Ford Courier Reviews

It is the Courier's first V6, producing a handy 154kW at 5250rpm to best the next one-tonne rival, Holden Rodeo's at 147kW. (Be aware there is an all-new Toyota HiLux not far down the track; its new V6 may up those odds again.)This fresh drive for the one-tonne ute market comes from the increasing number of buyers looking for a dual-purpose machine – workmate through the week, family truck with spunk on the weekend.The Australian ute market was up 13 per cent last year and Ford reckon this six-cylinder pickup market will top 20,000 this year.So there are eight V6 Courier utes in two and four-wheel drive joining a range of more than 30 Courier models for 2005.All the two-wheel drive V6s are crew cabs; the four-wheel drives are crew cabs plus a super cab in base trim.To ensure these four-litre V6 models do not pass unnoticed in the paddock, Ford have jacked them all up 20mm.This gives the two-wheel-drive Couriers the road stance of a four-wheel drive, a little more ground clearance plus a little more aggression to the style.Ford folk recognise that buyers in this segment, especially those looking for a dual-purpose machine, can do with a little style. Whether the worker appreciates that raised cabin and tray remains to be seen.And furthering the cause of sophistication, the automatic transmission for this V6 is a five-speed, as found in the Ford Explorer.Prices for the Courier V6s start at $30,990 and run to $43,190.There is a small price premium over Holden's Rodeo, but all the Ford V6s have airconditioning, more power and the five-speed automatic option at no cost over the five-speed manual gearbox.Ford's V6 runs two overhead camshafts and a variable induction system. The engine is built in Germany and sent to South Africa where it is married to a Thai-built body and then shipped to Australia.All V6 models have wheel arch flares, bigger on the XLT than the GL. XLTs arrive with 15-inch alloy wheels and all V6 models score an 80-litre fuel tank plus extra body colour choice.Four-wheel drive on-the-fly is now available on automatic models.Inside is much as before. The Courier range was refreshed late last year with some trim changes plus new stereo systems.The V6 models pick up airconditioning plus an airconditioning-cooled centre console box. There is still little room for the left foot in a tight driver's footwell but the interior is comfortable and convenient, if not as well-finished as some rivals.Up front the V6 is smooth and peaceable. Maximum torque of 323Nm arrives at 3000rpm, the motor sounds better as it works toward the 5500rpm red line and the automatic transmission smothers some of the V6's urgency.The motor, while tidy enough in front of the five-speed auto, is best appreciated with the five-speed manual (although some manual boxes at the V6 launch were a touch baulky in the shift quality.)Certainly the four-litre V6 shifts the Couriers along without concern at keeping up with the traffic.The ride comfort up front is quite acceptable, unladen V6 utes will jump the back and spin rear wheels if provoked.A quick run over good and bad bitumen, good and bad gravel shows the Courier V6 a quick point-to-point machine. Unloaded there is a deal of power slipping and sliding on the gravel, the steering is a little light and refinement levels not quite up to the Falcon ute. Yet no doubt the V6 Couriers, with this power and price, will have appeal among those dual purpose buyers. It looks the part and plays the part.Towing capacity is 1800kg and payloads around 1100kg.The new V6s join the existing four-cylinder, 2.6 litre petrol and 2.5 litre turbo diesel engines in the Courier range, a line-up which saw a 15 per cent lift through 2004 for the best year for Couriers since their introduction here in the 1970s.Mazda's V6 utes arrive around August or September.

