In June 2019, the top five most popular vehicles in New Zealand were all utes.

Leading the charge were the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, followed by the Mitsubishi Triton, Holden Colorado, and Nissan Navara. Since then, thousands more utes have been sold.

It can be a little mystifying, since utes have a few flaws (they are known as gas guzzlers). Then again, it’s also easy to see and appreciate utes and their various features.

Here’s a quick list of a few reasons behind Kiwis’ love affair with these handsome and capable vehicles:

Easy-to-Find Parts

Utes are popular. Therefore, if something goes wrong and you need to replace some parts, it’s easy to find replacement parts.

For example, you can visit this site to find high-quality parts for utes and other popular vehicles in New Zealand. Many shops even carry parts for older-model utes, which is definitely ideal for those who haven’t replaced their vehicles just yet or purchased used ones.

There are also various types of used parts for utes, such as NOS, NORS, and rebuilt parts, which are also easy to find. If you have a limited-edition ute, these kinds of parts are the ones you should look for if you need any repairs.

Easy to Find in General

Due to their popularity, it’s also easy to buy utes. Most manufacturers have them in their lineups, with the latest models sporting plenty of new and impressive features.

For those with a little less to spare, then you’ll be pleased with the wide selection of second-hand utes. Indeed, no matter your budget, you can easily find a ute that matches your needs.

Excellent Driving Experience

What’s great about utes is that they’re adaptable.

With their durable and reliable chassis coupled with improved suspension systems, utes can easily carry you from paved roads to off-road trails. Modern utes are also equipped with power steering, which ensures easy handling and better stability.

Car manufacturers have also begun making utes with features such as adaptive cruise control and parking sensors. These help transform your driving experience to something akin to a car.

Automatic-transmission utes further help with the lighter handling feel, eliminating the clunkiness usually associated with big vehicles.

They Meet Both Work and Lifestyle Requirements

Flexibility is where utes truly shine. Indeed, not everyone has the budget to buy a separate car for their hobbies.

With utes in the picture, you’re able to use just one vehicle to drive to work, run your errands, and go adventuring on weekends. You don’t even have to worry too much about durability, since utes are designed to be reliable workhorses.

Many utes are powered by diesel engines, giving you more power to tow boats, jet skis, or trailers. Utes are also perfect for adding accessories such as bike racks due to their size.

If you’re not a big fan of noisy motors, there are some manufacturers who make utes with quieter V6 engines.

Extra Safety Features

The main competitors of utes in New Zealand are SUVs.

With their sleek looks and outstanding functionalities, SUVs have also become popular personal and family vehicles for Kiwis. This is why, over the past few years, car brands have added more and more features to their utes.

In particular, ute makers have added more safety features such as collision avoidance systems to their units. There are also models that feature knee airbags, traction control, downhill assist, and hazard identification systems.

The above features all used to be mostly exclusive to cars and SUVs. Nowadays, they are also common in utes; it all depends on the manufacturer and the model.

Comfort

Aside from the generous safety features, utes also have outstanding interiors. Again, they have to compete with SUVs that boast luxurious trimmings so they have to step-up with their design and comfort.

From leather upholstery to top-of-the-line audio systems, a ute can be surprisingly luxurious inside even as it looks extra rugged on the outside. Many recent ute models also have USB ports, which is definitely an advantage for families and tech-savvy drivers who use multiple gadgets.

Another thing that improves comfort in utes is the added height. With the extra ground clearance, you won’t have to worry about bouncing over the smallest bumps on the road.

Manufacturers have also improved the suspension systems in these vehicles. Gone are the days when you end up jumping up and down your seat when you aren’t carrying heavy loads with your ute.

Of course, utes are far from perfect. As mentioned earlier, they are notorious for having below-average fuel economy and a high level of emissions.

However, car manufacturers are continuously focusing on improving or developing new technologies that help address these issues.

If you haven’t driven one yet, perhaps your next vehicle should be a ute. Experience it for yourself and see why it’s the vehicle of choice by thousands of Kiwis.