We put four of the best-selling utes on the market to the test through the back roads of the Rakaia Gorge to see if they hold up to their reputations and convince our drivers to switch their allegiances to another vehicle.

Meet the Drivers

Duncan Humm

Co-founder of NZ Farming, an Amarok owner himself and no stranger to a ute challenge.

Guyon Humm

Duncan's  twin brother, owner of Humm Engineering and staunch Hilux man.

Craig Elliott

A dairy farmer and part of the team that brings Mid Canterbury the Methven Ute Muster, Craig is well-versed in farm trucks and sits firmly in the Ranger camp.

The Vehicles

• Ford Ranger Wildtrack 3L V6.
• Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana 3L V6
• Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain 3L Turbo
• Toyota Hilux SR5 Cruiser 2.8L Turbo

The Challenge:

We rated the utes 0-5 on performance, technology, comfort and off-roading ability. Here is how they came out on average across our three drivers.

	Ford Ranger Wildtrak	Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana	Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain	Toyota Hilux SR5 Cruiser
Price point	$83990	$88000	$75990	$63390
Transmission	10-speed auto	10-speed auto	6-speed auto	6-speed auto
Engine	3L V6	3L V6	3L Turbo	2.8 L Turbo
Comfort	4.8	4.8	4	3.6
Technology	5	5	3	3
Performance	4.5	4.8	3.5	3.6
Off Road	4.3	4.6	3.6	4.3

The Results

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak was comfortable to drive, had plenty of power, and the interior felt more like a car than a truck. The 12-inch touchscreen was great for navigation, and luxury features like the heated seats were well received. The Ranger performed exceptionally well off-road, with excellent control.

"Basically, it ticked all the boxes," Craig Elliott says.

"It was nice to drive, and stuck to the road, and plenty of power."

"I'm a bit biased because I love Rangers, but I would rate the Ranger first, followed by the Amarok.

"It was very close; you could chuck a blanket over those two."

Guyon Humm also picked the Ranger as the winner, a huge call for a long-standing staunch Hilux man, although he still felt a Hilux would be a better choice for on-farm.

"I just feel like the Ranger around the farm would feel a bit big," Guyon said.

As expected, the Ford Ranger performed well across the board, although we did note some understeer off-road. While the Wildtrak is quite expensive at $83990, it's worth noting that the lower-spec Ranger XLT is available at a lower price point in the range.

The Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana

This vehicle surprised all of us. While we expected a stellar performance by the Ranger, we did not expect the Amarok to give the Ranger a real run for its money. The Amarok, with built-in full diff lock, stuck well to the road, had fantastic suspension and less understeer than the Ranger. The interior was comfortable, and there was plenty of tech onboard.

"If money wasn't an object, I'd definitely pick the Amarok, "said Duncan Humm.

"It's above everything else and sufficiently ahead of the Ranger in terms of quality, feel, and handling. It's the whole package."

The Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain

A much more affordable option, the D-Max came shone as a cheaper price point but still showed some of the newer tech of the more expensive Ranger and Amarok. Our drivers found it to be a confident ride with a powerful engine and responsive steering. The traction control was found to be restrictive at times, but overall it drove well and handled off-road without breaking a sweat. Although it lacked a little of the star quality of the Ranger and Amarok, our drivers thought it would be the best vehicle for commercial or farm use.

"If money is important, and for most of us it is, the D-Max is a good solid all-rounder that is evolved enough, and it's tough," said Duncan.

The Toyota Hilux SR5 Cruiser

With a new Hilux set to drop soon, this was the older model of the vehicles we tested, but still, the trusty Hilux held its own against its more expensive competitors. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Hilux handled more like a truck on-road than the Amarok and Ranger and lacked a little in power. Our drivers found the Hilux to be a slightly harder ride, but it had good steering and brakes and handled well off-road.

"It's so well proven. It's got a great strike record, and it's probably the pick of the bunch for farmers," Duncan said.

"It's got a history of being reliable, and that's a big box to tick," Craig said.

by Claire Inkson