Sommaire pour November 2023 de Wheels

AUSTRALIA’S MOST popular 4x4 dual-cab will soon be available as a plug-in hybrid, with the Ford Ranger PHEV set to join the Aussie line-up in early 2025. Powered by a 2.3 turbo-petrol four and a single electric motor, Ford says the Ranger PHEV will have the most torque of any Ranger model and can drive up to 45km on electricity alone. It will also retain the Ranger’s 3500kg braked towing capacity and can power tools and other accessories through three dedicated 240-volt/10-amp power outlets (two in the tray, one in the cabin). This feature, which Ford calls ‘Pro Power Onboard’, effectively turns the Ranger PHEV into a drivable generator and can be used for most high-draw tools and appliances. “You’ll be able to power a wide variety of equipment from…

Keep it tight (no more than 200 words) and do include your suburb if via email: wheels@wheelsmag.com.au You can also have your say on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter (search for Wheels Australia) “Am I right in thinking fossil fuels still have a long future ahead of them Down Under?” ICE ICE BABY LOOK, I GET IT. I know that the motoring industry is moving to an electrified future and that Wheels reflects what the motoring industry is doing, but I really can’t see myself ever buying an electric vehicle. I’ve driven a few and they just leave me absolutely cold. There’s so little of the character that I love about cars in them. I’m 63 but I’m no Luddite and, given the glacial pace of Australia’s adoption of EVs, I…

Lamborghini improved the durability of the clutches on the e-gear cars in 2009, which helps if the SV sees a bit of urban use. The Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres are around $4000 for a full set. Throttle bodies can go out of tune, which is sorted by updating the LDAS software and some cars can mysteriously enter limp mode, for which dealers will diagnose – and charge for – a new clutch. The fix is a whole lot simpler and entails checking the ABS control module connector plug for corrosion. There are a couple of pins that send traction control information to the engine ECUs which retard power, disable the nose lift and illuminate the traction and e-gear lights. If these pins show green corrosion, replacing or cleaning the…

IT’S NO SECRET that Toyota is bringing its Tundra full-size pick-up truck to Australia. It has 300 of them undergoing engineering and development testing here in collaboration with Walkinshaw Automotive, which will be doing the left- to right-hand-drive re-engineering. Walkinshaw already does such work for GMSV and its Chevrolet Silverado, and for Ateco with its Ram trucks. While Toyota hasn’t yet confirmed that the Tundra will officially go on sale here, several development vehicles have been regularly spotted in Victoria. Having previously driven older model V8-powered Tundras in the USA and Australia, we turned to Melbourne-based American Vehicle Sales (AVS) to try out its new Tundra. AVS has been re-engineering lefthand drive vehicles for right-hand drive markets around the world for decades and probably supplies more of them globally than…

There’s no arguing that the current-gen Toyota Hilux is a bit long in the tooth. It has received several substantial upgrades and facelifts throughout its lifespan, but the bones of the eighth-gen Hilux and its 1GR 2.8-litre engine have essentially been traversing mountains and deserts since 2015. However, it’s entirely unfair to say the GR Sport is a ‘sticker pack’ aimed at keeping the Japanese brand relevant until the new-gen arrives. That this vehicle is bred from racing stock – inspired by the 2019 Dakar-winning GR Hilux piloted by Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel – proves that Toyota was serious about positioning a new flagship variant atop its line-up. For starters, Toyota engineers have squeezed an extra 15kW and 50Nm from the 2.8-litre engine by dialling into the ECU…

“The Revuelto is Lamborghini’s first plugin hybrid. It debuts a new carbonfibre chassis and eight speed dual-clutch transmission” THERE ARE defining moments in the timeline of every carmaker and, for Lamborghini, it’s the once-in-a-decade occasions when the V12 baton is passed from one generation to the next. It’s such a sacred moment that I’m almost inclined to observe a minute of reverential silence. The sun is blazing at the Nardo Handling Track in the southeastern tip of Italy, and hunkered down a few metres from me are the wheeled embodiments of Lamborghini’s past and future. Closest to me is a luminescent green Aventador SVJ, the fastest and angriest iteration of the brutish V12 supercar that has spearheaded the Raging Bull’s line-up since 2011. Somewhat symbolically, parked directly ahead of it…

