Sunday 7: Most expensive utes

Australian’s are serious about their love for the big outdoors – including their utes.

So, it’s no surprise that commercial vehicle sales are stronger than ever. And who says bigger isn't always better, as hard working tradies are splashing plenty of cash on huge work horses to get the job done or stand out from the pack. 

Add technology and performance to the mix and you get a whole new category of uber utes - ones that come with limousine-like pricetags.

Here are the seven most expensive utes in today’s market.

Chevrolet Silverado LTZ - $147,990

The range topping Silverado 3500 LTZ is America’s answer to a luxury ute.

You may think it’s a bit over the top for a pick-up truck, but the American’s wouldn’t have it any other way.

With leather trimmed bucket seats, leather steering wheel, chrome 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome side mouldings and door handles, it doesn’t feel like the work horse it is capable of being.  

It comes equipped with an 8.0-inch touchscreen that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto too to keep connected.

The LTZ also features safety upgrades like forward collision alert, lane departure warning and front and rear park assist.

Powered by a 6.6-litre Duramax turbocharged V8 diesel engine, it produces a whopping 332kW and 1234Nm of torque. With a 6.1 tonne towing capacity, you could tow a trailer – or two.

The Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LTZ is in showrooms now.

For more information on the Chevy Silverado, read all the details

Ram Laramie 3500 - $144,350

When you look at the Ram Laramie 2500 and 3500 you won’t see a difference, because from the outside there isn’t one.

They are both powered by a 6.7-litre Cummins turbocharged diesel engine that produces 276kW of power and 1084Nm of torque and both are paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.  

Even the interior features the same heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, electrically adjusted pedal and seat position, sunroof, 240-volt 100W general power outlet, dual-zone climate control and key operated remote starting.

The difference? The Laramie 3500 has a higher payload, meaning it is capable of carrying 800kg more than the 2500 Ram.

However, there is a catch. The higher payload capacity takes it to another level and you’ll need a truck licence for this one.

Read all about the Ram Laramie 3500 here

Ram Laramie 2500 - $139,950

If you need your ute to double as a small tow truck, the Laramie 2500 is what you want. Unlike the 3500, you can drive this one on a full driving licence.

Its towing capacity is rated at 3.5 tonnes with a standard tow ball, but can be increased to 6.9 tonnes when you install a pintle load hook.  

The 2500 utilises the same running gear as the 3500 – a 6.7-litre Cummins turbo diesel engine.

The Laramie 2500 is at the pointy end of the price list for good reason – it’s a workhorse.  

Standard features include rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beam headlights, cargo lighting that turns on when unlocking and an updated 8.2-inch infotainment system with uConnect 4 – adding pinch zoom, Apply Carplay and Android Auto.  

Read our review of the Ram Laramie 2500 here

 Ram Laramie 1500 - $99,950

As its name suggests, the Ram Laramie 1500 is the smaller brother of the 2500 and 3500 models. It comes with a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 petrol engine that makes 291kW of power and 556Nm of torque paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Standard features in the Laramie include 20-inch alloy wheels, spray-in tray liner, heavy duty tow bar, trailer sway control, 8.4-inch UConnect infotainment screen, 10-speaker sound system, climate control air conditioning, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

It’s easy to forget you’re driving a ute in the cabin with heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel and leather upholstery.

Fuel consumption sits at around 9.9L/100km, which is impressive for such a big machine.

Find out all about the Ram Laramie 1500 here

Mercedes-Benz X350d Power - $79,415

This German beast has more than enough grunt to be a workhorse and all the gear for a weekend of adventure.

The X350d comes in two options – Progressive and Power. Both are powered by a Mercedes-Benz 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged diesel with a claimed combined fuel consumption of 9.0l/100km.

The Power is the top of the range, priced just under $80k before on-road costs.

The top-spec model features 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome front and rear bumpers, LED headlights, leather dashboard, leather electric heated seats and touchpad-controlled infotainment.

The Power also comes equipped with standard safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign assist and active lane keeping assist with optional reversing and 360-degree camera.

The X350d is fitted with trailer sway control so towing up to the rated 3500kg won’t be an issue.

Watch a video review of the Mercedes-Benz X350d Power here 

Ford Ranger Raptor - $74,990

The Raptor isn’t your typical workhorse. It’s here for a good time.

Ford’s top model Ranger has been engineered to handle the toughest terrain with race-inspired Fox shock absorbers, a wider track and chunkier BF Goodrich tyres paired with unique 17-inch alloy wheels – this one is for the weekend warriors.

With a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine it produces 157kW of power and 500Nm of torque with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The towing capacity sits at a mere 2500kg.

Instead of leather like the previously mentioned models, the interior is fitted with performance-style ‘technical suede’ seats with extra side bolstering for comfort.

While it misses out on safety features like autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring and active cruise control, the Raptor makes up for it in performance. It comes with optional modes such as Sport or Baja, allowing the transmission to become more active.

Watch a video as we pound through the desert in the Ford Ranger Raptor

Toyota Landcruiser 70 series - $71,740

The Landcruiser has been a trusty Australian icon for decades and not much has changed over the years.

It’s still as tough and reliable as it always was.

The 70 series GXL Landcruiser is powered by a 4.5-litre turbocharged diesel V8 producing 151kW and 430Nm of torque.

Safety-wise, Toyota haven’t added much. Sitting alongside the cars mentioned above, it does lack in some areas, but the Landcruiser isn’t here to look pretty – it’s here to get the job done. And you know it will - every day.

Read our comprehensive review of the LandCruiser 70-Series GXL from Drive's inaugural Commercial Car of the Year