Most powerful bakkies you can buy in South Africa right now

In a bakkie-loving country like South Africa, it’s not enough to just be a decent off-roader, you need to have the power to stand out from the crowd.

The good news for all you die-hard 4×4 enthusiasts is that there is no shortage of high-powered units to choose from, all with enough horsepower to make your next adventure that much more enjoyable.

This includes the likes of well-known staples like the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, and Ford Ranger, as well as other more recent entries from the likes of Jeep and its Gladiator high-rider, or Mahindra’s increasingly popular line of Pik Up bakkies.

In a few months the rankings are set to be shaken up once more, with the highly anticipated next-generation VW Amarok expected to launch with a choice of no less than five different engines.

There’s even an unusual entry in the works with JAC’s upcoming T9 Hunter that promises to be the first hybrid bakkie in South Africa when it lands in the country at the end of the year.

Peak performance

Below is a list of the most powerful double cab bakkies you can currently find on the market from every major automaker in South Africa.

Click on the underlined prices for more information.

Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 Raptor 4WD

• Power – 292kW/583Nm
• Starting price – R1,094,900

Jeep Gladiator 3.6 Rubicon

• Power – 209kW/347Nm
• Starting price – R1,329,900

VW Amarok 3.0 V6 TDI Highline 4Motion

• Power – 190kW/580Nm
• Starting price – R1,025,100

Toyota Hilux 4.0 V6 4×4 Legend

• Power – 175kW/376Nm
• Starting price – R849,200

Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi LE auto

• Power – 140kW/450Nm
• Starting price – R661,500

Isuzu D-Max 3.0TD LS 4×4 manual

• Power – 140kW/450Nm
• Starting price – R696,400

Mazda BT-50 3.0TD Dynamic

• Power – 140kW/450Nm
• Starting price – R782,400

Mitsubishi Triton 2.4DI-D

• Power – 133kW/430Nm
• Starting price – R599,990

GWM P-Series 2.0TD SX

• Power – 120kW/400Nm
• Starting price – R435,950

Peugeot Landtrek 1.9TD Allure

• Power – 110kW/350Nm
• Starting price – R599,900

JAC T8 2.0CTi Lux

• Power – 104kW/320Nm
• Starting price – R449,900

Mahindra Pik Up 2.2CRDe S6

• Power – 103kW/320Nm
• Starting price – R389,999