Drive Car of the Year 2024 – Best Dual-Cab Ute over $50K FINALISTS

Over the next few weeks, we'll be explaining all the categories and contenders for Drive Car of the Year 2024. Testing is currently underway, with the final winners to be announced early next year.

*Updated 2 pm, December 15, 2023

FINALISTS CONFIRMED

The first round of voting in this highly competitive segment has concluded, and Drive judges have selected two new entrants to take on the reigning champion, the Ford Ranger for the title of Best Dual-Cab Ute over $50k.

The Australian-developed Ford Ranger isn’t just a category winner, either. It won the overall title of Drive Car of the Year 2023, which is the first time a four-wheel drive ute has taken out our top honour.

The next-generation Volkswagen Amarok was new for 2023 and uses the successful Ford Ranger platform and powertrains as a base. While some might write it off as not being different enough, the new Amarok has impressed us with its own driving experience, technology and interior design. 

Four-wheel drive utes have become sophisticated, refined and highly desirable in recent years, and the Volkswagen Amarok is perhaps the most polished of them all. It’s certainly not the cheapest ticket into a four-wheel drive ute, but the Amarok impresses with high levels of equipment and technology, torquey diesel powertrains and loads of safety gear across the range. 

Considering the pedigree of those reigning champion Ford Ranger bones under the skins, there is every chance that the Amarok could steal a win in this segment.

All of our VW Amarok news, reviews and comparisons can be found here. 

Showing the pedigree of the Blue Oval in building quality load haulers, more competition for the Ranger comes from within its own ranks. This time it’s the big brother from the United States, the F-150. A sign of Australia’s growing interest in American-sized utes, the F-150 lobs in as a new option in Ford’s local lineup. 

It’s remanufactured into right-hand drive locally and available in XLT and Lariat trim levels. The F-150 can be had in two different wheelbases as well, both powered by a 298kW/678Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6.

The main thing that the F-150 trades in is space and comfort, especially when compared to regular-sized four-wheel drive utes. Is it time for a so-called ‘full-size pick-up’ to take the crown? 

For more Ford F-Series coverage, go here. 

Since arriving in Australia in 2022, the latest-generation Ford Ranger has been a runaway success for the Blue Oval. After winning the coveted Drive Car of the Year 2023 award, the Ranger has gone on to sell in record numbers to Australians and is on course to be Australia’s best-selling vehicle overall in 2023. 

The Ranger redefined just how good a four-wheel drive ute can be, in terms of utility and capability, but also in terms of practicality, technology and comfort. And while four-cylinder diesel engines are quite proficient, the introduction of a 3.0-litre diesel V6 underpins the broad appeal. 

Read about the 2024 Ford Ranger range, and here about its 2023 Drive Car of the Year victory.

The below was first published on November 20, 2023

If you’re looking at buying one of these highly practical, carry-all, do-everything vehicles, you’re certainly not alone. One in five new vehicles sold in Australia is a ute, with the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux leading the charge.

It’s no surprise really, and it’s not just the tax benefits some may enjoy from a work and play ute. Not only can these vehicles head off-road at the drop of an Akubra, carry heavy loads in the tray and tow a heavy trailer like they always did, but they now do so in leather-lined, climate-controlled comfort. 

Those comforts extend to a much better-unladen ride, better refinement and as much tech and safety as you’ll find in passenger cars. For lots of buyers, these vehicles just do everything they’ll ever want or need all rolled into the one vehicle.

The winner last year was the Ford Ranger, impressing judges with its fine blend of high technology and safety levels, even in the lower grades, lots of smart attention to detail inside and out, and very good steering, handling and ride quality for the segment. Ranger is going to be a hard king to dethrone.

Yet there are some big American utes here from Chevrolet, Ford and RAM, that have a long history of success at home. These utes are big business back in the good old USA, so these guys know what they are doing to appeal to the private/business owner wanting to lug gear or tow. Are these utes going to work in the Aussie heartland just as well as they do back home? The new Ford F-150 might be one to keep an eye on, as it has impressed judges so far.

The refreshed and improved specification Toyota HiLux GR Sport might just have what it takes for glory this year, while the all-new Volkswagen Amarok, closely related to the Ranger, is a serious threat to the award, given its impressive DNA.

Then there’s the GWM Ute, with a new top-spec XSR model all suited up to challenge the establishment with its great value for money.

It’s going to be a close call this year, whichever way you look at it.

Drive’s rules require that, for a car to be eligible, it must:

Those utes on sale now that have not made the grade are either not all-new or significantly upgraded since they last fronted the judges, so to go by the rules of the award, unfortunately, have not been included.  

The judging requirements also mean that the new Mitsubishi Triton is not included, as its expected January 2024 arrival date won’t meet our cut-off timing.

The winner of the 2024 Drive Car of the Year Best Dual-Cab Ute over $50K will be announced in February 2024.

Before then, we will announce the finalists, all of which deliver on being a multi-purpose vehicle for work-life balance.One thing is certain: this category promises to be one of the toughest confronting our 11 experienced judges.

Read more: 

Drive Car of the Year 2024 is a go!
Drive Car of the Year Overview
Drive Car of the Year 2023 winners