Off road

I'm after a medium sized car that handles both freeways and rough roads. I travel just under 200km to work and back home on a daily basis and want something that is fuel efficient and can go on gravel as l recently moved out semi-rural. I looked at the GWM Tank 300 but have read it's a guzzler. Not sure on the Outback or the Outlander, etc.

Looks can be deceiving. The all-new iCaur V27 might appear to be a distant relative of the Mercedes G-wagen but beneath its rugged, good looks lurks a large SUV that's happier on-road than extreme overlanding out in the bush. On sale in Australia from February next year, the iCaur V27 will be the first of a full range of models that will also include a still-to-be-released smaller mid-size V25 and, later on in 2028 or 2029 the baby Suzuki Jimny-rivalling V23 should rock up. Proving to be a hit worldwide, in little more than two years the baby V23 has gone on to sell 160,000 and Chery hopes its huge popularity will translate over in Australia. Measuring in at 5045mm long, 1976mm wide and 1894mm tall, the V27 shares a footprint with the GWM Tank 500 and is a little bigger than the Denza B5 (4888mm long, 1970mm wide and 1920mm tall). It's the latter, that one exec from iCaur told CarsGuide is the real rival it is targeting Down Under. Which is a bit odd as on paper at least, the iCaur V27 isn't a real match. Not only is the V27 based on a more car-like monocoque, it lacks height-adjustable air suspension which means ground clearance is limited to a paltry 224mm. Both the approach (24-deg) and departure (23deg) angles are also severely lacking compared to the Denza's 39 degrees. iCaur says its V27 can wade water depths up to 600mm, a little off the 790mm the Denza B5 can traverse. Available with only a range-extender hybrid powertrain, in some markets a 185kW rear-wheel-drive version will be an option but in Australia we think we'll just get the all-wheel-drive V27. Unlike a typical plug-in hybrid, the small 1.5-litre four-cylinder combustion engine only acts a generator when the 34.3kWh battery is depleted. Combined with a pair of electric motors driving each axle, total power is 335kW, while torque is around 505Nm for a quick 0-100km/h dash of 5.9 seconds. That's more than a second adrift of the more powerful Denza B5 that can also tow 3000kg, compared to the 1600kg the V27 can haul. With a full charge, iCaur says the V27 can cover up to 150km on EV power alone on the NEDC test cycle, while a 60-litre tank extends the total range to around 995km. Usefully, the battery is capable of DC charging up to 60kW, although a 20-80 per cent top-up still takes around 30 minutes. Vehicle-to-load charging or powering of domestic appliances is also available at up to 6kW. Naturally, the chunky exterior styling is reflected within, with a stepped dashboard, large rotary dial and proper physical controls. Like other Chery brands, the driver gets a pillar-box slim 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, but taking pride of place is a freestanding 15.4-inch infotainment that's runs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 processor. Both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included. Like the smaller V23, there are toggle auxiliary switches on the roof ready for accessories like an additional light bar. Dual wireless chargers are also present, as well as 50 different storage compartments, and a large 715-litre boot that includes a hidden 40-litre compartment for valuables. Perhaps disappointingly, considering its size, a third row of seats isn't even an option but handily if you drop the second row you open up a cavernous near-two-metre-long load area with up to 1818 litres of space. It's hard not to like the twin-pane panoramic roof, plus the generous head- and legroom in the second row. Overall, the V27 impresses in and out. Giving us a limited chance to experience the iCaur V27 behind the wheel, we tested the large SUV over a muddy and slimy obstacle course with a car shod with grippier all-terrain tyres. As soon as we eased the V27 off the line, the first iCaur destined for Australia instantly impresses, mainly because of the nature of its powertrain as it feels just like an EV, as only the electric motors drive all four wheels. That means there is instant torque, with plenty of power off the line. Over the lumps and bumps the magnetic adaptive dampers did a good job of providing a decent ride. Driving only in a mud-friendly off-road mode (there's are eight other driving modes available), traction was remarkable thanks to its locking electronic rear differential, although grippier tyres probably did most of the heavy lifting. We weren't allowed to try the tank turn feature, nor even permitted to escape the facility and drive on public roads, so our first positive impressions should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt, but precise steering and those car-like underpinnings, proper multi-link rear suspension and the smooth, punchy powertrains bode well for Australians. If you tow heavy loads or go further off-road, the Denza B5, Land Rover Defender or default Toyota Prado will all prove a better bet, with the V27 only able to haul 1600kg (braked). For reference the B5 can tug 3000kg. There is no word on how iCaur will kit-out its flagship SUV locally, but expect a power tailgate, LED front and rear headlamps, electric-fold mirrors, a trick multi-colour ambient lighting and six-way adjust heated and ventilated synthetic seats to all be standard. With seven airbags, a 540-degree surround camera, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, front and rear collision alert and blind-spot warning, plus an advanced adaptive cruise control, iCaur has designed its V27 to achieve full marks in future Euro NCAP and ANCAP testing. iCaur has been timed to land just a few months after fellow Chery-owned Lepas will rock up in Australia. Even though there has been no official confirmation, we'd be amazed if the 4x4 brand didn't match the eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty Jaecoo models come with, even though it will be sold via a different dealer network. Locally, the V27 is priced from just 200,000 Chinese yuan (A$40,000), but it's not known what the range will kick off from. The insider told CarsGuide that its V27 will be positioned lower than the Denza B5 ($74,990-$79,990), with the prediction it could trouble small mid-size SUVs with a price tag of around $65,000 plus on-roads.

