Audi Pick Up 2017
Top 8 best pickup trucks 2021
Pickup trucks are fantastically practical machines that can carry huge amounts in their load bays, while also offering excellent towing ability
14 Oct 2021
Pickup trucks are increasing in numbers on UK roads these days but they have a long way to go to match the popularity they have in North America, where several thousand Ford F150s are sold each day. That said, we can't seem to get enough of big, tough vehicles these days, with the sales of 4x4s and SUVs also shooting up.
Sales increases have gone hand-in-hand with pickup trucks becoming far easier to live with. Their driving experience has become much more car-like, and in most models the interior quality has gone from cheap and utilitarian to comfortable and luxurious. Muddy maps have been replaced with sat-nav screens and double-cab versions are fitted with four doors and accommodating rear seats, making them as useful on a family holiday as they are on a building site.
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We don't get many of the pickup trucks sold in the USA, partly because often they're too big for UK roads, not to mention a lot more expensive to run. There isn't a huge choice of models available in the UK, perhaps because customers tend to stick to the same brands. The Mercedes X-Class and Fiat Fullback were both withdrawn due to poor sales, even though they were based on the Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi L200 respectively. Now, even the L200 is no longer available because Mitsubishi has pulled out of new car sales in Europe.
Large loading bays designed to carry up to a tonne require heavy-duty suspension, so some pickups still aren't as smooth to drive as SUVs, but newer models are starting to get more sophisticated setups for a gentler ride.
If you're willing to overlook this (and a pickup's thirst for fuel), any of these trucks might be the ideal way to join the dots between family duties, load carrying, towing and the ability to go off road, without having to own more than one vehicle. With lots of modification options springing up now, it's easier than ever to personalise your pickup, which will add to their appeal for some buyers.
We've tested all of the most popular models, so read on for our list of the best pickups on sale in the UK right now. Once you're done, check out our guide to the best small vans or read about the rather unconventional Tesla Cybertruck.
Which pickup trucks are coming to the UK?
As evidenced by our list, there isn't a huge variety of pickup trucks to choose from in the UK at the moment but soon you may be able to buy pickup versions of the Land Rover Defender (if it is confirmed for production) and Ineos Grenadier, or electric trucks like the Rivian R1T. The Chinese-made Maxus T60 may come to UK shores in the next few years too.
Not too long ago, most pickup trucks felt agricultural and they weren't particularly safe or comfortable. The Ford Ranger, which is regularly updated, successfully addresses all three criticisms, as it's a genuinely good alternative to an SUV. Buyers also considering an SUV will undoubtedly be drawn to the Wildtrak model, which is offered in bright metallic colours with body coloured bumpers and an interior that has more equipment and technology than many SUVs. There are models to suit everyone, however, and business customers may be drawn to the entry-level XL with its no-nonsense spec list.
If you're going to be transporting family around, then the Ranger could be worth considering, as it's one of the only pickups to be awarded the full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. All models get four-wheel drive and special off-road-biased driver assistance systems to help you out when the going gets tough. You get a choice of two engines (both diesels) and three body styles, of which we'd recommend the less powerful 168bhp 2.0-litre diesel and double-cab body. This engine is the smoother and cheaper to run of the two engines, while the double cab offers more interior space than the other two options. In this spec, you get a load bay that can carry nearly 1,200kg plus a towing capacity of up to 3,500kg.
The Ranger won our Best Pickup award for 2022 in our annual Carbuyer Best Car Awards, for the third year in a row.
Nissan has been building rugged pickups for years, but this most recent Navara is the most road-biased and comfort-orientated one yet. The double-cab version – which we recommend – comes with sophisticated rear suspension that makes it surprisingly comfortable on road and one of the best-to-drive pickups available. This doesn't diminish its off-road abilities, however, while the cabin will be familiar to anyone who's sampled the latest Nissan Qashqai and Nissan X-Trail family cars.
There is just one engine available in the Navara, but with two outputs. The 2.3-litre diesel is available with 158bhp on lower spec models, while top-spec versions come with a more powerful 187bhp twin-turbocharged version. Not only does it allow you to tow up to 3,500kg, but it's also pretty refined, too.
