We gather nine of Australia’s top-selling 4x4 utes, and the best reviewers from across the country, to determine Australia’s best ute
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The Mega Ute Test lineup
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Get ready for the most comprehensive-ever evaluation of all the popular utes on sale in Australia!
Bauer Media’s Transport and Machinery titles, in conjunction with Australia’s leading 4WD magazine, 4×4 Australia, and Australia’s leading car magazine, Wheels, has gathered together all of the popular utes for a week-long knockout to find out just what is Australia’s best ute overall.
THE CONTENDERS
• Ford Ranger: Big and brawny and Australia’s most popular 4WD ute in 2017
• Holden Colorado: 500Nm of torque can’t be wrong! That’s more than Ranger.
• Isuzu D-Max: Much loved thanks to its service simplicity and reliability. The mechanic’s favourite.
• Mazda BT-50: Shares much with the Ford Ranger including a 3.2-litre five-cylinder engine but generally cheaper to buy.
• Mitsubishi Triton: Smaller than most competitor utes but Australia’s cheapest mainstream ute and third-best selling 4WD ute overall.
• Mercedes Benz X-Class: The new ute on the block based on the Nissan Navara. This is its first outing.
• Nissan Navara: Its coil sprung rear suspension has been revised after earlier load-carrying shortfalls.
• Toyota Hilux: Australia’s most popular ute (and has been for years) if you add 2WD sales to its 4WD sales.
• Volkswagen Amarok V6: Powerhouse V6 diesel pumps a mighty 180kW, all kept under control by full-time 4WD.
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TEST PROCEDURE
Over a gruelling five days at the Melbourne 4×4 Training and Proving Ground at Werribee near Melbourne, all of the utes will undergo a series of test to determine the winner. The tests include:
• Carrying a maximum payload over a bumpy and demanding road course
• Carrying five people over a different but still demanding road course
• Ride and handling evaluation on a third road course with plenty of corners and bumps
• Off-road testing on steep and rough climbs, moguls, steep ramps, and through deep-water crossings
• Electronically measured acceleration and braking tests in a controlled environment
• Fuel consumption tests via accurate and independent measurement.
TEST CREW
No fewer than seven judges, some with many decades of vehicle-testing experience, will conduct and oversee the tests.
Our judges include Cobey Bartels from Owner Driver, Fraser Stronach, Matt Raudonikis and Justin Walker from 4×4 Australia and Ash Westerman, Byron Mathioudakis and Daniel Gardner from Wheels.
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THE RESULTS
Full results will be published both online as well as in special editions of ATN (#382 – on sale July 24), Deals on Wheels (#329 – on sale July 9), Owner Driver (#306 – on sale July 9), Earthmovers & Excavators (#348 – on sale July 23), Farms & Farm Machinery (#361 – on sale July 19), 4×4 Australia (on sale July 19) and Wheels (on sale July 12).
In the meantime, check Facebook to keep up with the action direct from this week’s shootout!
