LCV Magazine March/April 2019

FUSO CANTER: NUMBER 1 IN SALES AGAIN & OUR LIGHT TRUCK OF THE YEAR

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March/April 2019 2

BEHIND THE WHEEL Editor’s thoughts and opinions on this month’s motoring happenings.

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

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CLASS OF 2018 We drive, we rate, we like 2018’s NZ Car of the Year, Subaru’s Forester SUV.

12 CRISP CROSS Mitsubishi’s funky Eclipse Cross crossover: it’s 2020 in looks.

14 CX-3 TIMES A CHARM Mazda’s smallest SUV is big in almost every way.

16 NEW BRAND DAY Haval’s H2 compact SUV, it’s better than you’d think… for a $26k SUV.

18 TO THE XTREME Holden’s Colorado Xtreme, the ute Holden doesn’t really want to sell.

22 RUMBUL BE Mad Mike, Mazdas and rotaries… not what you’d expect associated with a ute.

28 BLOCK PARTY Ken Block launches a truck for Gymkhana 10, and it’s a bit special.

32 BEST OF 2018 Announcing LCV mag’s Light-Truck and Van of 2018.

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

38 TOW TEST Our pick of the top 12 tow vehicles in New Zealand. Make that 13...

42 MARKET WRAP: SUV & UTE The month in the biggest moving automotive sector.

44 CRAFTER WORK VW updates the Crafter van, and packs it all in, and then some.

46 MARKET WRAP: VANS The year that was in van sales – aka, measuring how much Hiace is leading by.

48 MARKET WRAP: LIGHT TRUCKS A look back at the year that was in lighttrucks.

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

2:36 PM

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SUV • UTE • VAN • LIGHT-TRUCKS

www.lcv.co.nz MANAGEMENT Publisher

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trevor@trucker.co.nz Advertising

Dion Rout 027 491 1110 dion@trucker.co.nz

EDITORIAL Editor

Dean Evans dean@trucker.co.nz

Contributors

Mike Stock, Cory Martin, Robin Yates, Arna Evans, Olivia Beauchamp

ART DEPARTMENT Design & Production

Luca Bempensante Zarko Mihic

MARKETING

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PRINTING Nicholson Print Solutions DISTRIBUTION Gordon & Gotch Publication: NZ Light Commercial Vehicle is published by Allied Publications Ltd. ISSN 2382-1221 Contributions: Editorial contributions are welcomed for consideration, but no responsibility is accepted for loss or damage of submitted materials (photographs, graphics, printed material etc…). If the return of material is required please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Please contact the editor by mail, fax, or email prior to submitting

THE BEST-SELLING VEHICLE IN NEW Zealand is a ute. This isn’t a phase, but a phenomenon, with either Ford’s Ranger or Toyota’s Hilux topping the best-seller list since 1982.

The humble ute has remained strong and resilient, and doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon.

And the best part of that is marketing; a sales success often results in profits being poured back into itself, and smart marketing types know that success breeds success. Our two cover stars this issue are both celebrating ‘10’ in slightly different ways. Mad Mike Whiddett has just celebrated ten years with Red Bull, a brand with the business clout that wins Formula 1 championships. And having an NZ motorsport driver as part of its global sporting brand is rather satisfying for Kiwis, much less Mike himself. The ‘mad’ part came from his stunts as a teenager while racing motocross – mid-race stunts that he probably shouldn’t have been doing instead of actually racing, but it got the attention of announcers and the public and helped put him in the position he is today, as one of Red Bull’s leading global talents.

Mike’s RUMBUL Mazda Stadium Truck isn’t as serious or as focussed as his other drift beasts, and represents a (slightly) more relaxed side, with Whiddett able to fashion the vehicle into the look of a Mazda B2000 from the 1980s, rather than a mock-up of the current BT-50 that typical marketing types would demand. That it’s a rotary engine in a ute may be unique, but it actually harks back to the 1970s when Mazda itself released what is still the only production rotary ute to ever go on sale, the Rotary Pickup. Sold from 1974 to 1977 in the USA and Canada, it ran a 13B rotary – Mazda’s ‘big’ engine at the time – through a fourspeed manual, before an upgrade to a five-speed in later models, partly helping its 13.4l/100km thirst. Selling new for $3500USD, that equates

to around $25,000NZD in 2019 money – cheap!

Though its sales weren’t great, around 15,000 were built, but impressively it was also raced, winning the 1975 Mojave 24 Hour Rally.

The success of utes and trucks worldwide is what contributed to Ken Block’s latest machine, built to celebrate his tenth Gymkhana video, a worldwide YouTube phenomenon with well over 100 million views. After a spate of turbo four-cylinders and a twin-turbo V8 Mustang, Ken targeted America’s favourite vehicle, the Ford F series truck, and put together an incredible machine with a Ford GT twin-turbo V6 engine and all-wheel drive. I met Ken a few years ago in Australia to promote his Gymkhana videos and he shares personality traits with Mike Whiddett: calm, confident and focussed on his job, whether it’s a business decision, clipping an apex or winning a race. Documentaries on each of the characters are equally fascinating, so it was fitting that we put both these motorsport celebrities together for this issue.

Of course this truck success and racing isn’t new.

Mazda Motorsport Australia and Bond Roll Bars, in the wake of its fourth 12 Hour success with its RX-7 sponsored by radio station Triple M, put together a Mazda B2600 stadium racer, with a 13B twin-turbo engine from the RX-7, to run a few rounds of the short course off-road racing in 1996.

It sounded great, went well and had reasonable success, but then basically faded away, which wasn’t difficult in pre-internet days.

So it’s great to see the rotary racing truck idea revived, alive and racing. And run locally by a guy who’s really not that mad after all.

Dean Evans – dean@trucker.co.nz

www.facebook.com/NZLCVmag

material. LCV reserves the right to edit submitted material.

Copyright: Articles in LCV are copyright and may not be reproduced in any form – in whole or part – without the permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by, the publisher.

NZ Light Commercial Vehicles Magazine Readership 2018

22,500

www.lcv.co.nz

2 | LCV

*

CANTER RUN OUT MAKING WAY FOR NEW MODEL CANTER – ALL STOCK MUST GO! CANTER JUST GOT MORE ECONOMICAL...

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THE LCV YEAR THAT WAS ANOTHER YEAR HAS ENDED, AND WITH sales figures published, 2018 again proved the increasing popularity of utes and SUVs, with just one passenger vehicle remaining in the top 10 vehicles, which doesn’t look like recovering its number one status soon.

Ranger topped the charts, helped by some updates at the end of the year. Hilux lost some ground, partly hampered by the change to driveaway pricing, but its Corolla and RAV4 stablemates are backing up the brand, ahead of Mitsubishi’s Triton, jumping ahead of the Colorado.

Five utes, four SUVs and one passenger vehicle filled the top 10, with more just outside it, clearly reinforcing how the market has shifted towards these larger vehicles.

What’s in store for 2019? Much of the same, though some have suggested a levelling off of sales, which is consistent with 2018 actually selling fewer new passenger vehicle registrations for the first time since 2009.

4 | LCV

NZ VEHICLE SALES 2014-2018 YEAR

CAR/SUV

UTE/COMM.

TOTAL

Year on Year

2018

108,210

53,555

161,765

+1%

2017

108,608

51,507

160,115

+9%

2016

102,644

44,292

146,936

+9%

2015

95,097

39,145

134,242

+5%

2014

90,632

36,716

127,348

+12%

TOP 10 OVERALL 2018 MODEL

SALES

SEGMENT

Ford Ranger

9890

UTE

Toyota Hilux

8078

UTE

Toyota Corolla

7299

CAR

Toyota RAV4

4964

SUV

Mitsubishi Triton

4719

UTE

Holden Colorado

4583

UTE

Mazda CX-5

3695

SUV

Nissan Navara

3652

UTE

Kia Sportage

3289

SUV

Toyota Highlander

2681

SUV

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WORLD’S FASTEST SUV TWO ISSUES AGO WE FEATURED THE TOP 5 FASTEST SUVS IN the world. And thankfully, it wasn’t just the ‘only’ five, as we were reminded of the Toyota Land Cruiser that holds the world speed record of 369km/h. With a 2000hp twin-turbo 5.7-litre V8, retired Toyota NASCAR driver Carl Edwards drove the SUV to a one-way speed of 370.2km/h on the 4km runway at Mojave Air and Space Port, well past the previous record of 340km/h.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK NEWS TRAVELS FAST, AND FOR THE FASTEST SUV, UTE AND LCV news, be sure to Like us on Facebook, with our regular updates and our contacts around the world bringing you the most interesting and relevant news first. And be sure to interact (Like, comment, share) at least once every 30 days, or Facebook’s algorithms will drop you off our feed. See all the latest issue previews and news at www.facebook.com/ nzlcvmag.

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We drive the NZ Car of the Year, Subaru’s Forester, to see what and how it’s so mighty.

Story: Dean Evans

FOR ONLY THE SECOND YEAR, BUT significantly, the second-year running, an SUV has won New Zealand’s premier motoring award, the Car of the Year. Following in the wake of 2017’s victory for Skoda’s Kodiaq, the Subaru Forester claimed the 2018 title by a solid margin, and walked away with the award for its three-model range that starts with the $39,990, and tops out with the $47,490 Premium. And, we must add, we are quite pleased about that, given LCV magazine’s editorial staff were both official judges, and that our choice, the CX-8, wasn’t offered as a finalist.

8 | LCV

What makes the Forester so special?

Everything and nothing at the same time: there is no particular one thing it does better than the rest, rather a majority of skills across the widest range.

While the Forester badge dates back 22 years to 1997, evolution of Forester has been gradual but impressive, given it’s always been a popular, effective and practical SUV. This fifth generation continues the tradition, with solid styling and large window areas that combine for superb vision in any direction.

It’s easier to deal with what Forester

Right: Keyless entry and go, and a host of tech gear includes a memory position power tailgate, active headlights (SRH), blind spot warning, start-stop (that remains off, even overnight) and more.

Far right: X Mode selects SNOW/DIRT or Deep Snow/Mud, or normal, to alter aspects such as traction control; when in certain situations, it might need a little wheel-slip.

It won 2018’s NZ Car of the Year, and we’re fine with that: we were part of the judging panel.

Above top and middle: Rear seats are large enough to easily handle a booster seat, with ISOFIX points either side, while fold-down armrest houses cupholders. Vents and a pair of 2.1A USB ports keep rear passengers happy.

Above: Boot is spacious, and is what’s made Forester such a popular vehicle for active lifestylers.

LCV | 9

Left: Just a nice place to be, the Forester Premium’s cabin features all the good stuff, is comfortable, practical and intuitive. What more could you ask for? OK, heated seats, but we are OK with that.

Below: Subaru EyeSight manages a whole host of tech features, including Adaptive Cruise Control.

Into its fifth generation, Forester has been one of the most enduring, endearing SUVs on sale Premium doesn’t get: heated seats, and a Head-Up Display. That allowed Subaru to get under $40k for the entry level, and isn’t a major shortcoming unless choosing the chilly leather option, while in Invercargill.

