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Enter, Mitsubishi’s latest offering - the Triton 4×2 Dual Cab. Now using a 2.5-litre diesel, instead of the previous 3.2-litre, Mitsubishi has shaved 0.9L/100km off the fuel consumption. It has also simplified the Triton, so it’s a bare-bones workhorse.

We’re talking industrial-grade carpeting, a cheap plastic dash and door trims, and very hard-wearing fabric for the seats. It’s almost as if once you’ve finished with it for the day, you could hose the interior out, and hang it up to dry.

Thing is, while there’s more plastic inside than a Fisher Price factory, it doesn’t feel too cheaply done. Sure, look closer, and you’ll see the way it’s been put together - the fake screws around the gear-lever, the fluted grain of the dash, the visible seat bolts - but the colouring and mixture of textures means it hides a lot of the cheap’n'nasty look.

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It’s a bigger utility than some of the competitors too, with pumped guards, flattened sides, and a large yet affable face it’s one of those vehicles that looks just as natural on the building site as it does in the bush, and is certainly no slouch at performing well in either environment.

Inside it’s a relatively simple affair, and is both practical and easy to live with but offers the added advantages of being quiet, comfortable and accommodating, traits that Navara seems unusually generous in offering by comparison to similar sized rivals.

Material use is seemingly durable, switch gear is well placed and simplistic in function and all features not only work as well as they should, but I would say fractionally better than those of Navara’s nearest competitor.

Although it’s unlikely to win any fashion awards, the Navara is attractive enough to live with day-to-day, and doesn’t appear to be trying too hard at being something it’s not. An honest, what you see is what you get approach I guess you could say with no underlying nasties.

What I don’t completely understand in the King Cab are the rear seats. Sure, they’re a great idea if you need to give your mates a lift home from the pub, but anymore than ten minutes back there and you will feel a little worse for wear.

The seating position is very upright, and bigger blokes will struggle with the ‘jump’ seat’s shallow thigh pad. I wouldn’t even recommend it for the kids. Best to say they’re for temporary use only, and leave it at that.

I guess the upshot to that is that yes, you get a bigger cabin, and yes you can get two more people in – legally – if need be, and sure you also gain a longer tray than you would with a dual cab, so it’s worth considering if you don’t need a four-seater all of the time.

Under the bonnet Nissan’s 2.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine is very strong, feeling more like a six than a four, and offers most of it’s mammoth 403Nm of torque nice and low in the rev range for maximum pulling potential when the tray is loaded, when towing or when climbing near vertical off road.

The 126kW of power is delivered at 4000rpm to allow car like flexibility in traffic and smooth acceleration when overtaking, without the need to be overly anxious on the gearbox, a habit some turbo-diesels seem to exhibit a little too freely.

A six-speed manual gearbox was fitted to our test vehicle and though the Navara is available with an automatic option, I found this box suitably tight and easy to operate, and so useful off road that I’d recommend it to anyone who will use this car to it’s full potential.

The 4WD system features auto-locking front hubs and is changeable on the fly, being operated by an electronic switch, as opposed to the traditional transfer case lever. Navara also offers a limited-slip rear differential as standard.

The package works incredibly well when you’re out bush and although some four-wheel drive utilities can have traction issues up back due to the lack of weight present, we experienced no such issues with Navara in the majority of situations.

Approach and departure angles were acceptable for the level of terrain you’d expect to tackle in a 4WD utility, though the break over angle did feel a little compromised on some larger Irish culverts, even when approached on the diagonal. Anyone contemplating more off-road use (e.g. farmers) may wish to investigate a lift kit to raise Navara above the 205mm ground clearance for this very reason.

Wishbone suspension with coils up front and leafs under the tub allow a firm but stable ride with surprisingly capable cornering both on and off the black stuff, plus a payload of 939kg,  and Navara diesel models can also tow up to 3000kg – braked.

Capable disc/drum braking with late threshold ABS, with EBA, for off road use, effortless clutch action and well weighted steering all add to the feeling of Navara’s well built and capable persona, all of which make the vehicle as easy to drive as a family sedan – but a lot more fun on the weekends.

