Isuzu D-Max
The D-Max range is available in four trim levels: Utility, DL20, DL40, and V-Cross. One 1.9-litre Euro 6 compliant diesel engine can be specified along with single, extended or double cabs. As standard the D-Max comes with a six-speed manual gearbox or an automatic transmission with double cab versions of the DL20, DL40 and V-Cross models.
As the name suggests, Utility is the workhorse specification that offers maximum space at the cheapest price. The entry-level trim starts from £25,995 excluding VAT for the two-wheel drive version and rises to £29,595 for the double cab option. DL20 starts from £31,495 with an extended cab, DL40 and V-Cross are only available with double cabs and start from £34,995 and £36,495 respectively.
Vehicles fitted with an automatic transmission offer the lowest payload of 1,070kg, while single cab Utility versions can carry the most at 1,205kg. Apart from the two-wheel drive Utility trim, which is limited to 2,500kg, all D-Max models can tow up to 3500kg. Isuzu expects DL40 to be its best selling specification with the majority of customers opting for the manual transmission, coming in at £34,995 before VAT.
Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger is the best-selling pickup truck in the UK with more than 10,000 units sold so far this year. It’s been on sale in the UK since 1998 and has a wide range of trim and engine options. The trim range includes XL, XLT, Tremor, Wildtrak, Wildtrak X, Platinum, MS-RT, and Raptor and all specifications come with four-wheel drive as standard.
Ford offers 2.0-litre engines with 168, or 202bhp and a 3.0-litre diesel with 237bhp. From Tremor upwards a 10-speed automatic transmission is the only option. From the factory the Ranger can be specified with no less than nine different options for the load space which include roller shutters, canopies and load storage solutions.
Towing weights range from 3,420kg to 3,500kg with the majority of the range capable of the upper end. Payloads vary from 1,025kg up to 1,358kg for the single chassis cab XL specification. Given the variety of configurations available, there’s plenty of choice to suit different budgets. The range starts at £29,880.83 excluding VAT for the chassis cab, XLT trim is from £33,480.83, Tremor comes in at £36,880.83, and Wildtrak is £41,680.83 for the 2.0-litre engine or £47,230.83 for the 3.0-litre version.
Toyota Hilux
Toyota’s Hilux model was first launched in the UK in 1972. It’s available in Active, Invincible, Invincible X and GR Sport II trims. Invincible comes with either a 2.4-litre or 2.8-litre diesel engine and Invincible X can be specified with a hybrid diesel engine, making it the only new pickup in the UK with a hybrid powertrain. Engine options can be paired with six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
As part of Toyota’s commercial vehicle range, customers benefit from a three-year warranty which can be extended by 12 months / 10,000 miles with qualifying services up to 10 years / 100,000 miles. New customers are eligible for free roadside assistance for five years and a courtesy vehicle is provided when your pickup is getting serviced so your business can continue as usual.
All Hilux models can tow up to 3,500kg and payloads range from 1,010kg up to 1,205kg for the single cab option. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard and Active models start from just over £29,500 before VAT. Expect to pay around £35,000 for the Invincible trim with a 2.8-litre engine or £39,500 for the hybrid engine on Invincible X. GR Sport II starts at £41,500 and includes a sport aero bar, black badging and raised ride height.
Volkswagen Amarok
Although the Amarok was discontinued in the UK in 2020, it’s back. Compared to the previous generation, it’s got a slightly longer wheelbase to make more room in the cabin and its wading depth has been improved by 300mm to a very respectable 800mm. Trim options include Life, Style, PanAmericana, and Aventura. There’s three diesel engines to choose from with 168, 202, or 237bhp.
When the vehicle is driven with a trailer or fully loaded, load/trailer mode can be selected to modify how the automatic transmission behaves. This means it stretches out longer between gears and makes use of engine braking to control the load more smoothly.
The starting price for Amarok is a little higher than competitors at £34,055 for entry-level Life trim, this is because Amarok isn’t offered with a single cab option, all models feature a double cab. Style starts from £42,505, PanAmericana has a price tag of £47,255 and Aventura will set you back £48,055, all before VAT. Life and Style are likely to be well enough equipped for most drivers although if you intend to use it for towing an optional towing pack is charged as an extra.
KGM Musso (formerly Ssangyong Musso)
At the end of 2023 Ssangyong rebranded to KGM. The South Korean brand comes close to the Isuzu D-Max offering one of the cheapest entry-level pickup trucks on the market. Its EX trim starts at £26,105 before VAT, Rebel comes in at £30,205, Saracen from £33,255 and Saracen+ costs from £34,505.
Unlike other brands that offer their base specification with the largest truck bed and payload, the top trim has the most space. Saracen+ features a long wheelbase which maximises payload to 1,205kg, extends the bed by 310mm and towing capacity stays at 3,500kg. Optional extras from the factory include a roll cover, towbar, sliding load bed, sports bars, cross bars, various canopies and roof rails. Front and rear parking sensors are also charged as extras.
All four specifications come with the same 2.2-litre diesel engine and just EX is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. Musso offers the best gross train weight in the UK pickup segment: 6450kg with a manual gearbox, 6750kg with the automatic transmission and up to 6900kg for Saracen+. This means the vehicle can carry more than 4,000kg across the bed and trailer. Musso also comes with a five-year / 100,000 mile warranty.
Maxus T90EV
The T90EV is currently the only fully-electric pickup truck available in the UK. Its official range is up to 220 miles, payload is 1,000kg, and towing capacity is limited to 1,000kg. In the real world when the heating or air conditioning is on and the vehicle is fully loaded, range is likely to be much less but for those who travel up to around 100 miles a day, battery capacity should be plenty.
Charging at an 11kW AC point will replenish the battery in nine hours or DC charging takes around 45 minutes. T90EV comes with a 88.55kWh battery and only one specification which starts from £49,950 before VAT. As standard it comes with a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, and side step, front heated seats are optional.
The T90EV comes with a five-year standard warranty and the battery is covered under an eight-year warranty. If new prices are a little high, there seems to be a good amount of used T90EVs available for around £30,000. The most important factor for prospective buyers is whether an EV fits into your work requirements, be that range capabilities, access to charging, payload, or towing capacities.
Mitsubishi L200
Available across six generations, the L200 was a mainstay in Mitsubishi’s line up for more than 40 years. In 2020, Mitsubishi pulled out of the UK and sold its remaining stock until 2021. Its final generation was launched in 2019 so there’s plenty of L200s on the market that are less than five years old. Low mileage examples with fewer than 20,000 miles on the clock can be had for between £20,000 to £25,000 before VAT.
All specifications are fitted with the same Euro 6 compliant 2.2-litre diesel engine with the choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Most buyers went for an automatic gearbox and a double cab; an extended cab option was available for the entry-level model.
Payload is rated between 1,045 to 1,080kg and towing capacity is 3,500kg. Four-wheel drive came as standard as well as a five-year / 62,500 mile warranty so some used models will still be within their warranty period.
Barbarian was the most popular trim level which included heated seats, Barbarian decals and mats, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Six trim levels were available and the top four had a good amount of safety equipment, Barbarian X had additional features including blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.
