There's also the X 350 d, which features a 3.0-litre V6 diesel, permanent 4WD and an auto box as standard. Power trim comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect from a top-spec Merc, while even the basic Pure model is reasonably well equipped. The Volkswagen Amarok is only available as a double-cab in the UK and it's relatively expensive, but like the X-Class it actually delivers on the claim that it feels ‘car-like’ from behind the wheel. Thanks to a great combination of rugged practicality and a quality feel, it remains one of the most desirable pick-ups on the market. The latest version is powered by a punchy 3.0 V6 TDI engine that replaces the old 2.0-litre units. The most powerful 254bhp version has plenty of punch for overtaking and a stump-pulling 580Nm of torque from 1,400rpm for towing or tackling serious 45-degree off-road inclines. Economy of 34mpg economy makes it more expensive to run than 4-cylinder rivals though.
On the road it’s easy to forget that the Amarok isn’t an easy-driving SUV, although a hint of rear-end bounce that typifies the pick-up genre is evident. The hefty ladder-framed Amarok can’t truly match the poise, dynamism or comfort of contemporary road-focused SUVs, but with V6 muscle many more drivers should find the vehicle rewarding enough for that not to matter. The interior fit and finish is excellent, including a handsome new fascia design that looks and feels better screwed together than any rival bar the Mercedes X-Class. The front seats offer loads of adjustment, and with full steering wheel adjustment, the driving position is more car-like and comfortable than you might expect from a pick-up. Over 18 million Toyota Hiluxes have been built since 1968, making it one of the best-selling trucks in the world. It’s an icon of the pick-up world, with owners in some of the most inhospitable places on earth relying on its durability.
The latest HiLux is bigger in every dimension than before, benefiting that all-important load bay, which is a full 130mm wider than the old Hilux’s. It can also tow up to 3,200kg - a strong figure, but behind that of the Nissan Navara. Inside, it’s a huge improvement over the last model. Gone are the flimsy plastics and dated switchgear, replaced by a dashboard which looks and feels like it’s from one of Toyota’s passenger cars. There are plenty of hard plastics to remind you you’re in a pick-up, but it’s now on par with the car-like Nissan Navara for fit and finish. The Invincible-spec model has a decent kit tally, too, with a seven-inch touchscreen with DAB and Bluetooth, cruise control, climate control and keyless start, while the Invincible X gets even more kit and a unique looking front end, too. Power comes from a 2.4-litre diesel engine with a healthy torque figure of 400Nm. That’s 60Nm more than the 3.0-litre unit in the old Hilux delivered, but it’s down on the top spec engines offered by rivals.
