Pickup truck competition is fierce, and just like other segments of the automotive industry, change is in the air. With new electric trucks such as the GMC Hummer EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevy Silverado EV, and Rivian R1T, there's a charge running through the segment. Small pickups, such as the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, are the other big news. These trucks offer new options for small businesses and weekend warriors alike who don’t need a full-size truck. But which is the best truck for you? Read on to find out!
The Best Trucks of 2024
- Chevrolet Colorado
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- Ford F-150
- Ford Maverick
- Ford Super Duty
- Honda Ridgeline
- Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Jeep Gladiator
- Nissan Frontier
- Ram 1500
- Ram Heavy Duty
- Toyota Tacoma
Chevrolet Colorado
Though it has risen in price in the past few years, the Chevy Colorado is one of the most affordable small trucks on the market (not counting the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, which are subcompact pickups). The most bare-bones Colorado is a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) extended cab variant dubbed “WT,” or “Work Truck.” It comes fitted with a 2.7-liter turbo four-cylinder engine that doles out a solid 237 horsepower. All models come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission. With basic essentials like air conditioning and power windows, not to mention a 3,500-pound towing capacity, this particular Colorado represents a strong value for those who need the utility of a workhorse for a smaller truck.
If you want more capability, power, or creature comforts, the Colorado has you covered. An available four-wheel-drive (4WD) system is a given, as is an optional high-output 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder TurboMax engine boasting 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. When properly equipped, the TurboMax equipped Colorado can tow up to 7,700 pounds, which is among the best in the small truck segment.
Off-Road enthusiasts should head straight toward the 2024 Colorado ZR2 Bison, the newest trim offering the highest level of performance and capability.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Admittedly, we have mixed opinions on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s styling. Some like it, while others will politely say they’re looking forward to a refresh. Obviously, plenty of truck buyers fall into the former camp, as the Silverado continues to be not only one of the U.S.’s favorite trucks but also one of its best-selling vehicles across all segments. Ford may move more F-150s off dealer lots, but the Chevy Silverado is considered as American as apple pie.
Brand loyalty plays a big role in those sales, and Chevrolet continues to expand the Silverado 1500 portfolio to keep buyers in a Bowtie-branded pickup. The lineup still includes regular, extended (Double), and crew cab styles, rear- or four-wheel-drive (4WD), and a host of trim levels ranging from the Work Truck to a Silverado 1500 High Country luxury truck and ZR2, each of which can climb toward $80,000. In between is the most popular LT model and the off-road-oriented Trail Boss.
Engine choices include a 5.3-liter V8, 6.2-liter V8, and a six-cylinder Duramax turbocharged diesel that produces 495 lb-ft of torque. In addition, Chevy is the only company to offer a modern full-size pickup truck with a four-cylinder engine. That’s a turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four producing 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque.
Depending on the configuration, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is capable of towing up to 13,300 pounds and accommodating a 2,260-pound payload. This figure puts Silverado among the best-in-class for towing capacity.
Ford F-150
You can’t really have a Best Pickup Trucks list without including the best-selling Ford F-150. Since the days of the Reagan administration, Ford has been the champ of the light-duty, full-size pickup market. The company aims to keep that streak alive in the 2024 model year with a recently refreshed F-150 offering a wide range of powertrains, a new pricing structure, and the fully electric F-150 Lightning. The 2024 model is also offered in high-performance Raptor and Raptor R trims.
Like the Silverado, the F-150 continues to be offered in regular, extended (SuperCab), and crew (SuperCrew) cab body styles with RWD or 4WD capability and a variety of bed lengths. There’s also a long list of trim levels, from the no-frills XL to the mid-range XLT and Lariat, and top-tier F-150 Platinum. If you’re opting for the latter and paying north of $70,000, the optional spray-in bed liner might be a smart investment.
There’s equal variety under the F-150’s hood, which plays host to myriad engines. Starting things off is a newly standard 325-hp turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine. Next up is an available 400-hp 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. For those who prefer the rumble of a naturally aspirated V8 engine, Ford offers the 5.0-liter “Coyote” engine with its stout 400 hp. And, of course, there's Ford’s hybrid F-150 PowerBoost: a 3.5-liter V6 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor. The appropriately named Ford F-150 Lightning (which is a great reuse of a 1990s F-150 performance trim name) offers a range of 240 miles or 320 miles, depending on battery selection. Two high-output versions of the EcoBoost powertrain power the Raptor and Raptor R, with 450 and 700 horsepower, respectively.
Ford Maverick
Let's face it, plenty of shoppers buy more truck than they need, and that’s their prerogative. But if you run a small business, have plenty of weekend projects, or just want a home base for your active lifestyle, the Maverick might be the just-right pickup you’ve been looking for. Unlike most trucks, which feature body-on-frame construction, the Maverick features a car-like unibody setup. This is similar to the Honda Ridgeline and Hyundai Santa Cruz. The result is a lighter, more efficient truck that provides a surprisingly versatile cabin for its size.
