Off road

Land Rover has turned to the dark side.The British brand has released a blacked-out version of its V8-powered off-road monster, dubbed the Defender Octa Black.It combines a potent 467kW/750Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and mild hybrid assistance with muscular off-road performance and primo luxury kit.The man in charge of the Defender program, Mark Cameron, said the Defender Octa is the tallest and widest Defender, enabling it to tackle even more extreme terrain.“The introduction of Defender Octa Black takes things up a notch,” said Cameron. “We know our clients love giving their Defenders all-black finishes, so our designers have applied this principle to every possible surface – inside and out – to create the ultimate tough luxury Defender Octa,” he said.Gloss-black finishes cover nearly all surfaces, including the exhaust tips, Land Rover oval badge, 22-inch inch alloy wheels and even underbody elements.Inside there is black leather upholstery and black seat backs, armrests and dashboard.It also comes with a whopping big 700W 15-speaker Meridian stereo, 13.1-inch multimedia screen and what Land Rover calls Body and Soul Seats that pump the audio signals from the stereo through the seats so passengers can “feel the music".There is advanced air suspension, which Land Rover claims responds to any driving style and gives the driver greater control over any terrain. The air suspension allows for a 323mm ground clearance and approach and departure angles of more than 40 degrees, along with a ramp angle of 29 degrees and a wading depth of 1000mm.This is coupled with a special Octa driving mode for off-road, which has a special ABS calibration that is designed for driving on gravel roads.Its beefy V8 can propel it to 100km/h from a standstill in 4.0 seconds on the way to a top speed of 250km/h. Fuel of 13.1 litres per 100km isn’t great.The Octa Black is only available in the 110 body style and is priced from $313,800 (before on-road costs), or about the same as three Toyota LandCruiser 300s.

Most of the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series line-up has undergone a recent comprehensive update - along with price increases to match - but while the third-from-top Sahara gets a $1119 price rise, it has received no updates this time around.Can the 300 Series stay viable in an increasingly competitive 4WD market? More importantly, is this Toyota 4WD wagon still an off-road champ?

Regarding the 2009 Nissan Patrol 3.0 litre turbo-diesel: Is this the model that has all the engine issues that I'm hearing about? It will do a lot of rural town driving and a little bit of off-roading.

A new Renault model, sold under the Dacia brand overseas, is coming to Australia with hybrid options, manual gearbox availability and pricing kicking off well below $40,000.The 2026 Renault Duster is now available to order starting from $31,990, before on-road costs, with first deliveries of the small SUV expected to start this month.There are 4x2 and 4x4 versions of the Duster, the latter being more expensive and coming with a mild-hybrid powertrain and manual gearbox. Renault says its “tall suspension and generous off-road clearance” means the Duster is more off-road capable than rivals.The entry-level variant of the Duster is the Evolution, starting from the aforementioned $31,990, before on-roads, with a 4x2 drivetrain layout. It utilises a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.The 1.3-litre engine makes 113kW and 270Nm, driving only the front wheels.The Evolution can also be had in 4x4, with a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine that makes less power and torque: 96kW and 230Nm.It puts power to all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, but is claimed to be more efficient (5.7L/100km versus the 4x2’s 6.5L).The 4x4 drivetrain costs a little more, $36,490, but comes with the same standard equipment including dual-zone air-conditioning, a 10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen and 7.0-inch driver display, wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, USB-C charging ports and a 12-volt socket.Stepping up to the higher-spec Techno variant brings more kit, though its drivetrain options are the same as the Evolution. Pricing starts at $36,990 for the Techno 4x2 and bumps up slightly to $37,990 for the 4x4, though that version isn’t expected to land until December this year.The Techno adds features like more ‘premium’ cloth upholstery, tinted rear windows, auto proximity lock and unlock, auto high-beams and 18-inch wheels to replace the base variant’s 17s.It also adds some safety features not available on the Evolution like blind-spot monitoring, front parking sensors and surround-view parking cameras.Other standard safety features for both models include pedestrian and cyclist detection for AEB, a safe follow-distance warning, lane-keep and departure warning, driver attention monitoring, tyre pressure monitoring and an ADAS shortcut button for advanced driver assist settings.Renault Australia says the “Duster will initially arrive in limited numbers” due to demand overseas.Renault Australia General Manager Glen Sealey said, “Demand for this vehicle in Europe is very strong, so Australia will receive an initial allocation before shipments ramp up next year.“We ordered as many cars as we could this year, and we are now working closely with the factory to improve our allocation moving forward,” he said.

