Living in north-east Victoria in close proximity to Alpine National Park, it was great to experience some sand and sea on a recent trip to K’gari. This pic was taken in front of the Maheno shipwreck. Modifications include an EFS lift, wheels and tyres, a bullbar and light bar. I like to keep it simple, but I do have plans for an exhaust and snorkel – Mark Staley
This is my 80 Series that has been set up for touring. It will be the first 80 Series in the country to have a GVM of 3900kg, and it already has a 6680kg GCM. This car has cost $100k to build and it’s twin-locked with a three-inch lift, 34-inch tyres and 150/5 PCD wheels from a 105 – so you might notice it has a wider stance than the average LC80. There is so much to tell, but I will leave it here for now – Robert Ireland
I live in Canberra and there are some great places around here, and I try to get it out as often as I can – fingers crossed on a K’gari trip in 2024. It has a two-inch lift on 33s and a GVM upgrade. It has been tuned on a dyno and runs a five-speed manual, and it has no problem towing anything I put behind it. It also has a front locker, as well as a Kings winch and spotties. The canopy has a budget 12V setup, but it runs my fridge non-stop with solar for ice-cold beer on fishing trips – Johnny Williams
Sitting on a Superior Engineering three-inch lift, this Hilux is equipped with KMC Mesa rims wrapped in Maxxis RAZR 285/70R17s; an AFN bullbar; a GME XRS UHF; three Stedi light bars; a Rhino roof platform; a Darche awning; and a stainless-steel snorkel from In-House Fabrication – Jack Brook
My wife and I are about halfway through our 12-month trip around Australia in our 2021 MR Triton GLS ute. There’s a long list of mods but main ones are a Mulgo slide-in tub camper; 120-litre ARB Frontier long range tank; 120-litre water tank; 400W solar panel; 170Ah Bluetti power station; slide-out kitchen with induction and air-fry cooking, Mirack swing-out spare wheel carrier; and most importantly a Pedders 3200kg GVM upgrade to keep it all legal – Grant McGregor
It’s my weekender and I’ve done a bit of NSW travel so far to Stockton Beach, Wheeny Creek, Menai, Lithgow and Sofala, but the best place so far is the Pinnacle Track (back to front). It now has a heap of bush stripes, but that’s what I bought it for. Mods include 17-inch rims wrapped 34-inch tyres; two-inch lift in the rear; three-inch lift in the front; Legendex rock sliders; a Fury off-road winch cradle and 12,000lb winch; Provent catch can and fuel filter; and a whole heap of ARB bits and pieces in the tub (drawers, compressor etc). It’s twin-locked using a front ARB air locker and other kit includes a 2.5m ARB awning; Torqit exhaust; 100Ah 12v setup with solar panel from iTechworld; and a Safari Armax snorkel. The dream is to one day do the whole country in a swag once the kids get older – Zaia Babana
This consists of two Ultima LED 215 MK2 driving lights mounted on the PIAK nudge bar, and high-performance Ultima 24-inch and dual Ultima eight-inch light bars fitted using Narva’s innovative 40-inch joiner kit.
While that’s the front sorted for high-performance lighting, we reckon having quality reversing lights and work lights around the rear of any work ute is just as important. After all, the back end of any ute is where tradies will often get set up for work, digging out the tools needed for the day, and even setting up cutting tables or saw horses.
Our inclusion of two LED work lamps fitted to the top of our TC Boxes canopy shine ample light around the area behind the Ute. These powerful 1800 lumen white lights come pre-wired and fully sealed in a diecast-powered coated aluminium housing.
For reversing duties we’ve also fitted a pair of Narva LED flood beam work lamps that produce a claimed 1050 lumens. But wait, there’s more! What about when you need to find a tool, drill bit or accessory in your side-mounted toolboxes in the dark? No worries, we’ve fitted Narva work lamps on the inside of the toolbox doors that provide more than enough light to find what you need after the sun has set.
The Ultima 24-inch and 8-inch light bars are compatible with the Ultima Connect+ system, which allows for easy adjustment of beam pattern and intensity to suit driving conditions, whether that’s on dirt roads, 4WD tracks or the highway. The system is easy to use and the controller fits neatly into the dash, and in the case of our Triton, the controller is situated in front of the gear lever.
The Narva Ultima 215 Mk2 driving lights produce an impressive volume of light. Narva claims a light output of 1 lux at 1093m from two lamps; 30 percent more light and a 20 percent longer beam than the first generation.
These lights feature a robust mounting system with stainless steel hardware, pressure die-cast mounting bracket, and pressure die-cast aluminium housing, so you can be sure they will be able to handle knocks on the worksite or when driving through the bush.
The combination of the 24-inch and 8-inch light bars with the 40-inch joiner kit results in a setup that provides impressive light distance and spread. Like the driving lights, this lightbar combination is designed to work with the Ultima Connect+ controller.
Along the bottom of the controller are the three main settings: Dirt Road, 4WD Track and Highway. Dirt Road provides a claimed beam width of 100m at 1 Lux and a beam distance up to 1160m at 1 Lux; 4WD Track provides a beam width of 120m at 1 Lux and a beam distance up to 980m at 1 Lux; while Highway provides a beam width of 90m at 1 Lux and a beam distance up to 1200m at 1 Lux.
Not into numbers? Essentially, the beam width is more spread out in off-road and dirt road conditions, and is longer and narrower when driving on the highway. On top of the three pre-set options, you can individually adjust both the primary and auxiliary light output, and there’s even a Boost function that is claimed to provide an additional 15 percent of output for 30 seconds.
Rhett from Paul Bagnall (who did the installation for us) said, “We enjoyed fitting and wiring all the different Narva lights. Not only are they easy to install, but I think they look and work as good, if not better, than any light system on the market.
“The driving lights have a complete wiring harness and plug-and-play system. We optioned up for the factory Mitsubishi blank switch from Narva. That easily interfaced into this system, giving the factory look that we’re always after. The Narva Ultima Connect+ system allowed us to integrate three lightbars into one on the roof rack, giving full independent control and user-friendly dimming features for both off-road and on-road applications.
“I love the clever design of the rear work lamps, having the cable run through the inside of the mounting bolt, meaning only one hole needs to be drilled for each light, allowing for easy rotational control without getting caught up on any cables. Our company has been using and recommending Narva lights for more than 20 years and will continue to do so for many more years to come,” said Rhett.