Iconic off-road brand Jeep may have been thrown a lifeline to be rescued from its current struggles in the form of Chinese carmaker Dongfeng with which it will build future models. Jeep’s parent company Stellantis has signed a new agreement which will see the joint venture currently known as Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile (DPCA) produce two Peugeot models and two Jeeps. The A$1.7 billion agreement will not only allow Stellantis to be more competitive locally in China with the models made at Dongfeng Wuhan plant but will also see these models exported globally. Speaking at the Financial Times Future of the Car Summit last week Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa said the partnership with Dongfeng was part of the company’s new strategy for the future.  "Stellantis has been growing this last year, creating a clear view of being attractive for long-term partnerships to many players," he said. "We are attractive because we are strong in many regions, we are attractive because of our scale, and mostly because we have unbelievably strong brands, so our level of appeal is big. "We understand that by working with a set of partners to build a roadmap of technological improvement, supply chain improvement and maybe capacity utilisation. These are really good topics to work together and create benefits." Stellantis already has an existing separate agreement with Dongfeng and has produced the Peugeot 4008 and 5008 in China. The new joint venture will see Dongfeng’s Concept 6 and Concept 8 both shown at the recent Beijing motor show underpin two new Peugeot models. As for the two Jeep models both are expected to be 'new energy' (plug-in) vehicles but the platforms underpinning them is currently unknown. Filosa is expected to reveal more on this at an investor conference this week in the United States. Dongfeng currently has a large array of off-road models in its portfolio from the Rich 7 dual cab ute to the hardcore MHero SUV. The company also displayed what it calls the "first new energy all terrain extreme off-road concept vehicle - the MHero M-Hunter" at the Beijing motor show. It’s a model which may fit Jeep’s go-anywhere ethos well if it was to be chosen as the basis for a new model. Production of the new Jeep and Peugeot models will begin at the Wuhan factory in 2027. It could be the shot in the arm Jeep and Peugeot needs both globally and in Australia. Year to date sales of Jeep vehicles in Australia have reached just 249, a 65 per cent drop over the same period in 2025. Peugeot’s performance locally has been somewhat better but still underwhelming with 320 units registered year to date representing a 32.3 per cent decline compared to 2025. Stellantis will be looking to the new joint venture to give what are well known brands the technological innovation needed to compete in an auto landscape which is appearing to swing to Chinese dominance.  

