Top 8 double-cab bakkies in South Africa, picked by female car experts
Ten of South Africa's top female automotive experts share their picks for the ultimate double-cab bakkie. Discover which bakkies have captured the hearts of the women driving our industry forward this Women's Day.
In celebration of Women's Day on August 9th, we posed the ultimate bakkie question to a selection of South Africa's top female automotive experts: If you had to choose just one double-cab bakkie to rule them all, which would it be? From influential content creators to seasoned motoring journalists (often both!), these ladies know their way around a bakkie better than most blokes know their way around a braai, and their selections showcase professional expertise and personal passion.
In no specific order, here are the bakkies that captured their hearts.
Ford Ranger 3.0T V6 Double Cab Raptor 4WD, R1 270 000
Janine van der Post, News 24 Motoring Editor, and Melinda Ferguson, publisher and motoring journalist at City Press and Cape Talk, chose the Ford Ranger Raptor as their favourite bakkie.
The Ford Raptor has ruined every other bakkie for me. There's nothing else that can bundu bash as hard as the Raptor and then caress your soul on the streets of the urban jungle like this bakkie can. The Ranger Platinum comes pretty close in terms of plush comfort and luxury too. But if I'm going to have a bakkie, the Raptor is probably the one thing that could keep my happiness level red-lining all the way. - Janine van der Post
My dream-bakkie is the Ford Raptor. It's huge, fearsome and can go anywhere. It also makes other cars move over to the left lane! - Melinda Ferguson
BYD Shark 6
Juliet McGuire, motoring content creator, producer, and presenter (find her YouTube channel here), says the BYD Shark 6 wins hands-down for her.
I love how the plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 breaks the mold by bringing fresh, innovative technology to the double-cab segment, which has been a bit stagnant lately. The design is striking, the interior is impressive, and it offers a real sense of excitement. Beyond its good looks, it delivers both power and efficiency, being the only plug-in hybrid bakkie in SA at the moment. This model truly shakes up the status quo; it’s the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons! - Juliet McGuire
Watch our First Drive Video Review of the Shark 6 here!
Toyota Hilux
Liana Reiners, Motoring Editor at Adventure Afrika, picked SA’s best-selling bakkie, the Toyota Hilux.
Choosing a favourite bakkie is a tough one ... there are so many great contenders. However, I think I'd go with the Toyota Hilux, not a specific model, but the entire range. There's a model to suit every taste! Besides being highly capable, the Hilux is reputable, it's reliable and it's a South African staple. What more could you want in a bakkie? - Liana Reiners
Read our review of the Hilux 2.8 GD-6 48V double cab here.
Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 Double Cab 4x4 GR-Sport III, R999 000
Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger, racing driver, content creator, and producer from Wiele2Wiele, singles out the most athletic Hilux in the range, the Hilux GR-Sport III.
I’m a petrolhead and adrenaline junkie, and while the obvious choice might’ve been the Ford Raptor, my heart lies with the Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 4x4 GR-Sport! I love the striking widebody kit, the beefed-up suspension and braking system, and the extra power - 165 kW and 550 Nm - that puts a smile on my face. It’s the little touches too, like the red seatbelts and the ‘technical mesh’ insert on the dashboard, that make the cabin a place you actually want to spend time in.
But the big one for me? That GR badge - Gazoo Racing. Racing is in my blood. From racing a Toyota Tazz many moons ago to piloting the Toyota Yaris GR more recently, my passion for what Toyota Gazoo Racing stands for runs deep. What they’ve done for motorsport, not just in South Africa but globally, seals the deal. - Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger
Read our review on the Toyota Hilux GR-S here.
Ford Ranger 3.0TD V6 Double Cab Wildtrak 4WD, R1 087 000
Ziphorah Masethe, motoring presenter and producer on IGNITION TV, also known as Cool Car Chick on social media, says the Wildtrak is her bakkie of choice:
My absolute favourite bakkie has to be the Ford Ranger Wildtrak. It has impossibly good looks that are both imposing and rugged, while elevating the lifestyle premium feel all around the cabin. Don't get me started on that class-leading suspension throughout the whole range! Perfection. - Ziphorah Masethe
Related: Toyota Hilux GR-Sport III vs Ford Ranger Wildtrak vs. Isuxu D-Max AT35
Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI V6 Double Cab PanAmericana, R1 190 900
Mabuyane Mabuza, Publisher at XPloreZA and chairperson of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists, reckons the VW Amarok, specifically in Panamericana trim, rules the roost.
From the very first moment I laid eyes on the Amarok PanAmericana I fell in love with it. I like it for its sophistication but just as much for its brutal performance. It has that “thing”! I do love other bakkies, but this one has my heart. - Mabuyane Mabuza
Related: Cash strapped? VW has added a more affordable double-cab model in May 2025
Jeep Gladiator 3.6 Rubicon Double Cab, R1 385 374
Vann van Staden, Motoring Editor at Aspire Lifestyle, picked the Jeep Gladiator as her first choice:
My favourite bakkie?! Technically you can’t call it a bakkie, it’s just a beast!
I choose the Jeep Gladiator because why just drive a bakkie when you can drive happiness? It’s the rebel of the bakkie lineup, part adventure toy, part workhorse, with just enough “oooh, look at me” attitude to keep things interesting. It’s the kind of bakkie that makes you want to live a little. - Vann van Staden
Watch our Jeep Gladiator Video Review here!
Toyota Land Cruiser 79 4.5D-4D V8 Double Cab LX, from R1 108 100
If you ask me what my favourite bakkie is, I don’t have to think twice - it’s our Toyota Land Cruiser 79. It’s not just a vehicle; it’s a stubborn, dust-covered, go-anywhere member of the family.
Over time, it’s also become our favourite project car - one upgrade at a time. From suspension and storage to rooftop tent and power solutions, every modification has been about making it perfectly ours. It’s built to carry our camping dreams, our gear, and now - our baby boy, Sami - into the wild with ease.I love it because it’s unapologetically tough, built to work hard but happy to slow down for a sunset. It doesn’t mind a scratch or two; each one is a story. Some people want a bakkie that’s shiny and new. Me? I want the one with sand still caught in the floor mats from last year’s trip and red dust baked into the paint. Because for me, the Cruiser isn’t about getting from A to B - it’s about every adventure in between. - Caira-Lee
Bonus Model
Because I am writing the article, I'm not supposed to pick a favourite but I am going to anyway, since it's Woman's Day. (And since when are we always supposed to do what we're told? ;-)
Isuzu D-Max 3.0TD Double Cab AT35 4x4, R1 182 100
Finally, if I (Ané Albertse) had to choose a bakkie from the local lineup, I would pick the rugged, ready-for-anything Isuzu AT35 (read our review), which is perfectly styled! The large overfenders, 35-inch off-road tyres, and beefed-up suspension don't just look good; they're ideal for intrepid adventures, plus I've always liked Isuzu's no-nonsense approach to building ergonomic interiors. And, while the AT35 may not have rally-oriented driving modes like the more powerful Ford Raptor, it's much lighter on diesel. The fact that it was developed with Icelandic specialists Arctic Trucks (hence the AT nomenclature) makes it extra cool and robust. As for the Isuzu badge, some owners generally report up to 1 000 000 km on the odometer, making it massively reliable. - Ané Albertse
Related: These are the 8 hottest double cabs in SA right now (2025)