There is the full expected suite, from CarPlay/Auto to a highly practical, userfriendly and intuitive mix of tactile buttons and touchscreen controls, spread across three screens in the main cluster, touchscreen and info screen which displays, amongst other things, current mode for sport, snow or off-road driving. Two 12v and USB ports all contribute to just the right amount of tech: not too much to intimidate, but enough to keep it all very now. Add in Subaru’s EyeSight suite of safety tech, and there’s underlying assurance from the set of passive and active safety features, such as active headlights, hill-hold, lane centering, improved pedestrian avoidance, and improved adaptive cruise

control and even a driver monitoring system that detects and alerts the driver if they’re showing signs of fatigue.

Behind the wheel is as enjoyable as ever. There’s a 2.5-litre flat-four cylinder producing decent power and torque numbers, and solid performance: Subaru claims 0-100km/h in 9.5 seconds, but we tested 8.9 seconds; importantly it ‘feels’ faster than those numbers above 60km/h – and all on 91 octane fuel. With a seven speed continuously variable transmission – Lineartronic SLT in Subaru speak – it combines the best of both transmissions by pulling together the best traits from the CVT and conventional auto. It bumps revs up to around 5000-6000rpm off the mark, maximizing the most of the modest torque. It doesn’t drone like some CVTs, is responsive and eager to accelerate at almost any speed. Plus it sounds good, with a hint of

that famous Subaru warble of the 1990s.

Bit more economical though, with Subaru claiming 7.4l/100km, and though we saw high8s, it was a typical test week that’s a little more thirsty than normal.

It isn’t the largest SUV, it’s not the fastest, but as a package the Forester just puts it all together and while it may be the NZ Car of 2018, aside from the accolades, it’s just a fantastically complete, all-around SUV package.

SPEC CHECK Subaru Forester 2.5 Premium Engine:

2.5-litre petrol flat-four

Power:

136kW/239Nm

Gearbox:

Seven-speed CVT

Economy:

7.4l/100km (claim)

Weight:

1608kg

Turning circle:

10.8m

0-60/100km/h:

4.3sec/8.9sec (tested)

0-400m:

16.5@137km/h

Price:

$47,490

Rating (/5) Verdict:

10 | LCV

Got our vote for Car of 2018

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CRISP CROSS

Mitsubishi’s Eclipse Cross goes well, but looks even better.

Story & photos: Dean Evans

ON PAPER, SOME COULD SAY THERE isn’t a huge amount to get excited about the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. That might not be an overly positive way to start a test, but in the SUV market, there is such tough competition that standing out is often all a vehicle needs, with Toyota’s C-HR and Hyundai’s Kona both coming to mind. And the third of that looks-a-little-different trilogy is Mitsubishi’s Eclipse Cross, coincidentally a fellow compact and Kona and C-HR competitor.

The four model, 2WD and 4WD range squeezes in between ASX and Outlander, the fifth and sixth best-selling SUVs in NZ. We drove the top-spec Eclipse VRX 2WD model that adds extras such as a double sunroof, leather, Head-Up Display, dualzone climate and parking sensors front and rear aided by a 360 degree camera.

All very good, but boosting the price up to a considerable $45,590 for the FWD, with an extra $2k for AWD, making it one of the more expensive in the class. Though the base XLS chops that down to a more reasonable $41,690 without the loss of too much equipment, at the ‘special offer’ price of $34,990 for the XLS that has been running for almost a year.

Certainly the engine specs are decent, though nothing to set the road ablaze,

12 | LCV

Mitsubishi’s Eclipse Cross manages 0-100km/h in 9.5 seconds from its 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder. with 112kW and 254Nm from a modest but capable 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder lugging around 1490kg. We tested 0-100km/h in 9.5 seconds, 0.7 faster than the Mitsubishi claim, while humming through its CVT gearbox with simulated eight steps.

So Eclipse goes well, it’s comfortable, handles fine, steers nicely with a tight 10.9m turning circle and rides about par for the class. The Head-Up Display is colour, offering valuable data to keep the eyes up and forward, particularly with the radar cruise control distance setting and a digital speedo.

1

A touchpad also offers an alternate way of accessing the menus and functions, especially through an iPhone (sorry Android users) though we found it just as intuitive to use the ‘conventional’ buttons and screen.

Paddle shifters from the Ralliart/ Evolution are a nice touch, as it provides the ability to downshift and punch out of corners better, and though there’s often a need for just a bit more urgency to the engine, the trade-off is decent fuel economy with Mitsubishi claiming 7.3l/100km, though we saw high-8s.

The rear seats are a little sparse with a fold-down armrest cup-holder, and a lone 12v socket to play with. The boot is, well, a decent boot. Nothing more, nothing less.

Of course where the Mitsubishi Eclipse excels is the look and design, and with the rakish Mitsubishi family face, in brilliant Red Diamond colour, over 18-inch wheels, it’s a coupe-styled SUV that advances the style statement very effectively, its deep body crease running up at the rear to a styled, angled and split rear window design with a top spoiler and a faux spoiler visually created by the taillight adjoining beam. Does it look good? We got mixed opinions, with an 80/20 split of ‘yes it does’.

The Eclipse Cross has been out more than a year now, and though it hasn’t broken into the top ten SUV sales chart like its ASX and Outlander stablemates have, and Kona, it’s a solid compact SUV that shows Mitsubishi hasn’t forgotten how to have a bit of styling fun.

SPEC CHECK Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross VRX 2WD

2

3

Engine:

1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power:

112kW/254Nm

Gearbox:

Eight-step CVT, FWD

Economy:

7.3l/100km (claim)

Weight:

1490kg

Turning circle:

10.9m

0-60/100km/h:

3.8sec/9.5sec (tested)

0-400m:

16.7@129km/h

Price:

$45,590

Rating (/5): Verdict:

Competent, but visual skill is Eclipse forte

1: Eclipse Cross interior is neat and functional, with storage space and a colour, pop-up HeadUp Display. Heated seats and dual-zone climate are part of the VRX top-spec pack.

4

2: Touchpad is handy and a nice touch, especially for iPhone users, but touchscreen also works just fine, with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

3: Carbon fibre may be fake, but still has a nice genuine texture.

4: VRX’s dual sunroof is an interesting addition: front panel tilts and slides open, but the rear panel is fixed and only the sunblind slides.

5

5: Boot is big but basic. Light, small cubbies either side, and a retracting parcel shelf about sum it up.

LCV | 13

CX-3 TIMES A CHA A special feature is the second row seat that can flip forward for access to the third row, without affecting a mounted ISOFIX/booster seat.

Story: Dean Evans

Mazda’s SUV range is mighty impressive, but just how good is its smallest Sport Utility, the CX-3? Time to take the baby driving.

MAZDA’S CX-8 MAY HAVE WON OUR 2018 SUV of the Year title, but how far does the quality wash throughout the Mazda range?

We’ve driven – and been impressed by – the Mazda BT-50, CX-5, CX-8 and CX-9, so we pressed the unlocking button to the Soul Red CX-3 with a mix of high hopes and cautious optimism.

Of course, with such an impressive range, it’s easy to compare the CX-3 to its stablemates, but the reality is the smallest Mazda SUV needs to battle the likes of Nissan’s Qashqai, Toyota’s C-HR and Hyundai’s Kona. Or the Suzuki S-Cross and Vitara, Kia Sportage, Holden Trax, Honda HRV, Haval H2… get the picture? Yes, this is a very busy market segment, and they aren’t all

its compact SUV rivals.

So what does the Mazda do well? It carries the same CX family styling, so it’s easily confused with the bigger CX-5, as the CX-5 and CX-8 and 9 aren’t easily identified at a glance. We drove the FWD GSX spec, arguably the pick of the four-model range, which comes standard with alloy wheels, pop-up Head-Up Display and active collision avoidance, plus radar cruise control. With the entry level GLX $31,995, and the rangetopping Takami at $41,695, there’s a suitable selection of front-drive models, and a lone AWD model for $38,695 for those seeking all-four traction.

There’s a familiar feel inside, too, with lots of shared ‘CX family’ function buttons, such

as the central command dial and the large touchscreen. And that’s quite a good thing, with the CX-5/8/9 all known for their stylish, functional and practical cabins.

The CX-3’s 2.0-litre normally aspirated four-cylinder looks somewhat modest on paper, with 110kW and 195Nm, but its sixspeed seems to squeeze every horse from the paddock, and it manages to put in very solid performance times for the class with 0-100km/h in 9.6 seconds, which feels just fast enough for a car this size, aided no doubt by the sub-1300kg kerb weight.

Ride comfort can be on the firm side, but it’s not dissimilar to its competitors and nothing to complain about, especially when the everyday features are offered, such as

The GSX grade CX-3 comes with radar cruise control, Head-Up Display, Automatic Emergency Braking and traffic sign recognition, so there’s plenty of tech.

14 | LCV

HARM

keyless entry, push-button start, stop-start tech, plus automatic locking when walking from the vehicle and a stylish, cohesive cabin that its bigger siblings are also known for.

A Sport button offers a few more revs before upshifts through the six-speeds, and the steering is sharp, a Mazda hallmark.

Added safety tech like automatic emergency braking and traffic sign recognition are great deal sealers, particularly in this budgetconscious market. Add in a tight 10.6m turning circle, and it’s another box ticked.

Fuel economy is solid, too, and not only does Mazda claim a reasonable 6.3l/100km, our week with the CX-3 resulted in 6.9l/100km, with a 70/30 mix of motorway/ suburban driving.

So what’s bad about the CX-3? Not a lot, really. The engine can sound a little coarse at times, and there’s a bit more road noise, as there often tends to be in smaller SUVs. Apple CarPlay wasn’t fitted to our late-2018 model, but Mazda NZ is rolling it out across the CX range, and can easily retrofit the software. For the most part, around-town running is where the CX-3 belongs, and for that, the Mazda excels in so many ways. And proves even the smallest CX is an equally impressive member of a very successful family.

Above: CX-3 may be the baby of the CX family, but its interior is no less impressive than its CX-5/8/9 family, combining form and function. Central Command dial works very well with touchscreen, and GSX grade (second of four) gets radar cruise and Head-Up Display. Rear passengers don’t get vents, but do get a fold-down armrest with flip-up cup-holders.

Below: Boot space is generous, with a false floor opening up more depth.

SPEC CHECK Mazda CX-3 GSX FWD Engine:

2.0-litre petrol four

Power:

110kW/195Nm

Gearbox:

Six-speed auto

Economy:

6.3l/100km (claim)

Weight:

1297kg

Turning circle:

10.6m

0-60/100km/h:

4.3sec/9.6sec (tested)

0-400m:

16.8@132km/h

Price:

$36,695

Rating (/5) Verdict:

Yet another winner from Mazda

LCV | 15

NEW BRAND DAY

Inexpensive rather than cheap, we find ourselves taking a shine to Haval’s H2 SUV. THIS IS A $26,000 BRAND NEW SUV. That’s what we need to remember, and keep reminding ourselves, while driving Haval’s little H2. Smallest of the threerange SUV siblings, the H2 joins the H6 and H9 and represents the smallest SUV for the biggest Chinese SUV brand.

Given how impressed we were with the overall package for price of the H9, we were keen to try the H2, particularly given its sharp price as one of the most affordable SUVs on sale.

Equipment levels are good, with the modern-day basics such as keyless entry/start, Bluetooth, cruise control, reversing camera, sunroof, auto wipers, and 18-inch alloy wheels. There are subtle differences between the two models, but the $2k for the Lux model is worth the extra spend with dual-zone climate and leather, heated and electric driver’s seat (with lumbar), amongst more.

