Ranking The 5 Cheapest Trucks In America

Miami Herald

a day ago

As much as small sedans and crossovers are the most affordable new cars in America, some people simply can't do without a pickup truck. Be it for towing, off-roading, or transporting larger or awkwardly-shaped items, pickups are hard to beat. But if you can't afford one of the most expensive new trucks in America, we've put together a list of the cheapest ones, ranked from most to least expensive.
Only the cheapest derivative of each truck has been included, and the prices indicated below exclude the destination charge and any options. Finally, as pricing changes regularly, these are the cheapest new pickups at the time of publishing.
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One of three mid-size pickups on this list, Nissan's trusty Frontier starts at just over $32k for the King Cab in basic S guise (note that the crew cab Pro-4X is pictured above). Like other Frontiers, this variant has a 3.8-liter V6 engine making 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard, with four-wheel drive optional. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard. In 4x2 guise, this pickup can tow up to 7,150 pounds.
Base S specification includes the following standard features:
16-inch steel wheels with painted finishHalogen headlightsBlack grille and door handlesFour-person seatingFour-speaker sound systemEight-inch color touchscreenWired Apple CarPlay/Android AutoBlind-spot warningRear parking sensorsRear automatic braking
With its rugged looks and ample power, this is a solid workhorse, yet it still has enough amenities for comfortable daily use. The absence of forced induction and electrification should improve long-term reliability.
Sticking with mid-size pickups, the cheapest Colorado starts at only $150 less than the Frontier. Unlike the Nissan, this is a Crew Cab with proper rear doors, so rear-seat access will be effortless. RWD is standard and 4WD optional, and this model gets GM's 2.7-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, known as the TurboMax. It makes 310 hp and 430 lb-ft; that torque figure dwarfs the Frontier's N/A V6, and the Chevy can also tow up to 7,700 lbs.
The following features are standard on the Colorado WT:
17-inch steel wheelsHalogen headlights11.3-inch LCD displaySix-speaker sound systemWireless Apple CarPlay/Android AutoSingle-zone manual climate controlAutomatic emergency brakingRear cross-traffic brakingBlind-zone steering assist
Although it has the same basic look as the Frontier, the Colorado looks like a better buy with its Crew Cab, superior torque, and better towing. But if you want a V6, the Nissan is the winner.
Like the Frontier, Toyota's cheapest mid-size pickup has the same cab layout, but Toyota refers to it as an XtraCab. A 2.4-liter turbocharged four-pot is standard, and it makes 228 hp and 243 lb-ft; that's some way short of its Nissan and Chevy rivals at this price point. RWD is standard and 4WD is optional, while the Tacoma has an eight-speed automatic. Towing for this model is 3,500 lbs, which is less than half that of the Nissan and Chevy.
These are the standard features on the Tacoma SR XtraCab:
17-inch steel wheelsLED headlights and LED bed lightingEight-inch touchscreenFour-speaker sound systemWireless Apple CarPlay/Android AutoFull-speed adaptive cruise controlLane departure warningRoad sign assist
LED exterior lighting aside, the Toyota isn't much better equipped than the cheaper Nissan and Chevy. However, that Toyota badge counts for a lot, which is the main reason to choose this model over its rivals.
This is the first entry in the compact pickup segment, and also the first one on our list with unibody construction. In entry-level SE form (the Limited is pictured above), the Santa Cruz has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 hp and 181 lb-ft. FWD is standard and AWD is optional, and it has an eight-speed automatic. With trailer brakes, the Santa Cruz is capable of towing up to 3,500 lbs. It's more comfortable to drive than any of the preceding pickups, though.
By dipping into the compact truck segment, buyers do get more features for the money, at the expense of capability. The Santa Cruz SE gets these features as standard:
18-inch alloy wheelsProjector bi-LED headlights and LED DRLsLockable under-bed storage compartment12.3-inch touchscreen displayWireless Apple CarPlay/Android AutoBlind-spot collision warningRear cross-traffic alertDriver attention warning
Standard alloys, a bigger infotainment screen, and sportier looks make the base Santa Cruz feel a lot less utilitarian than the other trucks here. If you don't need to tow more than it can handle, it'll be a better daily driver.
And so we arrive at the cheapest new truck on sale right now, which is the Ford Maverick XL. It's quite a bit pricier than it was, but it's still the cheapest new truck on sale. The standard hybrid powertrain produces just 191 hp, but the upside is its combined consumption of 38 mpg, better than any other pickup. For only $125 more, you can get the 250-hp turbocharged model, which also replaces the CVT with an eight-speed automatic. FWD is standard, and this compact unibody truck can tow up to 4,000 lbs, but only with the tow package.
The following features are standard:
17-inch steel wheelsLED reflector headlightsSingle-zone air conditioningEight-inch productivity screen and 13.2-inch touchscreenWireless Apple CarPlay/Android AutoSix-speaker sound systemAutomatic emergency brakingAutomatic high beams
Although the Maverick XL doesn't have as many driver-assist features as the other trucks here, you can add the Ford Co-Pilot360 pack for $795, which adds blind-spot monitoring, reverse sensors, lane-keep alert, and more.
Given its price and excellent efficiency, this is the most affordable pickup to buy and run (in hybrid form). At least, that's until the Slate electric pickup arrives, which promises an even lower starting price.
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