These midsize and small pickups combine low cost with (mostly) high capabilities.
Generally speaking, trucks have only gotten bigger and more expensive over time. Formerly a genuine symbol of people who worked for a living, these days it's not a surprise to see luxurious, six-figure rigs leaving factories, as the full-size truck segment wafts further upmarket and away from its utilitarian roots. But as those trucks continue to balloon in price and size, midsize and compact trucks have increasingly come into their own, offering more than enough capability along with all the conveniences and comfort you'd expect from any modern vehicle. For those looking for more out of their trucks than just being the biggest, the market has rarely been better than it is right now. To help buyers looking for smaller pickups, we've compiled a list of the best midsize trucks to buy as scored through our MotorTrend Ultimate Rankings, with the best small trucks thrown in for good measure.
Newly refreshed but still not a world beater, the 2023 Nissan Frontier is only genuinely good at a narrow range of truck things. The new Frontier is a good-looking pickup, and it's capable in terms of towing, providing a stable platform for getting work done. Besides those plusses, however, the Frontier doesn't offer the refinement, comfort, or value of other midsize trucks.
Specifications
Base Price Range: $29,190-$39,120
Available Engine: 3.8L V-6 (310 hp, 281 lb-ft)
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 17-18/23-24 mpg
Max Towing Capacity: 6,720 pounds
Although the Frontier disappointed with its recent refresh, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma hasn't yet had one at all. Long in the tooth but with excellent bones, the Tacoma is at its best as an enthusiast-oriented truck for those who don't care about the tight interior confines and a generally jarring ride. Once the king of the midsize truck category, the competition may have surpassed the aging Tacoma in terms of refinement and modern technology, but the Toyota's durability, style, and off-road prowess remain. And a new Tacoma is in the offing soon, which should boost its shortcomings.
Specifications
Base Price Range: $27,250-$43,580
Available Engines: 2.7L I-4 (159 hp, 180 lb-ft); 3.5L V-6 (278 hp, 265 lb-ft)
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 17-20/20-23 mpg
Max Towing Capacity: 6,800 pounds
To those of us here in the U.S., the present-generation 2023 Ford Ranger is still a relatively new midsize truck. But in reality it's about as long in the tooth as the Tacoma, given that the Ranger is an adapted version of a pickup that's been sold outside of America for more than a dozen years now. The Ranger's age is typified by a cramped interior and a dated and tiny standard infotainment system. Positives include a highly capable drivetrain with plenty of torque, a very competent 10-speed transmission, and the ample towing capacity those components help provide. Like the Tacoma, a new Ranger is in the offing, which should address the present truck's shortcomings.
Specifications
Base Price Range: $27,400-$40,945
Available Engine: 2.3L turbo I-4 (270 hp, 310 lb-ft)
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 21/26 mpg
Max Towing Capacity: 7,500 pounds
Unlike any other pickup on the market, the 2023 Jeep Gladiator is just as much about outright fun as it is about utility or comfort. The truck's substantial off-road capability is true to both the Gladiator's Wrangler heritage and the Jeep name in general. It's the only pickup available in convertible form on the market, and just like the Wrangler, its doors can also be removed. Although the Gladiator offers undeniable capability and fun, it does so at the cost of mediocre on-road driving characteristics and a less than optimum towing experience. Compared to other midsize pickups, practicality simply isn't the Gladiator's mission.
Specifications
Base Price Range: $38,775-$54,080
Available Engines: 3.6L V-6 (285 hp, 260 lb-ft); 3.0L diesel V-6 (260 hp, 442 lb-ft)
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 16-22/22-28 mpg
Max Towing Capacity: 7,700 pounds
From the outset of its production, the unibody-based Honda Ridgeline has stretched the conventional definition of a pickup truck. And although it looks more like a truck than before, the second-generation 2023 Honda Ridgeline still behaves largely like a car-based crossover, with a 5-foot truck bed on the back half that also features an integrated, insulated bin that doubles as a cooler. Given its mission, the Ridgeline's on-road handling and approachability are generally superior to its body-on-frame competition. That said, the Ridgeline doesn't offer much for off-road enthusiasts who see a ladder frame as a prerequisite for a vehicle to be called a truck.
Specifications
Base Price Range: $38,800-$46,230
Available Engine: 3.5-liter V-6 (280 hp, 262 lb-ft)
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 18/24 mpg
Max Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
Second in a class of two might not sound so great, but the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz is underrated in terms of its overall versatility. Similar to its sole Ford Maverick competitor in the small truck space, the Santa Cruz utilizes a compact crossover platform as its base. But the foremost difference between the two is that the Maverick is more trucklike in its approach while the Santa Cruz leans more toward the crossover end of the spectrum, with driving dynamics, interior packaging, and an overall ride similar to that of its Tucson cousin. The Santa Cruz does offer some solid truck features for those in need of a crossover with more utility, such as an integrated tonneau cover for its short, 4-foot bed, but it isn't the segment-busting slam dunk the Maverick has turned out to be.
Specifications
Base Price Range: $25,700-$40,570
Available Engines: 2.5-liter I-4 (191 hp, 181 lb-ft); 2.5-liter turbo I-4 (281 hp, 311 lb-ft)
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 19-22/26-27 mpg
Max Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
Freshly redesigned, the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado has all the style, capability, and utility one needs in a midsize pickup, for less money than a comparatively equipped full-size truck. Highly capable off-road and on, the Colorado is dramatically more tech-savvy than the much older trucks in the same segment. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with a good infotainment system and a very spacious front row. The second row is somewhat snug, however, and the Colorado doesn't offer the wealth of cab and engine options available on the larger trucks.
Specifications
Base Price Range: $29,200-$46,800
Available Engines: 2.7L turbo I-4 (237 hp, 259 lb-ft); 2.7L turbo I-4 (310 hp, 390 lb-ft); 2.7L turbo I-4 (310 hp, 430 lb-ft)
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 17-20/19-25 mpg
Max Towing Capacity: 7,700 pounds
Gussied up and ready to go, the 2023 GMC Canyon is a Colorado in a nice suit and boots. That's not a bad thing, as the best parts of the Colorado's powertrain and underpinnings do the same excellent work for the Canyon. Only the most powerful tune of the 2.7-liter engine common to both trucks is available in the Canyon, which starts about $10,000 higher than the less classy Colorado. Both trucks offer the same substantial towing capacity and solid amounts of payload for their 5-foot beds.
Specifications
Base Price Range: $36,600-$55,500
Available Engine: 2.7L turbo I-4 (310 hp, 430 lb-ft)
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 17/21 mpg
Max Towing Capacity: 7,700 pounds
Fuel economy like a hybrid compact car and utility like a midsize truck make the 2023 Ford Maverick a true standout of a vehicle. A hybrid system makes the Maverick not only shockingly good at sipping fuel around town, but also surprisingly torquey from a stoplight. The little workhorse comes in both hybrid front-wheel-drive guise and an all-wheel-drive variant with the turbocharged Ecoboost 2.0-liter inline-four. While the two powerplants differ a lot on paper, in actuality some might not notice the power difference between them, though everyone will notice the mpg difference the hybrid offers. The Maverick is definitely built to price. But instead of attempting to make the interior faux-luxurious, Ford simply made it colorful and fun, which suits the Maverick well.
Specifications
Base Price Range: $22,595-$30,575
Available Engines: 2.5L (hybrid) I-4 (191 hp, 155 lb-ft); 2.0L turbo I-4 (250 hp, 277 lb-ft)
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 22-43/29-33 mpg
Max Towing Capacity: 5,080 pounds