CarAdvice Christmas ute muster
December 22, 2008 by Paul Maric
Formalities, respectability and political correctness have been thrown out the window to bring you a special video just in time for Christmas from the CarAdvice crew.
Saddling up in three of the most popular (and most available to us at the time) dual-cab diesel 4WD utilities; Paul Maric, Alborz Fallah and Matt Brogan venture into country Victoria to test out the Holden Colorado LT-R, Mazda BT-50 Dual Cab DX and Toyota HiLux SR5 Dual Cab against each other.
What eventuates is an eventful day testing the utes’ ability to climb muddy hills, race through a cow-laden slalom and lay down some dirt in a couple of drag races.
Please enjoy this look into car testing, the Aussie way.
Click through to the next page for the gallery.
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Haha that was gold, nice work for the year boys, interesting to see the BT-50 kick the hilux, not suprised the Colorado was a bucket.
Merry Christmas Car Advice,
Austin
if only Mazda could build a manual gearbox that doesn’t Sh!t itself. The Bravo/Courier boxes were rubbish, and according to a Ford dealer i know the same problems are occurring with Rangers and BT-50s. Shame really as other wise a good truck.
Pity you guys could not get hold of the NISSAN Navara, its alleged to be the best and most powerful of THE LOT!
Cheers
F-0
Hey F-O,
We couldn’t grab it for the comparo, but we did test it a few weeks back, and yes I’d have to agree it has some guts.
Have a good Christmas mate,
Matt.
Austin,
you better believe it,
the BT50, Ranger and Navara frequently place above the Hilux in tests.
even the full time 4X4 reviewers conclude with the same result
The Colorado looks by far the best looking truck, the other two look too “soft” it looks as if you had heaps of fun throwing around the Colorado too, they are one tough truck.
I should know, I own a Rodeo.
Completely agree with you Marcus, the Colorado is the best looking, however our test vehicle was an automatic, which made the off-roading a little more difficult.
isnt it amazing what a new set of headlights does???
the rodeo use to be quite…..well…..awkward looking.
in no order the best lookers in the segment are the Colorado, Ranger and Navara.
I personally think the Navara looks best
Hilux looks much better kitted up with bull bar and scrub bars etc.
I suppose because it toughens/squares it up a bit
Alborz, why would you even try in an auto, gotta get the manual to do it properly.
Can we see a test of the manual Colorado in the near future ?
Well done guys, Merry Christmas to you to and looking forward to some more CarAdvice madness in 2009.
Guys, now that you have tried the “soft trucks” why don’t you try some real mens trucks ?
How about a Ford F150, Chevy Silverado and Dodge Ram test?
Plenty of private importers are bringing these trucks in, and for serious towing you can’t beat ‘em.
Marcus,
I’d reckon they wouldnt be able to get their hands on any of them.
Marcus, unfortunately that’s all that Holden had available at the time.
Well done guys, very entertaining!
I’ll echo Frugal One here. A shame this test didn’t include the multi-award winning Nissan Navara. It’s the best of these utes, not to mention the second best seller. A missed opportunity.
Why didn’t you have a go with the Isuzu? A mate of mine bought on not long ago and it seems a pretty solid sort of truck?
mark,
they did.it just had a holden badge.
Jeykl & Hyde,
The isuzu has a different engine!
same factory,same line,same power output,different badge,anything else i’ve missed?
Its great to see that the BT-50 got a start compared to its uglier cousin the Ranger and the fact that it doesn’t get the sales like the Lolux and it dominates.
JEYKL & HYDE,
Thats the thing, it is not the same factory, not the same line, and not the same motor!!
Jecykl,
David is right.
The Colorado doesnt get made at the same factory.
I did think it still shared the same diesel donk though.
its still techniclly an Isuzu, but its definately not made on the same line.
The problem with the gear boxes is generally( from experience and convo with other owners) attributed to towing with these vehicles in fifth. We have both the ranger and a bt 50. Ranger is used for towing 3 tonnne boat and has no hassles whatever providing you DO NOT use fifth gear when towing (I am guessing something to do with the loads on the box).
On the looks between these two I personally find the Ranger a lot better looking david – whilst it is still to lighter truck to fill that void of the f-150 in aus, it is still better looking than the bt – 50, and this differenc is only greater when in the higher end models. BT-50 accessories don;t seem to sit flush or look factory.
i own a xlt ranger and it is a really good strong truck
very lively motor
my source comes from the horses”lions” mouth.why would they lie.gm have made isuzu trucks 4 years(thailand).they are just spec’d different,right down to the deawoo stickers in the ciggy ashtrays.
the real challenge for holden comes in 2010,2011 when they put out of thailand and build a new truck in north america.there may be a few raised eyebrows then.
