In this part of our 4×4 ute megatest, we took the group to a rolling dynamometer (dyno) owned by our friends at Maxx Performance in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong.
The goal was to see how claimed engine outputs on the spec sheet compared to the reality of how much power was measured at the rear wheels.
The aim of the test isn’t to celebrate the most powerful ute, but rather to find which ute had the smallest differential between the flywheel power claim and dyno wheel result.
Each ute was backed onto the rolling dyno, with the back wheels rotating at full throttle. The machine then spits out a power result.
The winner recorded an 18.7 per cent reduction, while the worst-case scenario was a 42 per cent drop.
As Zane from Maxx Performance explained, we went with 40psi tyre pressures for all the utes, which were driven in 2H or rear-wheel drive mode.
He also explains in the detailed video above why we didn’t include the torque measurements (Nm) in the final results.
Jump straight to a particular ute by clicking these links, or scroll to read the full thing in winning order.
Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Premium
Ford Ranger Raptor
Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6
GWM Ute Cannon-X
Isuzu D-Max LS-U+
Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
Mazda BT-50 SP
Mitsubishi Triton GSR
Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior
Ram 1500 Laramie
SsangYong Musso XLV Ultimate
Toyota HiLux Rogue
FINAL RESULTS
Toyota HiLux Rogue
- Driveline setting: 2H
- Engine: 2.8-litre 4cyl turbo-diesel
- Factory power claim: 150kW
- Dyno result: 122.2kW
- Flywheel to wheel loss: 18.7 per cent
An impressive result for the honest HiLux, which recorded the smallest gap between flywheel and wheel power.
Ranger Wildtrak V6
- Driveline setting: 2H
- Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel
- Factory power claim: 184kW
- Dyno result: 145.6kW
- Flywheel to wheel loss: 20.9 per cent
Excellent result for the Ford Ranger V6 diesel on the dyno, with just over 20 per cent drivetrain loss and a silver medal.
Mazda BT-50 SP
- Driveline setting: 2H
- Engine: 3.0-litre 4cyl turbo-diesel
- Factory power claim: 140kW
- Dyno result: 108.3kW
- Flywheel to wheel loss: 22.6 per cent
Isuzu D-Max LS-U+
- Driveline setting: 2H
- Engine: 3.0-litre 4cyl turbo-diesel
- Factory power claim: 140kW
- Dyno result: 108.2kW
- Flywheel to wheel loss: 22.7 per cent
Check out the minuscule difference in power between the mechanically identical D-Max and BT-50: 108.3kW versus 108.2kW! The torque figure differential is down to the respective transmissions’ torque-converter lock-up behaviour.
Mitsubishi Triton GSR
- Driveline setting: 2H
- Engine: 2.4-litre 4cyl turbo-diesel
- Factory power claim: 133kW
- Dyno result: 101.4kW
- Flywheel to wheel loss: 23.8 per cent
SsangYong Musso XLV Ultimate
- Driveline setting: 2H
- Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl turbo-diesel
- Factory power claim: 133kW
- Dyno result: 100.6kW
- Flywheel to wheel loss: 24.4 per cent
GWM Ute Cannon-X
- Driveline setting: 2H (Eco)
- Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo-diesel
- Factory power claim: 120kW
- Dyno result: 90.2kW
- Flywheel to wheel loss: 24.8 per cent
The GWM had the lowest overall output on the dyno and was one of two that failed to break 100kW. But it’s also the lowest-output on paper, so that’s somewhat to be expected.
Ford Ranger Raptor
- Drive mode: Sport and Baja
- Driveline setting: 2H
- Engine: 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol
- Factory power claim: 292kW
- Dyno result: 210.3kW
- Flywheel to wheel loss: 28.1 per cent
We put the Raptor in its go-fast Baja and Sport driving modes.
Ram 1500 Laramie
- Driveline setting: 2H
- Engine: 5.7-litre V8 petrol
- Factory power claim: 291kW
- Dyno result: 208kW
- Flywheel to wheel loss: 28.5 per cent
The Ram’s transmission kept kicking down, which impeded its maximum output.
Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior
- Driveline setting: 2H
- Engine: 2.3-litre 4cyl twin-turbo diesel
- Factory power claim: 140kW
- Dyno result: 92.2kW
- Flywheel to wheel loss: 34.1 per cent
Gee that’s disappointing. We suspect those chunky all-terrain tyres didn’t help things.
Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Premium
- Driveline setting: 2H
- Engine: 6.2-litre V8 petrol
- Factory power claim: 313kW
- Dyno result: 203.6kW
- Flywheel to wheel loss: 35 per cent
The Silverado is speed-limited to 187km/h, without this we think the ceiling was ~220kW.
Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
- Driveline setting: 2H
- Engine: 3.6-litre V6 petrol
- Factory power claim: 209kW
- Dyno result: 121kW
- Flywheel to wheel loss: 42.1 per cent
Another vehicle that wouldn’t stay in gear and kept kicking down. Eventually we got a warning light on the dash.
Overall results
| Model | Factory | Dyno | % Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota HiLux | 150kW | 122.2kW | 18.7 |
| Ford Ranger V6 | 184kW | 145.6kW | 20.9 |
| Mazda BT-50 | 140kW | 108.3kW | 22.6 |
| Isuzu D-Max | 140kW | 108.2kW | 22.7 |
| Mitsubishi Triton | 133kW | 101.4kW | 23.8 |
| SsangYong Musso | 133kW | 100.6kW | 24.4 |
| GWM Ute | 120kW | 90.2kW | 24.8 |
| Ford Ranger Raptor | 292kW | 210.3kW | 28.1 |
| Ram 1500 | 291kW | 208kW | 28.5 |
| Nissan Navara | 140kW | 92.2kW | 34.1 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | 313kW | 203.6kW | 35.0 |
| Jeep Gladiator | 209kW | 121kW | 42.1 |