LOOK AT the best-selling 4x4 vehicles in Australia over the past few years and you’ll notice there’s one that consistently lurks behind the heavy-hitting Hilux and Ranger on the sales charts – and there’s good reason for that. The Triton not only offers exceptional value for money, but it’s extremely capable off-road. The utilitarian cabin in the Triton GLX+ has cloth seats, plenty of plastic and thrifty-looking finishes, single-zone air-conditioning, and a small 7.0-inch touchscreen housing a dated infotainment system. Despite the cost-cutting, the Triton is reasonably nimble to drive on-road and terrific off-road, thanks to its smaller stature (in the dual-cab class) and rugged suspension (leaf springs at the rear and coils up front). The GLX+ gets the Easy Select 4WD system instead of the more advanced Super Select…

WHILE IT WOULD be nice to have one of the flashiest, highest-spec new utes in the garage, they’re not always within every buyer’s budget. We’ve covered the cheapest end of the dual-cab segment with our Best Ute Under $50K category, but what are the leading options in the midway $50K-$60K bracket? Fortunately, there’s no shortage of good offerings from the more established brands in the segment. There are both LS-M and LS-U variants of the Isuzu D-Max in the mix, the closely related Mazda BT-50 has the XTR mid-range model, and Nissan has the PRO-4X Navara. You’ll also find SR versions of the Toyota Hilux in this bracket, though Toyota’s perennially popular dual-cab doesn’t get serious with a good list of standard features until the SR5 which just creeps over…

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A TRUE DUAL-PURPOSE DUAL-CAB, HERE ARE THE PRIME CONTENDERS THE TRITON – which is set to be replaced by an all-new model in early 2024 – has a high transmission tunnel with only satisfactory rear legroom, with the front seats needing to be pushed forward to accommodate rear-facing child seats. The top-tether anchorages are hard to reach and the rear doors offer little in the way of storage. While Triton models with softer leather seats are preferable compared to the basic and cheap-feeling fabric trim of the base versions, both feel quite uncomfortable to sit on as an adult passenger in the middle of the second row, and give a feeling of being squashed when child seats are fitted either side.…

THE RANGER ends up mid-pack due to a few caveats for family use. They include a lack of rear legroom (including a high transmission tunnel), and restricted door space. The most problematic issue, though, is how awkward it is to fit child seats due to the difficult-to-reach top-tether anchorages. Another criticism of the Ranger is that its rear seat is on the squashy side for its class. Yet despite the difficulty of mounting a rear-facing baby seat, it’ll fit easily and a fully grown adult can sit behind the driver without feeling overly compromised for knee room. But the affordable XLT doesn’t get rear seatback map pockets and its basic cloth interior isn’t wipe-down friendly.…

FITTING BABY seats in the Hilux (and every other dual-cab, for that matter) used to be wrench-hurlingly frustrating before the widespread uptake of the ISOFIX seat-fixing system … but, Australia being Australia, it’s still not as easy as it should be, thanks to the peculiar requirement for the fitment of a top tether. Adding a baby seat to the Hilux, then, requires a bit of fiddling to access the top strap, but once it’s in place the broad rear bench can also easily accommodate two full-size baby seats, plus the potential for a third, non-tethered booster seat. There are no USB charging ports (that’s the Hilux showing its age), but the adjustable rear vents blow frosty or toasty air on demand. Opting for a Hilux with non-cloth upholstery will also…

EXCELLENT RESALE, frugal fuel efficiency, and the lowest insurance premiums of all our contenders are the secret to the D-Max’s inherent value, with these low ownership costs helping to offset a slightly higher-than-average purchase price. For maximum bang for your buck, it’s the entry-level SX Crew Cab 1.9L that’s kindest to your hip pocket, though opting for the more powerful 3.0L turbo-diesel doesn’t actually bring a huge financial penalty. The SX 3.0-litre will cost you only $430 more to run over three years (higher fuel bills account for most of that), which further underscores the D-Max’s inherent value. What’s more, the 3.0L D-Max actually slots into second place overall with a cost figure of $26,622 over three years. The D-Max has long carried a hard-won reputation for reliability and dependability…

