Top five pick-up trucks

Ever wondered what’s the best pick-up truck in the UK?

The UK pick-up truck market is (excuse the pun) picking up fast. Along with the current contenders, the likes of Mercedes, Renault and Fiat all plan to enter the fray either late this year or early 2017, which is of course great news for those in the market for one.

Pick-up trucks aren’t just workhorses these days, with many feeling almost car-like. They feature some of the most impressive automotive technology and their interiors can shame many hatchbacks. It’s an interesting period in the evolution of pick-ups no doubt, but as a truck, they still have a job to do and, as more and more hit the market, which option is the best?

We’ve picked out five of our current favourites for you.

Mitsubishi L200

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Now in its fifth generation, after debuting first in the Japanese market back in 1978 as the ‘Forte’, the Mitsubishi L200 has gained a respectable reputation among pickup buyers.  Find out how it compares to the mighty Nissan Navara.

The latest L200 is powered by a 178bhp 2.4-litre diesel unit, which produces torque levels of 430Nm and includes driver settings which can be accessed through a rotary control including off-road and four-wheel drive modes.

Volkswagen Amarok

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Only available in the UK as a double-cab option, the newest variant of the Volkswagen Amarok is powered by a 178bhp 2.0-litre BiTDI twin turbodiesel engine, which has a claimed economy figure of 35.3mpg. 4MOTION is also available as a permanent fixture or can be selected.

The selectable four-wheel drive system also has an impressively high-load capacity of 1,860kg – an additional 260kg over the permanent system. The best in our top five for load capability.

Toyota Hilux

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The oldest of our bunch is the Toyota Hilux. The model is powered by one engine option – a 148bhp 2.4-litre diesel engine that produces a respectable 400Nm of torque (making it strong enough to tow 3,500kg).

The model is available in single, extended and double-cab body-styles – all of which have an electronic dial to select three different driving modes; 2WD High, 4WD High and 4WD Low. Rated payload capability ranges from 920kg to 1240kg.

Nissan Navara

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The Nissan Navara is available as a spacious king-cab or a 4x4 double-cab variant. You’ve got the choice between an entry-level 158bhp diesel engine (44.9mpg) or a 187bhp 2.3-litre diesel engine (44.1mpg), which are mated to a six-speed manual gearbox (a seven-speed auto box is available as an option on higher specs).

When buying a pick-up load-carrying capability is pretty important and the best Navara option for this is the 2WD king-cab, which is able to cope with 1,136kg.

Posh pick-ups: What happened when the Nissan Navara took on the Mitsubishi L200

Ford Ranger

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Facelifted for 2016, the new Ford Ranger provides more efficiency, smart new technology and a fresh look, including Mustang-inspired front grille and headlights.

The new Ranger is up to 17% more fuel-efficient than its predecessor thanks to a new range of diesel engines. Although the flagship powerplant will be a 3.2-litre, 197bhp diesel,  the less powerful 2.0-litre, 158bhp unit is likely to be the more popular, achieving an impressive 43.5mpg on the combined cycle.

The regular cab can carry up to 1,269kg and wade through water up to 800mm deep. And it should be a decent tow car, too, thanks to a 3,500kg maximum towing weight.

We like the look of the new Ford Ranger so much at ContractHireAndLeasing.com, we’ve leased one for ourselves. Now that’s a recommendation.

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