The all-new Kia Tasman 4X4 dual-cab ute is finally on sale in Australia, offering some compelling value in its lower model grades and some serious off-roading potential in top-spec. Let’s see if it’s a worthy Ranger, Hilux and Triton rival - or a respectable first try.

The futuristically styled Kona offers choice of engines, good safety and makes a strong case for small families needing options, reliability and quality at the right price. There’s even an electric or hybrid to consider.

The soft-roading ‘SJ’ series Subaru Forester packs a punch, and was one of the safest, most practical and capable medium SUVs on sale at the time. It remains a great value, nicely driving and popular five-seater.

The Haval H6 is an affordable medium SUVs that will make buying your next new family car easier thanks to its compelling pricing and suite of features compared with established brands. But there are a few compromises you’ll have to make, depending on how you intend to use it…

The GWM Cannon Alpha plug-in hybrid is the ute catching every other ute brand napping in the Australian market. It’s innovative, full of clever design and has bucketloads of grunt for towing, load-carrying, touring and off-roading. It’ll leave a turbo-diesel Hilux for dead, and leave you with change, unlike Ford Ranger.

The plug-in hybrid Jaecoo J7 is a promising medium SUV for families in 2025 from a new Chinese brands starting in Australia. Here’s what you need to know about this interesting, high-value midsize upstart.

Buying a new large SUV just got more complicated, because the Jaecoo J8 promises to make you reconsider your loyalty to Hyundai, Mazda, Toyota and Kia. If you need a fully equipped, luxurious family-focus 7-seater, the J8 is value taken to the extreme… But there is a catch.

The Subaru Crosstrek offers great value and good build quality, with its all-wheel drive system making it a uniquely capable small-family SUV. If you like to leave the bitumen for sand, dirt or gravel, here’s why you need a Crosstrek.

Buying a 7-seat 4X4 wagon like a Toyota LandCruiser 300 is common in Australia when you want an off-roader that can carry plenty of adventure gear, the family and tow a big boat or trailer. But spending six figures of your hard-earned money means asking some tough questions, and giving honest answers.

The BYD Shark 6 is a new dual-cab ute trying to compete with Ranger, Hilux and Triton, except with a plug-in hybrid powertrain that promises more affordable towing, load-carrying and family luxury. It’s also more power than a Ranger Raptor. Can the new Shark 6 really be better?

There’s never been more choice when buying a full-size, heavy-towing, luxurious pick-up truck in Australia. It’ll pull, haul and function in almost every operating environment, but spending over $100,000 on a Tundra, F-150, Ram or Silverado is not a decision you want to get wrong.

The RAM 1500 is no longer the biggest dual-cab pick-up truck/ute you can buy in Australia now that the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra are in town. But is it still the best oversized tool for the job?

If family is forcing you to shop for an SUV because it’s fashionable, the fast family performance sedan icon, now has a big boot. Long live the wagon - to hell with the status quo. Here’s what you need to know…

If you’re in the market for a hardcore 4X4 wagon that can tow, climb and haul, the Isuzu MU-X is not a bad idea. But here’s why you should take a good hard think before dropping up to $80K on this seven-seat four-wheel drive…

The Kia K4 is a newer, bigger replacement for the old Cerato, but promises more. It offers value over an SUV, saving you thousands while offering extra space, features, reliability and comfort. But there is a fundamental problem with the K4…

The T9 is China’s next workhorse trying to make the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton irrelevant. With cheap utes becoming popular in Australia, it promises toughness, practicality and affordability that appeals to private and fleet buyers. But unknown brands like JAC must face tough questions…

If you’re planning on buying a new car in coming months, it’s a perfect storm with the federal election coming up, prices dropping and dealers desperate to make sales quotas. Here’s what you need to know…

A notionally small SUV like Eclipse Cross offers sharp pricing and good tech levels, but with the comfort and space typical of a medium SUV. If you don’t need the seven-seat Outlander, consider this better-value five-seater instead.

The Kia Cerato is a better-value proposition than most SUVs, which could save you thousands while offering greater space, similar features and reliability as good as any Toyota Corolla or Mazda 3. There’s even an affordable-performance version.

The Mazda CX-80 is yet another seven-seat family SUV that flies in the face of premium-priced German luxury. It offers prestige and power, with a big helping of practicality. But can it represent good value against its rivals?