It might be a bold statement, but pickup trucks are arguably one of the most versatile vehicle types you can buy right now. Modern pickup cars, as in the ones being sold right now, can often match other five-seater vehicles in terms of comfort and onboard features. That’s on top of the fact that they can carry stuff on their beds. Well, sure, other cars like SUVs also have large cargo-carrying capacities, but you wouldn’t want to load one up with dirty or dusty cargo, would you? If you are looking for the best pickup truck in the Philippines for 2022, look no further as we are here to help.
Pickup cars nowadays allow their owners to work hard in relative comfort
Most pickup trucks can take on rough terrain with ease. These models offer a 4x4 drivetrain, and even the ones with 4x2 setups already have an impressive amount of ground clearance. As such, potholes and rough unpaved roads are no issue.
So, what are we getting at? Well, due to the pickup car's versatility, they are some of the most sought-after vehicle types in the country right now. They can do well as family cars, a logistics solution for your business, as an all-out adventure vehicle, and as an all-purpose utility vehicle.
Being a popular vehicle type, however, there are a lot of pickup trucks to choose from in the local market. So, to aid prospective buyers, here are our top picks for the best pickup truck in the Philippines for 2022.
The interiors of most modern pickup trucks are no longer spartan, that's for sure
Of note, all five come from well-known car brands, and have more than proven themselves in terms of durability and reliability. In addition, these five are midsize trucks that present a good balance between price, utility, practicality, and comfort.
Top five best pickup trucks you can buy in 2022
Toyota Hilux
The first of the best pickup trucks on this 2022 list is the Toyota Hilux. In September 2020, the Japanese-marque introduced a facelifted version that comes with new features like a better instrument cluster, a better touchscreen, as well as a new front fascia. And in November last year, the GR-S version of the pickup car of Toyota has been introduced in the Philippines.
Best pickup truck in the Philippines for 2022: Toyota Hilux
For engines, the Toyota Hilux either gets a 2.4-liter turbodiesel or a 2.8-liter turbodiesel. The smaller mill can make up to 148 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. The larger engine, on the other hand, can produce up to 201 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque.
For both 2.4-liter and 2.8-liter variants, a 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain is available. Both engines of the Toyota pickup truck can also come with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic tranny.
New GR-S version
Pricing for the Toyota-made pickup truck starts at Php 843,000 for the Hilux 2.4 Cab and Chassis 4x2 MT variant. The outgoing top-spec Hilux Conquest 2.8 4x4 AT has a price tag of Php 1,830,000. Lastly, the flagship Hilux GR-S is offered at Php 1,985,000.
Mitsubishi Strada
Another truck that we recommend is the Mitsubishi Strada. It features a modern and athletic-looking exterior. This is especially true with the top-spec Athlete variant, which was released back in October 2020.
Best pickup truck in the Philippines for 2022: Mitsubishi Strada
Propelling all Strada variants is a 2.4-liter turbodiesel inline-4 engine that’s able to make up to 179 horsepower and 430 Nm of torque. Depending on the variant, it either gets a six-speed automatic transmission, or a six-speed manual transmission. A 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrain is also available for this 2022 model of the pickup truck as well.
Proven and tested
For the Mitsubishi-made pickup truck, prices start at Php 998,000 for the Strada GL 2WD. The top-of-the-line Strada Athlete 2.4 4x4 AT, on the other hand, has a price tag of Php 1,764,000.
Isuzu D-Max
Next up on this list of the best pickup truck in the Philippines 2022 is the Isuzu D-Max. Of note, this Isuzu-made truck is now on its third-generation model. It was released for the Philippine market in March 2021, and it features Isuzu’s Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS), which is a collection of safety active safety features.
Best pickup truck in the Philippines for 2022: Isuzu D-Max
Propelling the new D-Max is a new 3.0-liter turbodiesel, which can deliver 188 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque. The 1.9-liter RZ4E diesel engine is also available, and it has a maximum output of 148 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque.
For both 1.9-liter and 3.0-liter variants, both a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission is available. For drivetrains, the 1.9-liter RZ4E variants can only come with 4x2. The ones with the 3.0-liter mill can either have a 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain.
Today's pickup cars got premium aesthetics
The Philippine-spec Isuzu D-Max's price starts at Php 857,000 for the D-Max 1.9 4x2 Single Cab MT. At the top of the D-Max's variant totem pole is the D-Max LS-E 3.0 4x4 AT, which in turn has a price of Php 1,825,000.
Nissan Navara
The Nissan Navara is the fourth best pickup truck on this 2022 Edition list. Its third-generation model got a facelift in 2021, presenting a more aggressive and rugged truck appearance. That update also introduced the new top-of-the-line version of the Japanese pickup car called the Navara PRO-4X.
Best pickup truck in the Philippines for 2022: Nissan Navara
One of the most interesting features of the Navara is its suspension setup. Both the front and rear get an independent-type coil spring setup, which is a distinct feature as compared to the common rear leaf spring setup of most pickup cars in the Philippines. The model also gets the Nissan Intelligent Mobility which provides active and passive safety features.
Powering this Japanese pickup truck as standard is a 2.5-liter YD25DDTi inline-four turbodiesel engine that is capable of generating 187 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque. That is available in the variants that use the 7-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the 6-speed manual transmission variants make 161 horsepower and 403 Nm of torque. 4x2 and 4x4 options are made available for the PH-spec version.
It demands attention on the road
In terms of pricing, the entry-level Navara 2.5 EL 4x2 MT is priced at Php 1,026,000. For a more refined version, the Navara 2.5 PRO-4X 4x4 AT is available with a price tag of Php 1,746,000. What makes the Navara an even more worthy entry on the best pickup truck in the Philippines for 2022 is its new warranty coverage that spans up to five years.
Ford Ranger
While the revamped Ford Ranger offers new design elements across the board, buyers will still be offered the same set of engine choices. Three diesel engines are available: a 2.2-liter engine, a 2.0-liter single turbo engine, and a 2.0-liter Bi-Turbo engine. It also has a lot of tech features if you purchase the highest-end model, as well as solid entry-level and mid-range models that meet most people's needs. It's one of the better-equipped and smoother-riding pickup cars in the Philippines this 2022, thanks to its strong engine, spacious interior, and modern features like adaptive cruise control on higher-trim models.
Best pickup truck in the Philippines for 2022: Ford Ranger
Speaking of engines, the Ranger for the local market has two options. First is the aforementioned 2.0-liter biturbo diesel mill, which can make up to 210 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque. This engine is then paired with a 10-speed automatic gearbox. For drivetrains, this powerful engine is only available in 4x4.
There’s also the 2.2-liter turbodiesel that’s capable of producing 158 horsepower and 385 Nm of torque. It either gets a six-speed automatic, or a six-speed manual transmission. It can also come with a 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain. Lastly, there’s the 2.0-liter single turbo diesel, which can deliver up to 178 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque. It is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual tranny, but it is only available with a 4x2 drivetrain.
One of the best-selling pickup cars in the Philippines
Prices for the Ranger start at Php 1,155,000 for the Ranger XLS 2.2 4x2 MT. The top-spec Ranger Wildtrak 2.0 Biturbo 4x4 AT meanwhile, has a price tag of Php 1,728,000. Soon, Ford Philippines will introduce the next-gen Ford Ranger, which should further solidify its name as one of the best pickup trucks in the local market.
Those are the top five best pickup trucks that you can buy in the Philippines in 2022. For more cars buy and sell Philippines and car maintenance guides, keep it here on our website.
>>> Suggested for you: The five best small cars in the Philippines