All the Mid-Size trucks sold in Chile

"Probenja" (probenja) 01/10/2018 at 09:44 • Filed to: Trucks, Chile

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With all this truck talk for 2018, for my first oppo post I wanted to have a proper informative post, so here we go:

Here in Chile we love trucks, they have 16% marketshare of the light vehicle segment, and the best selling car in 2017 was the Mitsubishi L200 (Triton). Most brands offer pickup trucks and the most popular segment is the double cab mid-size pick up. And because we have about 55 car brands there is a LOT of competition, so to give a little bit of an insight of the Chilean car market, here is a pretty long list of all the mid-size trucks that you can get, ordered from best to worse selling:

Mitsubishi L200/Fiat Fullback/RAM 1200:

Engine: 2.4L Diesel 152-178 hp / 380-430 nm

Transmission: 6MT / 5AT

As I said before, the L200 is the best selling truck, it’s a good value and very reliable so fleets really love them. Fiat also decided to bring the Fullback to try and steal some sales but just a few days ago FCA decided that they wanted to sell all of their commercial vehicles under the RAM brand so now the Fullback was renamed to RAM 1200 for some reason.

Toyota Hilux:

Engines: 2.7L GAS 163 hp / 245 NM

2.4L Diesel 148 hp / 400 NM

2.8L Diesel 178 hp / 420 NM

Transmission: 5MT / 6MT / 6AT

The Hilux is famous worldwide for its reliability and great resale value , sadly Toyota also realized that and raised the prices so it’s no longer a cheap work truck and some trims compete with the full size trucks, still though it’s the best selling vehicle in neighboring Argentina where it’s built.

Nissan NP300/Renault Alaskan/Mercedes Benz X-Class:

Engines: 2.5L GAS 166 hp / 241 NM

2.3L Diesel 158 hp / 403 NM

Transmission: 6MT / 7AT

A trio of trucks, for many years the old D22 Frontier was the best selling truck in Chile so much that they kept selling it all the way untill 2014! The later D40 and now D23 were more expensive so it’s no longer the segment leader although it’s still a popular choice. Sister company Renault also wanted some sales so they released the Alaskan with a more “upmarket” approach and the new Mercedes Benz X-Class is coming soon.

Ssangyong Actyon Sports:

Engine: 2.2L Diesel 178 hp / 400 NM

Transmission: 6MT / 6AT

You might be surprised to find a Ssangyong in the best selling list of anything but Korean cars do very well in Chile so it’s not a surprise that a Korean truck would have a lot of appeal, it’s also cheaper than the Japanese competition and more “car like” because it’s based on the Rexton SUV.

Chevrolet D-MAX:

Engine: 2.5L Diesel 163 hp / 400 NM

Transmission: 6MT / 6AT

You might have heard of the Isuzu D-MAX, the same truck is sold here with a golden bowtie. Chevrolet is constantly fighting for the top spot of the best selling brand in Chile, the D-Max and previously the LUV were actually assembled in Chile all the way untill 2008, being the last car manufacturing plant in the country, so it’s no wonder why there is a lot of people that hold Chevrolet close to their hearts. As for why we don’t get the Colorado or the Brazilian made S-10 which are already sold as Chevrolet my guess is that the D-MAX brand has more recognition.

Ford Ranger/Mazda BT-50:

Engines: 2.5L GAS 164 hp / 225 NM

2.2L Diesel 147 hp / 375 NM

3.2L I5 Diesel 197 hp / 470 NM

Transmission: 5MT / 6MT / 6AT

The Ranger unlike in other countries has been selling non-stop alongside it’s sister the Mazda B-Series since the 80's, the latest gen has probably the best “big truck feel” in the segment, also the only one with a 5 cylinder engine which is pretty cool.

Volkswagen Amarok:

Engines: 2.0L Diesel 180 hp / 400-420 NM

3.0L V6 Diesel 224 hp / 550 NM

Transmission: 6MT / 8AT

The Amarok is a recent nameplate, although VW did have a truck before it, the little Saveiro, the Amarok appeals more for lifestyle than work as it’s 2.0L TDI engine has raised some reliability concerns so you don’t usually see them working. It also it looks very cool.

Mahindra Pik Up/Tata Xenon:

Engines: 2.2L Diesel 120 hp / 270 NM (Mahindra)

2.2L Diesel 150 hp / 320 NM (TATA)

Transmission: 5MT

I’m gonna pair both trucks as they both are from India and have the same philosophy: slow, cheap, awful build quality, poorly equipped but usually very reliable. Basically the opposite of the VW above. It’s the perfect work truck as you have a loud tractory diesel engine and a rugged frame that can carry quite a lot of stuff and 4x4 versions which are very capable off road. Still wouldn’t like to be in a crash in one of them.

Chinese Trucks:

Engines: (worst and best)

2.2L GAS 98 hp / 180 NM (Great Wall)

2.8L “Cummins” Diesel 178 hp / 360 NM (Foton)

Transmission: 5MT

Chile was one of the first countries to open the floodgates for Chinese cars back in 2006 and since then we had terrible cars and some surprising ones. Even some like Great Wall have been succesful on consolidating their “Wingle” line of trucks as a cheap and reliable alternative to something like a used truck, other brands have completly failed and dropped from the market because their trucks were terrible quality and some even came rusty from the factory! Right now there are 5 main lines of trucks from Maxus (LDV), Foton, ZNA (Nissan), JAC and Great Wall.

