It’s rare to come across a car with very little rivals such as the Ford F-150. In fact, its direct competitors in the global market number less than five, with only the Toyota Tacoma, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Silverado, and Dodge RAM 1500 to give it a run for its money. Locally, the F-150 only has to contend with the Dodge RAM in the full-size pickup truck segment.
Measuring 5890mm long, 2029mm wide, and 1920-1961mm tall depending on trim, the 2020 Ford F-150 sold locally actually represents the last of the thirteenth generation. It’s powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine with Auto Start-Stop Technology, delivering 375hp and 637Nm of goodness, enough for a more or less 6,000kg towing capacity. A 10-speed automatic gearbox is standard across the range, of which only the Supercrew Plantinum 4x4 AT and Supercrew Lariat 4x2 AT made it to our shores.
Seating capacity is at five persons for both variants. Despite being primarily built for ruggedness, there are several touches of refinement relating to ergonomics, comfort and tech, including an intuitive 8-inch touchscreen display powered by Ford’s upgraded Sync 3 system.
For interested parties, the 2020 Ford F-150 retails at PHP2,998,000 for the F-150 3.5L V6 EcoBoost 4x4 Platinum AT variant and PHP 2,698,000 for the F-150 3.5L V6 EcoBoost 4x2 Lariat AT.
If you want to explore other options, here are some heavy duty pickup alternatives for you.
The Ford F-150 has a pickup rival within the Blue Oval’s own stable, in the guise of the Ford Ranger. Rugged since day one, the Ford Ranger came roaring in full force as THE midsize pickup to contend with. Its energetic engine choice—a 2.0-liter Bi-Turbo Diesel (210hp, 500Nm), 2.0-liter Turbo Diesel (178hp, 420Nm), and a 2.2-liter TDCi Diesel (158hp, 385Nm)s—make it a good choice for hauling, towing, and ferrying, not to mention it has plenty of nifty tech as well. The 4x4 trims come with a shift-on-the-fly feature that lets drivers choose between 2WD and 4WD more easily.
Other Ranger creature comforts include active park assist, smarter start button, navigation system, voice-controlled SYNC 3, and a first-in-class tailgate lift assist. An 8-inch TFT touchscreen and leather-wrapped steering wheel with controls serve as the infotainment focal points for the entire cabin. Meanwhile, an eight-way power adjusted driver’s seat elevates driving convenience.
Among the competitors on this list, the Dodge RAM 1500 is the only one that can stand toe to toe with the F-150 on a pound-for-pound basis, with its 5816mm in length, 2017mm in width, and 1994mm in height. Like the F-150, the RAM 1500 also comes in two variants only—the Laramie Crew Cab and the Laramie Hemi, priced at PHP3,180,000 and PHP3,490,000, respectively. Driven by a humongous 5.7-liter V6 that pushes out 375hp and 555Nm of torque, the RAM 1500 can tow as much as 3810kgs. This engine is mated to a high grade 8-speed automatic transmission that ensures you go about your towing tasks unhampered by sticky shifts.
There’s tons of comfort features to impress, including carpet floor covering, leather-wrapped steering wheel, memory-operated power features, plus a wide array of customization options. Standard safety features include six airbags, electronic stability, remote tire monitoring system, and reverse camera.
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has just released the refreshed Toyota Hilux last September, with a whopping 13 variants in all. The power sources for Toyota’s new behemoth remain to be a pair of GD-FTV engines— one is a 2.4-liter(2GD-FTV, 148hp and 400Nm) for the 4x2 variants, and the other is a 2.8-liter (1GD-FTV, 201hp with 420 – 500Nm of torque depending on transmission) for the 4x4 models. Both engines are 16-valve, DOHC diesel engines with variable nozzle turbo and front-mounted intercooler. Transmission varies between 6-speed automatic and 6-speed manual, depending on trim.
Though these are the same engines as before, they are more powerful than the ones installed in the outgoing Toyota Hilux.
The 2021 Hilux cabin stays largely unchanged, save for an updated infotainment system. To enhance the driving experience, the Hilux has modern features like the large 8-inch touchscreen (6.75-inch on lower models) that permits hands-free Bluetooth mobile device connectivity, with Apple Carplay, Android Auto, and Smart Device Link capabilities, as well as AM/FM/ Bluetooth/USB compatibility and six speakers to handle the audio output (only four in lower trims). At the dash of the new Hilux lies a 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display that also comes with tabs that indicate outside temperature, shift range indicators, an “Eco” monitor, and other pertinent trip information.
