover some of the best ute bargains on offer in June. And remember, the below is before you start haggling. So the rest is up to you...

1: Toyota HiLux

2017 Toyota HiLux SR5 dual cab 4x4 diesel manual

Eminently popular - and often Australia’s best-selling vehicle - the all-conquering HiLux doesn’t need to do too many ticket-slashing deals, but there is still some serious money to be saved across most of the range. The Workmate and SR lines are being offered with free on-road costs and a $1000 alloy wheel upgrade, while the mean-mugging SR5 gets free on-road costs, as well as what Toyota calls its 'Tow & Stow Pack', which includes a tow ball, and trailer wiring harness as well as rubber floor mats and a tray liner.

2: Ford Ranger

2017 Ford Ranger XLT Dual-Cab

Another ute so popular that Ford’s under no pressure to cut prices, the pick of the deals on a Ranger at the moment is on the XLT Double Cab 4X4, which is being shifted at a drive-away $56,490 with an automatic transmission. That’s a significant saving, given it wears a list price of $57,690, before on-road costs.

3: Isuzu D-MAX

2017 Isuzu D-Max LS-M.

Isuzu is offering two year's free scheduled servicing on all of its four-wheel drive models (including the MU-X), and there’s some sharp drive-away pricing across most of the range. Pick of the bunch, though, is the 4X4 LS-M Crew Cab, which is listed at $40,990 in manual guise, a sharp drop from its $46,400 list price.

4: Volkswagen Amarok

2017 Volkswagen Amarok Core

The pick of the VW Amarok bunch is the Core 4x4 Dual Cab model, which is listed at $42,990 drive-away until June 30. List price is $43,390, before on-roads, but that’s with a manual transmission. As part of the EOFY run-out, VW will also fit an eight-speed auto at no cost.

5: Holden Colorado

2017 Holden Coldorado LTZ Dual Cab

Holden is offering a killer deal on its Colorado LTZ 4X4 Crew Cab, which is $49,990 drive-away - compared to an official list price of $52,690 - with Holden also throwing in three years' free servicing. Meaning you drive away today and don't have to dip your hand back into your pocket until mid-2020.

6: Nissan Navara 

2017 Nissan Navara Series II (SL Dual Cab variant pictured)

Nissan’s work steed is being offered as a drive-away deal with a low finance rate of just one per cent. Expect to pay $39,990 drive-away for an SL 4X4 dual-cab in manual, and $42,380 for the automatic, which compares to official list prices of $43,990 and $46,490 respectively.

PICK OF THE BUNCH

But our pick of the bunch would have to be the deal on Mitsubishi's Triton GLS Double Cab four-wheel drive in manual guise, mostly because it will put money back into your pocket. The Triton is $38,990 drive-away (down from an official list price of $41,500), which is far from the biggest saving on offer, but Mitsubishi will hand you a $2000 EFTPOS card to spend as you will to sweeten the deal.

Are you in the market for an end of financial year ute deal? Tell us what you think in the comments below.