2013 4wd Action Ute of The Year Web

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102-110 UTE OF THE YEAR.indd 0102 13/03/13 10:46 AM
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Seven utes, seven real
4WDers one winner!
WORDS BY STEVE COLLINS, PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRETT SHEARER
BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
H
ere at 4WD Action, we
have a knack for
convincing car
companies to hand
over the keys to their
latest releases, often before their
dealers get a chance to see them.
Now, when it comes to testing, we
know our readers (thats you!),
4WD enthusiasts in your own
right, want to know how far a
4WD can be pushed off-road.
While other mags cruise
alongside cotton farms taking notes
about the fancy leather interior, we
push off-road testing to the
extreme. The difference is we test
them like a real 4WDer would use
them. We camp in the bush and live
out of the 4WD, while others book
into fancy accommodation and sip
expensive chardonnay.
Now, for this years 2013 Ute
Of The Year, we couldve taken a
bunch of the industrys nest to
the middle of the outback, but
that real seat-of-your-pants feel
wouldve been lost in confusing
political jargon. So, we got to
thinking and came up with the
perfect answer. Why not take you
guys, real 4WDers, along to say
exactly how it is? No industry
nonsense, no hiding behind
alliances or brand names. Just
plain-old honest feedback. So
thats what we did. We rounded
up seven utes, seven real 4WDers
and headed into the scrub.
Dont suppose we have to tell
you how much fun we had? You
know what the best part is,
though? You can join us in the
passenger seat. Just buckle in, sit
back and check out all the action
from the test.
JUDGING CRITERIA
As 4WDers, we look for a unique set of features in a 4WD. The old
ANCAP safety ratings a good indication of how well its built, and
anyone can compare a specs sheet, but we wanted to see how they
performed off-road.
We broke the off-road performance portion of the judging down
into ve categories and scored each based on how they performed
off-road. We then compared and scored fuel economy (as tested),
purchase price, running costs per year (comprehensive insurance
and servicing) and payload to determine the nal outcome.
Full points were awarded to the best performers in each
category, while the runners up scored their points depending on
how far behind the top position they had come - much like split
timing in a rally.
THE CONTENDERS
In selecting the seven dual cabs, we asked ourselves one question.
What would any 4WDer whos looking for a work truck, daily driver,
weekend warrior or long-distance tourer want to spend their cash
on? Lets say the budget is $60,000, after all, not everyone is on a
politicians salary.
What this meant was that if we thought a manufacturer was
charging too much for a certain model, it would miss the cut. To
compare oranges with oranges, all utes tested had turbo-diesel
engines and autos where possible, except for the BT-50 that was a
manual. Turns out Mazda didnt have an auto in stock. Suppose, if
you walked in off the street you could be faced with the same
dilemma with any manufacturer anyway so we pressed on. dilemma with any manufacturer anyway so we pressed on.
YEP, WE POINTED
$350,000 WORTH OF UTES
AT THE FIRST OFF-ROAD
TRACK WE COULD FIND!
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COOPER DISCOVERER A/T3S
CONTROLLING THE VARIABLES
When it comes to 4WDing, a good quality set of tyres is arguably the
most important purchase youll ever make. Think about it, your tyres
are the only thing that keeps you in contact with the ground, and
without them, your engine, brakes and even lockers are useless.
Now, considering we were putting these utes head-to-head, it only
made sense to throw on a set of control tyres.
For the testing we were planning, we knew the factory highway-
terrains wouldnt cut it and so we ordered replacements. Thats
when we got in touch with our mates over at Cooper Tires, who
sorted us out with seven sets of Cooper Discoverer A/T3s.
Being a light truck all-terrain tyre, the A/T3s are designed for
70% road and sand, and 30% for dirt and mud. Their super-tensile
steel belt offers higher impact strength and puncture resistance.
Adding to the A/T3s ruggedness is its unique silica compound,
which is engineered to resist cuts and chips over rocky terrain.
