The fight for supremacy in the light utility segment is generating even more excitement than the General Election, with the closest-run fight yet seen between the previous middleweight champion the Toyota Hilux, and the challenger, the Ford Ranger. John Oxley reports.

As I write the Hilux has just nudged ahead after fighting a rear-guard action year-to-date, but the Ranger has come bouncing back to take the skirmish for the month of July by beating the Japanese brand.

Even more exciting, though, is that the utility segment is second only to the rapidly swelling SUV market in terms of sales dominance, with a full 20 percent of the market, better than any of the car segments, a sure sign that not only is the economy growing and expanding, but that a lot of people are choosing the new, more user-friendly utes as more than just their workmates – they’re using ‘em for leisure, too.

More and more utes are being sold with automatic gearboxes, and the magic five-star ANCAP safety rating is appearing on at least the top models, and slowly finding its way down the range.

Looking at www.rightcar.co.nz, we see that the Ford Ranger, Mazda BT50, and Volkswagen Amarok have all got five stars across their ranges, while the Holden Colorado boasts 5-star ratings for all but its chassis/cabs, which get four.

Toyota has begun a programme of 5-star upgrades which sees its top double cab utes getting five stars, too, although the bulk of the range is still 4-star.

The current Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara D40 are all 4-star performers, although the new Navara, out next year, will likely come out with a 5-star rating.

Nissan managing director John Manley told me there had been some supply issues with the current model, but on the whole he was pleased with the way it’s performing – as he should be, with the Navara lying third in the LCV charts YTD.

John said he expected the new Navara to be even more popular, and was eyeing a top two charts placing, as the D40 Navara enjoyed in its heyday.

“The ute market is just going fabulously well, and we hope to be able to leverage off that. Our new Navara is a big step up, with a coil-sprung rear suspension for more comfort, and a car-like drive, but it’s still roomy enough for all you’ll want to carry, and it’s still built tough,” he said.

However, he couldn’t be tied down to a launch date. “It will be next year, but don’t expect it in January,” he said.

Have a look at what Damien O’Carroll found out when he visited Nissan’s Thailand factory to see the new Navara on page xx.

Interesting what John Manley had to say, and we must agree that most of the “new wave” utes (at least in double cab format) are very comfortable and roomy to ride in. They have other practical advantages as well, boasting tremendous towing capability, good levels of fuel economy, and retain high residual values.

For some people price is a big driver, and we are seeing the rapid emergence of new brands onto the market in the form of Foton, from China, and Mahindra from India, slugging it out alongside the dominant Korean SsangYong and China’s Great Wall Motors.

The SsangYong Actyon, upgraded at the end of last year with new styling and more powerful engines, plus six-speed gearboxes,  is leading THAT fight, with the highly specced but low-powered Great Wall vehicles not doing that badly, 23 percent behind.

But watch out for the Foton Tunland, an interesting newcomer. Originally it was to have been sold alongside Hyundai vehicles through the Spencer family tie-up – which would have been a sensible move for ute-starved Hyundai dealers – and a lot of work was done, before suddenly it has become part of Neville Crichton’s Ateco setup.

Although built in China, it has a well-branded parts list, with Cummins diesel power (and plenty of it), as well as a Getrag gearbox, BorgWarner transfer case, and Dana axles and differentials.

Foton’s brand manager Bruce Clarke says Tunland is doing great. “It has great potential, and we’re really in a developing growth stage as the brand is still pretty young in comparison to others”.

In addition to the Tunland, Bruce points to Foton’s 5,650 GVM small truck: “At $34,774 plus GST this makes it comparable to a ute in price,” he says.

Bruce also hinted that there would be more to come from Foton. “At this stage I can't tell you much in the way of new models – watch that space though,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Mahindra offering puts out a whole line-up of vehicles ranging from the rough-and-tough off-road oriented Pik Up through to the more sophisticated Genio, available in single and double cab, in 4x2 and 4x4, and with wellside or cab/chassis.

Moving on from the ute market, we see that the van market has slipped slightly.

Last year it accounted for five percent of the total market; YTD it’s dipped  to four percent, and that despite the inclusion of some newcomers.

