Utes

The full-size pick-up segment is only getting more crowded, with the Toyota Tundra joining trucks from Chevrolet, Ford and Ram Down Under.But is the Toyota the pick of the bunch? We put a prototype to the local test to find out.

While Ford's show pony Ranger Wildtrak and Raptor grab the headlines their hard-working 4x2 siblings are quietly getting on with the job. We've put the Ranger XL 4x2 Double Cab to the fully-loaded TradieGuide test to see how it stacks up under pressure.

Here is our list of the top SUVs, utes and EVs that people expect to see in Australia in 2024, but in fact won't be here until 2025!

Easier stock availability in the Australian new car market appears to be impacting used car demand and values with new data from used car ‘B2B intelligence platform’ AutoGrab and the Australian Automotive Dealers Association (AADA) showing the average time it takes to sell a used car slightly decreased in December, 2023 with average retained value edging lower.

The entry cost to get into a new Chevrolet Silverado is now a little higher, as local distributor General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) has adjusted pricing along with adding some new features.

Vietnam’s VinFast has revealed an electric ute that could take on the likes of BYD’s EV ute when it makes it to production.

Volkswagen has confirmed pricing and spec for 2024 versions of its new-generation Amarok, locking in drive-away pricing for the remaining 2023 stock it has on hand.Until the end of March, Volkswagen has locked drive-away pricing for its Amarok range from $54,990 for the base Core, $58,990 for the mid-grade Life, and $68,990 for the high-spec Style. Meanwhile, Style models equipped with the more powerful ‘TDI600’ 3.0-litre diesel V6 powertrain have their drive-away prices locked at $72,990.Volkswagen says this equates to an approximate $5000 reduction to the usual drive-away pricing depending on the state in which the ute is sold, and in addition a $1800 service pack covering the first five years is included on all MY23 utes.The top-spec PanAmericana and Aventura grades are exempted from this pricing as the brand wrestles with low supply and high demand for these variants. It also says the Style V6 is currently the most popular variant, with over half of all customers opting for the powerful high-grade version.“More than half of all Amarok customers want the Style TDI600 for its blend of toughness, technology and premium value,” Volkswagen’s Commercial Vehicle director, Ryan Davies said, adding: “While we continue to work on meeting demand for the flagship PanAmericana and Aventura, the ability to deliver an even greater number of Styles with the V6 diesel engine is significant as we start the new year.”2024 versions of the Amarok will feature a brake controller as standard to go with the existing standard tow bar with a 3500kg braked towing capacity, alongside blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert being added to the base Core TDI405’s safety suite.Pricing for the MY24 models has increased by $2500 for the Core and Life models, with an increase of $2750 for the Style, and $3000 for the PanAmericana and Adventura grades (see pricing table below).The Amarok continues to be offered with four powertrain options, a base 2.0-litre turbo diesel (TDI405) producing 125kW/405Nm, a mid-spec uprated 2.0-litre turbo diesel (TDI500) producing 154kW/500Nm, a 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 (TDI600) producing 184kW/600Nm, and a 2.3-litre turbo petrol engine (TSI452) exclusive to the top-spec Adventura grade producing 222kW/452Nm.Off the back of this new second-generation version, the Amarok’s market share rose to the end of 2023 to 6625 units or 3.2 per cent of the 4x4 ute market, an increase of 64.8 per cent over its 2022 numbers. It is closing in on the declining market share of the ageing Nissan Navara, which accounted for 7510 units last year, or 3.6 per cent of the market, having declined 15 per cent year-on-year.However, it faces increasingly tough competition in the ute space, particularly from the related and segment-leading Ford Ranger, as well as the next-generation Mitsubishi Triton which is set to arrive in Australia imminently.2024 Volkswagen Amarok price 

Can two opposite things be true at the same time? For example, did Mitsubishi have a good sales year in 2023, or was it actually bad? The Japanese brand is on course to finish comfortably inside the Top 10 selling brands in Australia in 2023, which is unquestionably a good result.

There's a very real chance that, if you're not in the queue already, you'll be too late for a 70 Series LandCruiser V8, with Toyota vowing to keep the order books closed until 2025 and a new Federal Government emission standard looming.

Each year there is a distinct trend among CarsGuide’s most read news articles, whether it be a brand or other industry factor.