Articles by Nick Dalton

Lancer has been a Mitsubishi success story and has had to carry its passenger car fortunes with the unfortunate demise of the V6-powered and Australian-built 380 a few years ago. It remains the Japanese importer's best seller with nearly 13,000 units sold this year, ahead of Triton and ASX.Nevertheless sales are down 17.6 per cent so far and nearly a third last month. Mazda3 has a strong lead in this sector with 35,766 sales in 2012 with nearly an 18 per cent share, ahead of Toyota Corolla, Holden Cruze and Hyundai i30. Lancer is seventh. The new Corolla and the next generation Golf are expected to make life tougher for Lancer as well as the others. But Mitsubishi is hitting back with the LX.VALUEValue is the name of the game and the new LX sits at the centre of the campaign. At $23,990 drive away it offers plenty of bang for the buck. It comes with Bluetooth 2.0 with voice activation and streaming audio plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and phone controls and a new audio system for easier operation and optimum sound.There's also a new 6.1-inch full colour display audio system that also features the rear view camera view. Foibles are few. The USB port is hard to find, there is tilt-only adjustment for the steering and the Bluetooth link can be fussy. To sweeten the deal Mitsubishi offers a five year/130,000km new vehicle warranty, five year Roadside Assist and Capped Price Servicing for the first four years or 60,000km.TECHNOLOGYAlthough not cutting edge, the Lancer has the brand's staple MIVEC variable intake valve lift and timing system within the 110kW/197Nm alloy 2.0-litre engine. The familiar snout of the three-diamond brand is starting to age and needs an update. It looks distinctive enough but is not as modern as the sleeker opposition, especially the new Corolla and the latest crop from Korea.DESIGNComfort has been boosted with heated front seats, a power driver's seat and climate control airconditioning. It comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, side air dams and a host of chrome touches on the radiator grille, boot lid accent on the sedan model, door handles and belt line moulding.SAFETYThere's an extensive array of safety features, including Active Stability and Traction Control, ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Assist, and seven airbags, including driver and passenger front, side and curtain, and driver knee airbag to score a five star ANCAP safety rating. The LX also features a reversing camera and reverse parking sensors to improve driver awareness and visibility, along with keyless entry and engine start to make life a little easier.DRIVINGThe 2.0-litre engine is lively and more flexible than the numbers suggest, as well as being close to its ADR fuel-use figure. I finished with a figure of 7.5L/100km, when the company claims 6.9. The five-speed manual is fairly simple to use, not super-slinky, but with good feel and engagement, however it is one short of the normal six-speeder in this class.Most buyers will opt for the continuously variable auto transmission, but I prefer the manual. The cabin is a comfortable space, with climate control for our summer but the heated front seats won't be needed here unless you live on the Tableland and it's winter. It's easy to drive and easy to park with the rear parking sensors and camera a bonus.The steering is light and points well, the ride nicely absorbent and there's plenty of grip. But it's not a sharp handler, like the Mazda3 or Ford Focus, and the stability control kept kicking in when I was getting a bit frisky coming down the Rex Range between Julatten and Mossman. The brakes are great and there's adequate performance for overtaking.The LX cruises smoothly enough with only the coarse bitumen surfaces invading the interior. It's better than previous Lancers but still too noisy. Wind noise is low except for when punching into a head wind. The engine is quiet.VERDICTThe Lancer's age is offset by some worthy features, including a great warranty that provides some level of security. It's not quite up to the dynamics of a Mazda3 or a Focus, rather it's a civilised little all-rounder. The LX is a pleasant small car that will appeal to many and at $23,990 drive away is good value too.Mitsubishi Lancer LXPrice: $23,990 drive awayWarranty: Five years/130,000kmResale: 54 per centService Interval: 12 months/15,000kmSafety: 5 star ANCAPEngine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 110kW/197NmTransmission: Five-speed manual, FWDThirst: 6.9L/100km (on test 7.5L), 91RON, 59 litres, 162g/km CO2Weight: 1285kg