Nevertheless, year-to-date there have been almost as many vans sold as there have been medium-sized cars, at 3,230, and more than there have been large cars, while the truck market is also holding steady on 2,622 YTD.

Top-seller in the van market is, as to be expected, the Toyota HiAce, with a tight hold on the segment of seven percent of total LCV sales YTD, the same as last year.

The Motor Industries Association, which collates the monthly numbers, only goes as far as the top 15 with its monthly sales charts, and it’s interesting to note that the next major performer in the van segment is the Hyundai iLoad, at two percent (454 units), with the

Mitsubishi L300 only nine sales behind, followed by the Ford Transit on 355, and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter rounding out the numbers on 236.

However, things may change going forward as the Ford Transit Cargo has been on run-out, and a brand-new model has just hit the streets.

Not listed high up in YTD sales, but certainly a strong performer in July with 52 sales, was the LDV V80, from Taupo-based Great Lake Motor Distributors, which also imports the SsangYong product.

Also not making the top 15 were Fiat’s Ducato and Scudo vans, as well as the Volkswagen Transporter and Crafter vans. But we are definitely seeing more and more of these products on the road.

 So what’s on offer in the LCV market?

 

UTILITIES

Foton Tunland

Currently the only ute on offer from this well-respected Chinese manufacturer, the Tunland comes with neat styling and a well-stacked feature list, and is offered in 4x2 and 4x4 guises.

Most interesting aspect of this vehicle is its modern 2.8-litre Cummins turbo-diesel engine, producing a respectable 120kW/360Nm, linked to a Getrag 5-speed gearbox – for a time used by BMW for its more-overt sporting sedans – as well as a BorgWarner transfer case for the 4x4 system. And 4x4 fundis will also recognise the Dana axles and differentials, which have for years been associated Jeep.

Payload is 1,025kg for both models, and the double cab is equipped with leather trim, aircon, cruise control, and Bluetooth.

Ford Falcon

For many years the Falcon was the archetypical ute, the one that started the trend, but now its days are numbered as Ford gets set to stop production in a couple of years.

Still, if you want something really comfortable to carry your stuff around in, and a fair bit of power to boot, well, you can order an XR6 version complete with 4-litre 195kW/391Nm straight six petrol engine. It carries 631kg.

Ford Ranger

The Ranger remains the biggest-selling 5-star safety-rated ute in New Zealand, and buyers report that its appeal is three-fold.

First, all models in the range, from 2WD cab-chassis through to the 4WD Double Cab versions, are powered by the same 3.2-litre 147kW five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, and linked to a choice of manual or auto six-speed gearboxes.

Second, it’s big, spacious, and has great load carrying ability.

And third, it’s got car-like ride and handling.

Great Wall

If you need a ute, and want new, not used, at a low price, and with a high spec level (including leather upholstery) then the Great Wall utes are definitely worth a look.

Though not the most powerful petrol utes on the market (the 2.4-litre petrol models produce100kW/200Nm), the diesel is a decent option with 105kW of power and 310Nm of torque.

The 4x4 models have six-speed manual gearboxes, while 4x2 versions get a five-speed manual.

Pricing is bottom-of-the-market keen, and the vehicles are imported by Ateco, and backed by solid warranties that reduce the risk associated with early adoption of low-cost Chinese products.

Holden Colorado

Holden made the surprise move this year of bringing out an update for the Colorado soon after its first anniversary on the NZ market, with an upgraded engine on all but the basic DX single cab/chassis in 4x2 version (which is the only model to get a 2.5-litre 100kW/350Nm engine based on the 2.8), as well as more towing capacity, and increased specification.

At the same time build quality has been improved, and the Colorado is now delivering on initial promises.

Thus we see the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel boosted to 147kW/500Nm, and a braked tow rating of 3.5-tons.

The 11-model line-up starts with the DX and carries through to luxuriously-equipped 4x4 double cab models at the top of the range.

Holden VF

Like the Ford Falcon, the Holden Commodore ute was for many years top dog in the ute market – until the advent of Japanese utes with strong ladder chassis and more-practical styling shoved them down the play lists.

