In the past period of time, we have carried out single-vehicle test drives on many pickup trucks, and there are also some small-scale comparative test drives. This time, we gathered all the eight best-selling models of this level in one breath. Make an ultimate comparison like never before.
The most dazzling of these eight cars is still the Toyota Hilux, which has occupied the top sales list for a long time. It adopts the rare five-link rear suspension design of the same level. In addition, we also found the fifth-generation Mitsubishi Triton, Isuzu D-Max, Volkswagen Amarok, Mazda BT-50 and Holden Colorado with high cost performance.
In order to more comprehensively measure the comprehensive strength of each model, this comparison will be conducted from five aspects: price and configuration, power system, road and off-road performance, carrying and towing capacity, and interior design.
Price and configuration:
The eight pickups participating in this comparison are all equipped with diesel power, equipped with automatic transmission and four-wheel drive system, and are all standard double-cab models. In order of price from low to high, the selling price of each car is as follows:
Mitsubishi Triton Exceed: 47,490 Australian dollars (about 219,465 yuan)
Mazda BT-50 XT: 51,700 Australian dollars (about 238,921 yuan)
Isuzu D-Max LS Terrain: 53,000 Australian dollars (about 244,929 yuan)
Nissan Navara ST-X: 54,490 Australian dollars (about 251,815 yuan)
Volkswagen Amarok Highline: 55,490 Australian dollars (about 256,435 yuan)
Toyota Hilux SR5: 55,990 Australian dollars (about 258,747 yuan)
Ford Ranger XLT: 56690 Australian dollars (about 261981 yuan)
Holden Colorado Z71: 57,190 Australian dollars (about 264,292 yuan)
Although the Mitsubishi Triton Exceed is the cheapest of the eight models, it is not far behind in terms of configuration. It comes standard with dual-zone automatic air conditioning (not equipped with Hilux, Colorado, D-Max), navigation system (not equipped with Colorado ), reversing camera (not equipped on Ranger), electric folding rearview mirror (not equipped on the other seven models), Mitsubishi Triton is indeed very cost-effective in terms of configuration.
Nissan Navara is the only model that provides sunroofs and rear air-conditioning outlets. In addition, Navara, Hilux, and D-Max are equipped with keyless entry and one-button start systems. Navara and Hilux also use LED lights. Among the eight pickups with leather interiors are the Triton, D-Max, Navara and Colorado, the latter two also equipped with heated seats.
In terms of rim size, the Navara, Hilux and Colorado are equipped with 18-inch wheels as standard, while the other five models are equipped with 17-inch wheels. Except for the BT-50 which provides a smaller spare tire, all other pickups are equipped with a full-size spare tire.
In terms of in-car multimedia configuration, all eight pickups are equipped with a center console touch screen. The 5.0-inch screen of the Volkswagen Amarok is the smallest, while the Colorado, Navara, Hilux, Triton and D-Max are all equipped with a 7.0-inch screen. , the Mazda BT-50 has a 7.8-inch screen, while the Ford Ranger is equipped with an 8.0-inch screen compatible with the SYNC2 system.
While the Holden Colorado doesn’t come standard with a navigation system, it does offer smartphone connectivity, and the Volkswagen Amarok is the only model to offer a USB port. The multimedia systems of the eight pickup trucks have their own characteristics. In comparison, the multimedia system of Mazda BT-50 has a slow response speed, while the system operation logic of Mitsubishi Triton is the most complicated and difficult to use.
Let’s take a look at the warranty period. Mitsubishi Triton and Isuzu D-Max have the longest warranty period of five years/130,000 kilometers. Colorado, Hilux, Navara and Ranger are all three years/100,000 kilometers. Amarok and BT-50 It is three years/unlimited kilometers.
power system:
For this level of pickup trucks, diesel engines are undoubtedly the most sensible power choice. Strong low-speed torque, excellent fuel economy and high durability can all be the main reasons for consumers to choose diesel pickup trucks. These eight pickup trucks Without exception, they are all equipped with diesel power, and some models do not even have gasoline power options. On the other hand, the sales ratio of automatic transmission models in this level of pickup trucks is also increasing, and all eight test drive vehicles also use automatic transmissions.
