It’s no secret that 4x4 pick-up trucks are more popular in the UK than ever before. Models such as the Volkswagen Amarok and Isuzu D-Max are popping up on British streets more and more, but is it just a desire for something bigger and more powerful, or is there good reason to invest in one of these models?
Naturally, we offer these models and more – because they’re incredibly useful vehicles, if you put them into the right environment – but are you in need of a pick-up truck, or should you look elsewhere? Here, we examine the positives and negatives of 4x4s like these, and how the most popular models differ.
Positives
Pulling power: Pick-up trucks are incredibly well-equipped to tow trailers – meaning you could have twice the carrying space with ease.
More able to take on tricky terrain: If you’re working on early-stage building sites or out in the sticks, the traction and trustworthiness to take on tricky terrain is nigh on 100% with a good 4x4 – you won’t find a better type of car equipped for both the conditions and your job.
They can be as flexible as vans, but drive like cars: There are a large number of customisations you can make to a pick-up truck, so don’t just think it’s an off-the-forecourt purchase. The Isuzu D-Max, for example, comes in ten different configurations from us alone. It’s not just a few seats and a box at the back.
Insurance may be cheaper: Compared to bigger vehicles, you could save a pretty penny insuring 4X4s like these. Naturally, they tend to cost more than cars or car-derived vans, but if the step up is worth it – especially for crew-cab-style trucks like the five-seater Ranger – then they could be better value for your requirements.
Added safety: While it’s certainly not a golden rule for trucks, they do tend to be safer than vans owing to their heavy-duty manufacturing. A quick check at EuroNCAP shows the Ford Ranger to offer a whopping 96% protection for drivers in its standardised crashing – an almost unheard-of score.
Surprising running costs: 4x4 pick-ups are classed as LGVs, so vehicle excise duty could be lower. What’s more, many models can get up to 40mpg, meaning more savings at the pumps.
No VAT: If you’re getting a pick-up truck only for work purposes, you won’t pay any VAT – meaning they’ll be 20% cheaper off the bat. When compared to other “off-road” alternatives. That said, you get the same from a van. Still, the bonus is there.
Drawbacks
Manoeuvrability: They may drive like cars in a lot of circumstances, but it’s not exactly a step sideways to move from cars to 4x4s. Turning circles aren’t as great, parking is more difficult, and nimbly negotiating a double-parked side street may be enough to put you off them for good on an especially bad day.
Vertical space: There are some things a van simply can’t carry. If you have one job that requires particularly long or boxy goods to be moved, you may be at a loss with your 4x4.
Protection of goods: It’s not usually a problem when trucks are being used exclusively for work on building sites and so on, but as the famous Top Gear sketches have proved, it’s not always difficult to get at what’s inside the truck bed. Companies are savvy in protecting these, though, especially with hard-shell variants, but it’s a lot easier to beef up security on a standard van than a pick-up.
Can a car-derived van do the job instead?: If you’re regularly out in the sticks, 4x4s make sense. But if your job’s most tropical climbs are a gravel car park in Redditch or a particularly tricky uphill section in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, a car-derived van may be better for you.
4x4 pick-ups worth trying
Isuzu D-Max
Safety is the name of the game for Isuzu, and its D-Max gives you electronic stability control (ESC), traction control and ABS with electronic brake assist. The newest model delivers a 2.5l twin-turbo diesel engine, yet these benefits pale in comparison to its aforementioned ten specifications. From the classic single-cab 4x2 to its Arctic-equipped Blade.
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Ford Ranger
Popular in the US for years but only coming to the UK in 2011, the Ranger has just had another facelift and now boasts better-than-ever safety and technology. It’s already famed for its load-carrying potential – you could put a jet-ski on the back if you really wanted – but it’s the flexibility it offers that is its real selling point.
Three different variations – with the double cab being its most celebrated – can be paired with two engines (a 2.2l TDCi with 160bhp, or a 3.2 TDCi with 200bhp), and it’ll tow an industry-leading 3,500kg.
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Fiat Fullback
A newcomer to the 4x4 market, the Fullback only offers one double-cab layout, but two engines range from 150-180bhp and its towing capacity of 3,100kg is impressive for a first foray into the world of pick-ups. What’s more, its LX version offers the exclusive 4WD Electronic Selector that distributes torque between its front and rear axles.
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Volkswagen Amarok
As one of the most outright dependable manufacturers on the market, the VW Amarok may be exactly what you need. While it may be pricier than other 4x4s, it still offers single and double cab, a choice of rear-wheel drive or 4motion four-wheel drive, and two different 2.0I diesel engines offering 140bhp or 180bhp. And with features such as ergonomic seats, DAB radio and voice enhancement, there may be no more comfortable option money can buy.
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