Top-3 best value for money pick-up trucks in Philippines

As surprising as it may sound, it is actually possible for car buyers in Philippines to purchase a new car cheaper than open-market countries like Australia.

The first is the 2020 Mitsubishi Strada – a surprisingly well-packaged 4x4 pick-up truck that is priced quite close to an open market.

In Philippines, the range-topping Strada with all of its bells and whistles costs ₱ 1,764,000, while the closest counterpart from Australia is the Triton GLS Premium 4WD.

To recap, the Mitsubishi Strada received a facelifted in early 2019, which gave it the Dynamic Shield front fascia you see here. The updated Triton also gained an revised interior with this facelift exercise. 

Mitsubishi also increased the Strada’s safety equipment considerably – the top variant gets Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Change Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Auto High Beam, and Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System.

This is in addition to the generous 7 airbags, 360-degree view monitor, and front digital video recorder (DVR) that the Triton Adventure X comes with.

Safety equipment aside, the 2020 Mitsubishi Strada is perhaps one of the most comfortable 4x4 pick-up trucks in Philippines, eclipsing rival pickup-trucks. Couple that with its quiet engine (for a diesel-powered unit, that is), the Triton is an excellent choice for those wanting to daily drive a pick-up truck.

The downside is that the Triton does not feel as powerful as the output figures suggest. 

2020 Ford Ranger – A Ranger for everyone

(2020 Ford Ranger Price and Specs | Gallery)

The second choice is the 2020 Ford Ranger, a very popular 4x4 pick-up truck for those shopping for a lifestyle truck in Malaysia.

In Philippines, buyers need to pay ₱ 1,540,000 to get the mid-range Ranger Wildtrak, while folks in Australia need to pay more than us.

As for its Australian counterpart, it is marginally cheaper, which further emphasizes our point – the Ranger Wildtrak is the one to go for.

The 2020 Ford Ranger also has the best sound quality of the trio, and its cabin has a good mix of high quality materials. Ride comfort of the Ford Ranger is also pretty impressive for a 4x4 pick-up truck.

While the Ranger's size may be bigger than any of its rivals, it doesn't have the Triton's tight turning radius and lack of a 360-degree view monitor makes parking in tight spaces a challenge.

2020 Isuzu D-Max - Rock-solid reliability

(2020 Isuzu D-Max Price and Specs | Gallery)

Another viable 4x4 pick-up truck to get in Philippines is the 2020 Isuzu D-Max.

In Philippines, our top-of-the-line D-Max 3.0 AT Premium costs ₱ 1,825,000 .

But if the D-Max 3.0’s road tax is too much for you to swallow, fret not, as Isuzu also offers the D-Max with a smaller 1.9-litre turbodiesel unit.

Not only is the new 1.9-litre turbodiesel more powerful than the older 2.5-litre unit, it is also far more economical, allowing the D-Max to become the first Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) certified pick-up in Philippines.

Regardless of which engine you pick, the D-Max is proven to be a very reliable and durable 4x4 pick-up truck. 

Unlike the other lifestyle-biased trucks, the D-Max carries with it a more utilitarian image; that’s fine if you’re a business owner or an off-road enthusiast who wants a durable and reliable truck.

Due to its workhorse-biased nature, it’s tough finding for a Isuzu dealer within the city, and when it comes to servicing, you’ll need to drive into a lorry service centre, as Isuzu Philippines’s main business is selling heavy-duty lorries.

What about the Toyota Hilux?

In case if anyone is wondering why the Toyota Hilux isn't in this list, it's mainly due to the Hilux's pricing. 

Yes the Malaysian Toyota Hilux is cheaper than the Australian counterpart, but all variants of the Australian Hilux are fitted with 7 airbags and the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) ADAS suite, which justifies the price premium. Here, the Hilux 2.4G costs ₱ 1,325,000.