LCV Nov/Dec 2018

UTES R US! RANGER RAPTOR, COLORADO XTREME, V6 AMAROK, X-CLASS V6, BT-50 ROC

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Nov/Dec 2018 2 BEHIND THE WHEEL Editor’s thoughts and opinions on this month’s motoring happenings.

4 NEWS It’s a busy month. Though in the SUV, ute and LCV world, it’s always busy.

8 ACCESSORISED Some new products for some window shopping at the aftermarket.

10 NIFTY 50 Mazda’s BT-50 gets a visual boost in the form of the Limited Edition.

12 EDGE OF TOMORROW Ford sneaks in the ‘old’ Endura ST, before the new & improved one arrives in 2019.

14 OUTBACK TO ITS BEST Subaru’s 3.6-litre Outback is a smooth and silky drive, and always has been.

16 BEAR OF GOOD NEWS Skoda gives its award-winning Kodiaq a makeover in Sportline guide.

20 UTE-OUT SHOOTOUT Plenty of action in the top-line ute sector as we do a paper comparo of the top four.

22 HIGH FIVE The fastest and most famous utes, and quickest SUVs. Number 1 will amaze you…

28 PACK & SAVE Cheap, but just how cheerful? We profile LDV’s T60 and Great Wall’s Steed cut-price utes.

36 TAKING STOCK Age, experience and wisdom, Mike Stock tells it like it is, and was.

38 TOW TEST Volkswagen’s V6 Amarok put under the microscope, and in front of a fishing boat.

42 MARKET WRAP:

SUV & UTE The month in the biggest moving automotive sector.

44 LIKE IT! Hyundai’s iLoad, more than just a cliché’d iCar, and a great package.

45 MARKET WRAP: VAN The month in van sales – aka, measuring how much Hiace is leading by.

48 MARKET WRAP:

LIGHT TRUCK The month in light-truck sales and stories.

50 MUM’S THE WORD SUVing from a family and female perspective, sans pandering or condescension.

51 SHOWROOM Listing all the SUVs, utes, vans and light-trucks on sale.

56 UTE-OPIA Send them in, we’ll show them off.

LCV | 1

SUV • UTE • VAN • LIGHT-TRUCKS

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2 | LCV

CHEAP AND CHEERFUL IS OFTEN THE clichéd excuse for lacking in quality. In the 1980s, ‘Made in Taiwan’ used to be a common marking on toys and products of volume, and somewhat, sometimes questionable quality; but times evolve and both quality and perception change – normally strictly in that order. Even Back to the Future III’s Doc Brown made a similar comment in 1955, when he assumed the cause of an electrical component problem was due to it being ‘made in Japan’. Of course by 1985, where the component came from, comes the reply: ‘all the best stuff is made in Japan’.

A year later in 1986, a Korean car company launched locally, and by the end of the 1990s, was one of the best-selling cars in the country.

And over the past 15 years, Hyundai has reliably produced a range of vehicles that have proven powerful, stylish and price competitive, especially for the equipment level. Fellow Korean carmaker Kia may have been a few years behind Hyundai in its development timeline, but over the recent decade, it’s produced some great models that have compared to the best global offerings from Japan and Europe. Even fellow Korean carmaker, SsangYong’s most recent SUV, the Rexton G4 is a big step forward for the company and country, with the looming Musso promising similar things.

In the early 2000s, ‘Chinese-made’ carried the stigma of cheap and not that cheerful, but over the past 20 years, it’s done and doing to the automotive world what Hyundai and Kia have both managed. In its early days, the Chinese car industry was more blatant and blase about its automotive copycatting… er, sorry, ‘styling influences’, but since then, the Chinese market as a whole has shown signs of improvement and maturity.

While we still may be in relatively early phases, we have recently seen a run of impressively decent Chinese cars. Launched just five years ago, Haval is one that has

shown promise for such a young company, with the H9 SUV tested last issue ranking as a solid, extremely well equipped and pricecompetitive SUV. Along with the H2 and H6, there’s a range of Haval SUVs covering all sizes, and though the H9 was not devoid of gripes, they were minor, particularly with the value-for-money reminder.

Haval’s parent company Great Wall Motors produces the three-model Steed ute, and while it’s easy to dismiss its handful of shortcomings, there’s a niggling reminder that the price positions it as the second-cheapest ute in the country, behind Mahindra’s Pik-Up. Foton’s Tunland is another Chinese ute that has proven itself as very solid for the price.

Not forgetting LDV, the other player in the Chinese ute market, and arguably the best of the Chinese take-aways. In the $30-$40k bracket, it’s a nice niche found as the valuefor-money bellcurve starts to rise, well before the law of diminishing returns, while its key and conventional rivals all ‘start’ around the $40k mark, and progress up to and beyond $70k. It’s generally a matter of getting what you pay for, but like the Korean cars of decades past and to an extent still today, the Chinese products offer more for less, to help entice buyers, impress and prove themselves in the market.

Cover up the badge, if you must, but the Chinese SUVs and utes are coming, they’re getting better with every model update, and continue to offer up solid alternatives to the likes of the popular models. While the likes of Ranger, Hilux, Colorado, Triton, Navara, BT-50 and D-Max are the top sellers for good reason, the evolution of the Chinese brands are proving that cheap is no longer an automatic passage to nasty.

Dean Evans – dean@trucker.co.nz

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KODIAQ RS ARRIVES!

Skoda’s Karoq SportLine is also due to arrive in NZ around the same time as Kodiaq RS, in March 2019.

THE BIG BEAR HAS ARRIVED, AND IT’S heading for New Zealand in March! Skoda’s Kodiaq RS was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in early October, following it setting the Nurburgring seven-seat SUV lap record.

Upping the Kodiaq’s game over even the SportLine (page 16), the Kodiaq boosts power via its 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel fourcylinder from 132kW to 176kW and 500Nm through a seven-speed DSG and AWD.

Expect 0-100km/h in 6.7-seconds, which matches the VW Tiguan Allspace, that also uses the same bi-turbo diesel engine. We get one up on Australia, who won’t get the RS model, as it’s deemed a hot climate which can’t cope with the power.

And in more Skoda news, NZ will also see the Karoq five-seat SUV ‘SportLine’ version around the same time, with similar upgrades as the Kodiaq SportLine.

GO FISH!

NZ LCV MAGAZINE HAS TEAMED UP WITH NZ FISHING NEWS magazine for this month’s towing test. Plus LCV mag was also bagged 2-for-1 with Fishing News December issue, so if you’re a Fishing News reader, welcome! For LCV readers, we’ve put together a fishing subscription promotion: subscribe to LCV mag, and have the mag mailed to your door, and go into the running to win one of five Shimano rod & reel packs: a Shimano Bait Runner 8000oc Reel with Aqua Tip 6-10kg rod, valued at $250 each. To be in the running as one of the five lucky winners, see page 3 for how to subscribe, entries close midnight January 31.

RENAULT ESPACE F1 2018

THE RENAULT ESPACE IS THE WORLD’S FASTEST VAN, AS WE’VE detailed on page 35 this issue – but it was built way back in 1995.

But automotive concept designer Marco van Overbeek has come up with a modern-day interpretation of the Formula 1 van, which would hopefully (but unlikely) provoke Renault into actually building it, rather than sub-par Formula 1 engines. It makes sense, given how good the Trafic is, LCV magazine’s 2017 van of the year.

4 | LCV

NEW FACE FOR HILUX BEAUT UTES WINNER

MOST OF THE HILUX RANGE HAS BEEN GIVEN a face makeover for 2018, with the up-spec models scoring a new honeycomb grille with chrome surround, fog light garnish and black bonnet garnish, styled by the Australian design team in Melbourne.

In addition, improvements to efficiency have resulted in most six-speed automatic

models offering a slightly reduced fuel consumption. Combined fuel consumption for 4x2 SR and SR5 automatic models has been cut by 0.2l/100km to 7.9l/100km. Auto SR and SR5 4x4 models gain a 0.1l/100km improvement with combined fuel consumption falling to 8.4l/100m.

WE HAVE A WINNER! AND THIS ISSUE IT’S Andy Spence, who wins a $100 voucher from Beaut Utes, just for posting a pic and opinion of his ute to our Facebook page. It’s as simple as that: go to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/nzLCVmag, look for the Ute-opia post and comment away to be in the running.

SERVICE REDIFINED

SERVICE BODY CANOPIES - HARDLIDS - BEDLINERS - PROTECTION BARS - SERVICE BODIES STORAGE SYSTEMS - SLIDING FLOORS - ROOF RACKS - FLAT DECKS For more info 0800 159 999 | www.beaututes.co.nz

LCV | 5

EVANS ELECTRIC NEW ZEALAND ENDURANCE CHAMP AND RACER Simon Evans will be the only Kiwi in the first electric production car racing series that starts in Saudi Arabia in December.

While older brother Mitch races in the Formula E series, Simon will race in the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy SUV series, an all-electric vehicle, following an acclimatisation test session at Silverstone, UK, in late September.

Simon represents one of five continents and 20 cars racing in the 10-round international series,

adding: “Mitch races in Formula E and I’ve been following it for a few years now; it’s exciting, it’s definitely the future so it’s great to be involved.

The Jaguar exceeded all my expectations, it was really nice to drive and the braking performance is really good. Having my brother there will be great too – we’ll be supporting each other and he’ll definitely be pushing me on.”

For more information on the series and cars visit: www.jaguar.com/electrification/i-pacee-trophy.

GIBBONS DECKS MANUFACTURERS OF UTE decks and gullwing toolboxes, Gibbons Engineering in Morrinsville manufacturers products for all the leading utes: Ranger, Triton, Colorado, Amarok, Hilux, LDV, Navara and Landcruiser, for civil engineers, construction, beekeepers, farmers and fishermen.

Its decks are fabricated from hot-dip galvanised steel frames with 18mm transtex/kwila decking, with various options such as colour coded sides (to match the ute), pressed alloy, and kwila and pressed alloy with transtex inserts. Gibbons also manufacturers tipper bodies and more. For more information visit Gibbons Engineering, www.gibbons-eng.co.nz.

6 | LCV

ENDURA 2019 WHILE THE FORD ENDURA ST HAS LANDED IN a one-model range for 2018, and driven and reviewed on page 12 this issue, the 2019 Edge/Endura has already launched in other overseas markets, with associated updates, and addressing some of the issues we raised.

We can expect to see not just the ST, but a whole line-up of models of Endura launch in NZ in early 2019 .

The new X-Class.

Available now at Trucks & Trailers.

The X-Class is offered in three grades, with a multitude of customisation options to make it your own.

PURE is the stripped back workhorse of the three, ideal for rugged, functional use.

From $53,300*.

PROGRESSIVE can be a calling card for your business, and a comfortable, sophisticated vehicle for private use. From $63,000*.

POWER provides style, comfort and performance. Through its design and high level of equipment, it reflects an independent and individualistic mindset. From $69,000*.

Visit Trucks & Trailers and test drive today. *Manufactures Recommended Retail Price including GST, excluding On Road Costs.

Trucks & Trailers 88 Wiri Station Rd, Manukau, Auckland 0800 327 777

LCV | 7

SLIDING FLOOR

1

Beaut Utes’ new Slider Floor is ideal for organising a load, and bringing everything within easy reach. No need to climb up a wellside to reach gear, the Slider Floor is a sturdy, extending load area able to take up to 350kg with full bed access, with an integrated brake and three locking positions. With adjustable tie hooks, it can be operated with one hand and resists commonly-used chemicals and is easy to clean. Priced at $1500+GST.

1

Contact: Beaut Utes www.beaututes.co.nz

2

BEST BARS COUPLING

New Zealand’s most popular trailer coupling is also fitted as original equipment by major trailer manufacturers.

Cast in steel for high strength, the 2000kg lever couplings are simple to operate, available to suit either 17/8 -inch or 50mm balls (which complies with NZ standards) and have an electro zinc plated finish. Around $42+GST each.

2

Contact: Trail Com Ltd www.trojan.co.nz

3

X-CLASS CANOPY

New Mercedes-Benz X-Class need a canopy? Trucks & Trailers has a range of accessories sorted, including this body colour matched Sports Canopy. Available with or without roof rails, it features a flush, no-handle design, dark tint and pop-out driver’s side and lift-up passenger side windows. With LED lighting and robust lining, it also features central locking on the rear and lift-up windows, along with a water and dust defence kit.

From $5832 or $6450 (with rails), which includes GST and fitting.

Contact: Trucks & Trailers www.trucksandtrailers.co.nz

8 | LCV

3

4

4

MASTERFIT ROOF BOX

Rhino Rack’s top-of-the-line 530-litre Masterfit Roof Box can carry up to 75kg of camping equipment, prams/strollers, snow gear, wakeboards or golf clubs, and attaches with a Twist to Tighten & Press to Lock clamping system.

Aerodynamically designed and built from tough and durable materials, the box can open from either side and fits directly onto Rhino-Rack’s Vortex and Euro systems, or to Heavy Duty bars via an RUBK-MF fitting kit. The black Masterfit Roof Box retails for $999, with two load securing straps.

Contact: Rhino Rack stockists www.rhinorack.co.nz

CUSTOMISE YOUR CANOPY TO SUIT YOUR LIFESTYLE YOUR AMBITION DRIVES US ACTIONMANUFACTURING.CO.NZ 37 Kaimiro Street, Hamilton +64 7 850 2410 sales@actionmanufacturing.co.nz

LCV | 9

NIFTY 50 More than just a cut-price Ranger, Mazda’s BT-50 is, well, like a cut-price Ranger.

Story & Photos: Dean Evans

With the same 3.2-litre five-cylinder, the BT-50 is basically a Ford Ranger in Japanese clothing.

SOMETIMES LOGIC DOES NOT PREVAIL. While Ford’s Ranger tops the New Zealand ute sales pole, Mazda’s BT-50 sits in a relatively low seventh, behind Nissan Navara and Isuzu D-Max, and ahead of VW’s Amarok.

This is a little odd, not because the Mazda is particularly better or worse than its nearest rivals, but because the BT-50 is basically a Ranger in Japanese clothing, using the same 3.2-litre five-cylinder, producing the same 147kW and 470Nm, with an arguably better interior, and even a little faster than the Ford.

Against the clock, this BT-50’s 0-100km/h time of 10.9 seconds is 0.6 faster than the Ranger Wildtrak, and even 0.3 quicker to 60km/h – and it’s just five-percent lighter.

While drag racing isn’t either’s forte, it is an interesting comparison starting point, because this Limited Edition BT-50 is not just $4000 cheaper than the spec-equivalent Ranger XL, it’s also $3,800 less than the regular BT-50 GSX on which it’s based.

