Off-Limits To U.S. Drivers
Pickup trucks are a staple in the U.S., but not every model made it across the border. While American drivers got numerous pickup truck models, plenty of unique designs stayed locked to their home markets. Some were practical workhorses, others leaned stylish or experimental, and a few just didn’t fit U.S. regulations. The result? An entire lineup of trucks Americans never had the chance to drive. So, here are 20 pickups that never made it stateside.
1. Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Series
Since 1984, the Toyota’s Land Cruiser 70 Series has built an unshakable reputation for toughness, especially in its 79 Series pickup form. Its Australian models feature a powerful 4.5L turbo-diesel V8, whereas African markets continue with six-cylinder engines.
2. Volkswagen Amarok
Despite its compelling presence in global markets, Volkswagen's latest Amarok—named for the mythological Inuit wolf—remains tantalizingly beyond reach for American buyers. Interestingly, this sophisticated pickup offers five engine configurations, including a potent V6 turbo diesel.
3. Peugeot Landtrek
A 10-inch touchscreen might seem out of place in a pickup, but that's exactly what Peugeot built into its 2020 Landtrek. This workhorse, co-developed with Changan, means business, as it hauls 1.4 tons and tows up to 3.5 tons.
Make Chiffon great again on Wikimedia
4. Fiat Titano
While Fiat had long left a conspicuous gap in the midsize pickup segment, the brand finally answered drivers' calls with its 2023 Titano. Built on Peugeot's proven Landtrek platform, this newcomer marks Fiat's first-ever midsize truck venture in Brazil, bringing diesel muscle and modern features to the market.
NEW Fiat Titano Pick-up Truck 2024 by DPCcars
5. Ram 1200
The Ram 1200 represents a strategic partnership with Mitsubishi, offering their L200 platform under the Ram badge. It delivers 207 horsepower from its 2.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, with flexibility across single and double cab configurations.
6. Dongfeng Rich
Despite its prestigious Nissan Navara underpinnings, the Chinese-manufactured Dongfeng Rich presents an intriguing engineering paradox. That’s because it provides versatile powertrain options in both gasoline and diesel configurations. Nevertheless, the model has secured distribution channels across African markets, though not in the United States.
7. Foton Tunland V7
As a cornerstone of China's automotive industry, BAIC Group continues to demonstrate its manufacturing prowess through subsidiary Foton's latest achievement: the 2023 Tunland V7 pickup truck. This advanced offering pairs a 163-horsepower turbo diesel powerplant with sophisticated digital instrumentation.
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8. Toyota Hilux
From conquering the North Pole on Top Gear to enduring daily abuse across the harshest regions, the recent generations of the Toyota Hilux have earned legendary toughness. Despite never reaching American showrooms, it remains a global favorite, with single and double cab versions.
9. Mitsubishi L200 / Triton
Back in '96, America bid farewell to a pickup that wore two badges proudly: the Mitsubishi Mighty Max and Dodge Ram 50. While this versatile truck lives on globally as the L200, or Triton in places like Australia and Thailand, U.S. drivers haven't seen new generations since that final bow.
10. Nissan Navara / NP300
Known as both the Navara and NP300, Nissan's global midsize pickup has carved out distinct identities across Europe and Asia. The truck's premium aspirations shine through its sophisticated five-link rear suspension, which ultimately caught Mercedes-Benz's eye, spawning their upmarket X-Class pickup.
Kārlis Dambrāns from Latvia on Wikimedia
11. Hilux Champ
Toyota's IMV 0 platform takes an innovative leap with the 2023 Hilux Champ, engineered specifically for Thailand's commercial market. The pickup's technical versatility shines through its range of powertrains—2.0L and 2.7L petrol or 2.4L diesel options —while its modular cargo bed design enables easy transformation into food trucks.
12. Daihatsu Hijet Pickup
From crowded Tokyo alleyways to remote farm fields, the Daihatsu Hijet Pickup demonstrates remarkable adaptability. Introduced in 1960 as a performance upgrade from the Midget series, this versatile kei truck combines a compact sub-3.4-meter footprint with an efficient 660cc engine.
13. Tata Xenon
Launched in 2007, the Tata Xenon arrived prepared for demanding workloads with a 1.25-ton payload and multiple cab configurations. Its dependable performance has earned loyal followings across Europe and Africa—an impressive achievement for a truck born from the same corporate group as Jaguar Land Rover.
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14. Mahindra Bolero Camper
For rural Indian entrepreneurs, the Mahindra Bolero Camper has become a catalyst for business growth since its 2002 debut. This practical workhorse exemplifies Mahindra's agricultural expertise, built on its foundation as a global tractor.
15. Great Wall Cannon
Introduced in 2019, the Great Wall Cannon, or Pao, blends strength with adaptability. With powertrains reaching 190 horsepower in both diesel and gasoline versions, it spans luxury, off-road, and work-focused models, underlining Great Wall Motors’ reputation as China’s premier truck builder.
16. JAC T8 Pro
With a presence spanning more than 130 countries, JAC Motors continues its global success story with the 2022 launch of the T8 Pro pickup truck. This international-ready performer combines a 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine and one-ton payload capacity with modern touches like a 10.4-inch touchscreen supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
17. Isuzu D-Max
Built on Isuzu’s reputation as a diesel powerhouse, the D-Max combines a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engine with advanced safety technology to deliver both strength and refinement. Popular across Asia, Europe, Australia, and Africa, this midsize pickup is yet to make its way into American dealerships.
18. Volkswagen Saveiro
Named after the Portuguese word for "sloop," the Saveiro embodies Brazil's innovative automotive spirit. Since 1982, this homegrown Volkswagen pickup has been proudly produced for the Brazilian market, offering single and double cab variants built on the Gol platform.
19. Renault Oroch (Duster Oroch)
Introduced in 2015, the Renault Oroch marked the brand’s first regional pickup, crafted for outdoor enthusiasts. Derived from the Duster SUV, this compact double-cab model quickly won fans in Brazil and Colombia, offering 1.6L and 2.0L engines tailored to weekend getaways and everyday versatility.
20. Ford Ranger
Engineered around a potent 3.2-liter five-cylinder turbo diesel engine, the pre-U.S. global Ford Ranger emerged from collaborative development with Ford Australia to deliver exceptional capability. This led to its adoption by police and emergency services across Australia and Europe.
