How to Pick the Perfect Pickup Truck: Your Ultimate Guide

Having a pickup truck is more popular now than ever before, and with good reason. While they used to be utility vehicles that were primarily used for work, these vehicles are now equipped with all of the luxuries that come with high end cars. They have more comfort and convenience than ever before, but are still able to do the heavy duty work we need. With so many options on the market, how do you know which truck is right for you?

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Here’s your ultimate guide to buying a truck.

Are there different types of pickup trucks?

All pickup trucks are not created equal. Some are economical and good on fuel, while others are workhorses designed for lugging and towing. They are generally broken down based on size, but within each category there are lots of options. From engine size to seating capacity you will find many trucks to choose from in each truck size category.

Compact Pickup Trucks

Compact trucks are the least expensive way to get into a pickup truck. They are, well, more compact than full size trucks and therefore get better gas mileage and are great for commuting. While they can’t handle serious hauling, they are great for when you need a bed for lugging around weekend projects.

Compact Truck Examples: Hyundai Santa Cruz, Ford Maverick

Mid-Size Trucks

Mid-size trucks bridge the gap between compact and full size trucks. They can handle a similar tow load as a full-size truck but weigh significantly less, which means that they are easier to handle and get better gas mileage. Mid-size trucks are not as popular as full-size trucks, but they are actually a great option for many people.

Mid-Size Truck Examples: Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger

Full-Size Pickup Trucks

Full-size trucks are the most popular trucks and account for the largest share of truck sales.. They are powerful, long-lasting, and incredibly versatile. They appeal to a large group of people and with today’s latest safety features and passenger amenities, they are great family cars as well.

Full-Size Truck Examples: Ford F-150, Ram , Chevy Silverado

Heavy Duty Pickup Trucks

Heavy duty trucks are true workhorses and have an incredible payload and towing capabilities. They are larger than full-size trucks and are built as work vehicles, not as commuters. 

Heavy Duty Truck Examples: Ram , GMC Sierra

What factors should I consider when choosing a pickup truck?

When deciding which truck is right for you, there are a number of factors that you should consider. 

The Cab Size 

One of the most important factors to consider is the size of the truck’s interior. Do you need to fit the family, or is a smaller cab ok since it’s a work truck? Trucks can have four different cab styles that offer different seating and storage options.

• Regular Cab: Two doors, one row of seating.

• Extended Cab: Two or four doors, two rows of seats. The back two doors are typically smaller than the primary doors. 

• Crew Cab: Four full size doors, two rows of seating.

• Extended Crew Cab: Four full size doors, two rows of seating, plus extra storage. 

The Bed Size

The bed is the reason most people want a truck. You can lug around whatever you need without worrying about cramming it into a car or SUV. But there are a lot of options when it comes to bed length. The cab size you pick may lock you into a certain size bed however. 

Full-size pickup trucks typically have a 6-8 foot bed. As the cab becomes bigger, the bed tends to shrink. Compact pickups typically have 4 ½ to 6 foot beds. When deciding what truck is right for you, determine what you will use the truck for and if it’s large enough to lug what you need. 

Engine Size

When we talk about truck size we also have to consider the engine size. Truck engines range from small four cylinder engines to large diesels and run the gamut in between. The smaller the engine, the better your gas mileage will be (the Maverick Hybrid averages 37 mpg according to Consumer reports). Heavy duty trucks that are built for handling large payloads are heavier in general and may only get around 15 mpg.

Payload and Towing Capacity

If you need your truck to do some serious work you need to consider the payload and towing capacity. These are two separate capacities that account for different things.

Payload Capacity: The amount of weight that can be added to the truck’s cargo area.

Towing Capacity: The amount of weight that the truck can tow.

Both capacities have to account for the weight of the truck as well. There are many factors that affect these capacities, including the engine size, the rear axle ratio, and the size of the truck. 

A small truck may only have a payload capacity of pounds, while a heavy duty truck may have a payload capacity of pounds. 

Compact trucks can typically haul between and pounds, while heavy duty trucks can haul over 30,000 pounds. Manufacturers often offer add-on packages that can increase your towing capacity significantly. 

Safety 

Safety should always be a top priority when deciding which truck is right for you, especially if you are using your truck as a family vehicle. There are a lot of features that come standard with pickup trucks and other options that you can add on to make sure that your truck is safe for you and your loved ones. 

• Forward collision warning

• Blind spot detection

• Automatic emergency braking

• Lane departure warning

What is the average price of a pickup truck?

Trucks are getting more and more expensive every year. In fact, according to Kelley Blue Book, the average transaction price for a new truck was $59,000 at the end of . So how did these no frill work vehicles become one of the most expensive options available? 

