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Whether you’re using your ute for family hauling, work, adventuring, or as a daily driver, tub space is important. We compare popular dual-cab utes on sale in Australia to see which models have the largest tubs.
Dear Drive… Where we answer reader, viewer, and listener questions. Something on your mind? Call us on the radio show or email us at contactus@drive.com.au.
We’ve been asked:
Does the SsangYong Musso have the biggest tub on the market?
There’s no denying Australians love utes. In fact, the top three most sold cars in Australia last year were utes.
The growing appetite for these vehicles isn’t surprising, given their potential to function as both family cars and utilitarian workhorses.
If you’re in the market for a ute, the choices are endless. There are budget options from the likes of LDV and SsangYong, mainstream favourites like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, and increasingly popular American pick-ups from brands like Ram and Chevrolet.
While price, features, technology, and towing capacity may be among some deciding factors when it comes to purchasing time, space is undoubtedly an important factor, too, and this isn’t limited to the cabin.
With this in mind, and while we all appreciate generous leg and head room, a decent load space remains a key part of a dual-cab’s remit.
What’s the difference between a ute tub and a ute tray?
While all utes and pick-ups generally have a load carrying tray, the colloquial term for a load space that uses the ute’s own bodywork is called a ‘tub’. In America, these were often referred to as ‘styleside’ designs as opposed to the more funky but less common ‘stepside’ trays.
In Australia, a ‘tray’ is the more common reference to an alloy load space that is essentially separate from the rest of the vehicle’s design. This is where the term ‘cab-chassis’ tends to feature, as the cars are sold with just the cab and the chassis, making the tray the responsibility of the purchaser to suit their specific needs.
Space-cab or crew-cab?
To make things a little more complicated, many models offer the choice of a traditional four-door ‘crew-cab’ or a four-door ‘space-cab’ with smaller rear doors. These rear-hinged doors offer access to small jump seats, which are manageable for short trips, but also afford a longer load tub.
While, on paper, a space-cab may make more sense, the sales figures don’t reflect this, and most buyers opt for the more spacious accommodation of a crew-cab dual-cab and manage with the smaller tub.
Knowing that most buyers opt for a more spacious dual-cab, we’ve compiled a list of popular dual-cab utes below to see how their load areas stack up. Please note the below measurements include those of larger American pick-up trucks along with dual-cab models.
The pricing below excludes on-road costs unless stated otherwise.
Which ute has the biggest tray in Australia?
| MAKE / MODEL | Tub width | Tub width (wheel arches) |
Tub height | Tub length | Payload | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SsangYong Musso ELX | 1570mm | 1100mm | 570mm | 1300mm | 790kg | $40,000 DA |
| SsangYong Musso Adventure XLV | 1570mm | 1100mm | 570mm | 1600mm | 880kg | $44,000 DA |
| Nissan Navara | 1560mm | 1134mm | 519mm | 1509mm | 1120kg | $40,350 |
| Mazda BT-50 | 1530mm | 1120mm | 490mm | 1571mm | 1135kg | $44,480 |
| Isuzu D-Max | 1530mm | 1122mm | 490mm | 1570mm | 1135kg | $42,200 |
| Ford Ranger XL | 1584mm | 1224mm | 529mm | 1547mm | 1126kg | $43,280 |
| Volkswagen Amarok | 1620mm | 1224mm | 529mm | 1544mm | 1065kg | $50,990 |
| Mitsubishi Triton | 1545mm | 1135mm | 525mm | 1555mm | 1070kg | $43,690 |
| LDV T60 | 1510mm | 1131mm | 530mm | 1525mm | 935kg | $41,042 DA |
| LDV T60 Mega Tub | 1510mm | 1131mm | 530mm | 1800mm | 730kg | $49,463 DA |
| GWM Ute Cannon | 1520mm | 1146mm | 563mm | 1520mm | 1050kg | $35,990 |
| Toyota HiLux | 1645mm | 1109mm | 490mm | 1570mm | 995kg | $37,545 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | 1814mm | 1286mm | 569mm | 1776mm | 757kg | $130,500 |
| Ram 1500 Express SWB | 1687mm | 1295mm | 509mm | 1712mm | 830kg | $98,950 |
| Ford F-150 (SWB) | 1656mm | 1285mm | 543mm | 1705mm | 769kg | $106,950 |
| Ford F-150 (LWB) | 1656mm | 1285mm | 543mm | 2005mm | 794kg | $107,945 |
| Toyota Tundra | 1740mm | 1237mm | 531mm | 1666mm | 673kg | $145,990 |
As you can see, the tray or tub in the SsangYong Musso is one of the largest of the dual-cab utes (not including American pick-ups).
The Musso boasts the tallest tub, even when compared to the likes of the Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra. It’s not as wide as the Amarok or Ranger, but the XLV model significantly increases the tray’s length, adding an additional 300mm.
This model also provides an extra 251L rear tub capacity, along with a 110mm longer wheelbase and a bigger payload (90kg).
The LDV T60 Mega Tub is longer than the Musso XLV but doesn’t beat its price, width, height or payload.
While you can get a ton of space with a mega American pick-up, you’re paying triple the price in some cases. In fact, you can get three SsangYong Mussos for the price of a Silverado, with some money to spare.
Have a question about your next set of wheels or just need some car advice? No query is too big, small or obscure! Call in to the radio show (Trent on 2GB Sydney 1:30pm Monday and 9:00pm Wednesday, and James on 3AW Melbourne at 4.30pm and 9:00pm each Thursday), or contact us by email here: contactus@drive.com.au.
The post Dear Drive, does the SsangYong Musso have a bigger tray than other dual-cab utes? appeared first on Drive.
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