Volkswagen Australia has detailed its model year 2025 (MY25) update for the Amarok dual-cab ute ahead of first arrivals during the second half of 2025.The Amarok line-up continues to open with the Core TDI405 at $55,490, before on-road costs, or $55,990 drive-away. The latter price is $2000 more than the MY24 version.The line-up still extends all the way to the Aventura TDI600 at $82,990, drive-away. This is $3000 more than the MY24 version.Almost every Amarok variant picked up a drive-away pricing increase for MY25 except the Aventura TSI452 which continues to be the only variant offered with the 2.3-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine.It now starts at $79,990, drive-away, which technically remains unchanged from MY24. A full pricing table is at the bottom of this story.Headlining the MY25 Amarok update is the introduction of the off-road-oriented 10 Deserts Edition TDI500 which was made to commemorate the company achieving a Guinness World Record last year.Only 300 examples of this limited-edition dual cab ute are being made and they’re priced from $68,490, before on-road costs, or $69,990, drive-away. This is $8000 more expensive than the Amarok Life TDI500 which it’s based on.The 10 Desert Edition TDI500 features a 40mm suspension lift, 17-inch satin black wheels wrapped in Continental ATR tyres, underbody protection, a black sports bar, soft tonneau cover, all-weather floor mats and ‘10 Deserts’ decals.Additionally, MY25 versions of the Amarok Style, Panamericana and Aventura trims get 230V power sockets with an Australian plug pattern, backed by an integrated 400W inverter. They also pick up a ‘Trailer Assist’ mode which makes hitching and reversing trailers easier.It’s worth noting the related Ford Ranger also recently picked up these features as part of an update.Another change for MY25 is the ‘Mid Blue Metallic’ exterior paint option has been replaced by the new ‘Reed Green Metallic’ finish.Lastly, Amarok Core, Life and Style variants now get the option of a cab chassis tray body style.Opting for this is an additional $4000 over the standard asking price of the dual cab pick-up variant.Included is a standardised alloy tray that weighs 132kg and measures 1650mm long by 1900mm wide. There’s also a steel tray that weighs 243kg and measures similarly to the alloy tray, but pricing for this hasn’t been disclosed.Both of these trays are available as dealer-fit accessories, meaning they are covered by the same five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty as the Amarok itself.It also means any existing current-generation Amarok can have a tray retrofitted as a dealer-fit accessory. 

Toyota currently doesn’t offer a heavy-duty version of its Tundra full-size pick-up globally but that could soon change thanks to the handywork of an Australian second-stage vehicle manufacturer.

Ok, so it is looking like it might be time for a little mea culpa from me on the whole HiLux thing.

Toyota has confirmed the hybrid LandCruiser 300 Series will arrive in Australia in the first half of next year, but to the casual observer something appears off.In the UAE, where the vehicle will be launched first, Toyota claims it uses 10.9 litres per 100km. The diesel version currently on sale uses 8.9L/100km.This number seems high for Toyota hybrid fans that are used to fuel figures below 5.0L/100km… And it is.The LandCruiser 300 Hybrid uses a twin-turbo petrol V6 engine paired with a hybrid battery and electric motor combo. It is the same set-up found in the Tundra full-size ute, and is dubbed 'i-Force Max' in Toyota speak.It makes a whopping 340kW and 790Nm, which far outshines the current version’s 3.3L twin-turbo V6 diesel that produces 227kW/700Nm. There lies the answer to the fuel use question. This hybrid set-up isn’t geared towards efficiency but for performance and boosting the vehicle’s capabilities.It is more efficient than a non-hybrid assisted petrol engine, of course, but if what CarsGuide has experienced in the Tundra is anything to go by, it’s still a thirsty beast.During a preview drive of the Tundra, CarsGuide’s Andrew Chesterton said: “Tow heavy loads or get too adventurous with the accelerator and the number will be much higher than that.“We saw, wait for it, 25L/100km, pop up on our admittedly fairly vigorous test.”Marcus Craft in his off-road test fared better: “I recorded 14L/100km on this test. I did a fair bit of high- and low-range 4WDing and the Tundra was never working hard.”The Tundra is heavier than the LandCruiser, so the 300 Series Hybrid should be able to do better than the American pick-up truck.The verdict on how the i-Force Max engine performs while driving is another matter. All our reviews said it was a star performer in the heavier Tundra, with smooth, linear power delivery and no torque gaps. It is adept for those wanting to tow and will eat up long highway kays with ease.Toyota has also moved to quell fears that electrification will impact capability, saying in a statement, "The LandCruiser HEV’s hybrid system has been designed with true off-road reliability in mind."Even in the unlikely event of hybrid unit failure, the vehicle can continue operating solely on the combustion engine, ensuring peace of mind in remote areas."The hybrid battery area has been specially waterproofed to maintain the LandCruiser’s famed fording ability, allowing it to tackle rivers and water obstacles with confidence."Additionally, the vehicle also offers a third-row seat and cargo layout specifically optimised for the addition of the HEV system, ensuring no compromise in versatility or interior space," the statement said.It appears the hybrid LandCruiser 300 is a big step forward in how the off-road hero will perform, but be aware it’ll cost you at the bowser, especially as it is likely to need premium unleaded petrol.

My 2014 Mitsubishi Pajero GLS has always been a great runner. But over the last year, on several occasions, it starts up but as you drive away the engine cuts out after a minute or so. It restarts immediately and then runs perfectly. What could be causing this?

Rain water somehow got into my 2021 Ram 2500 Laramie on the left-hand side. It now needs complete replacement of the computer plus a rewire of the car, which is three months out of warranty.