Ute Reviews

The Core is the entry point to MG’s mid-size HS SUV range. It wears a keen drive-away entry price of $29,990.Available only as a front-drive automatic, the Core is powered by a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 119kW/250Nm, mated to a seven-speed dual clutch automatic.The Core has an official/combined fuel consumption number of 7.3L/100km against which we scored 9.5L/100km in a weekly test. All HS engine options require mid-grade 95RON unleaded fuel.Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a semi-digital dash cluster, halogen headlights with LED DRLs, cloth seats and plastic wheel trim, push-start ignition (but no keyless entry), and the brand’s full ‘MG Pilot’ active-safety suite.This suite includes auto emergency braking, which works up to 150km/h and detects pedestrians at up to 64km/h, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, auto high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist.Although it has a high seating position, the HS Core has ample room and storage in the front seat, and above-par room in the back seat. Its boot comes in at 451-litres (VDA), which is around the middle to lower end of the mid-size SUV segment. Under the floor there is a space-saver spare in the Core.The Core is covered by a seven-year and unlimited-kilometre warranty, although capped-price servicing had not been locked in at the time of writing.

The NP300 Nissan Navara (aka D23) has been on sale in Australia since 2015 and although it has never posed a threat to the dominant Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger in 4x4 ute sales, it has benefitted from gradual styling and engineering refinements.

The Nissan Navara Pro-4X is the ute line-up's new top dog. With the Navara range's new driver-assist technology, as well as a a raft of styling tweaks to set it apart from the standard Navaras, the Pro-4X is aimed at appealing to those who are keen to fully embrace the adventure lifestyle.

Australia's famed Walkinshaw tuning house has gone to town on the Amarok to bring our ute buyers something truly special.

The Nissan Navara has a solid reputation and ever-growing fanbase among ute lovers in Australia.Over the years, Nissan's tweaks and updates to its D23 series Navara, launched back in 2015, have kept the ute relevant and improved its overall claim as a family-friendly lifestyle vehicle.So, what's a mid-spec ST like for everyday life with some decent four-wheel driving throwing into the mix?

The Ford Ranger line-up will never stop growing. Now there's a Ranger FX4 Max, which fills the previously unimagined niche between the XLT, Wildtrak and Raptor models, with a sensible setup and some intentional additions from the flagship ute that make it something different, yet very similar, all at the same time. It's a weird idea, but it works.

The 2021 Isuzu D-Max is well known as a tough working ute for tradies, but this week I drove it as a family vehicle around the inner suburbs of Sydney. With lots of space inside and in the back (tray), feather light steering and loads of on-board safety features there is a lot to like.

A Chinese invasion of the Aussie new car market has been long-predicted, but only recently have brands like GWM started to gain genuine traction here. The new Cannon ute offers handy specs, a lengthy equipment list, and a sharp price. But how does it measure up on quality and performance?

The Nissan Navara has always been a reasonably good ute that's never neared the sales heights or popularity of the Toyota HiLux or Ford Ranger, but it has, nonetheless, attracted plenty of passionate fans (#navlife anyone?). Well, now with a styling refresh and more driver-assist tech across the line-up, the Navara is at least drawing nearer to its traditional rivals. Or is it?

When they think of a Toyota HiLux most people would think of a tradie workhorse, or a ute for some serious off-roading. This week I've driven it as a family car around the inner suburbs of Sydney, and there was lots to like about it.