GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #44 | Page 31

RV FEATURE
THE BIG FIVE
There are five key US utes available in Australia : the Ford F-150 , RAM 1500 , HSV Silverado , Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra . We ’ re comparing two fresh models , which are due on our shores soon , with the existing players .
The all-new RAM ‘ DT Series ’ 1500 will arrive in Australian showrooms by the new year . It ’ s an all-new model , with improved infotainment and safety features . An already unveiled 2021 Ford F-150 goes on sale in the US later this year , and is likely to arrive here late in 2021 .
The current DS Series 2020 RAM 1500 ( and new DT Series , when it arrives ) and 2020 HSV Silverado 1500 are converted by Walkinshaw for RAM Trucks Australia and HSV respectively , both offical local agents for these trucks . The rest are converted and complied by a number of local conversion companies .
The only current price we could nail down was for the HSV : the rest are estimates . First , the F-150 and DS Series RAM are not on sale yet , so we ’ ve had to take a stab on their pricing . As for the others , there are so many varieties of models and options imported by the various conversions / sales companies that getting an exact price is not straightforward .
Comparing direct , like-for-like specs between these utes is also difficult because , for some models at least , there are literally thousands of different configurations available ex-USA – and local conversion companies tend to import what individual customers want . So unlike offical imports , there isn ’ t a strict standard specification in terms of features and options .
However , as they are expensive vehicles by the time they are shipped and converted , they tend to have many of the options boxes ticked . Expect features such as a large-screen infotainment system , rear camera , leather seats , alloy wheels and traction control . Safety tech , such as AEB , stability control , lane departure warning , blind-spot detection and more , are also what you ’ d expect to see on these $ 100K-plus utes .
There has been a lot of talk about Ford , Nissan and Toyota bringing in their respective models in an offical capacity . If they do , expect sharper pricing than we ’ ve estimated .
The all-new DT Series RAM will arrive in Australian showrooms soon .
/ 31