Answer: they became more powerful and more luxurious. 

In the s all trucks were small or midsize. By there was a huge shift to full size trucks. Pickup trucks used to be called “half ton trucks” because they could typically carry 1,000 pounds of people, cargo, and trailer weight. But trucks are now designed to carry much higher payloads and tow more. They are heavier in general to accommodate for this and have more powerful engines to perform better. Consider the Ford Super-Duty F-250 which can haul 4,000 pounds and to up to 23,000 pounds. It has a 6.8L V8 engine and has 430 horsepower to achieve this.  

On top of this, trucks have been designed to drive better. The rickety manual transmissions have been replaced with some of the strongest transmissions ever designed, such as the Chrysler TorqueFlite A-727 and the Allison . They replaced basic leaf spring suspensions in favor of coil suspensions making them a much nicer ride. 

More powerful engines, state of the art transmissions, and costly suspensions would all add to the price tag on their own. But they are also more luxurious and convenient for passengers with added features that you used to dream about seeing. Some of these features include:

• Heated and ventilated seats

• Power adjusted front and rear seats

• Wireless device charging

• Adaptive headlights

• Ambient lighting

• Massaging seats

• Parking sensors

Real wood paneling, leather seating, and giant large screen infotainment systems are common in today’s best selling trucks.

How do you know if I can afford a truck?

If you want to get into a brand new truck, it’s possible to do so and stay within your budget. The key is shopping around and finding a truck that has an affordable base price. You can find a Ford Maverick starting for under $23,000, making it the most affordable base option on the market. But if your budget is a bit bigger, there are several contenders for under $40,000, such as:

• Ram Classic Tradesman/Express 2WD Regular Cab

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• Ford F-150 XL 2WD Short Bed Regular Cab

• Chevrolet Silverado Work Truck 2WD Short Bed Regular Cab

• Ford Ranger XL 2WD SuperCab

• Toyota Tacoma SR 2WD Access Cab

Keeping an affordable trim level (that means no wood paneling or leather seats, unfortunately), skipping on some of the optional infotainment amenities, and keeping the engine size on the smaller side will all help to keep your truck within your budget. As always, shopping around for deals, rebates, and incentives will help make sure you get the most bang for your buck.

That’s everything you need to know about buying a new truck.

There are lots of options on the market when it comes to buying a new truck. But whatever your needs are there is surely a truck out there for you. 

If you already have a truck but need some help with the monthly payments, Auto Approve can help! Refinancing your loan can save you hundreds if not thousands every month. So what are you waiting for?

Compact trucks are usually the least expensive way to join the club, and they are offered by many manufacturers. Full-sized pickups, sometimes called half-ton trucks, are by far the biggest-selling type. These carry the designation in the case of the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Ram, and Ford refers to its popular offering as the F-150. Toyota also offers the Tundra. Heavy-duty trucks are designated and (or F-250 and F-350, respectively), with the larger numbers conveying greater capabilities in terms of towing and payload. And the larger the number, the more commercial-focused the truck becomes. That being said, these brands do offer luxury-oriented trims of their heavy-duty models.

As with all types, buyers can choose regular two-door cabs, extended cabs with limited second-row seating, and roomy four-door crew-cab body styles; two-, four-, or all-wheel drive; and tons of engine and transmission combinations.

Compact Pickup Trucks
This pickup truck category consists of the Chevrolet Colorado (and its corporate cousin, the GMC Canyon), Ford Maverick, Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, Hyundai Santa Cruz, Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma. 

Most are built using body-on-frame construction like their full-sized brethren, and they usually offer a range of four-cylinder and V6 engines. The Ridgeline, Maverick, and Santa Cruz use unibody construction, borrowing underpinnings from crossover SUVs in each automaker’s lineup. This gives them more car-like ride and handling characteristics compared with body-on-frame models.

What you’ll spend: Prices for the most compact trucks start around $27,000 for a basic 2WD Maverick. At the other extreme, a top-trim Gladiator can run more than $55,000. Most middle-ground, 4WD crew-cab versions that CR has tested came in around $38,000 to $42,000.

Full-Sized Pickup Trucks
These are the brawny workhorses of the pickup world. They’re larger and more rugged, and they ride higher off the ground than compacts. Current models in this class include the Chevrolet Silverado , Ford F-150, GMC Sierra , Ram , and Toyota Tundra. Electric trucks include the Chevrolet Silverado EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV, GMC Sierra EV, Ram REV, Rivian R1T, and Tesla Cybertruck. On the horizon is the small Slate Truck and the Scout Terra.

