http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/ca...100000/=11px*213=11px*8=11px*4=11px*226**Most powerful trucks under RM100,000*
February 13, 2014*
So without further ado, here comes the list.*FEATURE*
By: Caitlyn Ng
Let’s roll out!If you’re looking to buy a vehicle that has enough power to haul you as well as your significant other / your family members / your bunch of rowdy friends / an entire houseful of stuff but only have a limited budget, fret not! This writer at SaveMoney.my decided to take a look at a range of pick-up trucks in the market that is powerful but still under RM100,000 to give all the readers out there a glimmer of hope that all is not lost! How does one determine the level of “power”? By taking the horsepower (hp) of the vehicle, of course!For the uninitiated out there, horsepower is defined as “the power an engine produces where in mathematical terms, one horsepower is the power needed to move 550 pounds one foot in one second, or the power needed to move 33,000 pounds one foot in one minute”. So without further ado, here comes the list.Disclaimer: The following prices are all taken from the respective vehicle’s official websites, as well as their specifications. In addition, they are arranged according to their horsepower capabilities.1) Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.5L (142 hp)a. Manual Non-Metallic OTR retail price without insurance: RM91,656.70b. Automatic Non-Metallic OTR retail price without insurance: RM96,526.70Toyota has combined the words “rugged” and “sleek” (two opposing ends of the spectrum indeed!) to come up with the Hilux, touted as the number one best selling pick-up truck in Malaysia, according to the “Pick-up Segment” of the Malaysian Automotive Association. The high-powered engine is able to deliver better fuel economy and cleaner emissions thanks to what is known as the “Variable Nozzle Turbo” (VNT) where its nozzle vanes are optimally adjusted according to driving conditions & demand. With a price tag of RM91,656.70 for the manual transmission and RM96,526.70 for the automatic transmission, you’ll be getting what you paid for!Kiichiro Toyoda, born in 1894 to the famous inventor and entrepreneur Sakichi Toyoda, was the driving force behind what is now the Toyota Motor Corporation. In July 1935, the first batch of vehicles were made and by 1936, the name was changed to the well-known “Toyota” of today as Mr Toyodo himself believed it would be easier to pronounce; the rapid gaining of success led to the establishment of the Toyota Motor Corporation in 1937
.2) Mazda BT-50 Double Cab 2.5L (147 hp)a. Manual OTR retail price without insurance: RM83,169.20b. Automatic OTR retail price without insurance: RM88,169.20With its good looks and sporty aura, you wouldn’t have known that this pick-up truck has a powerful yet fuel-efficient turbo diesel engine under its hood. The Mazda BT-50 also comes with the added benefits of low emissions and quiet operations. Bumping your way through the beaten off-road track isn’t a problem anymore with the refined and proven suspension system layout. It comes with a price tag of RM83,169.20 for the manual transmission type or RM88,169.20 for the automatic transmission type.Based in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda Motor Corporation had its humble beginnings as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co. Ltd in 1920 but officially adopted the name “Mazda” in 1984 after making the switch from manufacturing machine tools to vehicles in 1931. Now a major name to be reckoned with in the automotive world, Mazda Corporation is now commanding sales of approximately RM82 billion, according to Forbes
.3) Ford Ranger 2.2L XLT (147 hp)a. Manual OTR retail price without insurance: RM88,883.50b. Automatic OTR retail price without insurance: RM94,473.10The Ford Ranger’s motto is “Built Tough” and taking a peek at this muscle truck will not leave much room for doubt! Touted by Ford themselves as a “no-nonsense pick-up truck backed by a powerful, yet fuel-efficient, engine”, it packs a diesel engine that delivers 147hp and a fuel consumption that can be as low as 8.1L / 100km. With a price tag of RM88,883.50 for the manual transmission type or RM94,473.10 for the automatic transmission type, you’d be getting a truck that not only packs a punch on the road but also has superb towing abilities and an impressive payload capacity.Founded in June 1903 by Henry Ford, the automaker is based in Michigan, Detroit. The company was first established in Malaysia (then Malaya) in 1926 and began its assembly operations in Singapore four years later. It was only in 1972 that the Ford Motor Company of Malaya was incorporated. Fast forward to modern day and you have a group of various automotive brands, including well-known names such as Mazda, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Volvo
.4) Nissan Navara Double Cab 2.5L (172 hp)a. Manual OTR retail price without insurance: RM89,834.20b. Automatic OTR retail price without insurance: RM89,934.20Introducing the Nissan Navara that is known to blaze through trails or whatever obstacles might have the misfortune of lying in its path. Packed with a 16-valve diesel engine featuring a turbo charge with Variable Nozzle Turbine (VNT) and intercooler, you’d be powering along in this 172hp truck. With safety features such as Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Dual Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) Airbags, I do think there’s little that can stand in the way of this “monster” truck! Falling below the RM100,00 budget, the manual transmission comes in at RM89,834.20 whereas the automatic transmission comes in at RM89,934.20.Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. was first founded in 1934 by Yoshisuke Aikawa and has its headquarters in Yokohama, Japan. With a few brands under its company (Datsun and Infiniti), they entered into a “first of its kind” alliance with Renault S.A. of France, creating the unique blend of Japanese and French cultures.
5) Mitsubishi Triton VGT GL 2.5L (176 hp)Automatic OTR retail price without insurance: RM99,617.60Rounding up this list of “almighty, all powerful vehicles” is the Mitsubishi Triton VGT which comes in the double cab variant and has the similar benefits of an engine that has better fuel efficiency as well as reduced emissions, thanks to the “Common Rail fuel system”. The Triton derives its 176 hp power from not only the engine but also the intercooler that’s placed in front of the radiator which allows for more complete combustion and greater power. And if that’s not all, the price you pay of RM99,617.60, the truck also comes with “Easy Select 4WD” which allows the driver to switch effortlessly between 2WD highway performance and 4WD off-road traction.The Mitsubishi Group brand can trace its origins back to the 1870s when the founder, Yataro Iwasaki, started a shipping firm with three aging steamships. However, the original Mitsubishi organization was disbanded after World War 2 to become the independent companies of today. The Malaysian branch was established in January 2005, and Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Sdn Bhd is the exclusive distributor of Mitsubishi Motors passenger cars in Malaysia.
Caitlyn Ng is an Investigative Journalist of*SaveMoney.my, an online consumer advice portal which aims to help Malaysians save money through smart (and most of the time painless) savings in their daily banking, technology, and lifestyle spending habits