20 March 2023 by Mark Oastler
Following the D23 Navara’s launch in 2014, it took about six years of continual refinement for Nissan to turn it into the competent all-rounder it now represents. The premium offering in the Australian Navara 4x4 line-up is the PRO-4X Warrior, which is designed, developed and assembled by Nissan's...Read more
7 March 2023 by Mark Oastler
Most buyers of mid-sized (2.5- to 3.5-tonne GVM) vans want them purely as workhorses and often as part of hard-working fleets. Although these cuboid-shaped commercials are usually available in a limited choice of colours (take your pick from fridge white or freezer white) they are well designed for...Read more
21 February 2023 by Mark Oastler
Toyota doesn't make hasty decisions and with good reason. As one of the world’s largest and longest-running automotive manufacturers (founded 1937), it applies the same rigorous assessment of each new model proposal or running change. That ensures each green light stacks up as a viable business...Read more
23 November 2022 by Mark Oastler
For many years the Mitsubishi Triton has maintained a solid foothold in the local 4x4 dual cab ute market as Australia’s third-highest seller behind the dominant Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. And that enduring buyer affection is showing no signs of waning. The latest VFACTS industry sales figures...Read more
25 October 2022 by Mark Oastler
In 2018 Toyota Australia launched three ‘halo’ variants of its HiLux dual cab 4x4 ute comprising Rugged, Rogue and top-shelf Rugged X. Although the Rugged had an early departure due to slow sales, the ‘urban adventurer’ Rogue and ‘hardcore off-road’ Rugged X have proven popular with premium-grade...Read more
19 October 2022 by Mark Oastler
The badgework for Great Wall Motors’ Cannon range is a confusing mix of the GWM acronym used in export markets and the letter 'P' displayed on the grille and other places which symbolises its domestic brand name Poer. However, there’s clearly no confusion for Aussie buyers looking for a well-...Read more
4 October 2022 by Mark Oastler
When the all-new T6 Ford Ranger was released in 2011, Ford made sure its big bruiser was never short of grunt. The premium engine choice at launch was a punchy 3.2-litre inline five-cylinder turbo-diesel with 147kW/470Nm, soon followed by a new Bi-Turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder which literally ‘...Read more
29 September 2022 by David Morley
Isuzu’s N-Series of light trucks is really doing the business in Australia. In fact, the whole Isuzu Trucks brand is dominating the market here, with almost one in every two rigid trucks sold here bearing the Isuzu badge, cementing the brand’s 33-year run of holding top spot on the sales ladder...Read more
19 September 2022 by Mark Oastler
Mid-sized (2.5 to 3.5-tonne) commercial van buyers have a variety of makes and models to choose from, even though most buy the venerable HiAce. Latest VFACTS figures confirm Toyota’s long-standing dominance, as the HiAce commands just under 40 per cent market share with the remainder spread across...Read more
14 September 2022 by Mark Oastler
The Jeep Wrangler-derived Gladiator dual-cab ute launched here in 2020 is primarily designed with serious off-roading in mind. The premium Rubicon model grade is named in honour of the notorious Rubicon Trail in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, which all Jeep models most conquer before they...Read more
13 September 2022 by Matt Campbell
There’s more than meets the eye with the new 2023 Renault Trafic range. This French van has seen a mild cosmetic update, but under the bonnet there’s a bigger engine , and it now has some of the requisite safety features you’d expect, and a new more advanced multimedia system . Has Renault done...Read more
26 August 2022 by Mark Oastler
The then all-new T6 Ford Ranger launched in 2011 was proudly designed and developed in Australia. So, if you ignored the fact it was assembled in Thailand to minimise production costs, it was the closest thing you could get to an ‘Aussie’ ute and Australian buyers responded in large numbers. More...Read more
10 August 2022 by Mark Oastler
Unlike Australia’s mid-size (2.5-3.5 tonne GVM) commercial van segment, where up to a dozen rivals compete for customers, there are currently only three players in the small (under 2.5-tonne GVM) van class, comprising the Volkswagen Caddy, Renault Kangoo - and Peugeot Partner. Up to July 2022, the...Read more
21 July 2022 by Mark Oastler
The Mahindra Group is a $20 billion Indian conglomerate based in Mumbai. It consists of more than 150 companies and has an expansive global reach across 22 different industries in more than 100 countries. Its diverse operations include aerospace, construction/farm/industrial equipment, defence,...Read more
4 July 2022 by Mark Oastler
Isuzu offers a convenient ready-to-work option for tradies with its appropriately named ‘Tradepack’ based on the popular N-Series range, available in a choice of wheelbases and either 4500kg or 5500kg GVM ratings. The lower weight rating can be driven using a standard car licence, so we recently...Read more
22 June 2022 by Mark Oastler
For many tradies and mobile service providers, a single cab one-tonne ute in cab-chassis form is a versatile platform that can be equipped to suit virtually any task, from off-the-shelf drop-side trays to complete custom-made canopies and service bodies. However, utes of this size typically have...Read more
26 May 2022 by Mark Oastler
The Hyundai iLoad, in both single-cab and crew van variants, established a large and loyal customer base in Australia’s mid-sized (2.5-3.5 tonne GVM) commercial van market between 2008 and 2021. It had a facelift in 2019 but by then the iLoad was stretching beyond the usual 10-year generational...Read more
3 May 2022 by Mark Oastler
LDV, a division of China’s largest automotive manufacturer SAIC Motor, has been selling its T60 ute in Australia since 2017, during which time it’s established a solid foothold in the low-priced ute segment against similar rivals from China (GWM) and Korea (Ssangyong). During that time LDV has...Read more
19 April 2022 by Mark Oastler
The latest generation of Mazda’s workhorse has clearly benefitted from the company’s joint venture with truck manufacturer Isuzu, resulting in the BT-50 sharing the latest D-Max ute’s rugged 4x2 and 4x4 underpinnings and body hard-points. The only major differences between these two are exterior...Read more
