New-age pickup trucks: Not boring but an exciting lifestyle choice

Pickup trucks are one of the oldest known vehicle types available. Even 100 years ago, there were vehicles with a cab at the front and a large flatbed at the rear for carrying stuff around. Back then they were considered commercial vehicles and therefore they widely differed from the passenger cars, even though the development process was different.

The pickup trucks were considered commercial vehicles serving workhorse roles till the late 1990s. They were picked up business with construction or jungle sites, as their rugged build allowed them to perform tough tasks and ride through off-road terrains easily.

In Malaysia, the licensing regulations restricted individuals to use pickup trucks for private use. They were to companies only, so small business owners mainly purchased them for delivery or loading chores. Thus limiting their sales, in 1999, for instance, the pickup trucks accounted for just 2 percent of the annual sales.

Change in conception

It was only when the government allowed the registration of pickup trucks for private use that things started to change. Thus creating a new market segment wherein customers started purchasing pickup trucks for their rugged design, off-road capabilities, and comfortable cabin. And since then the pickup truck segment never looked back, it just touched new heights. For instance, last year alone 40,000 pickups were sold, accounting for 8% of the total sales.

In the future, the pickup truck segment is expected to grow even more with brands like Isuzu setting targets to sell 8,000 units.

Reason for such a boost in pickup truck sales? The exemption of excise duty made purchasing pickup trucks cheaper. Under the ASEAN Free Trade Area agreement, the pickup trucks are considered commercial vehicles and are therefore imported and sold duty-free.

Attributes of a pickup truck

More versatile than SUVs: Like the SUVs, pickup trucks evolved from workhorse machines to passenger vehicles. However, compared to SUVs, pickup trucks are more versatile as they offer a large rear bed that allows carrying larger items at ease. Also, with their growing popularity, brands such as Isuzu revised the truck's design concept making it more appealing and comfortable. For instance, elements with bare metal were replaced with padded trim panels, passenger cars like seat upholstery were used. In some cases, even leather upholstery was provided for a more premium look and feel.

The carmakers like Isuzu, have drawn inspiration from the passenger cars created by them in the past and made the pickup truck more comfortable. Today’s pickups offer the same comfort level as a passenger car, thanks to the suspension setting (more baked towards comfort) and sound insulation cabin.

Better & improved features

Over time pickup trucks have seen evolution both in design and feature aspects. Today’s trucks offer features similar to that of a modern car, like power window, central locking, air-con system, etc. In some cases, automakers even tune picks with features at par with premium or luxury cars. The Isuzu D-Max, for instance, comes with an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.

Handling & acceleration not compromised

Unlike the old-age pickups that were neither great to look at nor smooth to drive, the new-age units sit on platforms engineered to offer great comfort and handling. All this without compromising the equally-valued durability and load-carrying capability. One great example is the D-Max offers great driving comfort along with the expected towing and climbing capabilities.

Pickups usually used ladder-frame chassis as it is an economical and robust platform. For weight reduction, automakers used computer-aided engineering that further improved the vehicle's durability and rigidity. All this not only offers a longer service life but also better safety, as in the case of the D-Max.

High ground clearance is another great advantage of pick-ups. This dimension comes in handy when crossing floods. The Isuzu D-Max, for instance, offers 240 mm of ground clearance and has a water wading capacity of 800 mm.

Moreover, modern-day pickup trucks are easy to drive with features like a power-assisted steering system, turning system, and rear-view camera. All these features are part of the D-Max drive enhancing kit.

Quieter & efficient powertrain

Earlier pickup trucks were tuned with powerful engines that were not only noisy but also generated a lot of dairy exhaust emissions. Compared to today's units that are quieter and cleaner. The D-Max 1.9-litre Blue Power turbo engine for example offers improved fuel efficiency while still delivering muscular performance.

Enhanced safety & advanced drive-assist features

Over the past two decades, the safety features in pickup trucks have come a long way, bringing them at par with the passenger car. Occupants are better protected today with multiple airbags, 3-point seatbelts, ISOFIX points, and more.

Also, part of today’s pickup specs-sheet is Advanced Driver Assist Systems that help the driver reduce damaging effects in case of a collision or avoid an accident altogether. The pickups these days come equipped with radar and cameras that scan the road ahead, an on-board computer analyzes the driving condition and if an accident is predicted the system takes an action automatically.

The D-Max, for instance, alerts the driver if the system predicts a collision. In case the driver fails to take proper action in time, the system applies brakes automatically. So, even if a collision does occur the damage gets reduced, thanks to the reduced speed. Isuzu’s ADAS offers a degree of autonomous motoring with Adaptive Cruise Control that helps maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

For all its amazing safety features the D-Max was able to secure a 5-star safety rating in the independent ASEAN NCAP tests. A task that seemed impossible a few years ago.

All these attributes make today’s pickup trucks on par with the other passenger cars. In some cases, the trucks offer even more features, safety, and performance.

Also Read: Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain: Offers limitless possibilities for women