Over recent years, the Ford Ranger has found itself in the enviable position of being the UK’s best-selling pick-up truck, which also makes it the most popular. The thing is, that was before a new version was released in 2023, and with the latest Ranger being even better than before, we can’t see the big Ford’s strangle-hold on the sector loosening any time soon. 

With styling inspired by the bigger Ford F-150 truck from across the Atlantic, the Ranger looks the absolute business. It looks good inside, too, with lots of space and a pleasant finish, and most of the various trim levels come with plenty of luxury equipment. Importantly, it has a big loadbed with a payload of over a tonne, and a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes, which is about as good as it gets. With standard four-wheel drive, it’s also pretty good off-road, and it’s the best of the pick-ups on the road, with a civilised ride, decent refinement and a surprising amount of handling sharpness.

Having just sung the Ford Ranger’s praises, you can also apply most of the same praise to the Amarok. Both trucks were developed jointly as part of a commercial vehicle partnership between the two companies, meaning most of the bits and pieces underneath are virtually identical. That means the Amarok is every bit as good to drive as the Ranger, has all the same technology and is just as practical.

There are some differences, though. The Ranger is available in a wider choice of trim levels and body styles than the Amarok, meaning buyers have more scope to choose the Ranger that’s right for them. You’ll also pay marginally less for the Ford, and you’ll get marginally more equipment for your money. That’s why the Ranger pips the Amarok in this list, but if you like the looks of the VW and prefer the image given by the badge on the nose, then we really wouldn’t dissuade you.

If you want a hard-as-nails pickup truck, look no further than the Toyota Hilux, which was immortalised in an episode of Top Gear during which Clarkson tried - and failed - to kill it. The latest model might not be significantly tougher than that car, but it is a lot plusher. 

Power comes from a 150PS 2.4-litre diesel engine that is capable of returning fuel economy of 40.4mpg and gives the Hilux a maximum towing weight of 3.5 tonnes. It also comes as standard with four-wheel drive and a locking rear differential that gives it the measure of tricky terrain. 

Inside, the interior is nice for a pickup truck and has plenty of room for four adults, as well as numerous smaller storage areas to help keep the cabin tidy. Air-conditioning is standard, while high-end models get climate control and a reversing camera.

The Nissan Navara is one of the trucks that’s no longer available brand new, but regardless, it still feels every ounce the modern pick-up. It’s as capable of hauling heavy payloads over muddy fields as it is hauling the family on their holidays, returning class-leading fuel economy of 46.3mpg as it goes. 

To get that eye-catching figure, you'll need to choose the basic engine but, because it has 160PS to call on, it still has plenty of power. If you plan to use your Navara pick-up truck for towing, however, it's worth biting the bullet and considering a four-wheel-drive model. 

The double-cab design means you have loads of room for four adults and the, erm, boot is massive. You can also have plenty of luxuries including keyless entry and sat-nav, which means the Navara feels far from utilitarian. 

Mitsubishi's departure from the UK market means that one of the founding fathers of modern UK pickup trucks – the Mitsubishi L200 – is no longer offered brand new. Don't fret, though, because the used market has lots of them.

The engine feels punchy and the L200 can pull trailers weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. You also get a very sophisticated four-wheel-drive system that can deal with a range of sticky situations. 

Unfortunately, the interior isn't so flexible. It has loads of front passenger space but the back seats aren't as generous, especially if you go for a Club Cab model. Still, you can at least have an infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Like with the Ranger and Amarok, it's a case of same-again with the Fullback and the L200, because they're essentially the same vehicle underneath, and that means the Fiat has most of the same strengths as the Mitsubishi. That includes being very good off-road thanks to Mitsubishi's clever four-wheel drive system, and a vast towing capacity. You can choose from a 2.4-litre diesel engine with 150PS or 180PS, running through a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearbox. 

Bouncy leaf springs means it's not so adept on smooth tarmac, though, and the Fiat also suffers from the L200's lack of rear-seat space. That said, things like a DAB radio, Bluetooth, fog lights and side steps come fitted as standard. 

If you're looking for a posh pickup truck, then the Mercedes-Benz X-Class is the pickup for you. From the three-point badge on its bonnet to its plush exterior fixtures and fancy interior fittings, it's the pickup truck that tells everyone that business is doing great. 

Underneath it all lurks a machine that is pretty much identical to the Nissan Navara, and like the Nissan, the X-Class is one the more comfortable pick-up trucks on the road. That similarity also means that inside, you get the vents and steering wheel from a Mercedes saloon, but you'll also find plenty of switchgear and plastic elements that have had a previous life in a Nissan Qashqai. That said, the seats do have a certain satisfying Mercedes firmness to them, and the X-Class has plenty of space inside for four adults. 

Where the SsangYong Musso's utilitarian image might be a turn off in the car world, it's a selling point in the world of hardworking pick-ups, particularly when it comes with an attractive price and the peace of mind of a seven-year warranty.

The automatic model is the one to go for here because it increases fuel economy from the 181PS 2.2-litre engine to 35mpg – up from 32mpg in the manual – and means the Musso can tow 3.5 rather than 3.2 tonnes. The engine is surprisingly refined and four-wheel drive comes as standard.

The Musso feels less utilitarian inside than some of its rivals, and because it's based on the bulky Rexton SUV, you also get plenty of room. In fact, the Musso is one of the best pick-up trucks to choose if you regularly carry five people. The ride is uncomfortable, though, even for a pick-up.

Unlike most of the other trucks here, the Isuzu D-Max has virtually zero lifestyle aspirations. It's a rugged, no-nonsense working vehicle that's designed to appeal with its robustness and its keen pricing. With competitive figures for payload, loadbay size and towing capacity, plus a hardy four-wheel drive system, it'll take pretty much any load you want it to, and take it wherever you like.

That does give the D-Max a certain charming honesty, but in truth, it does also result in some drawbacks. It's a rather noisy machine with old-fashioned leaf-spring rear suspension that amplifies bumps, rather than smoothing them out. The cabin is rather plasticky, too.

You might be thinking that you’re suffering a bit of deja vu here, but the Ranger Raptor is a very different proposition to the vehicle that appeared at the very top of this list. As the high-performance, hardcore off-roader variant of the Ranger, the Raptor has a far narrower appeal that the regular Ranger, which is why it appears at the end of this list as a kind of ‘honourable mention’. However, if you’re one of the few people who want what the Raptor is peddling, then few trucks do it as well.

Powerful petrol and diesel engines, upgraded off-roading hardware and clever suspension all combine to make the Ranger feel like more of an off-road racing machine than an everyday road vehicle, but it can serve as both. It’s as comfortable popping to the shops as it is launching itself off a sand dune. It’s tremendously expensive to buy, very thirsty, and it doesn’t get the same tax breaks that most of the trucks in this list do, so a cheap plaything it is not. However, when you’re revelling in the novelty of pounding across a ploughed field at breakneck speed, you probably won’t care.