New Ute: 2020 Edition

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MikeAqua

7773 posts

Uber Geek

#262146 7-Jan-2020 17:20

Time to replace the trusty Pajero this year 😭

I looked at the RAV hybrid (nice vehicle) but they lack tow power and kerb weight. I was going to hold out in hope of a Hybrid Hilux or Highlander (avail in USA but not here). However, with an mport levy on diesel utes coming into force next year, I'm not prepared to risk waiting.

I would value people's opinions on which diesel ute is best at the moment.

Mitsi Triton is out - we have them at work and they lack headroom ad are the worst riding ute I have ever been in.

Ford Ranger is out - I've dealt with Ford before on warranty issues before and they were a nightmare to deal with.

I'm leaning toward Mazda because they have 0% 0 deposit 48 month terms at the moment, but trying to keep an open(ish) mind.

Must haves: -

Tow 2T comfortably (boat);
Kerb weight >2T (tail vs dog);
Twin cab;
Reasonable off-road capability (we beach launch on occasion);
Reverse camera (the Chief Reversing Adviser is a bit average);
AirCon
?What am I missing?
<$55k rrp

This will also be my commuter (100km/day).

Mike

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#2386888 7-Jan-2020 17:24

I was told to keep the purchase and the finance separate, in terms of getting the best deal. I don;'t think you can go too wrong with mazda. I beleive the ford equivalent is essentially the same vehicle just rebadged, but mazdas tend to be cheaper.

Ge0rge

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#2386889 7-Jan-2020 17:32

A 79 Series Land Cruiser will do everything you're after and more very easily, and hold it's value extremely well. The cost is a little more than the other ute offerings here in NZ, but well worth it for what you are getting I feel.

Senecio

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#2386903 7-Jan-2020 18:16

If you're doing a 100km commute daily then I wouldn't rule out the Navara. The coil spring rear end is supposed to make them one of the best riding utes for on road manners.

SheriffNZ

671 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2386922 7-Jan-2020 19:06

What’s the use case for an actual Ute? I have a Pajero Sport which I love. Ticks most of your boxes apart from being a Ute.

Dingbatt

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#2386927 7-Jan-2020 19:35

The Hybrid Highlander is due for release here this year, but it may be above your budget considering the latest price hike for the RAV4 hybrid.

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davidcole

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#2387021 7-Jan-2020 20:02

Come on people, no one suggested cyber truck. I’m surprised you could all hold back.

Whoops just saw your price cap. It’s probably only worth about that. Bet it won’t be selling for that though.

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Handle9

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#2387022 7-Jan-2020 20:07

Dingbatt:

The Hybrid Highlander is due for release here this year, but it may be above your budget considering the latest price hike for the RAV4 hybrid.

Probably not the best tow wagon either. The petrol highlander wasn't great (but a very nice daily drive)

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Technofreak

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#2387038 7-Jan-2020 21:11

Quite a good in depth comparison here. https://www.motoring.com.au/best-dual-cab-4wd-ute-of-2019-117678/

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networkn

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#2387090 7-Jan-2020 22:37

Mercedes have a ute that looked interesting for not much more than that at RRP. Didn't drive it, but it's probably comfortable :)

lxsw20

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#2387091 7-Jan-2020 22:52

The Mercedes ute is a Navara in drag.

Geektastic

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#2387116 7-Jan-2020 23:46

Your original vehicle and the initial replacements are not utes - why the change?

Geektastic

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#2387122 7-Jan-2020 23:50

SheriffNZ: What’s the use case for an actual Ute? I have a Pajero Sport which I love. Ticks most of your boxes apart from being a Ute.

Likewise the Fortuner (stupid name!) which is a Hi Lux wagon.

Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#2387130 8-Jan-2020 00:31

mattwnz:

I was told to keep the purchase and the finance separate, in terms of getting the best deal. I don;'t think you can go too wrong with mazda. I beleive the ford equivalent is essentially the same vehicle just rebadged, but mazdas tend to be cheaper.

I agree with your first sentence. The Mazda 0 deposit 0% finance deal looks appealing on the face of it, but is only applicable if you pay the stickered RRP price according to their terms. But only a mug pays sticker price. I've successfully negotiated a circa $10k discount on a Ranger Wildtrak before. A competitive interest rate on a discounted price will usually trump 0% finance at full price depending on the contract term. I borrowed against my house on a separate loan over 3 years at the prevailing mortgage rate with good results in the past (none of this 15% rubbish!).

Your second point is not entirely accurate - at least not anymore. The current (and ageing) BT-50 model was introduced alongside the PX Ranger in 2011. Whilst the Mazda has had a couple of very minor updates since then (very slightly improved front end and updated stereo system), nothing else has changed or been added. In contrast, the Ranger has had two full updates (PXII in 2015 and PXIII in 2018) which have added at least the following to the mid-range XLT model: front parking sensors, acoustic windscreen, auto high-beam, tyre pressure monitoring, active park assist, autonomous emergency braking, collision mitigation, lane departure warning, lane keeping aid, adaptive load control, speed sign recognition, ezy raise tailgate. I don't believe the BT-50 has any of these features and there are possibly more that I haven't thought of, particularly in the top spec Wildtrak Ranger model.

I'm not saying the Mazda is not a good vehicle, because it is, but the Mazda/Ford co-development partnership ended in around 2013 and whilst Ford continued to innovate/refine the Ranger, Mazda has not really done the same with the BT-50. However their upcoming partnership with Isuzu should see an 'all new' BT-50 come to our shores within the next year or two (at the same time as the all new D-Max).

Despite recently buying a twin turbo V8 diesel VW Touareg, I remain a fervent Ranger fan having owned 3 over the past 10 years, and I never had a single problem with any of them. The Ranger's towing performance is second to none, they are comfortable, well equipped and reasonably fuel efficient considering their bulk. I do love the raw power of my Touareg, but I am missing the load space offered by a ute tray now that I no longer have one...

It's also interesting to note that Australia is a die hard Hilux country, yet the Ranger came out on top in the 4WD sales battle of 2019. I suspect Toyota's ongoing DPF issues (and the pending class action suit for that in Aussie) had a lot to do with that.

MikeAqua

7773 posts

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#2387164 8-Jan-2020 08:28

Handle9:

Dingbatt:

The Hybrid Highlander is due for release here this year, but it may be above your budget considering the latest price hike for the RAV4 hybrid.

Probably not the best tow wagon either. The petrol highlander wasn't great (but a very nice daily drive)

The US Highlander hybrid is only rated for 1,900kg tow...

Mike

MikeAqua

7773 posts

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#2387173 8-Jan-2020 08:53

Geektastic:

Your original vehicle and the initial replacements are not utes - why the change?

I prefer utes. Always drove utes until I had kids. I was only considering those SUVs because they have 4WD and are hybrid.

We originally bought the Pajero because it seated 4 kids. No longer need that function as two are grow up and have their own cars. Utes are cheaper. Utes have better resale. Utes are easier to get kayaks on. I expect to own this vehicle for 10 - 15 years and by then I expect to be back on a lifestyle block and have dogs.

Mike

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