This BT-50 is a Special Edition of just

10 | LCV

Above: BT-50 interior is clean and functional with all the basics: cloth seats, steering wheel controls, touchscreen and dual-zone climate.

50 units in either 2WD ($43,995) or 4WD is based on the mid-spec GSX version, and offers 17-inch black alloys, wheelarches, ROC retracting hardlid and ROC Sportsbar, Bedrug bed liner, bonnet protector plus host of little extras that are popular during the showroom checkout, like custom mats, tubular side steps, weather-shields and matte graphics on Aluminium Metallic paint.

With more for less, the question is where does Mazda skimp? Not inside, with the Special Edition also getting navigation and rear parking sensors. The overall interior feel is basic but well done, with lots of black plastic; dual zone climate, manual but comfortable cloth seats, Bluetooth and a shifter from the Ford Falcon parts shelf; all work well, as does Mazda’s own proprietary touchscreen – which isn’t as user-friendly as others, though it does offer CarPlay/Android Auto. The dials are clear and the cabin carries that red-lit and black look consistent across a few of its models.

Cupholders, a simple switch for 4WD mode and a reversing camera display in the mirror make the interior an accommodating place, while the rear seats get a flip-down centre console.

On the road, there are natural similarities to draw with the Ranger, and that’s a very good thing. The five-cylinder is a little more muffled in the Mazda, but it still summons a pile of power and torque across the range in any gear with a smooth, effortless wave of acceleration and pulling power. So no problems there at all!

The gearbox glides between the wellspaced ratios and the steering is equally sharp, though not able to improve the Ranger’s sizeable 12.4m turning circle.

With a Ranger-matching 3500kg towing capacity, surely the BT-50’s downfall must be its suspension. Nope, that’s accomplished as well, offering a solid compromise of ride quality and load

Top: Reversing camera in rear-view mirror offers guide lines for both parking and lining up a trailer hitch.

Below: Rear seats are comfortable, feature two ISOFIX mounting points and a flipdown armrest.

carrying that’s similar to the rivals. With 10.0l/100km offered for fuel consumption, it is a fraction less frugal than the Ford on paper, but we found that the real-world figures of both were almost identical, and both from the same 80-litre tank offering a range of more than 700km.

So it must be down to looks, which is entirely subjective. The more swoopy styled BT-50 certainly looks good in our books, but maybe ute buyers prefer the chunky, squared off look. And if that’s the case, then buyers are missing out because the

Top: ROC retracting hardlid also a feature of the BT-50 Special Edition.

Below: Special Edition includes non-slip Bedrug polypropolene bedliner, which can be washed, doesn’t absorb water and includes a hinge.

BT-50 shares Ranger DNA for a fraction of its price and offers a great drive at a good price. And this Special Edition makes the Mazda even more appealing.

SPEC CHECK Mazda BT-50 Special Edition 4WD Engine:

3.2-litre turbo diesel five-cyl

Power:

147kW@3000rpm

Torque:

470Nm@1750-2500

Gearbox:

Six-speed auto

Economy:

10.0l/100km

Weight:

2118kg

0-60/100km/h:

4.3sec/10.9sec (tested)

0-400m:

17.4@122km/h (tested)

Price:

$53,995

Rating (/5) Verdict:

Quick, engaging and aggressive, at nice price

LCV | 11

EDGE OF TOMORROW Story & Photos: Dean Evans

Ford’s new Endura ST arrives in 2019 - but to introduce the badge, Ford NZ squeezed a few 2018 models through the closing door. So how does the soonto-be-superseded five-seat SUV stack up?

THERE’S A BRUTISH LOOK TO THE NEW Ford Endura ST: its bulldog-like, muscular styling over 20-inch wheels hunkered over lowered sports suspension, and sizing-you-up face is unlike most SUVs, and the American Ford has a real edge to it. Of course, it’s actually badged ‘Edge’ globally, but as Toyota owns the name locally, Ford devised Endura.

FYI, Edge badges are available on eBay for around $30.

So the Endura ST lands here as both a replacement to the Territory that left the market a few years back, and five-seat SUV range-topper, limited to just 300, along with

a prelude to the face-lift model due in early 2019, and a subsequent wider range. For now, the $73,990 ST model introduces the Endura badge, and it’s a mix of both good and OK. What is good is the engine: a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel producing 154kW and 450Nm. It does feel like a good engine not supported by its partners, and feels sluggish off the line, like it’s trying to overcome a lot of weight. Surprisingly light 1949kg, against the Vbox timer we clocked 0-100km/h in 9.1 seconds, but its 0-60km/h time of 4.1 seconds reveals it’s a bit sleepy off the

mark, particularly when the start-stop tech, six-speed auto gearbox and turbo lag all conspire together. Its 0-60 time is the same as Holden’s Colorado, and 0.2 slower than Holden’s Trailblazer. Once it’s rolling, the Endura lifts its knees and sprints away, and distances itself from both the Holden ute and SUV. Once moving, Endura ST is not just smooth and torquey, it’s extremely quiet, with almost zero engine noise combined with active noise cancelling.

This helps push and promote the Endura’s comfort levels and while it’s only a

Endura manages 0-100km/h in 9.1 secs, and it’s extremely quiet thanks to active noise cancelling.

12 | LCV

SPEC CHECK Ford Endura ST

Top Left: Endura ST seats are high, and look down on the dash, which has plenty of gear including Ford SYNC3, which replicates the Waze navigation app, great for live traffic updates.

Top Right: Gauges are clear, though the economy reads in km/l. Radar cruise control and lane assist are just some of the tech features.

Above Left: Rear seats are two-stage heated and feature inflating seat-belts to disperse load in the event of a crash.

Above Right: Boot is spacious, with enough room to easily swallow a booster seat or two. Lots of cubbies and 12v power, too, with switches to electrically lower the rear seats.

Engine:

2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel four

Power:

154kW@3750rpm

Torque:

450Nm@2000-2250rpm

Gearbox:

Six-speed auto, AWD

Economy:

5.9l/100km

0-60/100km/h:

4.1sec/9.1sec (tested)

0-400m:

16.6@134km/h

Price:

$73,990

Rating (/5): Verdict:

Solid, imperfect preview to 2019 range.

The 2019 Ford Edge has already launched overseas; NZ will see a full range of Endura in 2019. five-seater (Everest remains the Ford sevenseater), it’s a very comfortable five seats. Up front is the full array of mod-cons such as part leather, heated and cooled seats that are mounted quite high. There’s a reverse camera and cross-traffic alert, plus active and passive driving aids like lane keeping, blind spot warnings, front and rear sensors and adaptive cruise control. The usuals are there in a top-line model, like keyless entry/ start, automatic parking and autonomous

braking, plus a hands-free power tailgate with a preset height for low garages. Other touches are equally impressive, such as speed sign recognition/display, Bluetooth microphones above each front seat, and super deep cupholders.

Tech wise, there’s SYNC3, Ford’s latest software system which interfaces on the big eight-inch screen with Apple CarPlay/Android, plus for the first time it replicates Waze, the Google-owned userLED head and taillights give Endura ST a modern, muscular look.

submitted live traffic app. The only oddities are the Euro-spec left-side indicator stalk and the outward-sweeping wipers, which work fine, and a left-side bonnet release. In the rear row are heated seats that lower electrically, but manually raise, ISOFIX mounting points for kids seats, and inflating seat belts to disperse crash energy across a wider area; 12v/220v sockets and lots of storage and hooks and cubbies are also very handy.

Economy wise, Ford claims a very impressive 5.9l/100km combined and 6.5l/100km around town; though we saw around 9.1l/100km of urban work, after converting the km/l dash display. Purely on the motorway, this dropped to sixes.

Another anomaly is the radar cruise control which works great, but switches itself off under 20km/h. This was a safety feature of years ago, but proven unnecessary these days with good radar cruise systems able to come to a stop, and restart. It’s a reminder that this Endura ST is indeed a generation old, and with that comes minor tech and features that have moved on in just a few short years. The 2018 Endura ST is a good appetiser, but we’re looking forward to the main in 2019.

LCV | 13

OUTBACK TO ITS BEST

Story & Photos: Dean Evans

Subaru’s Outback never went away, but it’s sometimes forgotten in the SUV race. But how has it kept pace with a big capacity flat-cylinder!?

THREE-POINT-SIX-LITRES OF PETROLpowered horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine has been an iconic part of the Subaru Outback for almost two decades.

It’s an engine layout used in Porsche’s venerable 911 for good reason, with power, torque and a warbling sound that’s full of character.

As one of the original crossover/SUVs, Subaru’s best-selling Outback has seen its engine capacity grow from 3.0-litres to the current 3.6-litres, and it’s always been the better, stronger and driver’s choice for the big wagon, as well as the Legacy - the big-six often being a better choice than twin-turbo four-cylinders.

And in an increasingly efficient motoring

landscape where engines are downsizing, it’s a mild relief to realise the longevity and lifespan of the 3.6-litre petrol engine.

It’s not without its own refinement, either, with Subaru claiming 9.9l/100km for the combined fuel cycle, a good improvement over previous iterations and theoretically good for around 550km from its 60-litre tank. We saw 10.5/100km.

It’s an engine that produces a strong but relatively unstressed 191kW and 350Nm, at least when compared to a 2002 911’s 3.6-litre engine that made 235kW/370Nm and used 12.1l/100km.

Hardly slow either, and while Subaru spruiks a 0-100km/h time of 7.6 seconds, it did not take much to demolish that

claim and record 7.0 seconds by simply loading up brake against throttle and releasing. Subaru’s iconic all-wheel drive system and active torque split eliminates tyre slip, and though the continuously variable transmission ‘Subaru Lineartronic Transmission’ is fine for producing those numbers at the drags, during normal use, it’s sometimes caught out of its happy zone.

Subaru does compensate for this somewhat with its manual paddle-shift override, and SI-Drive mode, which alters the aggressiveness of responses in three modes.

But the Outback is largely about the comfort and space, and it serves up in both

While Subaru spruiks a 0-100km/h time of 7.6 seconds, it didn’t take much to demolish that claim and record a time of 7.0 seconds.

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areas, especially in the Premium models, available in this six, and also the fourcylinder 2.5i. Ride quality is superb and it’s a supremely comfortable, well-equipped and spacious cabin.

Large eight-inch touchscreens feature CarPlay/Android Auto, plus Front and Side View Monitors which helps nosing it into the garage each night, aided by the button that allows manual activation. Another button sets the power tailgate’s maximum height, for lower garages. Subaru also fits a TomTom based navigation system with live traffic updates.

Black or ivory leather with heated eightway electric seats add to the premium feel, as does keyless go and an epic 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. There’s also Subaru’s third gen EyeSight system which adds lane change assist, along with an improved system of collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control and speed sign recognition.

Exterior for-2018 changes are minimal

but include new LED/DRL adaptive cornering headlights, new grille, bumpers and wheels, with the 3.6R also getting silver fold-out roof racks. And identifying not just the 2018 model, but the 3.6R model becomes almost its own problem.

There isn’t enough visual difference between the new 3.6R and the 2.5i and as good as it is, the 2.5i offers up quite an appealing and $10,000 cheaper option. It may only get 129kW/235Nm, but it’s 7.3l/100km does sound more appealing, though there is a sizeable performance gap, with 0-100km/h served up in 10.2 seconds. And if budget is an issue, there’s always the 2.5i Sport at $44,990, with all three Outback variants offering good value for money.

Of course for the effortless power delivery and smoothness, it’s hard to ignore Subaru’s sweet six-cylinder. Enjoy it, because with the way engines capacities and cylinders are reducing, it may not be around forever.

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5

1. Premium interior offers lots of space, comfort and tech.

2. Eight-inch touchscreen uses TomTom guidance for navigation, and the option of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, plus dual-zone climate and heated seats.

3-4-5. Plenty of tech onboard the 3.6 Premium, such as adaptive cruise control, and SI-Drive, with the ability to choose between three driving modes. Blind spot warning, adjustable power tailgate height, lane assist and autonomous braking add to the menu, along with Hill Hold, off-road X-mode, manual camera activation and electric park brake.

6. A hallmark of Outback, boot space is cavernous, with sliding cover, seat-folding handles, and optional cargo dish tray.

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SPEC CHECK Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium Engine:

3.6-litre flat-six petrol

Power:

191kW@6000rpm

Torque:

350Nm@4400rpm

Gearbox:

SLT auto, AWD

Economy:

9.9l/100km

0-60/100km/h:

3.5sec/7.0sec (tested)

Price:

$59,990

Rating (/5)

Premium 3.6 is identified by its wheels, and silver roof racks, which fold-out across the roof.

Verdict:

Great engine/package; tempting 2.5i

LCV | 15

BEAR OF GOOD NEWS

Story & photos: Dean Evans

Skoda’s Kodiaq, the car of 2017, gets a top-model facelift for 2018.

TWO BITS OF TRIVIA: THE KODIAK IS THE world’s largest bear, and also a brand of American chewing tobacco. And spelt with a q, it’s also a multi-awarding winning SUV and our favourite drive of 2017.

So for 2018, Skoda celebrated with the addition of the SportLine halo model, basically a fully-kitted out AWD 2.0-litre petrol turbo TSI, or TDI diesel. The petrol model’s $62,990 is a $6000 premium over the ‘Style’ top-spec petrol equivalent, but it effectively offers all the typical options plus more. Given the entry level Kodiaq Ambition starts at $42,990, that’s a $20k span for petrol, and $25k if we include the $67,990 SportLine diesel.

SportLine features include 20-inch wheels, stylish and comfortable Alcantara interior trim with carbon style trim is inside, and black accents outside, including the grille, mirrors and roof racks, as well as tinted windows and a bespoke rear bumper. Not forgetting the lap timer in the dash, a clue to the forthcoming Kodiaq RS. Nor should we forget what makes the Kodiaq so special: from the slick sevenspeed gearbox, seven seat accommodation, to the umbrellas in the doors trims, icescraper/tyre placard magnifier in the fuel cap,

16 | LCV

It’s the little things that make Kodiaq special, like the umbrella. auto fold-out door protectors, bottle-grips in the multi-use centre console, ratcheting height and telescoping centre armrest, push-button driving modes, mod-cons such as brilliant radar cruise that restarts from standstill, magnetic removeable boot torch, foot-operated wave-to-open electric tailgate and so much more.

The SportLine makes the whole package even better, for the most part. Of course the 20-inch wheels and 235/45 Pirellis stiffen the ride a little, but it’s so marginal, it’s easily offset by their appearance and performance and the SportLine’s adaptive dampers, chosen by a mode on the touchscreen.

