Best pick-up trucks to buy in the UK 2026

Pick-up trucks are tough, practical workhorses at their core, but the very best pick-up trucks on sale in the UK today have come a long way from their no-frills, barebones ancestors. 

With relatively smooth rides, high-quality interiors, lots of tech, and even the occasional hint of luxury, many modern pick-up trucks are far from just being utilitarian work vehicles. The machines of today are genuinely suitable for dual use as load-lugging commercial vehicles and as day-to-day cars. 

In order to get the most out of your pick-up truck, you’ll want one with a practical load bed and a solid payload capacity. That’s just part of the picture, as affordable running costs and fuel efficiency also need to be taken into account, whether you’re a private or business owner. 

There’s a good chance you’ll also be looking for a mix of on-road composure and off-road prowess from the driving experience, while build quality and reliability are always key with vehicles that can have a hard life.

In order to help you find the very best pick-up truck for your money, our road-testing experts have driven every pick-up truck model that you can buy in the UK. We’ve ranked the best pick-ups based on our thorough real-world testing criteria including: the costs, build quality, capability and comfort.

Compare the best pick-up trucks

Scroll down or click the jump links for the mini-reviews on each or our best pick-up trucks..

1. Ford Ranger

Affordable, versatile and incredibly capable. The Ford Ranger is the best pick-up currently on the UK market.

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• Prices from: £28,550 (excl. VAT)
• Max gross payload: 1,200kg
• Max towing capacity: 3,500kg

We’re a fan of the Ford Ranger here at Auto Express. In fact, the Ford Ranger is so impressive that the current truck has been named Pick-up of the Year at the Auto Express New Car Awards three times in a row, while previous Ranger iterations have taken the title seven times in total.

Ford really is no stranger to building high-quality pick-up trucks, which is evident when you take a look at the brand’s American offerings. While the mighty Ford F150 feels at home stateside, it’s not exactly suited to Britain’s narrow roads. This is where the Ranger comes in. 

It’s quite a bit smaller in size than its brethren from across the pond, but it’s still a hugely practical truck. There are numerous bodystyles to choose from including single and double-cab variants, and when you consider it has a sub-£30k (excluding VAT) starting price, a maximum payload of up to 1,200kg and is rated to tow up to 3,500kg, it’s easy to see why the Ranger at the top of our list. 

If you want your pick-up to also serve as your everyday car, the double cab offers the best-of-both worlds and would be our truck of choice. It’s still capable as a workhorse, but it’s also spacious enough for use as a five-seater car. Single-cab and chassis-cab variants are also available, but regardless of which Ranger you pick, the cabin feels respectably upmarket for a commercial vehicle. 

A 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with Ford’s SYNC 4 software is the centrepiece and elsewhere you’ll find a blend of soft and durable materials. There’s plenty of room inside, too, along with a number of useful storage spaces. 

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. Whichever diesel engine you choose there’s a decent mix of pulling power and efficiency but the V6 majors in the former while the 2.0-litre is best for the latter. Manual variants of the Ranger are available, but the 10-speed automatic transmission is our pick. It delivers seamless gear changes and helps take the strain out of everyday driving.

Ford also offers the Ranger with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, which is a great option for those looking to reduce their running costs without sacrificing towing or payload capacities. Ford claims plug-in hybrid Rangers can deliver up to 25.5 miles of electric-only range. When we tested the Ford Ranger PHEV, we even managed 35mpg with a depleted battery, which outperforms the official diesel figures. Ford doesn’t yet offer the Ranger with an all-electric powertrain, though.

"The latest Ford Ranger improves on its award-winning predecessor by injecting more style and technology into the mix. It really is a hugely capable truck." - Ellis Hyde, news reporter

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2. Toyota Hilux

The Toyota Hilux is one of the most famous names in the pick-up world. It’s tough, rugged and reliable.

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• Prices from: £34,400 (excl. VAT)
• Max gross payload: 1,085kg
• Max towing capacity: 3,500kg

The Toyota Hilux is an icon of the pick-up world, and its off-road prowess and build quality is nothing short of legendary.

Owners in some of the most inhospitable places on earth swear by the Hilux’s durability, and the latest Hilux is bigger in every dimension than before, benefiting a load bay which is a full 130mm wider than the previous model’s. This generation also has the highest towing capacity of any Hilux to date, with every version capable of lugging up to 3,500kg.