JP,
i was told the same years ago about not towing in 5th gear in the jap utes.
particularly the 4cyl models
To refer to Jp’s comment about the Ranger’s looks….its personal choice and the front of the Ranger is too wank Yank looking and the BT-50 is more classy looking especially in black with all the chrome to boot..
I had no problems with the gearbox in my previous Bravo 4×4 and it took as around Aus twice in 6yrs and the second time towing a camper trailer…I had no probs in 5th cruising at 100k/ph
My new BT-50 towed a 18ft Caravan Syd-Bris and it didn’t even raise a sweat.
I have owned Mazda’s for over 25yrs rotaries included and never had one cause me trouble even a T4100 turbo which clocked up over 600,000k’s with regular services.
David,
the wear and tear in 5th gear is related to continual towing in 5th.
I too prefer the looks of the Ranger.
A work truck should look tough. Colorado, Ranger and Navara are the only ones that havent gone “sissy” and curvy.
Where was the Triton ?
D-Max is built in the Thai Isuzu factory while the Colorado is built in the Thai GM factory.
Hopefully next year you guys can score the VW Robust which will be a giant killer in all areas.
Merry Xmas CA Guys :D
st-x navara smashes all of these buckets
shame its just a truck though hay forza m
I don’t think any ute looks good without a bullbar, spotties and a good strong steel dropside tray, before that it just doesn’t function or look much chop, but hey it’s all personal preference.
We actually don’t like the Rangers (I haven’t driven them but the boys don’t like them), F-250s (high breakdown rate and boat like steering, but great load capacity and comfortable on long distances) and Patrols (always seem gutless when we get them for some reason). They are used for the same purpose as we use speced up hilux SRs (a stupid fleet decision not to get SR5s despite the same final specced up price) and landcruisers (no new landcruiser purchases due to our new airbag requirements) in Australia wihout as much difficulty. Only major problem that has come out has been the clutches on the hiluxes not coping with the weight of gear and toyota won’t cover them, so looks like the short term future is patrols unfortunately…wish they’d hurry up and put airbags in the landcruiser to get the fleet purchasing back.
What kind of ute muster is this?! Isn’t it a requirement that the ute be at least 25 years old, have it clearcoat (if any) completely worn through and have at least 1 dent on every panel?
David,
Wasn’t suggesting the mazda’s were poor quailty, however the gear box problems mentioned are a reailty in both the ford and mazda variants, apparently you just need to ask the boys on the national bream fishing comp that are sponsored and supplied with couriers/rangers. This is were I heard about issues with gear boxes and to avoid towing in fifth gear so the issue doesn;t occur. This aside both the ranger and bt are great cars and motor is a vast improvement. End of the day i have a bt, however as i said my old man has a xlt ranger loaded with all options and aftermarket leather/spotties and it looks quite good, bold and chrome goes a treat, however doesnt quite inspire like a f150 type truck would.
CA – perhaps with such interest from seemingly all genuinly interested readers a test of bt, triton, colorado, navara is called for with ranger and d max incuded if you feel the difference between the sister cars is that great?
should also add, I tend not to rely on one source alone with advice about my car – hence I found the story credible regarding fifth gear, when both the local mazda and ford dealers raised the issue once i mentioned towing.
JP & AndrewM on checking with a fellow fan and service advisor at a Mazda Dealer he said that over the 6yrs he has been there they have only had 4 cases of box problems.
My mate has a Black SDX dual cab 4×4 Bt and it was a Motor Show spl with leather and BT-50 stitching but the biggest drawback is that he is a big girl and got an auto.
I tow my camper trailer using 5th gear all the time in the BT and I did in the Bravo and never a prob so I don’t know what those other uses are doing to them…..mechanical abuse I guess.
The only difference between the Ranger and the BT is the front end and the fact that Ford uses Mazdas are a testiment to itself that the ute is good and a huge step forward on the one it replaced with two strong motors…
But like it has been said its personal preference and I and my family own a BT-50 4×4, 2008 2, 2006 RX7 and a soon to be replaced Mazda SP23 in 2009.
Mazda BT50 did win the following on its own without the Aldi cousin:
BT-50
2007 Ute of the Year Australian 4WD Monthly
2007 Light Commercial Vehicle Award Delivery Magazine
from a very loyal Mazda owner…..all digs are typed with tongue in cheek… :-)