The AWD system is predominantly frontdrive, with just 10 percent of torque normally passing to the rear, but it can send up to 50 percent, and even 85 percent to just one wheel, in precarious situations.

Power remains unchanged with 132kW/320Nm, and with the bigger tyres, it’s 0.1 seconds slower to 100km/h, but at 8.3 seconds, that’s hardly a handicap.

The 10-speaker Canton sound system is fantastic, and there’s full electric memory seats and the multi-function steering wheel with paddles, and LED mood lighting which adds to the nighttime aura.

Towing is available as an option for $1850, and rated to 2000kg, which includes Trailer Assist. While it’s classified as a sevenseater, leaving the Karoq to pick up five-seat SUV duties, Kodiaq is reasonably compact for its 4.7m length, and using both third row seats will eat up a lot of boot space, though it’s still practical in SUV terms, just not as large as a dedicated CX-9 seven seater, for comparison.

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1: Alcantara is a nice touch and extends all the way to the third row of seats.

2: Kodiaq umbrellas are a nice touch, in both front doors, and continue on in SportLine model.

3 & 4: Triple-zone climate control carries over from normal Kodiaq, but driving modes are a feature of the adaptive suspension, selected by simply pressing the touchscreen.

5 & 6: Electric seats feature three-position memory and lumbar.

Boot space is generous even with the third row of seats raised.

7: Kodiaq signatures include auto fold-out door protectors.

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LCV | 17

The SportLine drive is understandably very similar to the ‘normal’ Kodiaq and that’s a very good thing. It’s not a huge amount better than the standard model, but adds another tier to what is an already superb package, in the vein of Volkwagen’s R-Line or Audi’s S Line visual upgrade models.

Of course, like the VW and Audi range, the Kodiaq is due for something a little hotter, too, and the 176kW turbo diesel Kodiaq RS has just been unveiled, with Skoda New Zealand stating it will arrive in early 2019, about the same time as a Karoq SportLine.

The Kodiaq is as much about value as its practicality, and if the head (or budget) ruled the way, the front-drive 1.4-litre entry level Ambition is a fantastic proposition, as is the ‘normal’ Style. If budget stretches higher, the SportLine is the best Kodiaq in the sloth, and we’re just as impressed now with the SportLine as we were with the regular model in 2017.

SportLine adds 20-inch wheels, Alcantara and carbon interior and a load of black detailing

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LCV2875

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18 | LCV

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SPEC CHECK Skoda Kodiaq TSI SportLine Engine:

2.0-litre petrol turbo four

Power/torque:

132kW/320Nm

Gearbox:

Seven-speed dual clutch, AWD

Weight:

1776kg

Economy:

7.4l/100km

0-60/100km/h:

3.2sec/8.3sec (tested)

0-400m:

15.9@135km/h

Price:

$62,990

Rating (/5): Verdict:

If image counts, it’s the best done better

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LCV28240

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LCV | 19

UTE-OUT SHOOTOUT Story: Dean Evans

Mercedes-Benz X-Class X350d Synopsis: Mercedes’ X-Class sets

high standards in ute comfort and cabin cossetting. Way more than just a spruced-up Navara, it still uses the Nissan’s 140kW/450Nm four-cylinder 2.3-litre. Customers were keen, but many are waiting for Mercedes’ own turbo 3.0-litre V6 version and seven-speed, that will improve numbers considerably. The 350d matches the Amarok on power and though the Merc’s 550Nm torque and 0-100km/h of 7.5 seconds rivalled the now-old Amarok’s (and every other ute’s) 0-100km/h time of 7.9 seconds, it was still a paper batle as it’s not due until December. Chest puffing and bragging rights aside, the X350d Power slots in $1500 cheaper than the top-spec VW: consolation raspberry blown.

Power: 190kW/550Nm Cost: $81,205(Prog)-$88,325(Power) Performance: Almost four-secs faster to 100 than the four-cylinder model On sale: December 2018 LCV verdict: Should be worth the wait

Volkswagen Amarok V6 Synopsis: Lauded as the most powerful ute in class, the Amarok is unique in offering a turbodiesel 3.0-litre V6 - at least until the Mercedes-Benz arrives. Relaunched in September with 190kW, its signature ‘overboost’ function ups the ante to 200kW, whenever it’s above 50km/h in 4th-5th gears. Its increase from 550 to 580Nm also keeps it above the pack. It’s fun to watch the stoush between VW and Merc, because while Mercedes was bragging about its V6 sporting Amarok-eclipsing numbers, VW snuffed that out even before the Merc’s arrival, with 580Nm and a 0-100km/h time of 7.3 seconds, offering a cheeky edge over the German rival.

Power: 190kW/580Nm (200kW) on overboost Cost: $89,990 (Adventra) Performance: Still NZ’s boldest, fastest ute On sale: Now LCV verdict: Beast in class, still

20 | LCV

ith both the V8 Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore utes now part of automotive history, it’s time for the double cab utes to shine. We look at the factory fast four, five and V6s that have just launched or are due by the end of 2018.

They may drive a little different, but on paper at least, each offers their own unique grab on their brand and market.

Which one would you choose?

Holden Colorado Xtreme Synopsis: The 2018 production version of the show concept shown in 2016, the Xtreme caters to the typical ute buyer who spends an average $3000 on accessories.

The kitted-out Xtreme doesn’t get any extra power from the 2.8-litre Duramax turbo diesel, but is a stand-out with a hero Orange Crush, winch bar, 18-inch black alloys with all-terrain tyres, black extended sports bar and tubular side steps, rear step, soft tonneau cover, tow bar, and matte black decals including the Colorado on the tailgate, and black roof tray. And all fully legal and certified.

Power: Just the std auto 147kW/500Nm Cost: $79,990, a $13k premium over Z71 Performance: Added off-road abilities On sale: Q4 2018 LCV verdict: A different step up and away from Z71

Ford Ranger Raptor Synopsis: The off-road, more extreme version of the Ford Ranger. In lieu of the grunty 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel in the regular Ranger, Ford fits a twin-turbo 2.0-litre diesel. Don’t let the small capacity put you off totally, as its power and torque eclipse the regular Ranger, and a 10-speed gearbox will ensure it’s always on the boil.

Wider, longer and taller, Ranger Raptor offers Fox Racing Shox for ultimate ride and handling in the rough stuff, and all with a tough name on top, in a market where image counts.

Power: 157kW/500Nm, up 10kW/30Nm Cost: $84,990, a $15,350 premium over Wildtrak Performance: Faster, made for off-road On sale: Oct 2018 LCV verdict: A 2.0-litre?! Time will tell if that’s good or bad

LCV | 21

TOP

FASTEST UTES FAMOUS UTES FASTEST SUVS

Compiled by: Dean Evans

HI FIVE

WITH THE WORLD OF SPORTS UTES AND SUVS HEADING mainstream, manufacturers are pushing the boundaries of performance, from factory fast specials, to motorsport and speed records. America’s love affair with the truck/ute goes back to the 1960s, but NZ isn’t

far behind, with a love for the working vehicles evolving to a family transport. So we have compiled the top five top-of-the tree, fastest and most famous utes and SUVs from around the world that, for reasons of speed, profile or performance, truly deserve a high five.

TOP 5 FASTEST UTES

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GMC SYCLONE: WORLD’S FASTEST PRODUCTION TRUCK

Back in 1991 when The Simpsons was in its second year, America’s GMC produced a truck that blew everyone and almost everything away: the aplty named Syclone.

With a 4.3-litre turbocharged V6 and allwheel drive, the four-speed automatic gearbox was good enough for 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds back when a Ferrari 348 did the same time in 5.4 seconds! Syclone’s 209kW/474Nm put it down the quartermile in quick-for-the-time 15.4 seconds, though aftermarket tuners unleashed their potential and ran much faster.

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HSV MALOO R8: OFFICIALLY WORLD’S FASTEST TRUCK

The World’s Fastest Truck was a title claimed by HSV’s Maloo R8 ute back in 2006, when Mark Skaife drove a showroom standard 6.0-litre V8 to reset the Guinness World Record two-way average of 271.44km/h, near Woomera in South Australia’s outback. This beat the record at the time of 248.78km/h by a Dodge Ram SRT10 8.3-litre V10.

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3

NASCAR TRUCK SERIES

Starting in 1995, the Truck series was established as a third-tier to the NASCAR series, and it remains the world’s most successful truck racing championship. The trucks run 5.9-litre carburettored V8s producing around 500kW, with a four-speed manual, and weigh just 1542kg. Along with manufacturer support from Ford and Chevy, Toyota notably joined the series in 2004, and remains in it for the current 23-round championship.

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MAD MIKE’S RUMBUL

Kiwi’s own Mad Mike built his own Mazda REPU (Rotary Engined Powered Ute) and called it the RUMBUL Stadium Truck.

Based on a Mazda B2000, RUMBUL runs a 13B Renesis engine from an RX-8, producing around 186kW/250hp, and weighing just 900kg – though recent updates include a peripheral ported, fuel injected 13B twin-rotor engine.

Because loud.

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ROD MILLEN’S PIKES PEAK TACOMA

Quite fitting that two Kiwis fill the top two spots, and in the wake of his success at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in 1994, 1996 and 1997 in his Toyota Celica, Millen built this facsimile of a Toyota Tacoma truck in 1998, replete with the rear of the aerodynamic body painted black to simulate a tray. With a central driver position, the tube-framed Tacoma was specifically built for the 20km Pikes Peak hill climb, the second-oldest motorsport

event in the world. The Tacoma ran a 746kW/1000hp 2.1-litre four-cylinder engine and weighed just 885kg despite its all-wheel drive; it could manage 0-100km/h in 1.7 seconds though it wasn’t designed for standing acceleration (Pikes Peak has a rolling start line), and was geared to max out at 211km/h, with acceleration the most important factor when climbing the dirt road (back then). The Tacoma managed to win Pikes Peak in 1998 and 1999, and even had its own Hot Wheels replica made.

LCV | 23

TOP

FAMOUS UTES FASTEST SUVS

Compiled by: Dean Evans

THE HUMBLE UTILITY VEHICLE, UTE, OR truck, depending on the global market, was designed as a workhorse. But with its twodoor cabin and work-or-play styling, it’s evolved into more than that, and not just a lifestyle vehicle, but one that appeals to all

cultures, ages and genders. And with that kind of versatility and wide demographic comes popularity and marketing appeal, on top of public affection, so we’ve listed our top five most famous utes, from scale and promotional models to TV and movie stars.

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SSANGYONG V8 UTE NZ

No, we don’t mean the one-make series based on the standard Actyon, but a oneoff built by Great Lakes Motor Distributors Director Deon Cooper. Basically an NZ V8 Super Tourer, the SsangYong V8 racer runs a 7.0-litre V8 producing more than 400kW through a sequential six-sped gearbox and 18-inch slicks. The V8 ute is still a semi-regular at the track and competes in Endurance Championships.

4

TAMIYA SUBARU BRAT

Influencing a whole generation of ute buyers in a different way and a different size, giant Japanese model-maker Tamiya first produced the 1/10th radio-control Brat (aka Brumby) in 1983, based on the 1970s Subaru ute. With electric rear-wheel drive and four-wheel independent suspension, the Brat offered fantastic detail not just in the body, but also a driver figure. Rugged wheels and tyres all around finished off one of the RC icons of the 1980s, which was backed up by the Mud Blaster ‘monster truck’ Brat in 1989, and even a re-release of the original Brat in 2007.

24 | LCV

3

RED BULL MINIS

An icon of the 2000s, Red Bull commissioned a run of these Mini Coopers around the world, for sampling, which converted a Mini Cooper into a totally functional ute - in an entirely different way. Red Bull created a tray, and on it mounted a large Red Bull can… which did nothing, practically. The insulated bin was mounted in the ‘tray’ and filled with ice, for Red Bull sampling. Being the marketing smarties Red Bull is, it was no coincidence that the vehicles were only ever driven by Uni-aged girls whose appearance was ‘rather appealing’.

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BACK TO THE FUTURE SR5

Marty McFly’s dream vehicle wasn’t a DMC De Lorean, but a 1985 Toyota SR5 4x4 Xtra Cab. It shifted America’s view that a non-American ‘import’ truck could be cool, and though in 1985 the rest of the world probably wasn’t that into them, at least Toyota NZ could nod a knowing glance, given its Hilux was number one at the time.

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TOP GEAR HILUX

The most enduring and endearing truck “in the world” (read in Jeremy Clarkson voice) has to be a certain red 1988 Toyota Hilux featured by BBC’s Top Gear. Marketed as ‘unbreakable’, it was smashed into a tree, left in the sea, hit

with a wrecking ball, set on fire and dropped from the top of a demolished building. And with nothing but basic hand tools and a battery, still started and drove, earning itself fame and retirement within the halls of the Top Gear hangar studio.

LCV | 25

TOP

FASTEST SUVS

Compiled by: Dean Evans

SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ARE SIMPLY family transport, right? They certainly used to be when they entered the market in the 1990s. Now 20 years on, the practicality and popularity of the SUV has not only maintained, it’s grown massively to where the likes of Porsche’s Cayenne helped save the company. Now with the likes of Alfa Romeo and even Lamborghini getting in on the current love of large SUVs, carmakers

have also realised there’s a market for fast derivatives, too. Like the halo sports car, they may not sell in large numbers, but they help boost the profile of the brand, and tell a great story along the way. That the ‘slowest’ SUV here runs 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds speaks volumes that in 2018, performance cars arrive in a whole new way. And the fastest one does it in a whole new world.

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ALFA ROMEO STELVIO QUADRIFOGLIO 0-100KM/H: 3.8 SECONDS

With the Stelvio launching recently, we’re yet to officially see the top-spec model in NZ, but it’s worth waiting for. Powered by a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 that was co-developed with Ferrari, it produces 375kW and 600Nm pushing through the rear wheels until the front wheels need it, making for extremely sports car-like handling, and aided by a relatively light weight of 1830kg. The Quadrifoglio (Italian for fourleaf clover) is also the Nurburging SUV lap record holder at 7min:51.7 seconds.

4

MERCEDESAMG GLC 63 S 0-100KM/H: 3.8 SECONDS

Pushing an identical 0-100km/h time as the Alfa, the Merc jumps a spot on a double countback, offering the same 375kW as its Italian counterpart, but upping the torque total to 700Nm thanks to its use of a twinturbo 4.0-litre V8, which helps overcome its 2010kg kerb weight for the same 3.8-second sprint to 100.

26 | LCV

3

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE TRACKHAWK 0-100KM/H: 3.7 SECONDS The antithesis of Lotus’s dictum of reducing weight to go faster, Jeep packs a bomb under the engine bay of the Trackhawk, in the form of an explosive 6.2-litre supercharged Hemi V8 producing 522kW and 868Nm. It runs 11.6-second quarter-miles and is the most powerful V8 SUV on the market, laughing in the face of its 2433kg.

