Regresar al GuidesSUVs may be the hottest vehicles on the market right now, but pickup trucks are still the best-sellers. The three best-selling U.S. market vehicles in 2020 were the full-size Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and RAM 1500, respectively. The compact and midsize truck segment is not as well represented in the top ten list of most-sold vehicles, with the Toyota Tacoma taking tenth place behind perennial staples like the Toyota Camry and Honda CR-V. Still, compact pickup trucks are a welcome alternative to their full-size counterparts.
Pickup trucks do not fall into size guidelines like cars. Compact and midsize trucks are generally lumped into the same category. But, despite their small size, they have several advantages over a full-size truck. The largest and most obvious advantage they have is a lower price tag than comparably-equipped full-size pickups. They are not able to haul as much and have a lower tow rating than larger pickups, but they are more manageable, maneuverable, and get better fuel economy since they are usually equipped with smaller engines.
Regardless of your buying needs, small and midsize pickup trucks are a useable, practical, and affordable segment in the automotive world. All models offer four-door, crew cab configurations for those who need the space, and a plethora of trim levels provide a variety of options for just about any taste and need.
2021 Toyota Tacoma
The Toyota Tacoma is the perennial all-star of the small truck segment, outselling its bigger brother, the Toyota Tundra, by more than one hundred thousand units annually. Its reputation for reliability precedes it, and resale values are one of the best in the industry, but its starting MSRP of over $26,000 is relatively high for the segment. Despite this, the base Tacoma is also very well equipped. Features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 7-inch touchscreen display come standard, along with a host of standard safety technology – forward collision warning, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking.
The Tacoma is powered by either a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine or a 3.5-liter V6 making 159 horsepower and 278 horsepower, respectively. Most reviewers find that neither engine provides awe-inspiring performance, but the V6 is preferable for the extra pep. The Tacoma is one of the few remaining vehicles on the market with an optional six-speed manual transmission, but most are sold with the six-speed automatic.
Fuel economy for both engines is at the low end of the class, towing capacity is average at 6,800 pounds, and payload capacity comes in at just over 1,600 pounds. Two areas in which the Tacoma excels are in severe driving conditions and off-road capability. The Tacoma lineup's crown jewel is the off-road-focused TRD Pro trim that comes with extra goodies like skid plates, a modified suspension, and a couple of locking differentials. This top-level trim does come with a nearly $45,000 price tag.
Browse 2021 Toyota Tacoma listings here.
2021 Honda Ridgeline
The Honda Ridgeline is unique in the world of midsize trucks. It is built more for comfort and excellent ride quality than for rugged durability. Its interior is spacious, and reviewers note that seating is comfortable in both rows. The cabin is also more refined than other competitors, with a straightforward layout and quality materials. As a result of this comfort-first mindset, its towing and hauling capacities drop well below other competitors, and its bed is shorter than most others as well. Its starting price is also thousands more than competitors at an MSRP of just under $34,000.
Honda makes the powertrain choice easy for buyers. The only engine available is a 3.5-liter V6 mated to a nine-speed automatic. Buyers can choose from front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. Even though reviewers find the engine to be quite good, overall performance is average.
As a consolation for its high price tag, the Ridgeline comes well-equipped with standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, tri-zone automatic climate control, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and forward-collision warning. It is also a very safe truck with a five-star crash-test rating, earning a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS.
Browse 2021 Honda Ridgeline listings here.
2021 Ford Ranger
The newest Ranger model has only been with us for two years now after a near-decade-long hiatus. Sales numbers have been slower than most have expected, but the Ranger is very well-rounded and carries the larger F-150's DNA with it. Performance stands out as it is produced from a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder that makes 270 horsepower. A ten-speed automatic transmission is standard, and rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive can be had. The competent suspension also contributes to its peppy road manners.
Ford, a company that understands how to make pickup trucks, has struck a balance between excellent fuel economy – up to 24 miles per gallon when equipped with four-wheel-drive – great towing capacity – up to 7,500 pounds – and a roomy, comfortable cabin, especially when choosing the SuperCrew cab layout.
The Ranger has few weaknesses. Reviewers are not fond of the interior quality; some say it looks too cheap. Its off-road capability falls behind competitors, even though it is available in four-wheel-drive. Overall, the Ranger is highly-rated by most reviewers. Base models start around $25,000 and can reach $45,000 when fully equipped and extra accessories are added. With a low starting price for the segment, there are not as many standard features as some competitors offer, but features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking are standard.
Browse 2021 Ford Ranger listings here.
