The only real problem is that with so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to know which is the most tailored to your needs, and the best value package overall.
Get in touch with one of our Car Buying Specialists today.
Request a quoteTo help you out, we’ll be taking a look at five of the best utes priced under $40k and compare them in terms of pricing, engine power, off-road and towing specs, as well as how much entertainment and safety kit you’ll get as standard.
Mitsubishi Triton
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Taking the honours as Australia’s cheapest ute, the Mitsubishi Triton has a lot to offer buyers thanks to its undeniable value-for-money proposition.
With a range starting at just $24,240, there’s a huge number of options within the Triton lineup for under $40k, with everything from a single cab chassis, club cab and dual cab platform on offer.
The GLX single cab comes powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 94kW of power and 194Nm of torque while the rest of the range gains a beefy 2.4-litre turbo-diesel producing 133kW of power and 430Nm of torque, paired with your choice of a six-speed manual or auto transmission.
One of the biggest selling points for the Triton is that it’s one of the only 4x4 utes available under $40,000, made more impressive by the fact that both the single and dual-cab designs fit under the price marker.
Standard equipment for the Triton GLX includes a set of 16-inch steel wheels, reversing camera, cruise control, air conditioning, 6.1-inch infotainment system, autonomous emergency braking with forward collision warnings and lane departure alerts as standard.
- Engine: 2.4-litre turbo-diesel
- Power & Torque: 133kW/430Nm
- Transmission: Six-speed manual & automatic
- Braked Towing Capacity: 2,500kg (Triton single cab) 3,100kg
- Fuel Economy: 7.8L/100km (single cab) to 8.4L/100km (double cab)
Toyota HiLux
One of Australia’s heavy-hitters in the ute market, the Toyota HiLux offers buyers a heap of variety and value for under $40,000 with its line-up starting at just $24,225 which helps to ensure it remains Australia’s best-selling ute.
For under $40k, you can get your hands on a HiLux 4x2 single cab, extra cab and double cab, with both the entry-level petrol and 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine on offer. The former produces 122kW/245Nm while the turbo-diesel produces 110kW of power and 400Nm of torque.
The HiLux platform is tough and isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty when it comes to work and off-road duties, while the double cab offers a versatile and surprisingly practical package for those with kids.
Towing figures for the entry-level HiLux petrol variants stand at 2,500kg, increasing to 2,800kg for the turbo-diesel variant, while the flagship offers 3,500kg of towing capacity.
Standard features for the HiLux Workmate & Workmate Hi-Rider - both of which are priced under $40k - include 16-inch wheels (17-inch for the double cab) as well as adaptive cruise control, air conditioning, cloth upholstery, lane departure warnings, autonomous emergency braking with day & night pedestrian/cyclist detection and an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.
- Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol & 2.8-litre turbo-diesel
- Power & Torque: 122kW/245Nm (petrol) 110kW/400Nm (2.4 diesel)
- Transmission: Five-speed manual and six-speed automatic
- Braked Towing Capacity: 2,500kg (petrol) 2,800kg (2.4 diesel) 3,500g (2.8 diesel)
- Fuel Economy: 7.1-8.0L/100km (petrol) 7.4-8.0L/100km (2.4 diesel)
Ford Ranger
Ford has made waves with its brand-new Ranger that brings the platform well into the 21st century with a sleek new styling package, new engine options and a heap of added equipment.
Priced from $35,930, the entry-level Ranger XL single cab kicks off the range, with a 4x2 extended cab chassis option priced at $38,430 and a dual cab chassis priced just north of our threshold at $40,430.
The Ranger XL comes powered by a revised 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel kicking out 125kW of power and 405Nm of torque, which is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Impressively, even the entry-level Ranger comes with braked towing capacity figures of 3,500kg, with payloads up to 1,327kg.
Standard equipment for the base model Ranger XL includes a set of 16-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, a reverse camera with parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.
- Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
- Power & Torque: 125kW/405Nm
- Transmission: Six-speed automatic
- Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg
- Fuel Economy: 7.6L/100km
Mazda BT-50
In recent months, Mazda has updated its BT-50 ute lineup with a set of new and more affordable entry-level variants priced from $33,850 for the BT-50 XS single-cab.
Heading the update is a new 1.9-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 110kW/350Nm for the cheapest BT-50 models, with the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel remaining the flagship powertrain producing 140kW/450Nm on offer.
The good news for buyers is that both the BT-50 XS single cab chassis with the 1.9-litre and 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engines sneak in under our price threshold here, which are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The XS comes riding on 17-inch alloys and receives a set of LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera, cloth upholstery for the sleek and stylish cabin, with a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay as standard, as well as a generous amount of safety equipment.
- Engine: 1.9-litre turbo-diesel & 3.0-litre turbo-diesel
- Power & Torque: 110kW/350Nm & 140kW/450Nm
- Transmission: Six-speed automatic
- Braked Towing Capacity: 3000kg (1.9) & 3,500kg
- Fuel Economy: 7.0L/100km (1.9) & 7.7 - 8.0L/100km
Isuzu D-Max
Interestingly, the Isuzu D-Max and the BT-50 are actually twins under the skin, although one comes out as a better option when it comes to accommodating a growing family.
The D-Max range is priced from $32,200 for the entry-level SX single cab, while only the D-Max is available in a dual-cab configuration, otherwise known as the ‘spacecab,’ under our $40,000 threshold.
Both the entry-level single & dual-cab variants come with the option of the 1.9-litre and 3.0-litre turbo-diesel units shared with the Mazda BT-50, with identical power outputs, although braked towing capacities drop for the manual 1.9-litre turbo-diesel D-Max down to 2,800kg.
Where the D-Max range begins to shine is when you take a look at its generous safety equipment lists and slightly longer warranty coverage of six years, as opposed to the BT-50’s five-year warranty.
Standard features for the entry-level D-Max SX include 17-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, cloth upholstery and a 7.0-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & wired Android Auto, as well as AEB, blind-spot monitoring, a reversing camera and rear-cross traffic alerts.
- Engine: 1.9-litre turbo-diesel & 3.0-litre turbo-diesel
- Power & Torque: 110kW/350Nm & 140kW/450Nm
- Transmission: Six-speed manual & automatic
- Braked Towing Capacity: 2,800kg (1.9 manual) 3,000kg (1.9 auto) to 3,500kg
- Fuel Economy: 7.0L per 100km (1.9) 7.7 - 8.0L per 100km
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