Cooper claims the new increased cord strength carcass makes it
33% stronger which means less damage and a higher load carrying
capacity. Not hard to see why we went with these tyres. And were
glad we did too because after days of tackling harsh terrain, not one
of the 28 tyres got a puncture.
OFF-ROAD PERFORMANCE
A vehicles off-road capability is what truly makes or breaks it as at
4WD. It might have fancy gadgets and a 4WD badge, but if it doesnt
perform in the bush, what good is it?
For that reason we scrutinised each utes low-range ability.
Things such as ground clearance, the location of vital components
like the alternator and air intake where are they located, are they
prone to damage? Are the off-road angles generous? How much
wheel travel did the suspension offer? Did the manufacturer t
traction aids, and did they actually work?
TOURING ABILITY
Because Australias over 7.5 million square kilometres in size,
theres no point owning the biggest, baddest 4WD in the country if
its a pain to drive long distance. Thats why were judging each ute
on long-distance touring ability. That means, seeing how it
handles long stretches on dirt roads, what the noise levels are like
and how useable it is in terms of liveability, storage, payload and
towing capacity.
MECHANICALS
Its not how big it is, its how you use it hey? We wanted to see how
much punch each engine offered, how the gearbox used that power,
and if they were working together to get it to the ground. Being a
4WD, we were looking for low-down power delivery does it come in
nice and low in the rev range? Is it smooth, or laggy? And is it
economical? But, thats not all. We also wanted to test how the
brakes, steering and suspension perform both at speed and over
undulating obstacles.
PRACTICALITY
Considering were going to crown the Ute Of The Year, we needed
to know how useful each one was as a real utility vehicle. Practical-
ity, useability and brute strength are what scored well here. After
all, what goods a ute if you cant load it up, slam the tailgate and hit
the tracks?
Things like tie-down points, tub dimensions and power outlets
were all given a closer inspection, and truth be told, youll be
surprised at the differences.
ABILITY TO MODIFY
Whether its for performance reasons, or you simply want to stand
out from the crowd, we all like to modify our 4WDs. Given how much
manufacturers cram into 4WDs today, theres often little room to
move when it comes to tted aftermarket gear. So, we want to see
how each ute stacked up in terms of modiability. Is there enough
space in the engine bay to t a second battery? Or room under the
guards for bigger tyres? Was a suspension lift feasible, or did it
require an engineering degree?
No one was going anywhere
without a snag in their belly!
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JEREME LINDSELL
As it turns out, Jeremes an experi-
enced hand behind the wheel. Theres
rarely a weekend that goes by where
hes not camping or 4WDing up the
mountains near his home in Coffs
Harbour. He works as a surveyor during
the day, which means he actually gets
paid to go 4WDing every day.
Jeremes daily is a 2007 ML Triton
tted with a rear locker, a truck-load of
barwork, winch, 2in lift and 33in BFG
muddies. Suppose you need a capable
truck like his Triton if youre going to help
with rescue efforts during times of crisis
like Jereme does.
STEVE ROSIE ROSENSTRAUSS
Gee, three Steves on one trip this
is going to get confusing! Now, dont
hold this against him. Steve Rosie
Rosenstrausss a taxation adviser by
day, but its what he does in his spare
time that makes him more than
qualied to be a judge. Rosies the
treasurer of the Nissan Patrol 4WD Club
of NSW and ACT. Hes seen more
modied 4WDs, led more convoys
through the outback, and done more for
the 4WD community than most of us.
STEVE ZAMO ZAMMIT
Truth be told, Steve Zamo
Zammits a bit of a keen sho. And
of course, to get to the best shing
spots, you need to know how to
handle a 4WD.
These days he runs a scaffolding
business, but in a past life he used to
work for Mazda, so you could say he
knows a thing or two about tradies
utes. Zamo has been to every part
of this country, from Cape York to
Alice Springs, down to Yalata and up
to Broome all in his 4WD on the
hunt for that next big sh.
