Best Pickup Trucks in India

Pickup Trucks have existed in the Indian market for decades, however, their primary usage has been to cater to commercial needs. In recent years though, Pickup Trucks have made inroads into the private passenger car market due to their lifestyle appeal. 

What Are Pickup Trucks?

Pickup Trucks are vehicles that offer a passenger cabin along with an exposed cargo bed, serving a dual purpose. They can be used for ferrying passengers from one place to another and also be used to carry cargo. The duality of Pickup Trucks has made them a great lifestyle offering in the global car market, and the trend is now catching on in India as well.

Why Are Pickup Trucks Popular?

The popularity of Pickup Trucks is in its nascent stages, however, there has been a sharp increase in the interest surrounding them. This has primarily been because of Toyota launching the Hilux, the most popular Pickup Truck in the world, in India in 2022.

Pickup Trucks are popular in foreign countries due to their lifestyle utility. As mentioned earlier, they can ferry passengers or any kind of cargo. Furthermore, Pickup Trucks come with 4×4 hardware which enables them to traverse over difficult terrain with ease. The combination of these factors make Pickup Trucks popular among adventure seekers who often travel to remote areas with specialised sporting or camping equipment.

List of Best Pickup Trucks in India

Tata Yodha

The Tata Yodha is an entry level Pickup​ Truck in the Indian market and is primarily preferred by commercial operators due to its high utility value and low cost. Tata offers the Yodha in a wide range of configurations. Customers can choose between single and double cab models. Furthermore, the Yodha offers a range of models with different payload capacities. Lastly, there is also the option to choose between two diesel engines depending upon requirements. The Yodha is only available with a manual transmission.

Tata Yodha Specifications

• Engine: 2.2 litre diesel, 3.0 litre diesel
• Transmission: 5 speed MT
• Mileage: 14 kmpl
• Airbags: 1
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 2 to 4 people
• Body Type: Single Cab or Double Cab Pickup Truck

Mahindra Bolero Pik Up

The Mahindra Bolero Pik Up is another popular commercial Pickup Truck available in India. However, unlike the Yodha, the Bolero Pik Up Truck is available with only one engine and in a single configuration. It’s most suitable for businesses that need to transport heavy cargo over short distances and is great for last mile delivery. The Bolero Pik Up is available only in a single cab configuration and that limits it to being a 2 seater.

Mahindra Bolero Pik Up Specifications

• Engine: 2.5 litre diesel
• Transmission: 5 speed MT
• Mileage: 14.3 kmpl
• Airbags: 1
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 2 people
• Body Type: Single Cab Pickup Truck

Isuzu D-Max

Despite being priced higher than its rivals, the Isuzu D-max too is an entry level Pickup Truck that is preferred by commercial operators. Relative to its peers, the D-Max has a premium cabin that offers all basic amenities and feels similar to base model budget cars in the Indian car market. That said, the interior remains utilitarian, a trait highly sought after in Pickup Trucks used for commercial purposes. The Isuzu D-Max is only available with one engine option in a single cab configuration. However, the payload capacity ranges from 1180 kg to 1865 kg.

Isuzu D-Max Specifications

• Engine: 2.5 litre diesel
• Transmission: 5 speed MT
• Mileage: 12 kmpl
• Airbags: 1
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 2 people
• Body Type: Single Cab Pickup Truck

Isuzu S-Cab

The Isuzu S-Cab is a mid-level Pickup Truck designed to appeal to both commercial and private buyers. It features improved exterior styling and better features over entry-level Pickup Trucks while retaining the robust and utilitarian interior layout. It gets added safety in terms of 2 airbags and can seat five people due to its double cab design. It is available in a single diesel-manual powertrain combo which offers decent fuel efficiency. The payload capacity of the Isuzu S-Cab stands at 995 kg.

Isuzu S-Cab Specifications

• Engine: 2.5 litre diesel
• Transmission: 5 speed MT
• Mileage: 16.56 kmpl
• Airbags: 2
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 5 people
• Body Type: Double Cab Pick Up Truck

Isuzu S-Cab Z

Based on the S-Cab, the Isuzu S-Cab Z is a more premium version. It features minor revisions to the exterior styling and the interior too goes up a few notches in quality, both of which makes the S-Cab Z more desirable for private buyers. It features the same powertrain as well. The most noticeable improvement happens in the form of connectivity features with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay available, and steering mounted audio controls adding to driver comfort.

Isuzu S-Cab Z Specifications

• Engine: 2.5 litre diesel
• Transmission: 5 speed MT
• Mileage: 16 kmpl
• Airbags: 2
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 5 people
• Body Type: Double Cab Pick Up Truck

Isuzu Hi-Lander

The Isuzu Hi-Lander pushes the price of a Pickup Truck north of ₹ 20 lakh which firmly puts it into the lifestyle category, meaning that is predominantly preferred by private buyers. There is a single diesel engine that is only available with a manual transmission. It however gets modern features like automatic climate control and an ISOFIX anchorage point for a child seat, both of which make it more practical for daily personal use. The switch to a more lifestyle oriented design means that the Hi-Lander doesn’t offer as much payload capacity as commercial Pickup Trucks.

Isuzu Hi-Lander Specifications

• Engine: 1.9 litre diesel
• Transmission: 6 speed MT
• Mileage: 12.4 kmpl
• Airbags: 2
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 5 people
• Body Type: Double Cab Pickup Truck

Isuzu D-Max V-Cross

The D-Max V-Cross is the most premium Pickup Truck offered by Isuzu in India. The most significant improvement is the availability of an automatic transmission, an option highly preferred by urban dwellers. It is also available in both 4×2 and 4×4 configurations. The features on the V-Cross are in line with modern expectations, and the cabin feels livelier with use of a two-tone colour scheme. The exterior styling of the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross feels rugged and is highly preferred by adventure sports enthusiasts. 

Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Specifications

• Engine: 1.9 litre diesel
• Transmission: 6 speed MT, 6 speed AT
• Mileage: 12.4 kmpl
• Airbags: 6
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 5 people
• Body Type: Double Cab Pickup Truck

Toyota Hilux

The Toyota Hilux is by far the most premium Pickup Truck available in India. It is priced significantly higher than other Pickup Trucks but it also offers more on every front. The engine is bigger, there are manual and automatic transmission options, and it’s got the most features of any other Pickup Truck in India. While it is highly robust, its high price tag means that it’s mostly bought for private use. The Hilux is offered with many official accessories that make it great for touring.

Toyota Hilux Specifications

• Engine: 2.8 litre diesel
• Transmission: 6 speed MT, 6 speed AT
• Mileage: 10 kmpl
• Airbags: 7
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 5 people
• Body Type: Double Cab Pickup Truck

Best Pickup Trucks in India Summary

The Pick Up Truck culture in India is just picking up, and therefore the options are limited. However, the market has a bit of everything, with Indian carmakers such as Tata and Mahindra existing specifically in the entry-level space, Isuzu filling in the gaps in the mid-level segments, and Toyota occupying the crown. 

FAQs about Pickup Trucks in India