Utes

Utes are Australia’s most popular type of vehicle, but which models offer the best resale value when the time comes to selling them? CarsGuide’s analytics team crunched the numbers so that we could bring you this exclusive report. 

The D-Max Blade, a collaboration between Isuzu and the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, was developed locally as a hardcore four-wheel drive. It has 3mm steel bash plates, Aussie-tuned and lifted suspension, light truck construction all-terrain tyres and Blade-specific design enhancements. But, without extra power and torque, is the Blade actually worth $15,000 more than the LS-U+ on which it's based?

Details of KGM SsangYong’s incoming small Musso electric ute have been leaked in a certification filing to the Korean Ministry of Environment.

The Mazda BT-50 is the under-rated star of the Japanese brand's line-up. Often overshadowed by its SUV siblings, the 'black sheep' of the Mazda family is actually one of its best-sellers.It has been updated for 2025, with a fresh look to try and attract more ute buyers who prefer a tough-looking truck. We put it through its paces on- and off-road to see how this new model stacks up.

Mazda has given its BT-50 workhorse a major upgrade.The BT-50 is a twin under the skin with the Isuzu D-Max but has Mazda’s very distinctive design language applied.New styling toughens up the BT-50’s appeal. It has a new bumper, grille, larger Mazda badge and new-look LED lights.These changes are joined by fresh looking wheels, side body cladding and a re-worked rear end.The base XS grade arrives priced from $36,400 (before on-road costs), which is about $1000 more than the outgoing version.It is only available in a single cab chassis layout and is the only model in the line-up powered by a 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that makes 110kW and 350Nm. This is paired with a six-speed automatic and two-wheel drive.Mazda has deleted manual transmissions from the BT-50 line-up.The XS comes with 17-inch steel wheels, cloth seats, an eight-inch multimedia touchscreen and safety tech such as auto emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert and a reversing camera.Next up is the XT grade, which is available in single cab, freestyle cab and dual-cab body styles.All XT variants are powered by the same 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine as before, which makes 140kW and 450Nm. This is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and buyers can choose between two- or four-wheel drive.The XT grade swaps out the steelies from the XS for alloy wheels of the same size. Four-wheel drive variants have a locking rear differential and rough terrain mode. Dual cab versions have rear aircon vents and pick-up shaped variants have tailgate assist and rear parking sensors.For a full list of prices for the XT, refer to the table below.Next up is the XTR grade that is only available in a dual-cab body with the choice of a cab chassis or pick-up rear. It uses the same 3.0-litre motor and is available with two- or four-wheel drive.It steps up its game with 18-inch alloy wheels, front LED fog lights, side steps, folding side mirrors, daytime running lights.Inside buyers can expect a nine-inch multimedia touchscreen, dual zone air conditioning, satnav, tyre pressure monitoring.Pick-up shaped XTRs have a tow bar and a tub liner.For a full list of XTR prices, see the table below.The GT grade is only available in four-wheel drive, and is available ith either a cab chassis or pick-up back end.It has heated exterior mirrors, leather wrapped seats that are power adjustable for the driver, both front seats have a heating function and there are front parking sensors and a remote engine starting function.The top-spec SP is only available as a pick-up shape with four-wheel drive.It has a range of exterior styling tweaks compared to the GT. These include 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels and gloss black highlights all over, a roller tonneau cover and synthetic leather and suede wrapped seats.Prices listed are before on-road costs

While Toyota in Australia is yet to spill much in the way of detail, credible and growing reports are pointing to a new HiLux arriving in the second half of this year, as the Japanese giant fights back against the waves of new dual-cab utes from other brands that have either just arrived or that are coming soon.

Has the ute segment finally been revolutionised?

There’s nothing like the floor of a motor show for catching senior automotive executives with their guard down.

The car industry is based on constant model renewal. Cycles have been getting shorter and shorter, with the main industry settling on between six and eight years as the norm. 

In recent years the pointy end of the Australian new vehicle sales race has reflected our seemingly insatiable appetite for dual cab utes, with the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux locked in a fierce arm wrestle to determine the annual winner.