THE FORD RANGER has secured the Wheels Best 4x4 Ute of 2023 accolade, continuing its fine form since winning our dual-cab megatest last year. The Ranger took the mid-size 4x4 ute segment to another level in 2022 when it launched in latest-generation, T6 form. And that ute class isn’t without some impressive models, such as the Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50 twins. Such is the irregularity of all-new models in the dual-cab segment, there were limited challenges in 2023 to the Ford’s crown. Toyota delivered a new variant – the latest Hilux Rogue with a significantly altered chassis and suspension that improved its on-road performance. That was followed by a GR Sport flagship that is so fresh that the vehicle on the cover of this issue was shot 24 hours…

WHERE DO you stand on ‘surprise and delight’? Some cars are absolutely stuffed to the gunwales with this quality, to the extent that you can suffer surprise and delight fatigue. Yes, after a while it becomes annoying to discover a feature after driving the thing for six months that you could really have done with knowing about on day one. You feel like a putz, and that’s not really the desired effect. The Subaru Outback XT either does surprise and delight quite badly or so fiendishly well that this putz has yet to discover any of it. What you see appears to be what you get. I’ve only latterly begun to appreciate that aspect of its personality. There are no Easter eggs, hidden drawers, secret menus, God-tier suspension settings or…

PRICE Recommended retail figure at time of publication (asterisk indicates driveaway price) ENGINE TYPE L, in-line; V, vee; F, flat. Number of cylinders. T, turbo; S, supercharged; D, diesel; H, hybrid; E, electric SIZE Litres or kWh POWER kW TORQUE Nm TRANSMISSION M, manual; A, auto; D, dual-clutch; C, CVT WEIGHT Kerb, kg 0-100 km/h, acceleration in seconds (Wheels as-tested figures in italics) FUEL CONS Consumption in litres, or kWh, per 100km RON Octane of fuel required, as numbered, or D for diesel RESALE percent, 3-year resale in Glass’s ISSUE TESTED month/year DRIVE A, all-wheel; F, front; R, rear. Any figure in bold is our own estimate.…

FRESH FACTS FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED IN THE CAR WORLD THIS MONTH 1. Skoda has released sketches of its next-gen Kodiaq. It features physical dials that contain ‘hot key’ digital readouts that the user can configure to their preferences as VAG moves away from its poorly received haptic interface. 2. The Bend’s new dragway has held its first event. “The Dragway at The Bend has been 10 years in the making … we look forward to welcoming a capacity crowd on October 21-22 for the return of the Australian Top Fuel Championship,” said CEO Sam Shahin. 3. Want a Toyota GR Corolla Morizo edition? Hard luck. The 25 earmarked for Australia have all been sold and production has now ended. 4. Tesla Model Y Long Range owners can now pay…

THE MERCEDES-BENZ Concept CLA Class previews the technology that will underpin its first complete family of electric cars to be created from scratch. An 800-volt architecture brings 250kW rapid charging, there’s a new MB.OS operating system combined with Superscreen, and the most efficient model promises impressive efficiency delivering a massive 750km of driving range. The CLA Class concept shown at the recent Munich motor show directly previews the next-generation CLA four-door ‘coupe’ that will take on Tesla’s hugely popular Model 3. There will also be another CLA Shooting Brake using the new Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA) and the new, inhouse-developed electric drive system. Two further confirmed body styles are SUVs, expected to be the EQA and EQB successors. Entry models will feature a 175kW rear-mounted synchronous motor with two-speed transmission, with…

Model Ferrari Roma Spider Engine 3855cc V8, dohc, 32v, twin-turbo Max power 456kW @ 5750-7500rpm Max torque 760Nm @ 3000-5750rpm Transmission 8-speed dual-clutch Weight 1556kg (dry) 0-100km/h 3.4sec Economy 11.4L/100km Price $520,300 On sale Q3 2024 THERE HASN’T been a soft-top Ferrari for more than 20 years. And if you exclude mid-engined models, it’s been more than half a century since the prancing horse released a convertible that wasn’t a retractable hardtop. So the new Ferrari Roma Spider is a bit of a big deal. While it utilises the Roma coupe as its basis, there’s more than enough to put Ferrari’s pair of fraternal twins in completely different paddocks. For a start, the Spider’s chassis is not just a version of the coupe’s with a bit of ironwork welded in…

