Pickup are versatile cars. They can assist you carry your family, tow your toys and carry your gear all at the exact same time. Some are pavement queens, others are specialized for adventure– and some arent even technically pickups at all. With the wide range of pickup in the market, it can be hard to choose which one is best for you. Thats where your good friends at CNET Cars can be found in. Weve driven them all, from the venerable Ford F-150 to the all-electric Rivian R1T. If youre struggling with a purchasing decision, have a look at our recommendations for pickup that fit your lifestyle and requirements.
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There is a reason the Ford F-150 is the bestselling truck, nay, the bestselling automobile in America: It just works. Offered with three taxi options, three bed lengths, 4 various gasoline engines, a hybrid variant and a soon-to-be-released electric powertrain, theres a wealth of customization to be had. And thats before you dig into the eight various trim levels and 2- and 4×4 options. The Ford also features some cool functions that arent found in the rest of the market. An onboard generator can provide as much as 7.2 kW of power and you can get four 120-volt, 20-amp outlets and one 240-volt, 30-amp plug. Ford says you could set up a mobile welding store with this much juice. The gear selector folds flat, making way for a fold-down work surface area, and the seats can recline nearly 180 degrees for a quick nap.Depending on your configuration you can tow approximately 14,000 pounds and haul 3,325 pounds, which is more than limit numbers from the Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra.As for tech, the F-150 is readily available with all the innovative drivers help you could ever desire including Active Drive Assist. On specific mapped and divided highways the F-150 will enable chauffeurs to take their hands off the guiding wheel, although a driver-facing camera makes sure your eyes remain on the road. The F-150 starts at $31,685 consisting of $1,695 for location.
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Towing comes in at 12,000 pounds with a max payload of 1,940. The old Tundra was quite much tech-free, however this next-generation full-size truck has a readily available 12.3-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster and an optional 14-inch touchscreen real estate a brand new infotainment system. Its a major upgrade with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, pinch-to-zoom capability and natural speech recognition.The 2022 Toyota Tundra begins at $37,645 consisting of $1,695 for destination.
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro has rugged design and hybrid power
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Coming back for the 2019 model year after an eight year hiatus, the Ford Ranger gets the midsize market. For those who desire to venture off the pavement, the new Tremor bundle includes all kinds of off-road goodies.Towing capability is a whopping 7,500 pounds, regardless of setup. A two-wheel drive Ranger can transport 1,905 pounds of payload beating the trousers off the Toyota Tacoma and GMs Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon twins.
2021 Ford Ranger Tremor: Now with more off-road hijinks
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If you go by sales numbers, the Toyota Tacoma is the midsize pickup king, but there is more to a truck than simply sales reports. We like the Tacoma primary and first for its dependability and exceptional resale worth. A four-cylinder engine is basic however do yourself a favor and go for the 3.5-liter V6 with a six-speed handbook transmission, however know that the most sustain economy youll get out of a four-wheel drive Taco is only 20 miles per gallon.Why doesnt it take leading pet dog? It offers less towing and hauling capabilities than the Ranger– a maximum of 6,800 pounds towing and up to 1,685 pounds in the bed. The six-speed automated transmission is picky and loves to upshift quickly and the throttle action is laggy. Further, the interior is uneasy and cramped and the infotainment, though geared up with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, is still behind the Rangers in terms of graphics and processing speed.The Toyota Tacoma begins at $27,715 consisting of $1,215 for location..
Toyota
2022 Toyota Tacoma Trail Edition: Lower-priced efficiency.
Hauling and rock crawling with the 2020 Ford F-Series Super Duty.
Ram.
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The F-Series Super Duty truck is available as an F-250, F-350 or F-450 with a double or single rear wheel established and your choice of a 6.2-liter V8, a 6.7-liter power or a 7.3-liter v8 Stroke diesel V8. That diesel will deliver 475 horse power and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. The Super Duty begins at $38,190 consisting of $1,695 for destination.Depending on how the Super Duty is configured, you can tow 37,000 pounds with a gooseneck trailer, 32,500 pounds with a conventional trailer and can haul 7,850 pounds of payload in its bed. As in the Ram, bear in mind that an industrial license is typically required to tow that type of weight.What sets the Ford apart is that it can be had with the Tremor off-road bundle with 35-inch tires, drive modes with a rock-crawl mode and suspension tuned for the dirt. Sure, you may not need to take your giant pickup out wheeling, however isnt it great to understand you could?
When it comes to discover the glamorous pickup truck rig, the Ram is tops. Add a jeweled rotary shifter, a suede headliner and a 19-speaker Harmon Kardon Premium Sound system– you bet your sweet bippy this truck is fancy.While the cabin design is superior, the Ram also provides a stellar flight quality. The air suspension can likewise reduce the truck when youre getting in and out, so no jumping is necessary.On the tech front you can get whatever you might potentially desire and then more.