Full-sized trucks form the backbone of the pickup market. They serve well as work trucks and, for many, as a substitute for the family car. Powertrain choices vary from turbocharged four-cylinders, V6s, old-school V8s, full hybrids, and even all-electric power.

What you’ll spend: Most decently equipped crew-cab models with 4WD cost between $50,000 and $65,000. Adding any of the available turbodiesel engines raises the price considerably. Of course, there are multiple ways to break the bank with these trucks, with high-priced, premium trim levels and many choices for packages and accessories. Prices can soar to $80,000 and beyond. 

Heavy-Duty Trucks
These supersized trucks carry numerical designations such as or . They are configured for muscling serious loads and for hauling fifth-wheel trailers that connect to a hitch point in the center of the cargo bed. These are bulky trucks for the most demanding chores, making them overkill for most noncommercial purposes shy of hauling a huge trailer. Only Detroit competes in this heavyweight division.

What you’ll spend: A no-frills, 2WD, regular-cab, -series work truck starts at around $45,000 before options. And a fully loaded, top-end, 4WD crew-cab model with a diesel engine can reach the $100,000 mark. Add even more for the s.

Cab Size and Seating
Regular cabs have only front-row seating and are the least expensive to buy, but they tend to be available only in basic, work-oriented configurations. Extended cabs are far more useful due to their small rear seat and set of shortened rear doors. Crew cabs are the most popular configuration and provide the roomiest interior accommodations, especially in full-sized trucks.

Pickup trucks are among the only vehicles left that can be configured to seat three across in the front seat. Rear seats in extended-cab trucks can be cramped for adults, with limited legroom, though they’re often acceptable for kids. The real advantage of an extended cab is additional interior storage. Crew-cab trucks have four full-sized doors and a rear seating (or cargo) area on a par with midsized and full-sized SUVs, but these large cabs usually come with a smaller cargo bed.

As you move up the trim lines, cloth seats turn into leather, and heated and cooled seats with increasing levels of adjustability become a given for the top trims. Other optional creature comforts include heated steering wheels, enormous touchscreen infotainment systems, and massive sunroofs that make high-roller truck buyers feel like they’re driving in the lap of luxury. However, getting into many of these cabs can be a hike; even with available running boards, it’s a steep climb up into most trucks.

The Bed
This is, of course, what sets trucks apart from all other vehicles. The open cargo bed lends itself to accomplishing serious chores, such as moving large appliances, bulky furniture, tools or equipment, motorcycles, snow blowers, and outdoors-only cargo like wood chips, manure, and trash. These are tasks most people wouldn’t want to (or couldn’t) do with a minivan or an SUV. Among other considerations, the open bed leaves cargo vulnerable to weather or theft.

The average bed length in a full-sized pickup is 6 feet, but it can go up to 8 feet, usually with a regular or extended cab. Four-door crew cabs can generally be had with a 5- or 6-foot bed. Compact pickup beds usually run 4½ to 6 feet, depending on cab configuration. Do consider how you will use the bed, and how often, because this may guide some major decisions.

There are many bed accessories available, including LED lights, a tailgate step, stowable load ramps, tie-down loops, stake pockets, and remote tailgate releases. Some even come with power-operated tailgates. Spray-in and drop-in liners are popular for added protection when hauling items in the bed.

The tailgate has become a differentiating factor among trucks. The Honda Ridgeline comes with a dual-action tailgate, which allows it to flip down like a conventional tailgate or swing sideways like a door. The Silverado and Sierra are available with a tailgate that can act as a step, a work surface, or even an extension of the bed itself. Ford has added locations for clamping building materials to the tailgate of the F-150. Most or all of these features are offered by just about every brand.

Engines and Fuel Economy
Engines range from small four-cylinders and V6s to V8s and big diesels. For top marks in fuel efficiency, look no further than the Maverick hybrid, which delivered 37 mpg overall in our tests—the best by far of any other pickup. 

Ford offers a hybrid F-150 with a powerful 3.5-liter turbocharged V6. In our tests, it returned 20 mpg overall in a crew cab, four-wheel-drive model—just 1 mpg better than Ford’s 2.7-liter V6. The -series diesel engines from GM and Ram also rank high, with 23 mpg overall.

Heavy-duty trucks are built for working hard. They create a lot of power and torque, with fuel economy around 14 to 16 mpg overall for the big rigs.

All-electric trucks offer yet another powertrain option. See our model pages for detailed information on the CR-tested range results. Our testing revealed that towing a heavy trailer can significantly reduce range. Electric trucks are well suited to certain duties, such as in-state driving and worksite power sources. But other tasks, like interstate travel with a large trailer, are best done in trucks with conventional engines.