Also like the Falcon the VF Ute, as it’s now known, is on its way out, but if you want a LOT of fun you can order a choice of three rumbustious 6-litre V8 versions as well as a more frugal 201kW/350Nm 3.6-litre V6.

Kia 2500

The Kia 2500 forward control light truck features a long wheelbase, 96kW/255Nm 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine, steel drop side flat deck with 1.8 cu m volume, and a payload of 1,000kg

And it’s got an excellent feature list for this class of vehicle, with air-conditioning, power windows and power steering, driver’s air bag, ABS, and Bluetooth, along with advanced noise-reduction technology. Chassis/cab and dropside flat deck versions are available.

Isuzu D-Max

The Isuzu D-Max was developed alongside the Holden Colorado, and shares most of its metalwork, but with different front end styling.

However, there are a number of other important differences, apart from the front grille.

Most important of these is the engine. The Isuzu uses one of its own design, a commercial-grade motor also found on the Isuzu Elf truck, and as such designed with hard work and easy maintenance in mind.

Essentially it’s a substantial re-work of the previous model’s 3-litre turbo-diesel, with output boosted to 130kW/380Nm (with most of the torque from just beyond tickover) and revisions made to make it more reliable and easier to service.

It’s linked to 5-speed manual or auto boxes, the latter the same as that found in the massively-powerful Toyota Land Cruiser 200 V8 diesel, so there’s lots of strength there.

And, finally, it’s made in a different factory to the Colorado, being built in Isuzu’s Thailand truck plant. The lineup includes both 2WD and 4WD models, single and double cab.

Land-Rover Defender

Well past its prime, but insanely capable off the road, the Defender is perhaps the ultimate 4x4 – at the expense of almost every form of refinement expected from a modern vehicle.

Two wheelbases are available, and power comes from a 2.2-litre 90kW/360Nm turbo-diesel, driving through a six-speed manual gearbox. Both single and double-cab versions are available, and payload ranges from 1,112kg to 1,351kg.

Mahindra Pik Up

As mentioned, New Zealand currently gets two Mahindra versions, the Pik Up, and the Genio. And they are as alike as chalk and cheese!

The Pik Up is definitely aimed at the bottom of the market, and is more suited to off-road work than the urban environment, with a full 4x4 setup.

Still it does have a few frills, including aircon, power windows, an audio system, and front fog lamps, while power comes from an 88kW/280Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel and five-speed manual gearbox.

Mahindra Genio

The Genio is a more-modern ute, giving a more-refined and more-comfortable ride than the Pik Up.

Available in both single and double cab, the former delivering a payload of 1.2 tons, it’s well-equipped, with a plush interior and lots of features.

It gets the same 2.2-litre turbo-diesel as the Pik Up, and also drives through a five-speed manual gearbox. Both 4x2 and 4x4 versions are available, and cab/chassis and wellside.

Mazda BT-50

The Mazda BT-50 was designed alongside the Ford Ranger, and has a similar drivetrain, with the 3.2-litre 5-cylinder standard across the range, which starts with a single 4x2 cab/chassis and threads right through to a luxurious 4x4 double cab.

Though possessing all the Ranger’s features (and a couple more on the top version), it’s not found the street appeal of the tough-looking Ranger.

Much of this is felt to be due to its styling, which is closer to that of Mazda’s cars than expected in a utility. The BT-50 is seventh overall in the LCV sales charts YTD.

A big plus factor isMazda Commercial Care, a comprehensive service package which includes a 3 years/150,000km warranty plus three years roadside assistance.

Mitsubishi Triton

Although it’s getting a bit long in the tooth now, the Mitsubishi Triton continues to appeal, with the top-end 4x4 double cab GLS version getting the Superselect 4WD system from the Pajero.

All models have a 2.5-litre motor mated to either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic, with the engine producing 133kW, with 343Nm of torque in the auto, 407Nm in the 5-speed manual.

Interestingly, although the Triton is ostensibly a “small” ute when compared to the Ford, Mazda, Holden, Isuzu, and Volkswagen, the GLS Sport’s overall length of 5,385mm makes it the longest on the market, beating the Ford by 34mm – although the Triton is much narrower.

