New pick-up trucks for 2026

What a year for pick-up trucks 2025 was, with two major shifts in what has been a relatively stable and predictable sector. 

Once upon a time Ranger Raptors and high spec Amaroks were the most in demand trucks, but the electrification and a punitive tax on double cab pick-ups have totally torn up the playbook. 

What will 2026 have in store? Let’s take a look at the new pick-up truck models we expect to hit the market in 2026. 

Mitsubishi L200

A firm favourite is back, the Mitsubishi L200 will return after a six year absence when the Japanese manufacturer pulled out of Europe.

Thankfully that didn’t mean they’d put the product development on hold, so the Mitsubishi L200 we’ll see around the Spring time is an all-new platform and the seventh generation. There’s a teaser picture of it above.

Unlike the competition, there’s also no sign of it being electrified. It will use a 2.4-litre twin turbo diesel, and gets the most advanced set of safety and tech features to ever feature on an L200 truck. 

Isuzu D-Max EV

Perhaps the biggest noise made last year came from an electric truck. The Isuzu D-Max EV was the least surprising surprise of Birmingham’s CV Show back in April, but its planned arrival caused quite a stir.

With claims of over one tonne payload, a 3.5 tonne towing capacity and a proper range of more than 250km, the electric D-Max is promising a lot. 

Will it deliver? We’ll have to wait until the second half of the year to find out. 

KGM Musso EV

Just like buses, no sooner does one electric pick-up arrive; there’s another right behind it. 

Formerly known as SsangYong, the KGM Musso EV was conspicuous in its absence at the April CV Show due to some logistical issues. 

That didn’t stop them talking about it and some early demo vehicles have even been doing the rounds too. 

It gets proper four-wheel-drive, and a range of around 300 miles is expected. 

Toyota Hilux BEV

Just how many of these buses are actually going to turn up, all at once?

Just when we thought Toyota were keeping their nose out of the electric truck race, they pull a surprise, launching a fully electric Hilux. 

The Toyota Hilux BEV follows in the footsteps of the hydrogen fuel cell Hilux pick-up with a distinctly fleet focused truck. 

Critics will point out the low payload, the small battery and the reduced towing. 

Toyota will tell you this is every inch a Hilux, and in our Hilux BEV review we’re inclined to agree. This is a truck that’s not messing about. We can expect to see more of it in the second half of the year. 

Ford Ranger PHEV trims 

Plug-in hybrids are the future, or at least they are for Ranger fans.

The 2-litre engine has been discontinued, and when it comes to double cabs you’ll be paying a lot more in fuel (and maybe BIK if it’s a company vehicle, thanks to the double cab pickup tax rule change) for your V6 diesel Ranger, so a Ranger PHEV poses a sensible option for anyone looking to cut their running costs or reduce their tax bill. 

Ford launched the Ranger PHEV with a limited edition Stormtrak, but then added a Ranger PHEV Wildtrak trim and XLT as the main models. 

Inevitably, though, Ford added more models, confirming that the MS-RT (pictured) spec would also be available on PHEV Ranger and that the Platinum trim level would be added to the Hybrid range. 

That’s pretty much covered off most of the options, but don’t rule out more focused models like the Ranger Tremor, getting the PHEV driveline too. 

Ford will also probably have a few surprises up its sleeve for the Ranger, so while we’re unlikely to see a fully electric Ranger BEV, or an E-Ranger, we wouldn’t rule out the possibility of some upgrades… Ranger with air suspension, anyone?

Maxus eTerron 9 Utility 

The Maxus eTerron 9 has sort of flown under the radar, perhaps due to the rather niche customer likely to buy a £50k+ fully electric pick-up truck that isn’t VAT redeemable. 

The limited payload of the eTerron 9 means it’s in the same boat as the Ranger Raptor, albeit without the massive cult following. 

The plan was always for there to be a workhorse version of the electric truck to succeed the Maxus T90EV. Whether or not 2026 is the year we see a full Utility specification for the eTerron 9, we’ll have to wait and see, but if not there’ll undoubtedly be another all electric pick-up waiting in the wings, perhaps based on the Maxus T60 instead. 

Any other business?

Well… Having driving a couple of Foton pick-up trucks at the International Pick-Up Award test day, I would be surprised if someone doesn’t snap up the rights to import the basic one-tonne Foton V7, or for the really ambitious the more Ram-like Foton V9. 

There’s also always a possibility of more Chinese models coming and BYD has long threatened a van entry for all of Europe. Could they also bring the BYD Shark with them?

GAC are making headway in Europe and a completely new model based on the Pickup 01 concept could be a thing for Europe. Chery has recently launched in the UK, and there’s a Chery Hilma pick-up that looks like it could give a Hilux a bloody nose if it wanted to. 

Outside bets…

And what about Kia? The Kia PV5 has been grabbing the headlines, but the Kia Tasman is also produced out of the same plant. Could that be another string to Kia’s van ambitions?

Finally, could 2026 be the year the Tesla Cybertruck makes it to the UK? Plenty of people have been trying to get import models Type Approved, but so far there’s no chance of the truck actually being on the road any time soon.