Ute (vehicle)

This article is about usage of the term "ute" and coupé utility models produced in Australia and New Zealand. For the coupé utility body style in general, see coupé utility. For the Native American tribe, see Ute people.
2014 Holden VF Commodore ute (coupé utility)
2024 Toyota Hilux ute (pickup truck)

A ute (/juːt/ YOOT), originally an abbreviation for "utility" or "coupé utility", is a term used in Australia and New Zealand to describe vehicles with a tonneau behind the passenger compartment, that can be driven with a regular driver's licence.

Traditionally, the term referred to vehicles built on passenger car chassis and with the cargo tray integrated with the passenger body (coupé utility vehicles). However, present-day usage of the term "ute" in Australian English and New Zealand English has expanded to include any vehicle with an open cargo area at the rear, which would be called a pickup truck in other countries.

Both wellside trays (factory-installed moulded SUV-style trays with fixed sides, also called tubs) and flat-bed trays (lower trays with removable sides, often installed by dealerships rather than the factory) are popular on utes in New Zealand, with wellsides more popular for in-city work and flat-beds more popular in rural contexts.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.