Whether you want the utility of a pickup truck or you want to enjoy life off the beaten path, there are plenty of options available to choose from. Some trucks are built to tow and haul daily, while others are much better for city dwellers who rarely load up the bed or haul a trailer. Understanding the range of light and full-duty pickup trucks that offer something for every lifestyle can help you make a wise decision.
What Makes a Truck Reliable?
When evaluating a truck’s reliability, factor in how well the truck can handle the tasks you plan to throw at it. Does the manufacturer support the truck with a good warranty plan? Check reviews and feedback from people who own the trucks you’re considering, and find out if any of the vehicles on your shortlist have won any major awards. You should test drive multiple trucks to get a feel for whether you like the way it handles, and don’t be afraid to be thorough in the questions you ask the sales representatives.
Following is a list of some of the best-selling and most highly rated trucks available:
Toyota Tundra
This year’s Toyota Tundra has undergone a complete redesign, giving it more power and capability than ever before. This truck can tow up to 12,000 pounds and carry 1,940 pounds on its bed.
The new infotainment system has a massive 14-inch touchscreen so that you can easily manage your onboard navigation, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, phone contacts and more. The trailer backup guide and panoramic view monitor basically give you a complete view of your surroundings on your center display when you’re parking.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The new Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is an off road beast with a high approach bumper that gives better ground clearance, improved differentials and dampeners that allow you to clear obstacles without sending your passengers bouncing around inside the cabin and a powerful engine that gets the job done. The driver assistance package offers Super Cruise, which can drive the vehicle for you hands-free on the highway, front collision avoidance, a lane-keeping assist and blind-spot detection.
The interior is comfortable and classy, with wood trim, leather seats and a robust infotainment system that can manage your music, phone calls and other media. It also offers plenty of leg and shoulder room to give the feeling of luxury.
Nissan Titan
The Nissan Titan is a versatile workhorse that can tow up to 11,040 pounds and handle challenges on and off the beaten path. It has the most standard safety technology in its class. Automatic emergency braking, rear collision avoidance braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert all come standard on the Titan.
The integrated command center and available dual panoramic moonroof allow you to stay connected to your music and media and go stargazing without exiting the truck. It also offers a heated steering wheel and seating that can be heated or cooled to your preferred temperature.
Ram 1500
The Ram 1500 has won the Consumer Guide Best Buy Award for 13 years in a row now, which is proof in and of itself. It has a rugged and muscular frame with a spacious and stylish interior steeped in luxury. It also comes with one of the most impressive warranty packages on the market today, with most components covered for up to 100,000 miles.
It’s as safe as it is capable, with sensors that cover you from all angles, automatic emergency braking, rear backing alerts, blind-spot detection, lane-keeping assistance and hands-free media access. Ram allows you to skip the dealership if you want to do so with its E-Shop program that allows you to design your truck and have it delivered to your doorstep.
Ford Maverick
Do you do a lot of city driving? Do you want a pickup truck that can double as a daily commuter? The Ford Maverick is making waves, garnering up to 42 mpg in the city with the capability of a light pickup truck.
With 1,500 pounds of payload and up to 4,000 pounds of towing capability, the Maverick allows you to enjoy the gas mileage of a sedan while still having the utility to haul or tow when the occasion arises.
Honda Ridgeline
The Honda Ridgeline accommodates up to five people and offers plenty of legroom, comfortable seats and the ability to charge and use all their devices. With USB ports in the front and back, everyone can plug in, and the infotainment system offers intuitive access to Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth devices. The Ridgeline offers a touch of luxury while remaining affordable.
The Ridgeline tows up to 5,000 pounds and has a lockable trunk in the bed that helps solve some cargo management challenges. It also comes with Honda Sensing, a safety technology package that provides protection from every direction with alerts and automatic braking to avoid an accident.
GMC Sierra 1500
When it comes to situational awareness, the GMC Sierra 1500 has you covered with 15 different camera views. This is useful on and off the road when you need to park, check your ground clearance or manage a trailer. The Sierra 1500 is customizable, with the ability to choose from several engines and many comfort and technology upgrades.
With best-in-class horsepower, the Sierra 1500 gives you rugged functionality, whether you need to haul or tow, or you just want to take your adventures off the open road.
Toyota Tacoma
The Toyota Tacoma is a light-duty pickup truck designed for exploration and offroad adventures. It has a terrain selection feature that changes how it performs based on weather and terrain conditions so that you have the responsiveness you need from the drivetrain regardless of whether you’re on dirt, mud, rocks, snow or pavement.
Its suspension is designed for off road capability and offers excellent shocks so that you don’t feel any of the bumps in your path. The Tacoma has a base price that makes it affordable to purchase a dependable light-duty truck.
Chevrolet Colorado
With up to 7,000 pounds of towing, the Chevrolet Colorado is one of the best midsize trucks for anyone living in the city who wants to take an occasional getaway. It has plenty of power to tow a boat or trailer and gets up to 25 mpg on the highway, so you can go farther on each tank of gas. It’s also quite affordable.
The Colorado can be equipped with up to 17 tie-downs, which is great for cargo management. You can outfit it to accommodate a canoe or kayak, bicycles, an ATV or someone’s furniture on moving day.
Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling truck for 44 years running. It’s durable, capable and offers the ability to customize to your exact needs. It offers seating for up to six people so that you can use it for work or take a vacation in the great outdoors. It has the best-in-class payload and towing, so you can haul or tow just about anything you need, and its driver assistance and safety package helps you get where you’re going without incident.
The Lightning trim allows you to enjoy enough power to tow 10,000 pounds without using any gas at all. In fact, the F-150 Lighting offers the ability to provide power to worksites or even a house for up to three days. It’s really no surprise that the F-150 continues to be the choice of so many working professionals.
What Else To Consider
It’s easy to pay too much attention to price when looking for a new pickup truck. Review the standard equipment packages offered to see if you’re getting the best value, and then only add optional equipment that fulfills a need. Customizing a truck can become expensive, so set a budget before you shop, and stick to it.