THE TEST ROUTE
To truly score these utes, we needed to test them in the real world.
Whats the point in testing them empty if the second you get it home
youre going to load it up with camping gear and head bush, right?
To simulate a family of ve with all of their camping gear, or a tradie
who needs to carry a tray-load of tools to a job site each day, we
loaded each one up to their respective GVMs by strapping barrels of
water into the trays.
We needed a variety of terrains to really put these trucks through
their paces, and what better than a region that offers sand, mud, ruts,
rocks, steep terrain and corrugations to boot? We high-tailed it north out
of Sydney, topped up the fuel tanks and hit reset on the utes odometers.
Starting off with sand, we pointed the utes towards Blacksmiths Beach,
north of Lake Macquarie. Here wed see how each truck, fully loaded,
handled arguably the softest sand on the NSW coast.
Next up, we made our way west to the Watagans National Park.
The red cedar forests are littered with a bunch of white-knuckle re
trails, so over the following days we tackled nearly every terrain
imaginable. If you want to gauge how tough this place is for yourself,
just throw the DVD from issue 173 into the DVD player and watch
Roothy, Shauno and the crew tackle one of the toughest tracks this
side of Coffs Harbour.
THE JUDGING PANEL
STEVE COLLINS
I reckon Editor Brenno mustve
had a hot date down at the bowlo
or something, because one arvo he
throws me seven sets of keys.
Round up some honest 4WDers
and put these utes through their
paces, he says. Come back and
tell me which ones the best. It
was sort of like winning Lotto, only
seven times better!
Maybe he thought cause Im a
Nissan owner, I know when Im
looking at a good thing? Whatever it
was, I knew I needed truly experi-
enced 4WDers to help test em, that
is, without breaking em.
We didnt just pick people at random. We specifically chose six
other expert 4WDers who themselves knew what a good dual cab
ute is made of. As you run down the page each judge either
currently owns a ute, is looking to buy one, wants to upgrade
their old one or drives one on a daily basis for work, so we knew
they were more than qualified. There was only one thing left to
do. Yep, we pointed $350,000 worth of utes at the first off-road
track we could find!
JERE REME ME LLIN INDS DSEL ELLL
CHRISTIAN BITZ
Now, Christians a quiet sorta bloke.
He sits back, takes it all in and makes
a calculated decision. Hes in the
market for a new ute himself, which
means hes looking for value for
money. Working as a landscaper,
Christian knows what hes looking for
in a good tradies ute.
STEVE ROS E IE RO ROSE SENS NSTR TRAU AUSS SS SS
NATHAN GIBBS
Talk about a bloke thats down for the cause.
What Nathan lacks in mechanical know-how,
he makes up for in life experience. He
practically lives out of his swag and wasnt
about to pass up the opportunity to share his
love for the bush with the rest of us.
Nathan drives a tough-as-nails space-cab HiLux,
and boy can he handle himself in a 4WD. By day
Nathans an arborist, so his Lux comes in handy
lugging around all of his tree-lopping equipment.
N
lu
ALAN COLLEY
Theres only one way to sum
Alan up. Hes a keen bushie
whos not afraid to give anything
a go. Alans a telecommunica-
tions techie, which means he
practically lives out of his 2011
Mazda BT-50. Allan and his son
have done a fair bit in the way of
touring and he was keen as
mustard to get behind the
wheel. When he told us hed
clocked up over 35 years of 4WD
experience, we knew he was the
right bloke for the job.
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102-110 UTE OF THE YEAR.indd 0106 13/03/13 3:52 PM
When it comes to the Amarok, youve got to forget everything you know
about a conventional 4WD. It has all the features of a rugged off-road-
er, like a military-grade front bash protection plate, traction control
and a rear diff lock, but off-road its missing something a traditional
low-range gearbox.
Before we go any further, we need to make one thing clear the
Amarok we tested was the 4Motion (AWD) model. And while this
Vee-dub does have a selectable off-road mode and a super-low rst
gear, once loaded up it was lacking a little, particularly in the sand.