The standard engine in the Maverick is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder as part of a FWD-only hybrid setup. It makes 191 horsepower and returns fuel economy of 42 mpg city, 33 highway, and 37 combined. The available 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder puts out 250 horsepower and is available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The standard towing capacity is 2,000 pounds, and it can be upped to 4,000 pounds with the optional 4K Package. The 4-foot-6 bed isn’t very large, but it offers some clever storage solutions and a built-in bottle opener!
Trims for the Maverick are XL, XLT, and Lariat. The XL comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a number of driver assistance features. The XLT adds 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, an in-bed cargo unit, and a power-locking tailgate. The range-topping XLT loads on dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats, and push-button start.
(2023 vehicle pictured)Ford Super Duty
With this selection, we are specifically highlighting the F-250 and F-350 Super Duty models suitable for commercial and non-commercial use (it’s hard to make a case for the F-450 or F-550 as daily drivers).
Like the F-150, the 2022 Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks can be had in XL through Limited trim levels with regular, SuperCab, and SuperCrew body styles and a variety of bed lengths. Buyers have their choice of rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 4WD, along with a trio of engine options: the base 385-hp 6.2-liter V8, a new 430-hp 7.3-liter V8 nicknamed Godzilla, and a 6.7-liter V8 Power Stroke turbocharged diesel with 475 hp and a class-leading 1,050 lb-ft of torque. As is the case with all trucks, the levels of luxury seem to climb exponentially with every boost in power, leading to F-350s that come close to $100,000. That’s roughly $100 per lb-ft. All of that translates to a towing capacity of 32,500 pounds and a payload capacity up to 7,850 pounds. Put another way, you’d need at least 10 Chevrolet Colorados to haul what one F-350 could handle in a single trip.
Honda Ridgeline
There’s no denying the diversity of today’s pickup truck market. We just finished detailing the body-on-frame Ford Super Duty, with its stratospheric levels of torque and ability to tow nearly 18 tons. On the other end of the spectrum resides the Honda Ridgeline, a unibody pickup that shares its platform with the Honda Odyssey minivan and the Honda Pilot SUV.
Clearly, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone cross-shopping the Super Duty and the Ridgeline when they’re looking for a new truck, and that’s for good reason. Due to its less rugged architecture, the Ridgeline offers one of the most car-like rides in the segment and proves to be incredibly versatile with its dual-action tailgate and ample locking storage compartment under the bed floor. After a 2024-model-year refresh, The Ridgeline comes standard with all-wheel-drive (AWD) capability, instead of 4WD; Honda's AWD-in-a-truck tech was unique to the truck segment until the Hyundai Santa Cruz came along. Inside, there’s room for five passengers, while the abundance of creature comforts depends on which trim you select. Under the hood is a 280-hp V6 mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission, a duo that helps the Ridgeline tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
The Hyundai Santa Cruz, introduced for 2022, was the first new compact truck to be introduced in the United States in over a decade. The Santa Cruz and its natural competitor, the Ford Maverick, are unlike anything else on the market, though both feature car-like unibody construction like the Honda Ridgeline. The Santa Cruz is not as capable as other trucks, but Hyundai is fine with that, going so far as to call the Santa Cruz a “sport adventure vehicle” rather than a pickup.
The Santa Cruz comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, good for 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque and comes with front-wheel drive (FWD) only. A turbocharged engine option increases output to 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and is paired exclusively with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Santa Cruz is offered in SE, SEL, Night, XRT, and Premium trim levels.
Both towing capability and off-road capability are modest. Towing maxes out at 3,500 pounds with the naturally-aspirated engine and 5,000 pounds with the turbo engine, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance provides some space to go over obstacles, though there's no underbody protection and even AWD models lack true four-wheel-drive benefits.
Jeep Gladiator
Essentially a lengthened Wrangler Unlimited with a separate bed in place of the rear cargo area, the Jeep Gladiator blends the Wrangler’s fun factor with the utility of a pickup truck. Granted, the bed is only five feet long, but you can weigh it down with up to 1,725 pounds of payload. If that’s not sufficient, a 7,700-pound towing capacity should allow you to pull whatever needs transporting. The Gladiator comes with a 285-hp 3.6-liter V6 used in scores of other Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge products.