When it was time to install the Narva lighting system, we put our faith and trust in Rhett and Jack from Paul Bagnall Auto Electrical on Sydney’s northern beaches. The installation is top-notch with an OE finish; you have to take a close look to find any additional wiring.
After the installation of the Narva lighting equipment, I’m starting to feel like the finish line is in sight with the 4X4 Australia Triton Tradie build. With just a few more bits and pieces to go, whoever ends up buying this Triton when it goes to auction later this year will be one happy tradie camper.
Nissan’s premium sub-brand Infiniti has confirmed the latest QX80 – the luxury twin to the Patrol – will feature a newly developed 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 to replace the current 5.6-litre naturally-aspirated V8.
It will produce 335kW and 698Nm, which is up 37kW and 138Nm over the current Patrol V8. Compared to a LandCruiser 300 twin-turbo diesel, it has 108kW more but 2Nm less, while the Lexus LX600 twin-turbo petrol V6 has 30kW and 50Nm less.
A nine-speed torque-converter automatic will be fitted – up from a seven-speed unit in the current model – with a 40 per cent wider gear ratio for more responsive acceleration and improved fuel efficiency.
The ‘VR35DDT’ codename suggests the 3.5-litre twin-turbo unit is an evolved version of the 3.0-litre twin-turbo ‘VR30DDT’ powertrain fitted to the Nissan Z sports car.
New features available in the Infiniti include air suspension with adaptive dampers, while torsional rigidity has been increased to allow for a “significantly quieter cabin”.
Previewed by the Infiniti QX Monograph concept revealed in mid-2023, the new Infiniti QX80 will be our closest look yet at the new ‘Y63’ Nissan Patrol due in Australia in 2025.
While both vehicles will share the same base, spy shots reveal the Patrol appears to have traditional door handles and large headlights compared to the hidden handles and slender headlights coming to the QX80.
A production-ready Patrol prototype shown to US dealers was described as “Range Rover-like” with a more rugged appearance, including new headlights and tail-lights, and an “all-new”, modernised interior.
The 2025 Infiniti QX80 will debut on March 21, Australian time, ahead of the New York Auto Show, with the related 2025 Nissan Patrol due to follow in the coming months.
Maybe it’s because they offer all the features of a vehicle’s comprehensive dual-battery system but with the bonus of being packaged in one relatively compact unit, as well as being portable for use away from the vehicle.
Bluetti is a Chinese manufacturer that offers a wide range of battery units including five dedicated portable power stations, of which the AC200L tested here is the flagship. The AC200L is a compact unit with a neat finish, but it’s heavy; it measures just 420mm x 366 x 280mm but weighs a hefty 28kg, so it’s a two-person lift if you don’t want to bust your boiler.
The major controls are situated on the front of the unit including the main power button and three separate power buttons for the DC, AC and USB outlets. An LED screen gives a clear indication of charge levels, outputs and inputs, along with hours remaining till flat. A 12-volt cigarette lighter outlet and a 48-volt DC outlet port, along with four AC outlets, completes the ensemble.
On the starboard side of the unit you’ll find the AC and DC input sockets, a battery expansion port, a circuit breaker to protect the unit, and a grounding connection for when required.
The unit comes with an AC charging cable, a DC input cable, a solar charging cable and a 12-volt car charging (cigarette plug) cable, along with an easily lost grounding screw. Apart from the 240-volt lead and the 12-volt lead, I found the other leads a little frustrating in that they had connections meant for such accessories as a dedicated Bluetti solar panel.
If the unit was mine I’d be changing the leads to suit my equipment. There’s also a range of optional accessories including some expansion batteries that would add significantly to the power supply and how long the unit would last before requiring a recharge.
The unit is rated at 2400W AC output, and up to 3600W in ‘Power Lifting Mode’, which is when powering a purely resistive load. The internal battery capacity is 2048Wh, and this is expandable to more than 8000Wh with a couple of the aforementioned expansion batteries, but bear in mind these are expensive, and cost in excess of $2800 each.
There are six ways the power station can be charged including AC, solar, from your vehicle or separate generator, and even from a separate 12-volt lead acid battery. It’s claimed that the internal battery can be charged from zero to 80 per cent in 45 minutes from an AC input, while there is a 1200W maximum solar input. Of course, there is a smart controller and monitor with the Bluetti App via Bluetooth and WiFi.
We initially charged the unit from an AC power supply and then connected my 80-litre fridge/freezer to it. The ambient temperature was pretty mild in the low to mid 20s, but the fridge ran hard initially to pull the temperature down to the desired minus four and plus four degrees I normally run the two separate compartments at. After three hours the temperatures of the compartments were near the desired levels and there was still 92 per cent of battery power remaining.
I cycled the unit for another 24 hours, and the Bluetti easily kept the fridge running at the set temperatures. At the end of the test the battery capacity was at 56 per cent. Of course, if the ambient temperature had been in the 30s, or I had gone to the fridge a few times to get a cold beer or to add more product that wasn’t already cool, the demands on the battery would have been greater. I also ran the fridge from the 12-volt DC socket with no issues but in the process I discovered you needed to switch the AC power button off before power will be supplied to the DC side of the unit.
The related charging cables are included in the AC200L package, allowing for direct connection to solar panels or 12V supplies. Unfortunately, the powers that be wanted the unit back quickly, so we couldn’t test it over a longer period of time to see how it would stand up to harsh conditions, vibrations and corrugations.
Still, from this brief sample, I was impressed with the Bluetti. For somebody who can’t warrant a dedicated dual-battery system with multiple power outlets, including full sine-wave AC power, this unit would be a great substitute.
If you are mobile each day and have a solar panel or generator to help keep the unit charged for those times you are stationary and camped for a time, then this unit could fulfil your power requirements.
The VFACTs report for February lists the Ford Ranger as the best-selling 4×4 with a total of 4771 sales registered for the month – 884 more than the ageing HiLux which sold 3887 units. Combining results from January and February, and the Ranger has now outsold the HiLux by 1740 vehicles year-to-date (9105 vs 7365).
