Latest news with #FordRangerWildtrakPHEV
Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
Revealed: The hidden cost of Australia's ute tax breaks compared to EVs
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring. Followed categories will be added to My News. OPINION: We've all seen the headlines: electric vehicle (EV) tax breaks are costing taxpayers billions. According to Government modelling, the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for EVs, alongside other related perks, is forecast to cost Australians $23.4 billion by 2036. That's a staggering figure, especially when you consider this policy only began in July 2022. As the Productivity Commission highlighted in its second report, the cost of the EV FBT exemption has blown out from an initial forecast of $55 million per year to a staggering $560 million, leading to calls to scrap it. But have you ever wondered about the figures for subsidising big, diesel and fuel-chugging utes over the past decade? Well, that number doesn't exist. RELATED: What Albo's new road tax means for you 2025 Ford Ranger Wildtrak PHEV. Picture: Supplied While policymakers and commentators are lining up to slam EV incentives as 'inefficient' or 'costly', Australia's longstanding love affair with utes is being ignored. HUGE COST OF UTES IGNORED These vehicles, which make up four of the top five best-selling models in the country, are quietly driving away with generous tax perks – and Aussies are paying for it. Under Australia's tax system, commercial vehicles, such as dual-cab utes, can claim a Fringe Benefit Tax exemption, provided they're used 'primarily' for work. But the rules are so vague, that many use utes for personal reasons, which is allowed as long as it's 'minor, infrequent, and irregular'. In reality, many of these utes aren't ferrying tradies and tools. They're doing school drop-off, towing jet skis, and sitting in suburban streets. According to the Australian Institute, there are 1.5 times more utes on the road than there are actual tradies, which suggests a lot of people are claiming a tax break for a 'tool of trade' that's really just a big, comfy family car. MORE: New ute to spark price war Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opening remarks at The Economic Reform Roundtable at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman It's not just FBT, utes also avoid the Luxury Car Tax, even if they cost well over six figures, because technically, they're not 'passenger vehicles'. So you can buy a RAM 1500 and avoid paying LCT, while someone buying a more efficient EV might get slugged. In 2023, high-end American-style utes alone cost Australians over $250 million in foregone revenue from the Luxury Car Tax, according to a report by the Australia Institute. That figure doesn't even count the tax revenue lost from the FBT exemption. Australia Institute research director Rod Campbell said Australia is subsidising 'big, dumb utes by hundreds of millions of dollars each year'. 'These vehicles are damaging roads, reducing safety and increasing emissions, yet they are given a massive tax break,' he said. I'm not ignoring the $23 billion figure attached to EV tax breaks, including FBT exemptions, import tariff relief, and other incentives but these tax breaks are designed to make EV ownership more accessible and affordable, particularly through novated leasing. MORE: Chinese brand moves into Holden's home A driver charging his car at an EV charging station in Caringbah. Picture: Jonathan Ng According to the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association, more than 100,000 Australians have taken up an EV novated lease since mid-2022. These policies are critical to making EVs accessible, especially as the upfront costs are a little higher than petrol and diesel equivalents. These EV tax breaks are part of a broader push by the Federal Government to reach net zero by 2050, with transport making up 20 per cent of national emissions. HALF-PREGNANT APPROACH But the Productivity Commission's report now recommends scrapping the EV FBT exemption, arguing it's too costly and now 'duplicative' with the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES). Sure … the (NVES) will encourage automakers to import cleaner cars into the market, but that's only half the battle. If consumers aren't incentivised to buy them, nothing changes. You need both; one brings supply, the other brings demand. BYD electric cars for export waiting to be loaded onto a ship at a port in Yantai, in eastern China's Shandong province. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT As the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) noted, without continued consumer support, the 'continuation of current customer buying preferences will inevitably lead to the accrual of substantial penalties.' Automakers can't just absorb these costs; they will likely have to raise prices on popular models, reduce their availability, or exit the market altogether. Countries that have successfully transitioned to high EV adoption rates such as Norway, have almost always used both strong efficiency standards and generous consumer incentives. Relying solely on one or the other often leads to slower progress. So if we're serious about being fair and decarbonising the transport sector, then shouldn't we be looking at everything? Including utes. So why are we ignoring the ute loophole? Is it because it's politically uncomfortable? Talking about utes means comforting one of Australia's most beloved vehicle segments. Tradies vote and Aussies rely on them. If the Federal Government decides to pull EV tax breaks now, while leaving the ute loophole wide open, that's like turning off a light in a room and calling it a major win for energy efficiency. We need better policy and smarter decisions. Originally published as EV cuts loom while Aussies pay for ute tax
