New Car Comparison: Utilities
Ford Ranger v Holden Rodeo v Mitsubishi Triton v Nissan Navara v Toyota Hilux v Mazda BT-50
Joshua Dowling
20 April 2007
www.drive.com.au
Sales of utilities to city slickers are booming, as buyers embrace new levels of comfort and practicality. Joshua Dowling tests the new-wave utes that become weekend escape machines.
Trading-in a Range Rover for a ute might make as much sense as switching from a thoroughbred to a mule. But that's what Sydney businessman Perry Smith did. Based in the concrete jungle of North Sydney, Smith sold his luxury four-wheel-drive and replaced it with a Toyota HiLux.
"I got sick of paying big money for luxury cars and having them get bashed around," the television executive says. "The ute is great for carrying the kids' bikes in the back on weekends and it's handy in the city because you can park in loading zones."
Smith is not alone. Sales of 4WD utes are booming - up 30 per cent in the first three months of 2007 compared with the same period last year, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. There are now three ute brands in the top 15 vehicle sales - two of them in the top 10. The HiLux is the third-best-selling vehicle in Australia after the Holden Commodore and Toyota Corolla - and ahead of the Mazda3 and Ford Falcon. Nissan has sold more Navara utes than Toyota has sold Camrys. Holden's Rodeo outsells Ford's Territory.
So what's the appeal? Today's four-door utes - or "crew-cabs" - have car-like cabin space and creature comforts (most have power windows, air-conditioning and remote central locking, although vanity mirrors are still only found on the passenger's side) as well as the practicality of a large cargo area and go-anywhere 4WD ability.
However, these new-wave utes are not perfect. Commercial vehicles aren't required to meet the same safety standards as passenger cars. Most are exempt from a side-impact test and offset front crash test.
Given that vehicles such as these are increasingly being used as family transport, perhaps government regulators ought to review this policy. Should the occupants of utes be valued any less than those of a sedan?
Click here to continue article
![Image]()
Holden Rodeo (above), and with the other Utilities
![Image]()
![Image]()
Ford Ranger v Holden Rodeo v Mitsubishi Triton v Nissan Navara v Toyota Hilux v Mazda BT-50
Joshua Dowling
20 April 2007
www.drive.com.au
Sales of utilities to city slickers are booming, as buyers embrace new levels of comfort and practicality. Joshua Dowling tests the new-wave utes that become weekend escape machines.
Trading-in a Range Rover for a ute might make as much sense as switching from a thoroughbred to a mule. But that's what Sydney businessman Perry Smith did. Based in the concrete jungle of North Sydney, Smith sold his luxury four-wheel-drive and replaced it with a Toyota HiLux.
"I got sick of paying big money for luxury cars and having them get bashed around," the television executive says. "The ute is great for carrying the kids' bikes in the back on weekends and it's handy in the city because you can park in loading zones."
Smith is not alone. Sales of 4WD utes are booming - up 30 per cent in the first three months of 2007 compared with the same period last year, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. There are now three ute brands in the top 15 vehicle sales - two of them in the top 10. The HiLux is the third-best-selling vehicle in Australia after the Holden Commodore and Toyota Corolla - and ahead of the Mazda3 and Ford Falcon. Nissan has sold more Navara utes than Toyota has sold Camrys. Holden's Rodeo outsells Ford's Territory.
So what's the appeal? Today's four-door utes - or "crew-cabs" - have car-like cabin space and creature comforts (most have power windows, air-conditioning and remote central locking, although vanity mirrors are still only found on the passenger's side) as well as the practicality of a large cargo area and go-anywhere 4WD ability.
However, these new-wave utes are not perfect. Commercial vehicles aren't required to meet the same safety standards as passenger cars. Most are exempt from a side-impact test and offset front crash test.
Given that vehicles such as these are increasingly being used as family transport, perhaps government regulators ought to review this policy. Should the occupants of utes be valued any less than those of a sedan?
Click here to continue article
Holden Rodeo (above), and with the other Utilities
