Top five advice stories of 2021

We publish hundreds of advice articles every year, from Buying Used and What You Need To Know stories on particular models, to Your Questions Answered and Tech Tips stories covering a broader range of auto topics.

But there’s one advice story that remains head and shoulders above all others when it comes to popularity, and in an automotive year marked by COVID-related stock shortages it attracted more readers than the four next most-read advice stories combined.

1. New Car Calendar

Our comprehensive New Car Calendar is always the most viewed advice article – and one of the most popular stories, period – on carsales in any given year, and it was no different in 2021, when NCC attracted almost a quarter of a million clicks.

Why? Because it lists every significant new model coming to Australia and when, in alphabetical order with links to our most recent story. If you are waiting for something in particular, or don’t want to buy a car that will be superseded soon, this is where to click.

Read the New Car Calendar now

2. Five 4x4s to buy instead of a Toyota LandCruiser

When pricing and waiting lists for the new Toyota LandCruiser were revealed, we figured it was time to point out some commendable alternatives to paying big bucks and waiting many months for a new 300 Series.

Clearly that resonated with our readers, about 50,000 of whom were keen to investigate their options.

Read the Five 4x4s to buy instead of a Toyota LandCruiser

3. What are the best SUVs for towing?

Doing the Big Lap of our enormous continent with caravan in tow has long been a rite of passage for many Aussies, and the number of them has increased since lockdowns were eased and overseas travel remains off limits.

But whether it’s a van, a boat or a float, plenty of you were keen to learn which SUVs we recommend for hauling them.

See what the best SUVs for towing are?

4. Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series: What You Need to Know

It may have been on sale for 14 years, but interest in the recently superseded Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series has never been higher.

Our WYNTK story on the old LandCruiser was the fourth most-read advice article in 2021 – a year in which asking prices for used examples of the V8-powered LC200 hit a dizzying $280K.

What You Need to Know about the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series

5. Best wagons to buy now

Once upon a time – before utes and SUVs became de rigueur – wagon versions of the homegrown Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore were the go-to cars for the average Aussie family.

But as we pointed out in our fifth most popular advice story of 2021, there are still plenty of attractive wagon options out there for families who don’t want the extra running costs of an equivalent SUV.

Find out what are the best wagons to buy now

Honourable mentions to