The success of the Ranger isn’t limited to the 4×4 charts either, with the ute remaining the best-selling overall vehicle in Australia with 5353 sales (when combining 4×4 and 4×2 variants). It was trailed by the Toyota HiLux (4403), Tesla Model 3 (3593), Isuzu D-MAX (2941) and Toyota RAV4 (2843).
The presence of the Ranger, HiLux and D-MAX on this list reflects Australia’s increasing appetite for utes. Digging a bit deeper reveals the LCV segment accounted for a total of 23,765 sales in February 2024, up from 18,750 in February 2023.
“Australian motorists’ strong preference for utes, accounting for 20.3 per cent of sales this month … out of 21,327 utes sold in February, only one was an EV,” explained Tony Weber, FCAI Chief Executive.
That EV ute was the LDV eT60. A closer look at LDV reveals sales of its T60 dropped steeply for the budget brand in February, with only 391 sales registered – down from 950 in January. Sales of the Toyota Prado also dropped – from 1746 to 1018 – which saw the SUV plummet out of the top 10. Understandable, considering the arrival of a new model is imminent.
Contrarily, sales of the burly Patrol essentially doubled in February compared to January (1020 versus 509); while Navara sales more than tripled month-to-month, sending it sky-rocketing into the top 10 (1361 February; 424 January).
The RAM 1500 (282 sales) held a nail-biting lead over the Silverado (272) and F-150 (255) in the battle of the big utes in February, but expect that to shift over the coming months as the competition heats up.
| 1: Ford Rangeru00a0 | 4771 |
|---|---|
| 2: Toyota Hiluxu00a0 | 3887 |
| 3: Isuzu DMAXu00a0 | 2417 |
| 4: Isuzu MUXu00a0 | 1751 |
| 5: Toyota LC300u00a0 | 1578 |
| 6: Nissan Navara | 1361 |
| 7: Mitsubishi Tritonu00a0 | 1186 |
| 8: Toyota LC70u00a0 | 1115 |
| 9: Mazda BT-50 | 1062 |
| 10: Ford Everestu00a0 | 1059 |
| 1: Ford Rangeru00a0 | 9105 |
|---|---|
| 2: Toyota Hiluxu00a0 | 7365 |
| 3: Isuzu DMAXu00a0 | 4535 |
| 4: Toyota LC300u00a0 | 3041 |
| 5: Isuzu MUXu00a0 | 2968 |
| 6: Toyota Pradou00a0 | 2764 |
| 7: Mitsubishi Tritonu00a0 | 2245 |
| 8: Ford Everestu00a0 | 2235 |
| 9: Toyota LC70u00a0 | 2193 |
| 10: Mazda BT-50 | 1999 |
Lexus Australia has confirmed the new GX550 will start from $116,000 before on-road costs, with all variants powered by a 260kW/650Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol.
The GX starts at around $30,000 more than the most affordable Lexus RX and around $45,000 less than the entry-level Lexus LX twin-turbo petrol.
The twin-turbo petrol V6 powertrain, borrowed from the related Lexus LX 600 flagship SUV and overseas versions of the Toyota LandCruiser 300, is matched to a 10-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, a second-start function, and full-time four-wheel-drive with low-range and a locking centre differential.
Braked towing capacity for the Luxury and Overtrail is listed at 3500 kilograms, while the flagship Sports Luxury will be limited to 3130kg.
The Lexus GX 550 Luxury and Sports Luxury will offer seven seats, while the off-road-focused Overtrail variant will be limited to five seats – like a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series GR Sport.
Individual second-row captain’s chairs will not be offered in the Lexus GX for the Australian market.
Detailed specifications for the 2024 Lexus GX will be announced closer to its launch around June or July. A list of features confirmed by Lexus Australia so far is included below.
| Model | Pricing |
|---|---|
| GX550 Luxury seven-seat | $116,000 |
| GX550 Overtrail five-seat | $122,250 |
| GX550 Sports Luxury seven-seat | $128,200 |
| Prices exclude on-road costs.u00a0 |
| 2024 Lexus GX Luxury features | |
|---|---|
| 20-inch alloy wheels | Eight-way power-adjustable front seats with lumbar and memory functions |
| Full-size spare wheel | Heated and ventilated front seats |
| Seven seats | Heated outer second-row seats |
| 14-inch infotainment system | Three-zone climate control |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Power-folding third-row seatsu00a0 |
| 10-speaker audio system | Electric tailgate with fold-out glass hatch |
| 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster | 360-degree camera system |
| Five USB-C ports | Dynamic auto-levelling LED headlights |
| Wireless phone charger | Rear privacy glass |
| Windscreen-projected head-up display | 220-volt rear power outlet |
| 220-volt rear power outlet | Lexus Safety Suite active safety technologies |
| Dark grey or black leather-accented upholstery | Tyre pressure monitoring |
| In addition to Luxury | |
|---|---|
| 18-inch alloy wheels with 33-inch all-terrain tyres (down from 20-inch w/ highway tyres) | Adaptive variable suspension |
| Five seats (down from seven) | Locking rear differential |
| Extended wheel arch mouldings | Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension Systemu00a0 |
| Aluminium skid plates | Multi-terrain select off-road traction control system |
| Unique bumpers | Multi-terrain monitor |
| Blacked-out trim | Downhill assist control |
| Bridge-type roof rails | Multi-stage crawl control |
| Olive green stitching and Ultrasuede accents | Larger alternatoru00a0 |
| Card-shaped smart key | Refrigerated centre console storage unit |
| In addition to Luxury | |
|---|---|
| 22-inch alloy wheels | Digital rear-view mirror |
| u201cHigh-gradeu201d headlights with adaptive high-beam | Multi-colour interior ambient lighting |
| Auto-extending side steps | 10-way power-adjustable front seats with massage function |
| Fixed panoramic roof | Refrigerated centre console storage unit |
| Semi-aniline leather-accented trim | Heated steering wheel |
| Unique ornamentation and instrument panel finish | Adaptive variable suspension |
| Five configurable drive modes (up from three) | 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system |
Continue reading below to get the full details, and watch for our full side-by-side comparison to come in the near future.
The new 4×2 and 4×4 ute range from Mitsubishi offers an all-new platform and significantly revised engine. First drive impressions are imminent and customer deliveries of high-spec dual cab models will begin this month.