My only niggles with the King Cab, apart from the milk crate rear seats, would be a noticeable vibration from the bat-wing doors on corrugated unsealed roads. They also allow a fair amount of dust to enter in doing so. Give it some thought if you live out of town. You also need to run the air-conditioning pretty hard to achieve a cool cabin, even on mild, 30 degree, days.

Fuel consumption too is a little on the greedy side of average with our week of urban, highway and off-road use returning 11.7 litres per 100km, almost two litres above that advised by the manufacturer.

Navara ST-X King Cab comes standard with cloth trim, six-CD tuner, cruise-control, power mirrors and windows, tilt adjustable steering column, headlamp height level adjuster, front fog lamps, remote central-locking, air-conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, side steps, sports bar, tub liner, front and rear mud flaps and dual front airbags.

With so many posers in this sector it’s great to drive an all-rounder that is so very capable in every aspect of its purpose that I actually found Navara hard to part with. If the price tag puts you off, have an extended test drive then reconsider, you’ll thank yourself for it later on.

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Specifications:

• Engine: 2488cc DOHC four-cylinder (24 valve)
• Power: 126kW @ 4000rpm
• Torque: 403Nm @ 2000rpm
• Induction: Turbocharged common rail
• Transmission: Six-speed, dual-range manual
• Differential/Driven Wheels: Rear LSD/All
• Brakes: Disc/drum with ABS & EBA
• CO2 Emissions: 264g/km
• Fuel Consumption: 9.8 litres per 100km (Combined)
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 80 litres
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• ANCAP Rating: Three star
• Safety: Dual front airbags
• Spare Wheel: Full size alloy
• Tow Capacity: 3000kg (Braked)
• Turning Circle: 13.2 metres
• Warranty: 3 year/100,000km
• Weight: 1981kg (Tare)/939kg (Payload)
• Wheels: Alloy 16 x 7.0-inch

Road Test the Rivals:

• Ford Ranger
• Holden Colorado
• Isuzu D-Max
• Mahindra Pik-Up
• Mazda BT-50
• Mitsubishi Triton
• SsangYong Sports
• Toyota HiLux

CarAdvice will be road testing various 4×4 utility models head-to-head in late December - stay tuned.

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Though it’s highly unlikely we’ll see pigs up back these days, the ute still has a massive uptake here in Australia, both as a workhorse and a show pony, and with the style and substance offered in the new R6 it’s not hard to see why.

The R6 sits above the base Falcon Ute, but below the XR6 essentially replacing the XLS to offer a blend or compromise if you will of sporty looks but trade tough practicality. This puts the R6 in a slightly confusing and rather lonely position against direct rival Holden, as its base model Omega ute sits below and the SV6 ute above the R6 respectively.

From the outside R6 is unpretentious and robust with a hint of sporting flair thrown in for good measure. Much like potential owners, R6 is trade tough, but still manages to run some product through its hair each morning. The FG series kinetic front, 16-inch alloy wheels, subtle side skirts and sports rear bumper all lend a more aesthetically pleasing exterior over the base model Falcon ute’s more mundane appearance.

Cabin space and refinement has improved markedly from the BA/BF series the FG replaces and is noticeably quieter and more ergonomic in layout. The seating position offers greater flexibility in adjustment and is more accommodating, all the controls are functionally more sensible, and the décor more uniform and appealing throughout.Space behind the seats is also very handy for someone who’ll use the R6 as their primary vehicle.

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The concept had been a dream for a number of years and even Stuart admits it’s “a bit out of left field”, but determined to see it through, the M5 was unveiled at Deni to a very positive crowd reaction.

Originally purchased in 2006, the M5 sedan was converted by Shane Rowe, owner of Southern Rod & Custom here in Deniliquin. Shane over saw all design, fabrication, mechanical and custom work to deliver Stuart a “turn key” M5 Ute, just in time for Deni.

For more info and pics on Stuart’s M5 ute click here. I’m sure you’ll agree the result in pretty impressive.

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The Muster celebrated its tenth anniversary this year, so the expectation was that this was to be a big one. Just a few short clicks from Melbourne that sentiment was confirmed with the road to ‘Deni’ paved nose to tail with utes big and small - and of course the obligatory Mr Plods.

