Which Utes Have the Best Resale Values?

It’s a super important question, considering just how large your initial purchase is, so finding a ute that depreciates less than its counterparts is a great way to pocket some extra cash when you’re ready to sell.

Let’s map out some of the utes with the best resale values to help you with your next purchase, and then let's take a quick look at what impacts resale values for utes here in Australia.

Toyota 70 Series Ute

Toyota is renowned for its near bullet-proof utes and off-roaders, perhaps best signified by the iconic 70 Series ute range.

The market is well aware of Toyota’s build quality and reliability, with the 70 Series ute lineup offering some of the most impressive resale values three years after their purchase.

All up, the 70 Series can retain as much as 80 per cent of its original purchase price 18 months after you drive off the dealership lot, making it Australia’s best ute for resale values.

Isuzu D-Max

The Isuzu D-Max ute range offers a fairly broad mix when it comes to its 18-month resale values, with lower 4x2 variants powered by a 1.9-litre turbo-diesel being hit harder by depreciation than their more premium siblings within the D-Max range.

Higher-ranking members of the 4x4 D-Max range powered by the range-topping 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel retain around 75 per cent of their original purchase price after 18 months.

Mitsubishi Triton

The Mitsubishi Triton remains one of the leading options for resale values over time, with the company’s reliability and long-term warranty coverage helping to cement impressive resale values.

After three years of ownership, the majority of the Triton dual-cab variants retain around 70 per cent of their resale values, putting them atop the leaderboard for utes with the best resale values.

Toyota HiLux

The HiLux is one of the most recognisable names in the ute world, and Toyota’s reputation for reliability has helped to bolster the HiLux with some of the most solid resale values.

On average, the HiLux retains upward of 65 per cent of its resale value after the 18-month mark.

Interestingly, though, these resale values don’t apply to all variants, with the market far preferring higher-spec HiLux dual-cab variants that come powered by the range-topping 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel.

Ford Ranger

Ford’s main rival to the HiLux, the Ranger ute offers prospective sellers very solid resale values.

Three years after taking delivery of a Ford Ranger dual-cab, potential sellers can expect to see resale values of around 63 per cent of the purchase price, while variants powered by the more powerful 3.0-litre turbo-diesel sit around the 65 per cent mark.

Nissan Navara

The Nissan Navara is another solid option for ute buyers here in Australia, with both 4x2 and 4x2 variants retaining around 65 per cent of their purchase price after three years.

The market far prefers Navara variants that come powered by the company’s 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel unit, which retains higher resale values than the entry-level single-turbo diesel lineup.

RAM 1500

RAM’s all-American workhorse has gone down a treat with buyers here in Australia, and while we don’t have a lot of long-term data to base our numbers on, it seems to offer solid resale values down the line.

On average, the RAM 1500 ute range retains around 65 per cent of its original purchase price after three years, putting it well within the ute segment’s average for high-performers.

How Fast Do Cars and Utes Depreciate?

Typically, resale values for a relatively new vehicle depreciate between 10 - 15 per cent in the first 12 months of ownership, though this can be closer than 20 per cent in some cases.

Some vehicles may see their resale values tumble by 15 per cent the moment they drive off the dealership floor, with depreciation hitting resale values by as much as 40 per cent in the first three years of ownership.

Thankfully, the depreciation curve tends to flatten out over time, meaning resale values tend to fall at their sharpest rate in the first three years and remain relatively steady after that, but it all depends on the desirability and condition of the vehicle you’re selling.

Factors that Impact Resale Values for Utes in Australia

Many things impact the resale value of utes here in Australia, and like all types of vehicles, they centre on the age, condition and manufacturer of the vehicle - with the market preferring certain car makers over others.

One of the primary drivers of resale values for utes, specifically, include the engine under the bonnet, with range-topping turbo-diesel engines far more favourable to prospective buyers than lesser petrol and smaller capacity turbo-diesels you might find powering base models.

Some of the most common factors that impact deprecation and resale values for utes in Australia include:

• Model Year 

• Vehicle manufacturer 

• Vehicle Model 

• Engine Type 

• Condition of Vehicle 

• Kilometres Driven 

• Maintenance History 

• Drivetrain (4x2 vs 4x4) 

• Body Type (Single Cab Chassis, Dual-Cab etc) 

• Fuel-Efficiency 

• Factory Options

• Exterior Colour 

• Interior Colour and Condition of Upholstery 

• Aftermarket Accessories 

• Quality of Paintwork 

• Evidence of Damage from Off-Roading

• Degradation of Suspension From Towing

FAQ: Which Ute Will Last the Longest?

There’s no single answer to the question of which ute will last the longest largely because, with constant maintenance and the use of high-quality replacement parts and consumables, the sky is the limit.

Utes typically come powered by a turbo-diesel engine, a unit that has very much proven it can withstand the test of time and drive 500,000km or more with the right maintenance.

FAQ: Does the Toyota HiLux Hold its Value?

The second-hand car market knows that the Toyota HiLux range is a very solid and reliable package from a company known for its tough build quality.

As a result, Toyota HiLux utes hold their value above the ute segment’s average, though some entry-level variants depreciate faster than the industry average. Typically, higher spec 4x4 HiLux variants powered by the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel hold their value the best over single cab chassis variants.

FAQ: What Ute is Most Popular in Australia?

In 2023, the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux have proven by far the most popular utes sold here in Australia, with the Ranger just edging out the HiLux for the sales record.

Sales of the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux were followed by the Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, GWM Ute, LDV T60, Nissan Navara, Volkswagen Amarok and the RAM 1500.

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