Ute still beaut for Kiwis

Forget passenger vehicles as the winners on NZ's sales charts. The second biggest-selling model last year was the Hilux ute - behind Corolla, but ahead of Suzuki's Swift and Holden's Commodore.

This is an important segment - no doubt why Nissan has extended its Navara ute line-up with a pair of new models, both turbo-diesel double-cabs.

Navara sells two ranges, the older D22 variants at a more affordable price and the newer D40 as the range-topper.

The two-wheel drive and 4x4 RX and ST bridge the gap.

Both deliver front airbags, ABS, and many car-like comforts - the ST adding cruise control and Bluetooth.

Nissan hopes to leverage more sales from the additions.

It's joint second with Ford's Ranger in the two-wheel drive market, and third to Ranger in the 4x4 segment - with Hilux well ahead.

Four-wheel-drive utes took 63.1 per cent of available sales last year.

But there's still a healthy interest in more affordable two-wheel-drive variants for urban work.