2

LAMBORGHINI URUS - 0-100KM/H: 3.6 SECONDS

Oddly the Lamborghini model with fewest cylinders is also the largest, and the Urus may pack just a 4.0-litre V8 compared to its V10 and V12 stablemates, but it’s also aided by two turbochargers: basically the same engine shared in Bentleys and Audis.

It offers up a heady 478kW and 850Nm, along with a 2200kg kerb weight, and at $339,000 it may not be the cheapest way to get to 100km/h, but it is a Lamborghini, and the world’s first ‘super sports utility vehicle’.

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TESLA MODEL X P100D - 0-100KM/H: 3.0 SECONDS

Yep, an electric car is the fastest accelerating SUV! In ‘normal’ mode, the optional ‘P’ version of the Model X, priced at $270,000, sports two 100kWh batteries and all-wheel drive, and hits 100 in 4.9 seconds; but in ‘Ludicrous Plus’ mode the Tesla

laughably, silently rockets from rest to 100 in just 3.0 seconds (or 0-60mph in 2.9 secs), putting it more than half a second faster than the Lambo Urus – which coincidentally puts it on par with Lambo’s V12 Aventador! The Tesla has also been tested over the quarter-mile at 11.3-seconds. Even more impressively, at 2450kg, it’s also the heaviest of our fast SUVs.

LCV | 27

E S E N I H C

S Y A W A E TAK Shacklock otos: Gerald Ph n ti ar M ry Story: Co

Cheap utes don’t automatically mean nasty.

We take two of the most popular budgetpriced Chinese utes on a cut-price tour to see if less money still buys a lot of ute.

28 | LCV

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, THE OLD saying goes. And with the leading utes commanding prices around $50-$70k, their budgets aren’t in everyone’s reach.

So the obvious question changes to just how much is lost when those utes start sliding down the variant, equipment and price scale? A Toyota Hilux starts at $36k; Holden’s Colorado at $40k and Ford’s Ranger at $42k, and their entry level prices come with matching entry level equipment, albeit with the shared dynamics of the respective models.

But what about the lure of the cheap Chinese ute? Is it better to buy a big fish from a smaller pond? At $40k, the top-spec LDV T60 Luxury ute offers top-line equipment at a low-level price.

And at $32k, Great Wall’s top-spec Steed is around half the price of the more popular ute models, but is it half the ute?

We gathered two popular Chinese utes to see how they stack up not just against each other, but against the bank balance to learn just what a modest dollar buys, and more importantly ‘not’ buys, when choosing Chinese. So with a handful of budget locations to visit, time to hit the road.

It’s also relatively quiet inside at speed, with some mild road noise permeating the cabin on the motorway, but otherwise it’s impressively refined for NVH .

At lower speeds it’s a slightly different story with the gearbox and engine often teaming up against smooth driving. The engine needs a few more revs than instinctual to not just avoid stalling, but to pull away cleanly, with a distinct dead zone under 1500rpm – above that it revs clean and sweetly Our tour of cut-price duty started to the 4250rpm with Bunnings, and its apt redline, with its company slogan. 110kW/310Nm numbers relatively meek by modern 150kW/450Nm top ute standards.

And while the six-speeds in the gearbox are great for economy, it often needs one, two or more downshifts in situations where some decent acceleration is required. Steed is crying out for an automatic gearbox.

Against the clock, the Great Wall offers appropriately entry level performance: 0-60km/h in 6.5 seconds and 0-100km/h in a tedious 17.3 seconds, hampered a few tenths due to looking up. second gear being maxed out at 98km/h.

There’s also a host of modern safety gear including six airbags, ESP, ABS, EBD, At least the trade-off is good fuel economy, with 9.0l/100km claimed, and achievable. traction control and hill-hold.

While it’s good in a straight line, steering It tows, too, and at 2000kg with a is a different story: its enormous 14.5m payload of 1010kg, it’s modest but capable turning circle (against Colorado/Ranger’s enough. On paper, the Steed looks solid.

12.7m) presents constant challenges, The driving experience is a little like utes particularly when parking in spaces at ‘used’ to be, and it’s clear the Steed is a Bunnings, or negotiating the McDonald’s reminder of how utes drove a decade ago. drive-through.

Double wishbone front suspension and a However, in a world of $60,000 utes, solid rear axle with leaf springs is fine as the appeal of a new car warranty could a workhorse, and remarkably comfortable entice some, with Great Wall offering a when unladen. three-year/100,000km warranty with free Based on a model that dates back to roadside assist.

2006, a two-star ANCAP safety rating is Less of a family car, particularly with probably the biggest cross to bear, despite limitations relating to child anchorage the safety mandatories. feel is around a decade old, the Steed 4x4 is available only with a six-speed manual.

But for its sub-$30k money, there is a decent list of standard equipment such as Bluetooth, USB port, cruise control and heated seats. A rear camera is optional, but if not chosen, leaves an unsightly moulded blank/tailgate handle. A tow bar, 16-inch alloys, four-wheel disc brakes, tray liner, side steps and stainless steel sports bar are also part of the deal, so things are

We gathered the Great Wall Steed and LDV T60 to see how the entry level utes stack up.

CLIMBING THE GREAT WALL Starting with the least expensive is Great Wall’s Steed, China’s best-selling ute for almost two decades, sold in either single cab petrol, or dual cab 2.4-litre petrol or 2.0-litre diesel. With an entry price of a $19,990 for the 4x2 single cab chassis, rising to $24,990 for the petrol 4x2 dual cab, we drove the top-spec dual cab diesel 4x4, at $29,990, claimed to be NZ’s cheapest dual cab ute.

Few frills is probably more apt than no frills, and while the dash layout, look and

LCV | 29

Both white dual cab diesels, the Great Wall Steed and LDV T60 represent budget motoring, but with the safety and additions afforded by 2018 utes.

The Great Wall is impressively quiet inside, and even at motorway speed, with just some mild road noise points, the Steed is a cheap, utilitarian workhorse – it’s well equipped, quiet, rides comfortably and offers reassurance with a new car warranty. But a dated cabin, slow steering, lower safety rating and lack of auto and low-end torque could contribute to aspects that push buyers towards more expensive and/or second-hand

conventional utes.

It’s not without its virtues, and in the $20$30k market, the Steed fills an entry level niche, budget and market.

TESTING T60 One step up the price ladder is another Chinese ute that offers arguably a lot more.

1

LDV’s 4x4 T60 comes in two models, starting at $28,990 for the Elite manual and topping out at $34,990 for the Luxury auto.

The T60 sits in a pricing sweet spot between entry level budget ute and premium-priced established players, selfaware that it needs to offer more for less.

1&2: The basics of 2018 tech are there: controls on the steering wheel and Bluetooth for both Steed and T60, but the LDV takes it a little further with lane departure warning, auto emergency braking and five-star safety versus the Great Wall’s two stars.

3&4: LDV’s reversing camera features active turning guidelines, while seats are comfortable and a good facsimile of quality stitched leather, plus plenty of storage pockets and cupholders (and two more on the dash).

30 | LCV

While the LDV lags a little behind the top dogs, it proves adequate on merit and outstanding on value Intervention (RMI), six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring, front and rear fog lights, parking sensors and side steps.

Wanting to compete with the conventional mid-priced utes from the likes of Mazda, Nissan, Isuzu and Mazda, and maybe entice a few buyers away from them, the T60’s cabin follows the philosophy of

Its specs match the Great Wall across all the mandatories such as ABS, along with EBD and Emergency Brake Assist. It also has a Blind Spot Monitor, Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist, Stability and Traction Control Systems and Electronic Diff Lock.

On top of that, T60 has Roll Movement 3

champagne taste on a beer budget. Overall it’s impressive, and manages to provide the look, feel, comfort and features of utes $10-$20k more.

The T60 is trying to be a cheaper version of the big players in the ute market and this is apparent inside. The seats replicate design elements of big-brand utes, done

2

4

LCV | 31

What budget ute tour would be complete without a trip to The Warehouse? Sadly no flat-pack furniture today.

in a faux ‘pleather’ material, spanning to the dash and doors, with the Luxury model featuring keyless entry and starting, along with ample storage space and practicality, with a large, lockable glovebox and storage on top of the dash and pop-out cupholders.

It’s not only practicality that elevates the interior; it’s the amount of space in general, with the back seat accommodating three adults comfortably with an abundance of leg room.

Behind the wheel, the eye is immediately drawn towards the large, colourful 10-inch touchscreen that offers a range of menus and information; there’s also Bluetooth and two USB ports. While the system delivers a large reversing camera screen and active turning guide lines, it falls short in a few areas, lacking functionality and intuitiveness

Above left & right: Through the corners, both utes handle surprisingly well with less body roll than expected. Though the Great Wall’s ride quality proves superior, the LDV’s suspension is both harsh and floaty, its only real weak point.

They’re more against the budget than each other, to learn just what a modest dollar does and doesn’t buy when choosing Chinese

32 | LCV

Above: LDV’s tray offers a few tie-down points.

Right: Not choosing the optional reverse camera on the Steed leaves an odd-looking camera blank. T60 Luxury is fitted with standard reverse camera.

The Steed drives like utes used to decades ago.

The T60 punches well above its weight and price of other systems; however Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto somewhat makes up for that.

Layout, function and general interior ergonomics are impressive, with all the functions at or around where they’re expected, though we did quickly learn to immediately deactivate the overly eager lane departure warning system.

Admittedly, those safety features also contribute to a five-star ANCAP safety rating, the first Chinese ute to do so and an impressive feat for a ute in this price bracket.

Under the bonnet is where the T60 distances itself from the Great Wall and

tries to put its arm around the popular utes, with the promise that ‘I’m just like you’. An Italian VM Motori 2.8-litre diesel with a variable geometry turbo, it shares the same capacity as Hilux and Colorado, but falls a little short on power, with a relatively modest matching 110kW as the Steed, with 310Nm – a little lacking when compared to the entry level Hilux’s 123kW/343Nm, or auto Colorado’s 147kW/500Nm. Impressively, the LDV feels quicker than its numbers, and is more responsive and eager around town than its 0-100km/h in 13.3 seconds suggests.

A relatively light 1720kg kerb weight

and six-speed auto help extract the performance, with its acceleration times closer to the Hilux than the Steed. It is on the noisy side, however, noticeably louder even compared to the Great Wall, especially at the arrival of 100km/h which coincides with an audible increase of wind noise.

On top of a five-year/130,000km warranty, the LDV T60 seems to have it all. And in many ways it does: the steering feels well weighted and accurate, and its turning circle is on par with the top sellers.

If there’s a weak link in the T60’s chain, it’s the suspension: unladen, or even with

Next stop in our budget tour was the tradie’s favourite Maccas, though the Great Wall’s massive 14.5m turning circle provided a few minor challenges.

LCV | 33

Even at the fuel pump (budget Waitomo fuel of course), each of our budget utes delivers less than 10l/100km.

Our cheap ute tour included stops at all the budget stops, including a refuel at Waitomo. four passengers on board, the suspension is an odd mix of harsh and bouncy, feeling overly sprung and underdamped, which leads to an uncommon and odd mix of being overly harsh over bumps, and overly soft and floaty at high speeds. It’s the only major complaint about the T60, but we discovered somewhat of a fix during a tow test a few issues ago. When towing and loaded with 2.2 tonne, it largely sorted all the suspension issues and turned it into a highly competent, very effective tow vehicle. And it was even frugal with fuel, managing less than 10.0l/100km while

WHERE’S TUNLAND? THE THIRD AND OBVIOUS inclusion in this Chinese ute test is the Foton Tunland, though it wasn’t through lack of trying; despite a dozen requests to Foton NZ, it ultimately proved fruitless.

towing.

So while the LDV lags a little behind the top dogs, it proves adequate on merit and outstanding on value. With responsiveness, handling and automatic transmission, it’s a package that proves and punches well above its weight (and price).

Considering the sub-$40k price, the LDV T60 demonstrates a solid starting point for the law of diminishing returns, offering a lot for relatively little.

The Great Wall is a vehicle with an identity, one that doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not, and services its purpose and niche. For every boutique specialist store, there must also be a Pak’nSave to serve every buyer and every budget.

And as far as Chinese utes go, both the Great Wall Steed and LDV T60 are ideal considerations to both pack and save. If badge loyalty isn’t a concern, then each of these utes will prove the price is right.

Great Wall Steed Dual Cab 4x4

LDV T60 Double-Cab Luxury 4x4

Engine:

2.0-litre turbo diesel four-cyl

Engine:

2.8-litre turbo diesel four-cyl

Power:

110kW@4000rpm

Power:

110kW@3400rpm

Torque:

310Nm@1800-2800rpm

Torque:

360Nm@1600-2800rpm

Gearbox:

Six-speed manual

Gearbox:

Six-speed auto

Economy:

9.0l/100km

Economy:

9.6l/100km

Weight:

1900kg

Weight:

1720kg

0-60/100km/h:

6.5sec/17.3sec (tested)

0-60/100km/h:

5.1sec/13.3sec (tested)

0-400m:

20.0@107km/h (tested)

0-400m:

18.5@115km/h (tested)

Price:

$24,339+GST/ORC

Price:

$34,990+GST/ORC

Rating (/5): Verdict:

34 | LCV

Rating (/5): Cheap, competent; a ute of the ’00s

Verdict:

Power, torque, equipment & priced right

TOP

FAMOUS VANS

Compiled by: Dean Evans

5 4

BACK TO THE FUTURE VW BUS The DeLorean may have stolen centre stage, but let’s not forget the Volkswagen Type 2 Kombi bus that the Libyans used, along with an AK-47 assault rifle, to seek revenge on Doc Brown for paying for their plutonium with a shoddy bomb casing full of used pinball machine parts.

MUTTS CUTTS, DUMB & DUMBER An iconic part of Lloyd and Harry’s dog-grooming business in 1994’s Dumb & Dumber, the Mutts Cutts van needed to lift its leg to refuel, but was just as famous for its jumping ability… the landing, not so much. Lloyd inexplicably (but unsurprisingly) sold the van for a mini bike to ride to the snow, though the pair were reunited with the Mutts Cutts van in the 2014 sequel Dumb & Dumber

3 2

No list of famous LCVs is complete without the archetypical workhorse, so here are our top five famous vans.

SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERY MACHINE The Scooby-Doo cartoon started in 1969, and featured the Mystery Machine, the main transport for Mystery Inc. A non-defined brand or model, the van is stylised from the 1960s and looks like a Ford Taunus Transit, though it’s changed its look over the years, with an uncanny ability to adapt to different situations.

