FORD RANGER 

The Ford Ranger has had a busy couple of years since 2018. Ranger has seen top spot for the largest part of 2019 and by a margin of at least 1500 units. Ranger has also seen significant safety upgrades – Autonomous Emergency Braking, pedestrian detection, lane keeping with driver alert, traffic sign recognition and auto high beam. Ranger’s engine options now include a 2.2-litre, the more common 3.2-litre, five-cylinder, and for Wildtrak and Raptor – the bi-turbo, 2-litre mated to a 10-speed automatic first seen in 2018. As to Ranger Raptor – the genuine article as opposed to the cosmetic ones – Ford’s performance ute has had a significant impact on the market, though few have risen to the challenge of producing a rival. 

GREAT WALL STEED 

The 2019 year has been a good one for the Great Wall brand, if registrations are any indication. Last year, Great Wall did see a revamp of the Steed which has now steered away from the previous model’s somewhat dated styling cues and replaced it with a far more contemporary look to the double cab ute especially. The changes have clearly been well received, especially when coupled to the ute’s sub-$30k call-to-action pricing. Great Wall’s marketing spend has also increased which has no doubt contributed to the brand’s increase in registrations. Great Wall Steeds feature a 1000kg payload and are powered by either a 2-litre turbodiesel for the 4x2 models and a 2.4-litre petrol for the 4x4 double cab.

FOTON TUNLAND 

Registration numbers for Tunland have not been as strong as they could have or should have been, considering the ute’s price point, appointment and ride quality which is arguably the best of its rivals. Yes, the New Zealand market has seen a downturn but even taking that into account, Tunland’s fortunes here have not been as great as it should be, which could be attributed to a number of factors, none of which however, relate to the ute itself, which is ultimately an amalgamation of quality components from well-recognised and reputable suppliers. Tunland currently has one hero vehicle – the TS1 2WD dual cab – with two 4WD dual cabs (one automatic, one manual) and a one manual 2WD dual cab completing the very good value for money proposition range offering. 

HOLDEN COLORADO 

Consistently holding a fourth-place position in popularity, the Colorado has become something of a mainstay vehicle as far as Holden is concerned. Big news for 2019 is the development of the one-off Colorado Rox, a specialised promotional vehicle developed by Holden New Zealand in conjunction with New Zealand aftermarket design and build specialists, RVE. The Rox’s development follows on from last year’s release of the Colorado Extreme – a factory upgrade for those wanting to add distinction to their ute of choice. At the same time as the Rox was launched, Holden New Zealand introduced a range of factory accessory packs (Tradie, Black, Farm and Rig) to enhance Colorado’s capabilities and appeal to the widest range of New Zealand consumers.  

ISUZU D-MAX 

Isuzu’s D-Max has clearly been accepted by the New Zealand market and while the ute built by a truck maker has managed to break the glass ceiling of 1000 units sold before the end of the year, there is still a way to go before it breaks into the top five. One of the challenges the Isuzu ute brand has in this regard is the overall excellence of the ute, which precludes significant upgrades – a case of “íf it’s not broken, don’t fix it.’’ Throughout 2019 however, D-Max has seen cosmetic upgrades which has served to keep interest in the brand more than alive and Isuzu Utes New Zealand also launched its competitive three- year comprehensive warranty programme across its comprehensive range of vehicles.  

MAHINDRA PIK-UP 

It’s still early days for the Mahindra brand in this country since it only launched back in March. The perceived hero for the brand is the SUV, but the real showboat is the ‘ugly truckling’ Pik-Up. All Mahindra Pik Ups have 4WD systems with an Eaton differential lock. All have a manual six-speed transmission and a 2.2-litre diesel engine. The Pik Up comes as a single cab chassis unit or as two double cabs (the S6 and the improved spec’ S10). The Pik-Up has been refreshed from those who might remember that Mahindra has been here before and, while it is still far removed from the appearance of contemporary utilities, the cabin design is extremely practical and surprisingly roomy. 