Inside, the high driving position is still fine for six-footers, just, with both

tilt and reach steering movement. Some switches are good (dash) but some feel cheap and toy-like (on the steering wheel). Seven info screens scroll between the two main dials and cover remaining fuel range, tyre pressure, trip meter and fuel use. It’s all about right for a $26k 2019 small SUV, and similar to a $40k Japanese SUV of 2015.

The seven-inch touchscreen is reasonable, but there’s no CarPlay/Auto, no Head-Up Display, and no paddle shift for the six-speed auto, or even, frustratingly, any handy open pockets in the centre console to put basics like wallet/phone/keys, beyond the dual cupholders. There is a pocket for a packet of cigarettes, and a 12v lighter, which we haven’t seen for years. Though this is a $26k ‘Chinese’ SUV… There are a handful of quite annoying niggles: select reverse and the audio system cuts out, and doesn’t resume in Drive until the speed rises above 15km/h. Cruise control beeps at every

Story & photos: Dean Evans speed adjustment, including resume, the wiper relay clicks very loud, and when turning off the engine, even shutting the door, the audio system remains on for what seems like an eternity – easily minutes; only locking the doors speeds up the process. Not deal-breaking stuff, individually, but as a group they tend to get on the nerves and detract from the ownership.

But the biggest complaint was for and from rear passengers. While two ISOFIX anchors are present, they are so deep in the seat, they’re extremely difficult to access. And once located, and a child seat fitted, the angle of the belt into the buckle is almost impossible to use by adults, much less kids.

In both models is a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder, which is best described as ‘acceptable’ (remembering this is a $26k SUV). Its numbers of 110kW/210Nm are on the modest side, though its 1500kg helps the speed equation: we tested 0-100km/h in 11.8 seconds. To compare,

It’s a $26,000 SUV, which we need to remind ourselves a few times while driving Haval’s H2 16 | LCV

Suzuki’s tiny Ignis is fractionally slower at 12.1 seconds.

Though there are times when the H2 feels faster, when loading brake up against throttle for a faster getaway; there are also times when it feels slower, such as pulling out into flowing traffic and noticing the turbo lag, or from standstill where it’s a little dozy – though it’s most noticeable when holding 100km/h on cruise control and it struggles to maintain speed on even a mild incline, dropping as much as 10km/h. It’s not the greatest pairing of engine and gearbox, which at times conflict rather than complement – but this is a $26k SUV. Engine response is a little too eager at light throttle inputs, which is at odds with the laggy response of the old-school whistling turbo, while either normal, snow or eco mode seems to make little

1

difference; and the need for 95 octane fuel underlines a real mix of good, bad and average.

Haval’s H2 goes well, rides and handles well, is well-equipped and priced right. And it looks good, too. Do we like it? Well… To praise it with faint damn, it’s not too bad: after all, it is just a $26k SUV.

SPEC CHECK Haval H2 Lux Engine:

1.5-litre turbo four

Power:

110kW/210Nm

Gearbox:

Six-speed auto

Economy:

9.0l/100km

Weight:

1529kg

0-60/100km/h:

4.9sec/11.8sec (tested)

0-400m:

18.0@121km/h

Price:

$25,990 ($27,990 Lux, tested)

Rating (/5) Verdict:

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Solid if flawed package, at the right price

1: Interior is well equipped and quite nice, with a high seating position, and all the usual mod-cons (for 2015) such as cruise control, Bluetooth and dual-zone climate control.

2: Gauges are clean and clear, with a seven-screen central info screen.

Our 8.7l/100km was under the claim of 9.0l/100km, but was mostly motorway.

Normal driving gets into the mid-9s.

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3 & 4: Reversing camera using active guidelines, and an innocuous SVC switch on the wheel flips to the kerb camera for easier parallel parking.

5: Rear seat is comfortable, with a handy fli-down armrest with dual cup-holders and a small storage bin.

6: Dash finishes are a little different and done rather well… even if it is plastic.

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7: Biggest complaint, at least for rear passengers, was the almost impossibly deep ISOFIX mounts, and the angle of the rear seat belt buckles.

8: Boot is big – not class-leading but not the smallest, either, and has a retracting parcel-shelf.

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LCV | 17

TO THE XTREME Light up the stage, Holden’s Colorado Xtreme ticks all the boxes, but the reality is, Holden wants buyers to tick only a few.

Story: Dean Evans

WE’VE HAD X BOX, X GAMES AND X MEN, and well before we reach exhaustion, Holden New Zealand has launched the fully loaded Colorado Xtreme. This is the Colorado that Holden doesn’t want you to buy. Not immediately, anyway.

Holden unveiled the Xtreme on Great Barrier Island, 100 kays north-east of Auckland, where we got to examine the Xtreme across a range of exciting terrains and conditions.

Like a rolling, complete example of all the Holden Colorado genuine

18 | LCV

accessories, the Xtreme showcases not just the range-topping model, but the catalogue of extras that can be added to most models of Colorado. Just 30 Xtremes are bound for NZ, which means just one per Holden dealer across the national network, with each example designed to promote Holden’s excellent accessories.

The production version of the show car that was unveiled in 2016, the 2018 Xtreme features a range of parts that add a lot of interior and exterior form, plus a

decent amount of function, such as the all-terrain tyres, and the fully certified and legal front winch, accessible under the flip-up front numberplate.

Underneath is a heavy duty bash plate, and recovery hooks, plus there’s a towing package, rear step, side steps, roof tray, wheelarch flares and bonnet bulge, soft tonneau and an extended rear sports bar… plus firmer front springs and even a recovery kit. While all these extras are available individually, the Xtreme has them all in the one package, including an

The Xtreme is more than a range-topping Colorado, but a rolling catalogue of Holden accessories available for the ute.

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5 1: Integrated winch is accessible under the front number plate, and is potentially the first fully legal and certified winch factory fitted and sold on a production ute. And as a bonus quiz, how many times is ‘x’ used in this story, including this question? Answer in another caption.

step, wheelarch flares, bonnet bulge and an optional snorkel.

2: Holden accessories used throughout, including the roof tray, side steps, rear

5: Recovery kit offers all the basics to get drivers out of trouble. Quiz answer: 37

3: Interior is Z71 spec, with embroidered headrests and coloured stitching.

4: Rear step with reversing sensors, Colorado graphics and tow bar all part of the ‘promotion’ package, designed to highlight Holden accessories.

LCV | 19

exclusive Orange Crush colour.

Under foot is the shared 2.8-litre Duramax turbo diesel making the same strong 147kW and 500Nm that makes it the fastest four- or five-cylinder dual cab ute in the land; though it does snort and breathe a little differently through the snorkel: an $1160 option, if going underwater is part of your extreme driving.

Inside there are a few minor touches, mainly the embroidered headrests with the Xtreme logo. Otherwise, it’s the same as the Z71 model.

We spent a day lapping Great Barrier Island, on the sealed roads and some soft-roading and sand, and from a driving perspective, the Xtreme filled expectations that it’s not that much different to the already impressive normal Colorado, with some improved off-road abilities.

All totalled, the Xtreme individual accessory bill totals around 25 grand, so it’s good to see the Xtreme commands ‘just’ a $15 grand premium over the Z71.

And if all that sounds exciting, then

20 | LCV

the Xtreme retails for $79,990. Though the reality is that Holden dealers would like to hold on to them for a short time to be able to physically showcase all the genuine accessories available for ‘regular’ Colorados, and maybe even option-up a different one for a buyer.

Looking for a fully kitted Colorado with added off-road abilities? Vanilla Ice probably said it best: to the Xtreme!

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LCV | 21

RUMBUL BE Story & photos: Dean Evans

Action photos: Red Bull

Break out the earplugs, Mad Mike Whiddett fits a screaming 12,000rpm peripheral port 13B to his RUMBUL Mazda Stadium Truck.

FELIX WANKEL MAY HAVE INVENTED the rotary engine but few people around the world have aligned themselves with the Mazda brand, the rotary engine and drifting as much as New Zealand’s own Mad Mike Whiddett. Ten years with Red Bull and even longer with the Mazda rotary spinning blood through his veins, Mad Mike’s just released the latest incarnation of his Mazda Stadium Truck (REPU in rotary enthusiast talk, for Rotary Engine Powered Ute), running an all new engine.

“It’s the holy grail of naturally aspirated 13Bs,” is how NZ’s own ‘M&M’ describes the heart of his Mazda B2000 ute, a slight departure from his more

22 | LCV

iconic drifting machines. “I love ’80s and ’90s era stuff, and I love off-road – my background was in motorcross,” he adds, partly explaining the choice of the B2000 1980s look of his ‘new’ truck, predating the current BT-50 by more than 30 years.

More ‘based on’ a B Series thanks to its grille and headlights, the tube frame chassis was built in the USA specifically for Short Course Truck racing.

“Robbie Gordon invited me to do a race in California in the SST trucks,” recalls Mike, “like they’ve raced at V8 Supercars. And I qualified second after five laps and finished third overall. I thought this is cool: it’s like drifting and

motocross; applying them together I felt really comfortable. Drifting is a judged sport and can get frustrating, so this was a great chance to build something, breathe a little bit and let loose and not worry about judges. I didn’t actually build it for racing.”

Designed and built in the heart of truck racing in Calfornia, the Mazda ute uses a full tube-frame chassis, mid/ rear engine, rear transaxle and ancillary gear mounted where it’s both safe and efficient. Hybrid Lab in NZ makes all the custom FRP body parts for Mike’s cars, including the ute.

Smaller in person than it looks,

If there’s currently anyone more famous for Mazdas and rotaries than Mad Mike, let us know!

LCV | 23

RUMBUL is like a three-quarter scale ute, around 4m long (compared to the near 5.1m of a BT-50), so dimensionally closer to an MX-5 in length and wheelbase. “But it’s 2.05m wide, so it’s stable and you can drive it really frickin’ hard,” enthuses Mike.

Mike ‘unveiled’ RUMBUL around 18 months ago, making its entrance in spectacular fashion at the UK’s 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed (YouTube Mad Mike Whiddett’s Misguided Tour of Goodwood). Back in NZ, the RUMBUL ran in the three-round Bay Offroaders 2018 Pro Truck class championship, winning its class.

“We raced a stock RX-8 Renesis 13B motor with around 230hp, so it’s got the boogie with the balance. We’re up against 800hp V8s, but this thing is light and nimble, it brakes better and it skips across the bumps.

“I was able to come away with a championship – it’s built for fun but it’s also competitive. It’s why we put a passenger seat in to take sponsors, friends and family for rides. I don’t think I’ll compete for another nationals, but it’s really, really fun.” Note Mike says I’ll, because there’s another Whiddett in waiting, Mike’s 10-year-old son Lincoln, who’s groomed, eager and increasingly able to take over the truck when the time is right.

“Linc has ridden with me in every drift car, but he said this is the best hot lap of the lot, with the way it jumps, the power and the noise,” enthuses Mike

RUMBUL is about three-quarters the size of a Mazda BT-50, and about the same length and wheelbase as an MX-5.