A-TEAM VAN As much a character of the show as the four main protagonists, the 1980s A-Team drove the iconic black and metallic grey GMC Vandura van, with its characteristic red stripe back to the rooftop spoiler, and turbine mag wheels. Famous only for its look, six vans used throughout filming had slightly differing equipment (sunroof), often creating continuity errors, while the van’s iconic look was revived in the 2010 A-Team movie.

1 RENAULT ESPACE F1 FORD SUPERVAN

A tie for top spot, between the Ford Supervan and Renault Espace F1. Ford created three evolutions of the Supervan, a 1971 Transit with a mid-engined GT40 400hp V8. In 1984, Supervan 2 was a fibreglass replica of a Mark 2 Transit, using a

Ford Group C racing chassis and 4.0-litre Cosworth V8. In 1994, Supervan 3 ran a 3.5-litre Formula 1 Cosworth V8 producing 650hp and good for 278km/h. A 2004 refurb tamed the beast with a 3.0-litre V6 and iconic Ford Motorsport livery.

Renault’s 1995 Espace F1 ran a midengined 800hp Renault V10, from a 1993 Williams F1 car; 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds, 312km/h top speed and four seats.

LCV | 35 29

se cars are e stigma that Chine went through the sam s car ese import an la Jap rol rly Co Ea x and Toyota with the Daihatsu Ma experiencing now, of the early 1970s. motoring markers

Chinese food is an easy decision, but what about a Chinese vehicle, asks Mike Stock.

BUYERS WOULD NEED TO TAKE A LEAP OF faith – that’s the observation a mate of mine made when we were pondering the wisdom of diving in and buying a new, low-priced vehicle from a non-traditional car-making country.

Which is a roundabout way of saying a Chinesedeveloped and built car, SUV, van, or ute.

He’s a motor industry veteran, my mate, with extensive experience, and he had a point.

But, really, would buyers have been taking any more of a chance than if they were buying a Japanese used import in their early days? The major attraction of imports was low price often combined with a higher specification than NZnew versions of the same model.

The leap of faith was not knowing the import’s service history or whether parts would be available locally for specific variants of a given nameplate. Or whether the odometer had been wound back to show a lower mileage than the vehicle had actually done. But hundreds of thousands of NZers have plumped for Japanese used imports, and generally the cars’ reliability record has been good.

The imports helped push up the spec of NZ-new vehicles. Imports usually had airconditioning for instance, and local new vehicle distributors were forced to follow suit; other spec followed and NZ-new cars’ prices levelled out to retain their competitiveness. Imports helped a buyers’ market develop.

Chinese vehicles are currently in the same place Japanese cars were in the early 1970s and Korea’s Hyundai was when it arrived roughly 15 years later.

There had been the odd Japanese car here in the 1960s, notably the Datsun Bluebird, but they really came on-stream in the 1970s, coincidentally when I started writing about cars.

36 | LCV

My first experience with them came when the Auckland Star newspaper added some Toyota Corollas to its fleet of Morris 1100s.

The Toyota was rear- rather than front-wheel drive, seemed livelier and more modern than the Morrie, but prompted a warning to staff from the editor: “Be careful in the wet! The back end slides.”

I think they were still persevering with the 1100s when I left The Star in 1972 but I recall there was usually a scramble by reporters and photographers to nab a Toyota for assignments. It was an early indicator of the way NZers’ tastes in cars would change.

The second Japanese car I drove was a Daihatsu Max, a noisy, hard-riding little car that was anything but Max – except its heart. The 360cc engine made it very entertaining to hustle along, but it needed lots of revs even to get off the line to avoid stalling, and you had to wring its neck.

So these early day oddball Japanese cars were imported new by car dealers who would later start the used import trade almost two decades later.

By then Japanese cars – which had evolved into world class, and very reliable vehicles – held the upper hand in New Zealand, having displaced the British makes that had dominated since the end of World War 2.

The first Hyundais were bare bones offerings, like the rear-wheel drive but nicelystyled Pony, and the much less-stylish Excel and later Accent four-door based on Mitsubishi Mirage platform and running gear. The local distributor boasted about the heavier-gauge steel used in its bodywork, which did little more than dampen performance. It was a competent if uninspiring drive and came in odd colour

combinations, like pea green paint with electric blue velour seats.

I got a graphic display of its abilities one evening bustling through the Waikato headed for a race meeting at Manfeild. A gigantic pig – one of a group being herded to a new paddock – ran on to the road and into my path. The pig seemed almost as big as the Hyundai, and I stood on the brake pedal, the Hyundai smoking to a halt and giving not just the pig a second life, but giving me new respect for the Excel.

Since those beginnings, Hyundai and later its sister company Kia have evolved into leading international brands with very attractive models in their range. What had once been ugly ducklings (the awful Kia Mentor, based on an old Mazda 323 are now lithe, attractive swans (Kia Optima). Time, development and customer feedback and demand have changed the face of Japanese and Korean cars over the past few decades. Expect the same from the Chinese; to quote a Japanese company executive: “give them time, they’ll get it right. We did.”

I’m conservative about spending large amounts of money, so I’m not sure whether I’d take the leap of faith and buy a Chinese newcomer.

But I’m looking for a vehicle – used not new and capable of carrying bulky though not heavy items; and there are some surprises on my short list of possibilities. Some I once would not have touched with a bargepole; others I’d have rejected because their handling wasn’t sharp enough. But right now, several of these former non-contestants are looking appealing.

So I’m about to make my own leap of faith - and in a way, opting for a Chinese vehicle wouldn’t be all that different. Would you take the plunge?

- Mike Stock

JUST LAUNCHED Chevy Silverado Ford Ranger Raptor Holden Acadia Holden Colorado Xtreme Hyundai Sante Fe Kia Sportage LDV D90

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Porsche Cayenne Subaru Forester VW Transporter Runner VW Amarok 190kW VW Touareg

LDV’s seven-seat D90 SUV joins the T60 ute in the local range.

COMING SOON Audi Q8 Citroen C3 Aircross Ford Endura (2019) Ford Everest facelift Ford EcoSport Holden Trailblazer Infiniti QX50 Jeep Wrangler Lexus RX 350L and 450hL Maserati Levante S Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Mercedes-Benz X-Class V6

Mitsubishi Outlander Mitsubishi Triton Huntaway Range Rover Sport Range Rover SV Seat Arona SsangYong Rexton petrol SsangYong Musso Toyota C-HR Toyota Hilux Gladiator Toyota RAV4 Volvo XC40

Holden’s Acadia: seven seats, and made in America under the GMC banner, also badged as a Buick.

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BEST BARS. BY FAR. FOCUS ON TOWING –

VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK V6

GONE TOWIN’ Story & photos: Dean Evans

With a little help from our friends at NZ Fishing News, we put VW’s Amarok V6 to the towing test, with a twist.

VOLKSWAGEN’S AMAROK HAS A STRONG reputation as being king of the kids. Without moving up to the ‘big’ utes/light trucks, the Amarok’s V6 gives it an edge over the competition and with 580Nm of classleading torque and a 3.0-litre V6, it’s held a monopoly on the market… at least until the Mercedes X-Class V6 arrives in December.

And to pre-empt that, VW has upped its own game, lifting power from 165kW to 190kW, and torque from 550Nm up to 580Nm, putting it not just further ahead of the rivals, but besting X-Class’s 190kW/550Nm V6 before it’s even arrived.

And of course there’s VW’s marketed ‘overboost’ function that lifts power to 200kW above certain speeds, in certain gears, for up to 10 seconds.

The V6 Amarok has every right to claim itself as king of the dual-cab ute kids, at least for towing, so there was no better

ute and no better time to work with our neighbours at the leading NZ Fishing News magazine, to put the Amarok V6 to the test. We wanted to see what the ‘entry-level’ V6 could do, so we grabbed the 165kW/550Nm V6, while NZ Fishing News supplied its own Extreme Boats 745 Game King 7.45 metre aluminium, with twin 115 Mercury four-stroke engines. All up weight is just over two-tonne, to put the Amarok to the test.

Amarok’s tow limit varies between 3000-3500kg for four-cylinder and V6, as all Amaroks have two no-cost option spring systems: a heavy duty 3+2, and a 2+1 leaf spring. The 2+1 spring allows the maximum tow limit of 3500kg (3200kg for four-cyl) and reduces payload from 1041kg to 1010kg, while the 3+2’s limit is 3000kg.

Our red Amarok V6 came with the standard 2+1 springs, which maximised our towing

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Setting off from Auckland with boat and trailer, the Amarok’s clearly working harder, but exhibits the same smoothness and relatively effortless acceleration. It’s a large unit we’re towing at 8.4 metres long, and the VW’s big mirrors come in very useful for the tricky task of keeping the trailer’s 2.5m wide dual axles within the lane’s lines. But moving along rapidly is an easy task, and despite the bulk we’re dragging, along with two passengers and a tray full of camera, video and drone gear, the V6 barely raises a sweat, and surges up any incline. We head east from Auckland, through Botany, up and down hills and through some winding roads that rarely gives the engine a rest – no 90km/h cruise control on the motorway for this trip, as we head towards Kawakawa Bay boat ramp, a stunning concrete four-lane, all-tide, all-weather ramp

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Top & above: Lots of info on the tow bar label indicates that this V6 fitted with the standard spring package is good for up to 3500kg; a heavy duty sprung V6 can tow just 3000kg.

Amarok has three different tow ratings, for four-cylinder and V6 models and also which of the two spring packages is chosen. with a pontoon and fixed jetty with wraparound breakaway.

As we pass through the final twists, climbs and descent into Kawakawa Bay, the eight-speed gearbox ensures the engine is always in its powerband, and never is there a time when the driver has to actually think about towing. It makes the whole trip so much easier and less stressful about holding up other traffic, negotiating hills or feeling like the ute is straining. In fact more than a few times in mid-conversation, a glance into the mirror gives a subtle subconscious shock and reminder that we we’re actually towing something. Amarok reveals only two issues worth considering: fuel use has jumped considerably, from around 8.9l/100km of unladen driving (against the 7.8l/100km claim), up to 18.5l/100km, which is understandable given the non-stop work

it’s endured over the past hour, plus we haven’t been particularly frugal with VW’s tank of diesel, either.

The ride quality also changes: unladen, the Amarok V6 is superbly supple, best in class, partly thanks to its standard spring package. When towing, ride comfort suffers a little and proves a little bouncy, though no more than some of the rivals and we’d happily trade off a little bounce when towing if it means the superb ride quality when unhitched.

We arrive at the boat ramp and though we’re the only ones around, sadly there’s no time to launch today, though we do reverse the boat into position and notice the large 12.95m turning circle, and the Park Pilot sensors that offer audio warnings.

It was also a chance to unhook the trailer for some acceleration testing. Unladen,

the V6 Amarok manages 0-60km/h in 3.2 seconds (0.9 sec faster than class-leader Colorado) and 0-100km/h in 7.7 seconds (2.5 secs faster than Colorado); and it even betters VW’s claim of 7.9 seconds. For a comparison, we reattached the boat and its 0-60km/h slowed to 6.5 seconds, offering a very similar performance variance to the Navara we tested last issue.

We also discover the gearbox’s Sport mode makes a big difference to response while towing, but also its shift speed and eagerness through the gears. During acceleration testing, Sport mode proved 0.5 seconds faster due to immediate shifts.

For the return leg back to Auckland, we reset the fuel consumption for a more relaxed motorway driving with cruise control, and we see fuel use drop to a more reasonable 16.5l/100km, around the same as its key rivals, weight-for-weight.

BEST BARS. BY FAR. FOCUS ON TOWING –

VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK V6

TOW TALLY 2018 Volkswagen Amarok V6 Engine

3.0-litre turbo diesel V6

Power/torque

165-190kW/550-580Nm

Gearbox

Eight-speed auto

Tow limits

750kg/3000-3500kg (unbraked/ braked)

0-60km/h

3.2 secs (unladen), 6.5 secs (towing)

0-100km/h 0-400m

7.7 secs 15.6@136km/h (unladen)

Economy

7.8l/100km (claim/unladen), 16.5l/100km (towing)

Price

$69,990-$89,990

Tow Rating (/5) Verdict

Close to the ideal double-cab ute tow car

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Sport mode in the gearbox also makes a big difference to response while towing, and also shift speed and eagerness through the gears.

But there’s a surprise ending: as impressive as the Amarok V6 was throughout the test, upon returning the boat to Fishing News, we discover the weight of the Extreme boat and trailer is actually three-tonne! Which underlines

just how good the VW V6 really is: it offers improved performance, fuel economy, and reduced variation between laden/unladen, when compared to its four/five-cylinder rivals that were towing only two-tonne.

So whether it’s fishing boats, horse floats, caravans or even work gear, is there a better boat-towing double-cab ute than the 165kW/550Nm V6 Amarok? Well, yes: the 190kW/580Nm V6 Amarok. But that’s a test for another time.

Above: Mazda’s CX-5 scored some recent updates, moving it closer to RAV4 sales.

Below: LDV’s G90 seven-seater has arrived, to join the T60 ute.

Above: Toyota first launched the RAV4 in 1994 to become a staple of the segment it helped establish: 28 years later, it’s top of SUV sales.

RAV4 vs CX-5

Words: Mike Stock

The top 10 settles as the 24yo Toyota RAV4 leads the updated Mazda CX-5… just.

M

ID-SIZED CROSSOVERS CONTINUED TO DOMINATE the SUV market in the first eight months of the year, Motor Industry Association reported sales figures show.

Top of the table was Toyota’s RAV4, the oldest nameplate in the segment, launched in 1994 – 24 years ago! Toyota retailed 2476, giving it a 36 vehicle sales lead (or 1.4 percent!) over the Mazda join together: CX-5, which is benefitting from a recent update for 2018.

In third place was Kia’s Sportage on 2208 sales, reflecting both the Korean vehicle’s quality and a vigorous sales campaign, following a recent update.

1

Top 10 SUVs to end of August

Toyota RAV4 2576 (–)

2

Mazda CX-5 2540 (–)

3

Kia Sportage 2208 (–)

4

Toyota Highlander 1617 (–)

5

Mitsubishi Outlander 1565 (–)

6

Holden Captiva 1255 (–)

7

Mitsubishi ASX 1438 (–)

8

Nissan Qashqai 1431 (–)

9

Hyundai Tucson 1303 ( 1) Hyundai Kona 1194 ( 1) 42 | LCV

10

Two larger crossovers filled the next two spots. Toyota’s USsourced Highlander was fourth with 1617 registrations followed by the Mitsubishi Outlander on 1565.

