Toyota Hilux £20,423

The Toyota Hilux has been shifting loads for 52 years and its latest incarnation lives up to that workhorse reputation, says Ed Coles.

- Ed Coles

When you think of a pickup truck, the Hilux is probably one of the first to spring to mind. It’s been around in various forms since 1968 and, over the years, it’s proved itself to be a formidable off-road vehicle, popular with farmers and keepers.

The Hilux comes in several guises, but it’s safe to call this the proper workhorse version or, to give it its official name, Hilux Active Wide Body Single Cab.

My first impression is that I could have done with this at the start of the season. It’s a pretty big beast and there’s something a bit retro about the black 17in steel wheels. I like the colour too. Despite its workhorse nature, the overall silhouette is rather pleasing for a pickup. Admittedly, it’s not an Aston Martin, but it still looks sleek and by no means offensive on the eye.

It looks fit for purpose and viewing from front to back, you won’t have to worry about ground clearance — 227mm to be precise. It’s more than enough to deal with all that the British countryside has to offer.

“Admittedly, it’s not an Aston Martin, but it still looks sleek and by no means offensive”

It’s time to pull out my trusty feed bag and explore underneath. At the back, it all looks industry-standard: ladder chassis, solid, lockable rear riff powering the rear wheels, and hefty leaf springs cushioning the load. It’s not overly glamorous underneath, but it has the right amount of everything that we need. Perhaps it’s slightly agricultural, with only a hint of the new-fangled. Minding my head on the robust tow bar, I’ll go in for a bit more of an exploration.