The range starts with 2WD single cab/chassis models aimed at the “working ute” market, with similar versions in 4WD, and there are double cab models in various trim levels, with the top-end versions luxuriously equipped.

Nissan Navara

As mentioned, the Navara ST-X was the first of the “big truck” utes on the NZ market, and it’s a tribute to its simple styling and rugged chassis that its popularity continues.

Nissan offers four distinct turbo-diesel engine variants – three four-cylinder 2.5-litre units producing 106kW/356Nm, 120kW/403Nm and 140kW/450Nm, as well as a lusty 170kW/550Nm V6, the latter a luxury 4WD model with a seven-speed auto gearbox.

Nissan extended the range by adding RX badged “working utes”, available as a King Cab chassis, King Cab wellside, and Double Cab; the rest double cab. There’s six-speed manual or five-speed automatic

Other models in the ST and ST-X ranges continue as before, as does the smaller D22 Navara, available as either a single cab chassis or double cab with a choice of 2WD and 4WD, all with manual gearbox. However, the D22 won’t survive the switchover to the new Navara next year.

SsangYong Actyon

Although it’s been around a long time, and is certainly no newcomer, the SsangYong brand in New Zealand seems to be aimed at the Chinese newcomers in terms of its pricing, and, indeed, we have been asked by the importers to only compare the SsangYong Actyon with Chinese utes when it comes to our comparison tests.

However, we feel this does the SsangYong a huge disservice, as it’s tried and tested, and quite able to hold its head up in the traditional New Zealand ute market.

Well-equipped, with 114kW/360Nm First World engines and gearboxes, and linked to an Australian-designed 6-speed automatic gearbox, or a six-speed manual, the Actyon comes with the essentials for today’s world – Bluetooth, aircon, audio system, central locking and power windows and mirrors. It’s available in 2WD and 4WD, single and double cab.

Toyota Hilux

The BBC’s Top Gear programme summed up the appeal of the Hilux when they tried – and failed – to destroy one in a serious of bizarre tests.

And so it continues to lead the fight, despite that it’s long in the tooth and ready for a new model – which is expected next year, although no official word is out on that yet.

In the meantime the vehicle got some sheet metal and spec upgrades at the beginning of the year, plus safety improvements on the top models.

Toyota is one of the few ute makers to offer petrol as well as diesel power, with a 2.7-litre 116kW/240Nm four-cylinder and 4-litre 175kW/376Nm V6 and well as a 3-litre 126kW/343Nm turbo-diesel.

The range includes single cab, extra cab and double cab, in 2WD and 4WD.

Toyota Land Cruiser 70

Often overlooked, the 70 Series Land Cruiser range should never be forgotten. Rough and tough, incredibly capable and powerful, it rates up there with the Land Rover defender when it comes to driving off-road – but with a bit more on-road refinement.

The lineup ranges from single cab/chassis through double cab/chassis, and common to all is the 151kW/430Nm V8 turbo-diesel engine, which drives through a five-speed manual gearbox.

A snorkel forms part of the specification, as well as Bluetooth, aircon and a good audio system.

Volkswagen Amarok

I was privileged to attend the world launch of the Amarok in Argentina a number of years ago, and it still remains a favourite.

The Amarok was the first of the “mega-size” utes to hit New Zealand’s shores, and it’s continued to garner support since then, although its premium pricing and slow range build-up has slowed things down somewhat.

Currently there’s a single cab 2WD with a 90kW/340Nm 2-litre turbo-diesel engine and a 4WD version with 120kW/400Nm, as well as double cabs in 2WD and 4WD too, at 103kW/340Nm and 132kW/400Nm respectively.

Most are six-speed manuals, although an eight-speed auto is now available on the top-line 4WD model, but without low ratio.

The Amarok is notable for its super space, big load carrying ability, and comfortable ride.

 

VANS

Fiat Scudo

Newest model to the Fiat line-up is the HiAce-sized Scudo, sporting a 2-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 90kW, with a five-speed manual gearbox, and a load capacity of 6cu.m and 1,200kg, via sliding side doors and double-hinged rear doors.

Fiat Ducato

A year or so down the line since it opened in New Zealand, Fiat Chrysler NZ continues to make headway into the van market, with its big Ducato in particular finding lots of favour among camper van builders.

