Articles by Stephen Ottley

I tried it lengthways, sideways and even on the diagonal, but despite my best efforts the box holding my new desk wouldn’t fit in the back of the Mitsubishi Triton.And then it struck me — modern utes are a bit useless.Alright, so ‘useless’ may be too strong a word, but the idea of a dual-cab ute and the reality of a dual-cab ute are incredibly different when it comes to practicality. Dual-cab utes are incredibly popular these days and are driven as much by families as they are by working tradies.Now, if you’re a tradie, I’m sure they’re a very practical choice and make working life easy, in the way you can throw your tools in the tray and blaze off to the next job. But even for tradies who need to carry anything longer than your typical desk, the tray size in a modern dual-cab is problematic.Modern dual-cab utes effectively have a square tray, not perfectly square but pretty close, which makes it convenient for smaller and shorter items but challenging when it comes to longer packages. For example, the Toyota HiLux tray is actually wider than it is long, measuring 1645mm wide but only 1570mm long. The Triton I was driving when I had my epiphany had a tray that measures 1520mm long and 1470mm wide. As for the most popular ute, the Ford Ranger, it has various sizes of tray but measures 1464mm long and 1520mm wide in the popular dual-cabs.At this point I’ll concede that a 1500mm desk is a long item and not many vehicles would accommodate such a lengthy box… except I could squeeze it into a large SUV, with the seats folded down. Or in a van. Which brings me to the most painful part of my realisation that utes aren’t as practical as they first appear - I have to concede my older brother is right about vans.You see, my brother spent over 20 years in the USA and despite many years of happiness he eventually fell in with the wrong crowd — minivan drivers. He had a US-spec Honda Odyssey and loved it so much that when he returned to Australia he found the closest possible replacement — a Kia Carnival.Being the helpful brother that I am, when he needed to move house, I offered to borrow a ute (for strictly review-related purposes, obviously) and take some of the bigger loads — you know, like fridges, couches, desks, those sorts of things. Except, it quickly emerged that the tray in the ute was basically useless (sorry, there’s that word again) when it came to shifting bigger items, the tray was far too short. Even with the tailgate down and the load secured safely it would have been protruding too far behind the ute to be safe to drive.But you know what could fit all the biggest items? My brother’s van. It was a major blow to the idea that the ute is Australia’s great invention and far superior to the daggy van.The silver lining for the ute owners, who are no doubt seething at my anti-ute attitude (even though I don’t hate them, I just don’t think they’re as practical as people think), is you’re officially off the hook to help your friends move. Because now you can simply tell them that your ute’s tray is too small and they should ask their friend with the people-mover instead. You’re welcome…

The saga of the Toyota LandCruiser Prado’s unorthodox boot may have resulted in one less rival. Ford has ruled out a Ford Everest PHEV indicating the packaging compromises seen on the Prado’s seven-seat boot has played a major part.Despite the obvious connection between the SUV and its new Ranger plug-in hybrid, Ford is focused on not compromising practicality in its SUV, with Toyota forced to install a drawer in the boot of the Prado due to the mild-hybrid system underneath the rear end of the vehicle.The problem Ford faces is the introduction of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which requires it to cut average CO2 emissions. This will be challenging as the approximately 90 per cent of total Ford sales are the Ranger and Everest, which naturally produce more emissions than smaller, petrol or hybrid vehicles. Ford has already ditched the Everest 4x2 models, as they are classified as a ‘passenger car’, while the 4x4 models are ‘commercial vehicles’ and therefore have a higher emissions target. Seemingly, then, an Everest PHEV would be a logical option to try and cut emissions, but Ford doesn’t want to face the same feedback the Prado has garnered.The Everest and Ranger are based on the same underpinnings and share engine options, but Ford Australia has admitted some key differences make an Everest PHEV nearly impossible. Obvious differences are the rear packaging and suspension between the seven-seat SUV and dual-cab ute. Seeming the Everest’s more complex rear suspension gets in the way of the PHEV batteries, but there are multiple factors.“ Yeah, so there's a lot of considerations that go into future power packs and cycle plans, as you can imagine,” explained Ford Australia marketing chief, Ambrose Henderson. “One of them's about who's taking the program globally, the plant it's coming from, what the business case looks like ultimately.”While not naming the Prado, Henderson made it clear that Ford’s ‘no compromises’ approach to the practicality and capability of the Everest is a major factor in the decision to not push ahead with an Everest PHEV.“For us as an Australian market and what we look for and what we're pushing the globe for is products that deliver for the customer’s needs. And as we talked about… we will not compromise on the key things that our customers are seeking. Some others have gone and started doing some things in this space and they've taken significant compromises to the package of the car. And when we look at our car and we look at the customer research and what we need to deliver. We don't think that that delivers for Australian customers where they need the space in the car, they need the power and torque. They want the full 4x4 and they wanna be able to tow, and right now that package and the technology that's available doesn't support that.“So, number one, before you pass go, we need to deliver what customers want. And that's our absolute guiding line. So that's how we approach it.”

