Ute Reviews

The Wildtrak starts at $60,590, and sits above the XL, XLS and XLT models and below the Raptor.

The Volkswagen Amarok V6 Ultimate 580 is the new flagship version of the German brand's dual-cab ute, with more grunt, more gear - but it crucially still misses out on safety stuff.

The Ram 1500 has a big V8 petrol engine, class-leading towing capacity and a cavernous cabin, but a lower payload than some vehicles a class below it. So does it really 'eat utes for breakfast'?

Topping the Ram 1500 line-up is the Laramie model, which lists from $99,950 plus on-road costs.The Ram 1500 Laramie can also be optioned with RamBoxes - a pair of insulated, lockable boxes over the wheel arches that offer secure storage - and the list price for this model is $104,450 plus on-road costs.The US-made, Australian-converted Ram 1500 ute is powered by a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 291kW of power (at 5600rpm) and 556Nm of torque on offer (at 3950rpm). That’s some serious horsepower.The engine is teamed to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all Ram 1500 models are four-wheel drive. Towing capability tops out at 4.5 tonnes (braked) for Laramie models when fitted with a 70mm towball and chosen with the 3.92 rear axle ratio, while the Laramie model with a 3.21 rear axle ratio  is capable of a 3.5-tonne towing capacity (with a 50mm towball). The Laramie has the Crew Cab body, allowing more rear-seat space but with a shortened tub spanning 5’7” (1712mm) in length.Fuel consumption for the Laramie model (3.92 rear axle ratio) is claimed at 12.2L/100km, while the 3.21 rear axle version claims fuel use of just 9.9L/100km. The fuel tank size is 98L for Laramie models.The 1500 Laramie has more stylish exterior finishes, with chrome details on the grille, mirrors, door handles and wheels, and it also features full-length side steps. The Ram 1500 Laramie adds luxury items inside, too, such as leather seat trim, deep-pile carpeting, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, climate control, a heated steering wheel, an 8.4-inch media screen with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (none of which are available on the Express model), and it has a 10-speaker sound system (six speakers in the Express).Other extras the Laramie adds over the Express include an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, auto wipers, power-adjustable pedal placement, rear seat air-vents, and remote engine start.There is a reversing camera, but no auto emergency braking (AEB), and no advanced safety equipment. There is no ANCAP safety rating, either.

The Ram 1500 Express 2018 model opens proceedings for the big American pick-up range, with pricing starting from $79,950 drive-away.The Ram 1500 Express can also be optioned with RamBoxes - a pair of insulated, lockable boxes over the wheel arches that offer secure storage - and the list price for this model is $84,450 plus on-road costs.The Ram 1500 Express model can also be ordered with a Black Pack, consisting of black exterior highlights, smoked headlights, black badging and a sports exhaust. This version lists at $89,450 plus on-road costs, or $93,950 with RamBoxes.The US-made, Australian-converted Ram 1500 ute is powered by a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine with 291kW of power (at 5600rpm) and 556Nm of torque on offer (at 3950rpm). That’s some serious horsepower.The engine is teamed to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all Ram 1500 models are four-wheel drive. Towing capability tops out at 4.5 tonnes (braked) for both Express and Laramie models when fitted with a 70mm towball. It has the “Quad Cab” body with a 6’4” (1939mm) tub.Fuel consumption for the Express model (which has a 3.92 rear axle ratio) is claimed at 12.2L/100km. The fuel tank size is 121L.The entry-level Express model comes with a 5.0-inch media screen, cloth seat trim, a leather-lined dashboard, colour-coded grille and bumpers, side steps, halogen headlights and fog lamps, a spray-in bed liner, 20-inch wheels and a full towing kit with integrated electric brake control. In this specification there is no reversing camera, no auto emergency braking (AEB), and no advanced safety equipment. There is no ANCAP safety rating, either.

The news that the Toyota HiLux had become Australia's top-selling vehicle confirmed that Australians were looking beyond traditional sedans and hatches.

You mightn't know what a SsangYong is. Well, it's a Korean carmaker, which has been around for about 60 years. What about a Musso? That's the Korean word for a rhinoceros.

The Toyota HiLux was well on its way to becoming an Aussie staple by the time the sixth-generation model was launched in 1997. And it's not hard to see why.

According to Toyota, the HiLux name is a combination of 'high’ and ‘luxury’ - although those signing up for the fifth-generation model in 1988 might have disagreed.

If you think of the four-cylinder X-Class variants as Mercedes-Benz dipping a cautious toe into the world's swirling dual-cab waters, then this X350d version must be the German brand stripping down to its jocks and diving in head first. It is, after all, the most Mercedes of the lot. While the smaller-capacity X-Class