Driving a pickup truck has always been my dream.

Growing up in Quezon Province, my uncle used to have an old, cranky — but very reliable — Dodge Ram that he drove for hauling and towing agricultural products. Well, the truck looked old, but it still got the job done.

Then when I was in college, I was in awe of that macho-looking Ford F-150 that used to park in front of the St. Raymund Building inside the University of Santo Tomas campus every afternoon.

With hot yellow exterior coating powered by massive Black Rhino wheels, that muscle car with a screaming “Pinatubo Edition” decal on its side was definitely a looker. Pretty colegialas couldn’t help but marvel every time this muscle car makes its way to its designated parking slot. It’s like Moses parting the Red Sea.

Later on, we learned that it belongs to a student — a dashing AB Political Science junior who is a son of a rich, powerful politician down south.

Well, the point here is this: Pickup trucks nowadays are no longer being used exclusively by engineers, foremen, farmers or traders. It is also now the ride of choice of woke kids who want to create a notion that they have what it takes to operate this mean machine.

Having a pickup truck in your garage is like having a Jrue Holiday on your team. He may not be the most popular player on your team with a megawatt smile, but he does all those little things like scoring, rebounding, defending and hustling.

A pickup truck is like the Swiss Army knife of the automobile industry. It gets the job done without breaking the bank.

That’s why I was so excited to test this 2023 Foton Thunder 4x4. Aside from finally getting rid of the itch to drive a pickup truck — or a muscle car to those cool kids — I also get to experience the power of this ruggedly handsome bad boy from China.

Anyway, upon delivery of the unit, the first thing I noticed was its imposing grille. With “FOTON” boldly emblazoned in front, there’s no denying that Thunder will definitely intimidate when other drivers see it navigating the streets of Metro Manila. In short, this is what a pickup truck should look like.

Contributing to its hefty look are the sharp-looking halogen projector headlamps as well as the front fog lamps that are needed whenever you negotiate dark alleys and farm roads.

Looking at its side, it has sturdy stepboards, power-folding side mirrors and high-riding roof. It rides on 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels that give it that classical charm. Although there’s no roof rack, it’s perfectly fine as it has enough space for having a spacious bed that comes with protective coating.

If the exterior is impressive, wait until you see what’s inside. It doesn’t look like being inside a pickup truck at all.

The first thing that caught my attention was the front seats, which are adjustable electronically. It also has a center-padded armrest with ample headroom and legroom, making it easier for somebody as big as me to drive comfortably.

Stealing the attention inside the cabin are the diamond-patterned leather seats and siding that give this macho, utilitarian vehicle a straightforward, yet luxurious, feel.

There will also be no problem navigating the controls as most of them can be easily accessed, unlike other SUVs who opted to bury everything in their control panel that makes it harder to press when your eyes are on the road.

Taking charge of the entertainment needs of the Thunder is a 10.25-inch floating screen. Though Android Audio or Apple Car Play that the latest models have, it still gets the job done with its Bluetooth and USB connectivities.

The Thunder’s driving experience is also topnotch.

Unlike other utilitarian vehicles that has bumpy, rugged feel on the road, driving the Thunder is a very pleasant experience due to its soft and responsive accelerator pedal, thanks to its engine that is powered by 161 horsepower and 390 N.m of torque with eight-speed automatic gearbox with a paddle shifter manual mode.

The Thunder also has a top of the line set of safety features like the anti-lock braking, stability control, hill-hold control, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

But what excites me the most was its fuel consumption. My God, it’s so economical! I traveled for around 200 kilometers from Laguna to Quezon Province but the gauge hardly moved.

Although there is some shaking and outside noise whenever I drive at full speed, it is already forgivable due to the long range it offers and the power it has. After all, its suspension is said to be capable of handling up to three tons of cargo, making it perfect for blue-collar workers.

Overall, the Thunder deserves a thunderous applause.

For its suggested retail price of P1,398,000 it is doing a good job giving other brands like Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navarra or even the Ford Ranger a run for their money.

With Thunder’s arrival, I think it’s safe to say that Chinese brand Foton should no longer be respected for its vans and larger commercial vehicles. It has finally gained the respect of its competitors, giving it the right to sit and dine with the big boys of the industry.