Australians love big cars. The bestselling model for the past six years has been the Toyota Hilux, a two-tonne pick-up truck with space to throw a surfboard in the back.
It weighs as much as two Vauxhall Corsas, with a 2.8-litre diesel engine that belches about twice as much carbon dioxide as Britain’s favourite car.
It is as popular among suburbanites on the school run as it is with farmers, tradesmen and surfers, as are numerous other “utes” — Australian slang for a two or four-door pick-up truck with an open cargo tray in the rear instead of a boot.
