LAP 6: UTES & PICK-UPS

Utes & Pick-ups

After completing the piece on SUVs, I realised that it may be slightly moot to now look at Utes and, or pick-up trucks given the overlap in design and purpose. Once the ute or pick-up truck was concerned only with reliability, robust construction and practicality for purpose. Now these vehicles make up a large proportion of worldwide sales. The dual nature of these cars is becoming a compelling choice for families, especially as the driving dynamics have been refined and interiors become plush. Perhaps evidenced by Mercedes and VW entering these markets with an inclination toward luxury.

Have these cars become ubiquitous? Such is their success. In a world where we hasten toward hybrids, EVs and more economical vehicles. Improved design, driving dynamics, robust reliability and utilitarian practicality make these vehicles a compelling choice in a pos- COVID world.

Initially, I had thought to focus on the utilitarian elements of utes and pick-ups, the best workhorses fit for purpose, but that purpose is now as wide as the choice of vehicle available. So let us take a ‘greatest hits’ approach. Like a greatest hits album, the songs are eclectic and enjoyable but don’t consistently meld through a coherent theme.

Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2023

The Wildtrak offers versatility, real-world livability as a result of updated suspension technology, and an interior that is genuinely a nice place to be. Indeed the suspension rides on leaf springs for load-carry capability yet is tuned to provide a smooth ride when unladen. A rare trait in previous iterations of these vehicles. The infotainment package includes a Telsa-like screen with little lag when connected to one's phone (Apple or Android), and a Bang & Olsen stereo. Interior quality ergonomics and infotainment functionality were previous Ford weak spots. The Ranger could do the school run, swing past the building site and drop off supplies, park at the grocery store then head to the forest for camping without fuss. There is a number of Ranger variants keeping them reasonably accessible to most price points.

Toyota Hilux 2023

I mentioned the Hilux in the previous article and predictably enough it emerges on this list. As mentioned choosing the best Hilux is a difficult task, their reliability and versatility have made them perennial best sellers, without a failed model over the years. Hilux people have their favourite models. Over the years we have seen the Hilux mature and develop from an agricultural mule to a refined family hauler. I’ve chosen the current model as the best simply because of the available models, options and pure accessibility of this car to all users. The ride may not be as good as the Ranger, or the interior as polished, but reliability is assured.

Chevrolet LUV 1980

My grandfather owned a farm in Dookie (approx 30km outside of Shepparton) with sheep for wool and wheat the predominant income. The farm had tractors, headers and trucks for various purposes. Nothing superfluous, everything did a job until it could no more. He owned a yellow Chevy LUV, not a 4X4 Hilux or Land Rover as history would have us believe. The LUV was simple, reliable and robust. The farm could have brutal extremes in weather and road conditions and LUV coped with them all for over 30yrs. I once asked why he didn’t have a large 4X4, he replied that this was cheap, not too elevated to work or attach farming devices to, wasn’t heavy enough to chew up the land and didn’t need loads of maintenance. It was fit for purpose. I’d love to find it, but knowing that it was a pure workhorse, destined to be used until it could give no more. I’m resigned to acknowledge that once it was sold with the farm, it worked, like my grandfather, until it could no more. Selecting the LUV is a bias driven by nostalgia, and emotion is intertwined with our love of cars. I will add that for a light commercial, four-cylinder vehicle designed in the 70s it had a respectable load capacity of just under 800kg.

Holden HQ 1971

Driven by nostalgia and respect, the venerated HQ makes the list. Perhaps the poster child for simple robust reliability is required in a utility vehicle. It is likely there isn’t a child born from the 70s to the early 90s that doesn’t have some connection to a HQ. Only rust would kill them, and rust they did. Vinyl seats, composite foam dash, all the hardy bits for an Australian summer. Nonetheless, there are many still going strong on farms today, and even more are likely in various stages of restoration. Long live the HQ.

Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series

Intentionally I have left off a model year, many connoisseurs will be annoyed, but the change between models over the years is negligible. They have remained simple, reliable and robust with enough versatility to suit commercial, farming and even family needs. Not a lot of creature comfort, although probably for the best in farming environments. The V8 will go on for years with enough pulling power to tow anything. Simple, robust, easy and cheap to repair, with no leather to get damaged by water, and no fancy electronic aids to confuse things. Indeed fitting the mantra ‘simplicity is a prerequisite for reliability’.

Datsun 1200 Ute

Surprisingly with fuel prices increasing, a move toward alternate propulsions systems, and a focus on decreasing the environmental impact of cars, light commercial utes have become a forgotten idea. Over the years we have had the Brumby, Chevy LUV, Proton Jumbuck, Suzuki Stockman even VW offered a pick-up version of the Caddy in Europe. Granted many small utes have been horrible, crude and lacking relevance to the Australian market. But they do look pretty cool, don’t they? The Datsun 1200 was a capable workhorse, with decent driving manners for the time, a perky 1.2 litre engine (with scope for improvement) and now has become highly collectable.

Mitsubishi Triton 2006

For some time Mitsubishi has been the forgotten Japanese cousin. Something happened to Mitsubishi, not sure what, but the ingenuity that inspired the GTO, FTO and Evo disappeared. Producing exciting cars that push the boundaries of technology and performance is important to a manufacturer, even if not their mainstay, it generates interest and inspires loyalty. Perhaps this explains why the Triton, arguably a better car than the Hilux and Navara of the time, didn’t command as large a share of the market. Mitsubishi altered the positioning and shape of the cab to create the first dual-cab that was genuinely comfortable and usable for a family. Read deeper into the current model, and you see Mitsubishi builds some quality vehicles, yet don’t receive the fan fair of the Ranger or Hilux, but it's well built and well appointed in all key areas.

Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain 2021

Great nomenclature here, roles off the proverbial. Nonetheless, a well-engineered package that successfully straddled all worlds the dual cab ute has to; family, trade, agricultural and off-road. Well appointed, comfortable and safe. Most importantly a suspension setup that can suit Australian driving conditions with and without load. Aggressive, tough, modern and sporty looking all at once.

After researching, reviewing and remembering my experiences with utes over the years I realised that this segment is extremely difficult to define. The dual cab is very popular in Australia. It offers the ability to become an outright, versatile family car or a dual-purpose commercial vehicle. Some utes are pure workhorses for trade or agricultural needs, others provide luxurious surrounds wrapped in the guise of indestructibility. Designing and building a ute that fits these purposes is nigh on impossible, especially the suspension. A tune that handles well every day, is comfortable, can carry a load and yet remain predictable when unladen are conflicting design demands. Ultimately I have realised this is perhaps the most variable area of car manufacturing, and selecting the best is impossible without specific criteria. Therefore the cars I’ve offered provide more discussion than a solution to perhaps an irrelevant question I posed some weeks ago, the best car for each body type.