2021 Chevrolet Colorado
The Chevy Colorado is very similar to the Ford Ranger in many ways, which makes sense since Ford and Chevy have been rivals for decades. It starts at around $25,000, like the Ranger. Performance is one of its strongest qualities. Its standard engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 200 horsepower, but a 2.8-liter turbodiesel with 181 horsepower or a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 308 horsepower is optional. The turbodiesel and base 2.5-liter both come with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 comes with two extra gears. The four-cylinder and V6 engines' fuel economy is very close to the Ranger's, with a slightly lower city economy. The turbodiesel does the best with EPA estimates of 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
Another area in which the Colorado shines is towing capacity at a maximum of 7,500 pounds. This rating follows the turbodiesel model, but the V6 is rated at 7,000 pounds, which is still great for the class. In addition to its high towing capacity, the Colorado has a dedicated off-road trim level, similar to the Toyota Tacoma, that gives it serious off-road capability and ruggedness.
Reviewers note most other aspects of the Colorado to be average for the class. The interior is said to be adequate, comfort is average, and interior space is middle-of-the-road. Again, like the Ranger, base models are not well-equipped compared to others.
Browse 2021 Chevrolet Colorado listings here.
2021 GMC Canyon
The GMC Canyon is the Colorado's close sibling. It has a more masculine look than the Colorado to distinguish the two, and it advertises as a more upscale version. Powertrain options are the same as in the Colorado. Its base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 200 horsepower. A 2.8-liter turbodiesel making 181 horsepower and a 3.6-liter V6 making 308 horsepower is optional. The base four-cylinder and turbodiesel engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 is mated to an 8-speed automatic.
The interior and trim levels are what separate the Canyon from the Colorado. The Canyon's interior impressed reviewers much more than the Colorado's, and pricing is higher on every trim level despite having a small number of standard features compared to others in the class. MSRP starts at $26,400.
Like the Colorado, the Canyon can tow more than most other competitors. The turbodiesel maxes out at 7,700 pounds, while the V6 can tow up to 7,000 pounds. It also gets nearly the same fuel economy: up to 25 miles per gallon on the highway in both four-cylinder and V6 models. Turbodiesels do better with up to 28 miles per gallon. The Canyon also has a dedicated off-road trim level for those who want the capability with a little more luxury. Additionally, the Canyon Denali offers one of the most luxurious pickup truck experiences in the class.
Browse 2021 GMC Canyon listings here.
2021 Jeep Gladiator
The Jeep Gladiator is the new kid on the block, aiming to combine the Jeep Wrangler's cult following a pickup truck's utility. For the most part, this has succeeded, though the Gladiator's success has yet to be fully realized. Despite its reportedly comfortable and ergonomically-friendly interior, the Gladiator falls to the bottom of many reviewers' ratings because of its low refinement levels, the high starting price tag – over $33,500 – and comparatively low fuel economy.
The standard Gladiator engine is a 3.6-liter V6 producing 285 horsepower and can be coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. Surprisingly, the Gladiator offers a diesel engine also. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 that produces 260 horsepower is optional. Both engines provide average performance for the class, and all models come standard with four-wheel-drive.
Towing capacity is surprisingly good with a maximum rating of up to 7,650 pounds, and payload can reach 1,700 pounds. Of course, being a Jeep, the Gladiator has excellent off-road capability.
Browse 2021 Jeep Gladiator listings here.
2021 Nissan Frontier
The Nissan Frontier has not been redesigned since 2005, which can be seen as both a good and bad thing. It is a good thing for those familiar with its traditional, simple styling and track record of reliability. It is not so great because the lack of significant changes has left the Frontier far behind its competition. Nissan updated several things for the Frontier in 2020, including the addition of a push-button start, a new nine-speed automatic transmission, and an updated V6 engine producing 310 horsepower, but 2021 will be the last year of the current generation Frontier. A redesigned truck is expected to hit dealerships for the 2022 model year.
The base Frontier starts at just over $28,000, a price that many reviewers believe is too high for the basic interior, lack of overall refinement, and a small list of standard features. This list includes a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, rear-wheel-drive, and a rearview camera. With relatively small interior space, the cabin comfort is reported by reviewers as average, as is the overall driving experience.
The Frontier does offer outstanding predicted reliability and the Pro-4X trim, which is similar to the Colorado ZR2 or Tacoma TRD Pro. It includes upgrades to various components to make the Frontier better able to tackle the great outdoors. Again though, the Frontier falls back down in the class due to its relatively low 6,720-pound maximum towing capacity and a maximum payload of just over 1,400 pounds. Fuel efficiency also lags behind other competitors, with 24 miles per gallon in two-wheel-drive models and one less MPG in four-wheel-drive-equipped trucks. Along with only a few others in the segment, the Frontier is still available in a regular cab or extended cab layout.