Once you get used to the Euro engineering and get over the fact
theres no low-range you start to notice all the standout points. Like
the fact the pint-sized 2.0L engine delivers a bucketload of power. In
fact, it has more power and torque than both the 3.0L D-MAX and HiLux.
Same goes for the payload. Yeah, we were surprised too! You will need
to budget for a snorkel, though, as the air intake is positioned just above
the radiator and will swallow a gulp of water given the chance.
Touring wise its comfortable to drive, the suspension works and
theres plenty of room under the hood for a second battery and air
compressor (again, due to the small engine). If you plan on capitalising
on the 1014kg payload, you might
need to look at the tie-down
points as theyre not in the most
practical position, and theres no
headboard. But otherwise, its as
capable a tourer as any.
The D40 Navaras been around for a while (approaching eight years),
but in that time it has undergone a pretty hefty transformation.
Sporting a brand-new 3.0L V6 common-rail diesel and seven-speed
auto, the D40 is jam-packed full of grunt. Unfortunately, not much has
been done about the low-slung transfer case, however. All youve got to
do is remember back to the 2008 UOTY, where Roothy cracked the
housing while driving over a rock.
There is a noticeable advantage in the pulling power over any other
ute we tested, but sadly the D40 is let down by the auto. On the sand,
its forever shifting between gears, and its much the same on loose
rocky tracks too, although less noticeable.
When it comes to touring ability the Navara is hard to beat. It offers
plenty of storage options inside and a versatile tie-down track system in
the tray. The interiors a little dated, but quite comfortable and practical.
The dual-zone climate control means all occupants can tailor their air-con
to suit. And like any good tourer, the Navara requires no special tools to
work on even the radiator cap is a standard metal twist-lock type.
NISSAN NAVARA
ST-X dual cab auto
CLEARANCES
GROUND CLEARANCE: 228mm
APPROACH: 30
DEPARTURE: 24
RAMP-OVER: n/a
CLEARANCES
APPROACH: 28
DEPARTURE: 23.6
RAMP-OVER: 21.4
The Navara seems to sit lower
than the other utes. The seats
are comfortable and offer
adequate side support. The
engine is no doubt the standout
feature. However, being a V6 it
leaves little room in the engine
bay for tting aftermarket
accessories. Nathan
RUNDOWN
ENGINE
3.0L V6 intercooled turbo-
diesel, DOHC,
170kW@3750rpm and
550Nm@1750rpm
TRANSMISSION
7speed automatic with
manual mode
4WD SYSTEM
Transfer case dual range
4WD with electric 4WD selection
DIFFERENTIALS
Mechanical limited-slip
differential
FUEL TANK
80L
BRAKES
FRONT: ventilated discs
REAR: drum
TYRES
255/65R17 tyres with 17x7in
alloy wheels
TOWING (BRAKED)
3000kg
LIST PRICE
$57,290
*As tested
RUNDOWN
ENGINE
2.0L, 4-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC,
bi-turbochargers, common-rail
direct injection, 132kW@4000rpm
and 420Nm@1750rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
4WD SYSTEM
4MOTION permanent
DIFFERENTIALS
Mechanical rear differential lock
FUEL TANK
80L
BRAKES
FRONT: 303mm ventilated disc
REAR: 292mm drum brake
TYRES
245/70 R16 111T, steel 16x6.5in
wheels
TOWING (BRAKED)
3000kg
MAX WADING DEPTH
500mm
LIST PRICE
$48,990
*As tested
CLEARANCES
n
SCORECARD
OFF-ROAD PERFORMANCE: 9.3/10
TOURING ABILITY: 9.2/10
MECHANICALS: 8.9/10
