Although the name pickup truck is not so common in India, the type of body type on a vehicle it represents is seen everywhere. The best pickup trucks in India have an open space at the rear to carry cargo, transport food, equipment or just about anything the vehicle owner requires.
The best pickup trucks are versatile and extremely useful for carrying cargo, sometimes even ferrying passengers from one town to the next. The design and construction of pickup trucks in India are robust and built to last, while costing less than passenger cars of the same size.
Manufacturers in India are looking at pickup trucks as an expanding segment of vehicles and are introducing new models to compete with others in this niche to have the best pickup trucks in the country.
Best Pickup Trucks in India
The pickup truck is actually an American legend where it is used as a passenger vehicle, having big V-6 or V-8 engines that are more akin to muscle cars. Pickup trucks have become part of American culture and even feature in Hollywood movies especially if there is a car chase involved.
Pickup trucks are also popular in Latin America, Australia and South East Asia where they are mainly used as cargo vehicles much like India.
In India a majority of pickup trucks seen plying the roads are most often used as commercial goods carriers. There are lifestyle pickup trucks too, like the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, Toyota Hilux, and Ford Ranger where these manufacturers are trying to change the status quo of pickup trucks in India.
Also Read: Facts You Didn’t Know About the Indian Automobile Industry
Here Are Some of the Best Pickup Trucks in India 2022.
Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
Isuzu is a Japanese manufacturer known for its sports utility vehicles and pick up trucks around the world. One of the reasons why Isuzu is popular is because they combine performance, durability and affordability in all their vehicles.
The D-Max V-Cross is a dual cabin pickup truck that was once the fastest selling model in India. The V-Max gets a 2.5 litre diesel engine with a maximum power output of 134 bhp while maximum torque is at 320 Nm.
There is another engine on offer which is a 1.9 litre diesel unit that produces 150 bhp of power and 350 Nm of torque. The larger 2.5 litre engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission while the smaller 1.9 litre unit gets a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The Isuzu D-Max has plenty of ground clearance (190 mm) and a large wheelbase (3095 mm), therefore it can tackle almost any type of terrain with aplomb.
An extremely large fuel tank of 55 litres ensures you can make a long journey without a refuelling stop and when out on the highway can touch a top speed of 175 km/h. The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is one of the best pickup trucks in India for personal use.
Toyota Hilux
The latest pickup truck to be launched in India, the Toyota Hilux is available in two variants, Standard and High. It is powered by a 2.8 litre diesel engine that has a maximum power output of 201 bhp and a maximum torque of 420 Nm when paired with the manual transmission.
If you choose the automatic transmission, you will get the same power output but the torque is increased to 500 Nm. For transmission options, there is a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic torque converter on offer. All variants get the 4WD drivetrain as standard.
The front end of the Toyota Hilux is dominated by a huge grille with a chrome border surrounded by the projector LED headlamps. Fog lamps are also of LED type and it gets 18-inch alloy wheels and chrome accents all round the exterior such as the door handles and rear tailgate.
The interior of the Toyota Hilux gets an all-leather treatment, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system (with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), an automatic climate control, chilled glove compartment, cruise control for highway driving, telescopic and tilt adjustment for the power steering, and electronic driver seat adjustment.
With seating capacity for 5 occupants, the 2022 Toyota Hilux rivals the likes of the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross in the pickup truck segment. Prices range from 33 -36 lakhs. The Toyota Hilux is an excellent choice of a pickup truck in India for personal use.
Some of the advantages of the Toyota Hilux include a tall and rugged stance, bulletproof reliability (equipment and engine) and luxury interiors. The dislikes include a somewhat noisy and loud engine that lacks overall refinement, a bouncy ride and vague handling as well as a steep price.
Mahindra Bolero Camper
This hugely popular pickup truck from the Mahindra stables is one of the finest pickup trucks in the country today. It combines durability, reliability, ruggedness and superior performance from its diesel engine, and is able to take on any task that is in the way.
Under the hood lies a 2.5 litre, 4 cylinder, turbocharged, diesel engine that has a maximum output of 75 bhp and a maximum torque figure of 200 Nm. It is a FWD drivetrain that does duty with a 5-speed manual transmission.
The rear bed on the Mahindra Bolero Camper has been designed for easy loading and unloading and is able to carry a large amount of cargo with relative ease.
The interior is impressive as well with the option of having leather seats, air conditioning, central locking, power windows and other premium features.
Fuel tank capacity for the Mahindra Bolero Camper is 58 litres and it can handle a maximum payload capacity of 1000 kg. Quite a capable pickup truck and one of the best pickup trucks in India for those on a budget.
Also Read: Upcoming Cars By Mahindra and Mahindra
Tata Yodha Pickup
Possibly one of the best pickup trucks available on the Indian market, the Tata Yodha Pickup has a lot to offer in terms of cargo carrying and being able to tackle a wide variety of terrain.
As compared to the previous generation of the pickup truck (The Xenon), the current Yodha is bigger and better than the previous iteration. It gets a BD6 compliant 2.2 litre diesel engine that provides a maximum power of 100 bhp and 250 Nm of torque.
