Until a few years ago, the only place you’d see a pickup truck in the UK was on or near a farm. But since various manufacturers started making them more luxurious and comfortable, and their tax status has made them very attractive to business owners, they have exploded in popularity. 

That tax situation has since changed, with double-cab trucks now being classified the same as private vehicles, but this just means the market is great for private buyers. Here are some of the best pickup trucks on sale today. 

Toyota Hilux - from £35,807 + VAT

Heralded as one of the most reliable vehicles of all time, in part thanks to a classic Top Gear episode, the modern Hilux is a capable, 1-ton carrying pickup that has all the bells and whistles of many modern SUVs. 

The current new model was facelifted in 2020, but has been using the same drivetrain and chassis since 2015, meaning parts should be easily accessible, and the drivetrains and design well tested. It’s available with a 2.4 or a 2.8-litre diesel engine, and can tow 3,500kg.

Its load bed is 1555mm long, which is decent, but not class leading. The Ford Ranger beats it by over two inches, but the Isuzu D-Max extended wheelbase is the truck to get for load bed length at over 1800mm.

Ford Ranger - from £30,800 + VAT

The Ranger is one of the UK’s most popular pickups, well reviewed both as a comfortable cruiser and a useful work vehicle. There are quite a few engine options available, ranging from a modest 170hp diesel, up to the most powerful version - the plug-in hybrid. This offers nearly 300hp and an electric-only range of 26 miles. 

The current shape of the Ranger is clearly inspired heavily by the American versions, with large chunky bumpers and quietly flared arches. Something particularly impressive is the generator function of the PHEV Ranger. A standard 3-pin socket in the bed allows the use of small hand tools and charging of power tool batteries.

Volkswagen Amarok - from £35,925 + VAT

The astute driver would probably notice that the Amarok is very similar to the Ford Ranger in power and driving dynamics, because they share the same underpinnings. Despite VW’s success with the first-gen Amarok, they paired with Ford to cut costs on the development of the new one - this isn’t a bad thing, though. 

Despite the underneath being similar, the body and interior of the Amarok are completely different. The front and rear aspects are decidedly Volkswagen, with the grille lines blending into the headlight shape. 

Inside, the Amarok features a few more steel-edged controls and leather coverings than the Ranger, but they’re both clearly well-thought-out products. Unsurprisingly, the bed length is around the same as the Ranger at 1600mm give or take. Its carrying capacity is 1130kg.

Isuzu D-Max - from £36,505 + VAT

Unlike the rest of the cars on this list, Isuzu don’t make any passenger vehicles anymore, focusing solely on commercials and pickup trucks. This makes sense when you look at the base “utility” version of the D-max. That said, the DL20 model being discussed here is very much a player in this SUV-like Truck sector.

This is mainly due to its alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay with an 8” touchscreen and a plethora of assist features like a reversing camera, cruise control and tyre pressure monitoring. It still maintains usability, though, especially the extended model with its 1800mm bed length.

Maxus T90EV - from £49,950 + VAT

The T90EV is currently the only fully electric pickup sold in the UK. It has a claimed range of 200 miles and around 200hp from the single, rear-mounted electric motor. Ride comfort and handling are described as not as good as the competition, but the feature list is reasonably long with things like a backup camera and a large infotainment screen. 

The bed is a reasonable length at 1,485mm and can take a one-ton payload. One of the upsides of having a pickup truck over a van is the off-road capability - unfortunately, due to the T90EV’s rear wheel drive and lack of ground clearance, it’s probably best kept on the road.

Ssangyong/KGM Musso - from £30,965

A rebrand to KGM should help the Ssangyong’s image, as some may remember previous vehicles such as the Rodius, as being not particularly good or easy on the eye. The New Musso truck, however, is not too bad to look at and comes with some impressive features, for the price. 

The long wheelbase version has a bed of around 1,300mm in length, and can carry over 1,200kg. Inside, there is an infotainment screen, but smaller than those found in the Ranger, etc, flanked by physical buttons, something that could actually be an upgrade, especially for a work truck. 

Easy repairs for your pickup

Once you're sorted and on the road with your pickup, it's essential to keep your new vehicle in top shape with regular maintenance. Thanks to Bumper's car repair finance, you can easily spread the cost of repairs into interest-free monthly payments. Apply online before your visit and choose from 1000s of repairers across the country.   

Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.