Another Mitsubishi, the well-established ASX was sixth, benefitting from sweetheart pricing and a TV ad campaign which portrayed the chunky little wagon as a chic and classy vehicle at an attractive price.

Both strategies worked well, generating 1438 sales.

The similarly-sized Nissan Qashqai slotted into seventh place, its 1431 sales breathing down the ASX’s neck.

Holden’s Captiva is on run-out but still posted a strong 1406 sales.

Holden was offering good pricing on the Korean-derived wagon as it cleared the decks for the American-sourced Equinox (505 sales to August and growing) and Acadia (eight registrations for its official October launch).

Hyundai’s Tucson, which shares its platform with the Kia Sportage, was ninth with 1146 sales, followed by its smaller, car-based and strikingly-styled Kona (1196 sales).

Outside the top 10 is plenty of activity and sub-class success: Toyota dominated the traditional large SUV sub-segment with the Land Cruiser Prado (619 sales); add 255 Land Cruisers to that total and the nameplate was firmly in charge.

About half the Land Cruiser’s combined sales is the American Jeep Grand Cherokee on 388 registrations.

And the wagon that began the luxury 4x4 category, the British Range Rover, generated 299 sales to August 31; of that total, 221 were the performance-oriented Sport model.

Audi’s imposing Q7 found 215 buyers in the first eight months of the year.

The relatively new ute-based SUV segment features vehicles with very high off-road-capability along with a high degree of ruggedness and a good portfolio of creature comforts; the Toyota Fortuner, based on the Hilux, topped the charts with 333 sales. Ford’s Ranger-based Everest was close behind with 322, followed by the Isuzu MU-X on 204, just ahead of Holden’s Trailblazer (201) and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (200).

One of the stars of the genre, the new SsangYong Rexton G4, is next with 143 sales, followed by the value-for-money and new-tomarket Chinese-developed LDV D90 on 23.

HSV’s SportsCat+ has joined the regular SportsCat, and hopes to capitalise on the success of Holden’s Colorado, using the same 147kW/500Nm 2.8-litre engine.

Ford’s Ranger first took the top-selling mantle in 2014, and looks set to claim its fifth straight title in 2018 with a 25 percent sales advantage over Hilux heading into the final quarter.

RANGER BUBBLE INTACT Bubbles always burst, but is Ranger’s about to pop?

I

NDUSTRY OBSERVERS HAVE BEEN PREDICTING THE Ford Ranger’s sales bubble would burst virtually since the truck took the top sales spot away from the Toyota Hilux in 2014.

But rather than show signs of sales wobbles, the Ford has gone from strength to strength, not only leading ute sales but becoming NZ’s bestselling vehicle.

It’s probably just as well that the bubble remains intact, because

1

Top 10 Utes to end of August

Ford Ranger 6623 (–)

2

Toyota Hilux

3

5268 (–) Holden Colorado 3239 (–)

4

Mitsubishi Triton

5

2969 (–) Nissan Navara 2586 (–)

6

Isuzu D-Max

7

1674 (–) Mazda BT-50 1429 (–)

8

Volkswagen Amarok

9

673 (–) LDV T60 589 (–) SsangYong Actyon

10

the Ranger makes up the majority of Ford’s NZ sales. Its car and SUV stablemates are well outdistanced by rivals, so the ute is critical to the Blue Oval’s prosperity.

By contrast, though its Hilux ute lags well behind Ranger, Toyota’s SUVs, cars, and van all perform strongly in their market segments.

The Hiace dominates the van market, the RAV4 and Highlander are in the top five best-selling SUVs. Year-to-date to August 31, NZ Transport Agency registration figures show that Ford sold 6623 Rangers to Toyota’s 5268 Hiluxes.

The two easily outpaced the third-placed Holden Colorado with 3239 sales; on top of that HSV shifted 45 of its high-performance Colorado-based SportsCat utes in their first few weeks on the market.

Fourth place belonged to the Mitsubishi Triton with 2969 sales, but the stalwart gathered momentum in August when it displaced the Colorado in the monthly statistics, when buyers chose 346 Tritons to 309 Colorados.

Fifth place year-to-date went to the Nissan Navara, a model line in which rear-wheel drive versions outsell 4WDs – 1503 of the 2586 total sales were two-wheel drives.

Isuzu’s rugged D-Max was sixth, with 1674 sales, with the Mazda BT-50 slotting into seventh with 1429 registrations.

The high-end Volkswagen Amarok found 673 buyers in the eight months and behind it, in ninth place, was a ute that stresses valuefor-money, the LDV T60.

The Chinese brand’s well-established vans, along with extensive advertising print and TV advertising has moved the brand closer to the long-standing mainstream marques, and the ute logged a solid 589 sales to August 31.

The SsangYong Actyon, on run-out, completed the top 10 with 324 registrations. Local agent, Great Lake Motor Distributors, is yet to announce a firm date for the arrival of the ute’s replacement, the Musso, which revives a name used on the first SsangYongs that reached the NZ market in the 1990s.

324 (–) LCV | 43

iLike it!

Words: Mike Stock

Good road manners and carrying ability make Hyundai’s iLoad a popular choice.

Bars over the windows offer added protection.

44 | LCV

between the wheelarches, there’s ample room to cart 8x4 sheet, plus 10 tie-down points.

There’s good access to the load area via the top-hinged tailgate and twin sliding side doors, and loading and unloading is easy; dual barn-type doors are optional.

As the country’s third best-selling van, in standard form it’s a three-seater, but can be optioned with a second row of seats, obviously at the expense of cargo.

Also unusual for an Asian-sourced van, rather than a cab-over-engine design, iLoad uses a European layout with the engine ahead of the driver, and easier cab access; but unlike most mid-sized Euro vans, it’s rear-wheel drive.

The test van ran a $2000 option five-speed auto gearbox, so its 2.5-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder turns out 125kW at 3600rpm and 441Nm between 2000-

Below: Lots of plastic, but well laid out dash with everything logical, practical and comfortable, with large flip-down centre console/cupholder. Auto option adds $2k to price, boosts power and torque, but loses towing capability.

LCV28761

HYUNDAI’S iLOAD VAN IS A FIRM favourite with New Zealand tradespeople, striking a chord with its ease of driving, good external dimensions, and unique cargo capacity.

It’s a mid-sized van in terms of exterior dimensions – 5150mm long, 1920mm wide and 1935mm high – but where many similarly-sized rivals offer six cubic metres of cargo space, the iLoad has 4.4, which many tradies and contractors find just right.

It isn’t the most cavernous mid-sized van, but with a floor 2.45m long x 1.26mm

Left: Lots of space inside: not the largest in the class, but for many this isn’t an issue. And for those customers, iLoad offers a lot.

Right: Sliding doors either side make access easy.

2250rpm. Manuals gearboxes lose 25kW and almost a quarter torque, down to 343Nm. Tow ratings are different too, 2000kg for the manual, 1500kg for auto.

The motor delivers plenty of punch through well-chosen ratios, it’s extremely stable, and the handling is good, the roadholding secure, devoid of excessive bodyroll.

Ride quality is perfectly fine even when the van is unladen, via front struts and a leaf-sprung solid rear axle, on 16-inch steel wheels and 215/70 tyres.

There’s excellent forward vision through the deep, steeply-raked windscreen, and the electric mirrors give a good views. Side windows in the cargo area are protected by sturdy bars.

Road noise is moderate, though the amount coming from the cargo area would be reduced by a cargo barrier.

There’s not a lot of in-cabin storage space, with two small gloveboxes, and map

pockets in the cab doors, but the middle seatback folds forward to reveal a deepish tray for documents, two cup-holders and space for a cellphone or keys.

Safety kit includes the mandatory ESC, dual front and side airbags, plus four wheel discs, ABS with EBD and traction control and a diff lock.

A seven-inch diameter touch-screen mounted in the centre of the dash incorporates Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth, plus HD reverse camera.

In 2016, the iLoad changed its lighting system, where the headlights are constantly on. It’s not a DRL system, but it does make the vehicle more visible on the road.

Hyundai’s iLoad auto, at $50,990, ticks all the mid-sized van boxes with good carrying capacity, ease of loading, a decent amount of pulling power and good fuel economy, 8.8l/100km for the automatic.

It’s manoeuvrable, with a turning circle of 11.2 metres, and its driving position and

cabin refinement, comfort and low noise levels make for a pleasant workplace for people who spend their day in the driver’s seat.

Of course if passengers are the cargo, then there’s the iMax, but that’s another story.

Hyundai iLoad Engine:

2.5-litre turbo diesel four

Power:

125kW@3600rpm

Torque:

441Nm@2000-2250rpm

Gearbox:

Six-speed manual/fivespeed auto

Weight:

2062kg (auto)

Economy:

8.8l/100km

Price:

$50,990

Rating (/5): Verdict:

Great package, great value

Ph: 09 813 3002 Fax: 09 813 3004 Email: sales@stylecanopies.co.nz Website: www.stylecanopies.co.nz

BONNET SCOOP

LCV28761

LIGHT SURROUNDS (black or chrome)

BULLBAR

DOOR VISOR BLACK

CANOPY WITH GULLWING SIDE DOORS

NUDGEBAR STAINLESS

NUDGEBAR BLACK

FENDER FLARE Smooth or Textured Matt black

LIGHTBARS

BONNET GUARD

SNORKEL

CARGO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, TWIN SLIDING DRAWERS

SIDE STEPS

Above: Volkswagen’s versatile Transporter T6 is popular for both the professional and private markets.

Right: Volkswagen’s Crafter has scored a recent update and is selling solid.

AUTO POWERS TRANSIT

Ford’s auto keeps the numbers rolling, and though Hiace is still Words: Mike Stock strong, its yearly numbers are falling.

A

DDING AUTOMATIC GEARBOX VERSIONS TO BOTH its Transit models has cemented Ford’s solid second place in the New Zealand van market, despite losing two percent of sales to Hiace over the past two months.

To the end of August, NZ Transport Agency figures showed Ford had sold 730 Transits.

The New Zealand vehicle market is heavily skewed towards automatic gearboxes, and it’s crucial for NZ van distributors to have self-shifting versions of their products, and that’s reflected in Transit sales.

At the top of the market, of course, was the Toyota Hiace, still uncatchable after more than 20 years in the number one spot.

With 1227 sales in the first eight months of 2018, the Hiace is showing some signs of losing momentum, with average monthly sales slightly down year-on-year to August. Toyota retailed 2961 Hiaces in 2017, and is on track for less than 2000 in 2018.

Hyundai’s iLoad was in third spot to August 31, with 483 sales.

Then came the bigger of Chinese brand LDV’s two load haulers, the front-wheel-drive, diesel-engined V80, which is sold in three van variants and a cab/chassis. YTD sales sat at 307.

Its stablemate, the rear-wheel drive G10 which is sold in diesel

46 | LCV

and petrol versions, found 301 buyers to slot into fifth place, giving LDV total sales of 608 in the first eight months.

LDV also retailed nine EV80s, the first all-electric mid-sized van to go on sale in New Zealand.

Volkswagen is a significant player in the NZ van market, selling a total of 570 to August 31. The largest number were the mid-sized Transporter T6 (registrations of 287), the sixth generation of a line that began with the rear-engined Kombi.

VW dominates the city van market with its petrol-engined Caddy van based on the same platform as the Golf hatchback car.

Volkswagen NZ sold 105 Caddys which are sold in short-wheelbase and Caddy Maxi long-wheelbase versions.

Volkswagen’s third van, the all-new big front-wheel drive Crafter, is making good inroads in the large van sub-segment, with 178 sales to the end of August.

Like its stablemates, the Crafter is good to drive and its all-new styling and all-VW structure – the previous model shared bodywork with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – give it a distinctly-different look and feel.

Mercedes’ Sprinter big van was eighth with 166 registrations, followed by VW Caddy and then the Daily on 83 in tenth spot.

1

6 Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

Toyota Hiace

1324 (–)

VW Transporter T6

287 (–)

2

7 Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

Ford Transit

730 (–)

Volkswagen Crafter

178 (–)

3

8 Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

Hyundai iLoad

483 (–)

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

131 (–)

Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

LDV V80

307 ( 1)

Volkswagen Caddy

105 (–)

4

9

5

10 Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

LDV G10

301 ( 1)

Iveco Daily

83 (–)

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LCV | 47

Hyundai’s Mighty is certainly impressive, and more deserving than its modest sales suggest.

CANTER TROTS ON

Words: Mike Stock

Fuso Canter, still owning the light truck market.

S

TRONG SALES OF FACTORY-BUILT TIPPER SALES spurred Fuso’s Canter to the top of the light-duty truck market in the first eight months of this year.

By the end of August, Fuso New Zealand had retailed 256 Canters to retain the segment leadership for the second year running.

There are 50 models in Fuso’s Canter range, including 4x4s, AWDs, crew cabs, hybrids and tippers, and many Canters require only a car licence to drive. Fuso says that offers a distinct advantage to fleet owners looking to step up from a ute without further

HINO 4x4s ARRIVE

H

INO IS LAUNCHING ITS NEW 300 SERIES 4x4s ON to the New Zealand market. Custom-designed for NZ and Australia, the 4x4s have a six-speed overdrive transmission with a crawl gear ratio of 2.2:1.

“The gearing range… makes tackling steep hills a lot easier, and gives [drivers] more control and fuel efficiency,” says Hino NZ general manager, Darren Salt. “It can handle our tricky outdoor terrain for farming and forestry industries, but with a 7500kg operating weight and tight turning circle it’s also ideal for city-based work.”

Other standard features include all-wheel disc brakes, a reversing camera, a GPS system, cruise control, and a 170-litre fuel capacity.

Hino’s 4x4 range, ideal for off-road and beekeeping.

48 | LCV

investment in driver licensing.

Canter Tippers include a 7.5-tonne Wide Cab model (816) or six-tonne City Cab model (616). Both are available with five-speed manual or Fuso’s six-speed Duonic automated manual transmission (AMT), with the advantage of low tare weight and a limited slip diff.

Giving Canter sales a fillip, the 816 now gets a larger 2.4 cubic metre body as standard, providing nearly 15 percent greater capacity.

Second on the light-duty truck sales chart at August 31 was the

ISUZU TO LAUNCH NEW N-SERIES

ISUZU TRUCKS HAS ANNOUNCED A SIGNIFICANT upgrade to its popular N-Series, for Q4 2018. Most new models will feature a significant power increase, from 155hp on NPR250/350 & 450 up to an impressive 190hp. Simplified emissions control removes the Diesel Particulate Diffuser entirely, replacing it with a DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst) in favour of an Ad Blue system, meaning no more burn-off after-treatments or SCR additives. A new 6.2 inch Media Centre includes options for steering controls for radio and phone, Wi-Fi hotspot ready, GPS compatible, four-camera ready and the allowance to pre-delivery fit integrated Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Warning systems.

