Pickup lines

At the start of 2015, Nissan unveiled its all-new NP300 Navara, and Nissan Pilipinas Inc. big boss Toti Zara was famously quoted as saying, “Let the pickup wars begin!”

Indeed, with 2015 heating up to be a banner year for the automotive market (industry estimates peg total sales to hit anywhere between 310,000 and 320,000), pickups, along with their SUV brethren and small cars, are leading the charge to new heights for the industry.

It’s not just the new car market that shows the nation’s infatuation with these tall-riding behemoths: Drop by any locale popular with cars and car enthusiasts, and you’ll see raised, brutish pickups/SUVs clad with multiple nudge and nerf bars, bull bars, winches and steel bumpers for every two lowered, noisy rice rocket or sports car.

As some friends often ask: Is there an impending zombie apocalypse that the aftermarket scene predicts which the rest of the motoring masses don’t see?

Yes, pickups, 4x4s and SUVs are very much in vogue, and are being modified like mad.

The sad reality, though, is that incessant flash floods, supertyphoons and poor roads have taught us that 4x4s remain a must-have in a country where almost 70 percent of its declared road network is still unpaved.

With many pickups, 4x4s and SUVs—from Japanese, American and even Chinese brands—now available in the market, plus a massive aftermarket support, this segment is going to expand further in the years to come.

We check out some of the industry’s best-selling pickups and what makes them stand out:

1.) Ford Ranger

Ford’s new Ranger remains to be the king of the hill, thanks to its size, engine and offroad prowess out of the box. It has the biggest pickup bed, the highest flood-fording depth and ground clearance, and looks just plain mean.

There’s no better pickup to build on a machine that can survive a zombie apocalypse scenario than the Ranger. The 2015 update, recently unveiled in Bangkok and previewed at the recently concluded Manila International Auto Show, has a new front grille, new dashboard, start/stop engine function and revised engines which feature more power and torque, as well as improved fuel economy by as much as 22 percent depending on the variant, according to Ford.

It’s built as Ford tough as they say.

2.) Mazda BT-50

It’s like the Ford, as it shares the same basic platform, drivetrain (engine and transmissions) and electronics, but with a Japanese twist.

If you want all the performance abilities of the Ranger but prefer yours with a Japanese flair and want to skip the wait (the 3.2 Ranger Wildtrack is selling very well, thus necessitating very long queues at dealerships), the Mazda BT-50 is the way to go.

Don’t worry, performance- and reliability-wise, nothing was lost in translation from American to Japanese. Mazda fans say it’s an even better ownership experience, as Berjaya Auto Philippines keeps far closer tabs on their dealers to maintain a far better aftersales service quality.

Maneuverability is one of the strongest qualities of the Mitsubishi Strada.

3. Mitsubishi Strada

The all-new Mitsubishi Strada is perhaps the only real lifestyle pickup, and the good folks at Mitsubishi are unashamed to admit this.

Being in the middle, size-wise, in the pickup segment, the Strada has grown ever so slightly wider; its bed has increased in length considerably, yet still rides on the same wheelbase.

It’s still quite small outside, which gives it the best maneuverability (5.85 meters full turning radius, where everyone else is in the 6.2-meter range). But it has the roomiest cabin with the best rear seats (reclined at a very carlike 25 degrees), with the most in knee, shoulder and headroom.

It has HID headlights, LED daytime driving lights, engine start/stop button and, the best bit for me, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel adjustment. Sounds more like a proper sedan than a pickup.

Power has also marginally improved, primarily on torque,  which is now at 400 Newton-meters, up from the 350 Nm of its  predecessor.

For comfort freaks, those who don’t want to get down and dirty but need a highly-capable and refined truck, the Strada is top pick.

4.) Toyota Hilux

Toyota’s Hilux started a revolution in Thailand in 2004 when it was introduced. After a few facelifts, improvements to cabin NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) as well as updated in-car electronics, the Hilux continues to solider on.

Spec-wise, it might be down on just about everything else (power, number of gear ratios, looks, fording depth and ground clearance). But the original still has its bag of tricks, which the other trucks are only now catching up on. It’s also a real hoot to drive, even after having lived two lives in human years.

The Isuzu D-Max is the single most fuel-efficient pickup truck in the pickup segment.

5.) Isuzu D-Max

If the Ford/Mazda trucks are the biggest, and the Mitsubishi Strada is the lifestyle truck, the Isuzu is the single most fuel-efficient pickup truck in the segment, based on independent testing by many automotive journalists and media outfits.

The D-Max is a very impressive out of the box, particularly on offroads; it has an impressive multimedia system, and comes in a variety of variants to suit each and every person’s budget and needs.

The current one is also finally bigger and roomier inside, with more focus placed on creature comfort and refinement while still maintaining its tough and reliable workhorse image.

With a Cummins engine, the Foton Thunder is truly worth considering.

6.) Foton Thunder

Not many have had the chance to test-drive Foton’s Thunder, which has admittedly stolen much of everyone else’s thunder. The Foton’s ace in the hole is its engine: a Cummins-sourced CRDi powerplant that produces a modest 148 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque, but with an expected life cycle of 500,000 kilometers (that is not a typo), and meets the current Euro V emission regulations, whereas most diesels will only certify Euro IV compliance.

Get the impressive Ironman variant and you’ll get uprated suspension with 2 feet lift, steel bumpers, a front skidplate, Aeolus 275/75R17 A/T tires, 17×8 Black Rhino wheels, LED auxiliary foglamps and some aesthetic body trimming to differentiate it from a regular Thunder.

This improves the Foton’s offroad ability massively, something which has already made it a favorite among the armed forces and local government units. It’s a left-field choice, but one truly worth considering nonetheless.

Nissan’s Navara is the most well-rounded, with one of the biggest beds, the roomiest interior and the most impressive ride comfort.

7.) Nissan Navara

The Nissan Navara is the pickup that kick-started the pickup wars. It’s huge, outgunned only by the Ranger and BT-50 in size, but only just.

It’s arguably the most well-rounded too, with one of the biggest beds, the roomiest interior and the most impressive ride comfort, thanks to the coil-sprung rear-end.

It almost wins the specs war, thanks to its impressive engine that delivers 190 HP and 450 Nm of torque, driving through a class-leading seven-speed automatic 4×4 transmission.

With the tagline of “Tough and Smart,” it’s a wonder if Nissan will not meet its 5,000-per-annum target. The Navara pickup should be sold out of the dealerships like hotcakes.

The Chevrolet Colorado reflects tremendous payload and towing capability, not to mention an excellent offroad ability.

8.) Chevrolet Colorado

No pickup roundup would be complete if Chevrolet’s Colorado isn’t mentioned. With its class leading 500 Nm of torque and 200 HP (both class leaders) from its Duramax 2.8-liter CRDi engine with VGTi turbocharger-equipped engine, attached to a responsive six-speed automatic 4×4 transmission, the Colorado really hauls serious a–.

It’s very roomy inside and has the impressive Chevrolet MyLink multimedia system; it also has a tremendous payload and towing capability, not to mention an excellent offroad ability straight out of the showroom floor.

Impressive is an understatement with this Chevrolet.