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Chris Fincham8 Oct 2015
REVIEW

4WD Dual-Cab Ute 2015 Comparison: Towing

It's time to find out which is Australia's best ute with a van out back
Model Tested
4WD Dual-Cab Ute 2015 Comparison: Towing
Review Type
Tow Test

Today’s crop of dual-cab four-wheel drive utes boast amongst the highest braked towing capacities of any vehicle that can be driven on a car licence. But as caravancampingsales.com.au editor Chris Fincham found during a back-to-back towing comparison, not all utes are created equal, even if their tow ratings are...

Ford Ranger XLT v Holden Colorado LTZ v Isuzu D-MAX LS-Terrain v Mazda BT-50 XTR v Mitsubishi Triton Exceed v Nissan Navara ST-X v Toyota HiLux SR5 v Volkswagen Amarok Highline TDI420 4MOTION
Comparison Test

As dual-cab utes move further upmarket, appealing more to families and outdoorsy types – including owners of big caravans and trailer boats – it's no surprise ute manufacturers have increased towing capacities accordingly.

As a result – and for the first time – all eight dual-cab models in this comparison boast maximum tow ratings ranging from 3000-3500kg; previously the preserve of large 4WD wagons.

With towing an increasingly important consideration for ute buyers, it was decided to introduce a towing category to our annual dual-cab ute test for the first time.

The tow-test saw each ute pulling a 20ft (6.0m) tandem axle caravan weighing 2215kg (and with a ball weight of 195kg) around a smooth, flat but fairly twisty bitumen circuit. While there were no hilly sections or speeds above 80km/h as you might experience in 'real world' towing, the exercise did provide an opportunity to directly compare each model in regards to stability, acceleration and other towing-related features.

All utes were fitted with standard 50mm ball hitches and all but two had electric brake controllers fitted so that the van's electric brakes were automatically applied at the same time as the ute's.

First up is the Ford Ranger; one of five on test with the maximum 3500kg tow rating. Surging away from standstill, the Ranger with its 147kw/470Nm 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel and six-speed auto immediately impresses as a tow tug. It pulls strongly at low revs, with the sort of relaxed performance and civilised growl that makes you quickly forget you have a big trailer behind.

It also feels stable, partly due to a hefty 2137kg tare weight (the highest on test), which also makes it the best match, kilo for kilo, for the caravan. The Ranger is also one of six utes on test with trailer sway control (only Navara and D-MAX miss out on this important safety technology).

While all the utes have a reversing camera to assist backing up to the trailer hitch, the Ranger's is the most helpful with its adaptive guidance line connecting the tow ball to the trailer hitch.

Not surprisingly the mechanically identical Mazda BT-50 feels just as relaxed with a two-tonne-plus van out back. In fact, the BT-50's slightly firmer suspension tune makes it feel even more rock-solid than the Ranger, especially around corners, with equally fluid transmission shifts keeping revs to a minimum.

The BT-50 also scores points for its flush-fitting, dash-mounted electric brake controller – the only ute to offer an EBC as a factory accessory – but loses points for the tiny reverse camera screen located in the rear view mirror.

The Holden Colorado comes with a decent reverse camera display but with less information than others including the tow ball not visible when backing up.

The Holden pick-up has more of a tendency to sway and pitch, making the caravan a greater burden than it should have been considering the 500Nm of torque (highest on test) available from the 2.8-litre four-cylinder engine.

While delivering more pulling power than the Ranger, the Holden's engine feels like it’s working harder, with peak torque at a relatively high 2000rpm and a six-speed transmission holding onto gears longer. There’s also more noise across the rev range.

It may be more agricultural than some of the others, including a 'wallowy' ride similar to the Colorado's, but the torquey 3.0-litre engine in the Isuzu D-MAX gets down to business when towing. There's just 380Nm of torque available from 1800-2800rpm, but it’s delivered so effortlessly you wouldn't know. The only negative is a bit of extra noise in the cabin.

Arguably the most car-like ute on test, the Amarok doubles as a silky smooth tow tug. That's despite the lowest tow rating (3000kg) and smallest capacity engine (twin turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder). All eight gears are put to good use on our challenging little circuit, but the gutsy little engine revs highest under heavy throttle; all the way to 4500rpm, or just shy of the petrol-like 5000rpm redline.

It’s always smooth and refined, but its high-revving tendencies when towing 75 per cent of its maximum puts a question mark on its overall efficiency when hauling a big load.

