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 and from our expert best small pickup truck 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.

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Best small pickup truck

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. To that end, we have compiled a list of some smaller pickup trucks that have surprisingly capable workhorse abilities. The new Ford Maverick is a revival of an old nameplate, but this time it takes the shape of a pickup truck — a very small pickup truck. The Ford Maverick may be small, but it's a great truck as it's got all the features that make Ford trucks some of the best-selling trucks in America. All you have to do is look at its big brother, the F, and that will tell you just what the Maverick is capable of, just on a smaller scale. Powering the Maverick is a 2.

Compact trucks weigh anywhere from pounds to pounds depending on model, trim level, and equipment.

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Our editors carefully select every product we recommend. We may earn a commission from these links. Learn more. By: Tim Huber Updated: Jan 02, Pickup trucks are an immensely popular genre of automobile, currently accounting for one out of every five new vehicles sold. Like SUVs, pickups have slowly but steadily grown larger and larger over the last few decades, gaining additional power and cargo space along the way. At the same time, however, manufacturers have also been rolling out ever-more competent compact pickup models that offer serious workhorse capabilities in a surprisingly small footprint — making them increasingly viable alternatives to full and mid-sized trucks. Once dominated primarily by foreign makes , as of late, the compact pickup market has experienced a significant influx in popularity, leading to more and more major OEMs tossing their hat in the compact pickup ring. The compact pickup sector offers a fairly straightforward buying experience, though there are still a handful of factors that are important to take into account before deciding on your purchase.

Best small pickup truck

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. This combination is good for an EPA-estimated 42 mpg city. The Maverick is also priced more like a car than a pickup.

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In this regard, there are plenty of pickup trucks that offer the best value for money , combining practicality and workhorse ability in one package. A turbocharged 2. Thankfully, Chevrolet hasn't fallen into the trap of making the Colorado all show and no go. A heavier engine might make more power, but also takes a bigger bite out of GVWR. For a smaller-size pickup truck, the all-new Ford Ranger makes a big statement. Compact trucks weigh anywhere from pounds to pounds depending on model, trim level, and equipment. We take rankings seriously because we want you to know everything about the vehicles that you're interested in. The problem is that smaller trucks have traditionally also been less capable of supporting heavy loads. Ranger Raptor uses the same 3. See full list. Under the hood, you get just one engine: a turbocharged 2.

For lighter work, a small truck is ideal. While small and mid-size trucks may not offer the same capability and versatility as larger, full-sized trucks, they have their own benefits to consider. And, with the continued improvement of electrification, hybrid, and even electric trucks are becoming more common.

Small trucks can carry a total of five occupants. The old Ford Ranger model years had the highest payload in the midsize truck class. Best Mid-Size Pickup Trucks. What is the difference between compact trucks and midsize trucks? Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Powering the Maverick is a 2. That means standard features like seatbelts, airbags, and crash structures. The Ranger maintains the same horsepower pound-foot 2. Under the hood, you get just one engine: a turbocharged 2. The reason why midsize trucks are popular with outdoorsy types? Are small trucks safe? All three trucks well, four if you count the GM twins twice are traditional body-on-frame trucks with live rear axles and independent front suspension.