Towing a trailer can be intimidating. Visibility is hard, backing it up is challenging and folks can get actually nervous behind the wheel. The Silverado 1500 is available with up to 15 different camera views to put your fears at rest.The transparent trailer innovation is actually cool, providing drivers a view of what lags them. We likewise like the rear profile option, which gives a trailer length indication showing automobiles in the trailers lane-change course. A rear trailer view displays standards to help in supporting and you can even have a view inside the trailer to inspect in on your livestock. To help in hooking up the trailer there are four offered drawback view angles as well. Youll get a jack knife alert and a bed cam with zoom performance. Rounding out the tech is SuperCruise, which adjusts for drag and increased braking distances and permits drivers to go hands-free, eyes-up on 200,000 miles of mapped highways.The Silverado is also available with on-screen checklists to make sure youve done whatever when hooking up, trailer tire pressure and temperature level monitoring as well as trailer lighting checks so you will not be driving down the highway with one tail light out like a noob. Depending upon configuration the Silverado can tow anywhere from 8,900 pounds to 13,300 pounds. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 starts at $33,595 consisting of $1,695 for destination.
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You can have your durable Ram in 2500 or 3500 guise with a double or single rear wheel with a 6.4-liter V8, a 6.7-liter Cummins diesel or a 6.7-liter high-output Cummins diesel. The routine cab and crew cab can be had with a substantial 8-foot bed, or you can go the opposite instructions and opt for the spacious mega taxi with a still considerable six-foot, four-inch bed.Were putting the Ram on the top over the Ford for a couple of factors. The high output 6.7-liter produces 420 horse power and edges out the Ford with 1,075 pound-feet of torque. The Ram can tow just a smidge more: 37,090 pounds with a gooseneck trailer. Keep in mind that in numerous states, just chauffeurs with an industrial license can tow this kind of weight, so be sure to inspect your regional policies before you go off and tow the equivalent of 9 elephants.Maximum payload here is 7,680 pounds however what is most satisfying is the driving experience. The Ram 2500 can be had with a five-link coil suspension or an air suspension, and we really like Rams Uconnect infotainment with its big ol 12-inch touchscreen and tow-specific navigation.The 2022 Ram Heavy Duty starts at $39,545 including $1,795 for destination.
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2022 Ram 1500 Limited 10th Anniversary Edition is effectively chic.
The new kid on the block gets our choice for the best full-size off-road truck. The Ram TRX has a 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 stuffed under the hood for 702 horse power and 650 pound-feet of torque. Thats Baja 1000 trophy truck type of power, people. Its likewise entering some trophy rates: $77,575 including $1,795 for delivery.Keeping all of it in check is adaptive 2.5 Bilstein Blackhawk E2 shocks that can adjust the compression and rebound damping in 20 milliseconds. Remote reservoirs keep the shocks cool in the hot and dusty desert environments and the truck boasts 13 inches of travel in the front, 14 inches in the rear. And, oh yeah: You can leap it. Ram declares 2,000 pounds of damping force absorption at each corner. The Ford Raptor is still a worthy competitor, in fact it does pulling and hauling simply a bit much better than the Ram TRX, but for full-scale raucousness, whoop-running and dune leaping, the TRX is the existing king..
If you desire to get far off the grid with plenty of equipment, have a look at the Ram 2500 Power Wagon. This sturdy truck has a lot of room in its 6.4-foot-long bed for an aftermarket rack, a rooftop camping tent, a fridge and whatever else you might need to keep you comfy while camping. Payload is ranked at 1,560 pounds, so proceed and add the coffee maker, a set of healing boards and a blender for end-of-day margaritas.The Ram comes requirement with solid axles and lockers in the front and rear, a disconnecting sway bar for more expression and a 12,000-pound Warn winch. It also has huge amounts of ground clearance, 14.3 inches, which provides the huge young boy some excellent geometry. Im talking 33.6 degrees of method angle, 26.2 degrees of departure angle and 23.5 degrees of breakover angle. Not too worn-out for a truck with a 149-inch wheelbase.The 6.4-liter V8 engine pushes out 410 horse power and 429 pound-feet of torque. The EPA doesnt offer fuel economy for sturdy trucks, however we averaged about 12 miles per gallon combined when we drove it. With a 31 gallon tank you might get 372 miles of variety, however we recommend bringing fuel with you. We wish the Power Wagon were offered with the 6.7-liter diesel motor thats readily available on other Ram HD trims, however alas, it is not to be. Youll shell out $59,185, including $1,795 for location, for a brand-new Power Wagon.
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If all these trucks sound a little too, well, trucky for you, examine out the Ford Maverick. As a unibody automobile it isnt technically a truck, but it performs most truck duties well enough for lots of customers. Its compact enough for city usage however can still tow 4,000 pounds when equipped with all-wheel drive and the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine.
Ram Trucks.
Honda.
If you actually want to get off the beaten path, you cant go incorrect with a Jeep Gladiator. There is a big difference between trims and for my money, I d choose the Mojave trim over the Rubicon because its made to go much faster when the dirt gets rough. Expect to tow a max of 6,000 pounds and haul 1,200 pounds in the bed of a Mojave.
