The Kioti K9 2400 is propelled by a 24hp three-cylinder Daedong engine.
The Kioti K9 2400 is propelled by a 24hp three-cylinder Daedong engine.
This mid-mounted 1,007cc lump is married to a belt-driven CVT transmission similar to all other UTVs we had out with the exception of Kubota. Although Kioti claims a top speed of 50km/h, we found it to be more in the region of 45km/h, leaving it a bit sluggish.
Cab
The K9 2400 as tested was equipped with a retro-fit cab. Although a tidy retro-fit, the cab lacked soundproofing. The heater was also retro-fitted and worked well but struggled at times to keep the condensation off the Perspex/glassware.
The Kioti K9 2400 is fitted with a 24hp Daedong engine.
The cab has a simple, straightforward, no-nonsense layout. There is one dedicated sprung seat for the driver and a bench seat for two passengers. The driving position seemed quite high which would be a positive for many of our readers.
The dashboard was just the right size and was easy to navigate through the various functions. Control layout was simple.
Visibility to the rear of the Kioti is the most restricted out of the machines reviewed.
The gearstick, handbrake, four-wheel drive and rear differential lock controls were all easily accessed dash-mounted levers.
The Perspex-type windscreen was prone to vibration when driving. It could have done with a third latch positioned in the middle to cut out the rattling when driving on rough terrain.
The large rear cargo box has a carrying capacity of 500kg.
Visibility to the rear was the poorest out of all the machines tested. The fact the number-plate holder was positioned behind the driver’s seat also didn’t help things.
Driving
Once seated, the first thing we noticed was the elevated seating position of the Kioti compared with the other contenders.
The cab has a simple effective control layout.
From a control point of view, everything was well laid out and near hand. The K9’s steering was light and responsive, although out of all machines reviewed it had the largest turning radius at 4.3m.
Access tcan be gained easily to the engine and transmission.
Overall, off-roading wasn’t a major issue to the Kioti. However, we found the tyres on our machine to be more suited to road travel, leaving it struggling to manage the deep mucky ruts. Nevertheless, the K9 cornered well on the gravelly terrain, better than we had expected given its higher centre of gravity. Loaded or unloaded, we found the Kioti’s performance to be pretty much the same in both circumstances.
Features
This machine is the highest-specification UTV manufactured by Kioti. Its high seating position and ground clearance make it an attractive buy for farmers using a machine for a lot of off-road tasks.
The radiator and washer fluid tank can be easily accessed.
Although the bench seat is designed for two passengers, we found it a little on the tight side. A nice feature was an isolator switch fitted inside the cab. Overall, we found the Kioti to be a stylish, sturdy and well-built machine.
Watch the full UTV test below
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