Driving in convoy is great fun. Nods and waves from window to window, chats at the road house sharing the love and adoration these guys and gals have for their utes, and of course the request for a look under the bonnet. It’s an admirable and instant comradeship, the kind you only seem to get in the bush.

The convoy also attracts its own records with one group leaving from just outside Melbourne doubling the previous US held title with 600 registered utes.

When we arrived bright eyed and bushy tailed at the main gate for the 5am unveiling, the scale of the Muster really grabbed our attention, it is quite a staggering site. In fact it’s so big, you have to see it from the air to truly appreciate just what 7242 utes (and any number of other vehicles) in the one spot looks like.

The queues extended for kilometres in each direction leading to the main gates and given the dawn opening, an early start is required to secure a spot close to the action. Good spirits, prominently ‘Bundy’ flavoured, were enjoyed to pass the time with entry a surprisingly smooth flowing affair given the populous number of utes on hand.

The event brings not only utes to Deniliquin, but much needed revenue in this time of drought. Last year’s turnover exceeded $10 million and with the tenth year celebrations seeing the 50 hectare site overflow into neighbouring paddocks, that amount is sure to set a record of its own this year.

With the utes parked, camp sites pegged and the gates to the Festival Arena thrown open, the crowd was treated to a fly over from the RAAF’s Roulettes signalling Deni 2008 was open for business.

The CarAdvice team even managed a quick chat with Roulette #7, Flight Lieutenant Ben Miedecke. Trained at #2 Training School (Advanced Training School), and as the only full-time Roulette (the others are weekenders and are mainly flight instructors), Ben commentates for the Roulettes at events such as the Deni Ute Muster.

He was kind enough to run us through the Roulettes normal performance and told us that during maneuvers the team can pull up to 7g which means Ben weighs roughly 700kg during this time.

His Australian built  Pilatus PC-9 is good for 950 shaft-horsepower (de-rated from 1200) and weighs in at just 1800kg. To prepare, a few loops and barrel rolls are done to increase blood pressure and prepare blood vessels for high G. The team will typically fly three 90 minute sorties a day.

Back on the ground though, the fun had begun in earnest with Lawn Mower racing kicking off proceedings in the main arena. These things are manic and require not only forged steel wedding tackle to race, but a sixth sense to know where you’re going with the drought making the powdery Deni dust diabolical.

In keeping with tradition, and the organiser’s belief that “behind every good looking ute is a good looking Aussie wearing a blue singlet”, the Bluies are also tallied each year with 2702 Bluies counted in the one place at the one time, just over one-tenth of the overall population at the Muster.

But it’s not all Bundy, Blueys and Blunnys, the Muster also has a carnival atmosphere with competitions, concerts and a huge array of stalls and supplies catering to any discerning ute driver.

A lot of the non-wheeled events are family orientated too with farming families coming from as far as Western Australia and New Zealand to enjoy and compete in the festivities and competitions.

Go-to-whoa and the ever popular circle work championships were of course an event highlight with entrants presenting utes of all ages for a crack at the title.

The often elaborately dressed utes really don’t hold back out here with some of the prizes up for grabs almost worth risking an engine for, and before you ask, no the F6 didn’t make an appearance in the ring.

If the four wheeled entertainment wasn’t to your liking there was also shearing demonstrations, bush poetry, whip cracking, wood chopping and country music featuring artists including The Living End, Kasey Chambers, James Reyne, Mark Seymour, Paul Greene, Lee Kernaghan, The Songbirds, Steve Forde, The Sunny Cowgirls, Morgan Evans and Deniliquin locals The Lincons, just to name a few.

The always popular Holden “Grunt Off” saw some very hung-over competitors race to tow a Holden ute on Saturday morning, which given the 7mm of rain Friday night made for a challenge across a course now ankle deep in wood chips.

Saturday arvo saw the Yamaha boys put on freestyle motorcross demonstrations in the main arena and in keeping with the theme of the show, they jumped two massive tractors.

“It’ll be very unique to jump over New Holland tractors, and a great spectacle for the crowd”, lead rider Matty McFerran said.

The circle work finals and bull riding led the evening into a close before the final concert and fireworks wrapped up the night.