Do you want to buy a cheap new Lexus? If so, then check out the Toyota Aurion. Sales are down 25 per cent to just less than 5000 units so far this year. Aurion is ranked third with 721 sales, down 14 per cent and has just a 15 per cent share of the segment, behind Commodore and Falcon.By comparison its four-cylinder twin Camry commands 40 per cent of the 5700 medium car sector with sales up 23 per cent for the year. The six-cylinder market is a tough place. Buyers are abandoning this once stronghold in increasing numbers for SUVs and small cars. It's a shame because Aussie-made sixes are among the best cars in the world for value for money and are able to devour long distances in comfort and safety.VALUEYes. The Aurion packs the same silky smooth 3.5 V6 as the Lexus IS 350 and the GS 350 in a package $30,000-plus cheaper. But the $52,467 Sportivo ZR6 as reviewed is a much better looking car with a sporty body kit and a more aggressive and individual grille that makes it stand apart.Features include five alloy wheels, 60/40 split-fold seats, multi-information display, eco indicator, display audio with USB input and iPod connectivity, acoustic windscreen, dual exhaust, chrome rear garnish and rocker moulding, sports Optitron (Lexus) instruments and integrated side indicators in the exterior mirrors.There is also power-operated driver and front passenger seats with lumbar support, sports suspension, 17-inch sport alloy wheels, front and rear spoilers, sports diffuser, front fog lamps, metallic/mica paint, paddle shifts, sports pedals, premium three-spoke steering wheel, sports front seats, sat-nav, smart entry/start, automatic high beam, wipers, high-definition headlamps, front and rear parking sensors and automatic dipping exterior mirrors.TECHNOLOGYIt might not have the Lexus badge, but it shares the same powerplant and inside is as close to a high-level Lexus as you will get in a Toyota. The Aurion's not rear drive, which will put off some purists off, but it can be driven in a sporty manner that takes advantage of its silky engine and supple chassis.Output from the 3.5-litre V6 engine is unchanged at 200kW and 336Nm, but a taller final drive accompanies the six-speed sequential-shift automatic transmission. This improves fuel efficiency by 6 per cent to 9.3 litres/100km on the combined cycle, and exhaust emissions are down by 8 per cent. I achieved 12.2 litres/100km on my weekend drive.DESIGNIn reality the Aurion is a V6 version of the Camry with interior and exterior changes. In base versions, the Aurion is very ordinary looking and the Camry looks much better. The body kit, including spoilers and side skirts, is not a cohesive unit. The car was finished in a striking metallic blue paint job, called reflex blue, which made it stand out.The front seats are taller and wider, with more back and lower body support. The steering column has a more natural angle and the relationship between the driver's seat and the accelerator has improved.SAFETYThe ZR6 is packed with gear and among the goodies are seven SRS airbags (including driver's knee airbag), seatbelt warnings on all five seats, vehicle stability control (VSC), traction control (TRC), dual-zone automatic climate-controlled airconditioning and a reversing camera.DRIVINGI was quite impressed when I picked up the ZR6. I was dreading driving a lesser model with that awful cheesy chrome grille. It reminds me of the very forgettable Avalon. The ZR6 will not appeal to keen drivers who prefer big cars, such as the Ford Falcon XR6 and Holden Commodore's SV6, to be rear-wheel drive.But the beauty of the Aurion is that it is a smooth motor car, much more refined than the raw and raucous Falcon and Commodore. Torque steer, when the drive through the front wheels fights the steering, can be a problem but only if you are heavy handed. The ZR6 can be driven briskly and smoothly without being brutal.In fact, it is a surprisingly quick car that can string a series of corners together well and in harmony. Drive it with an even hand and it does not need to result in heavy nose understeer. It tackled the Kuranda Range road well and was quiet and Lexus-like on the highway through to Mareeba.Engine and wind noise was negligible with just coarse bitumen surfaces upsetting the ambience. The smartest part about the ZR6 was the V6 providing instant power for safe overtaking and for effortlessly uphill driving. It was a lot of fun across the unforgiving Springmount Rd between Walkamin and Dimbulah, using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.There is little body roll and just a hint of safe understeer on sharp corners at enthusiastic speeds. The car points well with a new, stiffer suspension and more rigid body. There's also a new electric power steering unit similar to that in the Lexus RX series. Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) have been improved through a large number of design refinements.Aurion has what is essentially a double glazed windscreen. Wind flow under the bonnet and the front mudguards has been deflected to reduce noise and new sound-deadening carpets have been added. Double seals have been added to the door glass. The result is a cabin that is whisper quiet even on some of the harsh road surfaces.Inside, the Aurion feels more comfortable and secure and although still short of an enthusiast's choice, it is more involving to drive with an improved driving position, tighter and more confident handling and better steering and brake pedal feedback.The engine is punchy, silky smooth and quiet with just enough exhaust note filtering through to reflect its V6 status. And it is complemented by the seamless and intuitive six-speed automatic. However, the inherent tug of 200kW driving the front wheels remains, as does the irksome foot-operated parking brake.VERDICTThe Aurion is an under achiever and falls under the shadow of the cheaper four-cylinder Camry. But it does a better job, even if it is dearer and thirstier. Nothing beats a nice six and the Aurion's V6 is one of the best in the business. It's smooth, quiet and powerful, making long journeys a cinch. The ZR6 can also be sporty. It provides a refined alternative to the more raw rear-drive sporty numbers from Holden andFord.

The Skoda Fabia has a lot to offer over its parent Volkswagen Group’s similar cars. It's cheaper than its Volkswagen cousin, the Polo GTi, by about $1000 and a lot cheaper than Audi's A1 Sport.As well, there's virtually no waiting list, but you wait months for a Polo GTi. Sure it doesn't have the badge cachet of the VW or Audi but don't underestimate Skoda, which is making inroads in Europe and doing extremely well in Australia.National sales are healthy, up 86 per cent for the year from 1418 sales to 2636, with the Fabia third most popular after the Yeti and the Octavia. My first official drive of the brand is the Fabia RS light car hot hatch. Last year I hired a Superb which amazed me with its refinement and room.VALUEThere's lots of gear in the RS, including power steering, six airbags (dual front, front side and curtain airbags) and remote central locking, reach and rake adjustable steering column, height-adjustable driver's seat, electric front and rear windows, 60/40 split rear seat, an integrated CD player with a 3.5mm jack input for MP3 devices, a three-spoke leather steering wheel with radio and phone controls, multi-function trip computer, cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity.The RS also has some extras to give it the edge over lesser models and to justify its $31,500 drive away price tag. It has 17-inch Gigaro silver alloy wheels, Climatronic airconditioning, front lip spoiler, red painted brake callipers, black highlights on B-pillar and door mirrors, chrome trim on the radiator grille, power-heated door mirrors, chrome double exhaust pipe, rear black diffuser and body coloured spoiler, front sport seats, stainless steel pedals and scuff plates.TECHNOLOGYUnder the pert bonnet is the same 132kW/250Nm twin-charged (turbocharged and supercharged) 1.4-litre petrol engine matched to the same slick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with steering wheel paddle-shifters as in the Polo and A1. The 1.4-litre engine is a punchy operator, completely belying its compact capacity and the sort of linearity not generally expected of small, forced induction powertrains, a great combination of the supercharger operating at low revs and the turbo taking over closer to the 7000rpm redline.The engine pulls strongly all the way through the rev band and is an excellent match to the transmission, which offers lightning-fast changes in manual mode and is generally on the mark in auto. It's a pity there's no manual to give the Fabia RS an advantage over the VW and Audi and more of a sporty edge.The DSG tends to hesitate and jerk at lower speeds and when taking off, although activating the automatic sport setting or flicking it to manual mode sorts that out. The firmer shock absorbers, higher-strength springs and a stiffer front axle provide the RS with the right chassis set up to cope with the fizzy powertrain.It is well sorted and the electric steering has more weight and communicates better than most.Wider 205/40 tyres and the XDL electronic differential lock system, which brakes the inside front wheel to negate understeer, add to the driving dynamics, giving the little hatch Skoda high levels of tenacity and grip, plus a fast turn-in. The fun factor is aided by the great front sports seats that offer lots of side bolstering and back support.DESIGN The styling is different, not as suave as Polo GTi or Audi A1, but there's a certain charm to the boxy exterior that gives it a point of difference. Skoda’s been growing an increasing focus on individualising