The Toyota Hilux is perhaps the de-facto pick-up truck in Malaysia. The default option for both lifestyle buyers and construction workers is the Toyota Hilux, as its reputation was built over the years it was sold locally and globally.

Quick summary comparing the Toyota Hilux against some of its main rivals

The Toyota Hilux, for all intends and purposes, does its job as a workhorse really well. In the event that it needs any form of repairs or servicing, Toyota’s wide network of service centres can attend to owners quickly.

Apart from that, the Toyota Hilux also features a reasonably practical interior, even offering a chilled compartment located above the glovebox. The Hilux’s cabin also features a number of cubby holes to store various small items.

On paper, the Hilux’s 2.8-litre turbodiesel may seem like the least powerful of the bunch, but in real-world driving conditions, the diesel mill provided sufficient grunt for day-to-day conditions.

Although power output is sufficient, we do wish that cabin refinement was better as engine noise is rather noticeable at speeds.

As for the Mitsubishi Triton 2019, this model was introduced earlier this year, making it one of the newest options around.

Priced from RM 135,200, the Mitsubishi Triton 2019 is also the cheapest pick-up truck in this comparison.

Further adding value to the Mitsubishi Triton 2019 is its 5-year/200,000 km warranty, way ahead of the Hilux (5-year/150,000 km) and Ford Ranger (3-year/100,000 km), proving that Mitsubishi is confident with the Triton.

Longest warranty aside, the Mitsubishi Triton 2019 also offers the best ride comfort in the pick-up segment, thanks to its angled rear seats and well-tuned suspension set-up.

Despite that, the touchscreen infotainment system in the Mitsubishi Triton 2019 is a bit of a letdown, as the display’s resolution is low when compared to the Sync 3 system found in the Ranger. At least the availability of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay redeems the system, somewhat.

Behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi Triton 2019, we noticed that it does not feel as eager to accelerate like its predecessor model, despite featuring a 6-speed automatic (old model had a 5-speed automatic).

Whilst climbing steep hills, we also noticed that the gear ratios to be rather poorly-matched, as the transmission was changing between the second and third gear too frequently as neither ratios were suitable.

Last but certainly not the least is the Ford Ranger, also another popular pick-up truck in Malaysia.

Part of the reason why the Ford Ranger is so popular is because the Ranger practically redefined how people perceived pick-up trucks. In the past, pick-up trucks were seen as workhorses, carrying construction tools and workers.

However, with the introduction of the T6-generation Ranger, Ford changed the public’s perception that a pick-up truck is also suitable as a lifestyle vehicle, owing to its excellent ride and handling performance.

In its Wildtrak guise, the Ranger is the most powerful of the bunch, offering 213 PS and 500 Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The Ranger’s cabin is also a really pleasant place to be in, as Ford has fitted its Sync 3 infotainment system here, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Despite that, the Ranger’s warranty period is the shortest among the pick-up trucks compared here as Sime-Darby Auto Connexion is only offering a 3-year/100,000 km warranty.

Apart from its rather short warranty, the Ranger’s manual shifting buttons are placed on the gear lever, much like the Fiesta and Focus, making it less intuitive to change gears manually than paddle shifters.

Conclusion

In short, all three options are excellent choices.

For those seeking outright performance, then the Ford Ranger Wildtrak should be shortlisted as no other pick-up truck offer this level of performance.

However, if the Ranger Wildtrak is a bit too tame for you liking, perhaps the more extreme Ranger Raptor should be considered instead, assuming you can stomach the RM 200,000 price tag.

For the rest of the consumers, it is largely a toss between the Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton 2019. Both are good choices but ultimately the decision depends on whether you have a Toyota or Mitsubishi service centre near you.