Trucks and pickups
Modern pickup trucks offer towing, hauling, and off-road capabilities along with tons of available comfort and technology upgrades. Available in sizes ranging from small compact trucks to heavy-duty workhorses.
Best trucks overall
Finding the right truck means finding an option that offers an ideal mix of performance, utility, and style.
1. Ford F150
CarMax owner rating
4.5
Pros
Plenty of powertrain options High tech, and highly-accessible infotainment system Impressive max towing figures Useful add-on options for a working truck
Cons
No diesel engine option, unlike its competitors Hybrid powertrain option is noisy when powering the available onboard generator
2. Ram 1500
CarMax owner rating
4.5
Pros
Plenty of useful cabin storage The benchmark light-duty truck for ride quality
Cons
Driver-assist technology only offered on upper trims Small rearview mirror
3. Toyota Tacoma
CarMax owner rating
4.5
Pros
Useful truck bed has power outlet and moveable tie-down cleats Consummate off-road agility Six-speed manual transmission option for the V6 top trim
Cons
Steering feels heavy on urban surfaces Some will find the higher step-up a challenge
Most reliable trucks
With so many used trucks available on the market, you might be wondering which one is the ideal choice for you and your lifestyle.
1. Ram 1500 Classic
CarMax owner rating
4.8
Pros
V6 or V8 powertrain options Warlock trim has robust off-roading chops Pleasingly smooth ride
Cons
Limited trim options Design details are few and far between
2. Toyota Tacoma
CarMax owner rating
4.5
Pros
Useful truck bed has power outlet and moveable tie-down cleats Consummate off-road agility Six-speed manual transmission option for the V6 top trim
Cons
Steering feels heavy on urban surfaces Some will find the higher step-up a challenge
3. Nissan Frontier
CarMax owner rating
4.5
Pros
Smooth ride Stable and secure handling Helpful storage spaces for small items
Cons
Limited rear-seat space Cluttered infotainment system Heavy steering
Small pickup trucks
Setting your sights on a small truck could boost your work-life balance and then some since they're pleasing to one and all.
1. Toyota Tacoma
CarMax owner rating
4.5
Pros
Useful truck bed has power outlet and moveable tie-down cleats Consummate off-road agility Six-speed manual transmission option for the V6 top trim
Cons
Steering feels heavy on urban surfaces Some will find the higher step-up a challenge
2. Nissan Frontier
CarMax owner rating
4.5
Pros
Smooth ride Stable and secure handling Helpful storage spaces for small items
Cons
Limited rear-seat space Cluttered infotainment system Heavy steering
3. Chevrolet Colorado
CarMax owner rating
4.3
Pros
Swift acceleration with upgraded engines Stout towing abilities Capable ZR2 off-road trim
Cons
Lackluster base engine power Uncomfortable rear seats Available only with a four-door cab and five-foot bed
Diesel pick-ups
Delivering more miles per gallon and overall torque than gas vehicles, diesel trucks can handle the toughest jobs with fewer stops at the pumps.
1. Ram 2500
CarMax owner rating
4.4
Pros
Impressive engine choices Rebel trim adds new off-road option Useful trailering technology
Cons
Cummins diesel engine is noisy High driver position may be challenging for some drivers Fuel economy of only 15-20 mpg in actual use
2. Ram 1500
CarMax owner rating
4.5
Pros
Plenty of useful cabin storage The benchmark light-duty truck for ride quality
Cons
Driver-assist technology only offered on upper trims Small rearview mirror
3. Ford F250
CarMax owner rating
4.5
Pros
Four-wheel drive is standard on most trims Plenty of standard and available tow tech Four available powertrain options Spacious cabs that prioritize connectivity and comfort
Cons
Ride height can be a challenge on entry and exit Downtown maneuvers will be challenging at this size
FAQs about trucks
A pickup truck is a vehicle with an enclosed cabin and open bed. Trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150 use body-on-frame construction, which provides greater hauling and towing capability. Some small and midsize trucks like the Ford Maverick and Honda Ridgeline use unibody construction, like a modern car or SUV, while still adhering to the closed-cab, open-bed formula.
A regular cab truck comes with two doors and two or three seats, with no rear seat at all. An extended cab has a second row of seats with relatively little legroom and usually comes with a small door for access, sometimes hinged at the rear.
Crew cabs and extended crew cabs have two rows of seats with more second-row room and four standard front-hinged doors. You can find out more from Carmax’s guide to truck cab styles.
According to RepairPal data, the Toyota Tacoma is the most reliable pickup truck. On the whole, midsize trucks tend to have better reliability ratings than full size or heavy duty trucks. Check out CarMax’s list of the most reliable trucks to learn more.
Diesel engines usually generate more torque than similarly-sized gasoline engines, and tend to be more fuel efficient as well. That fuel efficiency extends to towing, where they don’t take as big a hit as a gasoline engine. However, modern gasoline engines can offer impressively high towing capacities, and turbocharged engines or hybrid electric powertrains can make a lot of torque with smaller displacement.
Most full-size and heavy-duty trucks offer 8-foot beds. Full size trucks that offer 8-foot beds, like the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado 1500, will only offer them with regular cabs or sometimes extended cabs. In order to get a crew cab and 8-foot bed, you’ll need to look at heavy duty trucks, like the Ram 2500.
Learn more about trucks
Ready to find your pick-up truck?
How we ranked these vehicles
Our "Best of" lists represent the most popular vehicles with CarMax customers. To create the Best lists, our analysts look at CarMax vehicle and sales data over a recent 6-month period and rank the top selling vehicles in order. Looking back over a 6-month period allows for the highest sample size possible while also providing up-to-date pricing information. Each list includes the specific dates used when it was generated. Some articles may include data points with lower sample sizes.
To create our "Most Reliable" lists, our analysts pull the top most reliable vehicles—in order—according to RepairPal rankings. RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2006-2020 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features. RepairPal Reliability Ratings are provided by RepairPal and CarMax is not responsible for their accuracy. Learn more about RepairPal reliability ratings.
We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to provide legal, financial or investment advice. We make every effort to provide accurate information, but please verify before transacting and consider talking to a qualified professional about your unique circumstances.
Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
Unless otherwise noted, information related to featured vehicles comes from third-party sources, including manufacturer information. Product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of third-party entities. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by these entities.