Ute Reviews

The Toyota HiLux has been Australia’s top-selling workhorse for more than three decades. Some months, it leads the entire new-car market. In the past two years it has finished second and third in the sales race -- and was the first of four pick-ups in the Top 10 in 2013. Scoff at the HiLux and its rivals all you

Given the recent news it might just be time to run out and buy one of these beauties. No more Commodores means no more utes, V8 or otherwise and the clock is ticking.

We turn the spotlight on the Mazda BT-50 XT 3.2 cab-chassis and answer the questions, including the most important -- would you buy one?This is Mazda's workhorse, the new generation BT-50 ute in a wide range of  variants, in this case, the bottom spec 4x4 manual XT cab/chassis.This one goes for $36,810 but if you don't need 4x4 capability, the 3.2 twobie goes for $28,740 but if you're happy with the 2.2-litre four plonker diesel twobie it's $25,570 in cab chassis.Heads on them like white mice - Ranger, Hilux, Triton, Colorado, D-Max, Amarok, Navara.This is the 3.2 litre, five-cylinder turbo diesel shared with Ford Ranger. It's good for 147kW/470Nm output and sips fuel from an 80-litre tank.Like a shot. A performance ute even - once you get out of first cog. Even with a load on board it's a good goer. But the springs are stiff and she bounces a fair but unladen as you'd expect from a leaf spring rear end.Not bad at 8.9-litres/100km for this one, less for the twobie 3.2 and less again for the 2.2 four cylinder but the six speed auto is up around the 10 mark.Not really.Five stars with all that brings in terms of primary and secondary safety kit - air bags, stability control and so on..OK for a ute, with big seats unless you're in the 'third' middle pew which isn't really a seat at all. Plenty of handy kit in a base model like Bluetooth phone and audio, power windows and mirrors, trip computer, cruise control, aircon, hill hold and downhill assist, rake only steering adjust and cloth seats. No satnav which should be mandatory in a working vehicle.We liked it apart from the notchy six speed manual transmission. Whacked a tonne in the aluminium tray and it went like a train. Has a full size steel spare as well as practical steel wheels. The auto is arguably a better proposition for mixed driving, fully captures the diesel's grunt and is better in the city.We'd probably go for the 2WD at a lot less money unless 4WD was absolutely necessary. There's eight grand difference but if you talk sternly to a dealer, we are told you'll probably get a sharper price.Maybe depending on the price. Great engine, big 3.3 tonne towing capacity, 1411kg payload,  200mm ground clearance and under body protection. Plenty to like.

Even if the Commodore lives on past 2016, the Ute will almost certainly stop there.

As a lifestyle vehicle or tradies' carry-all, Mazda's Freestyle BT-50 takes some beating.

The dual-cab four-wheel drive ute has become the multi-tool of the automotive world.

There's a rash of new one tonne utes and SUV derivatives on the way due to unprecedented demand so Holden has got in early with a mild update to its Colorado one tonner and derivative Colorado7 SUV.

The Indian Tata brand has thrown a Myna bird among the cheap Chinese pick-ups. It relaunched in Australia this week with a six-model ute range from $22,990 drive-away for a cab-chassis to $29,990 drive-away for a four-door crew-cab ute. The starting price bravely pitches the Tata at a premium. The Chinese utes start

Australians buy into a dream when they get behind the wheel of a recreational vehicle -- whether they take it off the beaten track or not.

Holden and Ford have a longstanding rivalry on the race track -- but it's tame compared to the showroom battle.