Ford has hit back at Toyota’s suggestions that the ute market is softening, claiming the addition of the all-new Ranger PHEV (plug-in hybrid) and Ranger Super Duty should keep the Blue Oval’s ute on top in 2025.

Isuzu’s updated 2025 MU-X range has a new flagship, the X-Terrain. To separate it from the rest of the range it comes with a range of unique black elements, including its 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels, the horizontal bars on the grille, fog light surrounds and fender flares.It also gets a 7.0-inch digital instrument display, red ambient lighting and leather-accented trim with red and grey contrasting stitching. The X-Terrain is also exclusively available in Slate Grey metallic paint.The MU-X X-Terrain is only available with the 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine, with a six-speed automatic transmission and 4x4 (no 4x2 option). The X-Terrain is priced from $74,400 (plus on-road costs), but Isuzu is offering a very appealing drive-away price from launch at $73,990.

Ford isn’t taking any prisoners when it comes to the introduction of its Ranger PHEV (plug-in hybrid), openly dismissing the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV as serious rivals.

The entry to the updated Isuzu MU-X range remains the LS-M variant, which leads on value but still comes with meaningful choices for buyers.The biggest choice is the powertrain, with buyers able to pick between the 110kW/350Nm 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel or the 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, with the former available only with 4x2 but the bigger engine can be 4x2 or 4x4.For 2025 the LS-M gets some new equipment, including updated cloth upholstery, a 4.2-inch digital display on the instrument panel, an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as USB-C ports and bi-LED headlights.The LS-M begins the range with a $46,990 drive-away deal from launch for the 1.9L 4x2 (list price is $48,400 plus on-road costs. The 3.0-litre 4x2 LS-M starts from $50,400 (plus on-road costs) and 3.0L 4x4 starts at $56,400 (plus on-road costs).

The Ford Everest is the Blue Oval's most popular SUV and for 2025 the range has been expanded. The new Everest Tremor has arrived to take on the latest Toyota Prado in what should be an epic battle of family-friendly off-roaders.We hit the bush in the Everest Tremor to find out if it's tough enough to worry Toyota.

The Isuzu MU-X LS-U sits in the middle of the range and arguably offers the best value as well as the most choice.It is available with a choice of the 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine with 4x4, or the 3.0-litre four-cylinder with 4x2 or 4x4. The smaller engine makes 110kW/350Nm and the bigger punches out 140kW/450Nm.Some of the most noticeable enhancements for 2025 include new 12-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels, a new leather-wrapped steering wheel, piano black interior trims, a 7.0-inch digital instrument display panel, a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, USB-C ports, LED fog lights and tyre pressure monitoring.The LS-U 1.9-litre 4x4 is priced from $61,400 (plus on-road cost), the 3.0L 4x2 from $57,400 (plus on-road cost) and the 3.0L 4x4 $63,400 (plus on-road cost).

