1966 Ford Galaxie Reviews

Kia Australia has some big expectations for its incoming Tasman ute. Most notable is the brand's aim of off-loading 20,000 units in its first full year, the equivalent to one quarter of the Tasman’s projected global sales.To do so in a shrinking ute market, it will need to lure Australian buyers away from traditional staples in Ford, Toyota and Isuzu while fighting off an increasing cohort of budget Chinese rivals, such as BYD, GWM and JAC.Achieving that will be no easy feat and require the Tasman to be competitive on the basics: grunt, payload, towing, tech, and arguably most important of all, price.So, does it? We’ve put the Tasman's top-grade head-to-head against some of Australia’s most popular ute models in an on-paper comparison designed to give you the best run-down on the all-new model before we've even taken it for a test drive.Starting with ground clearance, at 252mm, the Tasman exceeds its rivals by a minimum of 12mm. You could argue it's a relatively paltry difference, but 4WD enthusiasts would argue every millimetre counts when you're traversing rough terrain.Approach and departure angles is another area where the Tasman shines. At 32.2-degree approach and 26.2-degree departure, the Tasman shapes up as a symphony of well thought out proportions, something that will, once again, make it appealing to the four-wheel driving class.As an additional note, Kia claims to have "best-in-class" tub volume at 1173 litres, which sounds unusual given it doesn't have the largest tub dimensions in this class. Rather, its tub width and length are smaller than the Ford Ranger Wildtrak and Toyota HiLux Rogue. Further enquiries with Kia found that its best-in-class claim is according to VDA specifications, a commonly used European cargo space measuring guide. Ford, meanwhile, claims a tub volume of 1233-litres on the Wildtrak (a whole 60 litres more), though it's unclear what measurement guide the figure is based on.If its raw torque and power you're after, prospective buyers may be a little disappointed with the Tasman's outputs – at least on paper.But don't let the figures trick you into thinking its not a capable ute. In fact, it leads all of its rivals on payload, while delivering benchmark 3500kg towing; something the new plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 (321kW/650Nm) couldn't conquer.Kia said the decision to offer a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, which falls 30kW/59Nm short of its most powerful rival (the V6 Ford Ranger Wildtrak), was based on the brand's decision to comply with Australia's New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES). The scheme penalises carmakers who exceed government-mandated carbon emissions limits.While Kia is yet to officially release homologated emissions data on the Tasman, its relatively strong fuel consumption of 7.6 litres/100km suggests it will duck under the targets many of its rivals will fall victim to.This is one area where the Tasman decisively leads the segment, particularly in terms of tech and comfort. It carries twin 12.3-inch screens for multimedia and the digital driver's display, with a 5.0-inch touch monitor for climate controls wedged in-between.There's wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, digital radio, wireless charging, quilted leather upholstery and intuitive features like a large folding-table mounted to the centre console.Kia claims the Tasman has "class-leading" headroom, shoulder room and second row legroom, which makes sense given it is the longest vehicle in its class. The Tasman also comes with an additional 33 litres of under seat storage.The Ranger Wildtrak's interior set-up comes the closest, with a 10.1-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen and an 8.0-inch digital driver's display. It carries wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, too, as well as wireless charging and digital radio. Under seat storage is offered on the Wildtrak, however, Ford chooses not to quote a litre figure.The D-Max X-Terrain carries a smaller 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with an 8.0-inch digital driver's display. It misses out on wireless charging, though.The HiLux Rogue is well off the pace, providing only an 8.0-inch colour touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, no wireless charging pad and fewer clever storage spaces. Toyota is, however, set to upgrade this configuration next year when the new HiLux arrives.* All prices calculated before on-road costsPricing was one area where the Tasman was expected to spank the established competition, though its entry price of $42,990 before on-roads for the two-wheel drive S grade exceeds all its rivals by at least $6110.That likely comes down to higher production costs (the Tasman is built in South Korea, while its rivals are built in Thailand) and a more generous offering of standard features.By no means, however, is the Tasman exuberantly expensive, as evidenced by the X-Pro's mere $150 premium over the Wildtrak – a popular variant of Australia's most popular ute. But the success of budget Chinese brands, such as BYD, Chery, GWM and MG, in Australia has shown buyers are increasingly willing to prioritise value above all else, which could hurt the Tasman's sales prospects.Despite the conjecture online about the Kia Tasman's design, which does take a little getting used to, the Tasman is, by all means, a compelling package.It delivers and, in fact, exceeds the competition on several fundamentals, from ground clearance and approach/departure angles to payload, fuel efficiency, interior comfort and tech.That said, two key factors may not necessarily work in its favour - design and price. In a world where buyers are becoming increasingly cost-conscious, there may be a tendency to opt for more conventionally-styled budget rivals.As always, though, only time will tell whether the Tasman can live up to its maker's expectations.

Australia’s van segment finally has its first plug-in hybrid: the 2025 Ford Transit Custom PHEV.

In nearly 140 years of the motor vehicle, history records only two Australian cars that truly left their mark on the world – even to this day.

