The cheapest dual-cab utes to service in Australia
09/16/2024 03:00 PM
Dual-cab utes may be Australia’s favourite kind of car, but how affordable are they to service? We round up the models with the cheapest capped-price servicing programs.
It's no secret Australia is considered one of the biggest markets for utes in the world, with a big consumer appetite for the mechanical workhorse leading to a range of new models bound for the land Down Under.
RELATED: Every tax break currently available to ute owners
While the domestic market is ripe with single- and dual-cab choices, ownership costs tend to fluctuate based on different models and buyer needs.
Retail pricing aside, servicing and other ongoing maintenance costs can be some of the biggest concerns for prospective buyers in this segment.
The cheapest utes to service
To help you find a ute with low ownership costs, Drive has compiled a list of the cheapest dual-cab utes to service.
Disclaimer: For this list, Drive focused on new dual-cab ute models available with an industry-standard five-year capped-price servicing program. Service costs will vary depending on the distance you drive. Additionally, service prices fluctuate amongst dealer networks and this list should serve as a general guideline only.Advertised prices are accurate as of 17 September 2024.
Nissan Navara – five years/100,000km: $3305
Nissan offers five years of capped-price servicing on the only dual-cab ute in its domestic line-up, the Nissan Navara.
For Navara two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive automatic variants purchased from 1 January 2024,five years of servicing will total $3305, with each individual visit ranging in price from $574 up to $809.
Servicing for manual Navara variants is priced slightly higher, costing owners $3343 over five years, with prices for each individual service ranging from $581 to $818.
For Nissan owners, service intervals are scheduled every 12 months or 20,000km, whichever comes first. The current capped-price servicing offer is valid up to 31 December 2024.
GWM Cannon Alpha – five years/70,000km: $2949–$3200
The larger GWM Cannon Alpha is offered with both a diesel and hybrid powertrain.
The hybrid variant totals $2949 over five years or 70,000km and services are required every 12 months or 15,000km after the first 12-month/10,000km service visit.
Depending on how far you drive, diesel-powered Cannon Alpha variants may require servicing more regularly, with intervals of 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first (after the first service at six months and 5000km).
As such, they can cost more to service than their hybrid counterparts, totalling $3550 over 65,000km or 6.5 years. Across five years, you’ll spend an estimated $3200.
To find out the Chinese car maker’s full list of terms and conditions, click here.
Mitsubishi Triton – five years/75,000km: $2445
Under Mitsubishi's Diamond Advantage program, Triton owners are eligible to service their vehicles at a fixed price over 10 years, with the first five services capped at $489 per interval.
Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.
However, the servicing must be done at an authorised Mitsubishi dealership within 2000km or two months of the due date.
Mitsubishi said the capped-price servicing extends to private buyers only and excludes any rental and/or government fleet customers.
The $489 capped-price servicing is only applicable to the MY24 Triton, with previous generations subjected to different pricing. For the full terms and conditions, click here.
Isuzu D-Max – five years/75,000km: $2245
For buyers looking at a MY24 D-Max dual-cab ute, Isuzu offers a $449 capped-price servicing fee for the first five scheduled service visits.
Service intervals are set every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.
Additionally, Isuzu will throw in a free vehicle inspection in the first three months/3000km of ownership.
The offer extends to eligible models – including MY24 D-Max – serviced at participating Isuzu Ute dealerships only.
However, the capped-price servicing offer is available to private buyers only and excludes any Isuzu models used for either rental or government purposes.
Jeep Gladiator – five years/60,000km: $1995
Jeep offers capped-price servicing on the only ute in its line-up, the Gladiator. Regardless of variant, Gladiator owners are eligible for a $399 servicing cost for the first five scheduled intervals.
Servicing intervals are set every 12 months or 12,000km, whichever occurs first.
The offer extends to new and demonstrator Gladiator models purchased directly from the manufacturer after 1 January 2020.
According to Jeep’s terms and conditions, capped-price servicing on any eligible vehicle does not include replacing items “such as fuses, brake pads, wiper blades etc” and/or any items “which require period maintenance due to normal wear and tear”.
SsangYong Musso – five years/75,000km: $1875
A 2024 Drive Car of the Year winner, the Ssangyong Musso offers customers a flat servicing fee of $375 per visit for its Musso ute in both base-grade form and top-spec Musso XLV form.
Totalling $1875 over five years or 75,000km, the servicing fees are inclusive of traditional maintenance jobs such as replacing the vehicle's engine oil and filter, as well as inspecting the Musso's clutch and brake pedals as well as its exhaust system.
Service intervals are every 12 months/15,000km.
For a full list of services included in SsangYong's capped-price servicing program, click here.
Volkswagen Amarok – five years/75,000km: $1801
The current-generation Volkswagen Amarok is a surprisingly cheap ute to service, costing $1801 over five years or 75,000km.
According to the German auto giant’s online servicing guide, Amarok servicing costs – regardless of variant – range from $329 to $414 per visit.
Under its Assured Service Pricing program, the Amarok has a 12-month/15,000km maintenance interval for eligible models serviced at authorised Volkswagen dealerships.
Eligible vehicles do not include any Volkswagen models privately imported or imported through an unauthorised third party.
For a full list of Volkswagen’s capped-price servicing terms and conditions, click here.
GWM Ute – five years/45,000km: $1700
One of the cheapest utes to service in Australia is the GWM Ute.
It requires servicing every 12 months or 10,000km after the initial six-month/5000km visit, totalling $1700 over 45,000km or 4.5 years.
Unfortunately, capped-price servicing is not offered beyond this period, making it difficult to extrapolate what further services beyond the 45,000km limit will cost.
Capped-price servicing is only available to private buyers and does not extend to government vehicles, rental vehicles, privately imported or grey import vehicles.
The post The cheapest dual-cab utes to service in Australia appeared first on Drive.
