First details of new Renault Alaskan pick-up announced

Renault Alaskan information has been released in the run-up to the new pickup going on sale in spring 2017.

When it arrives, the Alaskan will enter a competitive market, taking on the Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi L200 and Volkswagen Amarok, with pricing expected to start at roughly £23,000.

An entry-level version of the Alaskan is likely to get rear-wheel drive, while most will be equipped with four-wheel drive and a diesel engine as standard. Power will be sent to a six-speed manual, but a seven-speed automatic will also be available.

The Alaskan will be Renault’s first-ever pickup and it’s based on the Nissan Navara thanks to an alliance between the two manufacturers. The Renault, Nissan and a forthcoming Mercedes pick-up (expected by 2020) will be built in the same factory, although Mercedes is expected to engineer its version to keep the brands distinctive enough.

The Renault Alaskan is on sale now – read our review here.

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The Alaskan’s design hasn’t changed much since the concept was revealed in 2015, with a Renault family ‘face’ characterised by the styling of its headlights, grille and large diamond badge. The daytime running lights in particular feature the same signature we’ve seen across Renault’s recent models, along with a C-shaped section of chrome flanking the foglights.

Of course, this a rugged pickup, so there’s a large plastic ‘skid plate’ at the bottom of the front bumper and a roof rack for carrying bikes, canoes or whatever you want to throw up there. Unlike the Navara, all Alaskans will get 16-inch alloy wheels as standard, with 18-inch wheels on more lavish trim levels or as an option.

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Interestingly, Renault is very keen to market the Alaskan at private buyers who want a rugged lifestyle vehicle, rather than commercial customers. To this end, there’s been a push towards better interior quality and the double-cab version (which is likely to account for most sales) will seat five people. Chassis-cab and single-cab bodystyles will also be available.

Features you’d typically associate with an SUV include dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable seats and an infotainment system with Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity. A 360-degree ‘top-down’ view should make parking much easier and other features likely to be options or on the top trim include keyless entry and sat nav.

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Power is provided by a turbocharged 2.3-litre diesel with 158bhp, or a twin-turbocharged version with 187bhp, which will be able to tow a braked trailer weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. Meanwhile, a ‘C-channel’ loading system using runners and mounting points at either side of the load bed will make securing heavy cargo easier.

Expect the Renault Alaskan to cost from around £23,000 when it goes on sale in the UK in spring 2017.