The Isuzu D-Max looks ready to take on any earthly terrain, especially its top-of-the-line Boondock, with its impressively the tall 247mm ground clearance. Blacked-out mirror covers, roof rails, side stepboards, alloy wheels, over fenders, and cargo extender complete the Boondock's sporty appeal. Inside, an 8-inch multi-information touchscreen display serves as the centerpiece, appearing seamless unity with the rest of the dash and cabin's features. Perforated leather covers the front and back seats, further establishing the cabin's upmarket allure.
For power, the Duterte-endorsed D-Max relies on a Euro 4-compliant 3.0-liter Blue Power diesel engine with intercooler that produces 175hp and 380Nm. There are two transmission choices on offer: a manual with gear shift indicator and an automatic with sequential shift, both of which are 6-speed gearboxes. For entertainment and whatnot, the D-Max provides occupants with Bluetooth, USB. auxiliary, and iPod connectivity.
The Mitsubishi Strada now sports the Dynamic Shield fascia, matching the design signature seen in many of Mitsubishi’s current lineup. This is complemented by a sporty front bumper garnish, 18-inch alloy wheels, roll bar, side decals, and a fitting two-tone finish. All these add up to a tougher, sportier appearance, especially for the top trim Strada Athlete.
Inside the engine bay of the Strada is Mitsubishi’s reliable 2.4L MIVEC Turbo Clean Diesel engine that produces around 179hp and 430Nm of torque while mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with Super Select 4WD II system. This powertrain combo links to a Super Select 4WD-II with off-road traction control that allows drivers to choose between different drive and terrain settings for improved road grip regardless of the topography.
For its interiors, the Strada Athlete plays with a two-tone black and orange combo with orange stitching accents in its seats, gear shift panel/knob and parking brake lever (available in the 4x4 variant). The pickup also comes with a whole suite of safety and driver assistance systems that includes Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist (BSW with LCA), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), to name a few. An Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMMS) takes care of any trepidations you may have about your Strada’s brakes going awry.
Though the Silverado is not available locally, Chevrolet brings us the next best thing. The Chevrolet Colorado’s perfect blend of power and utility manages to walk the fine line between work and play in an exceptional way. The main engine, a 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine that’s good for 200hp of power and 500Nm of torque, making it one of the most powerful options on this list, next to Ford’s 2.2L Bi. So if you want a truck that meets your most demanding tasks, the Colorado is one of your better choices. Make sure to go for the High Country Storm variant of you’re looking for peak capacity and performance.
Generally speaking, pickups aren’t really known for their interior quietness, but the latest Colorado is as serene as a pickup can get, thanks to generous application of insulating soft-touch materials inside. Spacious legroom characterizes the front and rear cabs, and upmarket elements abound, including easy closing doors, a more intuitive and ergonomic center console, tire pressure monitoring system, up/down anti-pinch windows, and the latest Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, complete with smartphone compatible 8-inch touchscreen.
The SsangYong Musso Grand pickup lineup is powered by a 2.2-liter diesel engine that dishes off 181 horses and 400 to 420Nm of torque depending on variant, of which there are three: 4x2 MT, 4x2 AT, and 4x4 AT. The top-spec SsangYong Musso Grand4x4 AT hosts power-adjustable driver and passenger seats, contrast stitching, premium brown leather seat covers, and heating and ventilation controls and vents for both front and rear occupants.
An 8-inch touchscreen comprises the infotainment system, complete with Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity. The Musso Grand is a long-wheelbase version of the standard Musso with a longer cargo bed. That said, Musso’s premier pickup is not only the longest pickup truck in the market, but also the one with the widest and deepest. Suffice to say, when it comes to rear cargo storage space, you can’t get any better than the Musso Grand. Likewise, both Musso pickup lines (Musso and Musso Grand) are the only ones in the market that offer two suspension options–coil springs and leaf springs. Standard safety include ABS anti-lock brakes with EBD and brake assist, anti-rollover protection, electronic stability, hill descent control, and rearview camera (4x4 AT only).
As the first China-produced pickup to receive a 5-star rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), the Maxus T60 appears ready to hit it up with the local pickup market’s heavy hitters. The locally available T60 lineup comes in three configurations: a 4x2 manual, 4x2 automatic, and 4x4 automatic. Power lies in a 2.8-liter VGT diesel engine that outputs 136hp to 150hp and 350Nm to 360Nm of torque, depending on type. The most powerful engine is installed in the 4x4 variant, and both manual and automatic gearboxes are 6-speed types.
For its interiors, the Maxus T60 has convenient features such as multifunction steering wheel, keyless entry, 6-way power driver seat, cruise control, and a 10-inch touchscreen monitor with Apple CarPlay and Mirrorlink.
Photos from Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, SsangYong, Maxus,
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