2025 Volkswagen Tayron Reviews

Volkswagen has released pricing and specifications for its updated Caddy and Crafter commercial vans, which will arrive across dealerships nationwide later this year.Kicking off with the Caddy Cargo, VW has increased the entry price by a modest $235 to $41,225, before on-road costs, for the short-wheelbase manual version.In return, VW has improved on its tech and safety credentials by standardising a digital driver’s display, a 10-inch multimedia display, front and rear parking sensors, power-folding adjustable and heated mirrors, tyre pressure monitoring, central locking with keyless entry, USB-C ports and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).The higher-grade Maxi and California variants, which now start at $43,225 and $62,225, respectively (both at before on-road costs) add park assist with distance control, adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, side assist with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.Three powertrains are available for the base-grade Caddy Cargo, which includes two diesel and one petrol engine. They deliver outputs of 75kW/280Nm on the TDI280 diesel, 90kW/320Nm on the TDI320 diesel and 85kW/220Nm on the TSI220 petrol.Customers can opt for a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission depending on their powertrain preference.As before, the Caddy is available in short- and long-wheelbase versions with alternating seating, trim and powertrain configurations, while the Caddy California remains the five-seat, range-topping lifestyle option.Moving to the Crafter, VW has taken the more substantial step of discontinuing the TDI340 diesel engine in favour of the more powerful TDI410, which now serves as the the standard option across the range. It delivers 130kW/410Nm, 27kW/70Nm more than the TDI340, though the entry price has risen by $9100.So, the range now kicks off at $69,100, before on-road costs, for the long-wheelbase Crafter 35 Single Cab Chassis, which packs an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.VW has mirrored similar upgrades on the larger Crafter light commercial van, adding standard forward collision warning, AEB with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, travel assist, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.Additionally, there is a digital driver’s display, a larger 10.4-inch multimedia display, standard wireless charging and USB-C ports, while the gear shifter and parking brake have been exchanged for electronic units, freeing up room in the centre console.Visually, the Crafter also picks up a new front bumper and VW badging, bringing it into line with the rest of the brand’s range.As before, the Crafter remains available in medium- (MWB), long- and long-wheelbase with overhang (LWO) guises with differing powertrain and seating configurations. It comes in single cab chassis, dual cab chassis, van and Kampervan body styles.In addition to the upgraded Caddy and Crafter, VW has also confirmed the all-new VW Transporter, which is built on the same platform as the popular Ford Transit Custom, will arrive in Australia in diesel, plug-in hybrid and electric guises from Q3 this year.As of March 2025, VW has sold 239 Caddys, an increase of 42.9 per cent on the previous year as it furthers the gap to its Peugeot Partner and Renault Kangoo rivals. The Crafter hasn't fared so well, with sales down 72.7 per cent year-on-year from 198 units to 54. It remains outpaced by the Ford Transit, LDV Deliver 9 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

Volkswagen has confirmed its electric Transporter mid-sized van will arrive in Australia before the end of this year to go head-to-head with the Ford E-Transit Custom and LDV eDeliver 7.In an announcement made this week Volkswagen said the Transporter battery electric vehicle (BEV) would land locally in the third quarter of 2025. This would have the electric version of the new-generation Transporter arriving at the same time as the diesel variant, with the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant following in the second quarter of 2026.Volkswagen also confirmed some vital specifications for the Transporter EV. A single electric motor producing 210kW and 450Nm will power the Transporter EV’s rear wheels and a payload capacity of 1038kg will apply to both short-wheelbase and long-wheel base versions.In comparison, the diesel variant of the Transporter uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine making 125kW and 390Nm, and will be available in front- and all-wheel drive. Short- and long wheelbase grades will have a payload of 1326kg.The Transporter PHEV will be powered by a 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid system making a combined 205kW and 320Nm, with both short- and long wheelbases offering 1140kg of payload.Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Product Manager Nadia Bucholtz said the new-generation Transporter would cater for more applications than before.“Short and long wheelbases, standard roof height and high roof variants, front-wheel drive and 4Motion, Transporter has remained committed to supplying the most fit-for-purpose vehicles to our customers, including the most extensive range of applications,” Ms Bucholtz said.“The addition of BEV and PHEV variants to the range serves to further expand that product offering, particularly as our customers look to ways to minimise their emissions, maximise drive comfort and reduce running costs.”Volkswagen developed the Transporter EV in conjunction with Ford which has produced its version, the E-Transit Custom, and that is also expected to arrive in 2025.Pricing for both vehicles has not been announced yet but buyers can expect Volkswagen’s Transporter EV to list from about $70,000. LDV's eDeliver 7 is a popular rival to both the Transporter EV and E-Transit Custom and starts at $67,358 before extending up to $73,674.The entry price into the current generation of the Transporter is for the diesel 320S Trend short-wheel base which starts at $56,590 before on-road costs and extends to the top-of-the-range grade at $62,990.Volkswagen’s reveal of the Transporter's arrival timing came during a broader announcement detailing the brand’s upcoming commercial vehicles including the Caddy light cargo carrier, the electric ID. Buzz retro Kombi, the larger Crafter and the new-generation and just-arrived Multivan people mover.