Honda Ridgeline:

Engine: 3.5L V6 GAS 280 HP / 350 NM

Transmission: 6AT

The Ridgeline has sold pretty well for what it is in both generations although it wasn’t the first unibody truck sold here, the Subaru Baja also was available only having being sold in 2 other countries: USA and Canada.

not for canada - australian in disguise > Probenja 01/16/2018 at 09:47

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That Ram 1200 is interesting.

Now that GM’s got the Canyonrado, and Ford’s got the Ranger, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Ram inroduced their own midsize truck. The 1200 seems like a good candidate IMO. I like the Toro that South America get as well, but it seems like it would be too small to be a serious Ranger/Colorado/Canyon competitor. Maybe it would go well up against the supposedly upcoming Hyundai truck, which people say is going to be based off the future Tucson.

Cé hé sin > Probenja 01/16/2018 at 09:52

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I’m guessing (given the Chinese and Indian brands) that Chile isn’t too fussed over crash standards?

duurtlang > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/16/2018 at 09:52

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They’d have to change the look though. That Mitsubishi-based Ram 1200 looks too much like a work vehicle. Especially compared to that chrome penis extension next to it in your picture.

not for canada - australian in disguise > duurtlang 01/16/2018 at 09:54

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Definitely, they could probably do what GM did with the Colorado/Canyon.

Same truck, different markets, different styling.

Probenja > Cé hé sin 01/16/2018 at 09:59

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Yes, sadly safety it’s not a priority, although since 2017 all cars must have 2 airbags but because trucks classify as commercial vehicles they don’t even need to have airbags!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Probenja 01/16/2018 at 10:05

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That Amarok is seriously good looking, if they could put a reliable gas engine in it, it would sell here in the US. This is what VW needs to be doing rather then making a “sport coupe” version of their big SUV. Bonus points if they could stretch it and. get a 6 foot bed on it.

BigBlock440 > Probenja 01/16/2018 at 10:08

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You might be surprised to find a Ssangyong in the best selling list of anything but Korean cars

I thought Ssangyong was Chinese?

Probenja > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/16/2018 at 10:14

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Funnily enough there was an Amarok XXL although it was only a concept or sold in very limited numbers:

Probenja > BigBlock440 01/16/2018 at 10:18

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It’s always been Korean although now Mahindra (India) owns 70% of the company. Even their Korando SUV means “Korea can do”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SsangYong_Motor

duurtlang > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/16/2018 at 10:25

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Looking at their German website the Amarok is available with a number of different diesel engines (because work truck), but no gasoline engines. Wikipedia tells me there’s a 2.0 TSI available in certain markets. I guess the US market requires a larger displacement lower tech engine?

punkgoose17 > Probenja 01/16/2018 at 10:26

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Great Article

The Mahindra is a great looking truck, too bad they are horrible quality and unsafe. The Ranger is great looking too.

The Ssangyong is still horrific to look at.

It is nice to see the Foton. They got an updated grill since I worked at Cummins. I did not here nice things about the truck from the engineers that tried it out.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Probenja 01/16/2018 at 10:29

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Ahh that look better. I think the biggest difference about the US truck market is bed length. Although with crew cab truck functioning more and more as family sedans people are warming up to the idea of a shorter bed, and the smaller turning radious that comes with it. But more trucks have either a 6 or 6.5 bed and the option of an 8 foot bed as well.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > duurtlang 01/16/2018 at 10:30

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Yeah anything less than a 300hp 5 or 6 cylinder would be a though sell, I think. Unless it got over 25mpg.

BigBlock440 > Probenja 01/16/2018 at 10:35

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I guess I thought wrong.

LostAndStuck > Probenja 01/16/2018 at 12:43

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We in the Netherlands actually can get an extended bed (31cm longer than standard on the Amarok). That way it can be registered as a commercial vehicle with the back seat.

Mach-inator > Probenja 01/16/2018 at 12:46

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Not a mid-size, but if the Chevy Montana was sold in the States, I’d buy it in a heartbeat.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Probenja 01/16/2018 at 16:22

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Australia has pretty much the same range right down to the Chinese and Indian marquees. The only exception is the Ridgeline. That’s a nope.

Plus we get the D-Max as an Izuzu (with an Izuzu engine) while Holden has the Colorado (with a GM Duramax diesel engine).

Still to come is the body on frame Hyundai and Kia ute (2019/20) and, of course, the X Class and Alaskan (this year).

Engine wise its almost universally diesel. If any of the range have petrol engines then it’ll typically be only the base 4x2 cab chassis version.

Our vehicle safety requirements are relatively rigorous too - front airbags and stability control are mandatory fitments. Most of the utes are 5 star in Euro/ANCAP crash ratings (otherwise they won’t get fleet sales) though the Great Wall and Mahindra vehicles are typically 3 star.

In terms of 2017 sales, Hilux was on top with 47,093 followed by Ranger with 42,728 (and these were first and second in the overall top selling vehicles) with Triton third (and 10th overall) at 23,605. The sales figures also represent sales growth from last year of 11.8, 15.7 and 7.8% respectively.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Mach-inator 01/16/2018 at 16:46

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I honestly think if they brought over the Montana with a base MSRP of around $15k and positioned it as an entry-level car rather than a truck, they would sell plenty of them. In fact they could probably just get rid of the Spark and maybe even Sonic and sell the Montana instead and sell more of them than they do of those now. Kind of like how by the end of it’s run the base model Ranger was targeted at new graduates as a cheap reliable first car alternative to something used rather than marketed as a truck. I know people who bought 4-cylinder 2WD Rangers back around 2010 just because for $13k or less after incentives it was a more interesting, powerful, and useful vehicle than other things at that price like a Versa or Accent.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Probenja 01/17/2018 at 05:52

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out of all those, i’d take the Ford Ranger 3.2L manual