America is often looked at as the country of pickups, as we have tons of them to choose from, including the Ram lineup, the Ford F-Series, the Chevrolet Silverado, and the GMC Sierra. We also have a handful of midsize pickups to choose from. However, there are still plenty of times that we glance at some of the pickup trucks that are exclusive to other countries and wish they were available here.
We’ve narrowed the list of pickups not available in the U.S. to our 10 favorite. Click Next to View the list.
Ford Ranger
At one point, the Ranger was a part of Ford’s lineup here in the U.S., but it eliminated the pickup after the 2011 model year. In other parts of the world, like the U.K., the Ranger continues to live today, and damn, we wish we had it here.
The U.K.-spec Ranger is not only a stunning midsize pickup, but it also has a pair of diesel engines that are drool inducing. Its base diesel engine is a 2.2-liter four cylinder with 123 horsepower. Optionally, buyers can select a version of the 2.2-liter diesel with 147 horsepower and 276 pound-feet of torque. The range-topping diesel engine is a 3.2-liter five-cylinder that pounds out 197 horses and 347 pound-feet of torque.
VW Aramok
There have been whispers of the Aramok, VW’s resident midsize pickup, possibly making its way to U.S. showrooms, but it has yet to make it here. The Amarok is a surprisingly good-looking pickup truck, plus it is pretty capable thanks to its range of engines.
All three of the Amarok’s available engines are 2.0-liter diesel units. The base engine is a 2.0-liter TDI that produces 138 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque. One step up is a 2.0-liter BiTDI with 177 horses and 295 pound-feet of twist. The range-topping powertrain is a retuned version of the 2.0-liter BiTDI that cranks out 177 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.
Mitsubishi L200
Mitsubishi’s U.S. lineup is pretty bland, as it is nothing but your typical crossovers, an aging sedan, an underwhelming EV, and a hatchback that looks like it belongs in the 1990s. The brand’s U.K. lineup is a little more interesting, as it also features a pickup truck known as the L200 that is pretty impressive.
This midsize pickup features a range of diesel engines that start with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 134 horsepower and 231 pound-feet of torque, and caps off with a 2.4-liter diesel with 178 horses and 317 pound-feet of torque. What’s more, it is also one of the most capable pickups in its class with a towing capacity of up to 6,834 pounds.
Nissan NP300 Navara
Sure, we have the Nissan Frontier here in the U.S., but it is nothing compared to the new NP300 Navara that is available across the pond. There have been rumors that the next-gen Frontier will be a rebadged version of this pickup, but Nissan has shot those down.
It’s too bad that Nissan says this is not the new Frontier, as it is supremely capable. There are two engines that power this midsize pickup, both of which are 2.3-liter diesel four-cylinder units. The standard engine cranks out 161 horsepower and 297 pound-feet of torque, while the optional twin-turbo 2.3-liter diesel pumps out 188 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. These engines and the NP300 Navara’s rugged chassis allow it to tow between 6,636 and 7,716 pounds.
Mazda BT-50
Like Europe, Australia gets a lot of trucks that we will never see in the U.S. One such pickup it the Mazda BT-50. Not since Mazda axed the B-Series pickup (a rebadged Ford Ranger) after the 2009 model year, have we seen a pickup from the Japanese automaker.
The BT-50 would be welcomed by midsize truck lovers in the U.S., thanks to its relatively sporty looks (for a pickup), its range of cab and bed options, and its torque-heavy diesel engines. The latter includes a 2.2-liter four-cylinder that delivers 147 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.2-liter five-cylinder that produces a mighty 197 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of twist. The 3.2-liter powertrain combined with the BT-50’s rugged chassis results in a respectable 7,716-pound towing capacity.
Mercedes-Benz Unimog
While the Unimog may not be a truck you’d see someone cruising the streets of the U.K. in, that doesn’t make it any less awesome. Mercedes-Benz’s do-it-all commercial rig is available in a slew of different versions, ranging from the U 216 with 156 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque to the U 5023 and its 231 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque.
Toyota Hilux
While we do have the Toyota Tacoma here in the U.S., but it is lacking in terms of diesel engine options. The Hilux, on the other hand, has two diesel powerplants available to pick from. The engine options start with the 2.5D that produces 144 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. The range-topping engine is the 3.0D, which injects 171 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of twist.
Both of the engines not only have tons f useful torque, but they also allow the Hilux to tow a decent 6,173 pounds.
Holden Ute
The land down under has a rare breed of vehicle that once roamed the streets of America, and I am talking about half-car, half-truck models known as Utes. While these vehicles may not have the towing and payload capacity of a traditional pickup, they do perform in ways most traditional trucks cannot.
The base Holden Ute comes standard with a 3.6-liter V-6 that delivers 282 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Moving into the Ute SS adds a 6.2-liter V-8 that cranks out 408 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.
Ford Falcon Ute
Like its Holden rival, Ford also has a part-car, part-truck Ute available for Australian consumption. Unlike the Holden Ute, however, the Falcon Ute has an optional cab chassis model that allows the buyer to choose the type of bed the vehicle has.
Powering the Falcon Ute are three available engines. The base engine is a 4.0 liter inline-six unit that delivers 261 horsepower and 288 pound-feet of torque. Optionally, buyers can go for the 4.0-liter ECOLPI LPG engine or the 4.0-liter turbocharged inline-six. The former produces 265 horses and 302 pound-feet of torque, while the latter delivers a mighty 362 horsepower and 393 pound-feet of torque.
Making the Falcon Ute even more impressive is its ability to tow up to 5,071 pounds.
Land Rover Defender Pickup
The Land Rover Defender may look like it is ripped straight from the 1960s, but I assure you this is a 2015 model. What makes it so awesome is the fact that you can actually get this retro-looking, off-road-ready rig in a pickup truck setup.
The base Defender Pickup comes with a 2.2-liter diesel powerplant that produces 121 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. In addition to this torque-heavy four-pot, the Defender Pickup is available in a handful of configurations, including the standard pickup, high-capacity pickup, double-cab pickup, country double-cab pickup, and XS double-cab pickup.
