Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo Ute.

Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo Ute

From $41,190 plus on-road and dealer costs. 4.0-litre turbo 6-cyl; 270kW/533Nm; 6-sp auto; 12.4L/100km and 292g/km CO2; RWD

Value
Part-powered driver's seat, single-zone climate control, 8.0-inch colour touchscreen; Bluetooth integration with audio streaming; auto headlights; alloy sports bar; foglights; 18-inch alloy wheels; steel spare wheel. Four airbags and stability control. Six-speed auto adds $2000.

Inside
White-on-black trip computer illumination and cool blue instrument glow look more premium and auto gearlever looks and feels nicer. Steering wheel buttons don't illuminate at night and driver's seat positioned too high. Like the Holden, overall design is beginning to get on a bit.

Engine
Unleashes its greater power and torque like an elastic band, albeit after a moment's unnerving hesitation. Intuitive six-speed auto slurs shifts nicely and trumps the SS's gearbox.

How it drives
Manic power delivery makes it far easier to break traction, especially in the wet. Sports suspension delivers firm yet controlled ride and stellar handling.

Practicality
Auto-equipped model has greater braked towing capacity (2300 kilograms versus Holden's 1600kg) with optional tow bar but has smaller payload (570kg versus 598kg) and tray dimensions.

Verdict
Leads on value and feels more premium inside but that sledgehammer blow as the turbo clocks on can make the Falcon a handful.