There are five trim levels but the more basic Visia and Acenta models feel sparsely equipped. We'd recommend going for at least the mid-range N-Connecta with the more powerful engine, 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, side steps and power-folding door mirrors. It also gets an upgraded eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, sat nav, a reversing camera, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The majority of buyers will probably go for the top-spec Tekna and N-Guard trims with its Around View Monitor camera, rear parking sensors, heated leather interior and LED headlamps.
An icon of toughness, dependability and reliability, the Toyota Hilux has a fantastic reputation for keeping going, no matter the situation. To succeed in the UK, however, it needs to work as a family car as well as a rough, tough pickup. It's reasonably comfortable and refined compared to its rivals, while the interior feels pretty well put together, too, with plenty of space – as long as you go for the double-cab version.
Lower specs get a 148bhp 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel, which is powerful enough (although not quite as strong as some rivals), while a facelift in 2020 introduced a 201bhp 2.8-litre engine for high-spec models. Expect around 30mpg from both engines. A maximum towing limit of 3,200kg puts the Hilux in the middle of the class, while the load bay can carry over a tonne itself.
There are four trim levels to choose from, and while the Icon is around £2,500 more than the entry-level Active, it does mean you get a double-cab bodystyle plus extras like a reversing camera, cruise control, tinted rear windows and Toyota's Touch 2 touchscreen infotainment system.
The Toyota Hilux scooped our first Best Used Pickup Award for 2022.
This is certainly one of the plushest pickups on sale right now, with the high-quality interior fit and finish you expect to find in a Volkswagen. The Amarok is fitted with a 3.0-litre V6 diesel, with 201 or 255bhp. All models come with selectable four-wheel drive as standard and if you choose an automatic gearbox, the Amarok is capable of towing up to 3,500kg. The 2.5 square-metre load bay can carry over a tonne and is wide enough to take a forklift pallet.
Two main trim levels are offered, called Trendline and Highline; if you're after a luxurious pickup truck, the Highline Amarok should be at the top of your list, with equipment such as leather upholstery and heated seats, 19-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors and chrome detailing.
This model comes from the more utilitarian end of the pickup spectrum than some of the others in this list. There's only one engine to choose from – a 163bhp 1.9-litre diesel that's good for a towing limit of 3,500kg and carrying just over a tonne in the load bay. Both the automatic and manual gearboxes have high and low ratios to improve the Isuzu D-MAX's performance off-road.
The truck pulls strongly, but sounds a little rougher than some rivals, while its suspension is less comfortable on-road than some of its rivals, too. However, all models are just about unstoppable off-road and most are pretty cheap to buy in the first place, too, which will make them more appealing to buyers planning to use them for work. Isuzu has cottoned on to buyers wanting a beefy-looking truck, as the D-Max is now available in a rugged-looking XTR spec.
The latest SsangYong Musso is heavily based on the SsangYong Rexton SUV, so it's pretty well equipped and luxuriously appointed inside. The driving experience is still quite old-school however – there's no doubting this is a commercial vehicle at heart, and it's far from being the most fuel-efficient model in the class.
It is good value to buy, though, as well as being powered by a 179bhp diesel engine, boasting impressive towing capacity of 3,500kg and coming with a market-leading seven-year/150,000-mile warranty. A new Rhino LWB model gives you an even longer bed (1.61 metres), which allows a standard pallet to be transported - a rare feat for double-cab trucks.
The Ford Ranger Raptor is unlike any other pickup on this list. It's not built for load carrying - in fact, its thoroughly upgraded suspension means it has a lower payload than the standard Ranger. As a result, business owners can't claim VAT back (a big draw of pickups), while it's expensive to buy and won't be cheap to run either. But if you're taken by the Raptor, these drawbacks won't matter a bit.
The top-spec Ranger is made for driving off-road at high speed, highlighted by its 'Baja' driving mode inspired by one of the world's toughest 4x4 events. It stands much higher than the standard pickup, and few cars offer the same presence.
While a similar pickup sold in the United States would probably come with a huge V8 petrol engine, the Ranger Raptor makes do with a 210bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine. It has a lot of pulling power but is far from the quickest vehicle around, which might surprise you given its looks. At least it costs roughly the same to run as a normal Ranger.
If you need the space but not the rugged off-road and loading capabilities of a pickup, then check out our guide to the Best eight seater cars.
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Source: https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/recommended/best-pickup-trucks
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