Why America Doesn't Have Utes (Anymore)

Thanks for watching. As mentioned in the video, the term "ute" is also used to refer to SUVs and pickup trucks in Australia and New Zealand, however Americans use the term "ute" to refer to specifically these smaller utility coupes. Just needed to clear that up because I know the moment this video goes live the comments will be entirely flooded by people correcting me.

If you care enough to do so, please check out the last video I posted about Midtown Madness 3.
The algorithm did me dirty with that video and it took me around two months to make so I'd really appreciate any support. This video was only made as an attempt to get more eyes on it lol.

Discord:

[sanitater]

Utes are mostly gone from Australia now too, we have heaps of dual cab "utes" that are no longer the sedan-front type. Today's utes available in Australia are a weird balance of not quite a truck but not quite a car.

[IAreBean]

Some of your info might be a little bit outdated.

In Australia, we haven't had a real sedan based ute since the death of Local Ford and Holden manufacturing in 2016/17.
All we have now is what you'd call "half-ton pickup trucks, " like the Chevy colorado and the new ford ranger you also get in the states.

Love you content ❤ no hate

[echidna]

as a New Zealander, I love utes and every country should have them, but here in New Zealand often people refer to pickup trucks as utes as well, and is more an umbrella term for vehicles that tow the line between truck and car, but that's just coming from me

[lucasmoreno]

Utes are still a big thing in Brazil, even though they've got bigger since they were based on sedans before but not are based on SUVs and "mini SUVs"

[RexcorJ]

Speaking as a 'Murican auto enthusiast, it pains me to see what happened to Holden most of all over the years. Was hoping to somehow import a shiny new Maloo someday. Those are probably one of my all time favorite vehicles in the world, and stand as the top tier "worker's daily driver" vehicle.

[hobobeard]

We(Australia) used to have Utes but then GM ran Holden into the ground before shuttering it entirely and their failure falsely convinced other manufacturers that nobody wants them.

What we have now are unnecessarily large inefficient lumbering facsimiles of a Ute.
If you’re a tradesperson or someone who has to transport things regularly it is roughly the same cost and much easier to buy a van these days.

It’s a shame. When I was growing up my dad had a four-door. I have a lot of fond memories of ‘em…

[kennorcott]

I’ve owned two Subaru bajas. Love the crap outta them. The ute needs to come back

[thequesomanishere]

We almost got the Ute back. I remember in 2008 reading about the upcoming Pontiac G8 ST (Sport Truck); a Holden Ute rebadged and shipped to the US just like the G8 sedan. But when GM killed Pontiac, the project died with it. Very unfortunate

[myopiniongoodyouropinionbad]

I would love them. My first car was a 1997 Ranger. While not a ute it was a small economical truck. I don't tow anything and it had more bedspace than a lot of new full size trucks.

[connorbutters]

GM did a limited run in the UK for the Holden Maloo VXR under the Vauxhall brand.
It came with an engine straight from the 6th gen Z06 Corvette

[akyde]

Another body style not shown in this video is the stell/aluminium tray style ute. Maybe not as pretty to American viewers or anyone not used to seeing them, but in Australia they're really common and I think much cooler than the 'tub' style since they're rugged and really designed for utility. It's definitely more of what I think of when I think of an Australian ute, whereas the Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux type feels more American in style since they're monstrous and designed for both work and recreation (towing campers, off-roading, 4wd, harassing smaller cars). Look up the Hilux 'Workmate' for an example.

[CobraDBlade]

Considering how many of the newer small "pickups" are unibody construction, I can see the "ute" coming back to the US, if American buyers would just realize that you don't need extra ground clearance to drive on groomed gravel roads and paved streets.

[boo]

As a Canadian I have only seen UTE’s as the ranchero and el Camino and I love the body style and there purpose but we will probably never see another one in America being sold unless Subaru brings back the baja.

[anti.com_john]

Dacia, the Romanian car manufacturer, used to make utes. The Dacia Papuc (literally means "slipper") was the literal workhorse of any small business, mostly in construction. Dacia also made a limited amount of Dacia Logan utes (The Logan was a sedan) which looked pretty cool and were named Dacia Logan Pick-up. Sadly, these were discontinued.

[DerBatmun]

I visited New Zealand last year and I was honestly surprised at the variety of different trucks they have there. Not only utes but also trucks from brands that don’t produce trucks for the US, like Mercedes, as well as cars from brands that don’t exist. Wish utes caught on as much here, honestly I like the idea of them a lot

[FPVsean]

Oddly South Africa also had the Ford Bantam from 2000 to 2009, a mk4 Fiesta (post production) built as a 'backie'. They look awesome and are specific only to SA

[HOLDEN]

Fun fact, for a short time Holden manufactured and sold the Holden Crewman dual cab ute. It is directly based off the Commodore ute, with extra doors and seats and was longer. Also there was a HSV variant known as the Avalanche XUV.

[pdennis]

When GM was thinking of bringing the Holden Ute over in 2008, one of the car magazines ran an article that said they'd need to come up with a different name because "you can't say Ute in the US without sounding like Joe Pesci in My Cousin Vinny" 😂😂😂

[MatheusSilva-qmft]

In Brazil there's plenty of UTEs driving around.
FIAT Strada, VW Saveiro, FIAT Toro, Chevrolet Montana, Renault Duster, Ford Courier, FIAT Fiorino, Chevrolet Corsa Pickup, Peugeot Hoggar, and the new RAM Rampage, all can be found here, but we don't call them utes, just pickups.
Most of them based on little compact Hatchbacks, to make 'em cheaper.

[A_barrel]

In my area a few people have taking subaru wagons, usually 90s legecy's. Chopping the back roof off, sealing/reinforcing the front seat area and making a bed out of the back part