Top 10 Bakkies(Namibia)

Best Versatile Pickup Trucks Driven By Adventurers To Explore Namibia

Composed By: Francois Boois (opens new window)@Facebook

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Here we have the top 10 Bakkies(Pickups) the Namibian public have grown accustomed to throughout the year 2019.the Bakkies where actually recommended by local owners as the best of their class, this pickups are extremely expandable and can easily maneuver over any obsticle regardless to the dusty climate and really long range driving.

The Number 1 spot on this countdown goes to a Bakkie that is no stranger to the Namibian lots it's service to the country goes back ages and has been the most reliable of the bunch almost always economically priced

1.Toyota Hilux Raider

The Toyota Hilux is a very popular car in this part of the world it will probably take top place in a lot of our articles starting from this one, since it made its debut in the early 19th century, the rough and tough pickup or Bakkie which ever you'd call it is loved by locals because of it's economical attributes cheap,strong and reliable in all its aspects unlike the rest of the world Namibians like to follow examples set out to them by their neighbouring peer in South Africa and hardly anything that has a high praise in South Africa passes through without notice, And Toyota runs a very strong marketing campaign in the neighborhood investing in all sectors automobile related leaving a customized historical gap on its rivals typically Toyota as a brand has moved it's roots to African kings status.

The 2nd spot on our list Goes to a pick-up that made a fast and pacy introduction into the Bakkie industry more luxurious that urbanly equipt the Volkswagen Amarok.

2.Volkswagen Amarok

The Amarok has been around for a while now But in 2011 it had a very beautiful welcome even though it still has a lot to offer the VW brand the clients just like everyone else have been waiting for it to show what the VW brand is actually known for,versatility in all it's aspects with a affordable price tag, it only made this spot because it's still new in the industry, and Bakkie offroad enthusiast still complain of it's weaknesses when put through high risk environments, a area it's cousin the Tourag has excelled in since it's debut back in the start of the millennium, despite it's weaknesses customers still flock in numbers to get their hands on this pickups, the VW brand had introduced this Bakkie as a dune and beach Bakkie not a competitor to the Land Rover even though it has been used locally in that environments.we will see what VW has to offer in the future for this project and how they will improve in their case to become a fierce competitor with a brand known for taking on all challenges thrown their way.

The third spot on this weeks coundown goes to the ever present but not stepping up Bakkie which one would think is only there to make up the numbers its the Ford Ranger.

3.Ford Ranger

Currently in 2019 the Ford Ranger has it's name written in local folklore with its new facelift the Ranger has been a Bakkie that was in the industry for a while now it has had its share of ups and downs, but still has it's eye set on finding a weakness in its nemesis the Toyota Hilux who keeps delivering as time goes by matching anything its rival throw its way, despite that being the only factor the Rangers performance has been excellent most of its positive attributes coming from its reliable suspension system, the only downside has been its downsizing in the engine compartment.back in the early stages the Ranger was known for it powerful engines with speed of the same while Toyota was playing the affordable and accountable card but now it has been overthrow in just about every compartment rivals matching it where it should land major plus attributes besides that it had a great 2019 and looks like it will still be around for a while and might just be lucky and find a loophole in this country and the world.

The 4th Spot goes to a major upgrade by a Bakkie already on the list shaking the unstable industry when locals thought it will not top it's past successes and that any attempt would put some risk on it's credibility and they should play it save and avoid any mayor upgrades.

4.Toyota Hilux Legend 50

The Legend Series was coming out with new features right of the shelves, despite securing a perfect place on the Bakkie industry most of its rivals could only dream of. the Toyota Brand went ahead and made some mayor changes to it's Bakkie and brought in a Bakkie with a completely new set of equipment. to tackle the offroad market with its by then looking futuristic brand of Bakkies some of which the locals where a little sceptical about but using it's connects in the local authorities, to put it on the streets and in the veld with a bang. after that the entire puzzle just felt into place and everyone lived happily ever after it didn't really have a lot to offer at first but Toyotas engineering team got it all right at its next facelift and that body and chasis never looked back ever since. still having all their eggs in the same basket still loved by Namibians with all its worth leaving the African Bakkie industry at its mercy but with all success and dominance the Hilux has turned into a luxury pickup brand with its panel spare parts prices rocketing to match any luxury automakers.

At Number 5 we have the high speed Bakkie a bit too luxury for this list only rivaled by the Amarok I introduce to you the Nissan Navara a true veld master in all departments love it or hate it.it still tackles any challenge this country rugged terrain has to offer, with a price tag that matches its every effort.

5.Nissan Navara

The Nissan Navara has been a new kid for a while now even though it was around the world and back.it still does need to be able to understand the local market it is a very fiercely powerful vehicle with immense torque, but it's price tag and and after sales parts prices deny it the workhorse status it so highly deserve. locals do love the Navara but most often use it as a status symbol rather than a day to day basis nissan to Namibians is a fairly priced economical vehicle but the Navara changes those rules a Bakkie in a league of its own unique in every aspect a Bakkie every Namibian would willingly have in their parking.it fits into any environment in this country, be it urban, rural or the veld it fits right into this country like it's a local we've heard of local lads willingly toying around with the older versions trying to get more engine power out of it. The first thing I noticed with the first version of this Bakkie was a silent intruder no one really noticed it until they saw it on the streets making its presence felt with all that thumbing noise coming from its powerhouse of an engine.

At Number six we have the Toyota Land Cruiser loved by all but hard to maintain if you want power the Toyota Land Cruiser is all about that even the excessive engine noise it's engine produce pays testament to that.