24 | LCV

Above and below: All race inside RUMBUL, but with two seats and a passenger grab-handle, for the likes of family, friends, and Monty, Lord Goodwood’s butler.

Above and below: The ‘baby’ of the Mad Mike fleet, RUMBUL may have just 300hp, but it makes up for it with a 13B PP rotary engine pumping out 12,000rpm and 12,000dB. Mike’s son Lincoln’s smaller scale racer runs a 450cc motorcycle engine, and, hopes Linc, will be the step up for him into RUMBUL in a few years… once he can reach the pedals.

It’s the holy grail of non-turbo 13B rotary engines, with RX-7 internals, Haltech EFI and peripheral porting. about his son who is, somewhat naturally, currently racing a smaller copy of his dad’s car: a ModCart with a fuel injected 450cc Yamaha motorcycle engine making around 200hp, and weighing 850kg. “He’s won heaps of races, and with RUMBUL, I don’t want to take the limelight off him. But he sees himself driving RUMBUL as soon as he can reach the pedals.”

RUMBUL is still relatively new,

and “this is the baby of the fleet,” adds Mike. “A little less than 300hp, and it’s spinning a big tyre. But what it lacks in power, it makes up for in rpm.

This is probably a 12,000rpm set-up.”

Mike’s talking about the latest engine to transplant into the ute, his ‘holy grail’ non-turbo rotary engine.

A Pulse Performance Race Engineering 13B based on a Series 6 RX-7 (turbo) block with Series 5

(normally aspirated) rotors, it uses all factory Mazda parts; Mike adding that Mazda has been an important, active partner to the whole drift programme, sourcing some hard-to-find parts and even remaking some parts that were out of stock.

Externally, the 13B is treated very well, with peripheral porting, NGK plugs, K&N filters, and drawing air through a pair of 55mm EFI throttle bodies,

LCV | 25

Drifting is a judged sport and can get frustrating, so this was a great chance to build something and let loose! using Haltech’s new Elite 1500 engine management and data acquisition system. It also uses a flex fuel sender, which allows the truck to run on different qualities of fuel, everything from E85 to race fuel. “I usually run race gas,” says Mike. “We run the 1200hp quad-rotor, twin-turbo on race gas, but we’re just starting to do development with E85.”

The Haltech senses the fuel’s volatility and adjusts parameters accordingly.

The Haltech system also includes an electronic dash, Haltech coils, plus there’s quality Aeroflow lines and fittings, with the exhaust free-flowing through a three-inch stainless exhaust and Borla muffler, which does a good, though happily not great job of muffling the PP 13B. Backing the engine is a Mendeola four-speed gearbox with a Direct Clutch from Australia and a custom super light flywheel and aggressive clutch to handle the abuse, as Mike freely admits he’s hard on the gear. There’s also a quickchange rear end as part of the transaxle, modified by Superlite.

As a Short Course Truck, the suspension is a key component, with Fox triple bypass front shocks and King units on the rear, with near 500mm of travel to soak up any jump or bump, Wilwood brakes front and rear, a hydraulic handbrake and Raceline Beadlock wheels with Toyo 31-inch tall 15-inch tyres. Adds Mike: “All our supporters have jumped on board with this as a fun project that’s different, so they can test their product in a different area… and Mazda and Red Bull are the best!”

In a way, the RUMBUL is how 38 year-old Mike relaxes: “I can take my mind away from drifting. Sometimes I show up to an event in the truck, and I can just drive however the hell I want to drive, which is loose and fast.”

The recent updates to the engine have sparked a visual update for 2019, too, with the back half now black rather than white, and all signwritten by he and wife Toni’s signwriting business, which is where and how this fun started all those years ago. With his new shop and workshop at Hampton Downs Raceway,

26 | LCV

with such awesome amenities all within sight, from the main circuit, to the offroad track, go-kart track and even a café, Mike’s ideally well placed for the future to keep the rotor spinning for years to come. Felix would be proud.

Mike Whiddett: Happily mad, at Goodwood 2017 for the debut of RUMBUL, part of his Red Bull fleet of vehicles, but spelt with one L because NZ only has six-numeral numberplates.

MAZDA DEPU

WE DROVE THE CURRENT MAZDA ‘Diesel Engined Powered Ute’, the BT-50, in the Nov/Dec 2018 issue and were suitably impressed. With many of the Ford Ranger mechanicals, including the 3.2-litre five-cylinder, the same 147kW and 470Nm and good for 0-100km/h in 10.9 seconds, putting it up there with the quickest and gruntiest, and all with a 3500kg tow capacity. With a stylish, swoopy exterior, good looking and

modern cabin and features like Bluetooth, CarPlay/Auto and a well laid-out dash that’s intuitive, clean and practical. We drove the Special Edition, in grey with black stripes, making it one of the most stand-out versions of the Mazda ute, and with 10.0l/100km and a competitive price range of $42-$60k for the double-cab, there’s not much to not like about the BT-50. And if Mazda DNA is in the blood, like it is for Mike, it’s a no-brainer.

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1 & 2: It’s semi-hidden deep in the mid/rear, but there is a 13B twin-rotor buried in there with Series 6 turbo housings, Series 5 NA rotors, peripheral porting and Haltech 55mm EFI throttle bodies.

Earplugs optional (but highly recommended).

3, 4 & 5: Underneath RUMBUL the smarts continues with a combination of Fox and King shocks, Wilwood brakes and a quickchange transaxle rear end.

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LCV | 27

After a series of Subaru and Fiesta hatchbacks and a classic Ford Mustang, Ken Block’s Gymkhana YouTube series turns 10 climaxing with a twin-turbo, 900hp all-wheel drive truck!

Story: Dean Evans

KEN BLOCK’S LATEST BEAST IS A UTE... or a truck, if you prefer. Which it shouldn’t be, as we live in Kiwiland where trucks haul freight. Officially, it’s dubbed ‘Hoonitruck’. And if you don’t know who Ken Block is, pause for a moment and type his name into YouTube, specifically “TheHoonigans” and there will be 2.5 million subscribers and hundreds of millions of video views of his Gymkhana series of videos.

28 | LCV

The latest is Gymkhana 10, launched publicly on December 18, 6am, NZ time, and featuring a 1977 Ford F-150 dubbed the Hoonitruck. A Ford F-series ute in all but its chassis, engine, drivetrain, suspension, brakes, interior... pretty much everything but the cab.

AND it’s all-wheel drive! While the shape is Ford, the body panels include hand-shaped military grade aluminium stepsides, making it more a one-off replica racecar without a racing

series, than a ‘Ford’ F-150 pick-up.

DC Shoes founder (and seller for $100m) Block grew up in a Ford family, and in a Ford truck, with his late father owning a 1977 Ford F-150 when Ken was a teenager, in which Ken learnt to drive, and cart himself to the motocross track. And Ken had always wanted a truck of that generation.

Taking around two years to build, Ford Motor Company-partner Block used the basic

With hundreds of millions of views, if you haven’t seen a Ken Block Gymkhana video, stop, allocate 20 minutes and watch Gymkhana Ten now

shape of an F-150, and wrapped it around a custom-built chassis, and all-wheel drive running gear out to 20-inch 315/35 20-inch Toyo tyres, a project partner, headed up by a Ford Motorsport Roush Yates twin-turbo V6 Ford Ecoboost engine with dry sump, which was pulled from the Ford GT Le Mans racing car program.

With 682kW (914hp) and 952Nm, there’s a fairly sizeable lump of relatively

lightweight engine sitting up mid/front, mounted just as much in the front of the cabin as the back of the engine bay, passing through a Sadev sequential six-speed and all-wheel drive.

Working with Ford Performance helped secure some very special pieces: the intake manifold was built specifically for Hoonitruck and is 3D printed from metal, consisting of shapes and curves that simply couldn’t be physically manufactured via conventional milling or casting methods.

There are also conventional parts used

in an unconventional way, such as the laser cut and electronically bent rear wing that isn’t used for downforce as much as creating an expendable proximity gauge, while Ken is drifting against walls, barriers, old cars or whatever: as it’s much easier to replace the wing than a rear end body panel. Though even that process has been made easy, as the chassis is modular, with four separate sections that can be unbolted and separately replaced in the event of damage ‘when’ it happens, rather than ‘if’, on-site.

Built as a ‘camera’ car, there are many film-friendly aspects to Hoonitruck, with almost everything being either quick access, quick release or quick change: those aluminium hand-shaped ‘show’

LCV | 29

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1: The internally complex 3D-printed intake manifold by Ford Performance that pokes through the bonnet is actually the largest metal 3D printed product ever!

2: Twin-turbo V6 is mounted so far back in the engine bay, it’s partly in the cab. Front chargercooler is aided by huge fans to pull air through during static burnouts.

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3: Cab is a mix of new and old: alloy doors and panels, combine with Bosch Motorpsort dash, multi screens, analogue speedo/tacho and quick-release Recaro seats. Yes, two, for passenger rides.

4 Black lever is shifter, gold lever is hydraulic handbrake. Near the knees is a towing brake controller… this is a ute, after all.

5: Front and rear suspension arms are the same, to aid speed and efficiency of spares and speed of replacement.

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6: Two ball and reversing camera: and both come in handy during Ken’s Gymkhana antics.

7: Everything’s on display in the Hoonitruck! Note the modular chassis ‘joins’, with sections that can be replaced if damaged.

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30 | LCV

With a 900hp twin-turbo V6 from its Le Mans programme, the Ford F-150 also runs through all-wheel drive stepsides are also replaced with steel ‘film’ items, with many of the components, from body, to mechanicals, easily removed and replaced. There are access panels everywhere, and even the seats are secured by split pins allowing for easy removal in seconds. The gearbox takes just 15 minutes.

Having no rules makes this somewhat easier than most racecars.

Being built by an experienced racecar manufacturer, there are also basic smarts, like the use of identical front and rear suspension control arms, which are not only off-the-shelf parts, but the same front and rear, allowing fewer spares.

The use of aluminium may sound exotic in a truck like this, but the reality is that Ford started building the F-150 mostly in aluminium in 2015, so it’s somewhat surprising to see that this old 1977 F-150 is basically back-paying a metal homage to the modern version.

It’s not devoid of technology either, with Ford’s Sync system part of the custom Bosch Motorsport dash set-up, along with remote starting via the Ford smartphone app, plus a reversing camera, brake controller and a trailer hitch – it is a truck, after all!

Hoonitruck also scores carbon fibre bumpers and splitter; in fact the only genuine Ford parts are the grille, lights and badges and even those have been coated for durability.

It’s a big beast, and with fat tyres and wheelarches, the 2.01m (79-inches) track

was specifically built because most trailers are 2.03m (80-inches) wide.

In the engine bay is the chargecooler for the turbos, but using a huge brushless cooling fan to draw air through; rather important given a lot of Hoonitruck’s antics are static, drifting or slow-speed burnouts; also the reason that the water and oil radiators have been moved behind the cab, similarly using a pair of brushless cooling fans. And as an added visual bonus, during burnouts, those fans push the smoke up and out into various rooster tail shapes and patterns.

