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Utes have been affected substantially by increasing fuel prices, thanks to their large fuel tanks and often thirsty turbo-diesel engines.
Diesel fuel prices have jumped to more than $3 per litre, making filling up a diesel ute more expensive than ever.
CarsGuide has compiled a list of all the diesel dual-cab pick-up utes on sale, calculating the yearly cost of each at $3.07 per litre (the average price in NSW on 31/3/26) over 15,000km.
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Game over for diesel utes: Rising fuel prices could finish off diesel utes in Australia with 2026 Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu Ute D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton all at risk as plug-in hybrid workhorse the BYD Shark 6 grow in popularity: Analysis
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Isuzu Ute’s D-Max and Mazda BT-50 2.2-litre turbo-diesel variants are the efficiency leaders. The mechanically identical pair of utes cost $3038.02 in fuel in a year, averaging 6.6L/100km.
The Ford Ranger’s single turbo-diesel 2.0-litre is next on the list, averaging 6.9L/100km, which equates to $3177.45 over 15,000km.
The new mild hybrid Toyota HiLux also has a competitive efficiency figure of 7.1L/100km, which is a little cheaper in fuel than the standard turbo-diesel variants.
Three-litre variants of the BT-50 and D-Max vary in cost, given fuel consumption fluctuates between 7.1L/100km and 7.8L/100km depending on the variant.
The KGM Musso is one of the thirstiest of the utes, with its up to 9.0L/100km, costing more than $4000 over the course of a year. The GWM Cannon Alpha diesel was the other ute to exceed the $4000 mark.
Concluding the list are the gas guzzling full-size American pick-ups, in Ram’s 2500 and the Chevrolet Silverado HD. Both have V8 diesel engines with a capacity of more than 6.0-litres, meaning they cost more than $7000 over the course of a year.
2026 ute fuel figures Australia
| Rank | Make/Model | Engine | Fuel efficiency | Cost to fill-up | Yearly cost @ 15,000km |
| 1 | Mazda BT-50 | 2.2-litre turbo-diesel | 6.6L/100km | 76L x $3.07 = $233.32 | $3038.02 |
| 1 | Isuzu Ute D-Max | 2.2-litre turbo-diesel | 6.6L/100km | 76L x $3.07 = $233.32 | $3038.02 |
| 3 | Ford Ranger | 2.0-litre turbo-diesel | 6.9L/100km | 80L x $3.07 = 245.60 | $3177.45 |
| 4 | Toyota HiLux | 2.8-litre turbo-diesel | 7.1L/100km - 7.4L/100km* | 80L x $3.07 = $245.60 | $3269.55 - $3407.96 |
| 5 | Mazda BT-50 | 3.0-litre turbo-diesel | 7.1L/100km-7.8L/100km* | 76L x $3.07 = $233.32 | $3270.84 - $3591.93 |
| 5 | Isuzu Ute D-Max | 3.0-litre turbo-diesel | 7.1L/100km - 7.8L/100km* | 76L x $3.07 = $233.32 | $3270.84 - $3591.93 |
| 7 | JAC T9 | 2.0-litre turbo-diesel | 7.6L/100km | 76L x $3.07 = $233.32 | $3499.80 |
| 8 | Kia Tasman | 2.2-litre turbo-diesel | 7.7L/100km | 80L x $3.07 = $245.60 | $3545.72 |
| 9 | Mitsubishi Triton | 2.4-litre turbo-diesel | 7.5L/100km - 7.7L/100km | 75L x $3.07 = $230.25 | $3453.75 - $3545.94 |
| 10 | Nissan Navara | 2.4-litre turbo-diesel | 7.7L/100km | 75L x $3.07 = $230.25 | $3545.94 |
| 11 | Ford Ranger | 3.0-litre turbo-diesel | 8.4L/100km | 80L x $3.07 = $245.60 | $3868.20 |
| 12 | GWM Cannon | 2.0-litre turbo-diesel | 8.1L/100km - 8.4L/100km* | 78L x $3.07 = $239.46 | $3730.06 - $3868.21 |
| 13 | LDV Terron 9 | 2.5-litre turbo-diesel | 7.9L/100km | 80L x $3.07 = $245.60 | $3637.94 |
| 14 | MG U9 | 2.5-litre turbo-diesel | 7.9L/100km | 80L x $3.07 = $245.60 | $3637.94 |
| 15 | Volkswagen Amarok | 2.0-litre turbo-diesel | 8.0L/100km | 80L x $3.07 = $245.60 | $3684.00 |
| 16 | KGM Musso | 2.2-litre turbo-diesel | 8.6L/100km - 9.0L/100km | 75L x $3.07 = $230.25 | $3960.27 - $4144.52 |
| 17 | GWM Cannon Alpha | 2.4-litre turbo-diesel | 8.9L/100km | 78L x $3.07 = $239.46 | $4098.47 |
| 18 | Ram 2500 | 6.7-litre turbo-diesel | 15.3L/100km** | 117L x $3.07 = $359.19 | $7052.16 |
| 19 | Chevrolet Silverado HD | 6.6-litre turbo-diesel | 15.8L/100km*** | 136L x $3.07 = $417.52 | $7282.33 |
*Dependent on variant
**Ram does not provide official figures for fuel consumption. This figure is sourced from CarsGuide's real world testing.
***Chevrolet does not provide official figures for fuel consumption. This figure is sourced from CarsGuide's real world testing.
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