2WD vs. AWD vs. 4WD
Most trucks are rear-wheel or four-wheel-drive, but unibody models like the Ford Maverick, Honda Ridgeline, and Hyundai Santa Cruz use a front-drive platform and are available with all-wheel drive.

AWD and 4WD provide power to all wheels, but even though they sound similar, they’re not quite the same thing. AWD is a lighter-duty system that stays permanently engaged or one that uses a clutch pedal system to automatically route power between the front and rear wheels as needed. Some newer systems allow the driver to make their own adjustments via drive modes or differential locks. AWD is usually fine for typical adverse weather conditions and tackling dirt roads.

Trucks with traditional 4WD usually have robust low-range gearing for tackling difficult off-road terrain, such as rocks or steep dirt hills. Look for an automatic 4WD system that can engage automatically depending on conditions. Drivers who travel almost exclusively on pavement without snow or ice should consider a two-wheel-drive model. It will save on the purchase price and will probably provide better fuel economy. (Learn more about 2WD vs. AWD vs. 4WD.)

Towing
Pickup trucks are well suited to hauling boats, cars, utility trailers, and campers behind them. The owner’s manual will state the maximum weight that can be carried (payload) or towed. Buyers can have the manufacturer or dealer install towing equipment, or they can add it themselves, using aftermarket parts. Purchasing from the factory is the best choice because installation could involve complex wiring for the trailer brakes and lights, special attachment points for the tow hitch, and accessories such as a heavy-duty alternator and a transmission oil cooler. In addition, the manufacturer-engineered packages come backed by a factory warranty. Most pickups can be ordered with a trailer-brake controller.

Other available towing features include a hill hold assist, trailer sway control, a transparent trailer-view camera that allows the driver to seemingly see through the trailer, and steering assist that compensates for a trailer.

There are several factors that dictate a truck’s towing capacity, in addition to engine power. They include cab and bed size, wheelbase length, rear axle ratio, and the presence (or absence) of a factory towing package. The differences can be significant: A properly equipped full-sized truck can safely tow up to 12,000 pounds, but some configurations are limited to as little as 5,500 pounds. It is important to confirm the capabilities of the specific model you’re considering, rather than selecting based on marketing. 

A typical compact pickup truck can tow between 5,000 and 7,500 pounds, and heavy-duty pickups can be configured to tow over 35,000 pounds. It’s important to understand what you intend to tow and to research the specific truck you are considering to determine its safe towing capacity.

For ambitious hauling or towing, consider getting a diesel engine; many are available in both regular and heavy-duty models. The higher torque output associated with diesel engines makes heavy towing easier.

We have found in our testing that the driving range for electric trucks is significantly reduced when towing a trailer.

Ride and Handling
Trucks are designed to carry weight in the bed, so most deliver a stiff ride when the bed is empty. The heavy-duty models are borderline punishing. Some models, such as the Honda Ridgeline and Ram , have made the greatest strides in delivering a reasonably comfortable and quiet ride. With just about any truck, placing even a modest load in the bed helps calm the ride somewhat.

With the electric trucks’ extra weight, the ride tends to be improved over many standard -series models.

The sheer bulk of many of these gargantuan machines means that buyers should abandon all hope of nimble moves when it comes to handling. Again, compared with full-sized trucks, the compact models have an edge when it comes to responsive handling—relatively speaking. However, buyers should expect trucks to have clumsy and somewhat ponderous handling.

Safety and Active Driver Assistance Systems
Consumer Reports’ safety ratings include assessments of crash-avoidance capabilities and crash-test results, based on tests performed by the federal government and insurance industry. Further, our road tests detail issues regarding child car seat installation and headlight performance.

Forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning (BSW), and rear cross traffic warning (RCTW) are crash-avoidance technologies that CR believes should be standard on all vehicles. These should be on the next new or used model you buy.

FCW technology provides a visual, audible, and/or tactile alert to warn the driver of an impending collision with a car or an object directly in its path. AEB responds to an imminent collision, braking if the driver does not react in time. BSW monitors a vehicle’s flanks, warning drivers that another vehicle is alongside, where it may be difficult to see. This can be particularly helpful with a truck, which may have significant blind zones. RCTW detects vehicles approaching from the side at the rear of the vehicle while in Reverse and alerts the driver. Some systems also warn of pedestrians or other objects.

Other modern safety advances include systems that can alert emergency personnel if an airbag deploys, such as GM’s OnStar service. There are also lane departure warning systems that sound an alert if the driver changes lanes without signaling, and lane keeping assistance, which maintains the vehicle’s position in the lane if the driver starts to drift. (Learn more about car safety.)

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