China and Taiwan have capitalised on the exorbitant prices charged for some mainstream UTVs by peppering the UK market with budget friendly alternatives.

Oliver Mark and James Andrews find out if they’re any good.

See also: Can-Am Traxter 6×6 UTV is clumsy but offers plenty of grip

CF Moto UForce U10 Pro

© MAG/Oliver Mark

Headquartered in Hangzhou, China, CF Moto is one of the largest manufacturers of ATVs and UTVs on the planet.

Up until a few years ago, its influence on the UK market was slight. But a a ruck of new higher-spec models, some keen price-tags and decent warranties means its popularity is on the rise.

The manufacturer has gone all-out with its U10, lavishing it with far more extra kit than the regular UForce.

But there’s more to it than a simple tarting up of an existing model. For starters, there’s a new three-cylinder petrol engine, rather than the V-twin used in the 1,000cc UForce.

This puts out 90hp and 94Nm of torque, making it a speedy farm runaround and confident towing vehicle.

Though smooth and civilised at low speeds, it’s a bit of a screamer at higher revs, which can get irritating after a while.

So, instead of gunning around at its top speed of 60mph, it’s far more pleasant to trundle at 40mph or so.

© MAG/Oliver Mark

This won’t be a concern for those running one of these buggies on a T1b homologation as the top speed will be limited to 60kph (37mph).

The transmission is a typical belt CVT, but rather than a typical lever for shifting gears, CF Moto has opted for electronic buttons.

Though these remove the clunkiness of manual shift and make the dash look smarter, the lights that indicate which gear it’s in are hard to see in bright sunlight.

© MAG/Oliver Mark

What’s the cab like?

No other UTV maker has pushed the boundaries of interior plushness quite like CF Moto has with the U10, particularly considering the price.

It rivals some cars in this regard, with electric windows, cooling fans, a heater and a windscreen that opens at the touch of a button.

Then there’s the entertainment system – the first we’ve seen fitted as standard on a UTV – which has a touchscreen display capable of running Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

If we’re being picky, it’s a bit of a sod to navigate your way around the menus, but it works and it’s quite a treat to have tunes blasting out of the roof-mounted speakers.

© MAG/Oliver Mark

The decision to wrap the seats on our Highland test vehicle in mottled brown quilted leatherette has tried, but failed, to give it a luxury look.

However, they make up for this by being supremely comfortable.

Sealing of the cabin against noise and water is less impressive and it did spring a leak or two when sluiced off with the pressure washer – more so than some less sophisticated models.

We’d forgo a few of the fancy electrics to see improvements in this area.

After all, it’s meant to be a working vehicle and there’s a risk some of these could cause trouble after a few years of getting drenched and caked in mud.

Front hinged “suicide” doors are handy for hopping out to open gates but, like so many of these vehicles, they lack any door struts.

This means they swing around freely and there’s a risk of the hinges getting tweaked if they get caught in the wind.

Is it a workhorse?

© MAG/Oliver Mark

Despite the abundance of electronic gadgetry, there’s plenty to recommend the U10 for working life.

Power is plentiful, it’s fitted with a decent four-wheel drive system and a switchable rear differential.

Drivers can either leave this open to avoid tyre scrub when turning tight, or lock it solid for peak traction when wading through mud.

Towing capacity is ample too, with it able to pull braked trailers weighing up to 1,134kg, and the rear load bed can carry 450kg.

For some, the cab-operated electric tipping function will be a boon, but the downside is that it can’t be operated from outside and it takes far longer than pulling a manual lever.

The base of the bed also sits quite high, which makes it slightly more difficult when hoisting heavy cargo in by hand.

Once loads are in place, it’s easy to strap them down securely thanks to a series of steel lashing loops along the sides.

Like so many UTVs, there’s room for improvement where engine braking is concerned, particularly when there’s weight in the back or a trailer in tow.

CF Moto has thought to include a hill descent mode, which does attempt to give some resistance. Although it soon gets overwhelmed, leaving the vehicle to virtually freewheel down hills.