Dual-cab utes are expected to be more versatile today than ever before. Rough and tough is not enough. The flagship versions must be comfortable inside, safe, and look the part because people want show ponies as well as workhorses...
They’re more likely to carry dirty nappies and road bikes than a bale of hay, but all eight of the cars on our 2018 dual-cab mega test are, you know, dual-cab utes. That means they still need to be fit for hard work. Has the transition to a life of luxury undermined the inherent practicality of these one-time work vehicles? Here’s a look at how the tray on each stacks up...
Mazda Australia has teased the revised 2018 BT-50 ute in a single image this week, ahead of a market launch in May. We don't get a whole lot of clues as to what to expect visually, though the company says this will be the BT-50's "second and most comprehensive update since its launch in 2011"...
The Takata airbag recall has become the largest automotive recall in history, affecting more than 100 million vehicles and nearly 20 automotive brands around the world. Among those are some four million vehicles in Australia. Globally, there have been 20 deaths linked to the scandal, and 230 serious injuries...
The top-selling Mazda CX-3 small crossover will receive a range of pretty low-key upgrades before the end of the year, as previewed on the US model this week at the New York Auto Show. This is the second upgrade since 2015, and focuses on improvements to driving refinement and cabin feel. The show car appears to be a top-spec version, known as the Akari here...
Mazda has begun its rollout of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, announcing the features will be added to the North American 6 sedan during their summer. At this point, the feature is reserved for the facelifted Mazda 6 in North America, but it's not likely to be long before the technology makes its way to Australia...
The updated 2018 Mazda MX-5 range has been detailed this week, headlined by new equipment, suspension updates and increased colour options. Price of entry has been increased by $100 to $33,440 plus on-road costs for the entry-level 1.5-litre Roadster manual, while GT models are $1320 dearer than before...
The incoming Mazda CX-8 will start in Australia from $48,294 drive-away for buyers in the Melbourne metro area, according to dealer documents obtained this week by CarAdvice. Pricing for other areas, and the usual before-charges prices, were not revealed. These details, still to be made official, suggest the range will kick off with the two-wheel drive Evolve model...
Photos posted to a Chinese forum have revealed what appears to be a large digital driver-information display behind the steering wheel. The screen, replacing the conventional instrument cluster, is shown in two modes: one with separate rev and speed meters, and one with a large combined meter that likely represents a 'sport mode' function...
Mazda looks set to revive the rotary engine next year, in the form of an optional range extender for its upcoming electric vehicle (EV). In a new report by Dutch website, AutoRAI.nl, Martijn ten Brink, vice president of sales and customer service for Mazda's European division, said the company's new EV will debut sometime in 2019, and will be similar in size to the Mazda 3...
The automotive news wheel is always turning. If you’re not constantly checking CarAdvice – which you should be doing, by the way – it can be easy for some headlines to slip through the cracks. To make sure you haven’t missed anything important, we’ve gathered what we reckon are the hottest news stories from this week, right here...
Ford Australia has today announced details of its recall for vehicles fitted with faulty Takata airbag inflators. As required under the compulsory recall program announced earlier this week, Ford will first contact owners of the oldest affected vehicles before working its way up to newer vehicles with a lesser risk...
Australian pricing and specifications for the upgraded 2018 Mazda 3 range have been announced this week, with extra equipment and sharp drive-away deals on offer for lower-grade versions of the popular hatch and sedan. Headlining the changes is a host of extra equipment for the lower Neo, Maxx and Touring grades, with the former two now renamed Neo Sport and Maxx Sport...
Holden thinks it finally has a convincing mid-sized SUV, addressing a major gap in its range. The model is called the Equinox, and the company calls it “Australia’s most user-friendly SUV”. But if the now full-importer brand wants to make a splash in one of the market’s key segments, it’ll need to stack up against the top-seller – Mazda’s CX-5, itself relatively recently into its second generation...
We've really come to appreciate our Mazda 2 long-termer, but it's time to say goodbye to little Red Rocket.
The Mazda MX-5 Limited Edition has officially gone on sale in Australia, with just 110 available nationally. Priced at $55,790 drive-away, the MX-5 RF Limited Edition gets a host of cosmetic and mechanical upgrades to make the Japanese sports car even sportier...
The Mazda MX-5 RF Limited Edition gives keen drivers a more capable car, but is it worth the spend?
Mazda has recalled the 2 sedan and hatch, over concerns about the teeth on the parking brake sector gear. According to the company, the shape of the teeth on some parking brake sector gears mightn't be to specification. If the issue occurs, the sector gear and ratchet might suddenly disengage while the parking brake is on, potentially allowing the car to move when parked on a slope...
The Mazda MX-5 has become a default choice for people who want a light, simple sports car. But what is the two-seat convertible like to live with? Here's a diary of our time with the CarAdvice MX-5. Think of this as a rolling logbook, a little window into life with the cars in the CarAdvice stable. You'll find the most recent entries at the top, and the older instalments at the bottom...
Every month, the latest VFACTS report sends CarAdvice into meltdown. Last month, the HiLux and Ranger maintained their spots atop the sales charts, continuing Australia's love affair with the dual-cab ute. But it wasn't always this way. Here's a look at VFACTS data from January 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013 for a better understanding of how the average Australian buyer's preferences have changed...
