Fuelled by company car tax rules making them particularly cheap-to-run compared with passenger cars of a similar size, the growing UK-market popularity of the pick-up truck is a phenomenon that might puzzle those unfamiliar with the benefit-in-kind loophole that has driven it on.
It’s easy to understand why ‘trucks’ sell so well in countries with quieter and wider roads, cheaper raw materials and cheaper fuel, after all; but less easy to grasp why you might choose to drive one on busier, tighter UK roads or around our multi-storey car parks.
Running a pick-up in place of a mid-sized family SUV could save a fleet driver a tidy four-figure sum on his annual tax bill as a result of the lower liability that all commercial vehicles qualify for. So if you do need to run a big car as a fleet option - whether you need the load-carrying and offroad capability that a ‘flatbed’ traditionally provides or not – you might very well find yourself interested to discover which the better-performing, better-mannered and more car-like ‘double-cab’ options are in a class populated by both very well-established and conspicuously new players.
Equally, if you just need a big, tough, dependable workhorse to carry around the trappings of an active, adventurous, outdoorsy lifestyle during your leisure time, you might simply prefer a pickup to a sports car or a classic car as a deliverer of weekend entertainment. We group-tested several of these cars back in 2018, so for more detailed comparisons, click here.
1. Toyota Hilux
Although the queue of car brands peddling more upmarket flatbeds with premium brands on their oversized radiator grilles seems to grow longer almost by the month, it speaks volumes that the best pick-up on the block remains one of the least pretentious. The Hilux has been part of Toyota’s commercial vehicles range since the late ‘60s, and it has since garnered a reputation for versatility and dependability that means nobody bats an eyelid when they find that the fully-loaded trim level is dubbed ‘Invincible’.
The Hilux is comfortable and decently finished inside, and also more refined and more pleasant to use than most of its rivals. Creditable ride and handling sophistication distinguish it also, as do dimensions that allow it to narrowly escape feeling elephantine on tighter roads.
As part of a mid-life update in 2019, the car got new bumpers and some cabin and equipment revisions, one of which made for better provision of active safety systems. A year later, Toyota refined the car’s chassis, styling and interior again, improving ride and handling by another step and adding equipment and visual appeal for range-topping ‘Invincible X’ versions.
The Toyota now comes with a choice of 148bhp 2.4-litre- and 201bhp 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engines, which don’t make it sound exciting next to some multi-cylinder options even if the latter has plenty of real-world performance and decent refinement. That’s so typical of a vehicle so free of the superfluous, of course – and so likable for it.
Meantime, those who do need to transport heavier cargo may also be pleased to find out that its carrying capacity exceeds that of most of its competitors. Longer-bedded ‘single cab’ and ‘twin cab‘ versions remain available at the bottom of the Hilux model range, but if you want all the bells and whistles – and there are many these days, including a potent JBL premium sound system – it’ll be ‘double cab’ only for you.
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All Vat commercial vehicals should be speed restricted and have vehical tracking. Not at all saying all are driven badly but plenty aren't when compared to HGV drivers. Would also reduce pollution and save people on fuel costs.
Please tax them like cars!
Pick ups have a place as working vehicles. These fancy trucks are polluting and wasteful.