Plucking the V6 engine from the Explorer is the key to a plan that Ford hopes will power the latest Courier to the head of the pack.Coming off the back of record Courier sales, which climbed 15 per cent last year, Ford is aiming to win a greater share of the dual-use ute market with the repowered PH.At the heart of the upgrade is the short-stroke 4.0-litre single-overhead camshaft V6 engine lifted out of the Explorer, and which now pumps out 154kW of power and 323Nm of torque.In combination with new five-speed auto or five-speed manual transmissions, the V6 delivers steady performance, but appears better suited to the auto transmission than to the manual.Ford has increased the Courier's fuel tank to 80 litres, up 10 litres from the models fitted with the smaller engines.Ford engineers also retuned the front shock absorbers for improved ride quality and body control over rough roads, and appear to have achieved their objective.Inside, it's a little easier to pick which model you're driving because the switch on the centre console enables you to switch from two-wheel-drive to high or low-ratio four-wheel-drive on the run.Electronically activated automatic front hubs means four-wheel-drive can be selected without getting out of the vehicle.The V6 Courier is available in eight models – four with rear-wheel-drive and another four with four-wheel-drive – and from the outside it's hard to pick them because of their similar ride height.Ford's view is appearances matter and a high-rider truck looks tougher than one of a more normal height, so the two-wheel-drive version has been jacked up to the same ride height as its all-wheel-drive brother.The high-ride suspension is a development of the old Courier's four-cylinder four-wheel-drive set-up, which has been raised 20mm in the V6 models for a more aggressive look and increased clearance.Ford is offering two cab styles, Super Cab and Crew Cab, and two specification levels, GL and XLT.Included in the features are airconditioning, CD player, carpets, remote central locking and a cooler box in the centre console with an aircon vent to keep its contents cool.To have the power of Ford's new V6, you'll have to hand over at least $30,990, which will see you driving either a manual or auto two-wheel-drive GL Crew Cab pickup. But if you're prepared to spend $43,190, you can have all that comes with the range-topping four-wheel-drive XLT Crew Cab auto.Add another $2400 for the safety of anti-skid brakes and dual airbags, which come as a pack.THE days of tedious imported one-tonners are over. The 154kW Courier does the job, and the V6 engine delivers power and torque without any obvious peaks.The ute powers away from rest with impressive zip in automatic form, and shifts smoothly as the speed rises.Progress isn't as smooth or as quick in the five-speed manual V6.The gearing seems a little too tall, and the engine seems to labour.The shift, which is awkward and clunky, is set a little too far back for comfort.The retuned front shocks appear to do the trick because the ride is comfortable and controlled on rough roads, though the ride felt "soggy" on smoother sealed roads.Overall, the handling was benign, predictable and safe, but not terribly responsive.When turned into a corner at normal highway speeds, it seemed determined to run wide and required a correction to bring it back on track.There's ample room for a full crew of adults in comfortable seats, and the aircon, which is standard, ensures comfort once unimaginable in one of these vehicles.

The new powerplant is Courier's first V6 engine, borrowed from the US light truck, Ranger, and similar to the the 4.0-litre engine in Explorer.It easily outguns Holden Rodeo's 3.5-litre V6.Courier underwent a major facelift in early 1999 when the panels were upgraded to give a similar appearance to Ford's F-Series.In June 2000 Ford replaced the manual front hubs on 4WD models with auto-locking hubs activated by a button on the dash.The new engine brings Courier into line with most of the other manufacturers that offer V6 petrol engines in their light commercial trucks and 4WDs.The new V6 Courier will be sold alongside existing four cylinder models starting this month.It is available in both 2WD and 4WD across Super Cab and Crew Cab body styles and in GL and XLT specification levels.Recommended pricing starts at $30,990 for both the manual and automatic versions of the 2WD Crew Cab up to $43,190 for the top of the range auto 4WD XLT Crew Cab.While the new engine is the highlight of the new model, it is not the only improvement.There's now a new two-speaker, single slot CD player with AM/FM radio on all GL and XL models, while the XLT models pick up the new audio system interface to go with the existing four speaker, six disc CD player.XL and XLT models receive a new double lid centre console with integrated arm rest as part of the PH model upgrade, while XL and XLT Pick-up models gain a remote fuel-lid opener.All Crew Cabs now get a triple cup holder for second row passengers.There are more storage pockets throughout the cabin.Outside there are minor changes to the styling with a new design for the rear combination lamps, new side indicators and clear lenses, new decals and upgraded wheels on all XLT models.It was disappointing that Ford did not take the opportunity to also upgrade the antiquated system of engaging 4WD.Ford says that the 4WD system can be engaged "on the fly" which is only partly true.In order to engage 4WD the hubs must be locked in and that can only happen if you stop the car, put it in neutral, push the brake, and then hit the hub locking button, oddly named RFW.Then, with the locking light showing, you can move between two wheel drive and four wheel drive, unless you disengage the hubs, which can be done on the fly.While the hubs can be left locked, this increases fuel consumption.The new engine gives the Courier an edge in power over competitors, Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota HiLux and Holden Rodeo.It also comes at a time of booming sales in the light commercial market, particularly the V6 segment.The German-built 4.0 litre SOHC V6 produces 154 kW of power at 5250 rpm and 323 Nm of torque at 3000 rpm.With the new engine comes two new transmissions, a five speed manual and the option of a five speed automatic on Crew Cab models.Ford says the five speed manual is a heavy duty box.It's a long throw transmission that is a little notchy, but not out of place in this type of vehicle.The auto is a smooth transmission well matched to the engine.In our testing of the vehicle we found NVH levels high in acceleration mode but more than acceptable when cruising speed was reached.Ford has raised the ride height by 20mm to facilitate the V6 engine, giving the V6 model greater ground clearance than the four cylinder Courier models, and elevating the driving height to give improved road views.Front dampers have been re-calibrated for improved ride quality and body control over rough or uneven terrain."The introduction of V6 Courier will raise the stakes in the ultra competitive light truck market," said Damon Paull, Courier Brand Marketing Manager.Courier V6 builds on the established reputation of the brand and now has an engine with class-leading power and torque and an optional five speed auto transmission," he said.In 2004 Courier 2WD sales were up 18.2 per cent over 2003 while Courier 4WD were up 11.9 per cent.