So to the video, the whole reason for this truck: Gymkhana Ten launched to Amazon Prime customers on December 7, during an

Above: Note the mid/rear-mounted coolers for the water and oil, and the two massive fans that throw up rooster trails of tyre smoke. There’s also the fuel cell, and, well, not much more in the tray!

eight-part Gymkhana Files TV documentary about Ken Block’s Gymkhana series, and went public on YouTube on December 17, or 18 Kiwi time. So stop reading about it, and watch the Hoonitruck in all its tyre-spinning glory, along with all Ken’s other Gymkhana specials used and featured over the years and videos, to celebrate his 10 years of Gymkhana action. Watch it now via LCV’s Facebook page facebook.com/NZLCVmag.

WATCH IT NOW! Don’t just sit there reading! If you haven’t already devoted 19 minutes to Ken Block’s latest video, simply type in “Gymkhana Ten” into YouTube – it’s bound to be the one with millions of views. Or visit LCV’s Facebook page for the link, and Like us while you’re there, at facebook. com/nzlcvmag.

LCV | 31

LCV VAN OF THE YEAR: Ford Transit WORDS: DEAN EVANS

Ford Transit adds auto, wins hearts… at least smart minds.

THE BEST-SELLING VAN OF 2018 IS THE TOYOTA HIACE. So why is Ford Transit LCV magazine’s Van of the Year? It’s a classic case of the best in class not always being the most popular, in the same way the Mercedes-Benz X-Class earned our Ute of 2018 title despite just falling outside the top 10.

32 | LCV

The archetypal ‘van’, since its launch in 1965, the Transit is the world’s best-selling van with more than eight-million units sold.

Currently in its fourth generation, we drove the Transit Custom with its much anticipated (and demanded) automatic transmission, a new addition to the market in 2018, and a perfect gearbox partner

Updates to Transit helped make it a winner in 2018, especially the addition of a six-speed automatic gearbox, which combines with the start-stop to work extremely well.

With a new six-speed automatic gearbox finally on offer, it fills in the final piece of making the Ford Transit a do-anything for-anyone van. to the six-speed manual, given the popularity of the self-shifter.

With a choice of wheelbases, roof heights and of course the Tourneo people mover version, the Transit took a big step forward in 2018 in an attempt to recover some lost ground to Hiace, which has more than doubled Transit sales over recent years.

The six-speed auto is smooth, efficient, with a great spread of ratios, particularly off the mark, and offers one of the best stop-start systems on sale, virtually seamless and reactivating the engine as soon as the foot lifts off the brake; many carmakers could learn from this system. A new 2.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine also ups the game, with 125kW and a solid 405Nm, that still manages 7.1l/100km, and more than 1000km from its 80-litre tank.

It’s quick, too, and we timed a 0-60km/h dash in 4.4 seconds, making it faster than Ford’s own Ranger Wildtrak. Accommodation and comfort is high with Ford’s SYNC infotainment system, cruise control, reversing camera, underseat storage, smartphone holder, cup-holders, cubbies and storage bins everywhere, 12v/USB

sockets and a fold-down centre arm-rest, now a handy feature without the need to gearshift a stick.

Behind the bulkhead in the work area, there’s a large 1.4m high, 2.5m long cargo area that’s aided and extended by a trapdoor that reaches into the space under the passenger seat, allowing loads up to 3.4m long. Eight tie-down points, a 2.8 tonne towing capacity, and clever pop-up roof racks combine with modern tech such as trailer sway control, load adaptive control and roll-mitigation control.

So what’s wrong with Toyota’s Hiace? Nothing, really; it’s the best-selling van for good reason, but the cab-over-engine design has been around since Noah used a Hiace to move animals to the Ark, and while substantial improvements are lacking (essential for Car of the Year eligibility), there is an all-new Hiace on the horizon.

Then the best van fight will be back on in earnest.

Until then, with its upgrades, introductions and advancements, the Ford Transit Custom/Tourneo is LCV magazine’s pick as Van of 2018.

LCV | 33

LCV LIGHT TRUCK OF THE YEAR: Fuso canter WORDS: DEAN EVANS

Fuso’s Canter was number one in the 2018 light-truck sales charts, but as it’s proven again, remains a winner to buy, own and drive, too.

IT’S THE BEST-SELLING, CLASS-LEADING LIGHT TRUCK WITH a rich history in New Zealand, but that doesn’t automatically make the Fuso Canter the best. What makes it our Light-Truck of the Year is the availability of an automated transmission, competitive price, wide range, advantages over direct rivals and utes, plus the factory built tippers that helps push, and keep pushing Fuso’s Canter not just to the top of the segment sales tree, but make it one of the best

34 | LCV

on the market – two factors which aren’t always mutually inclusive.

Light, tough and versatile, ideal for everyone from tradies to arborists, councils, landscapers and civil contractors, Canter can be configured for pretty much any light-duty application from its range of almost 50 derivatives – 20 of which can be driven on a car licence.

Canter’s six-tonne 616 and 7.5-tonne Wide-Cab 816 Tippers are

DUONIC II automatic gearbox and car licence makes Canter a popular choice over dual-cab utes.

Canter was the best-seller in the light-truck market by a slim margin, is wildly versatile with almost 50 models, 20 of which can be driven on a car licence. warranty on genuine parts fitted by authorised dealers. Fuso also launched the nine-model Enduro range which has been selling strong in its first 12 months, and appointed a new GM of Sales.

All factors which make the Fuso Canter LCV magazine’s LightTruck of 2018.

Fuso eCanter is on the horizon, and due early 2020.

both available with a five-speed manual or six-speed DUONIC II automated manual, aiding fuel economy, and feature a limited-slip diff for slippy situations. The automated manual opens up another new market, in a world where manual transmissions – and people who can drive them – are on a gradual descent.

Add in Canter comfort features like remote central locking, Bluetooth, AC and storage bins, pockets and cubby holes dotted throughout the cab, along with a lockable glovebox, and the success of Canter makes sense.

With a starting price under $45k for the 6T, and 30,000km service intervals, Canter offers a viable alternative and numerous advantages over a dual-cab ute, such as a 3200kg payload and its 3500kg towing capacity. Canter 816 also scores a larger 2.4m3 tray as standard, offering nearly 15 percent more capacity.

Of course the Canter range extends to variants including tippers, crew-cabs, 4x4s, and the trial of all-wheel drive models. There’s even the eCanter electric vehicle due early next year.

Along with the success of the Canter, Fuso also improved aftersales support, recently introducing a 24-month, unlimited kilometre

LCV | 35

ir d Steve Millen cut the sport legends Rod an le. mp exa g In 1970, Kiwi motor this road-goin mmer Cob van like racing teeth in a Co

nd Cruiser, th this modified La SUV speed record wi an set ta yo To , 17 In 20 8km/h. running 230mph/36

Foresters winning, and LCVs racing, Mike Stock taps into his database of motoring memories.

36 | LCV

Forester [LCV’s close runner-up to CX-8].

When it debuted in Japan in 1997, the Forester was virtually a pioneer for car-based compact SUVs that now dominate vehicle sales. Dubbed crossovers, these modern SUVs come in a vast range of models and sizes, front- or all-wheel drive, either part- or full-time, like the Subaru.

Despite its small size – it was based on the Impreza platform – the first Subaru Forester looked more like a traditional SUV than most current crossovers do. It had slab-sided bodywork with a very practical near-right-angled rear roofline.

An egg-crate grille, with wide gaps between the vertical and horizontal bars, reinforced the no-nonsense off-roader looks and AWD ability.

Subaru introduced it to the NZ motoring media with a drive programme that included trackless portions of the Waiuku Forest, southwest of Auckland.

It was narrow, tricky going with pine-tree branches almost touching each other on parts of the route, but the boxy little Forester was in its element, and surprisingly-fast, underlining the aptness of its name. It bashed bush like a pint-sized Toyota Land Cruiser. On tarmac, it had the Subaru trademark of secure handling, proving itself at home in all environments.

The oddest environment I’ve encountered

for a Forester was operating as a taxi. Not just any Forester, mind, but a turbocharged STi, with lowered suspension, firm ride and an exhaust note that would please any boy racer. It was also a manual, an oddity in stop/ start Auckland traffic. And its driver seemed perfectly pleased with his eccentric choice of West Auckland eye- and ear-catcher.

As one of the pioneers of the crossover genre, it’s fitting that the Forester has finally won the coveted NZ Car of the Year title.

This edition’s high-performance LCV theme set me to thinking about some of the light-commercial vehicles that have graced motorsport over the years. Aside from the F1-engined Ford Transit Supervans, featured last issue, there was a modified Toyota Land Cruiser that set a 370km/h speed record in 2017, and this year a silent electric-powered Jaguar SUV one-make series.

Closer to home, the Millen brothers – Rod and Steve – cut their racing teeth in the early 1970s in a highly-modified Commer Cob, a small van based on the Hillman Husky station wagon, itself developed from the Minx sedan.

Currently, two categories of ute contest individual series in NZ: the Aussie Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores in one, SsangYong Actyons in the other.

LCVs and motorsport truly do mix.

5

- Mike Stock AP21327

TWENTY YEARS AGO IT WOULD HAVE seemed implausible that an SUV could ever earn the title of New Zealand’s Car of the year. Back in the ’90s, SUVs didn’t dominate the local car market like they do today.

Traditionally, most SUVs had been pretty basic body-on-chassis wagons designed more for bashing the bush than for dropping the kids off at school. They were rugged trucks like the Nissan Patrol in which the connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels was more like a rumour than a statement of fact. Driving often meant turning the wheel and loosely aiming for a corner, then hanging on while it hopefully did what was asked.

Nowadays most SUVs are sophisticated vehicles with road manners that approach those of cars; some aren’t even four-wheel drive.

But their higher ride height and resulting better view over the traffic while retaining the comfort and user-friendliness of a car makes them many buyers’ vehicles of choice.

So it’s therefore quite fitting that for the past two years, an SUV has been voted the NZ Car of the Year by members of the NZ Motoring Writers’ Guild, a body composed of most of the country’s motoring media.

In 2017, the accolade went to the distinguished Skoda Kodiaq [LCV’s choice, too); the 2018 winner was the Subaru

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Compiled by: Dean Evans

TOW OF THE BEST The 3500kg towing club has become the standard for top-level ute and SUV

towing for a few years now. So we’ve put together a baker’s dozen of our best SUV and ute tow vehicles. Remembering there are some lower variants that carry lower towing thresholds, due to 2WD, different suspension packs or other factors, it’s almost impossible to find a bad tow vehicle amongst this lot.

LDV T60: At $35k, the LDV T60 proves it doesn’t take a budget of $60k to get a solid, capable new ute, as we profiled in the Nov/Dec 18 issue. With a 2.8-litre 110kW/360Nm turbo diesel four-cylinder, while it struggles to compete with the big players on paper, it did prove its mettle in our towing test, not just being surprisingly strong, but turning in remarkable fuel economy figures under 10l/100km, all while towing 2200kg.

Nissan Navara: Though Nissan runs both a singleand twin-turbo four-cylinder in the Navara, they’re both rated to the same 3500kg tow capacity. But our favoured engine is the twinturbo 2.3-litre that pumps out 140kW/450Nm and an unladen fuel claim of 7.2l/100km. It uses lots of turbo boost, so when the towing weight is up, so is the fuel use, but the Navara’s recent rear spring upgrade has made it an even better tow vehicle.

