The pickup wars have begun...again.
An all-new Isuzu D-Max, yet another Ford Ranger variant, and beefier Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux updates? Frankly, the segment hasn’t been this hot since several years ago when most of these names—save for the D-Max, which is the only all-new competitor in today’s spec-sheet brawl—were “next-gen.”
And you know what? We’re grateful. All the top dogs in the midsize-pickup segment have something new to offer, and anyone who has been saving up for a workhorse is once again spoiled for choice. Now, the problem is making sure you make the correct one. The spec-by-spec breakdown below should make things easy for you guys. Let’s go through some of the basics.
Power-wise, the Ranger still reigns supreme. The Wildtrak 4x4 AT variant is what we’ve included here, and its 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel engine with 210hp and 500Nm of torque sends more oomph to all four wheels than the rest of the competition does. Next up in this department is the Hilux Conquest 4x4 AT and its 2.8-liter turbodiesel capable of 201hp and 500Nm. The top-spec D-Max LS-E 4x4 AT and the Navara Pro-4X have the most modest output of the bunch, both with 187hp and 450Nm courtesy of 3.0-liter and 2.5-liter engines, respectively.
The Isuzu and the Nissan, though, have the edge when it comes to safety. These two Japanese trucks offer advanced safety tech like lane-departure warning, forward-collision alert with autonomous emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert, among others. The Ranger is missing just rear cross-traffic alert, while none of these features are present in the Hilux.
We could go on and on here mentioning specs, but you’re probably better off checking them all out side-by-side in the table below. So, which one are you going with? Let us know in the poll below, and sound off in the comments section.
The 2021 Pickup Comparison Sheet
2021 Isuzu D-Max 3.0 LS-E 4x4 AT |
2021 Ford Ranger 2.0 Bi-turbo Wildtrak 4x4 AT |
Nissan Navara 2.5 Pro-4X 4x4 |
Toyota Hilux 2.8 V Conquest 4x4 AT |
|
Price | P1,825,000 | P1,728,000 | P1,849,000 | P1,850,000 |
Drive | 4WD | 4WD | 4WD | 4WD |
Seating capacity | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Engine setup | 3.0-liter in-line-four turbodiesel | 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel | 2.5-liter in-line-four turbodiesel | 2.8-liter in-line-four turbodiesel |
Power (hp) | 187 | 210 | 187 | 201 |
Torque (Nm) | 450 | 500 | 450 | 500 |
Transmission | 6-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic | 7-speed automatic | 6-speed automatic |
Fuel tank capacity (L) | 76 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
Brakes (front/rear) | ventilated discs/auto-adjust drum | ventilated discs/drum | ventilated discs/drum | ventilated discs/drum |
Wheels | 18-inch alloy | 18-inch alloy | 17-inch alloy | 18-inch alloy |
Tires | 265/60 R18 all-terrain | 265/60 R18 | 255/65 R17 all-terrain | 265/60 R18 |
Front suspension | double-wishbone with coil springs, high-mounted upper control arm, and stabilizer |
double-wishbone with coil springs | double-wishbone with coil springs | double-wishbone |
Rear suspension | long-span semi-elliptical soft-ride leaf springs |
leaf springs | multilink with coil spring and stabilizer | leaf springs |
Seat material | leather | leather | leather | fabric |
Tilt/Telescopic steering wheel adjustment | yes/yes | yes/no | yes/no | yes/yes |
Paddle shifters | no | no | no | no |
Infotainment system | 10.1-inch touchscreen, 8-speaker setup | 8-inch touchscreen, 6-speaker setup | 8-inch touchscreen, 6-speaker setup | 8-inch touchscreen, 6-speaker setup |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto | yes/yes | yes/yes | yes/yes | yes/yes |
Smart keyless entry | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Push-start ignition | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Remote start | yes | no | no | no |
Parking brake | mechanical | mechanical | mechanical | mechanical |
Automatic climate control | yes, dual-zone | yes, dual-zone | yes, dual-zone | yes |
Automatic headlamps | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Power-folding side mirrors | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Rain-sensing wipers | yes | yes | yes | no |
ABS w/ electronic brakeforce distribution | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Electronic Stability Control | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Hill-start assist | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Hill-descent control | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Cruise control | adaptive | adaptive | yes | yes |
Blind Spot Monitor | yes | no | yes | no |
Lane-keep/lane-change assist | lane-departure warning only | yes | lane-departure warning only | no |
Forward-collision alert | w/autonomous emergency braking | w/autonomous emergency braking | w/autonomous emergency braking | no |
Rear cross-traffic alert | yes | no | yes | no |
Tailgate lift assist | no | yes | yes | yes |
Parking assist | front and rear cameras | active park assist w/front and rear sensors, reversing camera | around-view monitor with parking sensors | reverse camera with rear sonar |
Airbags | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
Dimensions (mm) | 5,277 x 1,880 x 1,810 | 5,354 x 1,860 x 1,848 | 5,260 x 1,875 x 1,855 | 5,325 x 1,900 x 1,845 |
Wheelbase (mm) | 3,125 | 3,220 | 3,150 | 3,085 |
Ground clearance (mm) | 240 | 232 | 220 | N/A |