Volkswagen and Walkinshaw have confirmed their continued collaboration on the second-gen Amarok will spawn a new variant in 2026.Partially revealed in a shadowy teaser, the new Walkinshaw Amarok appears to share a similar styling overhaul to the original previous-generation collaboration, complete with a larger set of wheels.It's expected to have a similar performance-oriented overhaul, particularly when it comes to suspension and off-road characteristics.Speaking to Australian journalists, CEO and owner of the Walkinshaw Group, Ryan Walkinshaw, said “the design is now locked in,” adding the Australian performance engineering company would now move on to the testing phase which would last the remainder of 2025.The next-gen “W Series” would then be scheduled for release during the course of 2026.Few other details were revealed about the performance-oriented ute, other than the collaboration was plotting “next-level design, performance, and handing”.However, with the Walkinshaw/Volkswagen team-up kicking off much earlier in the second-generation Amarok’s product cycle, Walkinshaw said the collaboration would be much deeper this time around, seemingly with the potential to result in more variations.He said thanks to the longer lifespan of the program the brands could “invest more money” in the project.“So, at the moment, we’ll be launching what you see but if it makes sense in the market and Volkswagen is obviously open to it, you know, we’re always keen to develop other variants and other great products.”Walkinshaw added that reception to the previous-generation road-focused W580, off-road W580X, and final edition W580 SE was positive, and that the scarcity of those variants was one of the main drawbacks of the original program.“So there were a lot of learnings in that initial program for ourselves and for Volkswagen and we can make sure we do the best job of delivering what everyone wants this time around.”Despite Walkinshaw Group now working on a wide variety of projects from the GMSV Chevrolet Silverado right-hand-drive conversion to the new Amarok, Mr Walkinshaw said adding more projects made the business bigger and more efficient.“The new Amarok program actually helps us scale and makes us more efficient, more competitive in the market, so the more programs we add on the more efficient and prospective we become for our customers."So we’re always ambitious to be growing.”The previous-generation Walkinshaw Amarok is now a sought-after limited edition, of which the most popular variant was the street-focused W580 which sold more than 2600 units during its limited production run.The W580 included a wider wheel and tyre package with correspondingly wider fender flares, re-worked suspension and a tweaked exhaust system to add to an overall styling overhaul.It may have disappointed some that the already-punchy 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine didn’t get further performance enhancements, although it’s possible further modifications could be on the table for the second-generation version, which in high-spec versions is powered by a Ford-sourced 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6.From there, the previous-generation W580 was developed into the W580X which focused more on off-road capability, with a 40mm suspension lift complete with twin-tube dampers, bash plates, rock sliders, diff breathers, and an optional factory snorkel.While VW was not yet willing to talk specifics on what changes will be made for the W series Amarok this time around, it would be unsurprising to see the collaboration spawn more than one variant.Sought-after Walkinshaw versions of the second-generation Ford Ranger-based Amarok can’t come soon enough for the German-branded, Australian-designed, and South African-built ute, which as of the first quarter of 2025 is comparatively unloved in Australia’s pantheon of utes.VW has moved 1459 units until the end of March, representing just 2.9 per cent share of the 4x4 ute segment, a 35.8 per cent drop year-on-year.

The fully electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo has muscular retro-modern styling and sporty dynamics, but is it a genuine alternative to traditional turbo-diesels in Australia's mid-size (2.5-3.5-tonne GVM) commercial van segment?