Tesla has been making headlines recently with a decline in sales, both internationally and around the world. While there are a variety of reasons for this, at least part of that can be put down to the relative lack of choice, with only the mid-size Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV available to local buyers.There is no larger sedan, no smaller sedan, no Roadster, no Cybertruck and, most relevant for Australia, no seven-seat SUV. Australians have demonstrated a love of family friendly SUVs, with record sales for the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X in 2024 and big sales expected for the new Toyota Prado in 2025.In this article we’ll tell you everything you need to know about Tesla’s seven-seater plans.No, at least not in Australia. Tesla dropped its 7 seater electric car, the Model X from its Australian line-up in 2023 along with the Model S sedan. Its current local range consists of the five-seat-only Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan.Maybe. Tesla has no current public plans to bring back the Model X, as it no longer builds it in right-hand drive. But it does have a potential new 7 seater Tesla, in the form of the three-row Model Y that’s available in the US market. The seven-seat Model Y has been available in the USA in the Long Range AWD variant since 2020. It features the same seat arrangement for the first two rows (two in the first row and three across the middle), with two extra seats where the boot would be. Tesla traditionally reveals very little details about upcoming models, which makes it incredibly difficult to predict when, or even if, Tesla will launch its new models in Australia. However, a report from Reuters in late 2024 suggested the three-row Model Y will soon be produced in China for potential right-hand-drive markets.It’s too early to know any details on price, as the three-row Model Y isn’t confirmed for the Australian market. Tesla is also known to adjust its pricing to try and drive sales, so it’s impossible to predict the brand with accuracy.However, what we can say is it’s likely to carry a small premium over the five-seat Model Y to account for the extra seats.You may have noticed we have referred to it as the ‘three-row Model Y’ as opposed to a seven-seater. That’s because the expectation is the Chinese-built variants will feature six-seats, spread across three rows of two.There is a seven-seater version of the Model Y built in Germany for European markets, but that may not be an option for Tesla in Australia due to the logistics, production complexities and costs.The biggest difference between the Tesla Model Y 7 seater Australia could see in the next few years, compared to the previous Model X will be size. The Model X was a large SUV while the Model Y is mid-sized.The Model X also famously had the so-called ‘Falcon wing’ double-hinged doors that allowed for easier access to the third row. In contrast, the Model Y three-row has the conventional doors.If the Tesla Model 7 three-row variant comes to Australia, besides only having six seats instead of seven, it will differ from key rivals in size. Instead of competing against the likes of the Ford Everest, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, it will be a much smaller SUV and be more directly rivalling the Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander.The problem with the three-row Model Y is the extra seats appear to be both limited for space but also take up much of the luggage space.If anything changes, we’ll let you know, so keep reading CarsGuide to stay up to date with everything happening in the motoring industry.

Ford Australia senior management has taken a swipe at the controversial Toyota Prado boot saga. Speaking at the launch of the new Ford Everest Tremor, Ford Australia marketing boss, Ambrose Henderson, has made it clear he believes his company’s product offers better luggage space than its arch-rival.While the Prado has a theoretical advantage, measuring 906-litres compared to the Everest’s 898L, Toyota didn’t design the third row seats to fold flat into the floor, so added a plastic riser box on the seven-seat Prado GXL, VX and Kakadu variants. The result is a higher load height and question marks over its usability from critics and would-be buyers.The Everest was the best-selling large SUV in Australia in 2024 but the arrival of a new-generation Prado should create an intense fight for that honour in 2025. But if Ford is worried, Henderson is not showing it.“You know, we're here to run our own race,” Henderson said. “And we're really confident in the range that we've put forward and the value proposition that that presents to customers as well. Really top of mind for us on everything we do is delivering for customers what they want and what they're telling us and making no compromise on that. And our strong belief is we've done that and that's why we got the results that we did last year.“The that you speak of is a formidable competitor. And you know, they've had a very long run of having wonderful products in these spaces. But, I think when you compare our products back-to-back, you can see where we've made strategic decisions not to compromise, and others may have compromised items that are very important to customers in these segments.”Henderson continued and made an unsubtle swipe at Toyota’s boot design for the Prado.“As an example, being able to fit your luggage in the boot,” he said. “So, you know, there are really important things that we will not compromise when we deliver our products.”He added: “When we deliver our products, it's about delivering what customers want and not compromising on that.”However, Toyota may have the last laugh if the January sales data is a trend for the year. In the first month of 2025 the Prado out-sold the Everest 2847 to 1679 - more than 1100 units.As we’ve previously reported, Toyota is confident in the packaging and presentation of the Prado, with customer interest remaining high. "The order bank for the new Prado remains very healthy and we are delighted with the level of customer acceptance for the new vehicle," a Toyota Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide in November.