In our road tests – and the ute mega test – we need to rate every aspect of each vehicle, even if some elements are less important than others for individual buyers. For example, we rightly praised the Isuzu D-Max for its long list of advanced safety technology (even though its unnecessary intervention bugged us much of the time), the Toyota HiLux for its phenomenal off-road ability (and important details such as under-bonnet space for a second battery), and the Ford Ranger for overall refinement (relatively speaking). However, what mattered to me most was V6 power, permanent all-wheel-drive grip, four-wheel-disc brakes, a wide cabin, and a large ute tub.