Volkswagen has unveiled plans to build a next-generation Amarok ute to debut in 2027, but it seems this new version will never see Australian shores.This is because Volkswagen will be using the same Amarok name on an entirely separate product, specifically designed for the South American market.But if a current Ford Ranger-based Amarok is still on your wishlist, fear not, because production of the ute delivered in Australia will continue, with the brand saying: “The existing partnerships for the production of the Amarok in South Africa will remain in place. “In this way, Volkswagen will continue to ensure a reliable supply of vehicles to international markets – while simultaneously pursuing a locally based product strategy tailored to the needs of the Latin American market.”Judging by the wording used, it seems the new South American Amarok won’t be a platform-share vehicle with the Ranger, and will instead be its own bespoke product.As to what this could look like, it is too early to tell, although it would be unsurprising to see the previous-generation Amarok ladder frame live on with a new-generation overhaul. As the brand says, “more than 770,000” units of the previous-generation ute were built in the same Argentinian plant which is earmarked to build the new version in 2027.According to the company, VW is investing 580 million US dollars (nearly A$1 billion) in the new-generation ute, which includes research and development as well as upgrading the Pacheco plant in Argentina.Previous-generation Volkswagens living on in markets where safety and emissions technologies are not as advanced is not a new concept, particularly in South America, where VW has strong domestic production presence.For example, a second facelift of the previous-generation Amarok which never saw Australia is already sold in Brazil and Argentina, which shares styling elements with the Ford Ranger-based and South African-built version sold here.Additionally, it is not the only South-American developed ute Volkswagen sells overseas. It also offers the Polo-based Saveiro, a small monocoque pick-up designed specifically for South American tastes.Because of Volkswagen’s strong manufacturing presence, South American markets have also seen some models live well beyond their global expiry. For example, the second generation Volkswagen Type 2 Kombi which originally launched in 1967 was built and sold in Brazil from 1976 to as late as 2013 receiving various facelifts and more modern engines along the way.While this special Amarok version may never see Australian shores, it’s not to say the nameplate has never had special attention paid to it domestically. The previous-generation version received two locally-overhauled special editions put together by Walkinshaw in partnership with VW Australia which significantly upped its suspension and handling characteristics, whilst also offering a unique styling package and maintaining its hauling and payload specs.The success of this partnership has seen Volkswagen look to renew its partnership with Walkinshaw Group for a spruced-up version of the Australian-delivered second-generation Amarok, which it has previously said should debut in 2025.The new Ranger-based Amarok, however, hasn’t been off to the best start in Australia, having moved just 1459 units to the end of the first quarter of 2025. This represents a market share of just 2.9 per cent when it comes to 4x4 dual cabs, a 35.8 per cent drop year-on-year.

Volkswagen says the early adopter phase is over, and it is bringing the ID.4 and ID.5 right when it considers the mainstream phase of EV adoption to begin.

Volkswagen Australia has confirmed its future EV plans.Speaking to CarsGuide at the launch of the ID.4 and ID.5 mid-size SUVs, Volkswagen’s Director of Passenger Cars, Piergiorgio Minto, and the product manager of the ID range, Arjun Nidigallu, explained why the brand wont rush to emulate its rivals like Kia, Hyundai, or MG into rapidly expanding its electric car portfolio.When asked about the potential of the also-long-awaited Golf-sized ID.3 hatchback to join the range, Minto said: “Medium SUV has to be the focus. “I believe that we need to stick with the ID.4 and ID.5, put them into the market, and see how the customer reacts.”“We’re continuing monitoring the possibilities, but medium SUV is the big one.”The brand has previously significantly delayed its range of ID electric vehicles, with the ID.4 itself having been pushed back more than four years, originally launching in Europe in 2020.The brand has previously confirmed the ID.3, delayed its launch prediction and has since gone cold on the idea of introducing the hatch to our market, despite it receiving a similar slew of upgrades to the ID.4, which it says is now much more appropriate for an Australian audience, thanks primarily to improved pricing and driving range, and a more powerful electric motor.Additionally, the ID.7 - effectively an electric sedan and wagon equivalent to the Passat - has been deemed out of consideration in previous comments by the brand, at least for the time being.Despite this seemingly measured approach to new electric models, VW claims it is all-in on electric vehicles, showing predictions that the market for EVs will continue to climb past the current plateau and be adopted by more mainstream buyers. To that end, the brand stressed a no for now on a car like ID.3 is not a no forever, as it continues to monitor the Australian market’s taste for electric vehicles.Nidigallu added the brand had also left the standard-range 52kWh version of the ID.4 available in Europe on the cutting room floor for the time being, but just because it had opted to go for long-range only as it is more suited to Australian conditions, didn’t mean it wasn’t open to bringing in an even more affordable version of the mid-sizer to our market in the future.