Advice from UTE owners

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MikeB4

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#323230 10-Nov-2025 09:53

My wife is considering retiring next year and wants to buy a ute. We plan the travel the width and length of Aotearoa and explore as much as we can and not be restricted by the road conditions. My wife is a very good driver and can drive anything I have seen her drive supercars, offroad vehicles, moterbikes, diggers, trucks and yes a Tank (not the GWM).

We are going to break from our norm of buying new as we dont want the have the fear of getting it dirty or the odd scratch etc so we are looking to buy used with circa +/-50K on the odometer. I know cars but UTEs are a fringe knowledge for me. What are folks views and experience of the following brands... Nissan, Mitsubishi, Isuzu and Toyota. I believe the Nissans and Mitsubishi have the better on-road characteristics, is that true? We wont be towing except maybe a light trailer and not a large tray load. Part time 4WD is needed. Advice on other brands would useful as well as I don't know a lot about the Chinese brands. We will be getting moblity aids fitted to the UTE.

Any and all advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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#3432639 10-Nov-2025 10:06

umm ... BYD Shark.

you can always buy new or demo, and pretend it's not new?

it's just a mindset. i see it as a car. cars get dirty. it's ok.

Jiriteach

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#3432641 10-Nov-2025 10:08

Ford Ranger - either the Sport or Wildtrak trims. Outstanding utes for touring.
From the XLT upwards - its all trim and comforts.

Ford is doing away with the Diesel 2L bi turbo engine but these are impressive - they replacing them with Diesel 2L single turbo engines next year so there will be some great discounts!
Rangers are more expensive than many of the other brands but they are solid. Have owned many other brands and eventually have settled on the Rangers.

Then again - its very much personal choice similar to iPhone vs Android phones vs ones budget.

You'll also find Ford dealers in almost every location around the country if anything goes wrong!

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

MikeB4

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#3432656 10-Nov-2025 10:35

Jiriteach:

Ford Ranger - either the Sport or Wildtrak trims. Outstanding utes for touring.
From the XLT upwards - its all trim and comforts.

Ford is doing away with the Diesel 2L bi turbo engine but these are impressive - they replacing them with Diesel 2L single turbo engines next year so there will be some great discounts!
Rangers are more expensive than many of the other brands but they are solid. Have owned many other brands and eventually have settled on the Rangers.

Then again - its very much personal choice similar to iPhone vs Android phones vs ones budget.

You'll also find Ford dealers in almost every location around the country if anything goes wrong!

What are the Rangers on-road habits like?

Also I am not sure my wife will have a Ranger as in the TV Advert I am constantly pointing out Rangers and saying "Ranger" it drives her nuts

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

MikeB4

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#3432658 10-Nov-2025 10:39

Batman:

umm ... BYD Shark.

you can always buy new or demo, and pretend it's not new?

it's just a mindset. i see it as a car. cars get dirty. it's ok.

The Shark is a handsome beast. Oddly my wife likes the the Kia Tasman.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

sen8or

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#3432664 10-Nov-2025 10:46

I'm biased (we sell them) but the BYD Shark is hard to go past. Plenty of power / torque, electronic 4wd, 800kms +/- from a tank, superbly comfortable on the road and is extremely well specced. They are $5k off at the moment, so $ 63990 + ORCs and accessories (they are very accessory able vehicles, from wheels / tyres, canopies or electric lids, storage shelves etc etc).

Please don't join the other ford ranger drivers who don't realise they come with turn signals and believe that 1m is a perfectly acceptable following distance @ 100km/hr....

johno1234

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#3432717 10-Nov-2025 10:52

MikeB4:

My wife is considering retiring next year and wants to buy a ute. We plan the travel the width and length of Aotearoa and explore as much as we can and not be restricted by the road conditions. My wife is a very good driver and can drive anything I have seen her drive supercars, offroad vehicles, moterbikes, diggers, trucks and yes a Tank (not the GWM).

We are going to break from our norm of buying new as we dont want the have the fear of getting it dirty or the odd scratch etc so we are looking to buy used with circa +/-50K on the odometer. I know cars but UTEs are a fringe knowledge for me. What are folks views and experience of the following brands... Nissan, Mitsubishi, Isuzu and Toyota. I believe the Nissans and Mitsubishi have the better on-road characteristics, is that true? We wont be towing except maybe a light trailer and not a large tray load. Part time 4WD is needed. Advice on other brands would useful as well as I don't know a lot about the Chinese brands. We will be getting moblity aids fitted to the UTE.

Any and all advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Utes I've driven don't handle well when the tray is empty. Probably non issue for you as traveling with stuff but I've found them very squirrelly without a 40kg of stuff in the back.

If you have valuables in there then you need a lockable canopy. Once you have a ute with a canopy why not just buy an SUV?

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Jiriteach

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#3432719 10-Nov-2025 10:56

MikeB4:

Jiriteach:

Ford Ranger - either the Sport or Wildtrak trims. Outstanding utes for touring.
From the XLT upwards - its all trim and comforts.

Ford is doing away with the Diesel 2L bi turbo engine but these are impressive - they replacing them with Diesel 2L single turbo engines next year so there will be some great discounts!
Rangers are more expensive than many of the other brands but they are solid. Have owned many other brands and eventually have settled on the Rangers.

Then again - its very much personal choice similar to iPhone vs Android phones vs ones budget.

