Commercial Reviews

The Kia Tasman SX+ is the mid-grade version, and should appeal to buyers who want lots of features without paying too steep a price.

The Kia Tasman SX is the second-from-the-bottom model in the South Korean maker’s first-ever one-tonne utility of this size sold in Australia.

The GWM Cannon Alpha plug-in hybrid EV is part of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle revolution in Australia. This feature-packed Chinese-made ute has plenty going for it – it’s well-priced and, on paper at least, it's frugal on fuel and cheap to run – but the Alpha faces tough competition in the form of plug-in hybrids like the BYD Shark 6 and Ford Ranger.

The Kia Tasman S is the base version of the South Korean brand’s first-ever one-tonne utility.

We finally know what the Kia Tasman is like on Australian roads. And Kia is playing a very smart game. Yes, the design is divisive, but it stands out. The cabin is vast and practical, yet also comfy, easy and beautiful. As a workhorse, this ute is right up there. And, with some reservations, this is an enjoyable drive. Willing and tough yet friendly and charming, Tasman is a terrific first effort.

The BYD Shark 6, the first plug-in hybrid electric ute to hit Australia's shores, is leading the charge of plug-in hybrid electric utes, followed closely by PHEV versions of the Ford Ranger and GWM Cannon Alpha.It's an innovative approach and has generated plenty of excitement, but is the Shark 6 - with no 4WD, no low-range gearing and no diff-locks - a novelty or a sign of things to come?

The number of Chinese players in Australia’s 4x4 ute market continues to rise, with BYD, GWM and LDV recently joined by JAC Motors (Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Company Ltd) with its T9 offering.

For so long seen as purely a tool-of-trade, in recent decades the ute has grown into a Swiss Army-style work/family/lifestyle multi-purpose machine. And in his second month with the Ford Ranger Platinum, Andrew Chesterton is appreciating the family side of its character more than ever.

Iveco’s E6 Daily van and cab-chassis range recently welcomed an electric twin in the form of its new eDaily variant. Launched in Europe in late 2022, it represents the first Iveco full-electric vehicle range to be offered in Australia.Being based on the conventional diesel Daily ensures eDaily customers will be familiar with the specifications and features of these vehicles in either van or cab chassis form.The eDaily also ensures a seamless transition for commercial bodybuilders, given that its main electrical components sit wholly within the conventional chassis frame and the body-mounting positions are unchanged.We recently spent a working week with the full-electric model to assess its credentials for not only tradie duties but also door-to-door distribution, cold-chain logistics and many other job requirements at the Light Duty end of the Heavy Commercial vehicle market.

The GWM Cannon has always offered great value for money with high levels of standard equipment at low prices. In 2025 it's shifted up a gear with a larger engine, benchmark towing and numerous other enhancements, so is that what's needed to topple the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux?