International ute of the year finalists announced
The Isuzu D-Max squares off against the Toyota HiLux and Jeep Gladiator for best in the world honours.
Two of Australia’s most popular dual-cab utes – Isuzu D-Max and Toyota HiLux – are in contention to take out the ‘International Pick-up of the Year 2022‘ gong. The popular duo will be fighting it out with the Jeep Gladiator for overall honours.
The awarded is limited to one-tonne utes, ruling out the larger American style pick-up trucks such as the Ford ‘F trucks’ and Ram pick-ups.
Testing took place in Croatia this year, with judges measuring the finalists against criteria such as the vehicle’s functionality, efficiency and performance.
Previous winners include the Ford Ranger (2020), Volkswagen Amarok (2018) and Nissan Navara (2016).
The award is handed out every second year, as part of the annual International Van of the Year which this year sees 14 light commercial vehicles vying for top honours – including traditional vans like the Fiat Ducato, Renault Kangoo, Mercedes Benz Citan II, and Volkswagen Caddy.
Electric vans are heavily represented too – Citroen e-Berlingo, Peugeot e-Partner, Opel Combo-e, and Toyota Proace City Electric – reflecting the global push to EVs.
“The main criteria for the International Van of the Year Award is the vehicles’ contribution to the efficiency, safety, sustainability and environmental standards of the light commercial vehicle sector,” said Jarlath Sweeney, Chairman, IVOTY. To be eligible, the vehicle must be new, in series production by the end of the year for which it receives the award, and present a significant technological innovation compared to previous generation models.”
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