Ford has slashed the entry price of its struggling plug-in hybrid Ranger ute, as the rival BYD Shark 6 continues to put runs on the board and new competitors from China close in. The refreshed Ranger Hybrid range slashes pricing by nearly $10,000 or more per variant, and re-works the line-up to include a new entry-level XL grade as part of a set of tweaks to the dual-cab’s range. The Ranger continues to be the most popular 4x4 ute in the country by some margin, amassing 15,023 units for the year, but CarsGuide understands the Hybrid version continues to make up only a tiny fraction of sales. It is believed to be a long way behind the electrified ute market leading BYD Shark 6, which has amassed 4851 sales in the same period. Ford’s significant price discounts to the Ranger Hybrid are no doubt an effort to make the ute more competitive as tough new emissions regulations close in. The Ranger Hybrid was previously priced from $71,990 (before on-road costs) for the entry-level XLT.  The refreshed line-up dumps this mid-tier trim level from the range, replacing it with a significantly more affordable base XL grade, which starts from just $59,000 drive-away. This represents a price cut of more than $12,990, and thousands more once on-roads are included. See prices for the refreshed line-up below. 2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid price 2027 Ford Ranger hybrid powertrain and efficiency The Ranger Hybrid continues to use a 2.3-litre petrol turbocharged engine mated to a hybrid motor (75kW) and 10-speed automatic transmission for a total power output of 207kW/697Nm. All versions of the Ranger Hybrid continue to be dual-cab 4x4 only, and also persevere with a small 11.8kWh battery, which grants it a WLTP electric driving range of just 49km and fuel efficiency of 2.9L/100km.  However, the plug-in Ranger variants maintain the combustion version’s 3500kg towing capacity and over 800kg payloads per variant. Unlike the Shark 6, the Ranger hybrid also maintains its traditional transmission and low-range transfer case with mechanical links from the engine to rear axle. 2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid standard features Standard features have been tweaked slightly per variant for the refreshed Ranger hybrid line-up. The Ranger Hybrid XL includes: 17-inch alloy wheels All-season tyres Tray bedliner 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster 12-inch multimedia touchscreen Cloth interior trim Carpet flooring Dual-zone climate control Rear air vents Steel underbody protection Halogen headlights and DRLs The XLT has now been dumped from the PHEV line-up, with the next grade up being the Sport. This mid-grade trim level is now priced at $66,000 drive-away, representing at least a $9,990 discount on the outgoing PHEV Sport model, which was priced from $75,990 (before on-roads), and this is despite it adding new features. The Ranger Hybrid Sport includes: 18-inch alloy wheels All-season tyres 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster (up from 8.0-inches) 12-inch multimedia touchscreen 360-degree camera Trailer back-up assist Sports bar Side steps LED headlights w/auto high-beams Puddle lamps Synthetic leather seats Wireless phone charger Powered auto-folding wing mirrors Auto-dimming rear vision mirror Perimeter alarm The Wildtrak grade continues to top-out the Ranger’s array of plug-in hybrid variants, now priced at $70,000 drive-away, a minimum $9,990 discount from the previous version ($78,990 before on-roads). The Ranger Hybrid Wildtrak includes: Matrix LED headlights w/auto-levelling 18-inch alloys 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster 12-inch multimedia touchscreen All-season tyres Power roller shutter Trailer back-up assist Heated front seats 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio 2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid optional features A handful of optional features continue for the Ranger Hybrid, with refreshed pricing and some new features for the base XL grade. See the option packages below Full-size Spare (NCO) Adventure Pack ($500 - includes cargo management system and auxiliary switches) 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tyres (for XL grade - $950) Vinyl floor (for XL grade $100) All-terrain tyres (Sport and Wildtrak - $700) Flexible rack system ($1990) Style canopy ($4500) Commercial canopy (white or black - $4700) 2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid colours The Ranger Hybrid is available in an array of refreshed colours including: Frozen White ($0) Agate Black ($750) Iconic Silver ($750) Carbonised Grey ($750) Blue Lightning ($750) Lucid Red ($750) Command Grey (Sport only - $750) Ignite Orange (Wildtrak only - $750) 2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid safety The Ford Ranger Hybrid continues to maintain a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating carried over from previous iterations, which it was awarded in 2022. It scored 84 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 93 per cent in Child Occupant Protection, 74 per cent in Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 83 per cent for Safety Assist. 2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid warranty and servicing The Ranger Hybrid continues the same ownership scheme as before, including a five-year and unlimited kilometre new vehicle warranty, with a separate warranty covering the high-voltage components for eight-years or 160,000km. The brand also throws in up to seven years of roadside assistance if the ute is serviced inside its dealer network. 2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid dimensions The Ford Ranger Hybrid measures 5403mm long, 1924mm wide, and 1870mm tall with a wheelbase of 3270mm. Its tray measures 1605mm long, 1523mm wide, and 498mm tall, with a 1217mm width between the wheel arches. 2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid launch timing The new Ranger hybrid will join the line-up in the third-quarter of 2026 as part of rolling updates to Ford’s popular ute range.