Model Tesla Model 3 RWD Motor AC synchronous electric Battery capacity 60kWh Charging Rate 170kW DC Max power 211kW Transmission Single-speed Weight 1620kg 0-100km/h 5.6sec (claimed) Range 554km (claimed) Price $59,500 [est] On sale Q1 2024 THE TESLA Model 3 is described as the firm’s bread and butter model, but given that it’s been around since 2017, it makes sense that it’s recived a thorough update for 2024. The success of Tesla’s entry-level car isn’t hard to understand. Even after several years on sale, rivals still struggle to match its range, charging speed and performance. The Model 3 also has the most agile and natural-feeling handling of all Tesla models. Tesla claims that more than 50 per cent of the Model 3’s components have been refreshed in response to customer…

THE SEEMINGLY unstoppable growth in utility vehicle sales is being driven by the dual-cab variant that has evolved from rugged multi-seat commercial workhorse to (relatively) refined, multi-purpose family lifestyle vehicle. It’s not uncommon to see multiple utes in the monthly Top 10 charts for Australia’s best-selling cars. With so many choices and so many price points, Wheels Best 4x4 Utes 2023 is your ultimate guide to the top picks in this vast and varied segment. Whether your buying priority is safe and convenient family transportation, towing capability, performance, value, or you simply have a specific budget ceiling, our nine Wheels Best 4x4 Ute categories deliver the definitive independent expert insights. We also crown an overall segment winner for those looking for the best of the best. Our Wheels Best series…

IF THERE’S ever been a ute that surpasses expectations more than the Musso, we’d like to hear about it. Granted, expectations may be low, but feedback is consistently positive once people exit the driver’s seat of the Korean-born dual-cab. One perk of the Musso is its cavernous cabin and well-appointed interior. The seats are wide, supportive and accommodating, and there are big storage bins and drink holders. The infotainment system is modern and quick, and its user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. A noticeable negative (and it’s a bit of an oversight) is the use of a lap belt for the rear middle seat. It’s just something not seen these days. To that point, it’s worth noting the Musso is currently unrated by ANCAP. An obvious compromise of…

IT’S NO SHOCK that Ranger and Amarok are not easy to separate. The Ranger is at its best above $60,000, from XLT spec upwards, and (narrowly) wins most battles against the equivalent Amarok at higher trim levels. In XLS trim, however, it struggles against the Amarok Life for equipment. This is no better illustrated by the fact that, to match all the Life’s features in the Ranger, you need to bypass the XLT model for the fancier Ranger Sport that’s priced from $64,990. When those features include genuinely useful driver aids like LED headlights and tyre-pressure monitoring, and modern conveniences such as wireless phone charging, that means the Volkswagen Amarok Life edges a victory in our Best 4x4 Ute Under $60K category.…

THE VOLKSWAGEN Amarok now scores side curtain airbags as standard, which remedies one of the original Amarok’s biggest weaknesses. Even though sharing its underpinnings with Ranger means outright passenger room is average rather than excellent, any existing Amarok owners will notice a huge improvement. There’s an extra 175mm in the new Amarok’s wheelbase and most of the extra space is felt in the rear seats. VW has done a fantastic job with the mix of materials, which lends the Amarok’s cabin a premium feel, but fitting a child seat is fiddly and there are no rear USB ports. Amarok’s rear bench is marginally comfier than Ranger thanks to more pronounced squab bolstering.…

GIVEN THAT THE D-MAX and BT-50 are twins under the skin, the same bouquets and brickbats around rear seat space can be fairly levelled at both cars. The rear doors don’t open as wide as some other utes, which could make loading people and things a little trickier. And, as with many dual-cab utes, rear legroom isn’t particularly generous, and second-row headroom is a touch limited. Toe space is ample, though, and the seatbacks also offer some measure of recline. Second-row passengers are well looked after with a USB socket, doors that will take up to 1.5L bottles, and great visibility even for smaller occupants. Cupholders feature in the centre armrest, and seatbacks include pouches and carry hooks.…

