The workhorse gets family friendly

Mitsubishi's Triton will enter a crowded market.

Mitsubishi may have misjudged its market when it started a teaser campaign for the incoming Triton ute. The www.gethard.co.nz website has proved problematic for those accessing it from their workplace - with official web servers taking an entirely different view of what the phrase means.

Still, the company had to try something to grab the buyer's attention in a busy market dominated by bigger players, particularly since ute buyers will be spoiled for choice when at least four new models arrive on the market by year's end.

The three major players introducing workaday utes are Ford, with the Ranger replacing the outgoing Courier line-up; Mazda, with the BT-50 replacing the Bounty; and Mitsubishi, with the new Triton.

Meanwhile, small Korean brand SsangYong hopes to mix it with the big boys when the Actyon ute (pronounced Ackshun) hits our shores.

Ford played it sensible with its long-standing "built tough" tagline, while Mitsi's second-string website - this time with a more PC name - suggests hard-men only need apply.

But joking apart, utes are no longer reserved for hard-men, with rising sales of double-cabs and fripperies such as airbags and aircon seeing the traditional workhorse take on a more family friendly persona.

The year to May sales of utes totalled 6393, just above last year's figure. That's more utes sold than micro, medium or large cars - only the Corolla-class beats it, due no doubt to the double cab's flexibility.

Toyota is still the utility king thanks to Hilux, with Nissan's recent Navara just behind.

Next comes a slew of outdated machines, with Ford's outgoing Courier ahead of Holden's Rodeo. Mazda and Mitsi are a long way back - and SsangYong's still getting a toehold in the market.

Given the size of that market, it's worth battling for.

So what can ute buyers expect? Refinement and passenger comfort without compromising the work ethic - the same route Toyota's Hilux has followed - seems likely.

What's confirmed is the choice of fuel, with all four utes packing diesel power and only one selling a petrol option.

Ford will offer two common rail four-cylinder diesel units, in 2.5 or 3.0-litre format, with a variable geometry turbo charger to offer torquey response. The 2.5 delivers 105kW and, more importantly in real-world applications, 330Nm of torque - around 25 per cent more than the outgoing 2.5.

The 3.0 that's new to the range adds another 10kW to the power tally and 50Nm to the torque output.

Ford's taking the safety high ground with four airbags available - an acknowledgement not only of OSH regulations that tag your ute as your workplace, but of the combined work-family role the double cabs take. Hence the addition of ABS to the options list.

Also upping the specification ante will be Mazda's Bounty replacement. The BT-50 - named after the B-Series and its positioning halfway between small and large utes - is a global name it will use in every market.

Expect turbo diesels in single cab, double cab and cab plus; both two and four-wheel-drive; and only one engine - a 3.0-litre turbo diesel with a five-speed auto option.

Ford and Mazda's utes will arrive in the fourth quarter, by which time the market could be crowded.

Mitsubishi's Triton will turn up in September, again with diesel power - this time packing a 3.2-litre intercooled turbo.

Mitsi says this is the biggest, most powerful engine for Triton - with 120kW and 349Nm of torque. Petrol heads can instead opt for a 3.5-litre V6. Either way, they'll get a dynamically-styled body and single or double-cab options.

Before the Mitsi's dust has settled, SsangYong gets some action with the Actyon SUV-based ute arriving in October.

Also distinctive, if not as self-consciously muscular as the Triton, it's powered by a 2.0-litre common rail, direct injection turbo with 103kW and 310Nm, and in two or four-wheel-drive.

Importer Russel Burling is a motorbike fanatic who sponsors a variety of two-wheeled disciplines, so it comes as no surprise that his first comment is about the ute's carriage capacity - usually compromised by providing rear seats.

"With its fold-flat tailgate, the Actyon Sports ute is capable of carrying sports and farm motorcycles on the rear tray," he says. Yes, he did try it out.

Which should you buy? With prices and spec levels to be confirmed, the field's still wide open. The only thing that's known for sure is punters will be spoiled for choice.