Triton Raider joins the top dogs

In the market for a kick-arse 4×4 dual cab ute?

There’s a few to choose from, ranging in price from $40,000 all the way through to $120,000 — that’s not counting big American-style pickups.

Top dog is unquestionably the Ford Ranger Raptor, priced at just over $90,000 plus on-road costs.

Ranger has drawn ahead of long-time rival the Toyota Hilux, with the Isuzu D-Max holding down third place in what has become a highly competitive section of the market.

And, get this, for the outlay Raptor comes with a big thirsty petrol V6, not a diesel as referred by the 4×4 community.

You could opt for the hybrid Stormtrak version at $86,990 and save a couple of grand, but then it wouldn’t be a Raptor, would it? (and that’s what the majority of punters want).

In the bragging rights stakes, the Raptor is king, unless you can wangle a RAM, but even the smallest and lowest priced RAM — the 1500 Big Horn — starts from $119,950.

And it doesn’t come with a diesel either, rather a larger and even thirstier 5.7-lite petrol V8. The wife’s not going to go for that.

Ford which seems to sell little else other than Rangers these days offers a staggering 16 varieties, ranging in price from $51,400 for the entry 2.0-litre diesel XL through to $99,990 for the Super Duty XLT Double Cab pickup.

The latest addition to hang out its shingle is Mitsubishi’s Triton Raider, entering the fray at a price of $74,990 driveaway.

Based on the GSR, it’s been given the Premcar treatment, with increased track and ride height.

Apart from the eye candy it boasts re-tuned suspension, with a unique front and rear damper package that incorporates an internal rebound spring to maximise suspension control, along with a unique front spring and bump stop.

It rides on heavier-duty ROH ‘Assault’ 18-inch alloy wheels with Bridgestone AT002 all-terrain tyres.

Raider is sure to be joined by a Premcar version of the Navara in the not too distant future, now that the pair are mixing and matching.

Hybrid Hunter in search of prey

Choose your poison . . .

The top dogs

Brand	Model	Powertrain	Price
BYD	Shark 6 Performance	2.0-litre petrol PHEV	$62,990
Ford	Ranger Raptor	3.0-litre petrol	$90,690
Foton	Tunland V9-S	2.0-litre diesel	$49,990
GWM	Cannon Alpha Ultra	2.0-litre petrol PHEV	$67,990
Ineos	Grenadier Fieldmaster	3.0-litre diesel/petrol	$118,000
Isuzu	D-Max Blade	3.0-litre diesel	$80,900
JAC	T9 Osprey X	2.0-litre diesel	$47,079
Jeep	Gladiator Rubicon	3.6-litre petrol	$84,990
KGM	Musso Ultimate XLV	2.2-litre diesel	$53,000
Kia	Tasman X-Pro	2.2-litre diesel	$74,990
LDV	Terron 9 Evolve	2.5-litre diesel	$58,937
Mahindra	Pik-Up S10+ Black Edition	2.2-lire diesel	$39,990
Mazda	BT-50 Thunder	3.0-litre diesel	$79,490
MG	MGU9 Explore Pro	2.5-litre diesel	$60,990
Mitsubishi	Triton Raider	2.4-litre diesel	$74,990
Nissan	Navara Pro-4X	2.4-litre diesel	$68,418
Toyota	Hilux Rugged X	2.8-litre diesel hybrid	$71,990
Volkswagen	Amarok TDI600 Aventura	3.0-litre diesel	$82,990