Mitsubishi is making the Triton available initially in five variants (one 4×2, four 4×4) in four trim levels from GLX to GSR, in either Club Cab or Dual Cab. Single cab, cab chassis models and manuals will follow later.
Meanwhile the Ford Ranger arrived last year as an all-new model with plenty of local development and boasts class-leading levels of equipment, a vast model line-up, with a variety of 4×2 and 4×4 models in either cab-chassis or pick-up form – and in single-cab, super-cab or double-cab configurations.
Along with pricing, Mitsubishi has now detailed all the nitty gritty specs of the new Triton – including kerb weights, trim features, payloads and more – allowing us to get a clearer picture of the new ute in our head.
This article endeavours to take a close look at all the differences between the refined, class-leading Ranger and the incoming Triton. Let’s get into what makes these utes tick…
This story was originally published in August 2023. It has since been amended with updated specifications for the Mitsubishi Triton. Some of the numbers (*) such as payload, GVM, and GCM are preliminary and sourced from government compliance documents.
The Triton arrives initially in dual cab and extended cab forms, with single cab to follow, with pick-up body and cab-chassis variations.
However, how capacity-eating tray liners influence this will have to be measured when we get the chance to compare them next year. Meanwhile, the Ranger appears to have the advantage on ground clearance and off-road angles.
| Dimensions (4×4 Dual Cab models) | 2024 Mitsubishi Triton | 2023 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5320mm | 5370mm |
| Width | 1865mm | 2015mm |
| Height | 1795mm | 1886mm |
| Wheelbase | 3130mm | 3270mm |
| Tray length/width | 1555/1545mm | 1464/1520mm |
| Ground clearance | 222mm | 234mm |
Mitsubishi says the larger vehicle’s weight increases have been minimised by boosting the ratio of high-tensile steel in its construction, while the body is lighter thanks to the use of a new 1180MPa high-tensile steel.
Mitsubishi has increased front dampers’ front stroke by 20mm with a higher upper mounting point. Beefier shock absorbers and lighter rear leaf springs at the rear will lower friction for improved ride compliance.
This should result in a lighter feel around town that will weigh up at high speed. Mitsubishi has also worked to reduce kickback in the steering system – a common bugbear of the old car. Turning circle, at 12.4 metres, is better than Ranger.
Meanwhile the Triton has shrugged off the trend towards rear disc brakes, continuing with rear drum brakes, something Ford only persists with at XL and XLS grades – XLT and above get discs.
It moves the rear shock absorbers further outwards to widen the Ranger’s footprint and thus improve dynamics and wheel articulation.
Moving the wheels outwards has also allowed the designers to fit a wider cargo tub that will accommodate a full-size shipping pallet.
The net result is one of the best ride and handling compromises of any ute so far, and will be a hard act for Triton to follow.
Despite the Triton’s weight-saving measures, its extra size and interior equipment see the GSR Auto 4×4 dual cab climb from 1999kg in fifth-gen guise to 2115kg* for the latest vehicle. It remains lighter than an equivalent four-cylinder Ranger Sport, however, which weighs 2267kg.
Meanwhile the Japanese brand has announced an increased towing capacity for the Triton – it is up from 3100kg to 3500kg maximum braked capacity, matching the Ranger and other key players.
The engine’s head and block are shared with the old Triton’s 2.4-litre, but gets new injectors and a second turbo, among other changes.
Although the Ranger is available in V6 diesel (or turbo-petrol V6 in Raptor) here we are comparing the Triton with the most obvious powertrain competitor in the Ranger series, the Bi-Turbo diesel 2.0 litre four-cylinder.
The Ranger’s 2.0-litre is quite fuel-efficient with a 7.6L/100km combined figure, though the new Triton comes close at 7.7L/100km in 4×4 guise.
Mitsubishi’s Super Select II full-time/part-time dual-range system continues in upper-spec Tritons, giving an advantage over the part-time system in the Ranger 4-cylinder models (while Ranger V6 gets an on-demand ‘full-time’ system).
| Specifications | 2024 Mitsubishi Triton GSR | 2024 Ford Ranger Sport 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.4L twin turbo diesel four cyl | 2.0 twin-turbo diesel four cyl |
| Transmission | Six-speed auto/man | 10-speed auto |
| Power | 150kW | 154kW |
| Torque | 470Nm | 500Nm |
| ADR 81/02 combined fuel use | 7.7L/100km | 7.6L/100km |
| Kerb weight | 2115kg* | 2267kg |
| Payload | 1020kg* | 1025kg |
| Towing Capacity (braked) | 3500kg | 3500kg |
Both mid- and top-spec Tritons in Thailand will feature a 9.0-inch infotainment system similar to the Outlander midsize SUV, up from 7.0 inches.
Satellite navigation, traffic sign recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay (and wired Android Auto), and connected-vehicle telematics such as vehicle status, and remote locking via a smartphone application are new, too – but the last feature is unlikely for Australia, at least initially.
The new-gen Triton retains a combination of analogue dash dials like the Isuzu D-Max, with an integrated 7-inch multi-information display – unlike the Ford Ranger, which has moved to fully digital dials.
Material quality is improved on the outgoing vehicle, claims Mitsubishi, and visually the introduction of dimpled, leather-appointed steering wheels and suede-cloth upholstery in top-spec models gives credence to its claims. As before, a full leather interior features on the flagship variant.
The new Triton’s more upright A-pillar aids ingress by providing a wider door aperture.
The 50mm width expansion translates almost directly into second-row shoulder room, with 49mm more than before, which should make for happier passengers.
From the get-go, it’s obvious that the Ranger has a lot more invested in its interior features and technology, with large digital dash and infotainment screens, as well as comprehensive features such as trailer set-up on the info screen and even an integrated electric brake controller fitted on some models as standard.
We will have to wait to run the tape over the new Triton interior to see exactly how it compares for size and utility compared with Ranger.
And that doesn’t change for the new-gen vehicles, though the gap is a little closer. Matching up the base dual cab Triton with an equivalent Ranger XL reveals both are close.