PRACTICALITY: 10/10
ABILITY TO MODIFY: 8.4/10
FUEL ECONOMY: 8.4/10
PAYLOAD: 8.7/10
RUNNING COSTS: 4.8/10
VALUE FOR MONEY: 15.2/20
TOTAL: 83/100
CLEARANCES
m
SCORECARD
MECHANICALS: 7.8/10
PRACTICALITY: 9.4/10
PAYLOAD: 9.3/10
TOTAL: 87.4/100
VW AMAROK
Trendline TDI420 4MOTION dual cab auto
WAMAROK
VERDICT:
LOWEST PURCHASE PRICE
p
VERDICT:
BEST TRADIES TRUCK
RUNNING COSTS PER YEAR
$
1760.79
PAYLOAD: 1014KG
UUUUUU N NN NN NN NN NN NN N IN IN IN IN IN INGGGGGG CO CO CO CO CO CO COST ST ST ST ST ST STSSSSSSSS PE PE PE PE PE PE PE PERRRRRRRR YE YE YE YE YE YE YE YEAR AR AR AR AR AR AR AR
RU RU RU RU RU RU RRRRR
FULLY LOADED FUEL FIGURES
21.74L/100KM
T The Navara seems to sit lower
$
2184.13
PAYLOAD: 950KG
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21.90L/100KM
7
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6th
PLACE!
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CLEARANCES
APPROACH: 30
DEPARTURE: 23
RAMP-OVER: n/a
RUNDOWN
ENGINE
3.0L, 4-cylinder, 16-valve
DOHC, common-rail,
126kW@3600rpm and
343Nm@1400rpm
TRANSMISSION
4-speed automatic
4WD SYSTEM
Part-time 4WD system,
selectable H4 or L4 ,
electronic traction control
DIFFERENTIALS
4X4 differential gear ratio
3.727 front and rear
FUEL TANK
76L
BRAKES
FRONT: disc 297x25mm
REAR: drum
TYRES
265/65 R17 on 17x7.5in alloys
TOWING (BRAKED)
2500kg
LIST PRICE
$53,490
*As tested
CLEARANCES
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SCORECARD
MECHANICALS: 9.6/10
PRACTICALITY: 9/10
PAYLOAD: 7.7/10
RUNNING COSTS: 10/10
TOTAL: 92/100
The long-time class leader HiLux is now the oldest in its category. The
HiLux is previous generation compared to the rest of the utes in its
class, with it now being some eight years since its last (mechanical)
redesign. Sure, the D-4D is a pearler of an engine, but buying what is
now the oldest new ute on the market may be hard to swallow for a
new vehicle purchaser.
With that said, the common consensus among the judges is that the
HiLux is the quiet achiever. It doesnt excel at anything, but it will do
everything with ease. What it lacks in diff locks, it makes up for with
suspension travel. The HiLux walked straight up sections of track where
others had spun wheels.
Now, how does it stack up in terms of touring ability? Well, itd be
hard to beat from a simplistic point of view. Toyota hasnt overcompli-
cated any aspect of the HiLux, which means everything falls to hand
from the comfortable driving position, and should something fail on the
tracks, you can still swap parts out using basic hand tools. In the back
you get the most usable tie-down points out of all seven utes. While
there are only four and they dont slide like the Navara, they are large,
strong and well-positioned.
TOYOTA HILUX
Double cab turbo-diesel SR5 auto
$
1432.30
PAYLOAD: 835KG
2
$
RU RU RU RUNN NN NN NN N IN IN IN INGGGGG CO CO CO CO COSST ST ST ST STSSSSSS PE PE PE PE PE PERRRRRR E YE YE YE YE YE YE R AR AR AR AR AR AR
19.95/100KM
5th
PLACE!
Something every one of us
noticed about the HiLux is that
it just got in and did what it
had to do. Its the real quiet
achiever. This is the type of
4WD you just know will be
there at the end. Steve
Obviously coming from the same stable as Fords infamous F-Series
utilities, we had high expectations of the Ranger. But, did it deliver? In
short yes it did, but like anything, there are a few things youll need to
come to terms with before laying down a deposit on one.
