Off road

The popularity of 4X4s/4x4s/4WDs/4wds/off-roaders/whatever you want to call them has grown tremendously in the past 10 to 15 years and these vehicles regularly top national sales charts and they’re everywhere on our roads and bush tracks.

My 2006 Mitsubishi Triton manual is suddenly not moving when in gear. It was running and slowly losing power, but is now not moving when I put it into gear. The engine runs very well. I tried putting it in 4WD and there’s a very slight movement when I take my foot off the clutch, but basically, no movement.

When you put your foot down to take off in my 2022 LDV T60 the motor dies and the car goes nowhere. You have to remove your foot from the throttle and then put your foot back down for it to pick up and start moving. It has had the software upgrade for the accelerator. But it’s getting dangerous and LDV is trying to say we have to pay $190 an hour so they can find the fault. Then they say cars just do that, but I’ve never had a car die when trying to take off. They say if you accelerate too quickly, most cars will do the same thing and just die. We feel like we’re going to be hit with a big bill for a load of rubbish excuse.

I have a 2022 LDV T60 Pro Max. Without warning, the gearbox wouldn't go into gear. I pulled over and noticed puddle of oil under gearbox. Why would this just suddenly happen?

My 2008 Mitsubishi Triton GLXR is overheating. Is there a recall on this model?

What is the differential ratio on a 1994 Holden Rodeo 2.6-litre petrol with an automatic transmission?

More crucial powertrain details for the incoming Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid have been revealed.

Mazda won’t go on a Raptor hunt.The Japanese brand recently revealed its updated BT-50 range and noticeably absent was its previous Ranger Raptor competitor, the flagship Thunder or SP Pro special editions. Instead, Mazda Australia has introduced a wide range of genuine, dealer-fit accessories for off-roading that customers can add directly at purchase. These include an integrated bull bar, roof platform, Light Force spot lights, dual battery set-up and more. It is also packaging some of these accessories up to make it easier for buyers to customise their ute for off-road adventures without going to the aftermarket.Still, the launch of the new BT-50 range with the SP model as the flagship does leave the brand lagging behind the likes of the Ford Ranger Raptor, Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior and the new Isuzu D-Max Blade - which shares its underpinnings with the BT-50.Mazda Australia managing director, Vinesh Bhindi, defended the decision not to introduce a new ‘hero model’ and instead focus on individual customisation for buyers.“I know others are calling it different names, but it's more of a cosmetic treatment, right?” Bhindi said. “So it's not a performance package, and we think  it's better to give our customers choices with a larger variety of accessories, which they can create their own customisation. “So in the previous model, we've had Thunder, Thunder Pro, SP Pro, those things are where we will go, rather than a third party.”Notably in that comment, he didn’t rule out bringing back a special name for a future hero BT-50, so the door remains open for Mazda to offer a more direct Raptor/Warrior/Blade rival in the future.“At some point we will consider it,” Bhindi admitted. “So at the moment, SP is our hero, with the latest one, and it's got a  lot of new cosmetic changes to it so that's our starting point, and at some point we will consider Thunder or SP Pro, but all those accessories, all those items are available via the accessory catalog anyway from day one.” Mazda Australia introduced the original BT-50 Thunder in 2022, two years after the latest generation of the ute launched, and then added the Thunder Pro in 2024 as part of the run-out plan ahead of this new facelifted model.

After entering administration four years ago, scoring a new owner – KG Mobility – in 2022 and launching a rebrand last year, nothing appears to be off the table for KGM SsangYong.

The D-Max Blade, a collaboration between Isuzu and the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, was developed locally as a hardcore four-wheel drive. It has 3mm steel bash plates, Aussie-tuned and lifted suspension, light truck construction all-terrain tyres and Blade-specific design enhancements. But, without extra power and torque, is the Blade actually worth $15,000 more than the LS-U+ on which it's based?