Essential Motoring 101

Ever since the first test drive on the Ford Ranger, my world has been ‘poisoned’ - these amphibious machines are my new-found passion.

Ford Ranger TDCi 2.5L with a powerful Dura Torq engine

Being a total freshman in the world of offroading, I grabbed at all the chances to test drive the latest pick-up trucks in town. Over the past months I have been blessed to have the chance to savour some of the latest offerings from the world of trucking. Of all the trucks tested, it is definite to quote that these machines fear no obstacles of any form of terrain. Though all the pick-up trucks are generally labeled as workhorses, I firmly beg to differ. These trucks may look similar but wait till you get into the driver’s seat, which is where the fun actually begins.

The trucks that took the tests were the Toyota Hilux, Ssangyong Actyon Sports, Ford Ranger TDCi, Mitsubishi Triton, Isuzu D-Max and the Mazda BT-50.

 

Ssangyong Actyon Sports 2.oL - The one with the gaping mouth

Powerplant

Of all the 5 pick-up trucks, the truck with the most powerful engine would be the Ford Ranger TDCi. In terms of horsepower and torque, the Ranger beats the rest with its Duratorq 2.5 liter TDCi engine. It is also the first truck in Malaysia to come with 5-speed automatic transmission. The Ranger also scores the best in NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) levels.

The new Mazda BT-50, however, shares the same chassis and engine as the Ford, thus produces the same amount of torque and power. Next in line is the exotic-looking Ssangyong Actyon Sports. This SUV-derived pick-up truck comes with a 2.0 litre turbo-charged diesel powerplant courtesy of Mercedes. The D-Max and Triton, however, have similar intermediate strengths compared to the Ranger, BT-50 and the Actyon. The Hilux has the lowest power amongst the trucks but comes out as a winner in terms of styling and comfort. In the fuel consumption department, the D-Max scored tops followed by the Ranger and the BT-50.

Mitsubishi Triton 2.5L - The youths will love this one

Exterior

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. All these trucks have similar rear blueprints but on the front end each of the trucks tells a different story. Toyota Hilux was the best looking truck since it was launched some 2 years ago but it was short-lived when the Mitsubishi Triton arrived. I would personally pick the Mitsubishi Triton for being the most modern looking truck among all trucks. It has the right curves and shape that strike an appeal to potential truck owners (like yours truly) especially those between the ages of 20s to 30s.

Many traditionalists would opt for the Ranger as well as the D-Max or the BT-50 as they possess the conventional looks of a true pick-up truck. Aesthetically, the Actyon Sport has the most radically designed face amongst the rest. Sporting like a whale with a gaping mouth, the Actyon Sports can be one man’s poison but another man’s honey. I still think it looks unique and it surely can turn heads. As for the rear bedliner capacity, all pick-up trucks but the Triton, was cavernous. But, the Triton looks dashingly handsome if fitted with an aesthetic-looking bed cover.

Interiors

Among the trucks, the Hilux and the Triton win hands down in the passenger space department. The rear passenger cabin for both trucks is the longest and has substantial recline of the rear seats for better passenger leaning comfort. Potential owners who wish to bring the family along for a fishing trip should seriously consider these two trucks. I wish to highlight more of the Ssangyong Actyon Sports truck here.

Interior storage is aplenty with pockets and pouches found at most convenient locations. The front seats boast electrical controls for seat adjustments, the first of its kind for trucks. The first thing that caught my senses was the scent of leather. For a truck with leathered upholstery signifies a totally new experience for any old-school trucker.

 

Mazda BT-50 2.5L - The cousin of the Ford Ranger

To add on to the lavishness, the Actyon’s cabin is trimmed with the right hues and curves. On cold weather, the Actyon has a feature on the front seats that comes with warmer. This can be activated with a push of a button on the dashboard. As mentioned earlier, the Ranger and BT-50 shares the same platform together, therefore, nothing significant on the interiors except the type of stereo – the Ranger with a double-din player and the BT-50 with a single din version.

 

Comfort

In terms of ride comfort, once again, the Hilux triumphs but compared to the Ranger, it is not as favourable. The suspension technology for trucks and offroad vehicles has been refined tremendously over the years. Although the Hilux and the Ranger uses leaf spring suspension system, they were still able to provide the comfort levels of an SUV. The Actyon, however, uses the conventional coil springs and absorber struts that normal sedan cars use. Naturally, the Actyon Sports provides the best comfort of all the trucks.

Isuzu D-Max 3.0L - Extremely fuel economy on this one

 

All trucks drive gracefully on the highways except for the Triton and the BT-50. The seats on the Triton were not plush enough to endure long distance driving as it is too thin and firm. The BT-50, however, scored the worst in seating comfort. My experience was that whenever I had a little too heavy a meal, the BT-50 would help in my digestion – it was so bouncy in the cabin, even on straight roads! It is a good machine to induce burps too. On the other hand, the D-Max felt rather bouncy for the rear passenger side.

Final Verdict

Being quite a novice in the world of trucking, I must firmly recommend that these pick-up trucks are the best vehicles to use on tropical countries. Now with the constant floods and landslides, getting one of these trucks would serve us tremendously well. It is suffice to conclude that not all of these trucks are workhorses but serve equally good for family outing.

The Mitsubishi Triton, recently being awarded twice as the Pick-up Truck of the Year, is the most family-oriented vehicle to own. The Isuzu D-Max, however, serves best for hard labour activities with its very fuel-efficient engine, ditto to the Ford Ranger TDCi. If you are looking for a more elegant and comfortable set up, the Ssangyong Actyon has the double thumbs-up. With it’s 2.0L powerplant, paying the annual road tax would be easier on the pocket as well.

Toyota Hilux 2.5L - Still a best-seller despite having the lowest engine specs

So, if you ask me which do I prefer? Well, I would opt for the more family-oriented pick-up truck which provides good comfort, consumes the least fuel, and also low in maintenance.

But then, there is no such thing as the perfect truck for anyone…anyway, here are the prices of the trucks (subject to change, for reference only):

Toyota Hilux
RM92,793.90 (A) / RM87,793.90 (M)

Mitsubishi Triton
RM91,782.00 (A) / RM86,782.00 (M)

Ford Ranger TDCi
RM90,288.00 (A) / RM85,388.00 (M) w/out insurance

Mazda BT-50
RM91,091.79 (A) / RM86,402.81 (M)

Ssangyong Actyon Sports
RM91,989.20 (A)