The Ford has more screen and a rear locker, but the Mitsi has bigger wheels and built-in navigation – thankfully neither is as austere as a HiLux Workmate inside.
| 2024 Mitsubishi Triton GLX 4×4 dual cab features | 2024.5 Ford Ranger XL 4×4 2.0TTD dual cab features |
|---|---|
| Price: $50,490 (before on-road costs) | Price: $54,380 (before on-road costs) |
| 17-inch steel wheels | 16-inch steel wheels with full-size spare |
| Halogen exterior lighting | Halogen headlights and daytime running lamps; LED tail lights |
| 7.0-inch semi-digital instrument cluster | 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster |
| 9.0-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay / Wired Android Auto, and satellite navigation | 10.1-inch Sync 4 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Four-speaker audio system | Four-speaker audio sytem |
| Two front and two rear USB ports (USB-A, USB-C) | FordPass Connect with embedded modem and remote start |
| Black cloth upholstery and vinyl floor; manual seat adjust with power driver’s lumbar support | Three front USB ports (USB-C) |
| Seat back pocket including phone and tablet storage | Cloth upholstery and vinyl floor; eight-way manual driver seat and four-way manual front passenger seat |
| Tyre pressure monitoring | Locking rear differential |
| Trailer tow body wiring (tow bar optional) |
For those looking for a decently kitted out ute to do double duty at work and home, the Triton GSR compares favourably with the Ranger Sport twin-turbo 2.0-litre.
It gets heated seats – reserved for the dearer Ranger Wildtrak – and Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD system that’s more advanced than the twin-turbo Ford’s.
The Ranger, with its standard tow bar and brake controller, is better set up to tow right from the dealership.
| 2024 Mitsubishi Triton GSR 4×4 dual cab adds | 2024.5 Ford Ranger Sport 4×4 dual cab 2.0TT adds |
|---|---|
| Price: $63,480 (before on-road costs) | Price: $65,690 (before on-road costs) |
| 18-inch alloy wheels (black) | 18-inch alloy wheels and spare |
| Side steps, body-coloured grille, contrast wheel arch mouldings, styling bar | Dark accent grille, two front-mounted tow hooks, black sports bar, front skid plate and black side steps |
| LED exterior lighting | LED exterior lighting |
| Keyless entry and push-button start | Keyless entry and push-button start |
| Leather upholstery with orange stitching, GSR-speicifc carpet floor mats, and u2018Dark titaniumu2019 interior accents and soft padding | Rear disc brakes |
| Power-adjustable driveru2019s seat (manual pasenger) | Leather upholstery on seats, steering wheel, shifter, and two carpet front floor mats |
| Heated front seats | Eight-way power driveru2019s seat and eight-way manual passenger seat with u2018Sportu2019 embossing |
| Two dash-mounted cup holders | Dual-zone climate control with rear seat air vents |
| Dual-zone climate control with rear-seat air vents | DAB+ digital radio |
| DAB+ digital radio | Six-speaker audio system |
| Wireless phone charger | Built-in connected satellite navigation |
| Terrain control | Wireless phone charger |
| Terrain control, with Super Select II 4WD system with 2H, 4H, 4HLc and 4LLC, locking rear differential | Six rotary select drive modes (normal, eco, slippery, tow/haul, sand, mud/ruts) and off-road screen |
| Rear privacy glass | Auto-dimming rear-view mirror |
| Auto-dimming rear-view mirror | Electronic parking brake |
| 360-camera and reverse autonomous emergency braking | Tray bed liner, 12-volt socket, tub illumination, power tailgate lock. |
| Tray bed liner | Tow bar, tongue, and integrated brake controller |
It’s not as cheap and cheerful as the fifth-gen ute, costing between $3250 more in base GLX 4×2 guise and $6900 extra in GSR flagship trim.
Still, the Thai-built Triton retains an edge over the Ford Ranger when it comes to the dual cab range as you can see in the table below.
| 2024 Mitsubishi Triton variant | Pricing (before on-road costs) | 2024.5 Ford Ranger variant | Pricing (before on-road costs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLX 4×2 dual-cab pick-up | $43,690 | XL dual-cab pick-up 2.0TD 4×2 auto | $43,280 |
| GLX+ 4×4 club-cab pick-up | $50,340 | XL super-cab cab-chassis 2.0TD 4×4 auto | $50,480 |
| GLX 4×4 dual-cab pick-up | $50,940 | XL dual-cab pick-up 2.0TTD 4×4 auto | $54,380 |
| GLX+ 4×4 dual-cab pick-up | $53,290 | XLS dual-cab pick-up 2.0TTD 4×4 auto | $57,380 |
| GLS 4×4 dual-cab pick-up | $59,090 (Leather + $1500) | XLT dual-cab pick-up 2.0TTD / 3.0 TDV6 4×4 auto | $63,390 / $67,590 |
| GSR 4×4 dual-cab pick-up | $63,840 | Sport dual-cab pick-up 2.0TTD / 3.0 TDV6 4×4 auto | $65,690 / $70,090 |
| – | – | Wildtrak dual-cab pick-up 2.0TTD / 3.0TDV6 4×4 auto | $69,390 / $73,590 |
| – | – | Platinum dual-cab pick-up 3.0TD V6 4×4 auto | $79,390 |
It’s yet to see if Mitsubishi will invest in grades to rival Ford’s ritzy Ranger Platinum and off-road focused Wildtrak X for the new Triton.
The proof remains in the pudding, and that will be revealed in mid-late February once we’ve experienced the new sixth-gen Triton both on and off road.
Lexus Australia has announced the LX Sports Luxury will now be available with a three-row configuration for both the LX500d diesel and LX600 petrol variants.
Compared to the five-seat LX Sports Luxury, seven-seat models – which command a $2600 premium – receive an automatic folding third-row, extended curtain airbag coverage, and rear USB-C ports on either side of the third-row seats.
However, the seven-seat LX600 Sports Luxury loses the tonneau parcel shelf, while the seven-seat LX500d Sports Luxury deletes the soft-close doors and 30-litre auxiliary fuel tank fitted to the five-seat model.
There are no other specification changes for the 2024 Lexus LX – the luxury sibling to the Toyota LandCruiser 300 launched in fourth-generation form at the start of 2022 – though prices have increased by $5500 for all carryover variants.
