5 December 2023 by Mark Oastler
Towing with the D-Max SX 1.9 4x2 Given its robust performance during last month's GVM test, with more than one tonne of payload, we were keen to see if our D-Max was equally proficient with a trailer in tow during our third and final month of ownership. Towing is an essential requirement for any...Read more
1 November 2023 by Mark Oastler
Ford has identified a gap in its local line-up it needed to fill, by offering a more off-road-focused version of the Ranger Wildtrak called the Wildtrak X. This model name was used in the original T6 Ranger generation so it's been dusted off for a second run. The X is designed for customers who...Read more
26 October 2023 by Mark Oastler
Our 4x2 D-Max dual cab-chassis, with 1.9-litre turbo-diesel, has a payload rating that’s 80kg higher than its 3.0-litre equivalent. That may seem illogical, given that the 3.0-litre engine has 30kW more power and 100Nm more torque. However, it all comes down to tare weights, or what these vehicles...Read more
13 October 2023 by Mark Oastler
In 2023 Peugeot commands around 50 per cent of sales in Australia’s small (under 2.5-tonne GVM) commercial van segment with its Partner range, which offers a choice of wheelbase lengths and model grades. The French marque has recently introduced its first fully electric variant to the Australian...Read more
10 October 2023 by David Morley
Economists must be wide-eyed watching the American-made, full-sized pick-up market in Australia. Against a backdrop of the highest interest rates we’ve seen for years, a pitiful exchange rate with the US-dollar, the most expensive fuel prices we’ve ever seen, the environment claiming a front seat...Read more
27 September 2023 by Mark Oastler
For many tradies a one tonne cab-chassis ute will do the job. However, if you need much greater load space and much higher GVM and GCM ratings, the obvious solution is to upgrade to a cab-chassis that competes in the Light Duty (3501-8000kg GVM) segment of the Heavy Commercial vehicle market. One...Read more
25 September 2023 by Mark Oastler
At the tradesmen’s entrance to Australia’s booming light commercial vehicle market, you’ll find utes that are primarily designed for work. With minimal standard equipment to keep a lid on costs, they are characterised by steel wheels, vinyl floors, hardy interiors and fridge white paint. Cab-...Read more
11 September 2023 by Mark Oastler
Iveco has recently refreshed its popular Daily E6 range of van and cab-chassis commercials, heralding numerous upgrades in styling, driver comfort, steering, active safety and ownership costs. We recently spent a week aboard one of the Italian manufacturer’s latest van offerings, which competes in...Read more
1 September 2023 by Stephen Ottley
Is this the car Ford Australia is crying out for? It’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves from afar ever since the Maverick first appeared in the USA in 2021. In simple terms this is an SUV disguised as a ute, or if you prefer to look at it another way, a ute designed for the urban environment...Read more
24 August 2023 by Mark Oastler
The local Chevrolet Silverado range offered by GM Specialty Vehicles is contributing to the steady rise in popularity of full-size US pick-ups in Australia. The 2023 Light Duty 1500 range consists of the luxurious and richly-chromed LTZ plus the new premium-priced ZR2 which serves as GMSV’s...Read more
15 August 2023 by Byron Mathioudakis
Back in the ‘60s, Land Rover decided to combine the humble station wagon with an off-road 4WD, to create the first Range Rover. This was the original luxury SUV . And the one that has set the standard ever since. Now, Ford is trying to do the same with the Ranger Platinum – the first luxury mid-...Read more
10 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley
Then there were three. First came the Ram 1500, then the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and now the third member of the American trinity of pickups is arriving in Australia - the Ford F-150. We're only weeks away from right-hand drive F-150s hitting Australian showrooms and owners' driveways, but...Read more
9 August 2023 by Mark Oastler
The current generation Mahindra PikUp has been with us since 2007, which is a long time given major players in this market tend to introduce a new generation every decade, or close to it. However, with Mahindra reportedly developing an all-new ute , based on the underpinnings of its latest Scorpio...Read more
25 July 2023 by Mark Oastler
Ford recently entered its second-generation Ranger Raptor in some of the world’s toughest off-road racing events including the famous Baja 1000. That said a lot about its confidence in the product, given it competed in a class for vehicles in predominantly showroom specification. The fact that it...Read more
21 July 2023 by Mark Oastler
Ford has ventured into the pioneering world of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) for commercial use with the launch of its E-Transit, which will compete for buyers in the Light Duty (3501-8000kg) segment of Australia’s Heavy Commercial market. According to the company’s research, the new electrified...Read more
29 June 2023 by Mark Oastler
The Mercedes-Benz Vito van competes with 10 rivals in Australia’s mid-size (2.5-3.5-tonne GVM) commercial van market. Compared to Toyota’s dominant HiAce , which commands around 35 per cent of sales in this segment, the significantly more expensive Vito’s 4.0 per cent market share pales by...Read more
27 June 2023 by Andrew Chesterton
Flagship utes have gotten both very good, and very expensive, haven't they? The new Amarok, for example, tops out at just under $80k for the top-spec Aventura. But what if your still waters don't run deep with cash? Well, there's good news, because the cheapest Amarok options – the Core and Life –...Read more
31 May 2023 by Mark Oastler
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter competes for market share with more than a dozen rivals in the highly competitive Light Duty (3501-8000kg GVM) division of Australia's Heavy Commercial segment. Launched in 1995, the Sprinter is approaching three decades of service and during that time has evolved through...Read more
29 May 2023 by Tom White
You probably know Hyundai’s Staria as an edgy retro-futuristic people mover, but it’s also available as a commercial van, replacing the once-popular iLoad in the Korean brand’s line-up. The Staria Load , as it’s known, is an all new nameplate and a ground-up design faced with the mammoth task of...Read more
