Articles by Mark Oastler

Mark Oastler

Contributing Journalist

Mark Oastler has been a prominent motoring journalist in print and electronic media for more than three decades.

Now based in Melbourne, his diverse roles have included more than a decade of motor sport TV commentary for both the Seven and Ten networks, editor of Street Machine magazine, founding editor of Australian Muscle Car magazine and freelance contributor to Wheels, Motor, Auto Action, Unique Cars, V8X, AMC, Suncorp and many more.

In addition to his regular LCV reviews and advice pieces for CarsGuide, he is also a feature writer and online TV host for the popular Shannons Club website.

Mahindra PikUp 2024 review: S11

By Mark Oastler · 09 Aug 2023

Mahindra's evergreen Pik-Up dual cab ute is a tough, budget-friendly workhorse, particularly popular in rural areas. And now for the first time since its arrival back in 2007 it's available with an auto transmission. Is it a better bet than a Ford Ranger or Toyota HiLux?

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Ford Ranger 2023 review: Raptor - GVM test

By Mark Oastler · 25 Jul 2023

We know Ford's Ranger Raptor dual cab ute is all about peak performance off-road, but how does it stack up as a hard-working load carrier? We've lived with it as a daily driver for a week and put it to the load test to find out.

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Ford E-Transit 2023 review: 420L BEV Mid Roof - GVM test

By Mark Oastler · 21 Jul 2023

If you're running a commercial fleet of hard-working vans it's possibly time to weight up the pros and cons of switching from internal-combustion to pure electric. We've tested Ford's E-Transit EV van across a range of conditions (including heavily laden) to see how it stacks up on performance, range, energy consumption and maintenance costs.

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Mercedes-Benz Vito 2023 review: 116 CDI MWB Van - GVM test

By Mark Oastler · 29 Jun 2023

Mercedes-Benz has earned its reputation as a maker of premium passenger cars, but the three-pointed star also produces a huge variety of light- and heavy-commercial vehicles. The Vito van lines up against the market-dominant Toyota HiAce, however cost-of-entry is appreciably higher. Does the extra spend deliver value-for-money? Our TradieGuide review aims to answer that question.

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Ford Ranger 2023 review: XLS Bi-Turbo long-term | Part 3

By Mark Oastler · 14 Jun 2023

In the final chapter of its three-month long-term test The Ford Ranger XLS Bi-Turbo is connected to a dual-axle caravan for a lengthy towing work-out, with dynamic performance and fuel economy closely analysed.

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Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2023 review: 419 LWB Panel Van - GVM test

By Mark Oastler · 31 May 2023

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has been a popular option in the heavy commercial van segment for close to 30 years, during which time a raft of new keenly-priced and well-specified competitors have arrived to challenge it. Does this latest, third-generation version do enough to hold them at bay?

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Toyota HiLux 2023 review: SR5+ - GVM test

By Mark Oastler · 18 May 2023

It's been eight years since the eighth-gen HiLux landed in Australian showrooms, and it is the country's favourite vehicle - by sales. But newer rivals like the Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max have taken a bite out f its market share in recent years. How does the dual-cab HiLux stack up in 2023?

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Ford Ranger 2023 review: XLS Bi-Turbo long-term | Part 2

By Mark Oastler · 09 May 2023

Dual cab utes often double as a hard-working commercial vehicle as well as practical family transport. In his second month with Ford's Ranger XLS Bi-turbo on long-term test, CarsGuide Contributing Journalist, Mark Oastler has spent time in both worlds.

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Volkswagen Caddy Cargo 2023 review: Petrol - GVM test

By Mark Oastler · 04 May 2023

Despite competition from a couple of well-credentialled competitors, in the shape of the Peugeot Partner and Renault Kangoo, VW's Caddy continues to dominate the small light-commercial van category. Is this on-going sales success deserved? Mark Oastler has loaded it up and taken to the hills in a TradieGuide test to find out.

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Ram 1500 TRX 2023 review: GVM test

By Mark Oastler · 19 Apr 2023

You think the Ford Ranger Raptor's 'tuff', well think about the Ford F-150 Raptor in the USA, with 335kW, a five-link rear suspension and Fox Racing Shox all around. RAM did, and created the 1500 TRX to comprehensively out-muscle it. T-Rex tops Raptor, right? We've driven it, and loaded it up, on local soil. Read on to see how this monster performs.

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