For the established brands, there will be a host of new models available to farmers in 2016, with claims of better economy and improved comfort, two of the issues that have been a concern to 4x4 owners in the past.
Fiat, Jeep, Mercedes Benz and Renault are among the brands to offer new 4x4 pick-ups. Here, we look at some of the upgraded models for 2016 and give a glimpse of the new ones that are on the way.
Jeep and Fiat join the pick-up movement
Jeep, now owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), has announced that it will produce a Jeep Wrangler-based pick-up in the near future. A pick-up has been sought by Jeep fans since the Gladiator concept was shown in 2005.
It is still not known if the pick-up will be Gladiator-based, as this was built on a Dodge Ram chassis. It will have a Fiat Powertrain diesel engine.
With Fiat in control, the arrival of a pick-up in single and twin-cab versions will help the Jeep brand meet the new pick-up competition, which very soon will include Mercedes Benz.
At the European Fiat end, it is offering a new pick-up based on the Mitsubishi L200. Called the Fiat Fullback, it has all the L200 features including the economical 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine, finished off with Fiat badging.
Tougher new Ford Ranger on the way
Ford has introduced a tougher and smarter looking Ford Ranger 4x4 pick-up for 2016. The new Ranger claims 17% greater fuel efficiency. Entry prices start from €27,395 including VAT.
The 2.2-litre and 3.2-litre engines have been improved, according to Ford. The power output from the 2.2-litre jumps from 125bhp to 130bhp, while the five-cylinder 3.2-litre unit goes from 150bhp to 160bhp. Both six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available, and customers can select four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive variants. Wildtrak models feature four-wheel drive as standard.
Ford claims that the Ranger remains one of the most capable pick-ups in its class. It has a class-leading ability to wade through water up to 800mm deep and 230mm of ground clearance.
This latest Ranger comes with new technology to help drivers stay connected and in control, including Ford’s voice-activated SYNC 2 connectivity system, which features an 8in touchscreen with colour-coded corners for easy menu navigation. It has an array of driver assistance technology options including lane-keeping alert and lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control with forward alert, front and rear park assist, rear-view camera, and a standard electronic stability control system with rollover mitigation and trailer sway control.
Other technology changes include hill launch assist, which helps drivers confidently start off from a slope, whether in forward or reverse. There is also hill descent control fitted, which uses the traction control system to help when descending steep slopes at a constant speed.
Nissan launches new 2016 Navara pick-up
Nissan claims that its new Nissan NP300 Navara 4x4 pick-up sets a benchmark in the 1t pick-up sector. The new pick-up was seen for the first time in Europe at last year’s National Ploughing Championships.
It comes with a new 2.3-litre dCi engine, which Nissan claims is up to 24% more efficient than the unit it replaces. It claims that the engine is the cleanest and most economical in its sector. Prices start from €33,250, including VAT, for the 160bhp entry version.
This engine will be available with two power output options, 160bhp (118kW) and 190bhp (140kW). The top power model has twin turbo-charging technology and is claimed to deliver low running costs, coupled with reduced CO2 emissions. There will be the choice of two- or four-wheel drive and the option of a standard six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
Nissan claims that the new Navara has improved comfort and refinement. It has designed a new five-link rear suspension system for the double-cab model, which it claims provides significantly improved ride comfort and improved handling. The system is 20kg lighter than the previous leaf-spring layout.
The new NP300 Navara will come with an array of new in-car technology, as well as some new safety and convenience features. These include cruise control, hill descent control and hill start assist, as well as keyless entry, rear camera and parking sensors.
Nissan claims that the NP300 Navara’s load-carrying and towing ability across the range is improved. The payload ratings are now in excess of 1t across the range and it has a towing capacity of 3,500kg.
The new double cab’s load bed is 67mm longer than the previous model, with a sector-best length of 1,578mm. The load bed itself can be fitted with Nissan’s C-channel load system.
Mitsubishi has new L200 4x4 pick-up
The fifth-generation Mitsubishi L200 4x4 pick-up is here. This latest model is available in both 2.4-litre intense manual and intense auto versions, with a fleet version due to follow later in 2016.
The price for the new L200 double-cab models will remain close to previous generations and competitive, starting at €32,750 for the manual and €35,950 for the automatic version, including VAT.
The L200 comes with a new 2.4- litre MIVEC turbo-charged diesel engine and an improvement in CO2 emissions of 173g/km (down from 204g/km on the current manual transmission model) and 189g/km (down from 225g/km on the current auto version). The new engine generates 181bhp and 430Nm of torque at low engine RPM.
The new L200 claims a 17% improvement in fuel consumption due to a low compression ratio and a 30kg lighter engine. Mitsubishi also claims that the new exterior design contributes to increased fuel efficiency. Bed length has been increased by 15mm and cargo bed height has increased by 15mm.
The twin cab has increased room with +20mm on interior length and +10mm shoulder room. The new L200 provides a quicker steering gear ratio than before and maintains a class-leading turning radius of 5.9m from its predecessor.
Maintenance costs will be lower with the new L200 as the oil change interval has been increased from 15,000km to 20,000km and coolant change intervals go from 60,000km to 180,000km. A five-year warranty is available for the L200.
New from Mercedes Benz, Renault, Dacia and SAIC
Mercedes Benz will be offering its first pick-up from a premium manufacturer in the coming years. The company believes that the versatility, all-round utility and payload of around 1t pickups make them popular across the world, with good sales potential.
The pick-up will be based on the Nissan Navara design, with Mercedes Benz bodywork. It will initially target markets in Latin America, South Africa, Australia and Europe, all of which are showing sustained growth in pick-up sales.
Renault recently showed its Alaskan Concept 4x4 pick-up, based strongly on the design of the new Navara. This new model will share all of the features of the new Navara. The new 1t Renault pick-up model will be unveiled in the first half of 2016, but it’s not certain that it will be available on the Irish market.
Renault’s Dacia brand has announced that it will be offering the new Duster Oroch pick-up for the South American market. This is a slightly smaller 4x4 pick-up using a mix of Renault and Nissan technology.
SAIC LDV Maxus, which introduced a new range of panel vans to Ireland in the past week, announced that it will have a new 1t 4x4 pick-up for the Irish and European market for 2017/2018. The market entry unit will be powered by a new 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine. SAIC claims that it will be slightly bigger than the current generation Toyota Hilux and it will be price-competitive.
Preparing a crewcab 4x4 for the DOE test