Best New Cars To Consider Down Under
Three of the five best selling vehicles in Australia are utes, and its been that way for quite some time; rounding out the list of the top 10 best sellers are largely "crossover" small sport utilities, more utes, and a car or two. Australia's thirst for the ute is a distinctly Aussie affair; many utes aren't even available for purchase in markets such as the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. Aussie utes and crossovers these days can pack a lot of wallop, a lot of luxury, or both, but they aren't all fully loaded Rogue-trim HiLuxes with leather seats. Now global supply chains are re-setting from the conditions that curtailed their production capacity. According to Jalopnik, inventories are getting back to normal, and automakers are resuming their normal diet of "cash incentives for new vehicle purchases." Here's what automakers have on offer this year down under as people finally look to stop paying five grand over sticker price.
Mitsubishi Triton: $30,740
Offered in 25 variants, the value-packed Mitsubishi Triton is one of Australia’s most affordable utes. Having recently lost its $24,240 entry-level petrol option, the cheapest new diesel model remaining now starts at $30,740 before on-roads, not abetted by inflation. 4x4 models start at $37,490 for the GLX cab chassis, and the most affordable double cab starts at $40,440 in 4x2 form. All Tritons are powered by the 2.4 litre MIVEC turbo diesel motor, which has 430Nm of torque and 133kW of power; 6 speed auto and manual transmissions are available. Mitsubishi also offers the only 10 year new car warranty in town.
SsangYong Musso: $36,790
Riding a sales resurgence wave from 2022 and enjoying the stability of a new owner, the Musso from South Korea’s SsangYong packs a lot of punch for its price. The entry level ELX has a manual transmission standard, adding $2k for an automatic. The more upmarket Ultimate starts at $43,090 drive away, featuring 4x4, 18 inch alloys, leather steering wheel, leather seats, a 12.3 inch LCD instrument cluster, 9 inch touchscreen, and Apple Carplay/Android Auto. Heated and ventilated front seats are optional, as well as HID highlights — a very nicely appointed ute can come in many thousands, if not tens of thousands less, than rivals. SsangYong’s Korando is also an attractive SUV offering, starting at $30,990 drive away with 5 star ANCAP safety.
Isuzu D-Max: $32,200
The Isuzu D-Max ute offers a variety of 4x2 and 4x4 configurations, with either a 3.0L turbo-diesel or 1.9L turbo-diesel motor, creating 28 different possible variants. Standard equipment includes blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alerting systems, the latter of which helps with towing. Rear gas struts are standard on all D-Max variants, and the Crew Cab variant is now offered with the smaller 1.9 litre motor for peak affordability ($2,000 less than the larger motor). The very cheapest D-Max you can get your hands on will be a 4x2 single cab with a manual transmission, starting at just under $33k drive away; the cheapest 4x4 starts at $42,200. The top of the line X-Terrain crew cab, outfitted with leather seats and red top-stiching, starts at a staggering $67,500 with 4 wheel drive and an automatic transmission.
MG ZS: $23,990
If you want something British, MG’s compact ZS SUV starts at just $23,990 and is a very nicely equipped vehicle for under 25 grand. Features include a 10.1 inch colour touchscreen, rear parking sensors, Android/Apple connectivity, and a choice of five vibrant colors, including arctic white, battersea blue, black pearl, monument silver, Hoxton orange, and dynamic red. MG has 7 year warranties with unlimited-KM. The ZST trim, starting at $26,990, adds LED head and tailights, keyless entry, push button start, and fully adjustable seats. MG also offers an even more budget friendly option, the MG3 Auto, which starts at $19,990 with a 4-speed automatic transmission so you don’t have to row your own.
Kia Sportage: $32,795
No longer embarrassing to young schoolchildren, Kias have come a long way since their debut in the 1990s. Kia’s new Sportage is built in South Korea for the Aussie market. It has all-LED lighting and high-tech interior options, bringing features more commonly found on expensive cars to a price point Aussies of all classes can afford. Kia’s has a 7-year, unlimited-KM warranty and #1 JD Power vehicle dependability rating. More affordable rides from Kia in Australia include the $22,990 Stonic crossover, and the $16,290 Picanto hatch.
Nissan Juke: $31,673
Not quite as far-out as the original Juke, which looked like a combination of a screaming bird and an insect, the second generation of Nissan’s pioneering Juke small SUV is a bit more practical and fits grown-ups in the back seat. The ST+ trim starts at $34,507 and adds satellite navigation with traffic, heated front seats, and automatic air conditioning. Higher trim levels include optional 19 inch wheels, leather accented seat trim, and a 10-speaker Bose stereo system. If you want a bit more space than the Juke, Nissan’s best-selling Qashqai starts at just $37,338.
Hyundai Venue: $25,190
No longer just a budget alternative, Hyundai is now a top contender amongst manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda. A leading crossover/SUV manufacturer, Hyundai has models such as the popular Kona, starting at $35,683 and the Tucson starting at $39,207. For the most budget conscious shopper, however, there is the Venue compact SUV crossover, which starts at just $25,190 AUD. A 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage is standard. The Venue has alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, rear privacy glass, and a wireless charging pad for your phone. And if you want a smaller way to get around, check out Hyundai’s $26,290-starting i30 hatchback, with the same 5-year warranty and standard air conditioning.
Suzuki Ignis: $22,490
Suzuki’s Ignis small SUV starts at $22,490 drive away for the GL trim, making it the most affordable SUV down under (though pushing the envelope of what an “SUV” is). Split folding rear seats make 516L of luggage volume, and a 7 inch multimedia touch screen enable control of audio, sat-nav, Bluetooth, and Apple Carplay/Android Auto. Steering wheel mounted controls enable phone and audio control as well. Ignis doesn’t skimp on safety either, with ABS brakes, electronic stability control, six airbags, a reverse camera, and more. Upmarket trims offer LED headlights, keyless entry/start, and digital climate control, while the “Shadow” trim offers a blacked out look.
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