But let’s get back to what puts the Gladiator on this list: fun. As manual-transmission junkies, we’re thrilled to see the Gladiator available with a six-speed gearbox and clutch pedal (though an eight-speed automatic is available for those not so inclined). You can still find that option on a few of the Gladiator’s competitors, but what you won’t find are a removable soft or hardtop, removable doors, a fold-down windshield, or a wireless Bluetooth speaker mated to a 552-watt Alpine sound system. Those features make the 2024 Jeep Gladiator wholly unique and well-suited for four-wheeling entertainment regardless of weather or terrain.
Nissan Frontier
The Frontier was completely redesigned for the first time in nearly two decades for the 2022 model year. It has made up for lost time with exterior styling that will be modern for years to come. It’s the same story in the cabin, which is sharp-looking and functional. The Frontier comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and is available with a larger 9-inch touchscreen. Both feature an intuitive layout and come standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Remote keyless entry and push-button start are also standard, while features such as wireless device charging and 10-speaker Fender premium stereo system are optional or come on higher-up trims.
No matter which trim you select, the Frontier comes standard with a 3.8-liter V6 engine. It makes 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission routes power to the rear wheels, unless you opt for the available four-wheel drive. When properly equipped, the Frontier can tow 6,640 pounds and has a payload of 1,620 pounds.
The real gem of the lineup is the range-topping Hardbody Edition. In addition to coming with all the equipment we mentioned, it also features durable skid plates, all-terrain tires, and a sports bar. It’s a capable off-road truck that also makes a bold visual statement thanks to its black exterior details.
Ram 1500
Among full-size, light-duty trucks, the Ram remains one of our favorites with its unique styling and overall refinement. From its comfortable ride quality, courtesy of a coil-spring suspension, to its smooth power delivery, handy RamBox storage, and upscale amenities like a massive 12-inch center infotainment touchscreen, it’s easy to see why an increasing number of buyers are opting for a Ram 1500.
With a base price just above $38,570, the Ram 1500 is significantly more expensive than its competitors. Unlike the F-150 and Silverado, Ram’s light-duty 1500 pickup is offered only in extended (Quad) and crew cab configurations. Trim levels start with the Tradesman and finish with the Limited, while engine selections include a 305-hp 3.6-liter V6 or a 395-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8. An eTorque mild-hybrid system is paired with both engines, improving acceleration and efficiency. Towing capacity maxes out at 12,750 pounds and payload peaks at 2,300 pounds.
Ram Heavy Duty
Similar to their little brother, the Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty models are nipping at the heels of class leaders thanks in part to improvements in comfort and refinement, but also to some very impressive specs. In this case, the standard engine is a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that produces 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque, though that can be swapped out for a 6.7-liter Cummins inline-six turbodiesel offering 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque. If you’re thinking that is hardly in the same ballpark as Ford with its 1,050 lb-ft, you’d be right. Instead, look to the High Output version of that Cummins powerplant available in the Ram 3500. It’s a costly option—about $12,500—but boosts horsepower to 420 and torque to 1,075 lb-ft.
With that kind of grunt on tap, the Ram 3500 can tow up to 37,090 pounds and carry a 7,680-pound payload. That’s more towing capacity than the Ford F-350 Super Duty.
Cab choices include regular cab, extended (Quad), crew, and the Mega Cab with its cavernous amounts of rear-seat space. Among the many available trims is the 2500 Power Wagon, available exclusively with the 6.4-liter Hemi and in the crosshairs of Ford’s new Super Duty Tremor.
The infotainment is the latest-and-greatest Uconnect 5 interface, which has vivid graphics and retains its predecessor's sensible layout.
Toyota Tacoma
You don’t have to look hard to find a Tacoma with hundreds of thousands of miles on the clock, likely with its original powertrain. When older models fell victim to rusty frames, Toyota replaced the crusty parts and sent the trucks back on their way to keep the odometers rolling. Used car listings are peppered with these trucks, demonstrating not only their longevity but also their outstanding resale value. With that kind of track record, there’s no questioning why the Toyota Tacoma carries on the tradition of the best-selling midsize truck.
Tacoma is completely redesigned for 2024, and most notably, ditches the V6 in favor of two new turbocharged four-cylinder engines, one being a fuel-efficient hybrid.
The Tacoma is still one of the few vehicles still available with a manual transmission, though you’ll need to opt for the SR, TRD Sport or recently TRD Off-Road to get it. The standard engine for the SR, SR5 and TRD Prerunner is a 224-hp 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder putting out 243 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Moving up the trim ladder you will find a hybrid version of that 2.4-liter engine either optional or standard. Named the iForce-MAX, it delivers 365 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. Body choices are limited to an extended (Access) or crew cab model with either rear- or four-wheel-drive capability. In addition to the TRD, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter trims, Tacoma buyers may consider the utilitarian SR variant, as well as mid-range SR5 or upscale Limited. When properly configured, the 2024 Tacoma can tow a respectable 6,500 pounds and haul 1,709 pounds of payload.