The interior of the latest Toyota Hilux is a significant improvement over that of its predecessor. The on-board tech is straightforward to use, cleanly laid out and functional. 

While the interior doesn’t feel as upmarket as rivals like the Volkswagen Amarok, it is suitably hard-wearing and should be able to withstand abuse from harsh environments and very muddy boots. 

There’s still a solid amount of kit included, and the Invincible models offer an eight-inch infotainment display with DAB and Bluetooth, cruise control, climate control and keyless start. Moving up to the Invincible X adds even more kit and a unique front end look.

Unlike other models in the Toyota range, the Hilux isn’t offered with a full-hybrid powertrain. Instead, power comes from a 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel and is fitted with 48-volt mild-hybrid tech which helps lower running costs, although only slightly. The engines provide a healthy torque figure of 420Nm when fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, rising to 500Nm if you choose the six-speed automatic. 

Those looking to cut their running costs even further will be glad to hear that an all-electric version of the Toyota Hilux is on the way. This version comes with a 56.2kWh battery pack which officially can go up to 149 miles on a single charge and rapid 150kW charging speeds meaning a top-up from 10-80 per cent should take around 30 minutes. The Hilux BEV can’t quite match the diesel’s payload and is rated at 715kg, while towing is limited to 1,600kg braked.

Whichever version of the Hilux you opt for, it’s surprisingly good to drive, although the diesel powertrain isn’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.

“We found the current Hilux doesn’t have the wayward feel and constant bounciness of old versions and is much nicer to drive thanks to its more accurate steering and reasonable body control.” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter

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3. Volkswagen Amarok

The Volkswagen Amarok is a rough and ready workhorse, which also feels suitably up-market.

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• Prices from: £48,124 (excl. VAT)
• Max gross payload: 1,101kg
• Max towing capacity: 3,500kg

The current second-generation Volkswagen Amarok is closely related to the Ford Ranger, but to help differentiate it, the German manufacturer has given its pick-up truck a more luxurious flavour.

Thankfully, the plushness you’ll find in the Volkswagen Amarok doesn’t come at the cost of practicality, with a bed payload of up to 1,101kg. This does, however, fall slightly short of the Ranger’s 1,200kg limit. Also unlike the Ford, there’s only one bodystyle on offer here, but the load bed is large enough to take on the two Euro pallets. The Amarok has a towing capacity of up to 3,500kg.

Step inside the Amarok and you’ll find 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, making it one of the more expensive pick-up trucks on this list as standard and is one of the reasons why it comes behind the Ranger and Hilux on this list.

Another reason why the Amarok is behind the aforementioned trucks is down to its choice of engines. You can only get the Amarok with one diesel unit in the shape of a 3.0-litre V6, and all but the base model are equipped with the Ford-sourced 10-speed automatic gearbox. Officially, the Amarok can return up to 28mpg and this is pretty accurate as we averaged 28.3mpg in our pick-up truck group test.

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.

"The Amarok feels more like a car to drive than ever before, and it’s still capable of serving as a workhorse." - Paul Adam, contributor

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4. Isuzu D-Max

If you want your pick-up to focus purely at the job in hand, the Isuzu D-Max should be on your shortlist.

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• Prices from: £28,755 (excl. VAT)
• Max gross payload: 1,205kg
• Max towing capacity: 3,500kg

With the Isuzu D-Max, and incoming electric Isuzu D-Max EV, being the only models that are currently available in the brand’s UK showrooms, the Japanese manufacturer is clearly doing something right as the D-Max is a pretty common sight on UK roads. 

Like any good pick-up truck, the Isuzu D-Max is built to be a tough, dependable workhorse. But depending on the trim level you choose, it can be anything from a no-frills load lugger, to a somewhat plush family-friendly utility vehicle. 

However you specify your D-Max, every version comes well-equipped with safety features, serious off-road capability, and a payload capacity of up to 1,025kg. The standard five-year/125,000-mile warranty also shows that Isuzu has faith in its pick-up truck when it comes to durability.

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 costs down. There are still a few creature comforts inside, though, such as air-conditioning, cruise control and a DAB radio. At the other end of the scale sits the V-Cross. This adds in a smattering of luxuries including dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and electronically adjustable leather seats. There’s also the choice of a single, extended or double cab.

