Utes are workhorses, right? These more than $80,000 ones would suggest otherwise, writes Damien O’Carroll. The big Americans
Mercedes-Benz X350d Progressive – $81,205
Who would’ve thought the Mercedes-Benz would drop in as the cheapest on this list? Admittedly, the HSV SportsCat+ is slightly cheaper in manual form (by just $215), but seeing as everything else here is auto, it is only fair to compare the auto HSV.
It is also worth remembering that this is the entry V6 X-class and there will also no doubt be some excitingly more expensive variants in the pipeline.
An AMG version? While they repeatedly deny it, the current ute power wars could well force their hand. Plus the company has only ever denied a V8 AMG X-class. AMG do have a rather tasty V6 that would do the trick.
HSV Colorado SportsCat+ – $82,990
HSV’s first big derivation from its V8 sports sedan roots packs some serious re-engineering under a standard Holden Colorado ute to bump up its on-road handling and off-road capabilities, but it does come at not-insubstantial $16K price bump over a Z71 auto as well.
Unfortunately, one thing that isn’t bumped up is power, with the HSV version retaining the same 147kW/500Nm engine as the Holden.
And you can get even more carried away and option it up with even more serious off-road suspension and, of course, a big range of body addenda, effortlessly making your SportsCat excitingly more expensive if you really want to.
Ford Ranger Raptor – $84,990
Ford’s awesomely fun Ranger Raptor doesn’t technically belong here because the magnificent offroad setup has seen the maximum payload drop down to just 750kg, meaning the Raptor isn’t strictly a one-tonner.
Still, with the sort of spectacularly joyous off-road performance the Raptor has, it is well worth the sacrifice.
While it might be set up for highspeed off-road antics, a handy side effect of this is also a remarkably supple ride and astonishingly capable on-road handling as well.
But its towing capacity has also dropped as well (down to 2500kg), meaning that the Raptor is the least capable ute here. But also the most fun by far.
Volkswagen Amarok V6 Aventura 190kW – $90,000
While the Amarok V6 range starts at $70,000, that is for the 165kW/ 550Nm version – if you want the heavy hitting 190kW/580Nm version, you have to be happy to break the $90k mark. For a ute.
But it is quite a ute, with its remarkable refinement and big power.
While the 190kW/550Nm Mercedes-Benz X-class might seem better value on this list, the closer comparison with the Aventura is the higher-spec X350d Power that costs $88,325.
Sadly though, unlike the Mercedes, even the top spec Amarok still lacks rear airbags, an almost unforgivable sin these days. While the Ram 1500 and 2500, and HSV’s other ute, the Chevrolet Silverado, are utterly huge, they actually only have similar payloads to the smaller pickups on this list.
That is because the big American pickups are all about the towing, with even the ‘‘smallest’’ Ram 1500 capable of hauling a full tonne more than the rest of this list (4500kg), while the bigger trucks can drag up to 6.9 tonnes.
Of course, there is a substantial cost to all of this, with the Ram 1500 starting at $89,990 and the Silverado and Ram 2500 starting at $134,990 and going up from there.