Ram Trucks Australia now offers an even more afforded entry point into its full-sized US pick-up truck range with the arrival of the RAM 1500 Express Black Edition for under $110,000. The Ram 1500 Express Black Edition will sit below the Rebel, Laramie Sport and Limited grades in the Ram 1500 line-up. It also undercuts rivals such as the Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra and Chevrolet Silverado.  2026 price table  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition   2026  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition engine and efficiency The Ram 1500 Express Black Edition is powered by the same 3.0-litre in-line six cylinder found in the Rebel and Laramie grades of the Ram 1500. The engine actually makes more power and torque than the V8 in the previous entry grade, the now-discontinued Big Horn.     2026  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition standard features ‘Power bulge’ Sports bonnet Black grille Black badging Black side mirror caps Black door handles Black exhaust tips Black side steps Black 20-inch wheels Body-coloured bumpers Spray-in bed liner Damped tailgate Bed step on passenger side Power operated sliding rear window port Tinted rear windows LED headlights and fog lights Cargo area light Cloth trim Black interior highlights Large centre console with internal sliding tray 8.4-inch infotainment screen 7.0-inch digital instrument display Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 6-speaker audio Sensor key with push button start Remote engine start Gear selector dial Electric park brake Rear underfloor covered storage pockets Storage space under the rear seats   2026  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition optional features Metallic paint $950  2026  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition safety features Adaptive cruise control Forward collision alert with AEB Lane-keeping assistance Blind spot monitoring Rear cross-traffic alert Front and rear parking sensors Rear view camera    2026  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition Colors  Diamond Black Granite Crystal Silver Zynith Bright White Molten Red Forged Blue 2026  Ram 1500 Express Black Edition warranty  Ram Truck Australia covers the Ram 1500 Express Black Edition  with a three-year/ 100,000 kilometre warranty

My 2023 Isuzu MU-X 4WD has worn out both front tyres on the inside at only 30,000km, and I’ve been told the front steering knuckle is faulty. Who is responsible for fixing this issue and covering the tyre damage?

Why does my 2004 Mitsubishi Triton 3.0 V6 4WD stall when coming to a stop or pushing the clutch in?

We’ve hit peak ute and the only way is down as Aussies abandon the diesel-guzzling workhorses.

I have a 2015 Ford Ranger that is overboosting at idle, then losing all boost and only revving to 2000rpm. There are no lights on the dash and no faults to be read. I have replaced the turbo and the turbo boost controller with no luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ineos is still pushing to launch its follow-up model to the Grenadier off-roader later this decade despite delays. As reported by Autocar, Ineos Automotive CEO Lynn Calder said the smaller Fusilier off-road SUV will launch “probably by 2028”. The British carmaker will reportedly lean on partnerships with other brands to help simplify and speed up the development process. “We're not building any other cars from the ground up, like we have with the Grenadier,” said Calder to Autocar. “Now for us, it is about technology sharing, and once we have got that set, we will be able to bring more models to market in shorter order.” Previous reports have indicated the Fusilier will come with a range-extender (REEV) powertrain that is sourced from Chery’s iCar brand, which is known as iCaur in international markets. The iCaur V27, which has been confirmed for an Australian launch in 2027, features either a single- or dual-electric motor setup with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that acts purely as a generator to charge up the battery pack. Maximum power is up to 335kW and, depending on the battery size, it offers up to 210km of electric range, according to lenient CLTC testing. Ineos hasn’t officially confirmed if the Fusilier will receive this iCar REEV powertrain, nor any other partnerships it has made to bring the car to life. The British carmaker first revealed imagery of the Fusilier in early 2024 and confirmed that production would commence around 2027. This was later postponed. Unlike the Grenadier, which is a rugged, body-on-frame SUV or ute, the smaller Fusilier is understood to be built on a monocoque platform but will likely still offer a degree of off-road capability. At this stage it’s unclear what models Ineos is planning to build after the Fusilier, however Calder did say the Grenadier will stay largely the same. “We don't plan to change the wheelbase of the Grenadier or do a huge amount more work on the Grenadier platform. So you won't see a short-wheelbase Grenadier, but you will see a smaller 4x4,” said Calder to Autocar.