Watch out Ford Ranger, there’s a new diesel-powered pickup headed for the UK

The Ford Ranger is consistently the best-selling pickup truck in the UK, and its rivals have fallen by the wayside in recent years. But much like in the electric crossover market, the Chinese have arrived.

This is the GWM POER300, and it’s set to arrive in UK dealerships from mid-September this year. It’ll be a fair bit cheaper than the Ford too, with prices for the POER range kicking off at £31,495. An equivalent double cab, auto-boxed Ranger starts at £37,550 (ex VAT).

Before we go any further, we must mention that we have been explicitly told POER is pronounced ‘POWER’. Yeah, no.

Anyway, the po-uh – which is sold as the GWM Cannon in Australia – is po-uhed by a 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine making 181bhp and 354lb ft of torque and connected to a nine-speed auto ‘box and full-time four-wheel drive. Importantly, it also gets a payload of 1,000kg and a towing capacity of 3,500kg.

On the outside there’s classic pickup styling with side steps, roof rails and GWM embossed into the tailgate, while inside you get “premium soft-touch materials” and a 12.3in touchscreen.

There will be “multiple intelligent all-terrain modes” and a rear diff lock for some off road ability, and all will be covered by a five-year/125,000-mile warranty. Reckon this could replace your Ranger?