Toyota Hilux vs Ford Ranger vs Isuzu D-Max – Big 3 bakkie showdown

Bakkies are the best-selling vehicle type in South Africa, and have been for quite some time, with the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger regularly vying for the top, and the Isuzu D-Max continuing to argue its case through sales performance.

Last month, Toyota sold 2,488 Hilux units, while Ford sold 2,073 Rangers, and Isuzu shipped 1,009 D-Max units.

This is the regular order for the top three when it comes to local bakkie sales; however, in March, Isuzu claimed second place, selling over 3,000 D-Max units, Toyota sold an incredible 4,118 Hilux units, and Ford shipped 2,074 Rangers.

All three bakkies tend to find themselves on the list of best-selling used vehicles in South Africa as well, yet this is often where the Ranger shines.

2026 has been a big year for all three brands, not only in terms of sales figures, but also when looking at what they have to offer the local market.

Ford, followed by Isuzu, and ultimately Toyota, all opted to refresh their local bakkie line-ups, with each launching either new models or powertrain options.

In April, Ford completely refreshed its bakkie line-up in South Africa and introduced a new engine option with the 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol motor for the very first time.

Earlier this month, Isuzu followed suit, updating the local D-Max range, adding six new derivatives and improving the engine selection.

The last to update its offerings is Toyota, whose next-generation Hilux has been unveiled, with pricing and specifications already confirmed, though the official launch has yet to arrive.

All three bakkie builders have taken the opportunity to update their powertrain configurations, with some new options being introduced and outdated ones removed.

Thanks to the new models, Toyota now has 24 distinct Hilux bakkies on offer, while Ford sells 23 different Ranger configurations, and Isuzu takes the cake with a whopping 33 different D-Max models.

How the new trio compares

The refreshed line-ups are likely to serve each brand’s bakkie buyers for some time, considering these updates haven’t come along too often in recent years.

That being said, TopAuto had a look at how each of the new ranges compares to the others in the categories that matter most to South Africa’s bakkie owners.

Below is a table comparing the entry-level model from each bakkie maker. Click on their underlined prices to learn more about each offering.

Comparing each brand’s new bakkies wouldn’t be fair without looking at their top-of-the-range offerings alongside their entry-level models.

That being said, Toyota is the only one of the three to introduce a new top-spec model with the new Hilux Legend, while Ford’s Ranger Raptor and Isuzu’s D-Max Arctic Truck remain untouched.

Below, TopAuto compared the best models in each brand’s refreshed stable. Click on their underlined prices to learn more.

While it remains to be seen if the big three continue to update their line-ups – including introducing new energy vehicle (NEV) options – they continue to offer some of the widest ranges in the local automotive sector.

It must be noted that older models may also be phased out as new offerings arrive, with Ford already streamlining its offering by dropping some of its more entry-level Ranger models.

2026 Ford Ranger

2026 Isuzu D-Max

2026 Toyota Hilux