The article was originally produced on September 7, 2014, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

3 X pickups

It is not only in the United States that pickup trucks have gained a solid foothold. Nowadays you also see this type of car on our streets more than ever. The reason is, in addition to the generous load capacity, that this is also a work vehicle for tax purposes. The meaning of that is that the car will be easier to deduct from the company and you can get away with the benefit value. We have tried three different pickups, a German, a Japanese and an American. All good, but with different characters.

 

Volkswagen Amarok Canyon – A German quality wolf. 

Amarok is Inuktitut and means wolf. The model arrived in 2010 and was an immediate success. The variant that has become a bestseller is the one with a double cab. Five people sit comfortably during long trips. With a diesel engine of 180 horses, it is far from a strong ox, but with the eight-speed automatic transmission, the Amaroken is a fantastic long-distance friend. Permanent four-wheel drive and the possibility to lock the diff mean that it copes superbly in relatively difficult terrain. In the Canyon version, the car comes fully specced with leather upholstery, navigation, multi-steering wheel, etc. The steering is precise without being sloppy. The sense of quality in the Amarok is consistently high and it is clearly felt that it has a German backbone. The question is whether it is too good so that for that reason it has not been type-approved in the USA? An Amarok would literally jaw open America's best selling car which is the Ford F150 and it wouldn't look good.

Toyota Hilux – A Japanese Sumo Wrestler for tough fights.

The first Hilux came already in the 60s. This makes it old in paperback and with many versions behind it. It was originally called the 4Runner in the US and the Hilux Surf in Japan. With its 171-horsepower diesel engine and a five-speed automatic transmission, the driving comfort is not quite as pleasant as the Amarok. But on the other hand, the Hilux has a much more advanced off-road system and you can choose to have only two-wheel drive, which has a positive effect on fuel consumption. The Hilux also offers good comfort in the back seat. That Hilux has good quality is not news. One proof is an episode of the British motoring program Top Gear, where they do a tough polar expedition with three converted Hiluxes. Another thing that accounts for the good operational reliability is the many cars that have gone flawlessly well over 40,000 miles with only regular service. 

Ford Ranger Wildtrack – A comfortable American ox.