Welcome to the 2018 Ute Megatest. Here we have all of the popular 4×4 dual-cabs to put through their paces on road – with and without a 900kg total payload – and off road.
Bauer Media’s Transport and Machinery titles, in conjunction with Australia’s leading 4WD magazine, 4×4 Australia, and Australia’s leading car magazine, Wheels, has gathered together all of the popular utes for a week-long knockout to find out just what is Australia’s best ute overall.
The on-road tests involved unladed ride and handling evaluation as well as performance and fuel-consumption tests. The payload test involved a total payload of 900kg, made up of 650kg in the tub, driver, two passengers (and towbars/bullbars where fitted) – so, close to max payload for the utes, especially those with the lower payload ratings with all the utes driven over a bumpy road course with plenty of corners and hills.
The off-road tests involved set-piece hill climbs, obstacle negotiation and water fording.
TEST CREW
No fewer than seven judges, some with many decades of vehicle-testing experience, will conduct and oversee the tests.
Our judges include Cobey Bartels from Owner Driver, Fraser Stronach, Matt Raudonikis and Justin Walker from 4×4 Australia and Ash Westerman, Byron Mathioudakis and Daniel Gardner from Wheels.
TEST PROCEDURE
Over a gruelling five days at the Melbourne 4×4 Training and Proving Ground at Werribee near Melbourne, all of the utes will undergo a series of test to determine the winner. The tests include:
- Carrying a maximum payload over a bumpy and demanding road course
- Carrying five people over a different but still demanding road course
- Ride and handling evaluation on a third road course with plenty of corners and bumps
- Off-road testing on steep and rough climbs, moguls, steep ramps, and through deep-water crossings
- Electronically measured acceleration and braking tests in a controlled environment
- Fuel consumption tests via accurate and independent measurement.