The LX line-up now starts at $157,061 before on-road costs for the entry-level LX500d seven-seat and rises to $219,061 plus on-roads for the LX600 Ultra Luxury four-seater.
| Model | Pricing | Change |
|---|---|---|
| LX500d seven-seat | $157,061 | up $5500 |
| LX600 seven-seat | $160,561 | up $5500 |
| LX500d Sports Luxury five-seat | $174,061 | up $5500 |
| LX500d Sports Luxury seven-seat | $176,661 | new |
| LX600 Sports Luxury five-seat | $177,561 | up $5500 |
| LX500d F Sport five-seat | $180,061 | up $5500 |
| LX600 Sports Luxury seven-seat | $181,361 | new |
| LX600 F Sport five-seat | $183,561 | up $5500 |
| LX600 Ultra Luxury four-seat | $219,061 | up $5500 |
| Prices exclude on-road costs.u00a0 | ||
| 2024 Lexus LX (entry model) features | |
|---|---|
| 20-inch alloy wheels | Leather-accented seats with Shimamoku wood ornamentation |
| 12.3-inch (multimedia) and 7-inch (climate and vehicle settings) infotainment displays | 10-way driver and 8-way front passenger seat power adjustment |
| u2018Hey, Lexusu2019 natural speech recognition | Heated front seats |
| DAB+ digital radio | Power-adjustable third-row seats |
| Built-in satellite navigation | Tri-beam LED headlights |
| Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Adaptive high-beam system |
| 25-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system | Wireless phone charger |
| 8-inch digital instrument cluster | Six-mode drive system (auto, dirt, sand, mud, deep snow and rock) |
| Four-zone climate control with NanoeX air purification | Three-mode active height control system (Normal, High 1 and High 2) |
| Colour head-up display | Four exterior cameras |
| Lexus Connected Services (automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle tracking and SOS call functionality) | Tyre pressure monitoring |
| In addition to LX | |
|---|---|
| 22-inch forged alloy wheels | Heated steering wheel |
| Unique grille with floating lateral bars | Centre console-mounted cool box |
| u2018Takanoha’ three-layer wooden mosaic ornamentation | Digital rear-view mirror |
| Twin 11.6-inch rear screens | Soft-close doors |
| Front and rear-outboard seat heating and ventilation | Fingerprint identification for the engine start button |
| In addition to Sports Luxury | |
|---|---|
| Unique 22-inch forged alloy wheels | Sports seats with exclusive upholstery colours |
| Jet-black mesh grille and black-plated grille frame | Rear Torsen limited-slip differential |
| Satin-plated moulding | Front and rear performance dampers |
| Hadori aluminium ornamentation | Adaptive variable suspension |
| Aluminium pedals and scuff plates | Unique electric power steering tune |
| Perforated leather-accented steering wheel and gear shifter | |
| In addition to Sports Luxury | |
|---|---|
| Independent, electrically adjustable and heated/ventilated second-row seats | Rear wireless phone charger |
| Seatback with up to 48-degree recline | Walnut brown ornamentation |
| Independently adjustable ottoman with two-position memory | Optional sunflare leather upholstery |
| Five-stage massage function | |
| 22-inch alloy wheels | Hands-free electric tailgate |
| Glass sunroof |
| 2024 Lexus LX available colours | |
|---|---|
| Sonic quartz (entry, Sports Luxury, Ultra Luxury) | White nova (F Sport) |
| Graphite black | Onyx black |
| Liquid metal | Titanium grey |
| Khaki metal | |
| 2024 Lexus LX interior colours | |
|---|---|
| LX500d/LX600 | White, black, crimson or hazel with u2018Shimamokuu2019 wood ornamentation |
| Sports Luxury | White, black, crimson or hazel with u2018Takanohau2019 wood ornamentation |
| F Sport | Black/aluminium or flare red/aluminium |
| Ultra Luxury | Black/walnut brown or sunflare/walnut brown |
For the LX600, it scores a 3.5-litre, twin-turbo V6 petrol, developing more power than the diesel at 305kW, but with a dip in torque to 650Nm.
Both engines send power to the road via a full-time four-wheel-drive system and a 10-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox, equipped with a low-range transfer case.
With a 110-litre fuel capacity, the LX500d has a potential maximum driving range of 1447 kilometres.
All variants score a trailer wiring harness and towing hitch, allowing the LX to tow up to 3500 kilograms braked.
| 2024 Lexus LX fuel consumption | ||
|---|---|---|
| LX500d | 8.9L/100km | 235g/km |
| LX600 | 12.1L/100km | 275g/km |
However, the related Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series scored five stars in testing conducted in 2022 – except the ‘unrated’ GR Sport variant.
The Lexus LX has 10 airbags (dual front, front side, rear side, curtain, and front knee).
| 2024 Lexus LX active safety features | |
|---|---|
| Autonomous emergency braking (vehicle, pedestrian, daytime cyclist, intersection) | Blind-spot alert |
| Lane-keep assist | Rear cross-traffic alert |
| Lane departure warning | Traffic sign recognition |
| Lane-trace assist | Adaptive cruise control |
| Emergency steering assist | |
The Lexus LX measures 5090-5100mm long, 1990mm wide and 1895mm tall, with a 2850mm wheelbase.
Seven-seat LX variants have a 174-litre luggage capacity with all seats in place, rising to 1871L with the second and third-row seats down. Five-seat models have between 1109 and 1960 litres of space, while the four-seat Ultra Luxury is listed at 767L.
It has three years of capped-price servicing, costing $595 for each of the first six scheduled services with service intervals of six months/10,000km, whichever occurs first.
Also included is a three-year membership to the Lexus Encore Platinum owner benefits program, which includes Lexus on Demand that allows members to borrow another Lexus to suit their needs or when travelling interstate or to New Zealand on four occasions, for up to eight days.
Members also get eight valet parking passes to use at select Westfield shopping centres around Australia and Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne.
We enjoyed many adventures in the past and elder readers may remember some of them back in the early 1970s when we pioneered 4×4 adventures across the tropics before they became trendy.
Long drives on sealed roads are boring for dirt-road junkies like me, but there are always side tracks that terminate on natural attractions and the Savannah Way has many – the Mount Surprise Lava Tubes of the Undara Volcanic NP, Cobbold Gorge, Cumberland Mine, Leichhardt Lagoon, and mining ruins about Forsyth, Georgetown and Croydon. These were once roaring boomtowns during the gold rushes in the late 1880s.
