How to Find the Best Pickup Truck

Pickup trucks may be considered utilitarian work vehicles, but modern models offer many more possibilities than that. From compact Hyundai Santa Cruz models with spacious cargo storage compartments to the beefy Ford F-150s designed for off-road trails – there are an assortment of bed and cab size configurations from which you can choose.

1. Versatility

Pickup trucks are among the most versatile vehicles on the road today, coming in various bed lengths and cab sizes with some models even offering hybrid powertrain options.

No matter your personal driving style – from reliability, towing capacity and hauling capacity to off-road capabilities and comfort – there is a pickup truck out there perfect for you.

The 2023 Ford Maverick stands out as an alternative to conventional body-on-frame construction by employing an agile unibody chassis. This vehicle drives like a compact SUV while offering pickup truck utility. Ideal for outdoor adventurers who don’t mind limited agility or fuel efficiency. Honda Ridgeline also makes for a fantastic choice; offering refined road manners, comfortable interior seating arrangements and outstanding safety ratings.

2. Comfort

If you plan to spend considerable time in your pickup truck, comfort is of utmost importance. That means ensuring a plush ride, ample head and legroom in the rear seats and modern conveniences such as wireless device charging capabilities or a premium audio system are included.

Full-size pickup trucks such as the 2023 Sierra Denali are increasingly competing with luxury sedans in terms of cabin comfort, with luxurious features like heated and ventilated seats. Furthermore, it stands out as being among the most capable pickups on the market with an impressive maximum towing capacity of 20,000 pounds and outstanding off-road capabilities.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma is an outstanding compact pickup truck, boasting an excellent predicted reliability rating and providing comfort features like adjustable pedals and a large infotainment screen. Furthermore, there’s plenty of passenger space and rear seat legroom if cargo carrying isn’t required.

3. Towing

Pickup trucks have evolved beyond being simple luggage and family haulers; today they remain one of the best ways to tow trailers or campers around Oshkosh. When searching for the right model with enough towing capacity for this task, be sure to choose a model with an excellent maximum towing capacity.

The 2023 Ram 1500 stands out with its powerful V8 engine, power-enhancing features and comfortable cabin. Furthermore, this vehicle boasts an impressive max towing capacity as well as numerous convenience features.

The Nissan Titan is another full-size pickup with an emphasis on simplicity. Offering one powertrain option with 400 horsepower and an impressive maximum towing rating that surpasses most competition, the Titan stands out in several areas while falling short against class leaders in others.

4. Off-road capabilities

Trucks can access terrain that most other vehicles simply cannot, which makes them popular among many drivers and travelers alike. Trucks provide drivers the chance to visit remote places without fighting with large crowds for entry.

For off-roading, the ideal pickup trucks possess superior suspensions and off-road tires, as well as locking differentials or other features designed to improve handling on rough or muddy terrain.

Ford Raptor is one of the finest full-sized pickups for off-roading, boasting 14 inches in the rear wheel travel and 15 inches up front, as well as Fox racing shocks that provide outstanding suspension control.

There are also smaller pickups with off-road capabilities. For instance, Toyota Tacoma comes equipped with the TRD off-road package that adds better suspension and larger tires; though not as capable as Ford Raptor it remains an attractive choice.

5. Safety

Even if your pickup will never be used to tow or go off-road, safety should always be top of mind. Due to being larger vehicles with longer blind spots than cars, pickups can be more hazardous in accidents; that is why it is crucial that any model selected comes equipped with standard driver assistance features like automatic emergency braking and blind spot warning.

The 2022 Honda Ridgeline is an excellent option if you’re in search of a safe and dependable compact truck, boasting 5-star rating from NHTSA as well as Hyundai SmartSense technology for driver assistance and safety features.

The 2023 Toyota Tundra is America’s best-selling full-size pickup and one of the safest models available. It earned the Top Safety Pick+ award thanks to scoring well across all crash tests, earning “Good” scores across each crash test, and scoring an exceptional rating on headlight tests.

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Tayler Mcdowell

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