The rst thing thatll grab your attention is the pin you back in your
seat performance of the hefty 3.2L diesel engine. It really was a
standout performer, and went about its business unfazed by the tonne
of water strapped in the tray. All this power does come at a price,
though, clocking up the highest fuel usage of all utes tested.
The Ranger ticks a lot of boxes touring-wise. It offers ample storage,
six rear tie-down points, a 12V power outlet in the tray, a spacious and
comfortable interior, sharp steering and a sure-footed ride.
Now for those shortcomings. The front lower control arms are
exposed, more so than others, and will get hung up on rocks quite
easily. While it does afford class leading towing capabilities, the factory
towbar is quite bulky and sits low. And nally, its all put together with
torxs bolts not bad in itself, but you might have to budget for a new
set of tools if you want to service it yourself.
FORD RANGER
XLT double cab turbo-diesel auto
CLEARANCES
APPROACH: 29
DEPARTURE: 20
RAMP-OVER: 24
RUNDOWN
ENGINE
3.2L 5-cylinder turbocharged
direct-injection common-rail
diesel, 147kW@3000rpm and
470Nm@15002750rpm
TRANSMISSION
6speed auto
4WD SYSTEM
Part-time
DIFFERENTIALS
Rear: LRD locking rear
differential
FUEL TANK
80L
BRAKES
FRONT: Ventilated disc
REAR: Drum
TYRES
265/65R17 on 17x8in rims
TOWING (BRAKED)
3500kg
MAX WADING DEPTH
800mm
FUEL ECONOMY (CLAIMED)
9.2L/100km
LIST PRICE
$53,390
*As tested
$
*
$
1511.57
PAYLOAD: 1041KG
80
F
9.
L
9
RU RU RU RUNN NN NN NNIN N IN IN INGGGG CO CO CO CO COST ST ST ST STSSSSSS PE PE PE PE PE PERRRRRR YE YE YE YE YE YE YEAR AR AR AR AR AR AR
23.56L/100KM
4
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SCORECARD
TOURING ABILITY: 10/10
MECHANICALS: 9.6/10
PAYLOAD: 9.6/10
TOTAL: 93/100
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SCORECARD
SEE IT LIVE!
See the words come
out of Jeremes mouth
about what he thought
of the Ford Ranger. Just
scan the code or head
to www.4wdaction.
com.au/uotyresults.
TOYOTA HILU
VERDICT:
MOST BUSH-READY
VERDICT:
MOST TOWING POTENTIAL
EN E
!
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Theres no doubt the BT-50 is adventurous and in a lot of ways similar
to the Ranger. As soon as you hit the dirt, it becomes even more
predictable and very easy to control. We werent scoring it any
differently because it was a manual, but its still worth noting that it
shifts faultlessly and smoothly, and manages different loads well (itll
crawl comfortably uphill in second-low all day). The factory rear diff
lock, hill decent control and EBD all work well together off-road,
particularly down rocky descents. The rear diff lock engages surpris-
ingly quickly too.
In the sand the BT-50 offers plenty of grunt and a broad gear
selection, making it very easy to drive. Vision from the drivers seat is a
little restricted, which makes it hard to see when tackling technical
sections of track. That said, the factory diff means you dont have to be
as selective when picking your lines.
MAZDA BT-50
Dual cab utility XT manual
CLEARANCES
APPROACH: 27.6
DEPARTURE: 27.1
RAMP-OVER: 24.4
RUNDOWN
ENGINE
3.2L in-line 5-cylinder,
20-valve DOHC, intercooled
turbo-diesel, 147kW@3000rpm
and 470Nm@17502500rpm
TRANSMISSION
6-speed automatic
4WD SYSTEM
Electronically controlled,
shift-on-the-y transfer case
DIFFERENTIALS
Locking rear differential (LRD)
FUEL TANK
80L
BRAKES
REAR: 295mm drum
TYRES
255/70R16
TOWING (BRAKED)
3350kg
MAX WADING DEPTH
800mm
LIST PRICE
$44,420
*As tested
CLEARANCES
m
$
1622.06
PAYLOAD: 1139KG
U RUNN NNIN INGG CO COST ST STSSS PE PE PERRR YE YE YEAR AR AR
RR
20.13L/100KM
2
n
d
PLACE!
