Which pick up is the best in the UK?

After the mass exodus of the pick up truck market, you’d be forgiven for thinking it wasn’t possible to find a great all-rounder any more. The popular, yet high polluting, VW Amarok was cancelled in May after Mercedes-Benz discontinued the X-Class in February and then Mitsubishi joined trend towards the end of summer by confirming they are easing their pick up out of the UK market.
 
So, after this bombshell to the industry and as a new and used car dealer we are commonly asked which pick up truck we believe is the best on the market. The problem is, there are so many different features you could be looking for that it’s hard to define ‘the best’, unless you just happen to be looking for a pick up that can tow 15 caravans... However, here’s what you should be looking for in all-rounder.

Unless you are specifically looking for a pickup that just tows your jet ski and campervan, you need to consider all the aspects. Including options like whether you’ll need more than a single cab for any additional passengers…

The most common feature of any solid pick up truck is it’s towing capacity. For the best-in-class you’d be looking for one that can tow up to 3.5 tonnes, to you and me that’s 3 fully grown Bulls. Included in the exclusive list of pick ups to offer this towing capacity is the Ford Ranger Wildtrak, Mercedes-Benz X Class (yes, the one that’s discontinued) and SsangYong Musso.

A larger engine will provide much more punch and pzazz to your drive but it will come at the cost of a more expensive fuel bill. So when you’re looking at picking up your next truck, be sure to consider the power you’ll require, which will largely come down to factors including how much weight you’re pulling and what sort of terrain you’re accustom to. Fortunately, the Ford Ranger offers a class-leading range of engine options including ranging from a 2.0 EcoBlue Diesel to 3.2 Duratorq Diesel. Which can’t be said for some of the other rivals including the Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux.

Quite possibly the easiest question we’ll answer today. For us, when you’re looking for a new pick up you’re looking for practicality and versatility. Which would lead us to a model with numerous cab options, because we all know how quickly you can recognise the benefit of those extra seats, or visa versa, the benefit of that extra load space…

We suspect you’re not buying a pick up just for city centre driving, and as such how much you can carry is possibly the most important consideration. In the UK, the pick up with the best payload is the Ford Ranger (double cab XL) which can carry 1,217kg… which is 60kg more than it’s nearest rival the now discontinued Volkswagen Amarok.

It’s all well and good ensuring the exterior of a pick up is what you desire, but when you step inside and take the wheel does the style replicate that of the design? Contractors will immediately look for the latest navigation system, whilst those that spend a lot of time in the cab over winter will be checking for heated seats and a comfortable driving position. However, other considerations such as child seat fittings for double cabs and an abundance of leg room in the rear come into play when you’re hoping to combine a business vehicle with a family trip to the seaside. Not many on the market are able to tick all these boxes as effortlessly as the Ford Ranger does.

We’ve only scratched the surface of the world of pick up trucks here (we didn’t even mention the fact that the Ranger has a wade depth of up to 800mm, second only to the 4x4 Land Rover Defender in the UK). However, it’s key to note that even though a number of manufacturers have left the market, that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. With your next pick up there are endless amounts of considerations, perhaps one reason as to why the choice has shrunk, fortunately for those looking for a solid all-rounder it’s clear that the Ford Ranger stands out as the only remaining and accomplished ‘serious pick-up’. We know that you’ll want to see for yourself though, which is why we’re inviting you to test drive the Ford Ranger with us today.