Under the situation that the world’s major automakers are pushing supercharged engines with smaller displacements, these eight pickups are all equipped with turbocharged engines, and most of them are equipped with single turbocharged engines. Engines, Volkswagen Amarok and Nissan Navara are the first to use twin-turbo models.
Among the eight pickups, the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 have the largest engine displacement. These two pickups are equipped with the same 3.2L five-cylinder model, with a maximum output of 147kW/3000rpm and a peak torque of 470Nm/1750-2500rpm. It is matched with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The remaining six models are all equipped with four-cylinder engines. The 3.0L model equipped with Isuzu D-Max is the one with the largest displacement. It is the weakest of the eight models, and the five-speed gearbox equipped with D-Max is also the least geared. Judging from the data alone, Isuzu’s power system is indeed a bit outdated.
Holden Colorado is equipped with a 2.8L diesel engine. Although the displacement is not as good as the 3.2L versions of Ford and Mazda, it can also output a maximum power of 147 kW/3600rpm, and its peak torque is stronger, reaching 500 Nm/2000rpm. The same goes for the six-speed gearbox.
Toyota is also equipped with a 2.0L engine for Hilux. This brand new engine is also compatible with Prado and Fortuner, but it is not eye-catching in terms of data performance. The maximum output power is 130 kW/3400rpm, and the peak torque is 450 Nm/1600 -2400rpm, matched with a six-speed gearbox.
The Mitsubishi Triton is equipped with a 2.4L engine with a maximum output of 130kW/3500rpm and a peak torque of 430Nm/2500rpm. It is matched with a five-speed gearbox like the D-Max.
The 2.3L twin-turbocharged engine provided by Nissan for Navara is a model jointly developed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Although the displacement is small, the output power reaches 140 kW/3750rpm, and the peak torque is 450 Nm/1500-2500rpm. It is matched with a seven-speed gearbox.
The 2.0L twin-turbocharged engine used by Volkswagen Amarok is the smallest among the eight models. This engine can output a maximum power of 132 kilowatts/4000rpm and a peak torque of 420 Nm/1750rpm. The gearbox gear is the most among the eight cars, and Volkswagen is equipped with an eight-speed gearbox for it.
Overall, the power performance of these eight pickups is sufficient in most daily driving conditions. The Amarok with the smallest displacement will perform a little harder when the cargo box is loaded with a load of 650kg, but stepping on the accelerator is not enough. It will give the driver a feeling of fatigue, and the smoothness of the eight-speed automatic transmission is also very good. The Ford Ranger is the most calm in the face of a load of 650kg, whether it is high-speed cruising or rapid acceleration, it is full of power.
In the no-load acceleration test, the performance of Ford Ranger is also the fastest, its 0-100km/h acceleration time is 11.1 seconds, followed by Navara (11.3 seconds), D-Max (11.8 seconds) and Colorado (11.8 seconds) , Volkswagen Amarok’s score is 12.2 seconds, Triton and BT-50 are both 12.4 seconds, and the slowest acceleration is Hilux, reaching 13.5 seconds.
While the Ranger’s acceleration performance is the most eye-catching of the eight cars, the Nissan Navara’s power performance was particularly impressive throughout the test drive. When roaming, the power output is a little lazy, and the engine noise is too loud, but once the accelerator is stepped on, the engine seems to be awakened instantly, and a very strong power burst out, and the torque is very strong in the entire 2000-3000rpm speed range .
Another interesting phenomenon is that although the Mazda BT-50 and the Ford Ranger are equipped with the same engine and gearbox, and the vehicle weight of the Ranger (2229kg) is heavier than that of the BT-50 (2105kg), thanks to Ford’s greater For aggressive throttle tuning, the power performance of the Ranger is significantly stronger than that of the BT-50.
