15 August 2023 by Byron Mathioudakis
Back in the ‘60s, Land Rover decided to combine the humble station wagon with an off-road 4WD, to create the first Range Rover. This was the original luxury SUV . And the one that has set the standard ever since. Now, Ford is trying to do the same with the Ranger Platinum – the first luxury mid-...Read more
10 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley
Then there were three. First came the Ram 1500, then the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and now the third member of the American trinity of pickups is arriving in Australia - the Ford F-150. We're only weeks away from right-hand drive F-150s hitting Australian showrooms and owners' driveways, but...Read more
9 August 2023 by Mark Oastler
The current generation Mahindra PikUp has been with us since 2007, which is a long time given major players in this market tend to introduce a new generation every decade, or close to it. However, with Mahindra reportedly developing an all-new ute , based on the underpinnings of its latest Scorpio...Read more
25 July 2023 by Mark Oastler
Ford recently entered its second-generation Ranger Raptor in some of the world’s toughest off-road racing events including the famous Baja 1000. That said a lot about its confidence in the product, given it competed in a class for vehicles in predominantly showroom specification. The fact that it...Read more
21 July 2023 by Mark Oastler
Ford has ventured into the pioneering world of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) for commercial use with the launch of its E-Transit, which will compete for buyers in the Light Duty (3501-8000kg) segment of Australia’s Heavy Commercial market. According to the company’s research, the new electrified...Read more
29 June 2023 by Mark Oastler
The Mercedes-Benz Vito van competes with 10 rivals in Australia’s mid-size (2.5-3.5-tonne GVM) commercial van market. Compared to Toyota’s dominant HiAce , which commands around 35 per cent of sales in this segment, the significantly more expensive Vito’s 4.0 per cent market share pales by...Read more
27 June 2023 by Andrew Chesterton
Flagship utes have gotten both very good, and very expensive, haven't they? The new Amarok, for example, tops out at just under $80k for the top-spec Aventura. But what if your still waters don't run deep with cash? Well, there's good news, because the cheapest Amarok options – the Core and Life –...Read more
31 May 2023 by Mark Oastler
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter competes for market share with more than a dozen rivals in the highly competitive Light Duty (3501-8000kg GVM) division of Australia's Heavy Commercial segment. Launched in 1995, the Sprinter is approaching three decades of service and during that time has evolved through...Read more
29 May 2023 by Tom White
You probably know Hyundai’s Staria as an edgy retro-futuristic people mover, but it’s also available as a commercial van, replacing the once-popular iLoad in the Korean brand’s line-up. The Staria Load , as it’s known, is an all new nameplate and a ground-up design faced with the mammoth task of...Read more
18 May 2023 by Mark Oastler
The eighth-generation HiLux, launched locally in 2015, reigns as not only Australia’s top-selling ute but also the nation’s top-selling motor vehicle for the past seven years. Although now in its eighth year in local showrooms, Toyota has been unrelenting in keeping its maturing but still capable...Read more
11 May 2023 by Byron Mathioudakis
If there's one launch that approaches the anticipation of last year's Ford Ranger, then its new fraternal twin, the Volkswagen Amarok II, must be it. There are so many questions needing answering. Is it more than just a badge-engineered Blue Oval ute? Does it drive as well? And how does it stack up...Read more
4 May 2023 by Mark Oastler
Australia’s small van class (under-2.5 tonne GVM) is a three-way fight between the Peugeot Partner, Renault Kangoo and Volkswagen Caddy Cargo. All are well designed for light delivery work but in 2023 Germany’s sole contender enjoys a dominant lead over its French rivals. Recent industry sales...Read more
19 April 2023 by Mark Oastler
RAM Trucks Australia claims the RAM 1500 TRX is the quickest, fastest (those are drag racing terms) and most powerful pick-up truck in the world. Built to rule the road and dominate the desert. The ultimate on-road/off-road big boy’s toy. With launch control and more than 700 supercharged V8 horses...Read more
3 April 2023 by Mark Oastler
Since the launch of the current generation BT-50 in 2020, Mazda has consolidated its foothold in Australia's highly competitive 4x4 ute market. Latest industry sales figures show the Isuzu-based ute is locked in a close battle with Mitsubishi’s venerable Triton for fourth place in the sales race...Read more
20 March 2023 by Mark Oastler
Following the D23 Navara’s launch in 2014, it took about six years of continual refinement for Nissan to turn it into the competent all-rounder it now represents. The premium offering in the Australian Navara 4x4 line-up is the PRO-4X Warrior, which is designed, developed and assembled by Nissan's...Read more
7 March 2023 by Mark Oastler
Most buyers of mid-sized (2.5- to 3.5-tonne GVM) vans want them purely as workhorses and often as part of hard-working fleets. Although these cuboid-shaped commercials are usually available in a limited choice of colours (take your pick from fridge white or freezer white) they are well designed for...Read more
21 February 2023 by Mark Oastler
Toyota doesn't make hasty decisions and with good reason. As one of the world’s largest and longest-running automotive manufacturers (founded 1937), it applies the same rigorous assessment of each new model proposal or running change. That ensures each green light stacks up as a viable business...Read more
23 November 2022 by Mark Oastler
For many years the Mitsubishi Triton has maintained a solid foothold in the local 4x4 dual cab ute market as Australia’s third-highest seller behind the dominant Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. And that enduring buyer affection is showing no signs of waning. The latest VFACTS industry sales figures...Read more
25 October 2022 by Mark Oastler
In 2018 Toyota Australia launched three ‘halo’ variants of its HiLux dual cab 4x4 ute comprising Rugged, Rogue and top-shelf Rugged X. Although the Rugged had an early departure due to slow sales, the ‘urban adventurer’ Rogue and ‘hardcore off-road’ Rugged X have proven popular with premium-grade...Read more
19 October 2022 by Mark Oastler
The badgework for Great Wall Motors’ Cannon range is a confusing mix of the GWM acronym used in export markets and the letter 'P' displayed on the grille and other places which symbolises its domestic brand name Poer. However, there’s clearly no confusion for Aussie buyers looking for a well-...Read more