26 December 2019 by Mark Oastler
Aussie drivers love their 4x4 dual cab utes and it seems they can’t get enough of the premium models. Demand for these top-shelf offerings, with pricing above $60,000, has been running hot over the past two to three years with no signs of cooling any time soon. Market leader Toyota’s flagship is...Read more
25 December 2019 by Mark Oastler
As the popularity of 4x4 dual cab utes continues to grow, so too does demand for premium models. And it’s not just family/recreational buyers driving this demand. Top-shelf utes are increasingly common on construction sites, where competition amongst tradies to win job tenders is often matched by a...Read more
3 December 2019 by Matt Campbell
The Ford Ranger Wildtrak has been a runaway success for the brand. Plenty of people have bought them, modified them, taken them off-road and put them to task in the PX generation of Ranger. Now, to see out the 2019 model range, Ford has added a new version above the standard Wildtrak. It’s the Ford...Read more
22 October 2019 by Mark Oastler
The current generation iLoad was launched in 2008. With only minor upgrades during its first decade on sale, it was recently given its first facelift with a new grille design plus new comfort and convenience features. These updates don't change the fact that the iLoad is now stretching beyond the...Read more
8 October 2019 by Matt Campbell
The LDV G10 arrived on the scene in the van segment a few years ago, with the aim of upsetting the equilibrium. It was a budget-priced, Chinese-made mid-size van with its target set squarely on appealing to customers who might have wanted a HiAce , but couldn’t afford one. After almost four-and-a-...Read more
23 September 2019 by Mark Oastler
The LD or Light Duty (3501-8000kg GVM) segment of Australia’s heavy commercial vehicle market is highly competitive with numerous brands fighting for market share. It’s a tough battleground, requiring manufacturers to offer a large number of variants to appeal to buyers with diverse job...Read more
3 September 2019 by Mark Oastler
Accepted wisdom in dual cab utes is that you need leaf-spring rear suspension to be taken seriously as a heavy load-hauler. The Nissan Navara and its Mercedes-Benz X Class derivative prove this age-old theory is correct, with their coil-spring rears displaying shortcomings under maximum payloads...Read more
23 August 2019 by Matt Campbell
The Holden Colorado range has seen the addition of a new variant - but it’s not exactly a brand-new badge. The new Colorado LSX is now a permanent member of the range, after having been introduced as a special edition model in 2018. It was previously limited to 1000 units, but it’s now a full-time...Read more
16 August 2019 by Matt Campbell
There’s a lot of fanfare around the high-grade Ford Ranger models, but for those who don’t need as many bells and whistles, models like this one - the XLS - make a helluva lot of sense. They mightn’t have as many trinkets or special bits, but they’re better when it comes to what utes are made for...Read more
13 August 2019 by Mark Oastler
The venerable HiAce is the firmly entrenched sales leader in Australia’s mid-sized (2.5-3.5 tonne GVM) commercial van market. That’s a remarkable achievement given the last new model was launched in 2004. So, given that 15 years have passed since then, the long wait for its replacement this year...Read more
6 August 2019 by Matt Campbell
The Ford Ranger Wildtrak has achieved icon status. It’s the ute people refer to as the one they want when you ask them… well, that or the Raptor. That station used to be the realm of the SR5 HiLux. But it’s more than just a kooky variant name - it’s the fact the Wildtrak is based on a benchmark ute...Read more
24 July 2019 by Mark Oastler
The mid-size (2.5-3.5 tonne GVM) commercial van segment is one of the most competitive in Australia’s new vehicle market. In 2019, a new contender has joined the battle in the form of Peugeot’s Expert van. This is the second attempt by the famous French marque to gain traction in the local LCV...Read more
2 July 2019 by Mark Oastler
There's no denying the Australian 4x4 ute market is one of the most diverse and competitive in the world right now, with 16 different models representing 13 different brands. The 4x2 'workhorse' segment also plays host to some vigorous competition. There are currently 11 different models...Read more
18 June 2019 by Mark Oastler
Australia’s 4x2 ute market is dominated by the Toyota HiLux. It’s a favourite for many tradies, small business operators and government/private fleets due to its brand familiarity, load-carrying ability, reliability, variety of body configurations and resale value. And, no doubt, Toyota’s proven...Read more
13 June 2019 by Marcus Craft
The 2019 Ford Transit Custom 300S short wheelbase van arrives in an already busy market segment. It has always had a loyal following, however, the Transit has consistently been overshadowed by Toyota's HiAce and the like. Sure, this new Transit is a nice-driving feature-packed van and it's more...Read more
12 June 2019 by Matt Campbell
The ute market is tough. Not just the vehicles that compete in the segment, but the competition. It’s fierce. Case in point - vehicles like the Nissan Navara are struggling for sales. Sales of the venerable ute are down by a fifth in the hard-fought 4x4 segment so far this year, as it struggles to...Read more
31 May 2019 by Mark Oastler
Australia’s heavy commercial vehicle market has three segments - Light Duty, Medium Duty and Heavy Duty - based on GVM ratings. Light Duty (3501-8000kg GVM) is dominated by Isuzu’s versatile N-Series light truck range, which despite not offering a panel van variant commands almost 24 per cent of...Read more
21 May 2019 by Mark Oastler
Australians don’t normally associate utes with Korea given that its most prominent automotive brands, Hyundai and Kia, do not offer such a popular vehicle. There is, however, another Korean brand - SsangYong – which for many years has flown beneath the radar in Australia yet offers a dual-cab ute...Read more
2 May 2019 by Mark Oastler
Renault claims its Trafic Trader Life is in response to industry demand for a delivery or small business van (2.5-2.5 tonne GVM) focused on minimum cost of ownership, for either single vehicle owner/drivers or fleet operators. In Renault PR speak, the Life is "optimised for the busy urban...Read more