Fuel consumption is an indicator that owners of pickup trucks of this level pay close attention to. Nissan Navara has the lowest official comprehensive fuel consumption data at only 7.0L/100km, while Holden Colorado has the highest at 9.7L/100km. The actual test drive The comprehensive fuel consumption obtained is shown in the table above. It can be seen that Volkswagen Amarok has the best economic performance, while Hilux has the highest comprehensive fuel consumption.
On-road and off-road performance:
When mid-level pickups are no longer just simple utility vehicles, but multi-functional vehicles that can meet the various travel needs of the whole family, the road comfort of these pickups has attracted more and more attention. According to past test driving experience, road stability, steering performance, and parking convenience are major factors that largely determine whether a pickup truck is good enough when traveling in the city.
The Ford Ranger is the car that received the most praise in this segment. The chassis of the Ranger has a high vibration filtering efficiency, and the stability of the cabin is also very good when cruising on the highway. In addition to the excellent chassis tuning, Ford equips the Ranger with electronic power assist The steering system also has a lot of points for its road performance, especially when driving at low speeds on urban roads, the light steering makes Ranger very easy to drive.
The Volkswagen Amarok also has excellent cruising comfort. However, the steering force of the Amarok is slightly heavier than that of the Ranger, but the steering precision is higher than that of the Ranger. Nissan Navara uses a multi-link coil spring rear suspension that is rare in its class, which helps to improve road comfort, but Navara’s bulky and slow-response steering system obviously drags its feet.
The steering feel of Mazda BT-50 is also heavy when driving at low speeds, but its steering performance is very linear and natural in the speed range of 20-100km/h, and the typical Mazda style is impressive. The overall road performance of Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max is quite satisfactory, not as bright as the Ford Ranger, but it will not impose an extra burden on the driver.
In contrast, the stability of Holden Colorado and Mitsubishi Triton at high-speed cruising is relatively poor. It is a typical pickup style rather than a sedan. However, Triton’s steering system response and force feedback are still very good, and Triton The turning radius is smaller, which makes it more flexible on narrow urban roads.
The performance of the eight pickup trucks in the face of bad roads also has its own characteristics. The steering system of the Ranger is still light and flexible. The Volkswagen Amarok is the only model equipped with a full-time four-wheel drive system. It also provides an Off Road off-road mode. Here In the mode, the slope control system remains in the normal working state, but what limits Amarok’s off-road performance is its 192mm ground clearance. In addition, except for the Isuzu D-Max, the other seven pickups are equipped with a slope control system.
Toyota Hilux has the highest ground clearance of 279mm, and the approach angle of 30 degrees is the largest except for Nissan Navara (32.4 degrees) (Colorado and Triton are also 30 degrees). The performance of Hilux in the off-road test drive is very eye-catching. It can pass through various roads calmly, and the intervention of the electronic assistance system is also very natural, which is easy for the driver to control. The departure angles of the eight pickups are close, with the Ford Ranger (21 degrees) and Mitsubishi Triton (22 degrees) being slightly smaller. The Mazda BT-50’s excellent steering feel is maintained off-road, while the Nissan Navara’s steering is better on bad roads than on roads. The driving performance of Mitsubishi Triton and Holden Colorado on off-road roads is relatively flat, and the chassis stability is also slightly inferior.
Carrying and towing capacity:
Although the primary living space of these pickups is gradually moving to the city, they are still the best choice for carrying and towing duties. First of all, look at the cargo box space. The Volkswagen Amarok has the largest cargo box. The width of 1620mm is the widest among the eight cars, and the length of 1555mm is almost the longest. However, Amarok’s maximum load of 1000kg is not the highest, Mazda BT-50 has reached 1095kg, and the lowest load is Holden Colorado, which is only 803kg. The detailed parameters and carrying capacity of the cargo boxes of the eight pickup trucks are shown in the table below:
However, when the cargo box of each pickup truck is loaded with 650kg of cargo and two passengers are seated in the cabin, the dynamic performance of these trucks is significantly different from that when it is empty. The best performer is the Toyota Hilux, the engine can cope with such a load, and the stability of the whole vehicle is obviously better than that of no load. The dynamic performance of the Ranger, D-Max and BT-50 pickups is similar, and the engine does not show obvious effort, but the steering system of the D-Max is obviously heavier, and the roll is more obvious when cornering.
