Tag: pickup

No comments

BYD SHARK IS COMING FOR YOU

  By ,

It’s BYD’s Shark and it’s coming for you. At least it is if you’re in the market for a ute because the Shark, or Shark 6 to be exact, has been a runaway success for the Chinese company. BYD has sold more than 10,000 examples of the dual cab utility since launch 12 months ago and just to set the record straight, it’s not an electric vehicle — but rather a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). That makes the Shark rather special but not quite unique with competitors such as the Ford… Read more

No comments

KIA TASMAN IS GOOD … AND IT HAD TO BE

  By ,

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that the Kia Tasman is Kia’s first ute. And it has a big task ahead of it as Kia attempts to acquire a chunk of the lucrative light commercial market. Now the number four brand in the Australian market, the South Korean car maker has come a long way in the past decade. But it can’t take the fight up to market leader Toyota without a ute as part of its arsenal — and what a ute it is. Together with… Read more

No comments

PICK-UP FAR FROM A WORKSHY MATE

  By ,

Retaining that thought throughout a week with the workhorse failed to take the edge off initial utilitarian impressions: horses for courses of course. Not that ‘old mate’ harked back to some long-past Luddite era. Depending on the grade, the new WorkMate boasts a line-up of automotive advances such as Bluetooth connectivity, Toyota Safety Sense suite of measures, Toyota Connected Services and power this and that. Performance also is taken to new heights with a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine with V-Active technology. There is still the tried-and-true 2.4 litre turbo-diesel available. All… Read more

No comments

MITSUBISHI TRITON GLS 4X4 DUAL CAB UTE

  By ,

Watching the Olympics, it’s all about who gets the gold. No one remembers anyone beyond the top three placings and so it goes with utes and the Australian new car market. Ranger is the gold medalist, with a clear lead, followed by Hilux with the silver and the D-Max with the bronze. Also-rans include the Mitsubishi Triton, back for a sixth crack at the record but still sitting a fair way back in fourth position out of medal contention. Although its redesigned front now carries the Mitsubishi name, it doesn’t… Read more

No comments

CANNON BIG SHOT: HITS AND MISSES

  By , ,

The Great Wall made an unchallenged impression on the landscape of China during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644); conversely, established as recently as 1984 (2009 in Australia), the titular motor manufacturer has played an impressive leading role in China becoming the largest exporter of motor vehicles in the world. With no let-up in sales of the Great Wall Motors four-door, five-seat 4×4 ute, a new range- topping variant has landed Down Under the form of the rugged Cannon-XSR. Taking the robust foundations of the GWM Ute dual cab platform, the new… Read more

No comments

THE ISUZU GENIE DOES HIS THING TO THE MAX

  By ,

It seems that like the Genie of the Lamp a customer’s wish is Isuzu Ute’s command, for a new model has elbowed its way into the top echelons of its rugged pick-up truck ranks. The Japanese manufacturer has slotted the D-Max LS-U+ in between the well- presented LS-U double cab lifestyle ute and flagship of the updated third generation for those who want a touch of luxury without the ‘shouty’ styling of the X-Terrain. The new D-Max LS-U+ Crew Cab 4×4 Ute features similar equipment to the MY22 LS- U… Read more