You'll also find Ford dealers in almost every location around the country if anything goes wrong!

What are the Rangers on-road habits like?

Solid! - great road handling, towing and overall features that make sense from an NZ perspective. Even at the bottom of the range XLT's have all the practical features to make ones driving experience great including aspects like the infotainment system - car play etc.

The Ranger ad's do stick - guess thats why its NZ's most popular vehicle.

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

dimsim

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#3432756 10-Nov-2025 13:03

You might be able to find a demo as they're new to market, but I drove the KIA Tasman the other day. If you're looking for road comfort that drives like a car, definitely take one for a test drive.

Slightly controversial looks but it did grow on me.

trig42

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#3432758 10-Nov-2025 13:11

The Tasman has a good, well proven engine and gearbox. They've been in the Sportage and the Hyundai Tuscon (and the 2.2L in the Santa Fe and the Sorrento) for a number of years now.

We've got the 2L Diesel Sportage - been nothing but rock solid. Touch wood.

muppet

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#3432759 10-Nov-2025 13:12

"My wife is a very good driver" - Are you sure a ute is the right vehicle for her then?

MikeB4

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#3432762 10-Nov-2025 13:28

johno1234:

Utes I've driven don't handle well when the tray is empty. Probably non issue for you as traveling with stuff but I've found them very squirrelly without a 40kg of stuff in the back.

If you have valuables in there then you need a lockable canopy. Once you have a ute with a canopy why not just buy an SUV?

We don't have high expectations of on road manners for a ute as they are after all a work tool. We have owned a lot of SUVs, Toyota Rav4 and Prado, Suzuki Gand Vitara, Nissans, Mitsubishis, of all the SUVs we have owned the Mitsubishi Challenger was the best for cargo room the rest were pretty average for loading stuff.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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MikeB4

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#3432763 10-Nov-2025 13:29

muppet:

"My wife is a very good driver" - Are you sure a ute is the right vehicle for her then?

I would never decide a vehicle for her.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

gzt

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#3432769 10-Nov-2025 14:29

Ranger diesels to me are very noisy when driving next to them in traffic. I've had a ride in a friend's 5yo ranger and it seemed worse closeup. That won't influence any buying decision and I don't intend to take this off-track ; ).

BlakJak

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#3432773 10-Nov-2025 14:56

Why not an SUV? Will be more comfortable for touring and has basically all the benefits if you get the right one.

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Scott3

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#3432931 10-Nov-2025 17:58

While not a current owner, I learnt to drive in a ute, and have spent a heap of time with them, so will comment.

While the common Thai built utes lag most cars in comfort, performance, handling etc, they have improved to a point where they are adequate in those categories, creating a compelling value case, when cargo space, payload, towing ability, off road ability etc are all considered. This shows through in the sales charts.

They are reasonably easy to drive, but one should be aware that the higher seating position, gives the impression of traveling slower, and the more rudimentary suspension setup means that they fall sightly short of a car when it comes to emergency swerves and stops. That said, if you are carrying say 525kg, this is the maxing out the payload of a Rav4 (hybrid GX), which an have quite a negative impact on handeling, but only half the payload of a typical ute, which is right in a nice spot for the suspension etc.

They are long to park, and have a big turning radius. So a bit of a chore to drive in the city. If you are running a rear canopy viability to the rear can be reduced or eliminated.

Be aware, that while modern utes are much improved, they still ride quite hard when empty, and can be prone to oversteer. But if you are touring with a bunch of weight in the car this is less likely to be an issue.

Some great things about utes:

Tend to be cheaper than comparable SUV's
~1000kg paylaod
Put a metal tray lid, or canopy on, and your gear is stored out out of sight, and is protected from simple smash and grab theft. (of course with tools and time, people can still break in)
A heap of space. If you want to travel heavy, golf clubs?, inflatables SUP's? Kitesurf gear? you can, and have it all locked away.
Low range 4x4 is typically a fairly cheap option (unlike vans where any kind of AWD is rarely available).
Typically depreciation is quite low.
Wide range of accessories available.
Cab is separate from cargo. No noises / smells / risk of getting hit in the back in a crash etc.

Some negative things

Ride and Handling when empty
Back seat comfort.
Long length for parking
Long wheelbase and rear overhang gives worse breakover angles offroad.
Diesel engines are not as reliable as the utes of old. most models don't like doing a heap of city running due to the need to burn off the DPF during a high speed run.
Typically no dust seals on tub. (Spend a lot of time on gravel and all your gear will be dusty).
Rear canopies / lids are not auto factory grade. Often have drip paths that drip into the tray, typically need separate key, lack central locking etc.
Untill recently, they were generally fairly low powered with 130 - 150 kW diesel engines.
Need to pay for a canopy / Lid etc.

Consider if a ute based SUV would meet your needs. Fortuner, Pajero Sport, Everest etc. Basically a ute with a boot. Shorter wheelbase (better ramp over angle off road, typically a better riding coil rear, smaller to park, central locking etc).

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"We plan the travel the width and length of Aotearoa and explore as much as we can and not be restricted by the road conditions"

NZ's road network is quite good. Never had any issue in Sedans & Hatchback. As for roads something like a basic Rav4 awd would stuggle with, you would need to deliverable seek them out. Road to macetown, tukino skifield access road (in winter) etc.

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