The power performance of the Volkswagen Amarok before and after the load is quite different. This small displacement engine obviously struggles under high load, but the performance of the suspension and steering system is still stable. Compared with the steering and suspension of the Holden Colorado Both racks are more sluggish than when unloaded, and the engine noise has also increased significantly.
The dynamic performance of Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton in this condition is even worse. Although the multi-link rear independent suspension adopted by Navara improves road comfort when unloaded, when the cargo box is loaded with 650kg of cargo It seems powerless.
In terms of towing capacity, the difference in the maximum towing capacity of the eight pickups is not too big. The Volkswagen Amarok is the lowest at 3 tons, followed by Mitsubishi Triton (3.1 tons) and Toyota Hilux (3.2 tons). The remaining five pickups all have 3.5 tons. tons of maximum towing capacity.
Interior:
The compartments of pickup trucks of this level usually don’t need stylish designs or fancy features, because most of their owners’ requirements for the compartments are simple: enough space to accommodate the whole family, reasonable and sufficient storage space, practical configuration and sufficient A car that can take into account the above factors is a good pickup truck car.
When it comes to safety, the first thing to mention is the Volkswagen Amarok, which is the only one among the eight pickup trucks that does not come standard with rear airbags. Fortunately, Amarok’s score in the safety crash test is the highest among the eight cars. Volkswagen Amarok is equipped with four airbags (frontal airbags and side airbags for the front driver’s seat and passenger seat), and all other models equipped with rear airbags have at least six airbags. Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton have additional airbags. Driver’s knee airbag.
In terms of rear passenger space, the Volkswagen Amarok has the most spacious rear seats, and it is easier to accommodate three adults than other cars. There is ample room for the head, shoulders, and knees. The large window area can also effectively reduce the oppressive feeling of the occupants in the car.
From the data point of view, Amarok is the widest among the eight pickup trucks, with a vehicle width of 1954mm, followed by Colorado (1882mm), and Mitsubishi Triton has the narrowest vehicle width, only 1815mm. The Colorado’s rear space performance is second only to the Amarok, and the rear seats of these two pickups can definitely carry three people for medium and long-distance travel.
In contrast, the rear rows of D-Max, Ranger and BT-50 are not so spacious, especially when the three people are fully loaded, the horizontal space is very cramped. The sunroof equipped on the Nissan Navara affects the headroom in the car, and the rear air-conditioning vents also take up some knee room, but the Navara is also the only model of the eight pickups to provide rear exhaust vents.
The interior space of this generation of Toyota Hilux has been improved compared with the previous generation, but the rear lateral space and knee space are still not as good as other cars. Although the narrower Triton has the worst rear lateral space, its legs The internal space is even better than Hilux. However, Hilux wins in terms of cabin environment and workmanship. The interior workmanship of Hilux, Amarok and Navara pickups is close to the level of their own SUVs. In addition, the rear seats of Amarok, Hilux, Ranger and Triton all provide ISOFIX child seat interfaces.
In terms of storage space in the car, there is sufficient storage space in the front and rear rows of each pickup truck, and the storage compartments on the front and rear doors are large enough to accommodate ordinary 600mL mineral water bottles. Some of the eight pickups are equipped with leather interiors, and the fabric fabric used by the Ford Ranger is also very good.
General comments:
At the end of this evaluation, we scored the performance of each pickup in the above five links, and finally ranked them. Objectively speaking, these eight pickup trucks have their own shining points, and none of them can achieve perfection in all aspects. In terms of overall performance, the overall strength of the Ford Ranger is beyond doubt, followed closely by the Volkswagen Amarok , Mazda BT-50 won the third place. When pickup trucks are more than just a load-carrying vehicle, those all-rounders who perform well in all aspects will undoubtedly have the last laugh.