FOR SEVERAL good reasons, mid-size 4x4 dualcab utes are the go-to vehicle for thousands of Australians who need to tow. Most of them offer a 3500kg braked towing rating. Their relatively long wheelbases are good for stability when towing. And they are more affordable than the big 4WD wagons that also offer that 3500kg capacity, such as LandCruiser, Patrol and various Land Rovers. We’re spoiled for choice, too. With some of Australia’s biggest-selling vehicles in this 4x4 dual-cab ute category, manufacturers are falling over themselves to get product into the market for eager buyers. It’s been a year since the Ford Ranger hit the market and, when we tested it against its peers, it was the best of the pack by a long shot. We scored the Ranger V6 as…

At $56,174 drive-away, the entry-level Ranger 2.0 XL sits at the upper end for buying outright – but its value credentials are bolstered by good resale, cheap servicing and respectably low fuel usage and insurance premiums. Even better news is that the Ranger is the segment leader for cabin quality, refinement and driving dynamics. It’s a regular comparison test winner and it trounced its rivals in our recent dual-cab ute megatest, so it’s nice to know you’ll be buying a quality product. Value and quality? That’s an ideal combo. SPECS Engine 2.0L 4cyl turbo-diesel Max power 125kW Max torque 405Nm Transmission 6-speed auto Weight 2182kg Economy 8.0L/100km Price $50,380 3-yr cost $27,455…

GIVEN AUSTRALIA’S love of dual-cab utes, and our obvious passion for performance cars, you might think dealerships would be overflowing with hardcore, performance-focused utes. And they are, to a certain extent. Nissan, for example, has the rugged and heavily enhanced Navara PRO-4X Warrior. Toyota has the wide-track Hilux Rogue, and performance specialist Walkinshaw has dipped its toe into the market with the Triton Xtreme. Now there are newer and more sporting contenders like the Hilux GR Sport and Ford Ranger Wildtrak X, which have both just gone on sale. The ‘rally inspired’ GR Sport Hilux brings a more powerful turbo diesel (power and torque are up 15kW/50Nm), tweaked suspension, and tougher exterior styling with flared quarter panels. The off-road-focused Wildtrak X offers buyers an improved 4WD system, wider tracks, lifted…

We’re heading northwest through the lower Hunter to our halfway point at one of Australia’s coal power hotspots “BACK AND LEFT-HAND down, back and left-hand down!” are the words hurtling into the McLaren Artura’s cabin as I straddle the centre line with reverse refusing to engage. ‘Charge level too low’ insists the digital instrument cluster, despite showing 13 percent battery. The Artura is McLaren’s first-ever series-production hybrid model (the 2013 P1 was limited to just 375 examples, so it doesn’t count) and is the first clean-sheet design since the 2011 MP4-12C. That means all-new architecture and engine, a rather spacious cabin, and an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. A 7.4kWh lithium-ion battery bestows the Artura with 31km of hushed electric driving range so you’d expect McLaren’s new supercar to weigh a bit.…

YOU HAVE A 4000 kilometre limit on it,” said the Mercedes-Benz PR. Quick bit of mental calculation. I live 40km from the office, so how many kilometres would the commute alone eat up over three months? 4800. Oh dear. That might present a bit of an issue. At this point, I will openly admit to being rather struck with new car fever. Sales people the world over must recognise the particular symptoms. The prospect claps eyes on the car and suddenly they lose all basic rationality. They just have to have it and will concoct all manner of warped justifications in order to do so. The white GLC 300, hunkered low over its multi-spoked 20-inch alloys, had me looking for a dotted line to sign on. Limits, schlimits. The GLC…

GINA LOLLOBRIGIDA and Brigitte Bardot may have had to farewell their film-star looks, but at 57 years young the Alfa Romeo 105/115-series Spider is now even sexier than the day it first bemused onlookers at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show. Hard to imagine, but the Pininfarina-penned and produced Spider, quickly nicknamed osso di sepia (“cuttlefish bone”) was initially dismissed by the Italian press as an unworthy sister to its donor 105-series Giulia Berlina sedan. ‘Lollobrigida’ and ‘Bardot’ were in fact among the 140,000 entries in a 1966 competition to name the new 1600 Spider. Most popular was ‘Pinin’ – Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina had died within days of the car’s launch – but ‘Duetto’ was selected, until the maker of an Italian chocolate snack enforced its copyright after just 190 cars…

