Far more versatile and powerful compared to quad bikes, farm utility vehicles are increasingly popular in Australia. Troy Casini, a flower farmer up in the hills of Silvan, Victoria, and his staff were using a quad bike for non-tractor work, but safety was the catalyst for researching a UTV. 

Troy had a chat with his local Kioti dealer and did his homework on other brands. In the end, he settled on a Kioti Mechron K9 2400. 

“It just ticked more boxes for me,” he says. “The K9 has so many features that I like and comes standard with a hydraulic tipper. It’s a big, tough well-built thing, towing full trailers and goes anywhere you want it to.”  

The Kioti K9 is ideal for farmers and landowners. There is plenty of grunt – the 24HP, 3 cylinder, in-line vertical, water-cooled Daedong diesel engine sees to that – giving the K9 a payload capacity of 725kg. Plus, it will tow in excess of half a ton. Tough and reliable, this UTV comes complete with a hydraulic-assisted dump box activation and rear hitch as standard.  

“We can’t do without it,” Troy says. “It’s very safe and really comfortable and we use it every day.” 

There are three other models in the 4×4 Mechron range, all ideal for farm, forestry, field or garden nursery work. They feature 4-wheel, fully independent, rear dual A-arm suspension and front Macpherson type suspension, with a wide track for stability and high clearance for a smooth ride over rugged terrain.  

Each has a tight turning circle and rear anti-sway bar, making handling and cornering a breeze. Under the hood is a Daedong 1007cc 22HP diesel engine, field proven for reliability and economy.  

The cargo bed is the widest in its class, while the hydraulic dump kit makes short work of placing loads. Each model is fitted with a 2-inch rectangular tow hitch receiver for the attachment of trailers or other implements.  

Driver and passengers are not forgotten; there are wide bench seats, storage compartments, a protective canopy and a flat, walk-through design for ease of entry and exit. 

The Kioti Mechron 2200 features two bench seats (with seatbelts for added safety), an extended wheelbase, cargo tray and optional glass or Perspex windscreen for protection against the elements. 

Then there’s the three-seater Kioti Mechron 2230, with a heavy-duty ROPS frame, wide bench seat, cargo tray and 4WD with diff locks. A windscreen is optional, too. 

Rounding out the series is the Kioti Mechron 2240. While the standard features are equivalent across all models, the 2240 has two wide bench seats, giving plenty of room for a driver plus three passengers. Seatbelts with retractors are fitted as standard. 

Dave and Mary Liddle from Alexandra, Victoria, run 100 head of beef cattle and use their Mechron to move stock, spray thistles, water trees and shift loads of materials or debris. 

“The Mechron is versatile, hardy and dependable,” says Dave. “It makes the work easier and safer and seats three comfortably. The hydraulic tipper cargo tray has made a big difference to our work.” 

Whatever your requirements for a UTV, come and see Kioti’s outstanding Mechron range.