Utes For Sale in New Zealand

About Utes

Utes are among the most popular and best-selling vehicles in New Zealand and Australia due to their versatility; they’re handy for everything from work-related tasks to off-road adventures. Short for “utility,” “utility vehicle,” or “coupé utility,” utes were once described as two-door vehicles with a front passenger area and a rear open cargo tray built onto a car chassis. The term now refers to essentially any passenger vehicle with a rear open cargo space, including what are referred to as “pickup trucks” in the U.S. A significant change to ute designs over time has been the introduction of four-door double-cab designs that can accommodate more passengers.

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Isuzu D-Max Ute

Holden Makes Its Mark

Automobile historians credit a letter sent in 1932 by the wife of an Australian farmer to the Ford Motor Company as leading to the ute’s creation. The wife asked Ford to design a vehicle her family could drive to church on Sundays but also use to transport pigs to market on Mondays. Ford designer Lewis Bandt’s resulting design incorporated a two-door body with a rear tray built onto a Ford Model A chassis. In 1934, Ford introduced the Australian Coupe to Australia. In 1948, Australian vehicle maker Holden produced its first ute, the Holden 48-215. Launched in 1951, it became known as the Holden FX, and is considered to have largely fueled the ute’s popularity and the culture that developed around it in Australia and New Zealand.

Ute Specs & Features

Compared to early models, utes like the Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton, and Toyota HiLux are far more powerful and provide a greater array of modern performance-, driver-, and safety-related features. For example, HiLux models come in cab-chassis, single-cab, extra-cab, and double-cab options with 4x2 or 4x4 capability. A 2.8-litre diesel engine option is rated for 201 horsepower (150 kilowatts) and 500 newton-metres (369 pounds-foot) of torque. The HiLux Workmate has a 3.5-tonne (3.9-U.S.-ton) braked towing capacity. The Triton double cab model comes with a turbocharged, intercooled 2.4-L engine. The Super Select II 4WD system available with Triton GLS and GSR models lets drivers switch between 2WD and 4WD modes at up to 100 km/h (62 mph) and instantly adjust to varying road conditions.

MarketBook.co.nz hosts for-sale listings for new and used utes with right-hand- and left-hand-side steering wheels, 2WD and 4WD capability, and single and dual cabs. Engine power ranges from less than 135 HP (100 kilowatts) to more than 300 HP (220 kW), and automatic or manual transmissions are available. Along with navigation and entertainment systems, driver-related features available include camera systems providing 360-degree visibility, tinted windows, UHF radios, and power steering. Work- and off-road features available include bull and tow bars, tipping trays, bonnet and headlight protectors, toolboxes, roof racks, and refrigerated boxes.

Find Your Next Ute

MarketBook.co.nz offers a number of new and used utes for sale from such leading manufacturers as Ford, Holden, Mitsubishi, Toyota, and others.