So if Deni sounds like something you wouldn’t mind checking out next year then be sure to circle October 2 and 3 on the 2009 calendar, polish up the ute and shake the red backs from the swag - it’s sure to be a big one.

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The Rodeo is now called the Holden Colorado and will soon stop production in Thailand.

Instead Isuzu will soon export all the parts to GM plants in South America where the car will be assembled. So then, say hello to the new legitimate kid on the block, the Isuzu D-MAX.

The D-MAX is one of the world’s most popular utes and like nearly all other utes on the Australian market today, it’s assembled in Thailand, the world’s second biggest ute market.

Australia will receive 11 different D-MAX models, all powered by a 3.0-litre, turbodiesel engine with 120kW and 360Nm (333Nm for the automatic). Pricing starts from a very competitive $23,300 and goes all the way to $42,500 for the fully-kitted, automatic,  4WD LS-U crewcab ute.

Instead of focusing on petrol and diesel, Isuzu will instead take a “boutique” approach and concentrate completely on diesel to build a brand image focused on reliable diesel utes.

Despite being closely related to the Holden Colorado mechanically, the D-MAX is different enough to raise a few eyebrows. Public relations spokesman Richard Power said unlike the competition, which set a high recommended retail price then discounted heavily (hurting resale) Isuzu will enter at market rate.

Starting later this week, Australia will become the 83rd country Isuzu competes in and it’s a good market to be in. Last year 140,000 one-tonne utes were sold in all of Europe, which might seem like a lot, but for a market of 17 million new car sales a year, it’s not all that much.

During the same period Australians on the other hand, bought the same number of utes out of a pool of one-million new car sales.

Isuzu plans to sell 4000 D-MAX utes in Australia in 2009, with that number climbing to 6000 and then 8000 for the following two years.

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The event which last year saw 6,235 Utes attend will feature notable country music entertainers, children’s entertainment, country apparel, the RAAF Roulettes, the Yamaha FMX Stunt Team, Ute accessory stalls, competitions, food, plenty of bars and the unveiling of Stewart Appleby’s M5 Ute.

Flying the flag for the Blue Oval this time round CarAdvice’s very shmick FPV FG Falcon F6 Ute is polished and ready to go. The six-stacker is loaded with Lee Kernigan, our swags are in the back and the akubras are firmly donned, ready for a big two days of music, rum and circle work.

If you’re able to join us, the Muster is on from October 3-4 with more information and directions to be found at www.deniutemuster.com.au As accommodation is already at a premium, it’s advisable to pack your swag and camp out on the plains. If you spot the Ute by all means come over and say hi, we’ll look forward to seeing you there.

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Despite that little nugget of bogan wisdom, the Sports does actually have some merit. Granted it may be a tad interesting in the looks department and the cabin smells like the inside of a school boy’s gym bag, but it does have a few saving graces, so bear with me on this one.

Though before we get to the good bits, let’s tackle the big one. The glaringly obvious, can’t help but notice, what were they thinking “rhino” styling cues.

It’s one thing to stand out for the crowd and challenge convention, but in the case of the Sports the looks just don’t gel. There’s no real theme, no flow of ideas and though I am a big fan of individuality, being different for difference’s sake isn’t going to win you too many friends – or sales.

The avian-esque headlights, over-sized deep-set grille, bulbous bonnet and contrastingly flat profile do little to compliment one another and from behind, the appearance is just plain awkward. Still, it is a practical unit and has a slightly agricultural feel to it that gives the impression it won’t mind a few cuts and bruises.

Inside, apart from an overwhelming urethane odour, the layout is simple, seemingly durable and reasonably generous in terms of proportion. Switch gear feels a little on the cheap side and the park brake position seriously needs addressing (LHD origin very clear) but otherwise it’s easy enough to live with.

A grab handle on the “A” pillar would not have gone astray, likewise the instrumentation and panel lighting could have done with a dimmer control, and there’s no doubt the rear seat passengers will get a sun burnt neck given the seat’s proximity to the very upright rear windscreen, but otherwise it’s a practical space that’s surprisingly quiet (when cruising) and reasonably comfortable.

