Australia’s best value ute is the Isuzu D-MAX X-TERRAIN, a title awarded to the nameplate by EFTM Editor, Trevor Long, at the annual EFTM Best Awards, held in Sydney, on the 7th of November 2024.
The ‘2024 EFTM Best Awards’ celebrated the best tech, cars and lifestyle products tested throughout the year by EFTM, one of Australia’s leading publications in the ever-evolving consumer space. With a total of 45 awards up for grabs, across all categories, the awards shone the spotlight on the top-pick from each category, providing valuable consumer buying advice on the very best that money can—and should—buy.
Fresh off the back of its midlife-facelift, the 2024 D-MAX X-TERRAIN shared the winner’s circle with ten other automotive nameplates during the awards ceremony—separating the best from the rest.
Across the annual automotive sales charts, utes continue to be Australia’s favourite, with three of the top-four vehicles sold to date classed as a ute—the D-MAX in fourth overall and third in the ‘1-tonne ute’ segment, with a resounding 25,644 deliveries between January and October, 2024.
Reflecting on the popularity of the D-MAX in the ute segment, EFTM Editor, Trevor Long, said that “when customers vote with their wallets, they go for the Isuzu.”
“The X-TERRAIN takes our Best Value award because, in our view, value is a measure of price, capability, features and quality.”
“There are plenty of utes that are cheaper, but they fall down in key areas such as drivability (on- and off-road) and in terms of reliability (which is critical for vehicles that regularly venture beyond city limits).”
“The Isuzu D-MAX X-TERRAIN has the longest standard equipment list and the longest warranty at this price point, and it is one of the most reliable and capable vehicles in the segment. The recent facelift makes it even more compelling.”
With many Australians relying on their utes as a tool of trade or the family hauler, as well as feeling the hip-pocket pinch from the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, getting the most out of their four-wheel investment remains a priority for many. As part of the EFTM ‘Best Awards,’ utes from over a dozen manufacturers were comprehensively evaluated across a criterion beyond the sticker price and the equipment list—with the awards factoring in reliability, capability and driveability, as well as maintenance costs, standardised equipment and warranty.
Appreciative of D-MAX winning one of Australia’s premier consumer product accolades, Isuzu UTE Australia’s Managing Director, Junta Matsui, reflected on the award, saying “it means the world to our team of Designers and Engineers—the D-MAX continues to be one of Australia’s favourite vehicles and the 24MY facelifted updates prove that we continue to track in the right direction.”
“Last year, the D-MAX won Wheels Magazine’s ‘Best Value 4x4 Ute Award.’ This year, it won EFTM’s ‘Best Value Ute Award.’ We truly appreciate that the Australian media continues to recognise the D-MAX as a nameplate that offers real-world value.”
Approaching year-end, Isuzu UTE Australia currently charts as one of Australia’s top-ten automotive brands, with the two-vehicle marque currently in 8th overall, out of over 55 other brands sold locally. Between January and October 2024, a total of 25,644 D-MAX utes and 15,584 MU-X SUVs have been sold and delivered. Since launch in 2008, over 250,789 D-MAX utes and 102,080 MU-X SUVs have been sold locally, two major milestones for the Japanese marque.
To learn more about the D-MAX, visit the D-MAX page.
