Not everyone is buying utes because they’re shiny and sexy (see Ford Ranger Raptor), most of us buy a ute based on what it will cost to own and run.
And if ongoing running costs are your main consideration then it appears the Mitsubishi Triton is the ute for you.
The Mitsubishi Triton has just been named the most inexpensive ute to own and run in the Queensland motoring clubs annual Driving Your Dollars survey.
The Mitsubishi entrant topping both the 2WD and 4WD category (as seen below) and finishing well ahead of rivals from Isuzu, Nissan, Ford, Holden and Toyota.
RACV Driving Your Dollars 2018 – Most Affordable Utes (2WD):
Mitsubishi Triton GLX 2.4L d
- Estimated On-Road Cost: $38,905
- Trade in Value After Five Years: $12,958
- Total Standing Costs ($/Weeks): $160.90
- Total Running Costs (cents/Km): 17.36c
- Total Cost Per Km: 73.14c
- Total Cost Per Week: $210.99
Isuzu D-MAX SX 3.0L d
- Estimated On-Road Cost: $41,012
- Trade in Value After Five Years: $13,110
- Total Standing Costs ($/Weeks): $171.07
- Total Running Costs (cents/Km): 16.69c
- Total Cost Per Km: 75.99c
- Total Cost Per Week: $219.22
Ford Ranger XL 2.2L d
- Estimated On-Road Cost: $43,147
- Trade in Value After Five Years: $15,436
- Total Standing Costs ($/Weeks): $169.93
- Total Running Costs (cents/Km): 17.76c
- Total Cost Per Km: 76.66c
- Total Cost Per Week: $221.15
Toyota HiLux SR 2.8L d
- Estimated On-Road Cost: $46,454
- Trade in Value After Five Years: $16,764
- Total Standing Costs ($/Weeks): $182.01
- Total Running Costs (cents/Km): 20.15c
- Total Cost Per Km: 83.25c
- Total Cost Per Week: $240.14
RACV Driving Your Dollars 2018 – Most Affordable Utes (4WD):
Mitsubishi Triton GXL 2.4L d
- Estimated On-Road Cost: $42,552
- Trade in Value After Five Years: $13,445
- Total Standing Costs ($/Weeks): $175.45
- Total Running Costs (cents/Km): 17.51c
- Total Cost Per Km: 78.33c
- Total Cost Per Week: $225.95
Isuzu D-MAX SX 3.0L d
- Estimated On-Road Cost: $49,670
- Trade in Value After Five Years: $16,330
- Total Standing Costs ($/Weeks): $193.74
- Total Running Costs (cents/Km): 16.69c
- Total Cost Per Km: 83.86c
- Total Cost Per Week: $241.89
Nissan Navara ST 2.3L d
- Estimated On-Road Cost: $53,979
- Trade in Value After Five Years: $19,876
- Total Standing Costs ($/Weeks): $201.95
- Total Running Costs (cents/Km): 17.38c
- Total Cost Per Km: 87.39c
- Total Cost Per Week: $252.07
Holden Colorado LS 2.8L d
- Estimated On-Road Cost: $51,934
- Trade in Value After Five Years: $20,292
- Total Standing Costs ($/Weeks): $192.96
- Total Running Costs (cents/Km): 20.80c
- Total Cost Per Km: 87.69
- Total Cost Per Week: $252.94
The RACQ found that the overall average cost of vehicle ownership has gone up by 0.8% to $209.50 per week.
The primary reason is higher fuel prices and government fees, slightly dampened by reduced car loan interest rates.
What do you think?
Would this be enough to get you into a Mitsubishi Triton?
Are you happy to pay a bit more to get a ute from one of the other manufacturers?
How vital is upfront and ongoing costs to you when choosing which ute to buy?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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- Related: Ford Ranger named most desired used vehicle
- Related: Mercedes-Benz X-Class sales go online
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