6.Toyota Land Cruiser.

The Toyota Land cruiser has been around the corners or southern Africa for as long as we can imagine,in titled for discovering some very important locations around this area Namibia being a very rugged low laying veld and the second most displaced country in the world has made this tough Bakkie it's number one to go to when the going gets tough,the land cruisers efforts where only duelled by its iconic rival being the land rover defender both have kept their shapes for much of their existences yet kept sales stable throughout and most Namibians being innovative farmers by trade have made thier business in this part of the world although the land rovers sales have dropped in recent years the land cruiser has still maintained a relatively stable sales helped on from its change from a workhorse to a luxury Bakkie and a reliable support from Bakkies from the same brand and it still looks like it's sales won't be slowing down soon,with the Namibian construction and wildlife conservative initiatives taking centre stage once again driven by climate change the Land Cruiser will once again be called on to reach the rugged outer most displaced rural areas of the country to deliver aid and setup more information and research centres be ready to see more of the his Bakkie in the forth coming future.

Our 7th Spot goes to a pick up that has been a more on of Contender in the race to become Namibia's most reliable source when it comes to the perfect Bakkie compared to it's market price here we have the Isuzu KB Series.

7.Isuzu D-Max 3.0 TD

The Isuzu KB Bakkie has been a local favourite for decades now individually the Diesel engine but has recently been falling of the rankings it's fall being blamed on the early 2000 recession which went bad for American owned companies and General Motors being affected and had to close most of its low performing international branches,but without wasting any time the company fell back where it stopped, and recently with its new economically priced KB Bakkie has made it more accessible to many,but the locals opinion on the Bakkie has changed with local automotive critic's complaints of spare part price manipulation and foul play from the main dealerships putting a great Bakkie in a somewhat awkward public relationship breakdown this type of bad criticism can affect the Brand of a company in long terms especially in a country where word of mouth is the main form of Brand marketing and a rumour can last and entire decade depending on it's source well I hope Isuzu clears this up and start continue putting the KB back in its rightful place in where locals know it as a high quality economically priced Bakkie.

The 8th place on this Weeks countdown goes to the Nissan Hardbody the Bakkie which in local eyes has seem to gotten stuck in past success.

8.Nissan Hardbody NP300

Most Namibians are aware of the Nissan Hardbody NP300's work ethic it's reliable pricing how accessible it is and the power it produces at impact but the old warhorse has fallen down in ranking of recently due to it's tiresome face it is really hard to tell the difference between the older models and the new once because it has been wearing the same body design for some time now and local car enthusiasts have been worried that their number one go to Bakkie has turned into a taxi cab which have sadden most everyone is waiting in deep anticipation for a new look Nissan NP300,besides that the performance and reliability have remained the same and for some strange reason has there been no love lost between the little beast transporter and the locals I hope this Bakkie still remains and take the avarage Namibian hard worker to the far reaches of this country and probably beyond in my case this Bakkie is still build for the everyday life inside Namibia it blends in and maintains a healthy lifestyle for as long as it takes to get you where you'd like to be without attracting any unwanted attention anywhere in Namibia.

The 9th place goes to a Bakkie that almost vanished from the face of Namibia, it's rare to see this Bakkie here in 2019 even though it made our list the Mazda QT

9.Mazda BT-50

The Mazda QT unlike its past Representative the Mazda Magnum the QT has had a tough introduction and even a tougher stay in Namibia,we must admit Mazda has been falling backwards in its ventures in Namibia the once competitive brand has fallen off the radar for most of the millennia now and it's not just the QT but the Brand as a whole and when it seem to suddenly have made a comeback it has missed all the reasons it's Number one Model the Magnum has build throughout its legacy the QT has lost all of the appeal its predisesor had on locals,raw power and speed,a more of a hear me before you can see me type of car,beside that the QT has a bad appeal on sight and has on made a half hearted attempt on delivering a sense of stay factor on the Southern African motor vehicle industry we are still waiting on the Mazda we use to know but it looks to have been to comfortable in the Asian Market where it seem to have made a great impact on the street racing sedan Market the Mazda looks to be more a urban legend this days and has lost its attachments to the Rural off road enthusiasm,appeal and appearance more of a lost than a gain for it will take them long to rebuild that all elusive X factor and really more on hype from stories past on through generations.

The Last Spot on this list goes to the legendary Land Rover Defender it's past still written in Southern African folklore and as of recent versions still mostly rely on sales from those tales.

10.Jaguar Land Rover Defender 90 2.5 TD5

The Land Rover has been a tireless servant in the exploration of southern Africa in the past and in the past it has seem to have got stuck not because of its design or work rate but mostly of its Brand failing it in the Marketing department it looks like the dealerships have left all the Marketing work to the locals who pass them on from generation to generation most of the local youth only see a Defender as something valuable because of its ties with the Range Rover Brand but do not actually see it as something worth having and would prefer one of the others on this list but still the Defender has lost none of the characters that have carried it's legacy strength reliable in all Namibian terrain a I will get you there no matter what it takes type of Bakkie even if it's still a little rugged in the interior not that it means much a explorers Bakkie more than it is a Farmers,safety first right any Namibian who sees you in a Defender knows you are on route to discover, conserve and preserve something anything.

That's it for this weeks top 10 click The link below to E-mail the editor if there's something you'd like to share or want to clarify something pertaining to this particular article thanks for reading and kind regards:-).

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A little Honourable mention for The Mitsubishi Triton that didn't make the list, this time around but still loved by many in this part of the world.

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