Isuzu is currently working on a fully-electric D-Max which should match its diesel counterpart for off-road and payload capabilities. It will come with a 66.9kWh battery and a claimed range of 163 miles, bettering the 149 miles of Toyota’s electric Hilux. Order books for the D-Max EV haven’t long opened and deliveries won’t start until next year, so for now you’ll need to stick to the diesel pump. 

Unlike just about everywhere else on the D-Max, there’s no room for customisation here as the sole option is a 1.9-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine producing 162bhp and 360Nm of torque. 

The engine provides a useful amount of pulling power but it’s less powerful than the units used by rival pick-ups, so you might need to work it harder when hauling heavy loads. The D-Max is available with a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox, but we recommend opting for the automatic transmission rather than manual, which is vague in feel and generally unpleasant to use. Isuzu claims all variants of the D-Max should return between 31-33mpg, depending on the cab option and trim level you pick.

“The only engine option in the D-Max is a 162bhp 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel, but it can be had with a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. We prefer the latter, because the vague shift action of the manual isn’t very pleasant to use.” - Dean Gibson, senior test editor

5. GWM Poer300

The GWM Poer300 is a new addition to the Chinese brands’ UK line-up, but its no-nonsense approach should be tempting to buyers. 

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• Prices from: £32,500 (exc. VAT)
• Max gross payload: 1,050kg
• Max towing capacity: 3,500kg

The GWM Poer300 might not be a household name in the same vein as the Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux, but considering it has a high payload and towing capacity, is generously kitted out and has a low starting price, this Chinese pick-up truck shouldn’t be discounted.

Unlike other pick-ups on the market which are offering hybrid or electric power, the GMW Poer300 is a traditional diesel affair with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine under the bonnet which produces 181bhp and a meaty 480Nm of torque. During our testing we thought power was nice and punchy, although the engine note was a little gruff. The engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox which, together, can return just under 33mpg.   

You can only get the Poer300 in a sole double-cab bodystyle but with a starting price of just £31,500 excluding VAT, it’s one of the cheapest double cabs on offer in the UK. Even in the highest spec Vanta trim, it’s still less than £35,000 before VAT.

Whichever spec you opt for, the Poer300 is far from spartan inside. As standard it comes with LED lights, fake leather upholstery, rear parking sensors and plenty of driver safety systems as standard, while top-spec cars even get luxuries like heated and ventilated seats, as well as a sun roof.

When it comes to load-lugging, it’s quite a capable machine. It can tow up to 3,500 and has a payload of 1,050kg, although the necessity for a one-tonne payload means the Poer300 does feel incredibly unsettled at low speeds with bouncing and vibrations being felt in the first-row seats. 

Things smooth out at higher speeds, though, and additional weight in the bed will help matters. The bed is nice and square in shape, and the high sides mean it can deliver lots of usable space. 

“As well as having a competitive price, the Poer300 also beats its closest competitors for fuel economy, emissions, performance and warranty (five years and 125,000 miles as standard). All in all, it makes a strong case for itself.” - Dean Gibson, senior test editor

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6. KGM Musso

With strong focus on value and abilities as a works vehicle, the KGM Musso is an incredibly capable vehicle.

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• Prices from: £33,000 (exc. VAT)
• Max gross payload: 1,025kg
• Max towing capacity: 3,500kg

It may look the same but the KGM Musso has taken over where the SsangYong Musso left off. 

The second-generation Musso was launched in 2018, receiving a mid-life facelift 2022, followed by some interior updates. If you’re looking for a pick-up and you aren’t fussed about bells and whistles and just desire simplicity, the upside of this is a sturdy cabin that you shouldn’t need to be too precious about. 

Functionality continues round in the truck bed. The standard Musso's cargo bed is 1.3m long and 1.57m wide. While this isn't quite as long as those of some rivals, the range-topping Saracen+ boosts this length to 1.61m. Every Musso is capable of carrying a payload of over 1,000kg, and the automatic and Saracen+ models can tow up to 3,500kg. 

The Musso’s simplicity and age are particularly highlighted within the cabin. While there are a few soft-touch materials dotted around the cabin, it mostly consists of utilitarian hard plastics, although everything does feel well put together. The on-board technology does feel outdated compared to numerous rivals, but some of the modern essentials, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, can still be found. There’s nothing that can be described as cutting-edge but, as with the rest of the Musso, it simply gets the job done.

The KGM Musso is fitted with 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. 