Isuzu’s N-Series gets a makeover at the end of 2018.

1 Brand

Sales

Fuso Canter

256 (–)

2

Fuso Canter is top of the NZ sales chart, with the eCanter, the world’s first EV light truck due before the end of 2018.

Canter’s arch-rival, the Isuzu N-series, with total sales of 188.

A distant third was the attractive Hino 300 which features electronic stability control as standard; 88 were retailed in the first eight months of the year.

Chinese brand Foton took fourth place with 27 sales of light-duty versions of the Aumark.

The only other light truck to register sales was Hyundai’s attractively-styled Mighty. The Korean truck drives well, has crisp modern styling but has failed to strike a chord with NZ buyers. Given its merits, it seems odd that only 18 were registered to August 30.

Isuzu led the overall truck market with 778 sales of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty models.

Fuso was 200 registrations behind on 578, with Hino third on 480 sales.

Brand

Sales

Isuzu N-series

183 (–)

3 Brand

Sales

Hino 300

88 (–)

4 Brand

Sales

Foton Aumark

27 (–)

Brand

Sales

Hyundai Mighty

18 (–)

5

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LCV | 49

ee-year-old used oom, even if it’s a thr w car from a showr ne a up k ngs to come. pic thi to e of It’s nic uest and a sign was painted upon req car. The black grille

booster seats and two children… large vehicle, Seats three adults, or ily out of a five-seat sh a five-person fam ints. po FIX ISO capsules actually pu of id vo third row, often de the o int ts sea er ost and bo

Two new additions to the family, both with a similar but different amount of love, says Arna Evans.

TWO NEW ADDITIONS TO THE FAMILY happened this month, and one was a direct result of the other. Baby Oscar joined his two older sisters, and for those good with basic maths, that is indeed three children; which forced us into a more accommodating vehicle than our VW Touareg. Not for the number of seats, of course, but for their ability to be seated, given three child seats will not fit in the space of three adult seats.

At least not our two wide Recaros and a capsule, which is a problem in itself.

It seems the larger the human, the less space it takes up in a vehicle. While us adults sit in comfort on cosseting leather and heated seats, we wanted equally comfortable and safe booster seats for our three- and six-year old girls. So we spent a bit on Recaro Monza Nova seats, sequentially as our girls grew into the first and then second model, which is almost identical apart from colours and a bit of trim: like a 2017 model versus a 2015.

Clearly three years is not big in booster seat years, as both seats have iPod/3.5mm cables to plug in a tablet and speakers in the head side bolsters.

For around $600-$700, they get ISOFIX clip-in mounts, and span the years from 3-12, and/or 15-36kg, so all the way until they’re out of a booster. We believe in buying quality, and buying once… though we did also buy a $70 version from The

50 | LCV

Warehouse that floats between cars.

They also feature ‘Advanced Side Protection’… I don’t know either, but it basically means it’s really wide. Our baby capsule is a Steelcraft Strider Plus ‘system’, which is a car base kit and capsule that pops out and slides right into a pram, perfect for keeping a sleeping baby sleeping.

But it’s 70cm long, and every car we’ve put it in requires the front seat to be compromised and slid forward. Which is fine for most people, but hubby and I are both six-footers. It’s not that wide, but trying to fit it alongside two booster seats in the back of a Touareg? No chance!

So baby Oscar forced us into a sevenseater, and while we liked the look and cache of an Audi Q7, the features for the price just didn’t add up, and given this would be our family car for at least four years, we didn’t want an already older Euro car long out of warranty to cost us even more for potential repairs or parts.

The Skoda Kodiaq was our choice, but the 1.4-litre was a fraction lacking in performance – which on its own would have been fine, but we didn’t have the budget to spring for the 2.0-litre. And being just a year old, there was simply none on the used car market, as a new one was a bit over budget. Power and price reluctantly pushed us away from the Kodiaq.

So we arrived at a used Hyundai Santa Fe, benefitting from the updated 2018 model which pushed used car prices down, and brought in a flood of trade-ins and used models for sale. Our local Hyundai dealer did a great job finding us one from our shortlist of specs, and we ended up with a 2015 Elite 2.2 diesel, the last of the Series 1s, before the update, for around $40k – versus the $74k when new; just out of its three-year warranty, with 50,000km, but a clearly cared-for one-owner vehicle.

And bog standard, too, which just won’t do for me. If I had to compromise with the Hyundai badge (a minor issue, rather than a major one), we will be personalising it, and we have a few ideas in mind. There is so much in the Elite model that it’s more about making it mine, so we’re just looking at 20-inch wheels, and the black-out mods.

Curiously in the time we’ve had the Santa Fe, yes, we have noticed more on the road, as you tend to do, but we’ve also noticed a handful of white ones with the same mods we’re planning, too! So we’ll have to be mindful of that.

For now we’re just enjoying the new car and being able to drive as a five-person family in the one car. Motorways trips have already seen 6.8l/100km, and 9.9l/100km around town. But we are in a honeymoon phase with it, so we will see how the love evolves over time.

Arna Evans

kW

Nm

Stelvio

Model

alfaromeo.co.nz

Website

$82,990-$99,990

Price Range

A

Trans

D/P

Fuel

4/2000-2200

Cyl/CC

148/206

470/400

4.8-7.0

L/100km

Q2 Q3 Q5 Q7

audi.co.nz

$54,900-$63,400 $62,400-$73,900 $92,900-$109,900 $113,900-$141,100

A A A A

P P P P

4/1395-4/1984 4/1395-4/1984 4/1750-V6/1500 V6/2967

110-140 110-132 140-210 160-200

250-320 250-320 400-620 500-600

5.5-6.4 5.9-6.7 5.1-7.1 5.8-5.9

Bentayga

bentleymotors.com

$398,000+

A

P/D

W12/6000

320-447

900

8-13.1

X1 X2 X3 X4

bmw.co.nz

$59,900+ $60,900-$70,900 $59,900-$69,200 $96,700-$130,400

A A A A

4/1995-4/1998

220-450 220-280 220-280 500

4.1-6.6

4/1968-4/2967 4/1995-V6/2993

110-170 100-141 100-141 140-230

X5/M

$111,950-$206,700

A

V8/4395

170-330

500-740

3.4-9.6

X6/M

$144,500-$236,100

A

P P P P P/D/ Hybrid P

V6/2979-V8/4395

190-330

400-740

6-9.7

Issue

5.6-5.9 5.2-6

C4 Aircross

citroen.co.nz

$31,990-$35,990

A

P

4/1998-4/1998

110

197

8.1

Journey

dodge.co.nz

$44,990-$59,990

A

P

V6/3604

206

342

10.4

EcoSport Escape Everest Endura ST

ford.co.nz

$29,990-$32,990 $37,990-$54,990 $75,990 $73,990

A A A A

P P/D D D

4/1498-4/1498 4/1498-4/1999 5/3198 4/2000

82 132-178 143 154

140 240-400 470 450

6.5 5.4-8.6 8.5 5.9

H2 H6 H9

haval.co.nz

$25,990-$27,990 $30,990-$34,990 $43,990+

A A/M A/M

P P P

4/1500 4/1998 4/1998

110 145 180

210 315 350

8.2 9.8 10.9

Sept/Oct 18

Captiva Equinox Trailblazer Trax

holden.co.nz

$40,990-$56,990 $43,990-$59,990 $62,990 $32,990-$36,990

A A A A

P/D P P/D P

4/2231-V6/2997 4/1998 4/2776 4/1364-4/1364

123-190 100-188 147 103

230-400 320-353 500 200

8.5-10.7 5.7-8.4 8.6 6.7

Aug/Sept 17 May/June 18 Dec/Jan 18 Oct/Nov 17

CR-V HR-V

honda.co.nz

$37,900-$47,900 $29,990-$42,600

A A

P/D P

4/1496 4/1800-4/1800

140 96-105

8240 155-172

7.3-7.4 5.3-6.9

Kona Santa Fe Tucson

hyundai.co.nz

$31,990-$41,990 $60,990-$73,990 $39,990-$63,990

A A A/M

P/D P/D P/D

4/1591-4/1999 4/2199-V6/3342 4/1591-4/1999

110-130 138-199 121-136

180-265 241-440 203-400

6.7-7.2 7.7-9.4 6.4-7.9

MU-X

isuzu.co.nz

$65,990

A

D

4/2999

130

380

8.3

E-Pace F-Pace

jaguar.co.nz

$50,744+ $95,000-$130,000

A/M A

P/D P/D

4/1998-4/1999 4/1999-V6/2995

150-300 132-280

380-500 365-700

4.7-8.0 5.3-8.9

Niro Niro PHEV Sorento Soul Sportage

kia.co.nz

$34,990-$55,990 $49,990 $55,990-$73,990 $32,490+ $35,990-$54,990

A A A A

P/D P/Hybrid P P/D P

4/2231-V6/2997 4/1600 4/1998 4/2776 4/1364-4/1364

123-190 104 100-188 147 103

230-400 147 320-353 500 200

8.5-10.7 1.3 5.7-8.4 8.6 6.7

Urus

lamborghini.co.nz

$350,000+

A

P

V8/3996

478

850

9.7

Discovery

landrover.co.nz

$115,900-$139,900

A

P/D

V6/1999-V6/2995

132-250

430-600

7.5-10.9

LX NX RX

lexus.co.nz

$160,100-$179,990 $82,400-$96,000 $95,990-$126,400

A A A

D P/Hybrid P/Hybrid

V8/4461 4/1998-4/2494 V6/3456

200-270 114-175 193-221

530-650 210-350 335-370

8.5-20.2 5.6-9.5 5.9-6.9

XUV500

mahindra.co.nz

$29,990-$36,990

A

D

4/2179

103-129

330

7.4-8.1

Levante

maserati.com/maserati/nz/en

$136,990+

A

P/D

V6/2979

202-316

500-600

CX-3 CX-5 CX-8 CX-9

mazda.co.nz

$31,395-$40,195 $39,995-$57,495 $53,495-$62,495 $54,995-$64,995

A A A A

P P/D D P

4/1998-4/1998 4/1998-4/2488 4/2200 4/2488

109 114-140 140 170

192 200-420 450 420

6.1-6.7 6.0-7.5 5.7-6.0 8.4-8.8

G-Class GLA G-Class Professional

mercedes-benz.co.nz

$186,500-$253,900 $60,900-$67,900 $129,900+

A A A

D P/D D

V6/2987-V8/5461 4/1595-4/2143 V6/2987

180-420 90-130 135

600-760 250-350 400

9.9-13.8 4.5-5.7

Countryman

mini.co.nz

$45,750-$71,990

A

P/Hybrid

3/1499-4/2000

100-170

220-385

2.3-7.4

ASX Eclipse Cross Outlander Pajero Sport

mmnz.co.nz

$36,690-$45,990 $41,690-$45,590 $39,990-$56,995 $61,990-$66,990

A A A A

P/D P P/D D

4/1998-4/2268 4/1499-4/1499 4/1998-4/2360 4/2442

112 112 112-126 135

200-366 254 193-366 437

6.0-7.6 7.3 6.2-7.2 8

June/July 17

May/June 18

Feb/Mar 17

Sept/Oct 18 Sept/Oct 18

LCV | 51

ADD PROTECTION & STYLE WITH THESE AFTERMARKET ACCESSORIES Model

Website

Juke Pathfinder Patrol Qashqai X-Trail

nissan.co.nz

2008 3008 5008

Price Range

Trans

Fuel

Cyl/CC

kW

Nm

L/100km

Issue

$39,990 $55,490-$69,990 $107,500-$127,500 $35,590-$43,995 $39,990-$53,490

A A A/M A A

P P P P/D P

4/1618 V6/3498 V8/5552 4/1598-4/1997 4/2488

140 202 298 96-106 126

240 340 560 200-320 226

7.4 9.9-10.1 14.5 4.9-6.9 8.1-8.3

peugeot-newzealand.co.nz

$32,990-$34,990 $39,990-$54,990 $47,990-$57,990

A A A

P P/D P/D

3/1200-3/1200 4/1598-4/1997 4/1598-4/1997

81 88-133 121-133

205 240-400 240-400

4.8 4.4-7.0 4.8-7.0

Cayenne Cayenne S Macan

porsche.com/australia/_newzealand_/

$147,800-$261,200 $187,800+ $113,600-$184,300

A A A

P/D P/Hybrid P

V6/2900-V8/4000 V6/2894 4/1984-V6/2997

250-404 324 185-250

340-770 550

11.5 9.4 7.4-9.7

Evoque Sport Velar

landrover.co.nz

$81,000-$118,000 $128,000-$233,000 $134,900-$157,850

A/M A

P/D P/D P/D

4/1998-4/1999 4/1999-V8/4999 4/1999-V6/2993

110-213 177-405 180-300

380-430 450-700 430-700

4.2-7.6 6.2-12.8 5.4-6.4

Captur Koleos

renault.co.nz

$35,990 $44,990-$59,990

A A

P P/D

4/1197 4/1995-4/2488

88 126-130

190 226-380

5.4 6.1-8.3

Arona Ateca

seat.co.nz

$29,900+ $38,900-$52,900

A A

P P/D

3/999 4/1395-4/1968

85 110-140

200 250-400

5.3-7.0

Karoq Kodiaq

skoda.co.nz

$38,990-$48-490 $42,990-$58,290

A A

P/D P/D

1498-1968 4/1395-4/1984

110 110-140

250-340 251-400

N/A 5.7-7.4

July/Aug 18 Dec/Jan 18

Korando Rexton G4 Tivoli

ssangyong.co.nz

$32,990-$43,990 $59,990-$67,990 $25,990-$34,990

A A A/M

P/D D P

4/1998 4/2157 4/1597

109-129 133 94

197-360 420 160

7.5-8.0 8.3 6.6-7.2

May/June 18

Forester Outback XV

subaru.co.nz

$39,990-$54,990 $44,990-$59,990 $34,990-$39,990

A A A

P P P

H4/1998-H4/2498 H4/2498-H6/3630 4/1995

126-177 129-191 115

235-350 235-350 196

8.1-8.5 7.3-9.9 7

Nov/Dec 18

Grand Vitara Ignis Jimny S-Cross

suzuki.co.nz

$31,990-$38,990 $18,990-$22, 500 $19,990-$24,500 $29,990-$33, 990

A/M A/M A/M A

P P P P

4/2393 4/1242 4/1328 4/1373-4/1586

122 66 110 88-103

225 120 110 156-220

8.8-9.9 4.7-4.9 7.1-7.4 5.9-6.3

Model X

tesla.com/en_NZ/

$151,000-$210,700

A

Electric

N/A

193-375

249-649

0

C-HR Fortuner Highlander L Cruiser Prado L Cruiser 200 RAV4

toyota.co.nz

$37,990-$39,990 $65,990-$70,790 $64,890-$81,490 $70,890-$91,790 $120,190-$134,190 $37,990-$61,690

A A A A A A

P D P D D P/D

I4/1200 4/2755 V6/3456 4/2800 V8/4500 4/1987-4/2494

85 130 218 130 200-270 107-132

185 420 350-440 450 650 187-340

6.4-6.5 8.6 9.5 8 9.5 6.6-8.5

Tiguan Touareg

volkswagen.co.nz

$41,990-$66,990 $89,990-$135,990

A A

P/D D

4/1395-4/1984 V6/2967-V8/4134

110-162 150-250

250-350 450-800

5.7-7.8 7.4-9.1

XC40 XC60

volvo.co.nz

$75,900-$86,900

A

P/D

4/1969-5/2400

A

P/D/Hybrid

4/1969

162-225 P235/E65235

350-440 P400/ E240-480

5.7-7.7

$99,900-$138,900

XC90

July/Aug 18

July/Aug 18

Oct/Nov 17

2.1-8.6

X-CLASS V6 PRICED Mercedes-Benz has announced the pricing for its X-Class V6 turbo diesel: the x350d will start at $81,205 for the Progressive (mid-spec), and run up to $88,325 for the top-spec Power, with the V6 models due in December.