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Read our 2022 Ford Maverick review
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If you live where parking is at a premium however you require the utility of a truck, check out the diminutive Hyundai Santa Cruz. Sure, its not as long as a mid-size truck, but it can transport a healthy 1,753 pounds. Even midsize trucks can feel beastly from behind the wheel, however all that goes out the window with the Santa Cruz.
Emme Hall/Roadshow.
Honda.
Like the Ford Maverick above, the Honda Ridgeline is a unibody automobile that isnt technically a truck. The independent front and rear suspension implies flight quality is much nicer than a basic pickup truck, and it returns an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg combined.Off-roading isnt top of mind for the Ridgeline with it space of any low tailoring, ground clearance is just 7.6 inches and the geometry isnt amazing. As with the other unibody trucks out there, crawling over stones isnt going to be a perfect circumstance for the Ridgeline, however if you require to transport and tow things and want a smooth pavement rider, this Honda ought to certainly be on your shopping list.
Read our 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz evaluation
Contrast of the very best trucks for 2022.
Max payload (lbs).
Best truck overall/Best full-size truck.
Torque Range (lb-ft).
Sure, the Rivian remains in a class of one today … up until the GMC Hummer EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV and Ford F-150 Lightning make their method into car dealerships. However, its still an extremely capable truck that is at house on the street with its comfortable trip and out in the dirt with its 15 inches of ground clearance. The R1T has a 135-kWh battery pack that stores enough power to go 314 miles. Even more, the truck can accept a charge of 200 kW, including 140 miles in just 20 minutes. IT can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds, ford three feet of water and tow as much as 11,000 pounds. Yowza.The Rivian is likewise flush with storage area. A gear tunnel behind the rear seats has enough space for healing equipment and overnight bags. The frunk is practically as big and the bed is 54 inches long. Sure, its much shorter than your basic full-size truck, however not too shabby.Deliveries are occurring right now, however youll still have to preorder your Rivian R1T beginning at the tune of $67,500. The business does not note any location costs.
Classification.
Name.
Max towing (pounds).
Beginning cost.
Rivian.
.
Horsepower variety (hp).
2022 Ford F-150.
290-430.
265-570.
14,000.
3,325.
$ 31,685.
Best truck overall runner-up/Best full-size truck runner-up.
2022 Toyota Tundra.
389-437.
479-583.
12,000.
1,940.
Finest midsize truck.
$ 37,645.
2022 Ford Ranger.
270.
310.
7,500.
1,860.
Finest midsize truck runner-up.
$ 27,440.
2022 Toyota Tacoma.
159-278.
180-265.
6,800.
1,685.
$ 27,715.
Best sturdy truck.
2022 Ram HD.
370-420.
429-1,075.
37,090.
7,680.
Best heavy-duty truck runner-up.
$ 39,545.
2022 Ford F-Series Super Duty.
385-475.
430-1,050.
37,000.
7,850.
Best truck for a novice tower.
$ 38,190.
2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
277-420.
383-460.
13,300.
$ 33,595.
N/A.
Finest high-end truck.
2022 Ram 1500 Limited 10th Anniversary Edition.
260-395.
269-480.
11,500.
2,000.
$ 61,870.
Best midsize off-road truck.
2022 Jeep Gladiator.
260-285.
260-442.
7,650.
1,700.
$ 36,910.
Best full-size off-road truck.
2022 Ram TRX.
702.
650.
8,100.
1,310.
Finest truck for overlanding.
$ 77,575.
2022 Ram 2500 Power Wagon.
410.
429.
10,590.
1,520.
$ 59,185.
Finest small truck.
2022 Ford Maverick.
191-250.
N/A -277.
4,000.
1,500.
Finest small truck runner-up.
$ 21,490.
2022 Honda Ridgeline.
280.
262.
5,000.
1,583.
$ 38,865.
Best city truck..
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz.
191-282.
181-311.
5,000.
1,753.
Finest electric truck.
$ 25,365.
2022 Rivian R1T.
835.
908.
11,000.
1,760.
$ 67,500.
There is a reason the Ford F-150 is the bestselling truck, nay, the bestselling vehicle in America: It simply works. When it comes to find the luxurious pickup truck rig, the Ram is tops. Include a jeweled rotary shifter, a suede headliner and a 19-speaker Harmon Kardon Premium Sound system– you bet your sweet bippy this truck is fancy.While the cabin design is superior, the Ram likewise delivers an outstanding flight quality. As a unibody automobile it isnt technically a truck, however it carries out most truck tasks well enough for lots of customers. Sure, its not as long as a mid-size truck, but it can carry a healthy 1,753 pounds.
How we made our list We make certain to drive and review every lorry we advise. CNET Cars has decades of combined experience and our picks represent the automobiles we would desire to own for each private classification. Prices is taken from every manufacturers websites, but the dealership sets the final rate. And remember, we dont actually get to own everything– as much as we d want to– so we cant comment on long-term reliability. We suggest that you talk with current owners to get an idea of upkeep costs and the like. More brand-new cars and truck recommendations.