There are three different versions of the Yodha each with a different payload capacity of 1200 kg, 1500 kg and 1700 kg. Features to look out for are the convenient gear shift indicator, comfortable and wide seats with premium upholstery, a body that can accommodate a bigger and wider payload for cargo, and excellent fuel economy.
The Yodha was designed keeping in mind the new generation of modern transportation that is rapidly evolving. Primarily used as a commercial vehicle, and not for passenger transport, the Tata Yodha Pickup’s main rivals include the Mahindra Bolero Pickup and the Tata Ace.
The Yodha comes in single cab and crew cab variants in 4WD and 2WD options. The modern styling that is more SUV in looks, and well-appointed interiors give the Yodha a contemporary design. The Yodha comes standard with power steering and leaf spring suspension at the rear which becomes indispensable when carrying higher loads.
Tata Motors is banking on the Yodha’s styling and low operations costs as a cargo transporter, which gives good fuel economy and lower cost of ownership providing the customer with more earning per trip.
Mahindra Imperio
Mahindra has been dominating the pickup truck segment in India with its varied offerings and the Imperio is one of their better models with good performance and rugged appeal.
It can be had in either a single or double cab variant and powering it is a 2.5 litre diesel, 4-cylinder power plant that outputs a maximum power of 75 bhp and 220 Nm of torque. This engine comes paired to a manual 5-speed transmission that is smooth and refined and works well with the powerful engine.
With a top speed of 120 km/h and a large 55 litre fuel tank, the Imperio can travel long distances without having to stop for a refuel. It gets a wheelbase of 3220 mm and a ground clearance of 211 mm which gives it the ability to drive on rough terrain like broken tarmac or mud. Tubeless tyres are an advantage for the Imperio here.
The Imperio leverages on the Bolero pickup truck offering by catering towards the lifestyle conscious customer. In the small commercial segment, the Mahindra Imperio is a vehicle that gets superior ride comfort and handling thanks to its modern suspension and ladder frame construction.
The Imperio appeals to a wider section of the premium pickup truck market segment, with contemporary styling and a reliable and robust engine. The dual cabin can seat up to 5 occupants which makes this vehicle very versatile.
The powerful diesel engine has two modes, power and economy depending on the road conditions and the amount of payload being carried. Power steering is standard on the Imperio and makes driving an effortless task. The steering gets tilt adjustment features and the drivers seat gets a host of adjustable positions.
Front suspension is independent while the rear features leaf spring to carry heavy cargo loads. Front brakes are of disc type while the rear gets solid drum brakes. Rivals to the Imperio include the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross and the Tata Yodha pickup truck.
Mahindra Bolero Pikup 4×4
The Bolero Pikup 4×4 is the segment leader and the most popular pickup truck in India. It is available in all wheel drive format for both commercial and passenger use. The Bolero Pikup 4×4 is the perfect choice for on-road adventures, long drives to hill stations and tough enough for cargo carrying duties as well.
The powerful pickup truck is available for 8 lakhs. It has a payload capacity of 1015 kg and a gross vehicle weight of 2735 kg. It has a pretty decent fuel mileage of 14-16 kmpl subject to various driving factors like payload, terrain and if the driver is in economy mode or not.
The rugged and durable chassis can tackle any kind of terrain, especially rough roads with its superior suspension and large tyres. High ground clearance is an advantage when carrying loads at higher speeds. The chassis doesn’t sink down with weight and handling is not affected by heavy payloads.
The main rivals to the Mahindra Pikup 4×4 are the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross and the Tata Yodha. Other vehicles cannot compete with the Mahindra mainly because of its popularity in the pickup truck segment.
It gets a 2.5 litre diesel engine, which is a 4-cylinder unit with a maximum power rating of 75 bhp and 200 Nm of torque mated to a 5-speed transmission. Things to like about the Mahindra Pikup 4×4 are that it is strong and powerful, has an all-wheel drive powertrain, can be used for multipurpose applications, is rugged and has a pleasant, upmarket cabin.
Some of the dislikes are that it could do with a more powerful engine, bigger tyres to handle off road applications and a bigger fuel tank would also be a great addition.
Also Read: Upcoming Cars By Mahindra and Mahindra
Conclusion
Pickup trucks have been around ever since the motor car came into being. The basic style of a pickup truck has a cabin with an open back on which cargo can be hauled. In India, pickup trucks are primarily used as commercial vehicles and not so much as family passenger vehicles.
The concept of a pickup truck is very simple. An enclosed cabin for passengers, and a large cargo area at the rear for goods and equipment. They are used as delivery vehicles in India, or to transport heavy goods from one place to another.
Vehicles like the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross and the Toyota Hilux are trying to change these conceptions by offering a premium vehicle with luxurious interiors along with cargo carrying capacity at the rear. They also have powerful engines that can take the vehicle on long journeys without much fuss. Large ground clearance and four-wheel drive transmissions mean they can even conquer off road terrain with ease.
Still the majority of pickup trucks do duty as commercial vehicles in India, and we are yet to see the pickup truck bought in large numbers as a family car.
