Normally when we set out to do a comparison test for the Annual, we select three similar vehicles (say three models of ute) and test them on and off-road. This is great if you know you want a ute, but what if you are a bit further back up the vehicle decision tree?

You probably know what size of vehicle you want, as this is usually based around the number of people and the type/size of cargo you might typically carry, along with factors such as the space you must park it and maybe towing capacity needed.

So, let’s say that you have landed on needing a large vehicle – you need to carry multiple people and plenty of stuff for camping, holidays or for activities you regularly do. We’re assuming you also want a vehicle with 4WD/AWD capability – you are reading a 4WD magazine, right?

Then you have three choices. In the red corner you have the great Kiwi ute, with all its versatility. In the blue corner is one of the large 4WD wagons based on ute running gear, with their go anywhere 4WD ability and in the orange corner, is an AWD SUV wagon – more car-based, although some do offer strong off-road credentials.

In this case the choice comes down to an array of factors. Whichever you choose is likely to be an individual decision as no two people’s needs and wants will be the same, so before we get to the specific test vehicles, let’s look at the pros and cons of each style of vehicle.

The ute

A ute is the ultimate Swiss Tool of vehicles, and you can option up a huge range of accessories, especially in terms of the load carrying ability.

This means a ute is a great option to transport a wide variety of ‘toys’ and cargo. You can get a cover or lid for the load area to keep items dry and safe, and here choices range from the standard soft tonneau cover to soft and hard lids, including lift-up or roller lids (with even powered options available). Some hard lids also come with a top rack option.

Alternatively, there is a wide range of canopy styles if you need more dry storage space. There are a range of profiles, window options and more, including the option of colour coding to the vehicle.

If you have the need to carry work equipment, get a cab/chassis ute and add a service body. Next up, you can add roof racks to further enhance load carrying.

These might be traditional cross bars with a range of fitment options for bikes, kayaks, ski gear or roof boxes, or you can choose a flat base rack to fit a roof top tent or carry expedition gear.

If you have a need, someone has an accessory to suit!

Most utes are also 4WD, with proper low range gearing and great ground clearance, giving them excellent off-road ability out of the box, plus the ability to use readily available aftermarket parts to enhance this further.

Utes also offer strong towing ability with many having up to 3500kg braked towing ratings.

The downside is in the people carrying as utes are only five-seaters versus seven or eight seat options found in other large SUV vehicles. The second row of seats is also a bit limited and better suited to kids than adults for long distance travel, especially for the fifth person in the rear middle seat.

The ute-based wagon

These graft a full cabin onto what is usually the same or very similar running gear of that manufacturer’s ute (for example Ford Everest is based on Ranger, Isuzu Mu-X on the D-Max, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport on the Triton and Toyota Fortuner on the Hilux).

This means you get the same advantages as a ute in terms of off-road ability and ability to upgrade this performance with aftermarket accessories.

You also tend to get a slightly better ride as the ute is usually tuned towards carrying heavy loads and thus has firmer suspension settings than the wagon.

There is the advantage of an integrated load area which is fully fitted out and lined. It is accessible from inside the vehicle, although to get full use you need to fold one or two rows of seats.

Generally, these vehicles are seven-seaters (or there is a seven-seat variant in the range) so you have more options for carrying the family or sports team!

On the downside, the load versatility is less than the ute as the load area is constrained by the overall dimensions in terms of height and passenger space requirements. A ute has less constraints – so whether this is an issue will depend on what you carry.

Typically, you get similar towing ability to a ute.

The AWD SUV

Within this group are some wagons that do have full low range capability (Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover Discovery, Toyota Prado etc) but we are focusing here on what might colloquially be termed a soft roader.

These have more ground clearance than a car (usually at least 195mm) and AWD (whether full time or on demand) so the vehicle retains reasonable off-road ability albeit less than a ute or ute-based wagon.

Don’t discount their ability however, as they can probably go places the average user would never even contemplate and can be a great option for beach access, skiing and back roads.

Load ability is similar to that of a ute-based wagon with a large rear area where you need to fold seats to get access to the full space. Again, in the large category these vehicles are usually seven-seaters or there is a seven-seat model in the range.

The big advantage is that these are very car-like to drive, which is why they have become hugely popular as a Kiwi car choice due to the versatility of space, seating, and ease of driving.

The test

Having organised a representative of each of the three styles of vehicle, we then had to decide where/when and how to test them. NZ4WD and its sister title New Zealand Company Vehicle have an established system for appraising the vehicles, with suitable forms for testers to make comments, scoring sheets and safety equipment, including recovery gear. For this test, we engaged a three-person test team.

Cathy Parker (CP) – Cathy is the publisher at Adrenalin Publishing and has been involved around the automotive industry for most of her working life, she has had stints editing most of the company’s magazines including a current spell as NZ4WD editor while regular editor Mark Baker is unavailable.

Sean Willmot (SW) – Sean is editor of New Zealand Company Vehicle and a regular contributor to NZ4WD. He has participated in a large number of comparison style tests and has been testing and writing about vehicles for a considerable time.

Jacqueline Ngatai (JN) – Jacqueline bought a fresh face to the testing line-up but also valuable input as a mother with a school age daughter and a recent SUV buyer. Jacqui is the advertising manager for NZ4WD and Company Vehicle magazines.

Next up was selecting a venue.

As we are a 4WD magazine, we wanted to test the vehicles off-road but with an AWD SUV in the mix, we obviously did not want to risk damage.

Roger Winslade – who runs the Auckland Off-Road Adventure Park in Woodhill Forest – said he had suitable tracks in the forest to fit this brief.

These consisted of a range of metalled and sand tracks and his “proving area “which provided a variety of off-road challenges for the vehicles in a safe environment.

This also allowed the on-road testing to be around West Auckland taking in Kumeu, Helensville and Kaukapakapa areas to provide a mix of motorway, highway, and rural roads heading out to the off-road Adventure Park.

You can read the full article by purchasing a copt of the Annual