Courier-Mail
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
Ford Ranger Stormtrak Hybrid review
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. Twigs snap and gravel crunches under the all-terrain tyres of Ford's Ranger hybrid as we climb a rocky slope in the bush. Birds sing, leaves rustle in the breeze, and the calm voice of an off-road expert standing outside the car offers quiet coaching through a particularly tricky trail. I can hear all of this because there's no sound from the engine. Instead, it glides through the territory on battery power alone, moving with a grace that brings you closer to the surrounding environment. There's a precision to this hybrid-electric setup rarely found in the noisy, laggy motors of conventional utes. Smooth and silent, it offers fine throttle control off-road, allowing you to carefully apply power to get where you need to go. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY It might be Ford's best option for low-speed off-roading. And the experience improves when you arrive. Power points encourage you to plug in appliances and enjoy a touch of comfort when far from home. Ford demonstrated this with afternoon tea powered by a pie oven, kettle, toasted sandwich maker and espresso machine in a remote forest. 2025 Ford Ranger Wildtrak PHEV. Picture: Supplied MORE: Musk's Tesla dream going up in smoke Like taking a powered caravan site everywhere you go, the Ranger's 'Pro Power Onboard' system has two 15-amp outlets in the tray and a 10-amp outlet in the cabin. It will charge a tradie's tools on the worksite, or keep your home fridge and microwave in action during a blackout. These achievements are made possible by a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and battery. The petrol motor makes 138kW and 411Nm, while the electric motor and battery claim 75kW of power and 11.8kWh of storage. This combination is good for maximum outputs of 207kW and 697Nm, figures that put it ahead of conventional utes, but behind Chinese rivals such as the GWM Cannon and BYD Shark. The Ranger is arguably a better car than those though it is definitely more expensive. Priced from $71,990 plus on-road costs in basic XLT form (think cloth seats and old yellow halogen headlights) to $86,990 plus on-roads in range-topping Stormtrak form (leather, matrix LED lights and loads of accessories), it certainly isn't cheap. Ford Ranger Stormtrak PHEV can wade through 800mm of water, claims peak payload up to 973 kilograms, and can do remarkable things off-road. Picture: Supplied MORE: 'Brutal' Aussie fave a 'gift from the Gods' Customers need to spend about $10,000 more than four-cylinder Rangers, or $5000 more than V6 versions. Smoother and quieter than those cars, the hybrid delivers effortless progress whether you're accelerating to pass slower traffic, or slogging through stop-start traffic in town. Ford reckons a fully charged Ranger is good for almost 50 kilometres of electric driving range. Claimed fuel economy is just 2.7L/100km though like all plug-in hybrids, that figure doesn't reflect real-world use. Short commutes can be completed without using a drop of fuel, while interstate road trips could return double-digit consumption. Especially if you take advantage of the Ranger hybrid's 3.5 tonne towing capability. That figure is an important one to Ford engineers who insisted the green Ranger should retain the same core capability as its combustion cousins. That means it can wade through 800mm of water, claims peak payload up to 973 kilograms, and can do remarkable things off-road. Interior cabin of 2025 Ford Ranger Stormtrak PHEV. Picture: Supplied MORE: Huge question mark over 'illegal' car While some rivals feel as though they were rushed to market accompanied by a promise to improve with running changes, this Ranger feels like the finished article. Its off-road ability is helped by Ford's decision to place the electric motor between the motor and transmission, which means it can make the most of a 10-speed automatic transmission and a low-range transfer case that give you incredible leverage in the rough stuff. Simple drive modes work in its favour. There's no mystery to EV Now, EV Later, EV Charge and Auto EV settings that let you drive on battery power, preserve the current battery level, use the petrol engine as a generator to charge the battery, or let the car sort itself out. And the core Ranger elements are all here the modern cabin, impressive ergonomics and thoughtful practicality that have made the blue oval's pick-up Australia's favourite car for the last two years. Verdict hhhhk Hybrid technology makes Australia's best ute even better. The Ford Ranger PHEV shows that the path ahead for pick-ups is cleaner, quieter and smarter than yesterday's diesel models. Originally published as Ford's latest PHEV is a serious contender