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Isuzu D-Max A facelift in 2017 served up another 50Nm to bring the D-Max’s total to 430Nm. Rugged and truck-like in a good way, the D-Max certainly lets you know it’s a diesel, with a rather rattly but still effective 130kW 3.0-litre four-cylinder. We tow-tested the D-Max for the Aug/Sept 17 issue, and it also proved economical, using 10.4l/100km while towing 2000kg.

SsangYong Rexton G4: With a high 3500kg tow rating thanks to its solid rear axle, the SsangYong surprised and impressed us as both a wholly remarkable sevenseat SUV and a highly capable tow car. Starting at $60k, a 2.2-litre turbo diesel four cylinder makes 133kW and 440Nm, which is plenty enough to put it up there with the best utes here.

Toyota Hilux: The default and obvious choice for so many Kiwis for so many decades, the Hilux’s towing capabilities are renowed and famous.

And despite an engine downsize from 3.0- to 2.8-litres in 2015, the 130kW/450Nm is still mighty, especially when combined with its kerb weight that’s around 10 percent lighter than a Ranger. Just one note that different Hilux models max out at different towing weights, down to 2500kg.

Mazda BT-50: That it shares mechanicals with the Ford Ranger is a good thing, and with 147kW and 470Nm from its 3.2-litre five-cylinder – that’s still economical at 10.0l/100km – the Mazda is just as capable and just as impressively competent.

And for those with any brand deference like Mad Mike, the Mazda is a logical and worthy tow choice.

Ford Ranger: Almost the go-to, default tow vehicle, the Ranger’s relaxed 3.2-litre five-cylinder is mighty impressive, and it rarely feels overworked or overloaded, even when nearing its 3500kg capacity. The offshoot of this is effortless towing and reasonable fuel economy, all in what we judged as the best ute currently on sale, during our Ute-lympics test (May/June 18).

Holden Colorado: With 500Nm from its 2.8-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder, the Colorado already has an upper hand on paper, and offsets the capacity disadvantage against its Ranger rival’s 3.2-litre by running more turbo boost. It’s clearly effective, and when the turbo is whistling, the Colorado is an outstandingly effective ‘drag’ car, in both definitions: it’s fastest of the four/fivecylinder utes and tows like a champion.

Mercedes-Benz x350d: The 2.3-litre 140kW four-cylinder twin-turbo Benz is perfectly capable with a tow capacity up to 3500kg, and worthy of our 2018 Ute of the Year tag, but the new-for-2019 3.0-litre V6 x350d really steps it up with 550Nm versus 450Nm. And priced between $81-$88k, the power and torque of the V6 also fills any perceived voids of the twin-turbo four.

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VW Amarok V6: Of course the V6 helps, and even in 550Nm guise it’s a mighty tow car, but now that the 580Nm 3.0-litre V6 is available, there’s a choice for even more. Just consider that the optional suspension pack reduces the towing capacity to 3000kg.

Toyota Land Cruiser 70: A V8 always helps topple any towing challenge, and in the Land Cruiser 70 Series is a 4.5-litre 32-valve quad-cam turbo diesel V8 with 151kW/430Nm. Towing up to 3500kg, fuel use (unladen in 10.7l/100km) is quite reasonable, despite the only gearbox offering being a five-speed manual.

Chevy Silverado: New to NZ and sold under the HSV brand, the Chevy’s big towing capacity runs right up to 5897kg when using a pintle tow hitch. Like the Ram, a 50mm tow ball will drop the limit to 3500kg, while a 70mm ball raises it to 4500kg. With a 6.6-litre

Ram 2500: At $163,000, the Ram2500 carries the biggest price-tag here, and the key rival to the HSV Silverado in the big truck stakes. A 6.7-litre inline sixcylinder turbo diesel producing 276kW/1084Nm, it tops the towing tree with a massive towing capacity of 6989kg, depending on the equipment used. It’ll tow the maximum near-seven-tonne with a pintle hitch, 3500kg with a 50mm ball, or 4500kg with a 70mm ball.

turbo diesel V8, power and torque are a massive 332kW/1234Nm. Of course all this comes at a price, with the 3500HD starting at $135k. And like the Ram, if big weights are being towed, the driver will need a class two licence.

Toyota RAV4: top of the charts in 2018, and with an update and hybrid due in 2019, on track to repeat its success.

Above: Mazda CX-5: Part of a very impressive, award-winning CX range, the CX-5 placed second for good reason. Look for it to challenge RAV this year.

Below: Lamborghini Urus: With 10 sold in 2018, it’s the crown jewel in the game of new car-spotting Top Trumps.

Words: Mike Stock

RAV PARTY Toyota tops the SUV table with two of the four best-selling SUVs in NZ in what has become the go-to family car of the 20-teens.

S

UV SALES GREW AGAIN IN NEW ZEALAND LAST year, with buyers snapping up 62,868 of the vehicles which are available in a bewildering array from the tiny Kia Picanto and Suzuki Ignis to the large, luxury Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus.

Last year’s total was 4722 ahead of 2017’s, a 7.5 percent lift.

SUVs made up an incredible 42 percent of all sales in a market where 161,519 new vehicles were registered – an all-time record, and 1648 units ahead of the 2017 result.

However, David Crawford, CEO of the car distributors’ group the

1

Top 10 SUVs in 2018

Toyota RAV4 4964 (-)

2

Mazda CX-5 3695 (-)

3

Kia Sportage 3289 (-)

4

Toyota Highlander 2681 (-)

5

Mitsubishi ASX 2436 (+1)

6

Mitsubishi Outlander 2436 (+1)

7

Nissan Qashqai 2159(-)

8

Holden Captiva 2012 (-)

9

Nissan X-trail 1858 (+1) Hyundai Tucson 1818 (-1)

42 | LCV

10

Motor Industry Association, cautions that this year will be tougher: “Given current global economic factors, distributor expectations for 2019 indicate a softening of the market. Further steady growth in the new vehicle sector above [the] 2018 out-turn is not expected.”

Crossover SUVs dominated the sales ladder in 2018, filling all 10 spots. The best of the traditional, off-road oriented body-on-chassis wagons was Toyota’s Land Cruiser/Prado pairing, well outside the top 10 with 1532 sales. The breakdown was 1158 Prados to 374 Land Cruiser 200s.

One of the vehicles that defined the crossover SUV genre, the Toyota RAV4, held the top spot in 2018, its market performance bolstered by strong sales to rental car companies. And with an update and hybrid model due this year, look out everyone else for a repeat in 2019.

Mazda’s car-based CX-5, arguably the best crossover on the market, took second place.

Kia’s Sportage came in third, ahead of Toyota’s large, Americansourced Highlander, a vehicle which splits opinion among motoring journalists. The front-drive version is lambasted for too much torque steer, but we rated the 4x4 version highly.

Mitsubishi’s long-in-the-tooth compact ASX slotted into fifth, its sales boosted by a revamp and effective TV advertising campaign pushing some very sweet price deals.

Mitsubishi’s bigger Outlander, which is offered with a plug-in hybrid option, was sixth, ahead of Nissan’s Qashqai.

In eighth was Holden’s five/seven seat Captiva, a model so popular Holden delayed officially ‘replacing’ it with the better, modern mid-sized five-seat Equinox, and big seven-seat Acadia. Equinox sales haven’t been setting the world alight and the two US wagons will have to gain real momentum if they’re to match the Captiva’s success – holding on as the only non-Asian SUV in the top 10.

Nissan’s X-trail and the Hyundai Tucson completed the top 10, swapping places in the final two months.

Among the more unusual SUVs to register sales in NZ during 2018 were the all-electric Tesla Type X (138 sold), and the equally new-to-market Lamborghini Urus, the spiritual successor to the LM002 of the mid-1980s. The Lambo Urus found 10 buyers in its debut year, and is surely the Platinum reward in the game of new car-spotting.

Ford Ranger takes the gold again in 2018 for the fourth year in a row, as the best-selling ute, and best-selling vehicle in NZ.

RANGER TAKES TRIPLE WIN IN 2018

Ford’s Ranger proves itself number one for the fourth year in a row.

F

ORD’S RANGER SECURED A TRIPLE CROWN IN NEW Zealand in 2018. It was the best-selling vehicle overall for the fourth consecutive year; the top light commercial for the fifth year running, and it helped Ford NZ to become the top LCV brand for the first time ever.

Ford achieved this on the back of increased Ranger sales and a much stronger performance by the Transit van, in doing so, toppling arch-rival Toyota from a position it had held for decades; and a déjà vu moment from 2014 when Ranger ended the Hilux’s 32-year reign.

Ford came oh-so-close to the 10,000 barrier, falling just 110 units short, with 9890 Rangers sold in 2018, a useful six-percent increase over the 9324 retailed in 2017. This was also Ranger’s second successive year-on-year increase, following a 10 percent increase after Ford sold 8501 in 2016. Though the percentage increase levelled off, there are no signs of the Ranger sales bubble bursting, particularly

1

Top 10 Utes of 2018

Ford Ranger 9890 (-)

2

Toyota Hilux

3

8078 (-) Mitsubishi Triton 4719 (+1)

4

Holden Colorado

5

4583 (-1) Nissan Navara 3652 (-)

6

Isuzu D-Max

7

2271 (-) Mazda BT-50 2072 (-)

8

Volkswagen Amarok

9

937 (-) LDV T60 838 (-) Foton Tunland 387 (+1)

10

following a late-2018 minor update and the introduction of Raptor.

Second best, Hilux had 8078 registrations, a tiny reduction over 2017’s sales of 8130. Don’t mistake that for Hilux being any less capable, more a byproduct of Toyota’s April 2 change to its haggle-free pricing/purchasing.

Significantly, Hilux was 1812 sales behind the Ranger which Ford gleefully declared was: “the largest margin yet between [Ranger] and its nearest competitor.” In 2017, the gap between the Ranger and Hilux was 1194.

Aggressively-marketed and offering great run-out price and equipment deals at the end of 2018, Mitsubishi’s long-lived Triton pulled an 11th hour rabbit out of the hat, and swept into third place in 2018, its 4719 sales displacing Holden’s Colorado.

Triton’s sales have come a long way in a short time from the days when it fought tooth-and-nail with the Mazda BT-50 for fifth place, and the new model couldn’t have come at a better time for Mitsubishi, in the wake of Mitsubishi’s 40th birthday with the ute.

Sales of 4583 gave the Colorado fourth place, largely reliant upon its solid success and reputation keeping sales strong – and to keep it ahead of the Nissan Navara which once had an unshakable grip of third.

The Nissan’s strength is in two-wheel drive models, which accounted for 2089 of the nameplate’s 3652 sales in 2018 – or 57 percent!

Sixth was Isuzu’s rugged D-Max (2271 sales), followed by the Mazda BT-50 with 2072 registrations, and the upmarket and somewhat pricey Volkswagen Amarok (937). Year-on-year, the D-Max and BT-50 lost sales but Amarok registrations increased slightly, thanks to the 580Nm power upgrade in closing stages of 2018 – though the VW is still closer to ninth than seventh.

LDV’s T60 ute was ninth with 838 sales, a total which easily outdistanced its fellow Chinese pick-ups, the Foton Tunland (redisplacing Musso for 10th place with 387 sales) and the Great Wall Steed (256).