CADDY IS BACK! The good news? Cadillac looks set to make a return to Australia with factory RHD vehicles. The bad? It’s likely to be solely EVs, so no hot sedans like the CT? Blackwing. GM filed a trademark application for the Lyriq name in Australia in December 2022. and a right-hand-drive Lyriq prototype was spotted testing earlier this year. In July this year, GM also filed Aussie trademarks for the Optiq and Escalade IQ SUVs. Senior VP and President of GM International, Shilpan Amin, also visited to watch the MY24 Silverado come off the assembly line at the Premoso facility in Dandenong last month. NEXT-GEN GTI Volkswagen may not have built the first hot hatch but it did get first dibs on the GTI badge, which now jumps to…

WHEELS MEDIA mourns the loss of Ash Westerman, long-time staffer and close friend. He was 57. A hugely respected member of the Australian automotive industry, Ash started out as a sales representative but in the late 1980s transitioned to his real calling – motoring journalism – joining MOTOR magazine under the editorship of Davey Robertson. With an infectious passion for cars, a natural road-testing ability and a gift for clear, concise and entertaining writing, Ash was soon a crucial member of the MOTOR team as it stole sales off rival Wheels through the 1990s. He would divert from cars, however, to play a key role in the early days of ACP’s Ralph magazine – Australia’s answer to UK lad mags like Loaded and FHM. Ash brought his talent to this…

ON THE FACE of it, something as outrageous at the Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 Super Veloce ought to be fairly hard to ignore. Just look at the thing. Better still, key it on and listen to the last and greatest iteration of Giotto Bizzarrini’s V12, the legendary Lamborghini twelve-pot that can trace its lineage all the way back to the birth of the company, some 60 years ago. Yet this is a car that has only recently earned its due appreciation. If you know your Lamborghini history, you’ll know that the tall V12 never actually fitted beneath the bonnet of that first and ultra-shapely Scaglione-styled 350 GTV, and that car appeared on the stand at the 1963 Turin Show with 500kg of ceramic tiles under the bonnet instead. It wasn’t until…

YOU ALREADY know the Ford F-150 is popular – heck, it’s one of the world’s best-selling vehicles – but it’s the sheer scale of that popularity that might surprise you. In the US, a new F-150 rolls off the line in Dearborn every 52 seconds. And now the F-150 has arrived (or should we say returned?) Down Under. Ford last sold the F Series here in 2006, when the F250 and ginormous F350 were converted by Gympie-based outfit Performax, but this time round the project is far more ambitious. Ford’s fresh conversion partner is RMA Automotive and the scale and depth of the new joint venture has to be seen to be believed. The work takes place at a brand new, 21,000sqm facility north of Melbourne and Ford says it…

ON THE two-hour flight from Munich to Lamezia Terme in Calabria, I’m having trouble sorting out the numbers buzzing around my head. Porsche is charging a whopping $660,500 for the S/T which on paper doesn’t seem worth $240K more than the almost identikit GT3 with Touring package. Although it musters a feisty 386kW, the newcomer won’t even accelerate faster from 0-100km/h than a Carrera S priced at $318,500. Both cars do the job in an identical 3.7sec. In terms of top speed, the S eclipses the S/T by 308 versus 300km/h. Come again? At 13.8L/100km, the new flagship model is furthermore significantly thirstier than its 331kW sibling which averages 10.5L/100km. So what is this – a clever marketing ploy or one more Porsche myth in the making? A jubilee medal…

Model BYD Seal AWD Motor 2x AC synchronous electric Battery capacity 83kWh Charging Rate 150kW DC / 11kW AC (three-phase) Max power 390kW Transmission Single-speed Weight 2150kg 0-100km/h 3.8sec (claimed) Range 520km (claimed) Price $78,000 [est] On sale Q4 2023 THE SEAL WILL be the third car BYD introduces to Australian shores, though it’s clearly a more sultry design than the less expensive, more prosaic Atto 3 and Dolphin before it. Like those cars, it’s fully electric and based upon BYD’s clever ‘blade battery’ technology that’s said to offer numerous benefits – chiefly safety (due to the strength of its composition) and space (it’s assembled directly to the car’s platform to free up a bit more in the way of cabin room). The slippery aero of its smart-looking body allies…

