Best pick-up trucks in the UK for 2024

​They’re still rugged and utilitarian workhorses at heart, but the best pick-up trucks on sale in the UK are far more refined than their barebones ancestors. With vastly improved ride quality, plush interiors, top-notch technology and even a few hints of luxury, many modern pick-ups are now genuinely suitable for use as a day-to-day car. 

Our road-testing experts have driven every pick-up truck on sale in the UK, and we’ve listed the very best pick-up trucks to buy right here.

Best pick-up trucks to buy

1. Ford Ranger
2. Volkswagen Amarok
3. Toyota Hilux
4. Isuzu D-Max
5. Maxus T90 EV
6. KGM Musso
7. Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster

1. Ford Ranger

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• Prices from £29,000
• Max gross payload: 1,200kg
• Max towing capacity: 3,500kg

We were so impressed with the Ford Ranger that we named it our Pick-up of the Year at the 2024 Auto Express New Car Awards. This is certainly an impressive feat, but the Ranger has long been such a great buy that it’s actually held on to this award since 2019. It’s clear that buyers share our positive opinions, too, as the Ranger continues to top the UK’s pick-up truck sales charts.

Previous versions of the Ranger were solely focused on practicality and usability, but the latest version has embraced the chiselled, square-jawed styling of Ford’s iconic F-Series pick-ups from the USA. The Ranger’s cabin has also taken some big steps forward in terms of comfort, quality, space and most noticeably, technology. 

Now more than ever, the Ranger has a sense of style to go with its workhorse image, and the Double Cab version is a great choice for business users who want a capable workhorse that can also serve as a versatile family car when they’re off the clock.

It still feels built to last, though, and it has excellent off-road ability, can tow up to 3,500kg and most versions satisfy the one-tonne payload LCV tax requirement.

There are a wide range of trim levels for the Double Cab model, ranging from the hard-working XL models to the luxurious Platinum spec. The mid-range Wildtrak trim is our pick of the range, because it comes with everything you might need or want, including a whopping 12-inch touchscreen, leather upholstery, a raft of driver safety aids and Soft Ride suspension for greater comfort.

Most versions are powered by Ford’s faithful 2.0-litre EcoBlue four-cylinder, but select models are available with a smooth 3.0-litre V6 diesel – our preferred motor thanks to its extra muscle and refinement. Lower-spec models get the four-pot paired with a six-speed manual, while the rest of the range features a 10-speed automatic transmission that delivers seamless gear changes.

2. Volkswagen Amarok

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• Prices from £42,000
• Max gross payload: 1,101kg
• Max towing capacity: 3,500kg

The new second-generation Volkswagen Amarok is closely-related to the Ford Ranger, but to help differentiate it, the German brand has given its pick-up more of a luxurious flavour across the line-up. 

Step inside the Amarok and the cabin features plenty of leather and metallic trim, while the portrait-orientated 12-inch touchscreen runs VW’s own software and graphics. Most models also get wireless smartphone charging and connectivity, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, matrix LED headlights and even ambient lighting. However, all of these premium touches mean the VW also carries a premium price tag.

The Amarok hasn’t totally lost sight of its utilitarian roots, though, so there’s still plenty of functionality to be found. Passenger space is an improvement over the previous-generation, and the load bed is the same size as its predecessor. It measures an almost-square 1.62 metres long by 1.58 metres wide, with a width of 1.22 metres between the wheel arches.

As with the Ford Ranger, you can get the Amarok with four-cylinder or V6 diesel engines, and all but the base model are equipped with the Ford-sourced 10-speed automatic gearbox. With the V6 under the bonnet, the Amarok feels almost as refined and cultured as a large SUV to drive, while the lofty driving position offers a good view of the road ahead.

3. Toyota Hilux

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• Prices from £35,000
• Max gross payload: 1,000kg
• Max towing capacity: 3,500kg

The Toyota Hilux is an icon of the pick-up world, having made its global debut in 1968. Owners in some of the most inhospitable places on earth swear by the Hilux’s durability, and a certain British television show demonstrated the Japanese truck’s indestructible nature in speculator fashion. So if there’s one pick-up that deserves to have a model named ‘Invincible’, it’s the Hilux.

The latest Hilux is bigger in every dimension than before, benefiting that all-important load bay, which is a full 130mm wider than the last Hilux’s. Power comes from either a 2.4-litre or 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel, with the latter offering a healthy torque figure of 420Nm when fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox. This is boosted even further up to 500Nm if you choose the six-speed automatic. All versions can tow up to 3,500kg.

Inside, the latest Hilux is a huge improvement over the previous model. Gone are the flimsy plastics and dated switchgear, replaced by a dashboard which looks and feels like it’s from one of Toyota’s passenger cars. However, the latest Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok have moved things on even further now.

The Invincible model has a decent kit tally, too, with an eight-inch infotainment display with DAB and Bluetooth, cruise control, climate control and keyless start, while the Invincible X gets even more kit and a unique looking front end, too.