With the eagerly-anticipated Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) finally hitting showrooms in the middle of this year to give the BYD Shark 6 PHEV a run for its money, is that where this level of electrification development stops on the T6.2 platform?

Is Toyota preparing two completely different utes to replace the ageing current HiLux in Australia from next year? The first is the widely-speculated but as-yet publicly unconfirmed facelift of today’s eight-generation HiLux, while the second is new-from-the-ground up production version of the EPU (Electric Pick-Up) dual-cab concept that debuted at the 2023 Tokyo motor show.

Can you have too much of a good thing? Australians love utes and in recent years we’ve seen more and more brands look to capitalise on that, but it may not be a case of the more the merrier.

Ford has detailed pricing and specifications for the incoming Transit Custom Trail, a more lifestyle-oriented, all-wheel-drive variant of its popular work van.Slotting into the now four-variant strong line-up alongside the Trend, Sport and Double Cab at $61,990 before on-road costs, the 2025 Ford Transit Custom Trail is destined to go head-to-head with the new Volkswagen Multivan, which it undercuts by $14,000.Arriving in a single long-wheelbase specification, the Transit Custom Trail will carry the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox as its siblings. It produces 125kW/290Nm.Ford says where Transit Custom Trail differs, however, is its active all-wheel-drive system, which can anticipate and respond to wheel slip between the front and rear axles.It says the electronically controlled clutch in the rear axle, meanwhile, can provide traction like a locked 4x4 system without binding in turns.In terms of design, the Transit Custom Trail also carries its own unique flair.That includes a Trail-specific front grille and skid plates, black wheel arch mouldings and side strips, silver painted rocker trim, standard LED headlights and daytime running lights, unique 16-inch matte black alloy wheels, underbody protection and yellow exterior decals.Inside, it carries synthetic leather seat trim with unique Trail embossing on the driver’s seat and yellow stitching that extends to all three seats. Dual passenger seats come standard, but you can opt for a single passenger seat as a $150 option.As with the rest of the Transit Custom line-up, the Trail gets a 13.0-inch multimedia display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as a 12.0-inch digital driver’s display.It also maintains key safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, reverse brake assist, front and rear parking sensors and reversing camera.First deliveries of the Transit Custom are expected by the fourth quarter of this year, with a full list of detailed specifications expected closer to then.Ford has sold 755 Transit Customs as of March this year, an increase of 37.3 per cent on the same period last year.

Is Ford worried about the economic fallout from the US Federal Government’s hard line on imported vehicle tariffs and other controversial policy changes?With the company priding itself as the ‘most American carmaker in the world’, is the threat of consumer retaliation against US vehicles keeping senior management up at night?According to Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman, William Clay Ford Jr., the family-run vehicle manufacturer is large enough and important enough to have the ear of the Trump Administration.“Well, first of all, we have the largest American footprint of any OEM (original equipment manufacturer),” he told journalists at Ford Australia’s 100 anniversary celebration in Melbourne earlier this month.“And so, you know, that puts us in pretty good shape, actually, relative to many others.“But I keep reminding our management team of this: we've been around 122 years. And in 122 years, around the world, we have gone through every kind of political regime, every kind of economic bit of turmoil… great depressions, recessions… and we've always come out of it in great shape.“It seems like, and I was just saying to my employees today – and you know, I'm not counting what (is going on) – I've been through nine major crises in my career, and each time it felt like it was existential, and each time we emerge from it and carry on and go to new heights.“I think this will take some adjusting to for sure, as I say that, you know, the fact that we have the largest American footprint, we employ the most Americans, we make the most vehicles in America, really, you know, puts us in pretty good shape.”That said, Ford’s most senior executive acknowledges that some deft diplomatic manoeuvrability would be prudent in today’s ever-shifting geopolitical climate.“We’re still working through all the implications of this, because, as you can imagine, this has tails well into our supply chain all around the world, and so there's still kind of a TBD (to be determined) for us on some of the finer points, but we're going to work very closely with the administration.“You know, the good news is we have a large voice in America, in an American industry. The administration listens to us, and we'll work with them as this gets clarified.”The Ford CEO’s reaction came the day after Tesla released data showing that its global sales for the first quarter of 2025 slid some 13 per cent year-on-year.This seems to support reports stating that consumers are recoiling from that brand due to its CEO Elon Musk’s political machinations in the US.In the first three months of this year in Australia, Tesla sales plummeted by 59.7 per cent year-on year, although the company’s best-seller – the Model Y – had been in runout leading up to that point, so supply may have been affected.According to data from S&P Global Mobility released in May last year, Ford is “the number one American automaker in terms of vehicles assembled, vehicles exported from America to other countries and hourly workers employed” – and that’s for the sixth year in succession.

The Ford Ranger is undergoing an evolution that will see Australia’s best-selling vehicle grow in size as well as scope, as it fends off the coming Toyota HiLux facelift and all-new rivals like the Kia Tasman, MG U9 and next-gen Nissan Navara. These are new niche programs and models that should shore up the current T6.2 architecture’s viability into the next decade for Australia.

Polestar Australia and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) have slammed the Coalition’s proposed plan to scrap fines for carmakers that exceed emissions targets under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) if it wins the federal election in May.