its products, something it admits to have borrowed from BMW-owned brand Mini. The Fabia offers up to 26 colour combinations, contrasting roof shades and various alloy wheel finishes.Then there is the completely unique RS wagon, an extended version of the hatch that combines the same sizzling powertrain with class-leading cargo space. Skoda Australia says half the interest has been for the wagon.DRIVINGIn the twisty stuff, particularly up the Gillies Range and across the undulating and tight corners of the road between Walkamin and Dimbulah; it was a delight, refusing to flick out of line or lose grip even with traction control switched off. It just keeps on gripping with tenacity and plenty of grunt to make the drive a lot of fun.There's a fair bit of noise though from the tyres on coarse bitumen and wind roar through the A pillars, no doubt exacerbated by the door mirrors.When I started last weekend's drive, the trip computer was recording mid-12 litres/100km. By the time I finished on the journey from Cairns to Yungaburra, Atherton, Walkamin, Mareeba, Kuranda, the Northern Beaches and back to Cairns consumption had fallen to 10.2. The spirited drive up the Gillies and on the Dimbulah must be taken into account as well, but there is plenty of room for improvement. I believe it can achieve a lot better than that, particularly with Skoda claiming 6.3 litres/100km. Some have been critical of the RS ride, but I did not find it harsh at all and a lot better than some.FABIA RS VS POLO GTIThere's no doubt the Fabia RS is a fantastic hot hatch and it has just come second to the Polo GTi in Motor magazine's Bang for Your Buck awards. Sure the Fabia is $1000 cheaper and there's virtually no waiting list, but I believe it should be even cheaper.The interior of the Fabia, while well-made and free from rattles, does not feel as tactile as the Volkswagen, with harder plastics and an inferior sound system. But the Fabia RS provides a point of difference, particularly in wagon form, and it won't be as common as the Polo GTi.It has distinctive and charming looks, is practical with a sparkling engine and transmission combination, quick steering and great seats. On the downside, there's too much road and wind noise, the cabin plastics are a bit cheap and there's no manual gearbox.VERDICTOverall, Fabia RS is a charming addition to the tiny hot hatch brigade that provides some driving excitement as well as being a delight to tootle around town in.

Cairns auto chief Greg Eastment has joined forces with Townsville car dealer John Doolan to buy the Parry Nissan, Suzuki and Renault dealership in Townsville.The two men's family trust companies, as major shareholders in a new venture, have formed NQ Auto Group to acquire Parry Nissan in a multimillion-dollar deal. The purchase of the business's Sturt St property formed part of the deal.Mr Eastment is a shareholder and the managing director and dealer principal of Pacific Toyota Cairns and Lexus of Cairns. Mr Doolan is a long-time employee of Parry Nissan, including as general manager of the business for the past four years.Mr Eastment has become managing director of Parry Nissan, with Mr Doolan taking the position of dealer principal. The sale settled on August 31. The Parry family, led by Alan and brother John, founded the business in 1979. Mr Eastment said he was very pleased to have secured such a well-respected business in a vibrant city such as Townsville.“I believe that Townsville is probably the strongest and most stable provincial centre north of Brisbane,” he said. “With significant investment happening in and around the centre, this trend is set to continue. “Under the control of a very experienced dealer principal in John Doolan and with the support of Parry Nissan's long-serving staff, we feel optimistic that the business will continue to thrive as it has under the Parry family.”Mr Doolan, born in the Burdekin district and having lived much of his life in Townsville, said he started his sales career with Parry Nissan about 17 years ago. “Alan and John Parry were ready to go and I have been actively trying to get involved in the ownership of the business,” he said. “I think Townsville is a great place. This is where I want to be.” Both men did not reveal a sale price but it was obviously considerable involving the Sturt St site, which comprises an entire block of prime commercial land leading into the CBD.Mr Eastment said the deal was private, involving the family trust companies of both men and did not include the Pacific Toyota group. He said Mr Doolan would be in charge of the day-to-day running of Parry Nissan, while he would provide a strategic role. Mr Eastment said the dealership was one of the biggest Nissan franchises in the state, with Navara dual cab utes the largest seller. 