Several years have passed since I last took this route, and I noted that many campsites have sprung up along the highway. Local councils and land holders have given up and reluctantly accepted that travellers will need somewhere for a break. Some streams now have bush campsites that are maintained by councils who have recognised the value of travellers. No facilities are available, but that is what bush camping is about…
Talaroo Station was purchased by the National Reserve System and handed over to the Ewamian people in 2013, followed by some serious expenditure to improve access to the springs by the public. The once-thriving cattle station has been de-stocked to return the country to its former natural splendour, devoid of stock and feral animals.
Talaroo Station is part of the Ewamian people’s country, which covers a huge area of the northwest Gulf country, extending from the Mitchell River to the north, and the upper Gilbert and Einasleigh Rivers, including Georgetown, Forsyth, Einasleigh and Mount Surprise.
Talaroo Station covers some 31,500ha on the Einasleigh River, a large sandy stream. To its owners it’s a living cultural landscape, alive with dreaming stories that centre about the springs that showcase the Ewamian people’s hospitality where they share their culture and stories with visitors.
Turn to the right and follow the ring road out to the Information Office, which also has a booking venue and café. Ranging out from it is a neat campground and caravan park with both powered and unpowered sites, and if you want some luxury for the night, comfortable eco tents.
There are campground bathroom facilities, shared by all, camp kitchen, barbecues, benched seating, and vehicle parking. There are currently no generator campsite areas, while pets must be restrained.
Sharon proved to be a wealth of information and is very enthusiastic about what has been achieved here so far and the plans to open more attractions in the future. While there are plans of extended tours about the station, guests are currently restricted to a 7km self-guided bike/walk trail that starts at the campgrounds and loops about cultural sites that feature scar trees. It’s suitable for all ages, but mountainbikes do make the track easier to negotiate.
Freshwater crocodiles are present, but estuarine crocodiles are taking back their former territories and it will only be a matter of time before the once-safe swimming holes will no longer be so in the Queensland tropics, and the huge perennial pools of the Einasleigh River are no exception.
There is a 90-minute informative, easy, three-times daily walking tour available that is operated by Ewamian rangers, part of the Savannah Guides group. The tour takes you into the heart of the Talaroo Nature Reserve and the springs.
Take a plunge in the healing waters of the springs, possible even in the cool climes of the inland dry season. There are also four private soak spas and a communal bath pool available, which are included in day tours.
There is a lot on offer for birdwatchers with more than 90 species having been recorded here, with more seasonal sightings to come. Agile wallabies, red kangaroos, dingoes and reptiles are common, as one would assume in a wilderness area like this.
As can be expected in such a unique place, aquatic animals and plants have evolved here that don’t occur anywhere else, though over the years feral pigs and wandering stock, even unthinking people, have damaged the spring site, but it’s recovering with fencing protecting this valuable natural asset.
To protect the fragile rocks and its ecosystem the only access is with a guided tour or by arrangement. A boardwalk stretches across the main springs, which are classified as ‘mound’ springs due to the build-up of calcareous terraces that have formed into cone-shaped mounds.
The Talaroo mounds range up to 10m high and cover an area of some 2400m². There are four vents where water and bubbles flow out. Luna vent is the highest while Wallaby vent is the lowest. Spirit and Fossil vents are farther away from the others and not accessed from the boardwalk.
Blue green algae are also present. As with other springs the flows vary considerably with full moon phases and the wet season having the highest. The flows are driven by heat and pressure deep within the earth’s subsurface.
Mound Springs are unique in Australia. Unlike others, Talaroo is one of only two mound springs in the country that are not fed by waters from the Great Australian Artesian Basin, but from a source within the earth.
The water from the main springs is 68°C, almost hot enough to make coffee. The only other hot water like this is from an artesian bore on Augustus Station on the Leichhardt River and the well-known Burketown bore. Other springs have an average temperature of about 30/33°C or less.
Once on the surface the water cools rapidly and the spa and main pool downstream have a comfortable warm temperature that heals the body and calms the mind. The wonderful relaxing bathing in geothermal mineral waters have long been prized for their healing power the world over.
Beside the Indigenous history, the white settlers who established Talaroo Station used the hot springs for bathing and cooking.
It’s great to see this amazing attraction is again available to the public. For many travellers, especially the wandering sun-seeking grey nomads, it’s a respite and welcome break from the busy boring highway. Talaroo Springs campground was well patronised on my all-too brief visit. The rates are very comparable to towns but unlike them you get to experience a bush escape like few others.
Website: www.talaroo.com.au [↗]
Phone: 0456 793 764
Not only is the LC70 designed to do the tough jobs with a minimum of fuss, it is also arguably the last of the old school 4X4s – simple, powerful, and over-engineered in all the right ways.
The 70 is easy to mod into something special too, like following a recipe from a Michelin Star chef where the second step is “chuck it in the microwave for two minutes.” And there’s no step three.
That inherent robustness coupled with the two-minute-noodles ease of modification is what led Mark to build up this delicious Sandy Taupe LC79.
Having owned a 76 Wagon before this dual-cab, he already had a fair idea of what he wanted out of his updated rig… and he’s not the type of bloke to do things by halves, which would be like paying Gordon Ramsay to whip up a bowl of Nutri-Grain for you.
This inclination to do it right, coupled with a near pathological attention to detail, has helped Mark achieve a masterpiece of a build. The closer you look the more you appreciate the ingredients that have been expertly mixed and brought together.
Stedi LEDs have also been integrated to lend a hand should the stock headlights not be up to the task. There’s also a pair of Runva 11XP winches mounted at either end of the chassis should Mark need to recover any mates and not feel like making a U-turn.
Clearview Compact mirrors allow towing of larger trailers for work (Mark’s currently working on an industrial vacuum that’ll outdo the moon’s gravitational pull) while communication duties are catered for by the aerials mounted to the Rhino-Rack Pioneer platform above the cab.
In fact, Mark is somewhat fanatical about his vehicle’s looks to the point that he uses a calcium filter on his garden hose when washing his rig.
So, before the canopy went on he dropped the Cruiser off to the guys at Protect Wraps who covered the rear and roof of the cabin with glass coating, fully rust-protected the frame, covered the entire cabin in PPF, then glass coated over the top before adding the stripes and rear window blackout vinyl, making this arguably the most rust-proofed LandCruiser in the country.
