Articles by Mark Oastler
17 February 2020 by Mark Oastler
The Renault Kangoo is the closest competitor to Volkswagen’s top-selling Caddy in Australia’s small van segment (under-2.5 tonne GVM). In 2020 the enduringly popular German light commercial holds a commanding 72 per cent share of this market, compared to the Kangoo’s 21 per cent. However, such a...Read more
31 January 2020 by Mark Oastler
Toyota’s current sixth-generation HiAce is an impressive all-rounder, offering a choice of wheelbases, body styles and engine/transmission combinations. These include four-cylinder turbo-diesel and V6 petrol engines with either six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. We've previously...Read more
24 January 2020 by Mark Oastler
Toyota’s 70 Series Land Cruiser is unique in the Australian 4x4 market. With Mercedes-Benz’s decision to cease local sales of its $120K G-Professional in 2019, the LC79 is now the only single-cab cab-chassis off-roader available with the unmatched strength, durability and off-road performance of ‘...Read more
6 January 2020 by Mark Oastler
Ford is a making a habit of providing answers to questions that have not been asked. First there was the Baja-inspired Ranger Raptor, a unique version of Australia’s favourite Ford ute with pumped-out guards, a tougher frame and sublime long-travel suspension inspired by ‘pre-runner’ pick-ups used...Read more
26 December 2019 by Mark Oastler
Aussie drivers love their 4x4 dual cab utes and it seems they can’t get enough of the premium models. Demand for these top-shelf offerings, with pricing above $60,000, has been running hot over the past two to three years with no signs of cooling any time soon. Market leader Toyota’s flagship is...Read more
25 December 2019 by Mark Oastler
As the popularity of 4x4 dual cab utes continues to grow, so too does demand for premium models. And it’s not just family/recreational buyers driving this demand. Top-shelf utes are increasingly common on construction sites, where competition amongst tradies to win job tenders is often matched by a...Read more
28 October 2019 by Mark Oastler
Dual cab utes are very popular and a big part of their buyer appeal is...Read more
22 October 2019 by Mark Oastler
The current generation iLoad was launched in 2008. With only minor upgrades during its first decade on sale, it was recently given its first facelift with a new grille design plus new comfort and convenience features. These updates don't change the fact that the iLoad is now stretching beyond the...Read more
23 September 2019 by Mark Oastler
The LD or Light Duty (3501-8000kg GVM) segment of Australia’s heavy commercial vehicle market is highly competitive with numerous brands fighting for market share. It’s a tough battleground, requiring manufacturers to offer a large number of variants to appeal to buyers with diverse job...Read more
3 September 2019 by Mark Oastler
Accepted wisdom in dual cab utes is that you need leaf-spring rear suspension to be taken seriously as a heavy load-hauler. The Nissan Navara and its Mercedes-Benz X Class derivative prove this age-old theory is correct, with their coil-spring rears displaying shortcomings under maximum payloads...Read more
13 August 2019 by Mark Oastler
The venerable HiAce is the firmly entrenched sales leader in Australia’s mid-sized (2.5-3.5 tonne GVM) commercial van market. That’s a remarkable achievement given the last new model was launched in 2004. So, given that 15 years have passed since then, the long wait for its replacement this year...Read more
24 July 2019 by Mark Oastler
The mid-size (2.5-3.5 tonne GVM) commercial van segment is one of the most competitive in Australia’s new vehicle market. In 2019, a new contender has joined the battle in the form of Peugeot’s Expert van. This is the second attempt by the famous French marque to gain traction in the local LCV...Read more
18 July 2019 by Mark Oastler
We often see '3500kg towing capacity' headlines in advertising and...Read more
2 July 2019 by Mark Oastler
There's no denying the Australian 4x4 ute market is one of the most diverse and competitive in the world right now, with 16 different models representing 13 different brands. The 4x2 'workhorse' segment also plays host to some vigorous competition. There are currently 11 different models...Read more
26 June 2019 by Mark Oastler
There’s a long-standing rivalry between devotees of drop-side steel...Read more
19 June 2019 by Mark Oastler
The annual Sandown 500 is one of Australia's oldest, best-known and...Read more
18 June 2019 by Mark Oastler
Australia’s 4x2 ute market is dominated by the Toyota HiLux. It’s a favourite for many tradies, small business operators and government/private fleets due to its brand familiarity, load-carrying ability, reliability, variety of body configurations and resale value. And, no doubt, Toyota’s proven...Read more
31 May 2019 by Mark Oastler
Australia’s heavy commercial vehicle market has three segments - Light Duty, Medium Duty and Heavy Duty - based on GVM ratings. Light Duty (3501-8000kg GVM) is dominated by Isuzu’s versatile N-Series light truck range, which despite not offering a panel van variant commands almost 24 per cent of...Read more
28 May 2019 by Mark Oastler
Here's a list of things you might not know about Mark Webber...
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