BATTLE FOR VALUE

WITH THE exception of a small community of doomsday preppers who have already sealed themselves in bunkers under the desert, it is impossible to ignore the rise in popularity of the dual-cab ute. And that’s a shame because, ironically, there’s a thriving segment at the pointy end of the one-tonne market that would really appeal to people who believe Armageddon is upon us.

The highly accomplished Ford Ranger Raptor took one-tonne toughness and off-the-shelf all-terrain ability to a new level and, despite a hefty asking price, people have been flocking to its combination of athleticism and gruff looks. A handful of rivals have responded with toughened versions of more prosaic model lines including Toyota’s Hilux Rugged X and the HSV SportsCat, but nothing has yet challenged Ford’s hulk and won.

Now it’s Nissan’s turn. It might look like another lamb to the slaughter, but