LDV T60 

The last corner of the Chinese utility vehicles represented in New Zealand and arguably, the most successful of the brands. The T-60 was a late arrival and to a degree had its road already paved in terms of what New Zealand buyers had come to expect of Chinese utes. The T-60s arrival certainly more than ruffled a few feathers back in 2018, but despite nothing changing with the ute itself – except a rationalisation of specification level – registration numbers have plateaued while the more traditional ute brands have climbed. Still, with a single cab and a double cab with part time 4WD and a high level of specification in both and all models under $30,000, the T-60 will still appeal to many buyers. 

MAZDA BT-50 

It has been a reasonably quiet year for Mazda’s BT-50, with 2019’s Fieldays and a limited time no deposit) per cent finance plan being the only times the ute has made any significant noise to attract attention to itself. Clearly, Mazda dealers are doing right by the ute however, as evidenced by four-digit registrations by the second half of the year. Mazda’s range offering is extensive with a BT-50 for pretty much every application, and there is the added attraction of Mazda’s innovative Mazda commercialcare programme. The BT-50 continues to operate the 3.2, five-cylinder engine across its single, freestyle and double cab body styles, all of which offer 2WD and 4WD drivetrains and a variety of specification levels. 

MERCEDES-BENZ X-CLASS 

It has been a struggle for Mercedes-Benz commercials through 2019 and surprisingly, the earlier arrival of the X-Class utility did little to improve the situation. Perhaps it was the idea of a luxury brand producing a utility vehicle which did not appeal as much as the German brand thought it would. The X-Class is priced if not competitively, then certainly consistently with other manufacturers. Perhaps consumers are looking for a little more from the three-pointed star brand, while the X-Class retains that consistency in pricing. There is certainly no lack of Mercedes-Benz build quality and as far as a progressive product ladder is concerned, the X-Class ticks all the boxes it should and for these reasons, it is at least worthy of consideration. 

NISSAN NAVARA 

A mainstay of the Nissan fleet, the Navara continues to serve in its capacity as an extensive product offering. As far as product ladders are concerned, Navara has something for everyone, be it a manual or automatic, two or 4WD, two, four or five-seater. Nissan continues to fulfil customer needs with the Navara, producing a seemingly endless succession of limited-edition variants and extremely attractive pricing as well as some extremely capable engines which at one time, was the power and torque leader. Even today, the Navara’s engine credentials are not to be sneezed at. Increased competition has taken its toll on Navara however, which has put the strongest suit of the Nissan ute range – the 4x2 – in a consistent fifth place for registrations. 

MITSUBISHI TRITON 

It has been a truly stunning year for Mitsubishi’s revamped – no, reimagined – Triton. The 2019 release has changed the fortunes of a long-standing nameplate with an also-ran history. 2019 has certainly changed that. A new look front end, uprated suspension, higher specification levels and improved ergonomics as well as typically sharp Mitsubishi pricing has certainly struck a chord with Kiwi ute buyers as evidenced by the remarkable climb up the sales tables. Drive and ride quality have shown a demonstrable improvement and has played a not insignificant part in bringing the Triton up from just out of the top five to a consistent top three. In July, Triton managed to achieve almost equal sales in 2WD and 4WD utes, which is almost unheard of. 

SSANGYONG RHINO 

January 2019 saw the official release of the SsangYong Rhino, the replacement – long awaited replacement – for the SsangYong Actyon. Previously introduced in mid-2018 as the Musso, SsangYong NZ changed the name to Rhino, which gave the Korean manufacturer a significant marketing edge, with the brand able to launch its much-improved product with a cause; protection and preservation of the actual African rhinoceros. Meantime, the full Rhino line-up arrived gradually over three to four months with two tray lengths, diesel and petrol variants, six-speed manual or automatic options and a healthy specification ladder. The Rhino also landed at a very attractive price point from the $25,990 entry level, two-litre, petrol 2WD to the top end $43,490 SPR 2.2 litre diesel 4WD.  

TOYOTA HILUX 

Due for yet another upgrade at the end of 2019, the HiLux has had a rough year, relinquishing first and second place in the registration tables. HiLux has of course, seen facelifts and upgrades to keep abreast of the market changes and remain competitive, but not all of these have struck chords with all the Toyota faithful. The double cabs are clearly where Toyota sees the market with an astonishing 24 model variants to choose from in that body-style alone – then there are six single cabs and 3 extra cabs covering the complete wish-list of body-styles. Couple this with the tried and true 2.8 litre turbodiesel and the forthcoming upgrade, HiLux may well take its place as number one again soon. 

VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK 

The Amarok has had a tough time in our market, or at least, it did until the arrival of another premium German ute, at which point, the Amarok’s quality and value attributes took on a new lease of life. By mid-year, Amarok sales figures formed a bridge between the triple digit registrations and the four-digit ones, with quite a jump on either side. Amarok has proven to be a 4WD powerhouse which proves the maxim ‘bigger is better’ with Volkswagen still claiming bragging rights to having the most powerful engine of all the utes on the market. Amarok is only available as a 4WD and only available in diesel, though there are different displacements on offer.

TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 70 

The LandCruiser70 is – as of October – looking at an uncertain future and sales figures are painting an even grimmer future for this landmark vehicle. While Toyota’s innovative V8 turbocharged diesel is a significant contributor to the LandCruiser’s enviable reputation, ever more stringent emissions standards and demanding safety ratings are putting grey clouds on the 70’s horizons. Even so, this does not diminish the LandCruiser’s ability and despite the rumours, the LandCruiser’s registrations are only marginally down from 2018. Given the traditional buyer of the LandCruiser70 – typically those in the concrete industry, mining and to a lesser degree farming sectors who would struggle to find a replacement vehicle – some would suggest the rumours of a LandCruiser demise are at best exaggerated.  

FIAT DUCATO 

Fiat’s Ducato is surviving by the good graces of the motorhome industry here, which is following the trends of Europe where Ducatos make up over 80 percent of motorhome chassis. There is a reason the Ducato is such a popular motorhome – strength. For the moment, Fiat New Zealand is still importing Ducato commercial vans, but how long this will continue is certainly questionable, especially given the massive drop in registrations. Of course, this translates to the commercial vehicle application, with Ducato vans able to haul extremely heavy cargoes. Ducato also has been a showpiece for Fiat automotive technology, including the six-speed robotised transmission which gives drivers the options of automatic or manual gearboxes in one and the Euro 6 compliant Multijet range of engines.

FORD TRANSIT 

The introduction of a six-speed automatic transmission in early 2019 was just what the big Transit needed, if it needed anything at all. Ford’s Transit sales have significantly contributed to secure Ford’s position as the leading commercial brand for the year with the smaller Transit Tourneo and Transit Custom bolstering the sales figures. With eight model variants to choose from, including three minibus (two 12-seaters and one 18-seater) one cab-chassis and four vans, two of which have high roofs. The popular 3500GVM long wheelbase Transit vans run a two-litre turbo diesel with Start-stop technology and the options of a six-speed auto or manual in either rear or front wheel drive. The mini-bus versions retain the 2.2-litre engine with a six-speed manual as standard.  

FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM 

The baby of the Transit range, the Custom offers Ford’s latest tech in a compact package. By virtue of international timing, the Transit Custom is the first to see new technology which sooner or later will ultimately find its way into the larger Transit, so, if you want to stay ahead of the game, the short and long wheelbase Transit Customs – running a 5.95 and 6.83 cubic metre load-space respectively – is perhaps the best way to do it. Of the two front-wheel-drive vans, the long wheelbase model offers the option of a high roof. The Transit Custom/Tourneo introduced the two-litre EcoBlue turbodiesel with its 125kW/405Nm outputs mated to the standard six-speed automatic transmission. Transit Custom/Tourneo also carries a five-star EuroNCAP/ANCAP safety rating. 

HYUNDAI iLOAD 

Hyundai’s iLoad is trucking along with the rest of the Hyundai line-up, which is to say, very well. While some individual vehicles within the Hyundai fleet may not be doing as well as some others, the brand’s market share is up and in no small way, that would be attributable to the successful sales of the Hyundai iLoad and its passenger-bearing sibling, the iMate. Changes to the vans are few and far between, although the iLoad/Max stays current in terms of its safety equipment and specification levels – hence Apple Carplay and Android Auto are standard. The 2.5 litre, turbodiesel engine is a powerhouse and there is the option of a five- speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. The ILoad/Max are also very competitively priced.

