The reinvented and Aussie-developed global pick-up raises the best 4×4 ute bar again
The new-generation Ford Ranger has been named carsales’ Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute for 2022.
Claiming an emphatic victory over the most popular utes on sale in Australia, Ford’s all-new locally-developed global mid-size pick-up has already attracted huge interest from Aussie buyers.
But only now has the new Ford Ranger been put through the rigours of carsales’ Best testing program, which in this case saw Australia’s seven most popular mid-size dual-cab 4×4 utes compared via a comprehensive testing regime that exposed their strengths and weaknesses – and ultimately determined the winner.
The modern dual-cab ute is a true all-rounder, not only serving as a tradie’s workhorse but a family car, a recreational off-roader and a towing vehicle.
Dual-cab 4x4s are the most popular variants in a ute market that accounts for more than one in five of all new vehicles sold in Australia.
Each dual-cab ute was assessed across seven key categories: safety, technology, comfort and convenience, on-road performance, off-road performance, towing and payload, and ownership costs.
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More than 150 data points were analysed and a week of field testing was undertaken, including city and country driving, off-roading, towing a 2600kg caravan and driving with a 400kg payload and passengers onboard.
The previous Ford Ranger was a multiple carsales Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute winner but the all-new model now on sale in Australia sets new benchmarks in its class and draws further ahead of its competitors.
Overall, the Ranger was a clear leader for safety, technology, on-road performance, towing and payload, and ownership costs.
It shared top billing for comfort and convenience features and was close to the front of the field for off-road performance.
So it was close to being a clean-sweep for the new Ranger, which combines superior refinement, ride quality and safety and infotainment tech with unrivalled practicality including unique features like towing assistance functions, a tailgate ruler and rear quarter step.
All seven contenders for carsales’ Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute were tightly matched in terms of size, specifications and price.
For the award, the carsales judging team tested four-cylinder diesel-powered mid-size dual-cab utes with an automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.
The seven shortlisted utes have similar payload and towing capacities, and comparable model grades that place them as close as possible to the popular $60,000 mark (before on-road costs).
Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute 2022 contenders:
Ford Ranger XLT 2.0
GWM Ute Cannon-X
Isuzu D-MAX LS-U+
Mazda BT-50 SP
Mitsubishi Triton GSR
Nissan Navara PRO-4X
Toyota HiLux SR5
Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute 2022: Intro
Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute 2022: Safety
Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute 2022: Technology
Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute 2022: Comfort and convenience
Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute 2022: On-road performance
Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute 2022: Off-road performance
Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute 2022: Towing and payload
Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute 2022: Ownership costs
Best Dual-Cab 4×4 Ute 2022: The verdict
