Renault NZ confirms two utes inbound

Wednesday, 4 March 2020

Renault New Zealand has revealed that it will be bringing in not one but two utes over the next few years.

One will be a traditional workhorse based on the recently updated Mitsubishi Triton, while the other is a more unique half-tonner built upon the forthcoming Duster SUV called Oroch.

The Oroch might look small, measuring 4700mm long, 1822mm wide and 1694mm high, but it still has enough interior space for four adult occupants. The wheelbase has been stretched by 155mm to allow the 1175mm-by-1135mm tray, which has a load capacity of 650kg/680L.

Renault New Zealand is very keen to bring the small half-tonne Oroch ute (right) here next year, along with a Mitsubishi Triton based ute that is not the Alaskan (left).

Under the bonnet will either be a 1.6-litre four-cylinder or a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, both fed by petrol. Overseas markets get the option of a manual or automatic transmission but Kiwi buyers will likely only be offered the auto. Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels, with no all-wheel drive model mooted.

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Marketed in Europe under the Dacia brand, Renault will launch the small Duster SUV here this year as well. It will represent the entry point into Renault's SUV range.

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The Oroch is based on the Duster SUV, adding a 680L tray and extending the wheelbase to create a half-tonne ute. If Renault plays its cards right, the Oroch could be the sub-35k ute to beat.

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Oroch might end up better to drive than the Duster on which it's based, primarily thanks to that longer wheelbase. Multilink rear suspension should help too. Those SUV underpinnings means Oroch will have more creature comforts than other similarly priced utes.

Renault NZ hasn't confirmed price or final specifications, but with any luck, we'll see it early next year.

The Duster will also make it to New Zealand as an SUV. Europe gets it under the Dacia banner but we'll see it with the Renault badge on the nose.

Full specs are yet to be confirmed but overseas models come with a smattering of small-capacity petrol engines and Renault's 1.5-litre diesel engine. All-wheel drive could be an option alongside FWD while the six-speed dual-clutch transmission will probably be the only gearbox on offer locally.

The other model is NOT the Alaskan, which was based on the Nissan Navara.

The new ute will ride on the bones of Mitsubishi's Triton. It is set to take the fight directly to the Ranger and Hilux.

Less information is available here but we'd expect diesel power, decent kit and competitive pricing. A tentative 2021 launch has been pegged.