IVECO DAILY 

The Iveco Daily stands to take the place of its Italian twin if it hasn’t already done so. The Daily is available in a variety of body sizes with three engines: the 2-3-litre turbo entry level, the uprated three-litre turbo with variable geometry turbocharger and the three-litre twin turbo. The Daily has a choice of transmissions; the six-speed manual or the award-winning Hi-Matic eight-speed fully automatic from ZF. Of these, the Hi-Matic is the more sophisticated, offering faster shifts with the option of ECO and POWER modes, ECO shifting gears at lower rpms and POWER to hold gears longer. In addition to new levels of comfort, sophistication and specification, the new Dailys have a solid steel C-section chassis for greater strength and durability.

LDV G10 

Popular with, well pretty much everyone, LDV’s G10 cargo van is the answer to the 5.2 cubic metre van small to medium business operators can comfortably afford question. The G10 offers a choice of 6-speed manual or ZF automatic transmissions with three engine options: the hero two-litre turbo petrol  with 165kW and 330Nm outputs, a 2.4-litre petrol with 105kW and 200Nm output and the 1.9 turbo diesel 106kW/350Nm, any one of which is perfectly capable of moving the 1093kg payload in the cargo van version or the seven to nine persons in the minibus versions. The G10 is comprehensively equipped with park assist, rear camera and LCD touchscreen as well as a tyre pressure monitoring system, electronic stability programme, Bluetooth connectivity, dual airbags and roll movement intervention. 

LDV EV80 

Once worthy of note for its exclusive factor, the LDV EV80 is no longer the only electric commercial vehicle available, but it is certainly the largest. A lithium Iron phosphate battery is the heart of the of the EV80s drive system and this is coupled to the permanent magnet synchronous motor with a power output of 100kW and 320Nm of torque. The EV80 has an approximate range of 200km (depending on load) and has a 1000kg payload accommodated in a 10.2 cubic metre cargo space on a 3850mm wheelbase. Being based effectively on the LDV80, the EV80 comes with the same specification, including dual airbags, ABS and EBD braking system, reverse radar, electronic park brake, daytime running lamps and Bluetooth connectivity.

LDV80 

LDV’s first entry into the New Zealand market and it arrived as a trio of vans, cutely called the V80 Big, V80 Bigger and V80 Biggest to represent the short wheelbase with a low roof, long wheelbase with the medium roof and the long wheelbase with the high roof. From these came three minibus configurations with 11, 12 and 14 seat options. The standard engine is a VM Motori 2.5 turbocharged, intercooled diesel with the option of a six-speed manual or AMT (automated manual transmission). Part of the attraction of the LDV range when it first arrived was its cost vs. value proposition which has not changed. LDV has now made an indelible mark on the New Zealand automotive landscape.

MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a milestone vehicle for the brand. It is also hailed by Mercedes-Benz as the most advanced Sprinter ever produced. This claim comes about through the extensive safety features some of which were once options and are now standard. An example being Crosswind Assist (windshear counter braking) among the 1000+ available options across the new Sprinter range, which includes three wheelbases, three roof heights, panel van, 12/11 seat minibus or cab chassis body style  front, rear or all-wheel drive systems, engine and transmission types and MBUX, or Mercedes Benz User Experience, with voice command functionality with Artificial Intelligence. If this sounds like passenger car equipment levels introduced to a commercial vehicle, this is indeed the case and is an integral element of the Sprinter’s redesign.

RENAULT KANGOO 

Renault has certainly started to come into its own in 2019, with the brand going through a significant revival as the result of a change of distributorship in this country. A stronger focus on its bread and butter commercial line has seen the brand increase market awareness and share. The small vanlette of the Renault range, the Kangoo, is the longest serving commercial nameplate and – while it may not be a significant seller – is something of a hero vehicle for Renault as it is the most sellable electric vehicle in the Renault range. In saying that, there are conventional petrol and diesel options with three to four cubic metre cargo areas available. 

MERCEDES-BENZ VITO 

It has been a quiet year for Mercedes-Benz commercials. The X-Class ute has taken most of the limelight, while the passenger cars have seen a huge surge. But the stalwart Vito and Valente vans have seen very little activity or marketing, which is odd given the inclusion of Crosswind Assist, Attention Assist and the optional Collision Prevention Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist, allowing the Vito to maintain its five-star ANCAP safety rating. A short wheelbase 3050kg GVM van, Vito has a 5.8 cubic metre capacity and comes with either a 1.6-litre turbodiesel and front wheel drive or 2.2-litre turbodiesel with rear wheel drive. Vitos are available with six-speed manual transmissions or seven speed G-Tronic Plus automatics.  