H
SEE IT LIVE!
Want to see what Steve Zamo
Zammit thinks of the BT-50?
Just scan the code or head to
www.4wdaction.com.au/uotyresults
CLEARANCES
APPROACH: 30
DEPARTURE: 22
RAMP-OVER: 33
RUNDOWN
ENGINE
2.8L 4-cylinder Duramax
turbo-diesel
direct common-rail injection,
132kW@3800rpm and
470Nm@2000rpm (auto)
TRANSMISSION
6-speed automatic
4WD SYSTEM
Electronic shift-on-the-y;
2-speed transfer case
DIFFERENTIALS
Rear LSD
FUEL TANK
76L
BRAKES
REAR DRUM: 295 drum
TYRES
LTZ: 255/65R17 tyres, 17in
alloy wheels
TOWING (BRAKED)
3500kg
MAX WADING DEPTH
600mm
LIST PRICE
$49,990
*As tested
isc
SCORECARD
MECHANICALS: 9.4/10
PAYLOAD: 9.6/10
VALUE FOR MONEY: 20/20
TOTAL: 93.6/100
To get into a Colorado, youre looking at $49,990, which puts it in
second place price-wise after the Amarok. That price positioning
makes it an attractive buy in anyones book.
Were big fans of the engine, and while the transmission is a little
slushy, its an overall tough package. Its also good to see the engine
and front diff are well-protected, but like a lot of full-length utes, the
transfer case is exposed. In particular the shifter solenoid, so tting a
belly-pan bash plate would be worthwhile.
The Colorado has a shorter top A-arm within the front suspension
set-up. Couple that with generous-sized guards and theres no doubt
youll be able to t big rubber without the need for spacers a big plus
when it comes time for a new set of wheels.
All in all, with a bit of barwork, a suspension lift and bigger rubber,
youve got a truck thatll keep up with the competition off-road. Its
also worth noting that the Colorados traction control system actually
works off-road!
HOLDEN COLORADO
LTZ Crew Cab turbo-diesel auto
$
1498.71
PAYLOAD: 1047KG
UUU N NN NN NN N IN IN INGGGG CO CO CO COST ST ST ST STSSSSS PE PE PE PE PERRRRR YE YE YE YE YE YEAR AR AR AR AR AR
RU RU RU RR
19.71L/100KM
3rd
PLACE!
The Colorados very easy to
drive. Its sure-footed and offers
plenty of ground clearance. The
rear end is soft, so if you plan on
carrying this sort of weight all
the time, youll need to upgrade
it. Allan
se
RD
EE IT LIVE!
SCORECARD
OFF-ROAD PERFORMANCE: 10/10
MECHANICALS: 9.8/10
PAYLOAD: 10/10
TOTAL: 93.8/100
HOLDEN COLOR
VERDICT:
BEST VALUE FOR MONEY
VERDICT:
BEST LOW-RANGE PERFORMANCE
0
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CLEARANCES
APPROACH: 37
DEPARTURE: 27
RAMP-OVER: 21
RUNDOWN
ENGINE
3.0L, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel,
16-valve DOHC,
130kW@3600rpm and
380Nm@1800-2800rpm (auto)
TRANSMISSION
5-speed tri-mode automatic
with Adaptive Grade Logic,
overdrive top gear and lock-up
torque converter
4WD SYSTEM
Console-mounted shift-on-the-fly
4H selection at up to 100km/h.
