The best off-road vehicles available in 2018
Added: 01 October 2018
Pickups are not as common in the UK as they are in America but they’ve become more popular in recent years with sales of 4x4s and SUVs also increasing. The driving experience of pickups now has more in common with driving a large car, as in most models the interior quality has gone from inexpensive and spartan to comfortable and luxurious. Sat-nav and air-con is now expected and double-cab versions will have four doors and rear seats, also making them more family friendly.
Large loading bays, an essential feature of pickups, are designed to carry heavy loads which in turn requires heavy-duty suspension, so some pickups won’t be as smooth to drive as SUVs, but newer models are more sophisticated allowing for a gentler ride. Furthermore, choosing a pick-up truck can be an attractive option for business users, with tax breaks afforded in certain circumstances, so here are our two favourites.
Fiat Fullback
The Fiat Fullback is the Italian manufacturer’s first pickup truck and shares many of its mechanical parts with the Mitsubishi L200, but it does have its own styling, trim levels and equipment. This is good news because Mitsubishi has been building pickup trucks and 4x4s for many years and has a well-deserved reputation for quality! Aimed primarily at families the Fullback comes in double-cab form with room for five passengers and is regarded as more upmarket than the L200. The entry-level SX trim has alloy wheels, cruise control, Bluetooth, DAB digital radio and keyless entry as standard, while the LX trim adds a touchscreen infotainment system.
Power comes from the same 2.4-litre diesel engine as the L200 and you will not find it lacking for power. Four-wheel drive is standard and comes with either six-speed manual or five speed automatic transmission. A complete range of personalization options for the Fullback include the reat hard top. Discover more about the new Fiat Fullback Pick-up Truck by Fiat Professional.
Isuzu D-Max
There’s only one engine available for the Isuzu D-Max Pickup, a 163bhp 1.9-litre diesel, but that’s easily capable of a towing limit of 3,500kg and carrying a payload of 1,136kg. To provide greater traction off-road both the automatic transmission and the manual gearboxes have high and low gear ratios, making the D-MAX ’s performance off-road impressive, and the competitive On-the-Road price makes them even more a very appealing proposition to buyers planning to use them for work.
Isuzu D-Max Facelift Model
The Isuzu D-Max pickup received a facelift in 2017 mainly consisting of a new engine to improve economy, two new gearboxes and some improvements to the interior. Isuzu updated the D-Max again this year by further improving interior trim, adding more paintwork options and uprating the suspension to enhance ride comfort.
Isuzu D-Max Model Options
There’s plenty of choice in D-Max models with five different versions available, the entry-level Utility trim is intended as a no-frills workhorse and only comes in the two-door single-cab. Extended-cab body style versions are available in the Yukon trim, Eiger, Utah and top of the range Blade. To appeal more to the country-set Isuzu also offers the Huntsman Accessory Pack for the Utah which includes dark green, grey or black paint, lockable firearm drawers, a tow-bar and an Aeroklas Commercial Canopy for the rear load bed, along with aluminium underbody protectors and other protective and aesthetic upgrades.
All D-Max models come with air-conditioning, LED daytime running lights, electric windows and Bluetooth connectivity as standard. Optional extras include sat nav, a rear parking camera, climate control, roof-mounted speakers and a load-bed liner.
Contact Ian Grieve
For more information regarding the Fiat Fullback, the Isuzu D-Max or any other off-road vehicles in our line-up simply contact us here at Ian Grieve using the Online Contact Form.