Introduced early in April, Mercedes-Benz’s first-ever ute, the X-Class, bubbled just under the top 10 with 313 sales, all from the four-cylinder model and all but three of them being 4WD. Annualised, sales would have placed it tenth, though we’re sure both Mercedes and potential customers are relieved to finally see the V6 model now on sale.

So Ranger, Hilux and now Triton are the top three utes with respective bragging rights for 2019. Our prediction for 2019: Ranger will break 10,000 sales, Triton will broaden the gap from Colorado, Mercedes will move up the rankings and we might even see a new player enter the top 10, with SsangYong’s new Rhino (nee Musso).

LCV | 43

CRAFTER WORK

Story & photos: Dean Evans

Volkswagen’s Crafter packs a lot in, metaphorically and literally.

IF WE LISTED ALL THE TECH FEATURES of the VW Crafter, it would sound more like a luxury sedan than a van: dual reversing cameras, park assist, trailer reverse assist, side protection warning, active cruise control, Wi-Fi, start-stop, Apple CarPlay/Auto, heated seats, blind spot warning, lane assist and an eight-speed automatic are just some of the features packed into the new Crafter 35.

This is one of the best-equipped vans not because it’s a workhorse, but a work place – a mobile office that needs to be functional, comfortable and practical.

Available in three body lengths and three roof heights, there’s also a choice of diesel Seats are comfortable, with driver’s seat adjustment every which way, plus an adjustable armrest.

44 | LCV

drivetrains: a 90kW/300Nm 2.0-litre reardrive, 103kW/340Nm in front ‘or’ all-wheel drive, and a 130kW/410Nm twin-turbo that comes in either front-, rear- or all-wheel drive, punctuating its mechanical versatility for almost any application. Certain drivetrains only come with specific gearboxes, but there’s a choice of a six-speed manual or the new, class-exclusive eight-speed automatic.

While the front-drive offers the lowest, largest loading area, the rear-drive offers the highest GVM, up to 5.5t, plus a towing capacity up to 3.5t. This is aided by an optional $4200 tow ball/tech pack that not only offers an interchangeable ball size,

but includes Trailer Assist which takes the hassles out of trailer reversing, along with Park Assist and Active Side Protection which alerts if a tight turn (in narrow city streets for example) has the potential of damaging the body.

We tested the medium wheelbase (shortest body) and high roof (middle height) front-driver, which included a brochure full of optional extras pushing the price almost $15k over standard. Even this, the smallest floor-space Crafter, can swallow four 800x1200mm Euro pallets, with 3450mm of load length and up to 11.3 cubic metres of space – or more than 1.6m between doors,

Centre seat flips down to reveal work table, and both passenger seats flip up for more storage.

Above: Crafter cabin is a little Golf, with car steering wheel and gauges, shifter and eight-speed gearbox, plus heated seats, USB and touchscreen with wave gesture control and CarPlay/Auto.

Below left: Rockinger tow ball offers interchangeable ball sizes, and along with other tech, includes Reverse Trailer Assist, for safe and easy trailer reversing.

Below right: Internal adjustable roof racks slide the full length of the body.

Volkswagen Crafter 35 TDI MWB Engine:

2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel four

Power:

130kW/410Nm

Gearbox:

Eight-speed auto, FWD/ RWD/AWD

Economy:

7.8l/100km

Price:

$74,490 ($88,720 as tested)

Rating (/5): Verdict:

One of the best vans on the market

Crafter offers three engine choices and even three drivetrain configurations: front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive and 1.2m between wheelarches. Optional rails in the floor, interior roof racks and barn doors that open out and even unlatch and magnetically attach to the sides are just starting features, with hexagonal holes for numerous mounting and shelving options, plus up to 14 lashing eyes; and all lit with interior LEDs. Driving the Crafter is very car-like, not just for the fully adjustable car steering wheel and dash controls, but the adjustable seats with lumbar with armrests. It seats three, but the centre seat can flip down as a work table. The passenger seats also flip up for

more storage underneath. There is storage throughout the cabin, with pockets, bins, cubbies and cup-holders, including overhead, along with USB and 12v ports.

Even better, it drives like a car, and feels much smaller than its 2.5m width and 6m length, with speed-dependent electric power steering and a decent (for its length) 13.6m turning circle.

The 130kW/410Nm engine is packed with useable torque, and there’s plenty of tech supporting the driver, such as Front Assist, which brakes automatically to avoid crashing, Rear Traffic Alert which warns of crossing

traffic when reversing, and Automatic PostCollision Braking System, which brings the vehicle to a stop in the event of a crash, avoiding a second impact.

Volkswagen claims 7.8l/100km, but our week with the Crafter resulted in 9.5l/100km of a mix of motorway and urban driving.

Starting at $59,990, our fully loaded ‘showcase’ $75k Crafter was loaded with options boosting up close to $90k, but in a market where the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter was considered the only high-end option, Crafter’s drivetrain, tech and convenience options put it right up there with the best.

Lower 100mm loading sill is a feature of the front-drive model, with a load height of 570mm.

Removeable wooden floor panelling includes optional floor rails. Barn doors fold out a full 270 degrees, and magnetically attach to the body for tight loading areas.

LCV | 45

Words: Mike Stock

Toyota’s HiAce, number one again, and has been since the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 1984.

QUARTER TO 1

Toyota’s HiAce claims top spot for the 25th year, almost doubling its nearest rival, while Iveco and Renault plan major pushes in 2019.

I

TALIAN VAN-MAKER IVECO PLANS TO BOOST MARKET awareness and sales of its Daily van and cab/chassis significantly during 2019.

The New Daily, launched in Italy in 2014 and on sale here from early 2016, finished the year just outside our published top-ten, in 11th place with total sales of 146, displaced by the Renault Master, another brand looking to move ahead in 2019, enticing new Sales & Marketing Manager Warren Willmot from Great Lakes/SsangYong/ LDV. Iveco has freshened the Daily for 2018 with revised styling, upgraded interiors, and a range of drivetrain and other mechanical and equipment upgrades.

Iveco’s NZ new dealer principal, Jason Keddie, who started in October, says Iveco plans to increase market share in all segments in which the van competes.

Its range includes a massive van with a 20 cubic metre load capacity, and Dailys are available with a slick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission as an option.

A new 4x4 Daily with a redesigned four-wheel drive system, will arrive in the second half of the year.

However, the star of the 2018 NZ van market was Ford’s Transit which got a significant sales boost from the introduction of automatic gearboxes on both large and mid-sized models.

The auto Transits have consolidated the nameplate in second Far left: Jason Keddie started as Iveco MD in October.

Left: Iveco Daily had a facelift in 2018.

46 | LCV

1

6 Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

Toyota Hiace

2005 (-)

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

400 (+2)

Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

Ford Transit

1067 (-)

VW Transporter T6

374 (-1)

2

7

3

8 Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

Hyundai iLoad

733 (-)

Volkswagen Crafter

272 (-1)

Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

LDV V80

459 (+1)

Volkswagen Caddy

195 (-)

4

9

5

10 Brand

Sales

Brand

Sales

LDV G10

421 (-1)

Renault Master

167 (+1)

place on the sales ladder. Ford moved 1067 Transit vans during the year, a solid rise over the 930 it retailed in 2017.

That success, combined with a lift in Ranger ute sales took Ford to commercial market leadership for the first time ever.

Ford NZ managing director, Simon Rutherford, said buyer response to the auto Transit was positive, and the company was proud to achieve commercial vehicle leadership.

At the top of the market, though, it was business as usual, with the Toyota Hiace occupying the number one slot it’s held for almost 25 years.

The Hiace is the only Japanese van available here new and the only one to retain a cab-over layout with the driver sitting above the

front axle.

Korean, European and Chinese vans occupied the rest of the top 10. In third was Hyundai’s iLoad, followed by the Chinese LDV duo, the big front-wheel drive V80 and the mid-sized rear-drive G10. LDV also retailed 27 all-electric EV80s.

A wedge of Volkswagens occupied the next three spots, the midsized Transporter leading the big Crafter and the Caddy city van which dominates its market segment, soundly seeing off the Renault Kangoo and Peugeot Partner.

Renault’s vans tend to struggle in NZ, despite their esteem, but the French marque’s big van, the Master, enjoyed good sales to displace the Daily and finish 10th.

Renault Master scraped into the top 10, just displacing Iveco’s Daily.

LCV | 47

Words: Mike Stock

AT A CANTER

Main: Fuso was best light-truck in 2018, though Isuzu (right) claimed number one spot in light trucks, calculated slightly differently. However, Isuzu was undisputed for medium and heavy trucks, for the 19th year running.

Canter leads light-duty truck market, though Isuzu also claims victory; it depends which way the cake is sliced.

F

USO’S LIGHT-DUTY CANTER LED THE UNDER EIGHT tonne segment of the new truck market during 2018.

The Mitsubishi-owned company retailed 352 Canters to lead home arch-rival, the Isuzu N-series, which posted 326 sales. The Canter had also led the segment in 2017.

Isuzu saw it a little differently and its calculations had it winning not just the light-truck market, but medium and large as well. In short, differing methods of calculations allow each to claim a win, though in our MIA reported sales, Fuso was the narrow 2018 victor – by less than

1 percent of sales!

The under-eight-tonne segment includes a large number of trucks which can be driven on a car licence, making them suitable for use with fleets that don’t employ fully-licensed professional truck drivers.

Fuso says a strong point for the Canter has been the 2017 upgrade to the DUONIC II transmission which has helped cut fuel consumption and eliminate shift-shock.

Hino completed the Japanese manufacturers’ clean-sweep of the lightduty truck podium, with 137 sales. That number was an improvement of

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48 | LCV

LCV28240

• Bullbars • Winches • Side Protection Bars and Steps • Rear Protection Bars • Underbody Protection • Air Locker Locking differentials & Air Compressors

1 Brand

Sales

Fuso Canter

354

2 11 sales over 2017.

Hino also sold one light-duty version of its bigger 500 truck.

Chinese brand Foton, though selling in small numbers, made a major advance over its 2017 showing, selling 40 Aumarks. The competitivelypriced Aumark had managed only 11 sales the previous year.

In fifth place was the enigma of the NZ truck market, the Hyundai Mighty. Launched in early 2017, the Mighty is competitive with its Japanese rivals in all but price. It drives equally well, has up-to-date features and design, and Hyundai trucks has a good reputation for reliability.

But sales-wise the Korean workhorse is stranded. Only 24 were sold last year, exactly the same number that the Mighty achieved in 2017.

The only other light-duty truck that figured in the statistics was the Chinese Jac, which is no longer marketed here. Presumably the two Jacs were old stock that had been languishing on dealers’ yards.

All bar the Jac also compete in the medium-duty over eight-tonne segment. Combining those sales with the light-duty figures, the N-series came out on top with 466, from the Canter (416), the Hino 300 (234 sales), and the Foton Aumark (53). Hyundai sold no trucks in the medium segment.

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Isuzu N-series

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4 Brand

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Brand

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Hyundai Mighty

24

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LCV | 49

ter than the 0k, and is actually fas Fe cost less than $4 nta Sa old ar-ye Three th 20-inch wheels. new model - even wi

00. Gulp!

Limited is up to $83,0 New 2019 Sante Fe

New is nice, but a little less new is even better, at least for a bargain, says Arna Evans.