WHICH DUAL-CAB UTE DELIVERS THE GOODS AT THE AFFORDABLE END OF THE MARKET? THE NAVARA line-up received a refresh toward the end of 2021, which gave it a more purposeful stance and bolder style. As the base model Navara, the SL misses out on plenty of equipment introduced with the ST. This includes carpeted flooring, a leather-bound steering wheel and gearshift knob, chrome interior details, a stainless-steel sportsbar, black side steps, a suite of advanced safety tech, and more sporty 17-inch alloy wheels. A strong suit of the Navara is its 140kW/450Nm 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel engine, which works with a seven-speed automatic transmission. This refined, capable drivetrain pairs with well-weighted on-road dynamic characteristics, with Navara’s road-holding an impressive attribute. The Navara comes with a generous payload – 987kg in SL…

IF YOU’RE willing to forego a few creature comforts, the Triton’s smooth- and rough-terrain abilities make it a compromise worth making. A decent 4WD system in conjunction with well-tuned suspension and a rear diff lock as standard make it very capable off-road, and a huge range of aftermarket accessories makes it a great base from which to create the ultimate work or adventure rig. In GLX+ trim, the Triton sits comfortably beneath $50,000, with a drive-away price slightly over that mark. For that coin, consumers receive a hardworking all-rounder. There are obvious compromises in certain areas – none more so than inside its dated cabin – where cost-cutting measures can be noticeable. Neverthless, factor in its unbeatable 10-year warranty (and mind the conditions) and you can’t do better in the…

ALL UTES ARE OUR TRUSTY WORKHORSES, BUT WHICH IS THE BEST WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING IN THE NICER PART OF THE STABLES? THE HILUX in its current generation is a bit long-in-the-tooth – clearly when compared to the all-new Ranger and Amarok – but the GR Sport is far more than a mere sticker pack aimed at keeping the Japanese icon relevant until a new generation arrives (in 2024). For this new flagship variant, Toyota went to work transforming the Hilux into a vehicle worthy of the GR Sport badge. Bred from racing stock, the GR Sport is based on the 2019 Dakar-winning Hilux, which means Toyota has fettled the suspension – adding new springs, KYB monotube dampers tuned specifically for this variant and removing the rear stabiliser bar. The 2.8-litre…

THIS RESULT is not necessarily a surprise for regular readers. The Ford Ranger’s SUV sibling, the Everest, even won the Wheels Car of the Year award in 2022, proving how far the large SUV and dual-cab segments have come in recent years. As a package, it’s hard to find real weaknesses within the Ranger’s arsenal. It’s markedly more modern than every other dual-cab in the segment bar the related Volkswagen Amarok. Considering they’re so closely related, it’s naturally a close call between the Ranger and the Amarok, with the Ford getting the final nod based on some smaller, though not necessarily insignificant, details. There’s the ergonomic advantages of easier-to-use HVAC controls and a clever tray access step, more compliant suspension spec-for-spec, and we prefer the Ranger’s steering that makes it…

THE GWM UTE Cannon is one of the better utes in its class for rear-seat space, and the Cannon LS tested includes a 220-volt socket as well as a single USB port and rear air vents. The rear windows are a little bit smaller than those on, say, the Ranger or BT-50, which does reduce the amount of light entering the second row, but it’s only by a matter of degrees. The rear features an unusual two-buckle design, which will likely preclude the use of even a booster seat for the centre position. Otherwise, the GWM scored well with our judges, offering lots of space in the doors, USB connectivity and pockets for rear passengers, and as well as very good legroom.…

THE TWIN OF the Isuzu D-MAX, the Mazda BT-50 brings a classier visage to the notion of the rugged ute. Putting a baby seat into the BT-50 is a relatively easy process. There’s room enough in the back for the baby seat without forcing the front seat passenger to slide their seat too far forward. On the subject of keeping the family safe, the BT-50 also has an impressive arsenal of safety kit, including the usual array of airbags, a reversing camera, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), electronic stability control, blind-spot monitoring, emergency lane keeping and lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert and a speed-assist system. It’s a safety suite that helps the Mazda to a full five-star ANCAP rating.…