The Toyota Hilux is surprisingly good to drive, although the big diesels aren’t as smooth as those found in some of its rivals. There’s lots of tyre squeal, too, but the ride is comfortable, the steering is accurate and body control isn’t too bad considering the elevated stance. As with any pick-up, if the load bay is empty, the ride can be a little bouncy and there's flex detectable in the chassis.

4. Isuzu D-Max

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• Prices from £26,000
• Max gross payload: 1,155kg
• Max towing capacity: 3,500kg

The Isuzu D-Max is the only model that’s currently sold in the brand’s UK showrooms, so it clearly needs to impress. The standard five-year/125,000-mile warranty shows that Isuzu has faith in its pick-up truck when it comes to durability, and there’s plenty of choice when it comes to specification, too.

Kicking off the D-Max line-up is the Utility model which forgoes fancy cosmetic touches, such as alloy wheels and colour-matched bumpers, in order to keep purchase and running costs down. There are still a few creature comforts inside, though, such as air-conditioning, cruise control and a DAB radio.

At the top of the standard range sits the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross. This adds in a helping of plush kit including dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, leather seats with electric adjustment, courtesy light delay, parking sensors, a reversing camera and lots of safety kit.

If neither of these take your fancy, there’s always the option of the off-road focussed Mudmaster or expedition-tuned Arctic Trucks AT35. Regardless of your chosen variant, all D-Max models use the same 1.9-litre twin-turbo diesel engine which is capable of returning up to 34mpg.

5. Maxus T90 EV

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• Prices from £50,000
• Max gross payload: 1,000kg
• Max towing capacity: 1,500kg

While brands such as Tesla, Ford and Rivian have introduced all-electric pick-ups in North America, the first zero-emissions truck to arrive in the UK was the Maxus T90 EV. 

Rather than using a bespoke EV platform, the Maxus has its battery-electric running gear fitted to the chassis of an existing combustion-engined model. As a result, it’s a more traditional looking pick-up than the Rivian R1T or even the Ford F-150 Lightning, but isn’t as capable off-road as contemporary diesel pick-ups. This is largely because it’s exclusively rear-wheel drive, and the rear-mounted 201bhp rear-mounted electric motor hangs lower than the differential, reducing ground clearance and departure angles.

While a starting cash price of over £50,000 — excluding VAT — is certainly a tall order, there are now some incredibly tempting leasing deals that have brought the all-electric Maxus well into the reach of many more private and business buyers. It should also be cheaper to run than similarly-sized diesel pick-ups.

The 88.6kWh battery is substantial, and Maxus claims it’s good for a range of 220 miles on a full charge. The T90 EV also qualifies for the LCV rates of taxation and has a braked towing capacity of 1,000kg, although diesel rivals can tow far more. 

6. KGM Musso

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• Prices from £26,000
• Max gross payload: 1,205kg
• Max towing capacity: 3,500kg

Don’t worry your mind isn’t playing tricks on you, KGM is the new name for SsangYong. Although the badge is still the same and everything else is unchanged for now, the KGM Musso has taken over where the SsangYong Musso left off. 

Power is still provided by a 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 200bhp and 441Nm of torque. This is mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox, and both come with selectable four-wheel drive, which means the Musso can handle itself rather well if you spend a lot of time off the tarmac. The KGM’s rugged nature does come at a cost when it comes to economy, though, with an official figure of just 34mpg on the WLTP combined cycle.

The standard Musso's cargo bed is 1.3m long and 1.57m wide, so it isn't quite as large as those of some rivals. Opt for the range-topping Saracen+ version, though, and this increases the length to 1.57m. Whichever version you choose, all Mussos have a payload limit of over one-tonne, which qualifies them for Light Commercial Vehicle Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rates.

There are four versions of the Musso to choose from: EX, Rebel, Saracen and Saracen+. All variants are well equipped with a range of kit taken straight from the Rexton SUV. We'd go for the Rebel at least, as it comes with luxuries such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated and cooled seats and a heated leather steering wheel.

7. Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster

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• Prices from £66,000
• Max gross payload: 835kg
• Max towing capacity: 3,500kg

Ineos made quite the splash in the 4x4 market when it launched its Grenadier SUV, and now you can spec this off-roader as a pick-up truck. This version is called the Grenadier Quartermaster, and the standard model’s ladder-frame chassis has been extended by 305mm, allowing it to accommodate a large, open load bed which is big enough to take a standard Europallet with room to spare. 

The Quartermaster is powered by a pair of BMW-sourced 3.0-litre straight-six engines – one petrol, one diesel – but the Quartermaster's maximum payload of 835kg means that it doesn't qualify for the commercial vehicle tax breaks afforded to rival double cab pick-ups with capacities over one tonne. The Quartermaster also has a starting price of over £66,000, so it's best viewed as an alternative bodystyle for Grenadier buyers who want the extra versatility of the open load bed, rather than a commercial workhorse.

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