Long gone are the days when pick-up trucks were utility vehicles meant only for hauling loads, and had spartan-looking cabins and stiff suspensions that were far from being comfort-oriented.

Today, new-generation pick-up trucks have interiors that have executive car-like ambience, and a ride quality geared towards occupant comfort.

Who says workhorses have to be bone-jarring and austere affairs?

A legal consultant, who wanted to be known only as Yap, is a happy owner of a seven-year old Toyota Hilux.

Yap does not drive off-road, and uses his Hilux as a family vehicle.

He said he bought a pick-up truck due to the diesel engine's fuel efficiency, its huge cargo carrying capacity and a "king of the road" sentiment.

"During a heavy downpour, I don't have to worry about flooded roads. I think my Hilux is comfortable and much better than a sedan car in many ways," said Yap.



Another proud owner is Eugene Mahalingam, a business writer with The Star, who took delivery of his 2.2-litre Ford Ranger 4x2 two months ago.

The 1.82-metre journalist wanted a vehicle that "stood out", after driving a Perodua Kancil for eight years.

"The cabin is roomy, and great for tall people. I also thought the Ranger looked tough and strong. It was just aesthetically pleasing," he said.

Eugene also spent another RM10,000 to spruce up the pick-up with a rear deck cover or lid, and re-painted it matte black for a sportier look, and added a new front grille and rims.

A good example of how far the pick-up truck has come as a versatile workhorse, lifestyle and family vehicle is the new Nissan NP300 Navara, which is expected to arrive in Malaysia this year (read NP300 Navara first impressions).



"The new NP300 Navara provides the interior quality and premium features of a mid-sized Japanese sedan," Nissan Motor corporate vice president Kato Keno told journalists at a media event in Chiang Mai, Thailand last year.

Depending on variant, the 2.5-litre NP300 Navara can come with attractive specifications such as a seven-speed automatic transmission, leather upholstery, a powered driver's seat, LED projector headlamps, dual zone air-conditioning, rear air-conditioning vents, keyless entry, engine start-stop button and a Kenwood DNX7330BT head unit featuring a seven-inch touch-screen colour display, rear view camera and navigation system, as well as USB, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity.

These bells and whistles are packaged with competitive prices in Thailand, as the NP300 Navara is priced ranging from 656,000 to 996,000 baht (RM72,058 to RM109,406) for the Double Cab models.

Its price tags in Malaysia are not expected to stray far from prices in Thailand.

It came as no surprise to carsifu.my that the NP300 Navara raises the bar in the pick-up truck segment, as it fights for market share with the likes of the popular Ford Ranger and perpetual best-selling Toyota Hilux.



Since its launch in Malaysia in mid-2012, the Thai-built Ranger has been a runaway success and helped to drive Ford sales in the country to new heights (read Ford Ranger review).

The Ranger finished 2014 as the second best-selling pick-up truck in Malaysia, and accounted for 61.5% of Ford's retail sales of 13,938 units in the country.

The Ranger is also the superstar in Ford's Asean operations, as last year, it accounted for almost 50% of the American marque's record sales of 100,824 units in the region.

The Ranger is billed as offering an unmatched safety package in Malaysia, including Ford’s ESP (electronic stability programme) across all variants and ISOFIX mounts for child seats in the Wildtrak, as well as all XLT and XL Double Cab variants.

Ford engineers had also designed the Ranger for more comfort and convenience, with over 20 smart storage spaces and a roomy cabin.



A high-grade 2.2-litre XLT 4x4 Ranger variant with a six-speed automatic transmission has kit that includes cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, and a six-speaker audio system with a 4.2-inch colour display, as well as MP3, CD, USB, iPod capabilities and Bluetooth with Voice Control connectivity.

Prices for the Ranger range from RM76,488 to RM101,488 for the 2.2-litre models, and RM103,488 to RM122,988 for the 3.2-litre models.

"The Ranger has redefined the pick-up market in Malaysia with its appeal as both a hard-working, rugged truck and a family-friendly passenger vehicle. Comfortable yet powerful, refined yet capable, our customers love its versatility,” said Ford Motor Company managing director (Malaysia and Asia-Pacific emerging markets) David Westerman.

A facelifted Ranger with enhanced looks and features is due to be launched later this year.

Meanwhile, the fifth-generation Mitsubishi Triton was launched in Thailand in November last year, and Mitsubishi says it provides generous interior space, ample payload capacity, and class-leading handling.

The new Triton is also said to deliver quietness and ride comfort on a par with a passenger car thanks to a new diesel engine, optimisation of the suspension, the strategic placement of sound insulation, absorption and vibration damping materials.



With competition getting tougher, the 2015 Toyota Hilux was enhanced with refreshed looks and kit such as daytime running lights (DRLs), and leather seats for the 2.5G AT variants.

UMW Toyota Motor also introduced TRD Sportivo variants of the Hilux to cater to a younger set.

Prices for the Hilux range from RM77,248.20 (single-cab 2.5-litre manual) to RM112,967 (double-cab 3.0G TRD Sportivo automatic).

With the new updates, the Hilux should solidify its status as the top-selling pick-up truck in Malaysia despite being challenged by new rivals.

Another popular choice for pick-up truck buyers in Malaysia is the Isuzu D-Max which is renowned for setting high standards in durability, reliability and fuel efficiency (read Isuzu D-Max review).

The second-generation D-Max, which was launched here almost two years ago, is billed as having a stylishly-finished cabin that provides an SUV (sport utility vehicle)-like feel.

Seats in the D-Max were designed with long-distance comfort in mind, and Isuzu engineers also embedded a pair of class-first "exciter" tweeters into the roof lining for high-quality audio reproduction.



Meanwhile, Chevrolet offers its Colorado pick-up in Malaysia in 2.5-litre and 2.8-litre variants (read Chevrolet Colorado review).

It is interesting to note that the Colorado shares origins with the D-Max, due to an old General Motors and Isuzu Motors relationship.

A pumped-up 2.8-litre Colorado Muscle Power is also offered, and it boasts the highest torque in its class at 500Nm.

This Muscle Power edition also has a host of safety features and MyLink connectivity, Bluetooth support, a USB port, easy touch screen display and voice control.



There is also the Mazda BT-50, which is offered here in 2.2-litre 4x4 variants and a powerful 3.2-litre inline five-cylinder model (read Mazda BT-50 review).

The BT-50 is another interesting pick-up, as it shares a platform with the Ranger - due to a partnership between Ford and Mazda.

Mazda says the BT-50 is an "active lifestyle vehicle" that overturns the conventional image of a pick-up truck.

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