Best small pickup truck

Car and Driver 's rankings are arrived at from the results of our extensive instrumented testing of more than vehicles each year best small pickup truck from our expert editors' subjective impressions gained in real-world driving. We've ranked the Best Compact Pickup Trucks based on roughly data points encompassing acceleration, handling, comfort, cargo space, fuel efficiency, value, and how enjoyable they are to drive.

You can forget Romeo and Juliet; America and pickup trucks is the real love story that has stood the test of time. From their earliest days, pickups have been a stable workhorse, providing people the means of transporting heavy loads from one place to another, over long distances. Through the years, though, pickups evolved from being simple, honest, and hard-working pieces of automobile machinery into everyday cars. With today's trend of pickup trucks for everyday use , many people are opting for smaller-sized trucks. Mainly because smaller trucks are easier and more convenient to manage than full-size trucks on the city streets and parking lots. In this regard, there are plenty of pickup trucks that offer the best value for money , combining practicality and workhorse ability in one package. Vehicle manufacturers take note of this and now make smaller-sized trucks that have the versatility for today's living but still retain the work vehicle ethic that is the hallmark of a pickup.

Best small pickup truck

With brand new offerings from Chevy, Ford, GMC, and Toyota, this auto class has never been better, or more competitive. Our off-road expert explains why. Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! They hit the sweet spot of capability, size, and price for us outdoor enthusiasts who need a serious adventuremobile. Now, for the first time, it looks like those midsize pickups will actually be good. The reason why midsize trucks are popular with outdoorsy types? Their size. The problem is that smaller trucks have traditionally also been less capable of supporting heavy loads. The last generation Toyota Tacoma on sale from to present , for instance, was only able to carry 1, pounds in its most popular configuration—four doors, with four wheel drive. A lot of people think payload is the weight a truck is able to safely carry in its bed. So, that payload must include passengers, dogs, gasoline, and anything you carry in or bolt to the truck.

The Ranger maintains the same horsepower pound-foot 2. Optional on the Ranger will also be the twin-turbo 2. That means standard features like seatbelts, airbags, and crash structures.

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Buyers now have more choices than ever. In addition to midsize trucks like the Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, or Honda Ridgeline, some genuinely compact models are now on the market as well. The Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are both relatively diminutive unibody pickups and scale below the current midsize trucks. While the Blue Oval also has the Ranger in its lineup, the Ford Maverick is a true small pickup truck. But the unibody Maverick also transcends the truck market, serving as a genuine alternative to traditional sedans and crossover SUVs. The Maverick gets a standard 2. EcoBoost models can also be equipped with all-wheel drive AWD , and when properly equipped, can tow up to 4, pounds. Optional is the 2.

Best small pickup truck

With a low starting price and available hybrid powertrain, the Ford Maverick delivers a car-like ride with a comfortable interior and excellent utility. For drivers who need light pickup truck capability but don't want the expense of a larger truck, the Maverick is an ideal solution. The Ford Maverick is a 5-seater vehicle that comes in 5 trim levels. Ford has had great success with pickup trucks, and its F full-size pickup has led the market for decades. Two years ago, the automaker applied its vast truck experience to its first unibody compact truck, the Ford Maverick. The perfect size for consumers who need light truck capability, the Maverick was an immediate hit and currently outsells the larger Ford Ranger pickup. Part of the Maverick's appeal is that it doesn't drive like a truck.

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The reason why midsize trucks are popular with outdoorsy types? A truck that remains practical, reasonably affordable, and more capable off-road. As a work vehicle, the Nissan Frontier offers a lot of utility. Nissan hasn't improved the styling at the sacrifice of ability, and for a smaller truck, it performs its duties very well. At the base model end you get a 2. To achieve this, Toyota has employed a similar five-link rear end arrangement as that was used on the existing 4Runner and recently retired series Land Cruiser. Their size. Filed to: Autos Indefinitely Wild Trucks. Toyota says no. But, that number could get even more impressive. Starting at. Trucks With the Best Gas Mileage.

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Increasing payload has required not only stronger frames, but larger cooling systems, bigger brakes, more robust transmissions, and stronger suspension systems. What Is Payload on a Truck? For its size, the GMC Canyon is a remarkably capable workhorse. Photo: Toyota. Under the hood, you get just one engine: a turbocharged 2. The high performance Ranger Raptor, with its larger motor and its associated systems, along with its very high-performance suspension system has a payload of 1, pounds. Best Mid-Size Pickup Trucks. Best Compact Pickup Trucks at a glance. Thanks to an optional disconnecting front sway bar unique in this class , articulation on the new fourth-generation Tacoma is said to be 10 percent improved over the third-gen. It redefines what a pickup truck looks like with a distinct design cast on a car-like frame. Compact trucks weigh anywhere from pounds to pounds depending on model, trim level, and equipment. Being the smaller sibling to the Ford F, the Ranger offers a lot of practicality for its size. Best Diesel Trucks. Starting at. This makes it more comfortable to drive and gives it the sturdiness to do the job of a pickup.