Contents
Overview
Usually a pickup truck is large in size, can tow a house, and consumes fuel more than an alcoholic on any special occasion. So people are trying to get over these giant work trucks and moving more towards compact SUVs and mid-size pickup trucks. While this might be the bad news for hardcore gearheads, it isn’t all bad for SUV lovers. Manufacturers have started to focus more on cool looking SUVs and pickups like GMC Hummer EV or Lamborghini Urus.
Today we will be looking at the coolest and most fun-to-drive compact pickup trucks currently for sale in the U.S., like Ford Ranger, and GMC Canyon.
9. Hyundai Santa Cruz
Hyundai has spread out its experience by unveiling it hot hatch, and EV into pickup truck segment viz. Santa Cruz. It is priced just above $25,000. It’s equipped with the two options, either a 191-hp naturally aspirated 2.5L four-cylinder, or a turbocharged one that emits 281-hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. Oh, and it weighs only 3,700 lbs.
8. Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger went on a vacation in the US market, but now after a decade it back as an enhanced one. It is available in five different trim levels, the cheapest of them is priced at $25,000. The Ranger is built for those who enjoys driving in style, but doesn’t want to spend all the money on a Ford Bronco.
7. Ford Maverick
The Ford Maverick was built to take on the Hyundai Santa Cruz, as well as makes the next entry on our list. The majority of Mavericks assembled in Mexico. Ford doesn’t spend much on labor as a result, it has an MSRP of just $23,000. You will be getting a 2.5L hybrid assisted four-cylinder that outputs 191-hp at the base price. On the contrary, if you opt for Maverick Tremor, you’d be getting a 250-hp turbo four.
6. Honda Ridgeline
The Santa Cruz and Honda Ridgeline are the only two modern pickups that uses a unibody structure despite having an affordable price tag. Although, the Ridgeline is more expensive ($40,000), larger, and more powerful one. The Ridgeline is not for the one who likes to drive in tough terrains and tow their 20-ton mobile homes with them. Under its hood, is a 3.5L V6 that produces 280-hp and 262 lb-ft of torque.
5. Toyota Tacoma
Next on the list is a Japanese manufacturer’s product, the Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. You will get a 159-hp four cylinder engine with the towing capacity of 3,500 lbs in exchange for $30,000. It offers a RWD, in its both offerings TRD Sport and TRD Off-road models. Both of them having same engine as of Honda Ridgeline. Instead they produce 278-hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, and they can tow upto 6,700 lbs.
4. Chevrolet Colorado
The current Colorado on sale will be replaced with a more attractive and better performance Colorado next year. The Colorado comes in four different trim levels, most supreme of them is ZR2. The ZR2 boasts a 3.6L V6 that outputs a peak power of 308-hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, it has a towing capacity of 5000 lbs, and record 0-60 in 7 sec.
3. GMC Canyon
The GMC Canyon that is for sale occupies an MSRP of $28,500, but if you upgrade for Denali Canyon you should be spending $45,000 ponies from your wallet. In exchange of that, you’d be receiving a 3.6L six-cylinder engine. It is capable of delivering 308-hp and takes GMC to 60 mph from rest in just 6.5 sec. And yes, it weighs around 4,500 lbs.
2. Nissan Frontier
The Nissan Frontier might not be the best mid-sized performance pickup truck on sale in the market, but it is definitely the best looking one. All of the Frontier models, are equipped with the same naturally-aspirated 3.8L V6 that churns out 310-hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. The base model costs just $30,000. The exterior is same as of previous one, but it received a refreshed interior.
1. Jeep Gladiator
Now fasten your seat belts, as we now move towards the final entry of this list, the Jeep Gladiator. It is a 218-ich long vehicle, with 60-inch cargo bed that car store upto 1,700 lbs of groceries. Like its specialty, all doors of Gladiator are removable, and it can tackle any terrain. It can pull upto 7,650 lbs thanks to its 3.6L V6 that churns out 285-hp along with a 260 lb-ft of torque.