Tradies are a sophisticated bunch. When it comes time to buying a workhorse, the days of the blue-collar mob making an ‘eeny-meeny’ choice between a Holden or Ford rear-wheel drive ute are long gone. Now, when looking for a work vehicle, tradies do thorough research, ask their colleagues and clients for their opinion on salient […]
Tradies are a sophisticated bunch. When it comes time to buying a workhorse, the days of the blue-collar mob making an ‘eeny-meeny’ choice between a Holden or Ford rear-wheel drive ute are long gone. Now, when looking for a work vehicle, tradies do thorough research, ask their colleagues and clients for their opinion on salient vehicular-related issues… and then they still buy a HiLux! Joking. (Or am I?)
Gone also are the days where, in a yarn such as this, we could merely suggest all of the entry-levelutesin 4×2 guise because they’re generally the cheapest options, and their very basic, hose-out-interiors and no-nonsense approach have been traditionally well suited to those who don’t wear suits to work – but, as we said, times have changed.
Tradies needtough work trucks, sure, but they also often have families so they need plenty ofsafety gear; they’re human beings, too, so they don’t mind a bit ofcomfort, air con and music every now and again. Price is a factor, obviously, but tradies are some of the richest blokes I know, so it’s not too much of an issue.
We’re not going to patronise plumbers or belittle builders, we’re going to focus ondual-cab utesbecause tradies, who have their own businesses (and families), will likely err on the side of comfort, safety and versatility, rather than go forcheaper, more basic vehicles. Here are our top fiveutesfor tradies.
Please note: All weight-related figures (payload, towing capacity etc) are official figures provided by vehicle manufacturers. Cab-chassis payload figures do not take into account the weight of tray body, toolbox or gear etc. As always, make sure your vehicle is loaded according to legal limits. (Thanks to Brad Luke of Luke Bodyworks for the reminder.)
1. Isuzu D-Max
CarsGuide.com.au
The D-Max has recently been updated and now comes with a new six-speed auto or manual, new engine (Euro 5 compliant 3.0-litre four cylinder turbo–diesel, 130kW/430Nm) and a bit of a facelift. Who cares about the refreshed looks? This is a rock-solid old-school ute for better or worse – mostly better.
As mentioned, where we might normally suggest the entry-level version of aute(here, it’s the 4×2single cab chassisSX at $28,500), the lack of safety gear (in this case, a reversing camera) immediately puts the cheaper choices out of contention.
Opt instead for a top-of-the-rangecrew cab(dual cab) LS-T, from $54,200. The five-seater has most of the creature comforts you’d expect in something at this price –8.0-inch media display, air con, comfy seats, leather-like trim, three USB ports, cupholders galore – without being pretentious about it.
More importantly, the D-Max’s tray is 1552mm long (on the floor), 465mm deep and 1530mm wide across the top, and 1105mm wide, between wheelarches. The tray has four tie-down points, one at each corner.
TheD-Maxhas a924kg payload, a class-leading maximum braked towing capacity of 3500kg* and 750kg unbraked (*same asHiLux,Holden Colorado, andMazda BT-50). It hasa maximum five-star ANCAP rating. Fuel consumption isa claimed 7.9L/100km; it has a 76-litre fuel tank.
It hasa five-year/130,000km warranty, with five years ofroadside assistand five-year/50,000kmcapped price servicing.
Not cheap, not flash, but it’sa great towing vehicleand load-carrier, and it’s more than strong enough to cope with any job site duties.
2. Mazda BT-50 XTR Dual Cab
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This is a near-perfect package for tradies: a mix of passenger-car comfort, maximum five-star ANCAP safety and real-world strength. The BT-50 has a towing-friendly3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo–diesel engine (147kW/470Nm), mated to a super-smooth six-speed auto.
While driving, it’s barely recognisable as aute; this muscularMazdagets around just as easily and comfortably on gravel roads, dirt tracks and work-site ruts, as it does on the highway.
As standard, priced at $50,890, theBT-50gets a stack of good stuff – not the least of which is a7.8-inch touchscreen media display, dual-zone air con,reversing camera, three 12 volt power outlets and USB port – and looks good with it all.
It is rated totow 3500kg(maximum, braked). The tray is 1549mm long, 1560mm wide (1139mm between the wheelarches), and 513mm deep. Fuel consumption isa claimed 9.7L/100km; it has a 80-litre fuel tank.