Unlike the four-cylinder, there is no Pure entry level version with the V6 just yet.

Look for our road test and towing review of the X350d in upcoming issues, and keep an eye out at X-Class dealer Trucks & Trailers.

52 | LCV

F

O S

S 5 C

INTAKE SNORKELS FENDER FLARES WEATHER SHIELDS BONNET GUARDS LIFT KITS HEAD & TAIL LIGHT COVERS SIDE STEPS TYRES - MUD & ALL TERRAIN FLOORLINERS & CARGOLINERS HITCH STEP

FORD RANGER | HOLDEN COLORADO | ISUZU D-MAX | MAZDA BT-50 | MITSUBISHI TRITON | NISSAN NAVARA | TOYOTA HILUX + MANY MORE!

ORDER YOURS ONLINE AT STAPARTS.CO.NZ Segedin Truck & Auto Parts Ltd (STA Parts) 53 Andrew Baxter Drive, Airport Oaks, Auckland Call Us: (09) 256 1120 | Email: parts@staparts.co.nz

L/100km

Issue

Ranger

Model

ford.co.nz

Website

$42,640-$69,640

Price Range

Auto/Manual

Trans

Diesel

Fuel

5/3198

Cyl/CC 147

kW 470

Nm

8.1-8.9

May/June 18

Tunland

foton.co.nz

$29,990-$ 36,990

Manual

Diesel

4/2776

130

365

8.7

Apr/May 17

Steed

greatwall.co.nz

$26,990-$31,990

Manual

Petrol/Diesel

4/1998 - 4/2378

100 - 110

205 - 310

8.1

Colorado

holden.co.nz

$39,990-$66,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2766

147

440 - 500

7.9-8.6

May/June 18

D-MAX

isuzu.co.nz

$39,890-$61,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2999

130

430

7.7-7.8

Aug/Sept 17

T60

ldv.co.nz

$33,338-$40,238

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2766

110

360

8.6-9.6

Feb/Mar 18

SportsCat

hsv.com.au

$73,990-$82,990

A/M

Diesel

4/2800

147

440-500

8.7

Genio

mahindra.co.nz

$22, 989-$30,990

Manual

Diesel

4/2179

89

280

8.6-9.6

BT-50

mazda.co.nz

$35,295-$59,795

Auto/Manual

Diesel

5/3198

147

470

8.9-10.0

Sept/Oct 18

X-Class

mercedes-benz.co.nz

$56,500-$69,000

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2998

120-140

450

6.6-7.0

July/Aug 18

Triton

mitubishi.co.nz

$36,790-$62,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2422

135

437

7.2-7.6

Navara

nissan.co.nz

$37,990-$63,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2298

120-140

450

6.1-7.0

Laramie

ramtrucks.co.nz

$149,990-$169,990

Auto

Diesel

I-6/6690

276

1084

Actyon

ssangyong.co.nz

$33,338-$36,788

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/1198

114-131

360-400

7.4-7.9

Hilux

toyota.co.nz

$36,390-$54,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2775

123-130

34 -450

7.3-9.0

May/June 18

Amarok

vokswagen.co.nz

$52,990-$82,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/1968

132-165

420-550

8.0-9.0

Dec/Jan 18

July/Aug 18

TOYOTA BACK FOR 29 Toyota will continue its support for Emirates Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup defence on the Waitemata Harbour in March 2021. Toyota is also the team’s most loyal supporter, having first partnered in 1992, and the 2021 Cup defence in Auckland will be the eighth campaign that Toyota NZ has been involved in, making it the longest continuous sports sponsorship in the country: 29 years. It remained with the team for Black Magic’s victory in 1995 and successful defence in 2000; it stood behind the team when the trophy went to Switzerland in 2003 and the challenges in 2007 and 2013, and of course victory again in 2017. NZ is the second most successful country in the 167-year history of the America’s Cup (after America) with three victories.

54 | LCV

Model

Website

Price Range

Trans

Fuel

Cyl/CC

kW

Nm

L/100km

Issue

7.1

May/June 18

Ducato

fiat.co.nz

$54,990-$67,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

I4/2999

130

400

Transit Cargo Transit Custom

ford.co.nz

$61,640-$72,340 $51,990-$60,990

Auto/Manual Auto/Manual

Diesel Diesel

i4/1995-4/2198 i4/1995

114-125 125

385-405 405

iLoad/iMax

hyundai.co.nz

$42,990-$59,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

i/2497

100-125

343-441

Daily

iveco.co.nz

$65,366-$112,918

Manual

Diesel

4/2300-4/3000

93-125

320-430

G10 V80

ldv.co.nz ldv.co.nz

$25,990-$53,900 $32,190-$53,900

Auto/Manual Auto/Manual

Diesel Petrol/Diesel

i4/1890-i4/2499

100-165

200-330

Sprinter Vito

mercedez-benz.co.nz

$33,338-$40,238 $51,120-$73,850

Auto/Manual Auto/Manual

Diesel Diesel

4/2766 i/1598-i4=2987

110 100-140

360 270-440

Partner

peugeot-newzealand.co.nz

$26,990

Manual

Diesel

i4/1560

66

215

8.6 - 9.6

Hiace

toyota.co.nz

$45,780-$65,880

Auto/Manual

Petrol/Diesel

i4/2694-i4/2987

100-118

3243-300

8.6 - 9.6

Kangoo Master Trafic

renault.co.nz

$31,990-$35,990 $59,990-$74,990 $52,990

Auto/Manual Auto/Manual Auto

Diesel Diesel Diesel

i4/1197-i4/1461 i4/2299 i4/1598

81-84 120-140 103-129

190-240 360-400 340

Caddy Crafter Multivan Transporter California

volkswagen.co.nz

$29,990-$61,490 $57,490 = $92,190 $73,490-$94,990 $39,990-69,490 $137,000

Auto/Manual Auto/Manual Auto/Manual Auto/Manual Auto

Petrol Diesel Diesel Diesel Petrol

i4/1197-i4/1395 i4/1968 i4/1968 i4/1968 4/1968

62-92 90-130 132 75-150 150

160-220 340-410 400 250-450 450

Model

Website

kW

Nm

Manual

Diesel

12/2780-17/3760

110-115

360-500

fuso.co.nz

Auto/Manual Manual

Diesel Diesel

4/2998 6/7545

110-129 184-207

370-430 761-802

300

hino.co.nz

Manual

Diesel

110-121

420-550

Trucks MK Trucks PK

udtrucks.co.nz

Auto/Manual Manual

Diesel Diesel

4/7013 4/7013

180-206 180-206

716-883 716-883

Mighty

hyundai.co.nz

Manual

Diesel

4/3933

102-125

289-608

N Series F Series

isuzu.co.nz

Aumark

foton.co.nz

Canter Fighter

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEB SITE

Price Range $29,995 +

Trans

Fuel

Cyl/CC

110-139 151-257

Aug/Sept 17 June/July 17

Apr/May 17

June/July 17 Dec/Jan 18 Aug/Sept 17

L/100km

Issue

8-13.1

Dec/Jan 18

Feb/Mar 18

May/June 18

www.blackduck.co.nz

SEAT COVERS

SUPERH COVERS TOUG SEAT Forestry Equipment • Trucks • Utes – Vans – Commercials • • • • • • • • •

Genuine high quality 12oz canvas Manufacturing for over 20 years Water & rot proof • Genuine high quality 12oz canvas Manufacturing over 25 years Easy• to fit - easy toforclean if buying a new Water &compatible rot proof Side• airbag vehicle specify • Easy to fit - easy to Black Duck Tailored specifically to clean fit each type of seat • Side airbag compatible Over 3000 patterns available • Tailored specifically to fit each type of seat Protect your vehicle investment • Over 3000 patterns available Overnight delivery available on most products • Protect your vehicle investment • Overnight delivery available on most products

Ph: 0800 158 479 - sales@blackduck.co.nz - www.blackduck.co.nz | sales@blackduck.co.nz

Ph: 0800 158 479

LCV28738

Construction Machinery • Agriculture Machinery • Quad Bikes

LCV | 55

Brought to you by Beaut Utes, quality accessories for all popular utes.

Owner: Wayde Fellows Vehicle: 2017 SsangYong Actyon Opinion: It’s customised with a skull theme inside and out, and it’s an awesome truck. I’ve put on a lot of overseas extras, and it’s a one of a kind. It’s never let me down, and my only dislike is that accessories are expensive unless you get them used or imported.

Owner: Rick Flannel Vehicle: 2004 Holden Rodeo V8 Opinion: That Peter Brock Safari Rodeo V8 you ran last issue, I actually bought it off Kelly Racing about two years ago! I have all the rego papers, logbook, drawings etc from when it was built, and it’s part of my collection.

Owner: Lauchlan Murray Vehicle: 2005 Toyota Hilux Opinion: The favourite thing is the flatdeck I’ve just put on it, and I need to get some gullwing toolboxes. It’s had extensive mods including an ECU remap, three-inch stainless exhaust and EGR block, but the computer sometimes freaks out and thinks there’s too much pressure in the head and it goes into limp mode.

Owner: Jaydin Gombert Vehicle: 2014 SsangYong Actyon Opinion: I made a promise to my grandfather to get a ute, and did when he passed away. It’s my beautiful pride and joy: she is a b’ute! But I need a canopy really badly.

Owner: Jason Fletcher Vehicle: 2016 Mitsubishi Triton Opinion: The price was appealing at the time with a trade, and it’s more like a family car. We have a caravan we tow too, and I love it.

My only dislike is the crown canopy that has leaked from day one and had the paint bubble and crack off – almost three years and it’s only just getting it sorted out.

Owner: Corey Lewis Vehicle: 2018 Holden Colorado Opinion: Black on black kitted out! What I like about it is the leather interior, rims, the sports lid from Beaut Utes and all the other cool extras I’ve done. What I dislike is it’s not a 6.2l V8, haha!

Owner: Dave Hodgson Vehicle: 2018 Holden Colorado Opinion: Very happy with my toy, it’s got good power and while I’ve only done 6000kms so far, it’s getting 8.6l/100km on my motorway driving. Big thumbs up!

Owner: Andy Spence Vehicle: 2013 VW Amarok 4motion Highline Opinion: My Amarok gets me to some amazing places, but I dislike that it has a hard lid and not a canopy. Anyone want to swap!?...

56 | LCV

WINNER

Show us your ute, plus a few likes & dislikes about it, and you could win a $100 voucher from Beaut Utes. Post to facebook.com/NZLCVmag.

56 | LCV

Canopies

Your One Stop Van and Ute Fit Out Specialists • Quality service and workmanship • Impartial expertise / solutions focused • Customer-driven fit out solutions at an affordable price • Attentive and innovative with over 60 years in the industry

• Auckland and Wellington locations • We match any Motor Company warranty

Fitting out fleets for over 60 years.

Trade and Reseller enquiries welcome.

www.haleman.co.nz

AUCKLAND Brett Stiven

AUCKLAND Michelle Stretton

WELLINGTON Geri Kraal

General Manager - Automotive

Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager

P: +64 9 573 1820 M: 027 274 9998 E: Brett.Stiven@haleman.co.nz

P: +64 9 573 5999 P: +64 4 568 7035 M: 021 357 232 M: 021 994 794 E: Michelle.Stretton@haleman.co.nz E: Geraldine.Kraal@haleman.co.nz

LCV28601

• Available Nationwide through our Agent network

LE B A L I A V OW A N 0 8 V T FACELIF

WORKING HARDER FOR YOU. V80.

THE FACELIFT V80 CARGO VAN IS HERE. LDV V80 NOW HAS ALL THE MOD CONS. When you think about how far the world has advanced in terms of technology, the V80 has not been left behind. Centre of attention is the massive touch screen entertainment system, complete with Apple CarPlay and Android - Interconnected; meaning you can navigate, make calls, send and receive messages, and listen to music, taking your smartphone into the driver’s seat. Bluetooth keeps you connected and two USB ports keep you powered, your work-day has just become a lot easier.

V80 now has driver assist technology such as Blind Spot Monitor (BIGGER and BIGGEST only) and Lane Departure Warning (BIGGER and BIGGEST only). Added eyes provided by the reversing camera and rear parking sensors (BIG, BIGGER and BIGGEST). You can feel confident driving the V80 knowing it is packed with safety assurance features.

V80 is better than ever and ready to go to work for you. For a demonstration of all the great new features in the LDV V80 Facelift, contact your nearest LDV dealer or contact Warren Willmot on 021 949 218.

Please phone Warren Willmot, National Van Geek on 021 949 218 or email warren@ldv.co.nz

All- new Exterior Styling Colour coded bumbers and door handles New alloy wheel styling 10in Touch Screen Entertainment System (BIG, BIGGER and BIGGEST)

Reverse Camera (BIG, BIGGER and BIGGEST)

Apple Carplay (BIG, BIGGER and BIGGEST only)

Blind Spot Monitoring (BIGGER and BIGGEST only)

Lane Change Assist (BIGGER and BIGGEST only)

Multi-Function Steering Wheel

WORKING HARDER EVERY DAY 0800 LDV VANS | ldv.co.nz