Top five 4×4 utes of 2024
As we continue to count down to the end of 2024, we’re giving you a year-in-review on the cars that took our fancy throughout the year.
Isuzu D-Max LS-U+
Continuing on from last week’s mid-sized SUV review wrap-up, we’re moving on to 4×4 utes. It’s the second-largest segment on the VFACTS sales charts by volume, and while it may not be as densely packed as other segments, there’s still plenty of options to choose from.
We’ve had the chance to drive plenty this year, and these are the five that topped our score charts over the calendar year. Some of these models have been reviewed on multiple occasions this year, so we’ve only featured the variant that achieved the highest rating.
Prices are based on each manufacturer’s configurators using a Victorian postcode, which should provide a representative estimate of what the average Australian buyer will end up paying.
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Mazda BT-50 SP 
Mitsubishi Triton GLS
| Make/Model | CarExpert rating | Victorian drive-away price |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6 | 8.6 | $80,944 |
| Volkswagen Amarok TDI500 Style | 8.3 | $69,740 |
| Isuzu D-Max LS-U+ | 8.1 | $71,182 |
| Mazda BT-50 SP | 7.9 | $63,990 |
| Mitsubishi Triton GLS | 7.9 | $60,990 |
Click on car’s name in the table above to jump directly to its information on the page, or keep scrolling for the full article.
Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger was our highest-rated ute for 2024, scoring an impressive 8.6 out of 10 in a review written by senior contributor Matt Campbell.
We praised the Ranger’s SUV-like interior feel, something especially evident in the Wildtrak grade reviewed. Its cabin fit and finish was also a positive, with high-quality materials and robust tech helping it achieve a high score.
Helping the Wildtrak to the highest rating of any ute was its V6 diesel powertrain, which we described as the “ideal fit for this type of ute”. The 10-speed automatic gearbox was also identified as a key factor behind its quality drive experience, with “smart shifts” that allowed the engine to thrive in all situations.
Our review summed it up by labelling this specific ranger a “great choice for those who will use it for work, play, or both”, praising its capacity to be a flexible family dual-cab ute. Its price was listed as a negative, while space in both the back seat and tub could also have been improved.
You can read our full review of the Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6 here
| CarExpert rating | 8.6 |
| Victorian drive-away price | $80,944 |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Superb V6 powertrain | Expensive, and prices keep rising |
| Great to drive | Back seat space a bit limited |
| Some great tech inclusions | Tray roller cover eats into space |
Interested in buying a Ford Ranger? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Ford Ranger
Volkswagen Amarok
The Ranger’s Amarok cousin was our next-best ute for 2024, with news editor William Stopford giving it a respectable score of 8.3
Highlights included its safety and ride comfort, while our in-depth ratings for cost of ownership, fuel efficiency and its infotainment tech also reflected the Amarok’s positive traits.
Unlike the Ranger, we praised its bi-turbo four-cylinder engine for its cheaper price yet respectable outputs. We also said it was attractive inside and out and appreciated its consistent steering feel.
We still preferred the interior of the Ranger, and our rating of the Amarok in comparison reflects that. It scored relatively poorly on value for money and interior practicality and space as a result.
Otherwise, its main drawback for an otherwise solid ute was listed as a lack of rear USB outlets.
You can read our full review of the Volkswagen Amarok TDI500 Style here
| Volkswagen Amarok TDI500 Style | |
|---|---|
| CarExpert rating | 8.3 |
| Victorian drive-away price | $69,740 |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Superb technology that all works | Less user-friendly interior than Ranger |
| Attractive styling, inside and out | No rear USB outlets or app connectivity |
| Smooth, responsive powertrain | A bit pricey |
Interested in buying a Volkswagen Amarok? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Volkswagen Amarok
Isuzu D-Max
The D-Max was the third and final ute to score higher than 8.0 this year, as it was awarded an 8.1 by marketplace journalist Max Davies.
Sitting near the top of the D-Max range, the LS-U+ was praised for its 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine that was said to offer strong performance while maintaining proven reliability.
We liked its interior technology and comfort, while also identifying its ride comfort as a key positive. It was also deemed practical inside relative to its dimensions and maintained a commendable fuel efficiency rating.
It’s not particularly cheap though, and that was reflected in our review. We also weren’t overjoyed by its fit and finish as we identified a handful of rattles both from the interior and from the handful of exterior accessories fitted to our tester.
We also said the fact you couldn’t drive the LS-U+ on sealed roads with four-wheel drive activated was a drawback, especially compared to rivals like the Ranger.
You can read our full review of the Isuzu D-Max LS-U+ here
| Isuzu D-Max LS-U+ | |
|---|---|
| CarExpert rating | 8.1 |
| Victorian drive-away price | $71,182 |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong, reliable diesel engine | No full-time 4WD |
| Comfortable interior, good tech | Prices keep climbing |
| Impressive ride quality | A little rattly here and there |
Interested in buying an Isuzu D-Max? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Isuzu D-Max
Mazda BT-50
Mazda’s BT-50 was reviewed in SP guise this year, and it scored 7.9 at the hands of marketplace journalist Josh Nevett.
Like the Ranger, we felt the BT-50 SP “drives like an SUV” which was identified as a key positive and contributed to its respectable score. Its interior fit and finish was also solid and we had no issues with its advanced driver assist systems either.
Its safety, cost of ownership, fuel efficiency, and infotainment technology were also given commendable ratings. Interior practicality and space wasn’t as strong as some of its rivals, and while outputs from its 3.0-litre turbo-diesel aren’t as high as others we said it had “more than adequate shove” around town.
Despite being on the cheaper end of higher-spec dual-cab utes, we rated its value for money poorly. This is largely because it becomes fairly expensive when the “SP Pro” options are fitted, and the infotainment upgrade it received was also costly.
Nevertheless, we felt the D-Max-twinning BT-50 was well-equipped and benefitted from the credibility of the Mazda badge.
You can read our full review of the Mazda BT-50 SP here
| Mazda BT-50 SP | |
|---|---|
| CarExpert rating | 7.9 |
| Victorian drive-away price | $63,990 |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Drives like an SUV | Expensive with options |
| Well-calibrated ADAS | Rivals have more grunt |
| Premium cabin materials | Infotainment upgrade isn’t worth $5000 |
Interested in buying a Mazda BT-50? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Mazda BT-50
Mitsubishi Triton
Mitsubishi managed to crack our 2024 top five with the Triton, thanks to its 7.9 rating awarded by assistant production editor Jack Quick.
We were impressed by the fact its towing specs are now up-to-scratch with the rest of the segment, while its 2.4-litre bi-turbo diesel four-cylinder showed commendable performance and fuel efficiency.
We also liked its handling dynamics and its interior practicality, the latter of which was given a higher rating than other competitors. Its infotainment technology also received praise.
We didn’t like its driver attention monitoring system and found it to be “infuriating” when on the move. Equally, its idle stop-start function didn’t perform as we’d expect, and its ride comfort proved to be below par.
Its six-speed automatic transmission is also less versatile than other units with more gears found in some rivals, something we feel should be addressed with a few more gears.
You can read our full review of the Mitsubishi Triton GLS here
| Mitsubishi Triton GLS | |
|---|---|
| CarExpert rating | 7.9 |
| Victorian drive-away price | $60,990 |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Towing specs finally segment-matching | Infuriating driver attention monitor |
| Efficient bi-turbo diesel | Idle stop-start is painfully laggy |
| Long conditional warranty | Transmission needs more gears |
Interested in buying a Mitsubishi Triton? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Mitsubishi Triton
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