Powered by Fiat’s 2.3-litre turbo-diesel Euro 5 motors in 97kW or 112kW. It offers a car-like driving position and is among the best of the big vans to drive.

The two variants for New Zealand are an LWD high roof Ducato with 13 cu m interior and an extended body version with 15 cu m.

Ford Transit Custom

Ford extended its range in New Zealand by adding the HiAce competitive Transit Custom to its line-up for those who want a smaller van, with a number of car-like features, including a Ford Focus-style ESP stability control system with torque vectoring control.

Engine is a 114kW/385Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, and it comes in two wheelbase lengths.

Ford Transit Cargo

However, the big news is the new Transit Cargo, which has brand-new styling, comes in two heights and three lengths, all powered by the same 2.2-litre motor as the Transit Custom, and has a number of high tech features, including stop-start for better economy, plus stability control which includes curve control, torque vectoring, and traction control.

Load space ranges from 11cu.m to 15.1cu.m, and payload from 1,223kg to just over two tons.

HyundaiiLoad

The good news from Hyundai is that it’s become the first manufacturer in New Zealand to fit reversing cameras as standard across its range, and that includes the iLoad van – arguably the most important vehicle in the range to have it, and a great safety breakthrough.

There’s only one model of iLoad van, fitted with a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel (100kW/343Nm) driving through a six-speed manual gearbox.

This 5m long van has dual sliding side doors and a fully opening rear, and there are three rear reversing sensors, as well as an electronic stability system with traction control, as well as ABS and dual airbags. It has a 4-star ANCAP rating

Iveco Daily

The Iveco Daily falls into the larger van segment, with wheelbase ranging from 3.3m to 3.95m, manual or automatic transmissions, and power from either 107kW/350Nm or 125kW/400Nm versions of its 3-litre turbo-diesel.

Load capacity ranges from 8cu.m to a massive 17cu.m, and payload up to 4.7 tons.

The Daily is known for its comfort and car-like driveability, yet it has the toughness and durability that comes from being built on a steel truck chassis.

Kia K2500

There are three vans in the Kia K2500 range – a dry van, walk-through van, and a refrigerator unit.

All feature a separate chassis, and are powered by the same 2.5-litre turbo-diesel (96kW/255Nm) as the flat-bed truck.

The walk though van has the largest cargo capacity, at 8.9 cu m, with the dry van on 7.9 cu m and the refrigerator version 6.9 cu m.

LDV V80

The LDV V80 trucks arrived just less than a year ago, courtesy of China’s SAIC company, which bought the rights from its European owners, and the brand is imported by Great Lakes Motors, who also import SsangYong.

Although tightly priced, the LDV units are well-specced, with a suspension tuned for our conditions, and a whole flock of features.

Two wheelbases are on offer, as well as a high roof version, with the short wheelbase model rated at 3,200kg GVM and the long wheelbase at 3,500kg. Cargo volume ranges from 6.4cu.m to 11.6cu.m.

Engine is an Italian VM Motori 2.5-litre turbo-diesel producing 100kW/243Nm, and drive is through the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.

Mercedes-Benz Vito

Mercedes-Benz starts its van range with the HiAce class Vito, and this comes in no fewer than four body lengths and two roof heights, with carrying capacity ranging from 5.2cu.m to 6.2cu.m and payloads up to 1,160kg.There’s a choice of four Euro 5 turbo-diesel engines with outputs from 70kW to 165kW.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

And then there are the new Sprinter models, introduced late last year, with lots of cutting edge technology and brand-new styling.

Celebrating their world debut in the Sprinter are Crosswind Assist, Collision Prevention Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Highbeam Assist and Lane Keeping Assist, all aimed at reducing accidents.

Short and long wheelbase models are available, with four different overall lengths, as well as standard and high roof versions. Payload ranges from 1,152kg to 2,500kg and load capacity from 8.5cu.m to 17cu.m

Engines, all turbo-diesel, range from 2.2-litre 70kW/250Nm through to a 3-litre 140kW/440Nm V6, and there’s six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission.