RENAULT TRAFIC 

The most recent addition to the Renault commercial range, the Trafic plays in a very competitive segment of the market and plays a mean game with competitive pricing, excellent specification levels and impressive performance, especially from the twin turbocharged 1.6 litre engine. Renault has clearly committed to the New Zealand market with a variety of special editions and accessory packs to amplify the appeal of a very capable and attractive five to six cubic metre van. The front wheel drive Trafic is available in standard or long wheelbase with a super slick six speed manual transmission. And in addition to the Trafic being an extremely practical proposition, did we mention how much fun that twin turbo with a stick shift actually is?  

RENAULT MASTER 

The big boy of the Renault commercial line up the Master has been here before but only on a visiting visa. Now it has applied for permanent residency and has already made its oversized footprint felt by many companies requiring anything from an 8 to 17 cubic metre cargo area. Yep, 17 cubes, that’s a lot of cargo area to fill. The Master is available in a variety of load lengths too, from the Short 2.5 to the Extra long 4.3 metre, and 1663kg to 2134kg payload respectively. All told within the Renault Master line up, there are five body sizes, three body styles, front or rear wheel drive options with a standard 2.3-litre turbo diesel engine and six-speed automatic transmission. 

VOLKSWAGEN CADDY 

Still the official vehicle owner of the segment, the Volkswagen Caddy has been nothing but a raging success for the German brand, with an unassailable 80 percent market domination. Caddy is more than delivering the goods for Volkswagen. There are two short wheelbase and three long wheelbase variants, which include the Crewvan and Mobility specialist vehicle body types. For the delivery vehicles, the Caddy and the Caddy Runner are shorts with the Caddy Maxi being long. All Caddys run petrol engines, either a 1.2 or 1.4-litre displacement and come with a five-speed manual in the Runner and the option of six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG across the rest of the range. Load carrying extends from 3.2 cubic metres to 4.2 cubic metres, while the Crewvan sports five seats.

TOYOTA HIACE 

Toyota had a big year in 2019 and it will be a milestone recognised in the brand’s history both here and internationally. It was the year of change for the long serving HiAce, which saw a complete body redesign, including a long overdue forward bonnet construction, a massive upgrade in safety technology with the inclusion of the Toyota Safety Sense suite as found in the brand’s latest passenger line, a six-speed manual or auto transmission and a new engine across the range in the form of the full-power/torque, 2.8-litre turbodiesel seen in the HiLux ute. Add to this Toyota New Zealand’s clever retention of some of the popular configurations of the outgoing model running alongside the new generation vans to give a two-tiered Toyota product offering for HiAce buyers. 

VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER 

The Volkswagen Crafter is the biggest of the Volkswagen commercial vehicles and it makes sense that it should have the largest range of options. In total there are: six single cab chassis models and four double cab chassis models with 3.5-ton GVMs; seven 3.5-ton GVM vans with three five-ton GVM vans and a minibus offering with 12 to 20 seat options, but that’s only skimming the surface. There are 4Motion (four-wheel-drive) versions, normal, high and super high roof options, turbo and twin turbocharged diesel engine choices, medium, long and extra long wheelbase alternatives. Crafter models typically run two-litre diesel engines with eight speed automatic transmissions and most models can have their GVs upgraded, making the Crafter a very versatile option for those looking for a large van. 

VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER 

For 2019, Volkswagen seemed to lose a little focus on its one-time hero van, the Transporter. Technically speaking, there were no significant upgrades for the Transporter which had already seen the competitively priced ‘’Runner’’ model introduced at a competitive price point. Thus 2019 was something of a consolidation year for the six-model Transporter range, two of which are long wheelbase variants. All Transporters share the same two-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engines, though the power and torque figures vary from 75 to 103 to 132 kW power outputs and 250 to 340 and ultimately 400Nm torque outputs. Transporters have 7seven-speed DSG transmissions for the bulk of the range, including the all-wheel-drive 4MOTION versions. A five-speed manual is available to give the Transporter it’s sub-$50k entry price.