Purchasing a brand new ute is one of the most popular lifestyle decisions Australians make, making it a hotly contested market for manufacturers.
In addition to competing on sticker price, carmakers strive to champion the best possible ownership package, whether it’s a long warranty, more affordable servicing, or extra customer support.
Over the long term, discrepancies in running costs can amount to thousands of dollars, tipping the value scales from one ute to another.
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So, which of the most popular utes on Australian roads offers the best aftersales support? Here’s a breakdown for each.
| Make/model | Service intervals | Capped-price servicing | Total capped-price servicing cost | Average annual capped-price servicing cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Ranger | 12 months or 15,000km | 4 years | $1516 | $379 |
| Toyota HiLux | 6 months or 10,000km | 5 years | $3358 – $3889 | $672 – $778 |
| Isuzu D-Max | 12 months or 15,000km | 5 years | $2245 | $449 |
| Mitsubishi Triton | 12 months or 15,000km | 10 years (conditional) | $6690 | $669 ($489 for first 5 years) |
| Mazda BT-50 | 12 months or 15,000km | Lifetime | $2166 – $2496 (5 years) | $433 – $499 (5 years) |
| Toyota LandCruiser pick-up/cab-chassis | 6 months or 10,000km | 5 years or 100,000km | $5250 | $1050 |
| Nissan Navara | 12 months or 20,000km | 6 years | $4249 (manual) $4203 (auto) | $708(manual) $701 (auto) |
| Volkswagen Amarok | 12 months or 15,000km | 5 years | $1801 | $360.20 |
| GWM Ute | 12 months or 10,000km | 5 years | $1700 | $340 |
| LDV T60 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger is the best-selling ute in Australia, and all buyers are entitled to four years of capped-price servicing.
Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever comes first, with the first four visits capped at $379.
Buy any Ford and you get a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Ownership program | Ford Ranger |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost (4 years, 60,000km) | $1516 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | Up to 7 years (service activated) |
| Capped-price servicing | 4 years |
| Average annual service cost | $379 |
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Toyota HiLux
The Toyota HiLux is the Ranger’s closest competitor, and it’s the Ford that takes the points on servicing costs.
Service pricing is capped between $245 and $290 per visit for the first six visits, less than the Ranger. However, HiLux owners are required to service their utes twice as often, or every six months.
As a result, the annual cost of servicing a HiLux is greater, from the base models right up to new V-Active variants.
Toyota also charges $99 per year for roadside assistance, a service that is offered free of charge by most mainstream manufacturers.
| Ownership program | Toyota HiLux |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres – standard 7 years, unlimited kilometres – extended 5 years, unlimited kilometres – 48V battery (standard) 7 years, unlimited kilometres – 48V battery (extended) 7 years, unlimited kilometres – perforation (rust through panel) 1 year, 20,000km – utility deck panels (paint/surface rust) 2 years, unlimited kilometres – 12V battery |
| Total capped-price service cost (3 years, 60,000km) | $1470-$1740 (V-Active) |
| Service intervals | 6 months or 10,000 kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | $99 per year |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years |
| Average annual service cost | $672 – $778 |
Interested in a Toyota HiLux? CarExpert’s specialists can help you find a deal.
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Isuzu D-Max
The Isuzu D-Max is Australia’s third best selling ute, and it costs an average of $449 to service each year for the first five years.
The Japanese carmaker caps the total service cost at $2245 for the first five years, with servicing required every 12 months or 15,000km apart from a complimentary three-month service.
When you service on schedule at an Isuzu dealer, up to seven years of roadside assistance is offered.
| Ownership program | Isuzu D-Max |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 6 years, 150,000km |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years, 75,000km) | $2245 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | Up to 7 years – service activated |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years |
| Average annual service cost | $449 |
Interested in a Isuzu D-Max? CarExpert’s specialists can help you find a deal.
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Mitsubishi Triton
Mitsubishi Triton owners can access up to 10 years of capped price servicing, provided they maintain their car within the Mitsubishi dealership network.
The Japanese carmaker quotes $6690 for a decade of services, at an average of $669 per year.