Ultra-low 40:1 manual rst gear
low-range with stall-saver for
idle speed crawl and max
engine-braking on steep
descent. With hill-ascent and
descent control
DIFFERENTIALS
Not required with ESC and TCS
FUEL TANK
76L
BRAKES
FRONT: 300mm ventilated
discs with two-pot calipers
REAR: 295mm diameter
ABS with EBD/ Brake Assist,
ESC and TCS
TYRES
255/65 R17 on 17x7in alloys
TOWING (BRAKED)
3000kg
LIST PRICE
$51,700
*As tested
REAL-WORLD RESULTS
Truth be told, youd be happy with any one of these utes. No longer
are utes uncomfortable, agricultural workhorses. These days
theyre capable of taking on daily driving duties, theyll get you to the
toughest tracks on a weekend, or take you to remote parts of the
country in comfort and without breaking a sweat. You can see the
results for yourself the numbers are that close it really is splitting
hairs. But, when it comes down to it, you need to know youre getting
value for money.
The D-MAX deserves the crown, offering unsurpassed off-road
ability, top-tier load carrying capacity, a comfortable ride, truck-
loads of power all the while returning the most economical fuel
gures of all seven utes. Its so in tune with a 4WDers lifestyle, wed
be surprised if the chief engineer over at Isuzu didnt drive to work
in low-range.
The Ranger, Colorado and BT-50 are also formidable fourbies.
Theyve got what it takes to last in harsh environments, like steel
bashplates, a proven driveline, and suspension that just works. You
wouldnt think twice about taking one of these into the bush on your
next off-road adventure.
And while the HiLux, Amarok and Navara didnt score as many points,
you wouldnt complain if you had one parked in your driveway. They really
are bloody good trucks. You just might need to budget for a few mods,
such as a decent set of tyres like the Coopers we ran, or in the case of the
Euro-spec utes a new set of tools, before heading off-road.
$
1933.58
PAYLOAD: 1010KG
UUU N NN NN NNIN IN IN INGGGG CO CO CO COST ST ST ST STSSSSS PE PE PE PE PERRRRR YE YE YE YE YE YEAR AR AR AR AR AR
RU RU RU RRR
18.90L/100KM
They were all good for dirt
roads, but the D-MAX just
pipped the others at the post.
Not for being a star, but for
doing everything in a
no-nonsense manner. It is
truly built for the Aussie
bush. Rosie
ISUZU D-MAX
LS-Terrain Crew Ute auto
1
s
t
PLA
CE!
The D-MAX has come a long way in recent years, and although it shares
a number of components with the Colorado, the engine and gearbox
package is enough to clearly separate them. Its the little things like
three separate v-section drive belts, no exposed ECU in the engine bay,
the alternators up high, and the transfer is protected by the cross-
member, which make it a pure-bred 4WD.
Build quality is awless, even after the off-road sections there were
no new creaks or groans from the interior. Visibility from the drivers
seat is unbeaten, though the top of the range LS-Terrain we tested has
noticeably rmer seats than the others. Suppose, this is ideal for any
full-gured bloke, but anyone with an average build may have to invest
in some sheepskin seat covers.
All in all, the D-MAX would be
quite happy turning up to work on
a Monday morning, but you just
know its begging to be put in
low-range!
CLEARANCE NCESS
y
r
y
SCORECARD
OFF-ROAD PERFORMANCE: 10/10
MECHANICALS: 10/10
ABILITY TO MODIFY: 10/10
FUEL ECONOMY: 10/10
PAYLOAD: 9.3/10
TOTAL: 94.0/100
VERDICT:
MOST ECONOMICAL
MAX
P
VERDICT:
BEST OVERALL
CONTACTS
COOPER TIRES
PH: 1300 COOPER
W: WWW.COOPERTIRES.COM.AU
SEE ALL THE ACTION FROM THE TEST!
Want to see how the utes performed on the tracks? Head to
www.4wdaction.com.au/uotyresults to see how the judges scored each
vehicle, where theyd put their money, and for a whole bunch of videos
and high-res images from the test!
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