The American perspective on the ‘Ute’.

In Australia and New Zealand, the iconic “Ute” holds a special place in our hearts, designed with a passenger chassis that seamlessly integrates a cargo tray with the vehicle’s body. This is a distinctive difference from the American pickup, which typically features a separate cargo bed. Here at MRT, we recognise that utes in Australia and New Zealand aren’t just vehicles; they’re built for both comfort and versatility, perfect for daily driving while still being ready for rugged adventures. This blend of usability and comfort has made models like the Toyota HiLux the top choice in Australia. As part of this demand, our utes are built to carry the same level of safety and comfort that you’d expect in a passenger car.

Key Takeaways

1. Distinctive Ute Design – Australian and New Zealand utes are known for integrating the cargo tray into the vehicle’s body, offering a compact, comfortable design that differs from the American pickup’s separate bed structure.
2. Australian vs American Vehicle Culture – While Americans often prefer larger vehicles like pickups for perceived safety and size, Australian utes are valued for their manoeuvrability and comfort, ideal for both urban and rugged environments.
3. Upgrade with MRT Canopies – MRT offers a variety of high-quality, standard and custom-built canopies and flat bed trays that enhance storage and functionality, allowing Australian utes to compete with the storage capacity of larger American pickups.
4. Options for U.S. Drivers – All MRT canopies and trays are also compatible with American vehicles, offering U.S. drivers the opportunity to enhance their pickups or utes with MRT’s premium storage solutions.
5. Chassis Mount Canopy for Extra Space – MRT’s Chassis Mount Canopy is a lightweight, innovative solution that maximises space and versatility, perfect for drivers looking to optimise their vehicle’s storage capacity.
6. Built for Adventure – MRT’s canopies and trays are designed to withstand any adventure, whether you’re driving an Aussie classic ute or a U.S. favourite.

The USA is known for loving things notoriously big!

In the United States, bigger often means better – from homes and highways to meal portions and, of course, vehicles. American pickups are built larger, often reflecting a preference for the ‘big muscle’ type vehicle. For many Americans, larger vehicles like pickups offer added security on the road. Low petrol prices and legislation that favours big vehicles have meant that the American market has developed a loyalty to these substantial pickups. This trend makes compact vehicles like Australian utes less common in the U.S. market, where the bigger pickups reign supreme.

Our utes are considered mid-sized in the USA.

Popular Australian utes like the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, and Nissan Navara are tough and powerful in their own right, offering excellent safety and reliability. However, these utes are generally considered mid-sized in America when compared to popular U.S. models such as the GMC Sierra 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, or the Ford F-Series Super Duty. These American pickups often provide roomier cabins and sometimes even greater functionality. However, with the addition of MRT’s high-quality canopies and flat bed trays, your Australian ute can easily compete in terms of versatility and storage with these larger vehicles.

Practicality needs vary from nation to nation.

American pickups are beastly vehicles with larger turning circles and longer chassis, which naturally equate to bigger internal cabins and heavier vehicles. Whereas, the smaller popular Australian/New Zealand utes are perceived by Americans to be lighter and better at manoeuvring in tight city environments than their oversized pickups— but slightly less powerful due to the sheer size and specs when compared to some of the American favourites. American consumers tend to remain very loyal to their preferred pickup brand, and many of these major corporations work hard to make these large pickups the safest and most fuel-efficient as possible.

A huge reason why Americans love their extremely large vehicles in comparison to the popular mid-size Australian ute is because of the proven safety measures. The physics of the heaviest car coming out of an accident less affected than its lighter counterpart has been trialled and tested. Due to this desire to be the biggest and safest on the road, newer American pickups embody technologies like crumple zones, airbags and automatic braking, which have modernised and enhanced their capabilities.

How do I get more storage for my Aussie ute?

If you’re looking to add more storage and practicality to your Australian ute, MRT has an array of options, from standard to custom-built canopies that provide all the space you need. Our tray and canopy packages are designed to give you maximum storage while enhancing the overall functionality of your vehicle.

For even greater customisation, our Chassis Mount Canopy offers a lightweight, spacious solution that’s perfect for those wanting to get more out of their ute’s chassis setup.