But that's what I discovered three weeks ago when I wandered into a Lexus dealership in Auckland, New Zealand, to pick up a car for reviewing while I was in the Shaky Isles.Out the front of the showroom was a fellow in a white shirt, tie and trousers with a chamois wiping down a Lexus IS 350 (pictured above outside a Hawke's Bay vineyard).I asked him to show me the office of the general manager Peter Carleton. He said he was Mr Carleton. How often do you find at a luxury dealership, or any dealership for that matter, the boss putting the finishing touches to a car for delivery?That task is usually the role of the detailers, but in this case it was the chief making sure the car was in tip-top condition. He then went out of his way to show me around the Great North Rd premises of Lexus of Auckland City (pictured), one of six Lexus dealerships in NZ and the only stand-alone premises in NZ.Normally they are attached to Toyota premises. Mr Carleton said the NZ luxury market was small and extremely competitive yet their dealership was the best Lexus in the country and attention to detail and customer service were paramount.He is proud of their service and workshops and they have even installed a large window in the waiting lounge overlooking the main workshop so customers can see their car being worked on. The dealership has run out of room in the workshop and has expanded next door as well. Mr Carleton said the prestige franchises were under pressure from grey importers bringing in near-new marques from the UK for tens of thousands of dollars less than the equivalent new model in NZ.He said Lexus was not being impacted as much as the Germans but, once again, top service was the key to attracting and retaining customers. I love driving in NZ because the roads are better built, wider and with the right cambers than here. Venture off the main roads and highways into the countryside and the roads are generally top notch, free of traffic, speed cameras and police. Roads are many and varied so you can explore a car's limits safely.On the main highways there are plenty of overtaking lanes with long stretches, unlike the awful Bruce Highway between Cairns and Brisbane. New cars are expensive but used cars are generally cheaper than here, mainly because of the influx of grey imports from Japan and Europe. Petrol is costly. At one stage premium unleaded was $2.30 and a 65-litre tank cost $130 to fill. Ouch. 

Work has started on the extensive refit at Ireland Holden in Mulgrave Rd with the project due to be completed by June next year. Dealer-principal Richard Ireland said the Holden and HSV revamp was the first since 1993 when the building was rebuilt after fire nearly destroyed the premises.  He said the work coincided with an improvement in business. "Since about mid last year we've been noticing an upturn (since the global financial crisis in 2008)," Mr Ireland said. "First it was just a couple of better months but now we are seeing a sustained improvement in sales, consumer and business sentiment. If the economy was still where it was this time last year, I'm not so sure I'd be excited about the spend. But with the sustained improvements in new and used retail sales, as well as fleet sales and workshop bookings, I think the timing is pretty good." The work, by the Hartley Group and RC Harders, includes a new showroom, service reception, workshops, parts, used cars, administration, executive offices and a boardroom. It will feature the latest Holden corporate look, down to the floor coverings, paint colour, furniture, even the direction of the carpet pattern. The Holden/HSV showroom will be enlarged to provide space for up to nine vehicles (up from four), including a specialist area for HSV. The service driveway roof will be raised and the drive increased to three lanes. There will be a larger customer lounge and hospitality area and a fleet customer work centre with work desks and internet. The remodelling of customer conveniences will provide for a new disabled restroom and a lift to the administration floor. The workshops will undergo a general refit, a new ceiling and ventilation, paint and floor re-conditioning. The parts and used cars section will receive a full refit in Holden's corporate identity, internally and externally. "A new cyclone-proof data centre will be added as well as new executive offices and the boardroom," Mr Ireland said.  