When it’s on the road, KGM’s truck feels decidedly agricultural due its incredibly firm and bouncy ride. The Musso has an official fuel economy figure of 34mpg for manual trucks or 32mpg for automatics on the WLTP combined cycle.

For those who are ready to switch to an electric pick-up, there’s also the KGM Musso EV. While it shares the same name as the Musso mentioned above and is a very capable truck, it shares very little of this pick-ups DNA under the skin.

"At a time when pick-up trucks are becoming more premium to offer tradespeople a genuine alternative to SUVs, the KGM Musso is appealingly simple with a strong focus on value and load-lugging capabilities." - Ellis Hyde, news reporter

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7. Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster

Heading off-road in your pick-up? Nothing can handle the rough-stuff quite like the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster.

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• Prices from: £62,495 (exc. VAT)
• 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. 

You can’t get a pick-up version of the modern Land Rover Defender, so the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster is arguably the next best thing. This chunky SUV-based truck is designed with off-roading firmly in mind, but a high starting price and restrictive 835kg maximum payload somewhat limits its appeal as a business investment. There’s still a modicum of usability to go with this truck’s tough appearance, as the standard Grenadier’s ladder-frame chassis has been extended by 305mm, which allows the Quartermaster to accommodate a standard Europallet with room to spare. Every model can also tow up to 3,500kg.

The Quartermaster is powered by one of two BMW-sourced 3.0-litre straight-six engines - one petrol, one diesel - and neither can really be described as frugal. As is to be expected, the diesel engine is the most efficient, but it only manages 25.2mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. The petrol, meanwhile, returns a meagre 19.6mpg. In short, you’ll soon become very familiar with your local filling station. 

Although off-roading is the focus here, the Quartermaster does still do a reasonable job of remaining composed on the road, and the BMW engines provide a solid amount of performance punch along with a very enjoyable soundtrack, far better than what you get from other pick-ups. However, the unusual recirculating-ball steering requires lots of driver input to get the desired response, and the 14.5-metre turning circle can quickly transform tighter turns into nerve-racking situations.   

Inside the cabin is where the Quartermaster is distinctly different to other pick-up rivals. The switchgear (some of which is mounted overhead) feels like it has been lifted straight out of a military aircraft. It’s not exactly ergonomic, but switching on the rear de-mister feels like arming an ejector seat, and this will undoubtedly amuse your inner five-year-old. 

Fun and games aside, the centrepiece is a sole centre screen which displays all information including your current speed, a bit like you’ll find in a MINI. If things get a bit mucky inside, there’s a drain hole which allows you to hose out the interior. You won’t need to worry about the switchgear, either, as this is weatherproof.

‘The Quartermaster is more a 4x4 with an open load area than what we would call a pick-up, but there will be buyers out there that will find its unique combination of outstanding off-road ability and practicality ideal.’ - Dean Gibson, senior road test editor.

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How to choose the best pick-up truck

If you’re in the market for a brand-new pick-up truck, chances are you need it to handle some demanding jobs. From hauling heavy loads in the truck bed or towing trailers, to tackling challenging terrain, it’s important to consider a few key questions before you buy:

1. How much capacity do you need? 

You may think that buying a truck is a simple case of ‘bigger is better’, but it’s important to pay close attention to figures like maximum payload and towing capacity. Many trucks come with a variety of customisation and powertrain options, and these can have quite a drastic effect on a truck’s capacities and capabilities. 

The open storage area is great for dirty cargo but if you need to keep things dry or secure, it’s less effective. The back seats in the doublecab pick-up models can offer internal storage space but if you need more, all manufacturers offer load cover attachments for the external load bay - you just need to consider which type is best for you. 

2. Are you going off-road?

If your work involves you frequently heading away from the Tarmac (such as agriculture or construction), you’ll inevitably need a truck that features high ground clearance and four-wheel drive. Durability will be crucial, too, as a poorly built truck could soon find itself in need of repairs if it can’t handle frequent trips on rough terrain.

3. How much will the truck cost to run?

Pick-up trucks aren’t exactly renowned for being light on fuel consumption, but a bit of careful research will help you to minimise your running costs. A few simple steps such as opting for a less powerful model could mean lower bills. 

Alternatively, you could consider making the switch to an electrified vehicle with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, or even a fully-electric pick-up truck which will be much easier on the wallet when it comes to running costs.

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