Readers' Rides

JONATHON DAVIES - LIVES: IVANHOE EAST, VIC - DRIVES: 2023 D-MAX 4X4 X-TERRAIN

This is my son Jayden and me taking on some beautiful mountain biking terrain in the Black Spur between Healesville and Marysville. He loves the truck! Both of our electric bikes slide into the tray really nicely and we try to get out there on weekends and holidays whenever we can.

You can get the ute into some pretty remote locations, so we often go as far as we can and then unload the bikes and explore further from there. We enjoy the freedom. It works as a mental health break for both of us, just escaping the pressures of the city and spending time together.

The trip from Melbourne is super comfortable with the leather interior and fantastic sound system. Actually, we both love the car—and the Volcanic Amber colour looks amazing. It’s also perfect for hunting and fishing trips.

PETER ROWELL - LIVES: MOAMA, NSW - DRIVES: 2023 MU-X 4X4 LS-T

I used to run a 4WD school back in the day, but now I’m retired and I have a little farm down near Heathcote, which is about an hour away from home. And we have family up and down the coast, so we’re always putting in the highway miles—we’ve done 15,000km in the last nine months.

We’re just very happy with the MU-X—it’s our car for everything, whether we’re visiting interstate, ducking down to maintain the fences, or cutting a bit of firewood. We actually managed to dismantle and fit a 3.6m-long extension dining table into the back the other day and there was still room for our luggage. And the dog!

JOHN HUGGARD - LIVES: TAYLORS LAKES, VIC - DRIVES: 2021 MU-X 4X4 LS-U

We purchased a camper-trailer in 2016 as the entry level to travelling Australia. We wanted to test the waters without fully committing, but we just loved it. So we decided we would buy a caravan and go all-in, but needed a proper tow vehicle as well. Thus, after much research, we made the call for an MU-X.

We’re on our way to Queensland now to escape the winter, with a vague plan to plonk down anywhere we like for three or four weeks if the fishing is good or I’m enjoying the local golf courses. What we like is the sense of adventure you have—there really is a rolling community. You can just pull up and chat—me about the tow cars, my wife about the caravans—and rub shoulders with like-minded people. Stop and say hello if you see us!

KERRY HAYNES - LIVES: SALISBURY HEIGHTS, SA - DRIVES: 2023 D-MAX X-4X4 TERRAIN

I just love to get away whenever I can—even for just one-night camping trips. With the X-TERRAIN it’s just so easy to throw everything in the tub and off you go. It takes all the hassle out of preparation and you’re straight on the road and heading out of the city.

I’ve been to the Flinders, been to the Murray, done a few local trips to Mount Crawford, and you just can’t beat the campfire at night and the peace and the serenity. I’ve had cargo rails installed across the tray of the D-MAX since this photo was taken and now I just pop the swag on top of that and sleep under the stars. And with the fridge, my deck chairs, my wood and all my food safely underneath, I have everything I need!

PETA OTTWAY - LIVES: HUONVILLE, TAS - DRIVES: 2020 MU-X 4X4 LS-U

We live in Huonville in Tasmania on a 200-acre cattle farm and we flood nearly every single winter. Well, the river starts at Scotts Peak Dam, so one day we thought we’d take a drive up there before the rain started and see where all our water problems come from! That’s where we snapped this picture.

I would estimate that over 150 acres of our place regularly goes underwater, so we need a 4WD to deal with that. Sometimes it’s so deep that we’ve had to go out on kayaks and get the cattle in! But it’s not all work. Last year we took it over to the Deni Ute Muster, took the swag and the fridge and Jenga-ed it all into the back for an 11-day trip. We love the MU-X so much that my partner has just bought himself a D-MAX!