A 300mm chassis stretch has been performed, making the 4-inch lift and 35-inch Baja Boss rubber seem incredibly proportional, almost as if Mark planned it that way. In fact, the vehicle’s entire frame is remarkably different than when it rolled off Toyoda-San’s assembly line.
Before it had even been registered Mark had it delivered to JMACX Engineering where a 4495 Super Chassis kit was fitted, which bumps GVM up to the maximum (on a standard driver’s licence) 4495kg and lengthens the frame.
Oh, and the upgraded diff also features mounts for the five-link suspension arrangement, doing away with the factory leaf springs and swapping in a set of progressively rated, 4-inch taller coils with Airbag Man bags to help the ride remain level no matter what’s being carried or hauled.
JMACX’s own Alpha remote reservoir electronically adjustable shocks are used at all four corners to control the bounce, and the front has been treated to a JMACX brake upgrade too. How do six-pot callipers and larger slotted rotors sound? Like increased safety and supercar-spec stopping performance, we’d say.
Instead, he wanted a usable boost in torque and power without rolling coal or taking a bat to the vehicle’s reliability.
After a not-so-good start with a tuner who didn’t know what he was doing, seeing the fuel usage skyrocket without much of a power increase, Mark was put onto G&L Performance who re-did the tune to a much more satisfactory 250-ish ponies… and more than 660Nm. Just the ticket for pulling heavy machinery along.
Keeping the five-speed spinning is a 1300Nm NPC Performance clutch, which is more than up to the task of soaking up the torque loads.
Rounding out the under-bonnet mods is a Process West catch can, which was installed to stop the oil-heavy crankcase vented gasses from being pumped back into the intake.
Northfield Car Sound in Nundah started by stripping the interior right down and installing sound deadening everywhere that wasn’t a window.
Then the Alpine catalogue was thrown really hard at the dash and nek minute an i905 head unit with 9-inch touchscreen interface, a pair of R2 6x9s, a couple of tweeters, a six-channel amp and a pair of subwoofers had magically fallen into place.
Further interior appointments include the suite of GME comms gear, a couple of Recaro butt-huggers, a NESA 7.3-inch touchscreen rear-view mirror replacement that’s hooked up on a constant feed to the HD camera on the back of the canopy, and a pair of Department of the Interior floor and roof consoles.
Essentially, imagine a stock LC79 interior and picture all of the ways you’d improve it – that’s what Mark has done.
The canopy bolts directly to the frame and has been powder-coated externally in Black Textrue finish, while the inside has been coated white to keep internal temps down. A pair of toolboxes sit on either side of the wheels while the rear roller drawer is completely sealed away from the elements.
The doors are lifted by dual-struts and the whale tail locks are all wired in with the central locking system. A Bush Company Maxx awning is mounted over on the passenger side and the rear wall sees a mount for the spare 35 and a ladder to access the inbuilt roof rack system, as well as a pair of jerry can holders.
Most canopies have a lip where the door seals, for example, but not this one. The floor is flush with the opening, making retrieving gear and opening internal drawers a snap.
The framework has been recessed for the Renogy 3000W inverter, the Joolca hot water system is fitted on its own slide-out, and there’s a custom bench slide-out for the microwave, air-fryer, Nespresso machine and twin induction stove (which is frankly better decked out than my kitchen at home).
It goes without saying that having this much electrical gear onboard necessitated a hell of a battery system, and there are three DCS Compact Lithium batteries that output 180Ah each (if you can’t power your campsite with 540Ah you may need to step away from the PS5, champ).
These are controlled by a Renogy 300A smart shunt (that was specially ordered as they’re yet to be released in Australia) and a Renogy One Core management screen.
There’s also a 240V power inlet for keeping things at max charge when parked up at home.
And yep, there’s still plenty of storage inside the canopy too. Just goes to show that the perfect 4X4 is not unachievable – the devil is in the detail.
The skinny rear diff, the ultra-stiff leaf springs, the wheelbase (particularly in the dual-cabs) that doesn’t seem to be quite enough, the GVM that’s really not that amazing…
Don’t get us wrong, the 70 Series Cruiser is still the go-to for Aussie workhorses, but like Mark, there are a few things you can do to make them tick all the boxes.
There are a few options for widening the rear LC70 rear axle, and most of them increase the diff housing’s load bearing limits too.
Some use spacers (which are illegal), and some use more negatively offset rims (which can flog out your bearings pretty quick), but to do the job properly a full replacement housing and axles are the way to go.
It costs a chunk of change, but again, aftermarket housings are usually exceptionally high quality and offer higher load limits, so it’s money well-spent.
You may not think that swapping the leaves out for coils would do you any favours when it comes to load carrying, but you’d be wrong.
Coils offer a heap of advantages both on and off-road and with the correct spring rate (or with the addition of airbags) you can easily tailor them to suit the weights you’re working with.
Leaves are great at load carrying but can be a severe compromise for anything else. Coils take a little more work to dial in but can be made to work incredibly well for just about any purpose.
There are a lot of advantages to stretching the chassis from an engineering standpoint. The first is it moves more weight in between your axles, improving the mass distribution.
It also increases ride comfort (there’s a reason limos are so long), especially over corrugations, plus adds stability on hill climbs. You do lose out on rampover angle, but for a tourer, who really cares? The gains far outweigh any lost belly clearance.
Gross vehicle mass is a buzzword in modern vehicles, mainly because it’s shockingly easy to exceed the factory GVM ratings (in some cases) with nothing more than full tanks, a few passengers, some bar work, a couple mods and a camper in tow.
Once again, the aftermarket has come to the rescue with specially designed suspension, and occasionally chassis reinforcement, kits that allow you to legally bump up your rig’s load-carting ability.
A must-do if you’re towing heavy or like to bring your entire household along for your weekend away. We ain’t judging.
All of the above will require signing off by an approved signatory for your state’s motoring authority; aka it’ll need to be engineered.
Because Australia has design rules and state-by-state legislation for the modifications for motor vehicles that may as well have been written by a dyslexic chimp slapping arbitrarily at a typewriter, how each individual engineer chooses to interpret these laws will vary wildly.
Best bet is to do it through a company, like AMVE, who will have its own contacts and know exactly what needs to happen to make everything legal, saving you time and money in the long run.
