In the UK, the choice of Pick-Ups is diminishing rapidly.
Many manufacturers have produced them, with some built in cooperation with others, the same Pick-Up, but with different Badges, so now there are really only Three to chose from, two of which I have recently tested.
Many manufacturers have produced them, with some built in
cooperation with others, the same Pick-Up, but with different Badges, so now there are really only Three to chose from, two
of which I have recently tested.
I had a Toyota HiLux Invincible for a week on test, and as we know these trucks are virtually indestructible. The Toyota can be seen worldwide doing a variety of jobs, and always able to cope in any situation. It is powered by a 2.8-litre 4-cylinder Diesel engine that produces 201bhp, it had a very smooth 6-speed Auto gearbox But despite it being a workhorse, the interior on the Invincible is very luxurious and comfortable, yes it’s a truck so not exactly a large premium saloon, but the ride is very acceptable. I didn’t get chance to take the Toyota off-Road, the nearest was Morrison’s car park, and to visit our local farmer, but I have driven one previously on an off-road course, and it was very competent.
A couple of weeks later I was invited to drive the all-new Isuzu D-MAX on a press event in a quarry near Buxton. Isuzu was founded in 1916, but wasn’t until 1987 that the first vehicle was brought to the UK.
We were each given the keys to a truck, and were alone, due to COVID restrictions and followed the lead-car around the old quarry: up steep hills, down slippery slopes, through deep water, it now has a wading depth of 800mm. Some of the terrain was just very loose gravel, so the four-wheel-Drive button needed to be pressed on some difficult and slippery areas. But the D-MAX did everything it was asked to do.
Then it was out onto the open road to see if it was as good on tarmac as it was on gravel and in water, and as expected, it was. The interior, like the Toyota is now very ‘car-like’ and probably even more luxurious than many cars, it just had the look and feel of something very special.
The Isuzu is powered by a much smaller engine than the Toyota, it has a 1.9-litre Diesel engine that produces 164ps, on paper it just doesn’t look right, but in reality it is perfect.
Both the Toyota & Isuzu are packed full of goodies, not a basic pick-up anymore, the list of standard specification on both is endless.
Both are exceptional vehicles, and both have their individual advantages, but both are brilliant all-rounders, can go off-road, can carry lots of heavy goods, and a pleasure to drive on-road, and all for just over £30,000, plus Taxes…a bargain..