The latest Toyota HiLux boasts a 3500kg tow rating, but only with the manual transmission. That said, the 3200kg rating of the auto-equipped HiLux is still 700kg more than the previous model.

The first thing you notice is how much quieter, more refined and more willing the new 2.8-litre engine is, although it still needs a few revs to accelerate with any urgency, and is noisier than the Ranger, BT-50 and Amarok.

While a tighter package overall, there's still some of the old Hilux 'jiggle' in the rear, and some minor swaying and pitching is evident. But the new model shapes up as a much better tow tug than the old one, which could only tow 2500kg and had one less gear to play with.

Another model that's taken big strides with towing is the new Triton. Towing capacity is a relatively low 3100kg but the smooth, steady delivery of torque from the 2.5-litre engine impresses, and it doesn't have to work as hard as the HiLux engine.

While lacking the over-taking punch of the Colorado or Ranger, the Triton remains pleasantly refined and composed, with only minor pitching. It's one of few utes to come with steering wheel shift paddles; handy for engine braking down steep descents.

As the only ute on test with a coil sprung rear suspension, there’s a fraction more rear suspension 'droop' after hitching up the Nissan Navara compared to its leaf-sprung rivals – although it doesn't seem to affect handling or stability too much once up and running.

However, the twin-turbo engine and seven-speed auto do appear a slight mismatch, at least on our test route, with some dramatic kick-downs and high revving accelerating out of corners making the transmission ‘busier’ than others. Once on song the engine offers plenty of grunt and tolerable levels of engine clatter and turbo 'whistle'.

So while all the utes made light work of the 2200kg, some did it easier and more comfortably than others.

Most impressive was the Ranger and BT-50, with their confidence-inspiring composure and punchy performance despite 2.2 tonnes out back. The D-MAX, with its under-stressed, never-say-die engine, is less refined but also excellent, as is the ultra-civilised albeit high-revving Amarok.

That left the Triton (not enough grunt), Navara (over-eager gearbox) and Colorado (wallowy ride) as solid tow tugs with minor deficiencies, while the HiLux is a big improvement over the old model but still felt underdone in the towing stakes compared to the Ford and Mazda.

carsales' 4WD Dual-Cab 2015 comparison




The award goes to:


2015 Ford Ranger XLT pricing and specifications:

Price: $54,590 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 147kW/470Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.8L/100km (ADR Combined) / 10.7L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 230g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
Braked towing capacity: 3500kg
Ball loading: 350kg

2015 Holden Colorado LTZ pricing and specifications:
Price:
$53,190 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 147kW/500Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.1L/100km (ADR Combined) / 10.4L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 245g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
Braked towing capacity: 3500kg
Ball loading: 350kg

2015 Isuzu D-MAX LS-Terrain pricing and specifications:
Price:
$53,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 130kW/380Nm
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.1L/100km (ADR Combined) / 11.2L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 213g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
Braked towing capacity: 3500kg
Ball loading: 350kg

2015 Mazda BT-50 XTR pricing and specifications:
Price:
$51,700 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 147kW/470Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.2L/100km (ADR Combined) / 12.0L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 246g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
Braked towing capacity: 3500kg
Ball loading: 350kg

2015 Mitsubishi Triton Exceed pricing and specifications:
Price:
$47,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 133kW/430Nm
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.6L/100km (ADR Combined) / 10.6L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 201g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
Braked towing capacity: 3100kg
Ball loading: 310kg

2015 Nissan Navara ST-X pricing and specifications:
Price:
$54,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.3-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/450Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.0L/100km (ADR Combined) / 10.2L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 186g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
Braked towing capacity: 3500kg
Ball loading: 350kg

2015 Toyota HiLux SR5 pricing and specifications:
Price:
$55,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 130kW/450Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.5L/100km (ADR Combined) / 13.2L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 223g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
Braked towing capacity: 3200kg
Ball loading: 320kg

2015 Volkswagen Amarok TDI420 4MOTION pricing and specifications:
Price:
$55,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo-diesel
Output: 132kW/420Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.3L/100km (ADR Combined) / 10.2L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 219g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

Braked towing capacity:
3000kg
Ball loading: 300kg

Thanks to Albury Wodonga RV World for supplying the Royal Flair caravan for this test.

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>> <a href="https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/4wd-dual-cab-ute-comparison-volkswagen-amarok-54539/?__source=editorialArticle&driver_crosssell=editorial.in.article.link" data-article-id="ED-ITM-54539">Volkswagen Amarok Highline TDI420 4MOTION video review<br></a>

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Written byChris Fincham
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