The high powered Holden Special Vehicles HRT 427 coupe was owned by Cairns collector Shawn "Chooka" Ryan and sold at the Pickles Auction on Monday for $350,000. It was one of just two built and the only driveable one. The other remains with Holden. Mr Ryan paid $920,000 for the vehicle two years ago but auctioneer David Hyde said the industry believed that the price paid for the red car in 2008 was too much. He said the deal may have also involved another car so there were doubts that the figure of $920,000 was the actual cash price for the vehicle. "$350,000 is the right price," Mr Hyde said. The car was sold to ananonymous Queensland buyer. American-based basketball millionaire Andrew Bogut, who showed keen interest in the Holden coupe at the auction, was not the buyer. Twenty-four of the best of Mr Ryan's car collection were put up for auction on orders of receivers PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Two of his companies, Ausco Firestop NQ Pty Ltd and Ryan Group Holdings Pty Ltd, are in receivership with debts of $10 million. Mr Hyde said all but one vehicle, a 2007 HSV Maloo ute, was sold. He said the sale totalled just under $2 million. Mr Hyde said the cars were bought by individuals and he believed they would remain in Australia. He said he did not know if any of the vehicles would return to Cairns. Mr Hyde said there were 300 people bidding online and 500 at the auction described as the finest collection of muscle cars sold in Australia. "Overall it went better than expected," he said. "I think these are bullet-proof as an investment goes." Mr Hyde said most of the vehicles sold for the estimated price or above. He said there was a lot of interest in the auction and people were returning to buying muscle cars. "There were no bargains," Mr Hyde said. Mr Ryan made national headlines after he wandered into a Sydney car showroom in shorts and thongs in April, 2008 and bought the red coupe, the most expensive price ever paid for a Holden. Muscle car auction 2002 HRT 427 coupe: $350,000 1956 Chevrolet Belair hardtop: $77,000 1969 Holden Monaro HT GTS coupe: $72,000 1973 Holden Monaro HQ GTS coupe: $71,000 1978 Ford Cobra XC coupe: $70,000 1968 Holden Monaro HK GTS coupe: $69,000 1977 Holden Torana LX coupe: $38,500

The prized cluster of Holdens, Fords and Chevrolets has been trucked to Sydney to be auctioned in two weeks. It includes one of just two Holden Special Vehicles HRT 427 coupes which fetched a record $920,000 price tag two years ago. The auction follows two companies associated with Shawn "Chooka" Ryan, Ausco Firestop (NQ) Ptd Ltd and Ryan Group Holdings Pty Ltd, being placed in receivership by PriceWaterhouseCoopers with debts of $10 million. Pickles Auctions auctioneer David Hyde said it was the finest collection of muscle cars to go under the hammer in his 30 years experience. He said since the auction on June 7 was advertised there had been "an absolute frenzy". "The phone has gone into meltdown and the internet has gone crazy," Mr Hyde said. "The competition for these cars is huge," he said. "These cars are absolute top shelf, many with extremely low kilometres. Some of the cars have low build plate numbers." Receiver Guy Edwards confirmed the auction and the debt. He said the major creditor was the National Australia Bank. Read the rest of this article at cairns.com.au.

A luxury European sportscar manufacturer wrapped up production on a highly secretive photo shoot last week in Port Douglas, North Queensland. Traffic control was in place and no one was allowed to see or photograph the reportedly German car, believed to be the new hybrid Cayenne, while the advertisement was being shot at three locations around the expensive resort town.Although location manager Cameron Wood would not speculate on the amount Porsche had spent, he said the photo shoot was the most expensive Australia had seen this year. “These clients come from overseas and spend big amounts,” he said.Five prototypes of the SUV, due to be released to the world in May, were in Port Douglas for the filming. The advertisements will appear in newspapers, luxury car and yachting magazines, car manuals and on billboards around the world.The petrol-electric drivetrain in the Cayenne hybrid comes from the project developed in tandem with Volkswagen, and will also appear in the Touareg, although the Porsche version could have increased capacity and outputs.The Volkwagen version has a 245kW/440Nm 3.0-litre V6 engine (used in the Audi S4) married to a 38kW electric motor, with outputs boosted to 275kW and 550Nm with the two engines working in tandem.In the Touareg, regenerative braking capture charges the 288-volt nickel-metal battery, with its 67kg weight carried at the rear and contained in a metal case for protection. A DC/DC system converts the output to 12v to power airconditioning and other peripherals.The e-motor replaces the starter motor, and in normal driving the torque converter opens for initial acceleration then closes when the SUV is running along. In stop-start driving the clutch restarts the action.The Cayenne is likely to have the Touareg hybrid’s new eight-speed automatic transmission from Aisin, which has been developed to cope with the torque and give a more definite response than would be possible with a continuously variable box. The Porsche hybrid concept on show at Frankfurt was based on the current model, but the production version will be in line with the coming Cayenne.