All Triton models are covered by Mitsubishi’s 10-year, 200,000km conditional warranty. If you don’t service within the dealer network, the vehicle is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Ownership program | Mitsubishi Triton |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years or 100,000km (standard) 10 years or 200,000km (service activated) |
| Total capped-price service cost (10 years, 200,000km) | $6690 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Roadside assistance | 1 year (standard) 4 years (service activated) |
| Capped-price servicing | 10 years |
| Average annual service cost | $669 |
Interested in a Mitsubishi Triton? CarExpert’s specialists can help you find a deal.
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Mazda BT-50
Servicing costs for the Mazda BT-50 are variant dependent.
For example, a base XS cab chassis with the 1.9-litre engine costs $2166 over the first five years, while a top-spec Thunder dual cab will set you back $2496 over the same period.
Mazda is one of the few manufacturers to offer capped price servicing for the lifetime of its vehicles.
| Ownership program | Mazda BT-50 |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years, 75,000km) | Model dependant |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years |
| Capped-price servicing | Lifetime |
| Average annual service cost | Model dependent |
Interested in a Mazda BT-50? CarExpert’s specialists can help you find a deal.
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Toyota LandCruiser 70
The 70 Series Toyota LandCruiser is the most expensive ute to service on this list, as a result of its short service intervals.
Most manufacturers require vehicles are serviced once per year, but Toyota has six-month intervals for the LandCruiser 70 which ups the total cost.
Each service is capped at $525, but that adds up to $5250 over the five year capped-price servicing period.
Toyota also charges customers $99 per year for roadside assistance, a service that is often provided free of charge.
| Ownership program | Toyota LandCruiser 70 |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years, 100,000km) | $5250 |
| Service intervals | 6 months or 10,000km |
| Roadside assistance | $99 per year |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years, 100,000km |
| Average annual service cost | $1050 |
Interested in a Toyota LandCruiser 70? CarExpert’s specialists can help you find a deal.
MORE: Get in touch with a dealer about a Toyota LandCruiser 70
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Nissan Navara
The Nissan Navara is on the pricey end when it comes to routine maintenance, with an average annual service bill topping $700.
There’s a slight discrepancy between manual and automatic models, but all variants are subject to a six-year servicing plan.
Service intervals of 20,000km for the Navara are longer than most, which will please owners who cover more ground.
Five years of roadside assistance is included with the purchase of a Navara.
| Ownership program | Nissan Navara |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost (6 years, 120,000km) | $4249 (manual) $4203 (auto) |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 20,000km |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years |
| Capped-price servicing | 6 years |
| Average annual service cost | $708.20 (manual) $700.50 (auto) |
Interested in a Nissan Navara? CarExpert’s specialists can help you find a deal.
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Volkswagen Amarok
Despite its European badge, the Amarok can be routinely serviced on a budget of just over $360 per year.
Volkswagen charges a total of $1801 for five years of annual servicing, which is undercut by the GWM Ute only.
In addition to affordable servicing, Volkswagen will extend the free roadside assistance period up to 10 years if owners service their Amarok within the dealer network.
| Ownership program | Volkswagen Amarok |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years, 75,000km) | $1801 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Roadside assistance | Up to 10 years (service activated) |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years |
| Average annual service cost | $360.20 |
Interested in a Volkswagen Amarok? CarExpert’s specialists can help you find a deal.
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GWM Ute
The GWM Ute is the cheapest mainstream ute to service over the first five years of ownership.
For $1700 owners get five years of servicing and roadside assistance, although there’s a slight catch.
Service intervals for the GWM are 12 months or 10,000km – a low distance limit by modern standards.
Given these vehicles are workhorses to many, more regular servicing may be required, incurring extra costs as a result.
| Ownership program | GWM Ute |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 7 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years, 55,000km) | $1700 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km (first service at 6 months or 5000km) |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years |
| Average annual service cost | $340 |
Interested in a GWM Ute? CarExpert’s specialists can help you find a deal.
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LDV T60
It’s difficult to gauge the affordability of LDV T60 servicing, as the manufacturer doesn’t stipulate service intervals or pricing.
That lack of transparency leaves a lot to the imagination, and it’s nearly unheard of in the present automotive landscape.
The T60 is covered by a seven-year, 200,000km warranty, with five years of included roadside assistance.
| Ownership program | LDV T60 |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 7 years, 200,000km |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years, 75,000km) | N/A |
| Service intervals | N/A |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years, 130,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | N/A |
| Average annual service cost | N/A |
Interested in a LDV T60? CarExpert’s specialists can help you find a deal.
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