Some of the decsisions in this Best 4x4 Ute 2023 review are easy. This wasn’t one of them. Although both these utes are matched for excellent towing ability, the result isn’t quite a draw. The Ford Ranger’s better ergonomics and superior ride comfort on and off road give the Blue Oval ute our nod here. The slightly more forgiving suspension of the Ranger Sport V6 versus the Amarok PanAmericana delivers great traction when towing and also results in a more forgiving front end when you’ve added a decent amount of down ball weight. Would an Amarok without the PanAm’s more focused suspension be better in this regard? Possibly. What’s not up for discussion is that, against their competitors, both Ranger and Amarok are a long way clear. The margins between…

THE SHARPLY priced Ssangyong Musso isn’t only the pick of the budget-focused utes (it’s $2200 and $3200 less expensive than the LDV T60 and GWM Ute Cannon over three years) but it’s only $600 behind our overall winner, the Isuzu D-MAX. You could even argue that makes the Musso ELX the better-value pick thanks to its lower purchase price – and it’s not only outright value that sits in the Musso’s favour. The Musso offers a generous seven-year/unlimited warranty (the D-Max gets six) and it’s also decent to drive thanks to impressive cabin refinement, a gutsy 2.2L turbo-diesel and surprisingly engaging steering. Downsides? At this price, the ELX is a six-speed manual (the auto is $2000 more), whereas the Isuzu SX comes with an auto as standard. The Musso’s 800kg…

WHEN IT COMES to proper performance utes, the field gets narrowed down to one as soon as you start asking more in terms of chassis dynamics. The Ford Ranger Raptor feels virtually indestructible, and has been designed from the ground up as a vehicle capable of absorbing the sort of bone-crunching punishment that would leave its claimed rivals in steaming pieces. Is it a surprise that more brands haven’t built a genuine Raptor rival? Given the Ford’s popularity, it does seem a missed opportunity. But it’s not easy. The Raptor has an entirely different rear structure to a regular Ranger and some of the costliest suspension of any sub$ 100K vehicle. The upshot is that if you’re in the market for a proper performance dual-cab that’s hugely capable at highspeed…

Alphanumerics be damned, McLaren’s most tech-packed car to date swaps toner cartridge serial numbers for a cogent word. But what does it mean? It apparently has nothing to do with the female name that means either ‘she-bear’ in Celtic or ‘guardian of the bear’ in ancient Greek. McLaren denies it’s a cheesy portmanteau of ‘Art’ and ‘Future’, yet the brand does admit it represents “the art of design and future technology”. Instead, they’ll point to the fact that the Artura’s name represents a step change in what McLaren stands for. You can define the company’s eras by product: Pre F1, the F1 glory days, rebirth with MP4-12C, and the next generation that the Artura promises to usher in. Expect the new MCLA architecture, ethernet-based electronics and plug-in hybrid 3.0-litre V6…

THERE’S A LOT riding on the Mazda CX-60’s broad, chiselled shoulders. As the debut model built off the Japanese brand’s much-hyped Large Platform, it feels like Mazda’s first proper shot at fulfilling its promise to “go premium”. Over the next three months we’re going to test all three engines and also sample two of the three available trim grades as we look to get further under the CX-60’s skin. School runs, weekends away, fast country-road blasts and inner city driving are all part of the plan to better understand the CX-60’s strengths and weaknesses. First up is the mid-spec CX-60 GT with the 3.3-litre diesel. It’s fitted with the optional $2000 Vision Pack which takes its RRP to $71,800 before on-road costs. Here’s how month one played out: DAY 1:…

REGULAR WHEELS READERS will know that there are typically three types of these Driven to Extinction pieces. There are those that lament a much-loved model that has departed too soon and then there are those that finally farewell a car that’s hung around well past its sell-by date. Then there’s the awkward ones into which the Ferrari F8 Tributo falls – that of the car that’s replaced by something so manifestly superior that it can be hard to work up a great deal of heartfelt saudade for it. So unambiguously does the Ferrari 296 GTB now sit at the top of the supercar tree that the F8 Tributo is almost consigned to one of Maranello’s historical footnotes, which fails to explain quite how good it was. And it was good.…