It hasa two-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty(or up to three years, limited to 100,000km).
Smooth-driving and strong, theBT-50is one of the best workhorses around.
3. Ford Ranger XLT Double Cab
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Let’s face it – the Ranger is the bar against which all other utes are measured. It’s just that good. And the XLT Double Cab($57,600 plus on-roads) is the pick of the Ranger bunch.
Its 3.2-litre five-cylinderturbo-dieselengine (147kW/470Nm) andsix-speed automake a gung-ho combination, and the whole package is a real natural fit when it comes to work duties – loaded-up tray and all – so it’s ideal for the tradiest of tradies.
Standard work-friendly features include8.0-inchtouchscreen,reversing camera, dual-zone air con, USB port, 12 volt socket in the tray, front and rear parking sensors and more. ThisRangercan tow up to 3500kg (braked). The tray is 1549mm long, 1139mm wide (between the wheelarches) and 511mm deep.
Fuel consumption isa claimed 9.0L/100km; it has a 80-litre fuel tank. It has athree-year/100,00km-kilometre warrantywith 12-month/15,000km service intervals.
The XLT hasa five-star ANCAP ratingbut if you want more bang for yoursafetybuck, get thetechpack (an $800 option), which addsadaptive cruise control, automatic high beam,lane-departure warningand more to the existing suite of safety features.
It’s pricey but this Ranger is cool, comfortable and more than capable – which is why you see plenty of them around work sites.
4. Toyota HiLux SR5 Dual Cab auto
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At time of writing, HiLux (4154 units) and Ford Ranger (4069 units) had topped the May 2017 new car sales charts, thrashing mainstream vehicles such as Corolla and Mazda3.
TheHiLuxcontinues to top sales charts because it blends new-school levels of refinement* with good ol’ durability and reliability (*its ride is harsh but it has improved over previous models).
While not as tow-capable as some rivals (the auto is max rated to 3200kg, braked), the HiLux is armed with a hard-working 2.8-litre four-cylinderturbo-diesel(130kW/450Nm) and slicksix-speed autoand so remains a master of the job-site domain.
The interior is not as flash as its rivals, but it’s adequate, with a7.0-inch media displayand plenty of storage spaces – great for tradies. The tray is 1550mm long (on the floor), 1515mm wide (on the floor), 1110mm wide (between the wheelarches), and 495mm deep (from floor to top of deck). The tray has four tie-down points, one at each corner.
The HiLux hasa five-star ANCAP rating(seven airbags in the cabin,reversing camera, andISOFIX points in the rear seat) but could do with moresafetymeasures.
Fuel consumption isa claimed 8.5L/100km; it has an 80-litre fuel tank. It hasa three-year/100,000km warrantyandcapped price servicingfor three years/60,000km.
At $55,990, the SR5 is not cheap and, for the cash, it’s not as refined asRangerandAmarok, but it has been supremely well-built and -engineered and, despite its new ‘softy’ looks, it’s still bloody tough. A stack ofsafetyandoff-roadtechhelp its cause.
5. Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series Double-Cab Chassis GXL
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Speaking of old-school utes which are low on pomposity, but chock-full of charm, here’s the 70 Series. Its straight up-and-down, no-fuss looks and gutsy Euro 5 compliant 4.5-litre V8 turbo–diesel engine(151kW/430Nm) make it a real winner in the workhorse stakes.
Throw in afive-speed manual gearbox(with a taller fifth gear), 130-litre tank and the fact it cantow3500kg (braked), 750kg (unbraked)and you have a warriorutewith day-to-day functionality.
A heavy-duty steel tray (with zinc chequer plate floor) is 1800mm long, 1840mm wide (1755mm internal width), weighs 246kg and costs approximately $3024 (fitted); the underbody tyre hanger kit (installed) is $508.38.
Fuel consumption is aclaimed 10.7L/100km. Yep, the GXL’s price ($68,990) is on the wrong side of cheap, it has athree-star ANCAP rating(only thesingle cabshave five stars) and it has few creature comforts as standard (air con is a $2761 option fitted!), but it is still a dead set working legend.
What’s that, you say? You have a penchant for steel wheels and even fewer frills? Go for adouble cab chassisWorkmate – it’s cheaper at $64,990.
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