SANTE FE SPEED COMPARISON MODEL

0-60km/h

0-100km/h

0-400m

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe

3.6sec

9.0sec

16.3@133km/h

2019 Hyundai Sante Fe

4.4sec

9.6sec

16.9@133km/h

NEW OR OLD IS A BIG DEBATE WHEN car buying around these parts. While everyone loves brand new, the reality is that for the private buyer, family or budget conscious, it’s almost always better to buy used. In my job as a manager, I’m looking through graphs and charts, scales of economy and risk management, and one important graph when car buying is cost of depreciation. I’d love a new car as much as the next mum, guy or girl, but with a mortgage and a relatively late start to family life, combined with a couple of relocations from and back to NZ, we’re rebuilding the finances while also pushing them.

Which is why we bought the 2015 Hyundai Sante Fe rather than the 2018 one recently, as I’ve detailed over the past few issues, and will stop drolling on about… after this issue. Because having had the chance to drive the 2019 Sante Fe, I’m both impressed and reassured that we went the right way. Sure, the advanced tech, driver and passenger safety is very impressive in the new model; and while our older model is devoid of lane departure, blind spot warning, and safe exit assist for rear passengers (which temporarily locks the doors if it

50 | LCV

senses impending danger), the only feature I pine for is radar cruise control. But we don’t do a lot of motorway kays, so it’s actually not a huge loss. Of course there’s plenty of other tech in the new model, along with the new looks and the associated, perceived ‘prestige’ of owning the latest and greatest; but we’re not one to bother keeping up with the Joneses, with practicality and pragmatism overruling appearance or perception.

For a start, the new model is 70mm longer, which doesn’t actually fit in our garage. And while it’s certainly a little more efficient, which is impressive given they use the same engine, the biggest grin I got was when hubby recently time-tested both models. With a 2kW/4Nm increase, the 2019 Sante Fe also has to move an extra 100kg, which seems to blunt get up & go… at least off the mark: the new model manages 0-100km/h in 9.6 seconds. But our three-year old model beat it with 9.0 seconds! Even more noticeable, from rest to 60km/h, our older Sante Fe is almost one second faster (3.6 vs 4.4 secs) and while I’m not a regular leadfoot in the traffic light Grand Prix, our older model also feels faster,

more responsive and livelier off the mark, even at half throttle. Once moving, above 60km/h, they’re both pretty much identical.

Actually I tell a lie: the biggest shock wasn’t the performance, but the price difference. Our 2015 Sante Fe Elite sold new for $73,990, plus on-roads, so let’s call it $75k. Three years later, our one-owner car went on the market for $42k, and we paid $38k – a not insignificant 50 percent cost of depreciation – or, in effect, a $1027 fee every month for three years for the joy of owning a new car, and that’s on top of any lease/loan/payment plan. The 2018 Santa Fe Elite’s sticker of $83,000, if calculated the same way, would result in the same car costing $1150 per month for the next three years, and that same late-2018 Sante Fe Elite available just before Christmas 2021, for $41,500.

The point is that while this magazine obviously looks at the virtues of new cars, it’s always a good plan to hold on to these magazines, because in three/five/whatever years, there will be some real bargains to be had - like there are now. And like any girl, who can resist a bargain?

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 Q8

audi.co.nz

$54,900-$63,400 $62,400-$73,900 $92,900-$109,900 $113,900-$141,100 $149,900

A A A A A

P P P P D

4/1395-4/1984 4/1395-4/1984 4/1750-V6/1500 V6/2967 6/2967

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

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

5.5-6.4 5.9-6.7 5.1-7.1 5.8-5.9 6.8

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

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

June/July 17 Nov/Dec 18

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 Acadia

holden.co.nz

$40,990-$56,990 $43,990-$59,990 $62,990 $32,990-$36,990 $49,990-$71,990

A A A A A

P/D P P/D P P

4/2231-V6/2997 4/1998 4/2776 4/1364-4/1364 6/3600

123-190 100-188 147 103 231

230-400 320-353 500 200 367

8.5-10.7 5.7-8.4 8.6 6.7 9.3

Aug/Sept 17 May/June 18 Dec/Jan 18 Oct/Nov 17 Jan/Feb 19

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 Picanto

kia.co.nz

$34,990-$55,990 $49,990 $55,990-$73,990 $32,490+ $35,990-$54,990 $18,490-$21,490

A A A A A/M

P/D P/Hybrid P P/D P P

4/2231-V6/2997 4/1600 4/1998 4/2776 4/1364-4/1364 4/1248

123-190 104 100-188 147 103 62

230-400 147 320-353 500 200 122

8.5-10.7 1.3 5.7-8.4 8.6 6.7 5.8

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

$39,990

A

P

4/1995

165

350

10.2-10.9

D90 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

Jan/Feb 19

May/June 18 May/June 18

Feb/Mar 17

Sept/Oct 18 Sept/Oct 18

Jan/Feb 19

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 Vitara

suzuki.co.nz

$31,990-$38,990 $18,990-$22, 500 $19,990-$24,500 $29,990-$33, 990 $29,990-$37,990

A/M A/M A/M A A

P P P P P

4/2393 4/1242 4/1328 4/1373-4/1586 I4/1400

122 66 110 88-103 103

225 120 110 156-220 220 5.9

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 T-Roc R-Line

volkswagen.co.nz

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

A A A

P/D D P

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

110-162 150-250 140

250-350 450-800 320

5.7-7.8 7.4-9.1 6.8

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

$51,990

July/Aug 18

July/Aug 18 Nov/Dec 18

Oct/Nov 17

2.1-8.6

HILUX WINS DAKAR Toyota HiLux has triumphed with a milestone maiden victory in the world’s most gruelling rally, Dakar. Now threetime winner, driver Nasser Al Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel cruised to the finish line with a 46-minute cushion after the 3000km marathon dominated by Peru’s tricky and often treacherous sand dunes.

Competing under the Toyota GAZOO Racing SA banner, not only was it a first win for Toyota, it was also the first petrol-powered car to win the Dakar in the South American era. The ‘modified’ Hilux led the event from the first stage to the last. The victory means that Toyota GAZOO Racing has now won both of the world’s toughest automotive races: the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Dakar Rally. The WRC championship is next.

52 | LCV

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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

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

Nov/Dec 18

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 Chevy Silverado

hsv.com.au

$73,990-$82,990 $134,990

A/M Auto

Diesel Diesel

4/2800 8/6600

147 332

440-500 1234

8.7 N/A

Dec/Jan 19

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

Nov/Dec 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 Ram 2500

ramtrucks.co.nz $163,000

$149,990-$169,990

Auto Auto

Diesel Diesel

I-6/6690 6/6690

276 276

1084 1084

N/A

Rhino

ssangyong.co.nz

$25,990-$43,490

A/M

D/P

4/2.2/2.0

133-166

350-420

8.6-10.7

Hilux

toyota.co.nz

$36,390-$54,990

Auto/Manual

Diesel

4/2775

123-130

340-450

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

Nov/Dec 18

NZ Motoring Writers’ Guild president Richard Edwards with Subaru NZ MD Wallis Dumper, Seven Sharp hosts Hilary Barry and Jeremy Wells and Subaru Marketing Manager Daile Stephens.

Nm

July/Aug 18

SUBARU’S STUNNING 2018 Subaru of New Zealand has achieved an all-time annual sales record in 2018 with 3632 new Subarus sold in 2018, up 8.8% on 2017. This is the seventh consecutive year of growth for Subaru in New Zealand, and while the numbers may seem small by global standards, NZ actually sells more than the UK! Driving these numbers is the brand’s biggest seller, Outback, which makes up 36.5 percent of Subaru NZ sales, followed by the second-gen XV (up 78.5 percent year on year), and new Forester, up 18.4 percent and winner of the 2018 NZ Car of the Year.

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

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

Price Range $29,995 +

Trans

Fuel

Cyl/CC

110-139 151-257

Nov/Dec 18

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

BIG YEAR FOR MITSUBISHI Fourth overall in 2018, and third in December capped off a remarkable year for Mitsubishi, its biggest since 1990, with 12,334 new registrations and an 8.4 percent market share. With more than 13 percent of the ute market, buoyed by the new Triton, the model finished as third-highest selling ute for the year, and setting up for an even stronger 2019, with Mitsubishi expecting a 25 percent sales growth for its ute.

“Performance and safety upgrades make Triton the most compelling package in the ute segment,” said Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs Reece Congdon. “Triton has long been a hit with Kiwis due to its great performance and value, backed by New Zealand’s leading new car warranty.

“On the back of eight years of consecutive growth,” added Congdon, “our next significant goal is to secure third place in the market for the financial year.”

New Triton grabs third place from Colorado in ute sales to cap off the best year for Mitsubishi NZ in almost three decades.

LCV | 55

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

Owner: Ian Barratt Vehicle: 2017 Toyota Hilux Opinion: Just a great package all around, and goes off-road as well. Plenty of safety gear which is important to me, but also does its duties for driver training.

Owner: Jono Gabrielle Vehicle: 2015 Isuzu D-Max Opinion: No info supplied.

Owner: Gibbons Engineering Vehicle: 2017 Ford Ranger WIldtrak Opinion: Does everything, fitted with a Beaut Utes canopy, tow bar, and black alloys.

Owner: Ian Dykstra Vehicle: 2018 Ford Ranger WIldtrak Opinion: Love the comfortable cabin, and the small cabin cools down quickly on hot days. Love the radar cruise control, but don’t like that the Ranger is so popular.

Owner: Barry Oldfield Vehicle: 2018 Mercedes-Benz x250 Opinion: Why all the hate for the four-cylinder? I love the 2.3 twin-turbo, it’s fast and economical and after upgrading from a Ranger XLT, it’s like being in a Mercedes car, but higher. Turning circle could be a bit tighter though, and I’d really like telescoping steering adjustment.

Owner: Hayden McDermott Vehicle: 2018 Mercedes-Benz x250 Opinion: Had some fun on the beaches of North Stradbroke Island (Qld) with a mate with his new V6 Amarok. Very happy with how the X250 performed in the soft stuff. I love this car!

Owner: CJ Jeffries Vehicle: Ford Ranger Opinion: No info supplied.

Owner: Brendon Reed Vehicle: 2016 Mazda BT-50 Opinion: I bought the ex-press vehicle and it had almost 10,000km, but runs like new. It’s like a Ranger and does everything the Ford does for less money. And the colour’s a bit different, too. Very happy with it!

56 56 || LCV LCV

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Vito Van. With extended peace of mind.

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Get more out of your Vito Van by keeping it in premium condition for longer with two extra years of warranty, giving you a full 5 years or 200,000 kms, whichever comes first.

Features include: •

5-star ANCAP safety rating

•

Payload of up to 3.1 tonnes

•

ATTENTION ASSIST

Visit your authorised Mercedes-Benz Vans retailer and test drive today. ^ Offer available for new Vito Panel Vans ordered and delivered between 01.01.19 and 31.03.19 from participating authorised Mercedes-Benz Vans dealers, unless extended. Offer excludes demonstrations, used vehicles, rental, government and national fleet customers. Not available in conjunction with any other offer. Standard manufacturer’s warranty is 3 years or 200,000 kms (whichever occurs first) from first registration date. Vehicle shown with optional roof rails.

ABLE L I A V A NOW 0 8 V T F I FACEL

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.

0800 LDV VANS 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