Your questions answered: Should I buy a Ford Ranger or an EV to tow a 1.4t trailer?

This week we’ve got one reader tossing up between a Ford Ranger and something EV as they consider their driving needs, which includes towing a 1.4-tonne camper trailer around Australia.

And another would-be ute buyer is wondering whether the newly-arrived Toyota HiLux GR Sport is worth jumping into.

There’s also no shortage of EV interest across other segments, including whether we’ll have viable hot hatches powered solely by electricity – and exactly how much the uber-cool Volkswagen ID. Buzz will cost.

Then there’s someone who is looking to buy their first EV – but not one from the home of Elon Musk.

Question:

Answer: If by lap you’re talking lap of the country then we’d be edging you towards the Ford Ranger. It has a spare tyre, for starters, and will obviously be easier to keep moving due to the ease of refuelling versus recharging.

Don’t get us wrong, you can make the road trip EV thing work with planning and time, which it sounds like you have. But there are challenges.

One of those challenges is what you’d buy for up to about $70K– and what can manage your towing needs. The Tesla Model Y SUV is a frontrunner, which has a factory tow pack for lugging loads up to 1600kg. A Hyundai IONIQ 5 or Kia EV6 will also manage loads up to 1800kg, depending on the model. But none of these will venture far off-road, which is part of the appeal of remote area travel.

I don’t know much about the hydrogen to diesel technology other than what I’ve read online. Obviously the big challenge is getting hold of hydrogen, something that is also making things tough for fuel-cell electric vehicles.

And while the tech looks as though it can significantly reduce the CO2 impact of an internal combustion engine (assuming it’s being fuelled with green hydrogen), it can’t turn around the inherent inefficiencies of an ICE. Only about one third of the energy goes into moving the vehicle, with the rest effectively lost, most of it in heat.

As for whether a ute bought today will be economical to own by the mid-2030s, there’s not an economist who could accurately predict that – let alone us. The biggest factor is the price of fuel and where it’s heading (which appears to be only in one direction), which no one has ever accurately predicted in the past.

If fuel prices surge then obviously it makes cars powered by petrol or diesel less appealing. But, again, it’s anyone’s guess…

Question:

Answer: The Toyota HiLux GR Sport is the replacement for the Rugged X at the top of the HiLux line-up. It’s a decent addition, with a bit more grunt and more off-road nous.

But it’s not the game changer that something like a Ford Ranger Raptor is (which, to be fair, is in a different league from a price perspective).

In short, the GR Sport builds on the successful HiLux formula but doesn’t shift the needle in the ute segment.

For that you’re better off looking at the Ford Ranger, in particular the Wildtrak X. It’s got a heap more tech, more space, better driving credentials and more.

Also keep in mind that the current HiLux is towards the end of its current lifecycle. Car-makers typically try to get about 10 years out of a ute and the current-shape HiLux went on sale in 2015. So we’d be expecting an all-new HiLux – complete with a heap more tech and the option of an electrified drivetrain – around 2025.

Question:

Answer: Owner’s manuals don’t always deal with reality in some of the recommendations they make. That said, tyres are obviously an extremely important part of the car and should be in roadworthy condition before any drive. Tyres are also porous so will naturally lose a tiny bit of pressure over time, so regular checks of some sort are mandatory.

How often you check your tyres really depends how you’re using the car and what has happened to the car. If you’re driving on gravel a lot, for example, then regular checks are important. Similarly, if you’ve driven through potholes or hit a gutter then some sort of inspection is recommended.

But if you have tyre pressure sensors (which is sounds like you do) and are just driving regularly then we’d be leaving it to the people who service your car to let you know if there are any issues.

Question: I looooove love love the look of the new electric Kombi (although I notice VW can’t bring themselves to call it a Kombi). Anyway, do you have any idea how much it will cost? – Jane T

Answer: The Volkswagen ID. Buzz, as VW calls it, is certainly a fantastic-looking car (and van). The company will do commercial van versions of it as well as people-movers, which Volkswagen thinks could even tempt Aussies out of the SUVs they seemingly can’t get enough of.

As for how much it will cost, we’re not sure, although we’ve had enough nods and winks to know it won’t be cheap. We drove it recently and expect it to be north of $100,000, which certainly takes away some of the flower power gloss…

Question: It seems we’re all getting forced into EVs quicker than we’d maybe hoped. As someone who’s driven a Subaru WRX for the past eight years I’m concerned we won’t have access to hot hatches (or sedans) like that any more. Will we see electric versions of these cars in future? – Linden S

Answer: Not sure we’re being forced into EVs. In some market segments – especially mid-size SUVs – there seems to be a lot of people very keen to take the electric plunge.

As for hot hatches – or pocket rockets… if it’s performance you’re after then you have absolutely nothing to worry about. There are all manner of dual-motor, all-wheel drive EVs that will embarrass your WRX off the line.

They may not be quite as convincing on full noise around a racetrack, but even then you’d be surprised with what’s available now.

And there’s more to come. At the recent Munich motor show Volkswagen teased an EV version of its Golf GTI and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N gives a fantastic insight into what’s possible with electric motors and some tricky software. And just this week MG announced the price of its MG4 XPOWER, which promises potent performance that will eat most hot hatches for brekky.

So while there may not currently be a direct EV replacement for a WRX on the horizon, rest assured that car-makers haven’t forgotten how to have fun with electric cars. They’re just having to get their engineering heads around how to make it work.

Question:

Answer: There will undoubtedly be better EVs on the market in a few years – and, obviously, beyond that. The electric car tech is still very much in its infancy and car-makers are collectively pouring hundreds of billions of dollars – possibly trillions – into the next breed.

Key to better EVs is more advanced battery technology, something that will continue to evolve for a long time yet.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some terrific options available today. There are some EVs currently outselling thoroughly respectable petrol-powered alternatives – and they’re doing it because they make a compelling offer.

So assuming an EV suits your circumstances, we’d be more than happy recommending some of the current crop.

Question:

Answer: The old find-me-an-EV-that’s-not-a-Tesla. You’re by no means alone with that sentiment. It seems the bloke who could be described as a flawed genius manages to get a lot of people offside, which is a shame, because Tesla has some very convincing offerings.

As for alternatives, check out the Polestar 2. Like the Tesla Model 3, it’s not perfect, but the recent switch of the base car from front- to rear-wheel drive has transformed it and turned a good car into a great one.

Also check out a Kia EV6 – the carsales Car of the Year for 2022 – and Hyundai IONIQ 5, which was carsales’ 2021 COTY and will soon enter its 2024 model year with another update.

The BYD Atto 3 is also worth a look.

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at editor@carsales.com.au

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