“One of our big advantages is we have a lot of access to product,” he said, adding that Australia’s new vehicle efficiency laws (NVES), which put pressure on manufacturers to reduce their fleet C02 average have added additional negotiating for VW Australia, with its factory to provide more electric vehicles or variants if need be to meet the targets.Volkswagen, however, is already well positioned to survive the tough new emissions laws as its range of vehicles already comply with or exceed European regulations (Euro 6d) which have been in place for years, and which the new Australian laws emulate.Meanwhile, the pricing of the new ID.4 is a very deliberate and strategic move for VW as it attempts to establish itself in the electric mid-size SUV space against some now very well-entrenched competitors.Starting at $59,990 plus on-road costs, the single ID.4 Pro trim level available at launch is only $1090 more expensive than the incoming and deeply updated Tesla Model Y ($58,900 for a base RWD version) while offering at least similar specifications. It also measures up competitively with Kia’s EV5 (from $56,770), BYD’s Sealion 7 (from $54,990), and XPeng’s G6 (from $54,800).However, in this mid-size electric bracket it remains undercut by other newcomers, like Geely’s EX5 (from $40,990) and the Leapmotor C10 (from $43,888).In Q3 of 2025, Volkswagen will expand the range of its electric offering to include a dual-motor GTX version of the ID.4 and, conversely, a Pro rear-wheel-drive version of the ID.5. Prices are yet to be revealed, but expect them to mirror the prices of the current ID.5 GTX (from $72,990) and ID.4 Pro.Despite its buyers usually opting for the most upmarket trims, this time around VW is predicting the lion’s share of volume will be directed to the ID.5 Pro rather than the more performance-oriented GTX, in part thanks to its 544km (WLTP) driving range, which the brand said “breaks the psychological barrier” of range anxiety and makes it appeal more to existing buyers who might have usually opted for the most popular Tiguan 162TSI R-Line (from $60,590).Whether this strategy can pay off in such a competitive market remains to be seen.

Many people want a four-wheel drive (4WD) because they think only a vehicle with high- and low-range 4WD gearing, plenty of ground clearance, locking diffs, and gnarly Mud Terrain tyres will get them to where they want to go.Well, for some that is correct but for most others, the truth is an all-wheel drive (AWD) is more than enough to get them where they want to go.AWDs should be driven well within their limits and my advice for soft-roader drivers is to avoid anything beyond well-maintained dirt tracks in dry weather; do not drive your AWD vehicle on any tracks that are signposted ‘4WD/high ground clearance only’; do not undertake any prolonged driving on sand, especially soft sand; and definitely no rock-crawling.AWDs aren't anywhere near as capable or as versatile in an off-road scenario as 4WDs, but getting the right all-terrain tyres, dropping tyre pressures and using steady momentum will help soft-roader drivers get through most light-duty off-roading without too much stress and/or vehicle damage.Here’s out top five used alternatives to 4WDs. (Note: We’re focusing on all-round driveability, packability (boot space etc) and whether the vehicle is fit for purpose (practicality).VW’s T6.1 California Beach camper van offers a happy compromise for those who want some outdoors adventure, but don’t want to crawl into a tent or tow a caravan while away on holiday.This retro-cool campervan, based on VW’s mid-size Transporter van and, at the time, a refreshed version of a classic, represents a low-key way to start your own van-based adventure lifestyle. An optional two-tone paint job can add to its cool factor.It seats five (two at the front, and three on the rear bench seat), and can sleep up to four.It has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine (producing 110kW at 3250-3750rpm and 340Nm at 1500-3000rpm), a seven-speed dual-clutch auto (or DSG, direct shift gearbox) and VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.It has a stack of touring-friendly accessories, such as 180-degree swivel seats up front, an electric pop-top roof, a fully sprung loft bed (1200mm x 2000mm) with comfortable-sprung base and mattress, bed