Ireland has seen growth in the popularity of utility all-terrain vehicles (UTVs) over the past number of years. However, the concept is far from new.

Kawasaki had the idea of building the first UTV back in the late 1980s.

Although there are pros and cons to UTVs, many farmers like the idea of being able to carry passengers and materials safely, in addition to the benefits of a low ground pressure vehicle that can travel through wet terrain leaving little or no tyre footprint.

This week we take a look at the Korean-built Kioti K9 2400, imported into Ireland by PJ Callan Ltd of Ardee.

The UTV has a belt driven CVT transmission with a top speed of 40km/h

At a first glance, the Kioti UTV is sturdy and stylish, with features such as the LED daytime runners making it stand out.

Drivetrain

The K9 2400 is powered by a three-cylinder 24hp Daedong diesel engine. This road-legal machine is the highest-specification UTV manufactured by Kioti. Initially, it came across as being a little underpowered.

However, once it got going and an additional 350kg of weight was placed in the cargo box at the rear, the UTV sailed away with ease.

The UTV has a belt-driven continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a top speed of 40km/h. The CVT has both a high and low option in forward, making it suitable for logging weight behind the vehicle.

Like most UTVs, it is equipped with two pedals, a brake and an accelerator. Although the UTV seemed a little sluggish, when we pulled weight behind the vehicle it performed surprisingly well.

Cab

The cab has a simple layout. The dash is of a nice size and it is easy to navigate through the various functions.

The dash is of a nice size and easy to navigate through the various functions.

The operator can gain easy access to the gearstick, four-wheel drive and rear differential lock through dash-mounted levers. The handbrake is beside the steering wheel.

There is one dedicated seat for the driver and a bench seat for two passengers.

The Perspex type window can be opened outwards slightly to allow some fresh air in which is a nice feature.

The windscreen can be opened outwards slightly to allow fresh air in, which is a nice feature. The cab comes with a USB port and a 12V power supply.

The Kioti K9 comes with half doors as standard. This was something I really liked. It gives the operator a sense of safety and security while operating the vehicle.

However, there is no external latch to open the door, which is a negative.

The cab encompasses quite a simple and easy to follow layout.

One other feature that could be added from a safety and ease of use point of view would be an interior cab light for aiding a user’s vision in the dark.

Suspension

The UTV has independent double-arm wishbone suspension at the front and rear. This means the machine is comfortable on rough terrain.

The vehicle is quite large, and weighs in at 930kg. It has very good ground clearance, making it ideal for travelling in softer terrain.

The rear-tipping cargo bed has loads of room with a load-carrying capacity of 500kg.

The cargo box is fitted with a manual tipping device (gas strut) as standard, however, it comes with the option of hydraulic tipping.

The cargo box is fitted with a manual tipping device (gas strut) as standard, meaning it would be very difficult to tip off a heavy weight. However, the UTV comes with the option of hydraulic tipping.

Comment

Although the UTV came across as being a little on the sluggish side at first, it performed well when an additional 350kg was added to the cargo box and while pulling weight from the drawbar. Ground clearance and comfort were two of the machine’s positive points.

Overall, we found the UTV to be stylish, sturdy, well-built and an attractive buy for a farmer in the market for a competitively priced UTV.

Specs

  • Engine: 24hp Daedong diesel.
  • Transmission: Belt-driven CVT.
  • Max speed: 40km/h.
  • Suspension: Independent, double A-Arm.
  • Weight: 930kg.
  • Cargo bed capacity: 500kg.
  • Price: €13,900 plus VAT (£12,013).