To add to that, you get a single CD tuner - which sadly has poor reception and rather dull sound, cruise control, power windows and heated power mirrors, tilt adjustable leather bound steering wheel with cruise, remote audio and transmission controls, two 12V power outlets, air-conditioning, and remote central locking.

Outside Sports picks up adjustable halogen headlamps, front fog lamps, rear mud flaps, 16-inch alloy wheels and a tub liner with restraint hooks to round out the feature list.

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Now its been joined by the Single Cab-chassis and King-Cab variants, both made a lot closer to home in Thailand, and both benefiting, price-wise, from Australia’s Free Trade Agreement with our Asian neighbour.
The utility market in Australia has been one of the sales strengths of our burgeoning vehicle market, with strong demand from tradesmen, industry and the mining sectors.
Despite essentially have only one model, it is available in 4×2 and 4×4 variants, the Nissan Navara Dual Cab has sold nearly 9000 units already this year and the 4×4 model is the second strongest selling utility in the market.

A trio of King Cab models is now available powered by a muscular 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine delivering 126kW power and a superior 403Nm torque in 4×4 models.
Two transmissions are on offer, the standard six-speed manual and an optional 5-speed automatic. The six-speed manual has a ‘long’ overdrive top gear for better economy and quieter running.

At the same time Nissan is adding a Single Cab Chassis manual transmission model to the family that features a separate two-passenger bench seat and an even longer load bed for those who want the practicality of a tough, modern workhorse with the latest features.

The Nissan Navara King Cab offers seating for four, thanks to a pair of fold-down rear seats which, when folded, allow more than enough room for luggage or tools behind the front seats.

The King Cab allows easy entry to the rear of the cab thanks to a rear-hinged door on either side that opens wide. With no B pillar to impede entry or egress, occupants will find cabin entry and egress comfortably easy. Safety is also a priority with headrests and 3-point seatbelts for all four passengers.

Thanks to the longer load bed, compared with the Navara Dual Cab, the new King Cab ST-X Pick-Up can fit 1855mm long loads into its rear tub.

Three King Cab models are available; the RX King Cab Chassis, which along with the premium specification ST-X King Cab Chassis, can be fitted with a Genuine Nissan aftermarket tray; and the sportiest ST-X King Cab Pick-Up which comes with its own tub and integrated tub liner, sports bar, rear chrome step bumper and remote fuel release.
“The new Navara King Cab is destined to play an important role in tightening Nissan’s grip on the light commercial vehicle market,” said Dan Thompson, CEO of Nissan Australia.

“We see the King Cab models entering a growing market segment, where the need to balance a large load with the ability to carry four in safety and comfort, if only occasionally, will be greatly appreciated by our customers.
“Many Navara customers have something big to tow, and with a 4×4 class-topping 403Nm torque and a 3000kg towing capacity (equalling class-best) across the range, that should be no problem.”

We gave the Navara King Cab 4×4 a reasonably brief but fairly challenging drive across some forest tracks out of Canberra and the overall impression was one of considerable competence.
The vehicle, an automatic, which has a novel but quite useful side shift function between first and second gears, was able to cope with deep ruts, steep descents and some challenging climbs over rough and broke roads.

 It had more than adequate power from the very torquey diesel engine and with the added advantage of being able to carry two occasional passengers in the rear, should prove an appealing option for many tradesman who want to be able to run the kids to a sports event on the weekend, or other less work-like demands.
Equally it will appeal to businesses where the option of being able to carry more than just the two regular passengers is a worthwhile option.
Nissan Navara King Cab Range:
RX King Cab Chassis $38,160
ST-X King Cab Chassis $41,160
ST-X King Cab Ute $42,660
Five-speed automatic $2250
Nissan Navara Single Cab
RX Single Cab Chassis $33,660

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Having invested over 223 million euros ($366 million) in the VW plant in Pacheco, Argentina, the company plans to build at least 90,000 units annually for South American and Latin America markets.

Sources inside VW USA have said that dealers were unhappy with the materials and market segment the Robust would be in – as it’s ‘far below’ what regular VW buyers expect.

The name “Robust” has also been confirmed as nothing more than a working codename which may change before the truck reaches dealerships.

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