It was a brave move by Isuzu Ute to launch the newest motor vehicle brand in October last year.But it has competitively priced the D-Max range, undercutting almost all of its competition by thousands of dollars except for the SsangYong and Mahindra variants.Sales are trickling in as buyers slowly become aware of the brand.As of the end of March, Isuzu had sold 576 D-Maxs for the year for a 1.5 per cent share of the market. The company says sales have grown each month since the launch with March sales up 47 per cent on February.The test vehicle was the $38,700 D-Max LS-M 4x4 crew-cab, which improves on the Toyota HiLux SR dual-cab diesel's standard equipment list with ABS, air, cruise control, one-inch-wider wheels, four extra speakers, projector-lens headlights, a roof console and a three-tonne towing capacity.Other goodies include cruise control, wheel arch flares, alloy wheels, leather steering wheel rim and shift knob, electro-luminescent instrument cluster, trip computer and projector headlights and front fog lights.Both the five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions are special low-friction designs to help save fuel and run quietly.Shifting between 2WD to 4WD High Range is done on the fly at speeds of up to 100 km/h with the simple in-dash push button Drive Mode Selection panel.There’s no doubt the D-Max is a workhorse, no flash filly or showjumping stallion.It’s been designed to do the hard yards, whether it’s on a building site or out on the farm.It’s powered by the much-trusted 3.0-litre, turbocharged diesel and the test vehicle was the sensible four-wheel drive dual cab ute.It is practical and offers a variety of functions from family wagon to workhorse to plaything.It rides comfortably and handles reasonably too.The design, inside and out, is clean and tidy. The cabin does not offer quite as much elbow room, nor as many clever storage spots, as more modern Toyota HiLux, Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton models, yet the D-Max has a good driving position with clear instruments and decent ergonomics.There is airconditioning, a six-speaker stereo system and cruise control. Back seat leg and headroom are acceptable but best for smaller people, such as children, on longer trips.Isuzu's diesel does not rev as high as some rivals. Peak power of 120kW comes at 3600rpm and peak torque between 1800rpm and 2800rpm.Highway cruising should realise 8 litres per 100km, stop-and-start work around the town will see that lift to just below 10.The Isuzu is not super-refined but is comfortable and competent as a town and country machine.It comes into its own by carrying fridges and the like, weekend runs to the rubbish tip or highway transport capable of dealing with all types of road conditions.The ride is firm and when unladen the rear end can crash and skip through potholes.It adequately tackled mountains roads, although the steering is a bit ponderous and needed a lot of turning through the twisty bits.My off-road testing was across Black Mountain Rd between Kuranda and Julatten in North Queensland, but I was disappointed.After all the recent rain I was expecting some wet and slippery conditions but apart from some big puddles the journey was uneventful.Not once did I have to engage 4WD with the gutsy turbo-diesel easily climbing up and over a couple of steeper sections of the track.The D-Max was a tidy and clean handler on the gravel sections and even the corrugations failed to upset its progress.The Isuzu is an easy machine to live with around town too and relatively straight forward to park and manoeuvre around city streets.The Isuzu D-max LS-M is a good-value proposition.It might not have as much cabin space or the extra refinement of newer-designed rivals, but the Isuzu is competent, robust and a no-bullshit working light truck.