Mitsubishi L300

The tradies love their Mitsubishi L300s, even though they’re a bit long in the tooth, and the vehicle keeps on selling, competing in both below 2,500 GVM and in the over 2,500 GVM segment.

It offers the choice of short or long wheelbase and a tight turning circle, plus doors on either side with the LWB version.

Engine is a 2.4-litre petrol (97kW/192Nm) with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Cargo capacity on the SWB is 4,2cu.m, while the LWB offers 5,5cu.m.

Peugeot Partner

Peugeot has extended its range from one version to two, beginning with the1,600cc  car-like Partner, with easy-drive characteristics, and power from a 66kW turbo-diesel. There’s five-speed manual transmission, load volume of 3.7cu.m, and  payload of 730kg..

Peugeot Expert

Then there’s the newly-introduced Expert van. About the same size as the Mercedes-Benz Vito, it has modern styling and easy-drive characteristics.

The Expert can carry a payload of 1,200kg, with an effective volume of 6cu.m, and comes with a 2-litre 120kW/340Nm turbo-diesel,  and either six-speed manual or auto transmission.

Renault Kangoo

Brand-new styling and a whole bunch of features, including Bluetooth, highlight the new Renault Kangoo small van, which comes out in two wheelbase lengths, Short and Maxi, the latter with 4cu.m of load space and an impressive 1.22m between the wheel arches.

Engine on the SWB is a 79kW/148Nm1.6-litre petrol, and a 1.5-litre 81kW/240Nm turbo-diesel on the LWB.

Renault Trafic

The Renault Trafic is a mid-sized van, again in two wheelbase lengths, carrying 5cu.m and 5.9cu.m respectively, and a 1.244kg payload (manual transmission). Both Bluetooth and satnav are standard, and engine is a 2-litre 85kW/290Nm turbo-diesel. Both manual and auto six-speed gearboxes are available.

Renault Master

The Master is Renault’s big operator, five metres long, and 2.4m wide, and capable of carrying 8cu.m weighing up to 1,630kg (manual transmission).

Power comes from a lusty 2.3-litre 110kW/350Nm turbo-diesel, and both six-speed manual and auto gearboxes are available.

Suzuki APV

Ideal for applications that require tight manoeuvrability, the Suzuki APV van, has a tight turning circle, gutsy 68kW 1.6-litre petrol engine, and an 810kg payload.

It’s easy to drive, has lots of comfort features, with car-like comfort, safety and efficiency. There’s a surprising amount of space despite its compact dimensions!

Toyota HiAce

Despite its massive overall vehicle range, surprisingly Toyota competes only in the light van segment, with its two HiAce van versions, the ZL and the long wheelbase ( and higher-roof) ZX. These are offered with two engines, a 2.7-litre petrol (111kW/241Nm – ZL only) and a 3-litre turbo-diesel (100kw/300Nm), with either 5-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions.

The HiAce was recently upgraded to achieve four stars in ANCAP safety testing, and a reversing camera is fitted to all models.

Carrying volume ranges from 6cu.m  to 9.8cu.m and payload from just over a ton to 1,165kg.

Volkswagen Caddy

There are three vans in the Volkswagen stable.

The range starts with the car-based Caddy, and it’s longer wheelbase partner the Caddy Max, with 77kW/175Nm petrol and 75kW/250Nm turbo-diesel power. Load volume is either 3.2cu.m or 4.2cu.m, and payload up to 732kg.

Volkswagen Transporter

Then there’s the mid-size Transporter, which comes in short and long wheelbase, and with the option of high roof versions.

Power comes from 2-litre TDI engines ranging from 75kW/250Nm to 132kW/400Nm, and driving through five-speed manual (250Nm), or six-speed manual or seven-speed double clutch automatic gearboxes, and payload varies from 854kg to 1,105kg.

There are also 4WD 4Motion versions of the Transporter in manual or automatic.

Volkswagen Crafter

And then there’s the big Crafter, in three weight categories – 3.0,3.5 and 5.0t GVW, and three wheelbases, as well as normal, high and super-high roofs.

The Crafter also has the 2-litre TDI engine, in two outputs – 80kW/300Nm and 105kW/340Nm. Payload is up to 1,336kg,  and load volume from  10.5cu.m to 14cu.m.