extension for rear bench seat with comfort sleeping mattress, camping table and two folding chairs, camper control unit with touchscreen, pull-out awning with housing and rail in black or silver.The California’s interior is nice and comfortable – a blend of life-friendly hard plastic and soft-touch surfaces – with a solid build quality to it all, as well as superior fit and finish.It’s a well-behaved and smooth-driving vehicle, the turbo-diesel engine and seven-speed dual-clutch auto work well together. It’s an even-handed pairing that gives this camper a bit of welcome pep about it and generally makes for an unfussed drive.You do have the option in this of taking on tracks a bit tougher than bitumen or rough back-country roads because it has VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. And, remember, the $1600 (at the time) off-road package adds a mechanical rear differential lock and hill descent control – but none of that means you should attempt hardcore rock-crawling in your California.It has 213mm ground clearance, so this camper is not built for anything other than light-duty off-roading, i.e. well-maintained gravel or dirt roads with few, if any, corrugations, and in dry weather only.The California has towing capacities of 750kg (unbraked) and 2500kg (braked). GVM (gross vehicle mass) is a claimed 3080kg.Fuel consumption is a claimed 7.5L/100km on a combined cycle. Actual fuel consumption on this test was 9.9L/100km.It has an 80-litre fuel tank so going by that on-test fuel figure you could expect to get a driving range of about 808km from a full tank. It also has a 13-litre AdBlue tank.The California Beach is more than fit for purpose – it’s functional, it's comfortable and it's nice to drive – and may be an ideal introduction to the adventure lifestyle for some.We’ve heard of transmission problems, oil leaks, and even some people having issues with this camper’s awning, but those are hearsay only.As always with a used vehicle, check for underbody damage, rust, sand or salt spray residue that may be evidence the California has indeed been driven near or on beach or coastal river sand.Expect to pay around the $105,000 mark. Pricey, yes, but many would say that it’s well worth the money.This seven-seat AWD plug-in hybrid (PHEV) wagon is a proven city- and family-friendly mid-sized SUV with reasonable capabilities as a light-duty off-road tourer.The Outlander PHEV has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (delivering 185kW and 450Nm), an electric motor on the front and rear axles, and a lithium-ion battery pack with a total capacity of 20kWh.The PHEV’s EV-only driving range increased from 54km in the previous-gen Outlander to 84km in the 2023 line-up.It has a single-speed transmission and drive modes in this vehicle include Eco, Normal, Power, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow and Mud.It has three power-use modes: EV Mode (“perfect for low to medium speeds in urban areas”, according to Mitsubishi), Series Hybrid Mode (“When accelerating or climbing hills, the hybrid petrol engine can be used to generate additional power while the vehicle runs on motor power”), and Parallel Hybrid Mode (“For high-speed driving such as overtaking vehicles on the highway, the vehicle runs on engine power while being assisted by the electric motor”).This Exceed variant has a neat and functional interior with a premium feel about it with comfortable leather seats, soft-touch surfaces, and an easy-to-use multimedia system.The seats are comfortable with adequate room for everyone, though the third row is a bit squeezy.The second row is a 40:20:40 split configuration, while the third row is 50:50.In terms of packing space, there is a 163-litre boot (when all seats are up and in use), 478 litres when the third row is folded down flat, and 1473 litres of useable space when the second and third rows are stowed away.This Outlander is an easy vehicle to manoeuvre around city and suburban streets and even on tight bush tracks.The pairing of a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors works seamlessly well, it has plenty of power and it’s always very smooth and quiet.The Outlander has 203mm of ground clearance (unladen), but it does feel nimble in the bush (steering is sharp), visibility is good all-round, and it settles well on gravel and dirt tracks at speed, only ever skipping around a bit on rougher sections, due to firm suspension and road tyres.You can switch drive modes to either Gravel, Snow or Mud to best suit the terrain, but, really, with the Outlander’s lack of ground clearance, and its road-biased tyres and 20-inch wheels, this SUV is ultimately more comfortable on well-maintained dirt roads and should not go anywhere near tracks with deeps ruts or mudholes.This is, however, still a handy dirt-road tourer, yielding comfortable and controlled ride and handling, as well as an overall refined driving experience, only ever becoming a bit too rattled when the road or track surface becomes lumpy and bumpy.This PHEV has a listed fuel consumption of 1.5L/100km on a combined cycle, but you have to