19 December 2024 by David Morley
Volkswagen’s new ID. Buzz electric people-mover might evoke all sorts of feel-good vibes with its visual links to the original Kombi of 1950, but in the world of last-mile delivery vans, sentimentality counts for nought. Which is why the commercial vehicle version of the ID. Buzz won’t be able to...Read more
13 December 2024 by Mark Oastler
French manufacturer Peugeot is at the cutting edge of electric commercial vans in Australia, having introduced its E-Partner small van (under 2.5-tonnes GVM) in 2023 before recently adding its new E-Expert in the popular mid-size segment (2.5 to 3.5-tonne GVM). We recently spent a working week...Read more
27 November 2024 by Mark Oastler
What new 4x4 dual-cab ute can you buy for $50K these days? Well, if you want to stick with the major players, $50K will only get you into base-model workhorses like the Ford Ranger XL 2.0L auto ($50,880), Toyota HiLux Workmate 2.4L auto ($50,420) or Isuzu D-Max SX ($50,700). And that's list pricing...Read more
8 November 2024 by Tom White
Is there a class of vehicle more overlooked in Australia than the humble light van? While the pragmatic and often hatchback-based small van is dwarfed in size and sales by the popular ute as the commercial vehicle of choice here, the case is completely reversed in Europe, where light commercial...Read more
31 October 2024 by Tom White
In Australia, we like to think anything could be a ute. From our once-locally-developed models from Ford and Holden to today’s top-selling HiLux and Ranger , there’s nothing we love more than something tough with a tray. The thing is, such experience also makes Aussies the biggest ute critics. It’s...Read more
30 October 2024 by John Law
Following up the electric LDV eDeliver 7 comes the diesel-powered model which may look identical from the outside but is an altogether more traditional package. Effectively replacing the G10 as LDV’s mid-size ( 2.5-3.5 tonne GVM ) van , the Deliver 7 competes against segment stalwarts like the Ford...Read more
22 October 2024 by Mark Oastler
Latest VFACTS new vehicle registration figures show that in 2024 the Toyota HiAce one-tonne van commands more than 46 per cent of the 2.5 to 3.5-tonne GVM segment. In other words, almost every second new mid-sized van sold in Australia is a HiAce, leaving numerous competitors from Korean, European...Read more
11 October 2024 by Mark Oastler
Hyundai has established a reputation for quality light commercial vans in Australia, thanks largely to the solid foundations laid by the iLoad one-tonner launched locally in 2007. For more than a decade it proved to be a popular alternative to Toyota’s dominant HiAce in the 2.5-3.5-tonne GVM van...Read more
28 September 2024 by Mark Oastler
Judging by the latest VFacts new vehicle registration data, most Aussie 4x4 ute buyers continue to overlook the D23 Nissan Navara. With only a 4.5 per cent share of this booming market segment, its sales numbers are perhaps a symptom of its age (launched locally in 2015), lapsed ANCAP rating and...Read more
5 September 2024 by Mark Oastler
Those looking to buy a mid-sized (2.5 to 3.5-tonne GVM) commercial van are spoilt for choice, as there are currently 11 models from nine manufacturers competing for your business. Latest VFACTS industry figures show that Toyota’s HiAce continues to dominate this segment with a staggering 46 per...Read more
2 September 2024 by Mark Oastler
Since its launch in the 1960s, the iconic HiLux has been one of Toyota’s strongest-selling models. The current eighth-generation continues that tradition, even though now in its ninth year in local showrooms and having lost its long-held 4x4 sales leadership to Ford’s Ranger. Toyota has done a...Read more
31 August 2024 by Chris Thompson
Who said utes can’t be sporty? This VW Amarok has the same engine as a Mustang! Yep, the most powerful ute in the Volkswagen Amarok range is powered by the engine used in some of Ford’s icons like the ‘Stang and Focus RS - but does petrol power work in a big ute? Read more about Practical new van...Read more
30 August 2024 by Tom White
So, you’re looking for a dual-cab ute. You want something that can do it all. Tough, family friendly, and right in the sweet spot when it comes to price. You’re also looking for something a little different to Australia’s two favourites, the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux . Maybe you find them too...Read more
13 August 2024 by Chris Thompson
This is one of the most expensive utes in its class. It’s more expensive than a Ford Ranger Platinum, a top-spec VW Amarok Adventura or even a V8-powered LandCruiser 70 Series - when you could still get one. The reason? Mazda has ticked just about every box on this BT-50 Thunder, thanks to the...Read more
4 August 2024 by Mark Oastler
Sole traders, SMEs, transport companies and corporate fleets are potential customers LDV is aiming at with its new eDeliver7 electric van range, which competes in Australia’s mid-sized (2.5-3.5-tonne GVM) commercial van segment. The Chinese manufacturer claims the eDeliver7’s combination of quiet...Read more
27 July 2024 by Mark Oastler
GMSV offers three RHD Chevrolet Silverado models in Australia, comprising the 1500 ZR2 and LTZ Premium plus the 2500 HD (Heavy Duty). All are tailor-made for heavy towing duties. The 1500 models are better suited to urban life than the gargantuan 2500 HD, given that their shorter wheelbases and...Read more
13 July 2024 by Tom White
So, you’re after an affordable alternative to the increasingly expensive Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger. You need it to be tough enough for work, but also big and comfortable enough to haul family every now and again. It’s a common predicament, and one that's increasingly served by Chinese and Korean...Read more
3 July 2024 by Mark Oastler
The combined sales of GMSV’s 1500 and 2500 HD Silverado offerings currently represent more than 36 per cent of the Over $100K pick-up segment, in which extensive local remanufacturing of US-sourced vehicles to RHD ensures six-figure price tags. Clearly, these large Chevrolets, which are primarily...Read more
21 June 2024 by Mark Oastler
It’s still early days for battery-electric workhorses in Australia but Chinese brand Foton is making a concerted push into the zero-tailpipe-emissions commercial-vehicle market with its T5 EV. The Beijing-based manufacturer, which has topped commercial-vehicle sales in China for almost two decades...Read more