Ute Reviews

Though aimed at fleet buyers, the XLS from $46,730 before on-road costs does come with a few more civilised items.Above the base XL's nine airbags, AEB autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and lane keep assist, blind spot warning, cross-traffic alert tech, halogen headlights, a front tow hook, a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Ford’s Sync4 multimedia system, a digital instrument cluster, manual air-conditioning, USB-A and -C ports and cloth seats, the XLS ushers in fog lights, alloy wheels, side steps, a powered tailgate lock and front parking sensors.Additionally, the interior looks somewhat less austere, boasting carpet. It's a budget choice without feeling too bare.As per the XL, the XLS' rear cargo area in pick-up models feature the additional securing points at the front of the load box, box capping with integrated fixing points for added sheetmetal protection, a rear load box step near the bumper on the side for easy side access and a lighter tailgate, thanks to Ford's 'easy lift assist' system.Note, too, that the XLS is a Double Cab-only proposition, with four doors and five seats, as well as the ute tub in the rear.A built-in trailer wiring set-up is also included, though please keep in mind that the tow bar is optional for XL and XLS.Under the bonnet is a revised version of the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel (dubbed BiTurbo in Ford-speak). Mated to a completely overhauled 10-speed auto, with driving modes.This powertrain delivers 3kW less power at 154kW at 3750rpm, but the 500Nm torque maximum (between just 1750-2000rpm) remains, while shift quality is smoother and calmer.Ranger 4x4s with either 2.0-litre engine stick with the standard part-time 4x4 set-up that offers 4x2 (rear-drive), 4x4 Low range and 4x4 High range.

Kicking off from $35,930 before on-road costs, the base Ranger XL is nearly $7000 more expensive than the previous PX III equivalent, partly because Ford has dropped the manual gearbox for Australia. It’s auto or it’s nothing.But if you compare old versus new, prices are – on average – only around $1100 more expensive like-for-like (not including the Raptor), and that’s acceptable, given how much more kit you now get, in a palpably improved vehicle.A fleet-focused proposition, the Ranger XL is the cheapest, and, so, as a workhorse, is all about minimum frills: hard-wearing cloth, vinyl floor, a manual handbrake, easy-access dash storage – that sort of thing.However, it does include features like the surprisingly old-fashioned halogen headlights, a front tow hook, a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Ford’s Sync4 multimedia system, a digital instrument cluster, manual air-conditioning, USB-A and -C ports, cloth seats, power windows and 16-inch steel wheelsNote, too, that all Rangers score nine airbags, AEB autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and lane keep assist and rear parking sensors, while all pick-ups have blind spot warning and cross-traffic alert tech.The XL is available in all body styles, as well as 4x2 and 4x4 grades. Those body styles are: two-seater Cab chassis, four-seater Super Cab chassis or pick-up, and five-seater Double Cab chassis or pick-up.Compared to the previous Ranger, the T6.2 pick-up models introduce additional securing points at the front of the load box, box capping with integrated fixing points for added bodywork protection, an integrated load box step near the bumper for easier side access, and a lighter tailgate thanks to Ford's 'easy lift assist' system.A built-in trailer wiring set-up is also included, though please keep in mind that the tow bar is optional for XL and XLS.Under that bluff bonnet is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder single turbo-diesel, replacing the old 2.2-litre as the base engine. Despite being smaller, it pumps out more power and torque at 125kW at 3500rpm and 405Nm between 1750-2500rpm respectively, and is only offered with a six-speed automatic.Meanwhile, the old 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel has been binned, for a revised version of the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel (dubbed BiTurbo in Ford-speak). Mated to a completely overhauled 10-speed auto, it delivers 3kW less power at 154kW at 3750rpm, but the 500Nm torque maximum (between just 1750-2000rpm) remains, while shift quality is smoother and calmer.Ranger 4x4s with either 2.0-litre engine stick with the standard part-time 4x4 set-up that offers 4x2 (rear-drive), 4x4 Low range and 4x4 High range.

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After nearly a year of teasing and prototype sampling, we're finally behind the wheel of the highly anticipated 2023 Ford Ranger. Out on public Australian roads at last, we drive every Dual Cab 4x4 model currently available – XLS, XLT, Sport and Wildtrak, in 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo and hot new V6 turbo-diesel guises – to see if the world's only Australian designed and engineered pick-up can cut it.

The Mitsubishi Triton has been a long-standing Aussie favourite and the GSR is set to carry that tradition forward. The relatively narrow body makes it a friend in car parks but it still looks ruggedly capable, and being a dual cab auto four-wheel drive means it will probably land on most wish lists. It looks the part, but does that capability extend to family life, too?

Isuzu offers a convenient ready-to-work option for tradies with its appropriately named 'Tradepack' based on the popular N-Series range, available in a choice of wheelbases and either 4500kg or 5500kg GVM ratings. The lower weight rating can be driven using a standard car licence, so we recently put one of these well-equipped trucks to the test to see how it measures up as a heavy-duty workhorse.

The Ram 1500 Laramie is a luxury car that just happens to be a dual-cab pick-up truck. It is plush, comfortable, powerful, and good to drive. And unlike any other luxury SUV out there, it can tow up to 4.5 tonnes!

VW has been watching the Ford Ranger Raptor, Nissan Navara Pro 4X Warrior, as well as the aftermarket, and decided to send its Amarok off-road with a big push courtesy of the Walkinshaw developed W580X.

Our first drive around Ford's proving ground on both a high-speed ride/handling circuit and off-road course has revealed the magnitude of progress the new Ranger V6 makes. The prototype highlighted the stirring speed and performance on offer, while the new 4WD system and re-engineered three-piece chassis handled the rough stuff with impressive ease. The signs are looking very promising indeed.

LDV, a division of China's largest automotive manufacturer SAIC Motor, has been selling its T60 ute in Australia since 2017, during which time it's established a solid foothold in the low-priced ute segment against similar rivals from China (GWM) and Korea (Ssangyong).