be very lucky to get anywhere near that figure.Having said that, if your daily driving distances are within this PHEV’s official electric driving range (84km) and you’re able to drive in EV Mode most of the time, then at the very least you will have slashed your fuel costs.The actual fuel consumption on our most recent test in this vehicle was 9.9L/100km. Dash-indicated fuel consumption was 6.1L/100km.Our dash-indicated power usage was 19.2kWh/100km. This PHEV seemed to chow through most of its onboard battery power quite swiftly on our drive home, without recouping much via regenerative braking on long downhills, even when we tried cycling through the regen modes in an attempt to optimise power regain.This Outlander has 20.0kWh battery capacity and a 56L fuel tank.Mitsubishi reckons that if you’re charging off a standard household power point it will take “approximately” 9.5 hours to fully charge your Outlander – or 6.5 hours if you’re using a home or public charging device.Things speed up considerably if you use a public rapid recharging station – in that case, Mitsubishi claims that your Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV will reach 80 per cent capacity in 38 minutes.Towing capacity is 750kg (unbraked) and 1600kg (braked).This Outlander is nice to drive, quiet, refined and comfortable. Bonus: it is a suitably capable all-wheel-drive tourer.We’ve been told some people have experienced complete battery failure or charging malfunctions and some owners aren’t happy with the firm ride on 20-inch rims but we’ve not seen first-hand any of those problems.As always with a used vehicle, check for underbody damage, rust, sand or salt spray residue that may be evidence the Outlander has been driven near or on beach or coastal river sand.Expect to pay around $64,990.Be aware, there’s going to be one or two Subies on this list.Subaru is well regarded for its effective all-wheel-drive wagons and this Forester maintains that tradition.It has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol Boxer engine – producing 136kW at 5800rpm and 239Nm at 4400rpm – with a seven-speed CVT auto and Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel-drive system with two-mode X-Mode.This top-shelf Forester has a well designed interior with a neat fit and finish and leather everywhere. There are durable surfaces and material elsewhere and so it feels like an interior a family can easily do long road trips in.The interior is comfortable with power-adjustable seats up front and, as mentioned, it’s a family-friendly space. There’s ample legroom all-round, and the roofline is not tapered downwards towards the back end as sharply as it is in some Forester rivals, so there's plenty of headroom in the second row.The Boxer engine and CVT work well together, but manual is still the preferred mode for Forester driving. Paddle shifters on the steering wheel are handy if you want to get lively with your driving.The Forester’s AWD system – a 60/40 torque-slit – comes into its own on bumpy dirt tracks and choppy corrugated gravel roads, but even moreso when this Subie is driven at lower speeds and when the surface of the road or track becomes a little bit looser. Let’s put it this way: the Forester is perfectly fine for low-speed, low-traction scenarios as long as it’s driven safely and sensibly.The X-Mode system here has two modes – Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud – which each yield improved grip and traction in low-speed and slippery conditions, by way of adjusting throttle control (deadening its sensitivity so the driver has improved input) and traction control (cutting in faster to avoid wheelspin) and gear selection to suit the terrain you’re on.There is 220mm of ground clearance, on par with some supposedly more serious off-roaders, and, driven with consideration, the Forester can tackle most low-intensity off-roading without strife.With regards to suitability for packing for camping and touring, there is 498 litres of space with the second-row seat in use, and 1768 litres of space with those seats folded down flat.This Forester has a claimed fuel consumption of 7.4L/100km (combined). We recorded 8.4L/100km during our time with it and that included 40km of gravel-road driving.It has a 63-litre fuel tank, so going by that on-test fuel figure you could reasonably expect to get a driving range of about 750km from a full tank.It has max towing capacities of 750kg (unbraked) and 1500kg (braked) with a maximum lowball download of 150kg.This comfortable and capable Forester is supremely well-built for purpose, if your purpose is to go on low-intensity weekend adventures and tackle light-duty off-roading, mostly on well-maintained gravel and dirt roads.CVT problems – sluggish shifts, noise – have been informally reported to us, but those seem to have been ironed out in recent years.As always with any used AWD/4WD/or even a 2WD, check for underbody damage, rust, sand or salt spray residue that may be evidence the vehicle in question has indeed been driven near or on beach or coastal river sand.Expect to pay between $24,400 and $30,400.https://www.carsguide.com.au/ev/toyota-rav4-hybrid-2020-review-cruiser-awd-off-road-test-76539 This RAV4 is the second-from-top spec in the fifth-generation RAV4’s range and handy example of a hybrid application executed well.It has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (131kW and 221Nm), an electric motor on the front axle (88kW/202Nm) and an electric motor on the rear axle (40kW/121Nm).Total combined power is listed as 163kW. No combined torque figure is listed.In basic terms, the petrol engine drives the front wheels, the front electric motor helps out with overall efficiency and the electric motor at the back kicks in on that rear axle to give the RAV4 an extra boost when needed.All hybrid grades have an auto/e-CVT as standard.This RAV4 has several driving modes including Eco, Normal and Sport, all geared at producing ride and handling via optimised engine performance and tuning, steering and throttle response, best suited to the selected mode and the terrain and conditions.There’s an EV mode – for driving only on battery power at low speed and for short distances – and and Trail mode, which taps into that rear motor to provide rear-axle power, sending up to 80 per cent of total drive torque to the rear wheels.Passenger space is good and boot space is 580 litres, so there’s heaps of room.This RAV4’s ground clearance is listed as 190mm and while that might seem low to a seasoned four-wheel driver, it's enough for this vehicle to tackle the dry, well-maintained dirt roads and bush tracks with no deep ruts it has been engineered for.Official fuel consumption is listed as 4.8L/100km (combined), but our actual fuel consumption on the test was 5.9L/100km. The RAV4 has a 55-litre fuel tank, so going by that on-test fuel figure you could reasonably expect to get a driving range of about 932km from a full tank.This RAV4 hybrid AWD has a 750kg unbraked towing capacity and 1500kg braked towing capacity, so decent enough for an SUV this size.Most importantly and most impressively, this RAV4 hybrid has no problem getting torque to the ground on any surface because the combination of petrol engine, electric motors and CVT is so effective it always seems to find the sweet spot.Stop-start temporarily doesn’t work – i.e. car keeps running at lights. Battery is likely low and the car is overriding stop-start to keep onboard systems operating.As always, check for underbody damage, rust, sand or salt spray residue that may be evidence that the RAV4 has been driven on beach or coastal river sand.Expect to pay between $38,490 to $51,777.Subarus have a rock-solid rep as handy all-wheel drives and great all-rounders – and this sixth-generation Outback is one of the best.The new (at the time) Outback has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder horizontally-opposed Boxer petrol engine – producing 138kW at 5800rpm and 245Nm at 3400-4600rpm – and that’s mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).It has permanent all-wheel drive and Subaru’s X-Mode system that includes Normal, Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes. These driving modes adjust engine torque, throttle response and traction control, among other things, to suit the conditions.Towing capacity for the Outback range is 750kg for an unbraked trailer and 2000kg for a braked trailer, with a towball download of 200kg.Ground clearance is listed as 213mm but that’s enough for the dry, well-maintained dirt roads and bush tracks with no deep ruts this AWD is designed for.Official fuel consumption figure is listed as 7.3L/100km on a combined cycle). On our most recent test in this vehicle we recorded 8.8L/100km.It has a 63-litre fuel tank, so going by that on-test fuel figure you could reasonably expect to get a driving range of about 715km from a full tank.This Outback is nice to drive, impressive value (see below), practical, and roomy, with 522 litres (VDA) of rear cargo capacity, and 1267L when you fold the seats flat.As stated in the CarsGuide Problems section, there have been anecdotal experiences reported of some reliability issues with Subaru CVTs in the past, but in the case of the Outback, that appears to mainly affect vehicles built between 2010 and 2015.Chances are the Outback may not have been used for any off-roading beyond the parking area grass near a soccer field but, just in case, when checking out the vehicle in person, make sure you look under the vehicle to check if it hasn’t copped any serious knocks, bumps or scuffs to the undercarriage or side steps – that may be an indication of other more serious damage that is not visible. Check for rust, sand or salt spray residue that may be evidence of driving on beach or coastal river sand.Expect to pay between $26,900 to $37,900.

Those looking for an even tougher street presence from a small SUV will be happy to hear Volkswagen has launched a Wolfsburg Edition of its popular T-Roc R which brings unique styling and an Akrapovic exhaust for a more aggressive growl.

So, you’re heading on a road trip! What fun, but also… kind of a headache if you don’t have the right vehicle.