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These are the best small and midsize pickup trucks to buy in 2024

William Irvin Lewis
MotorTrend

The right truck is the one that does everything you want it to do at a price you can afford.Full-size trucks dominate the market, but only because so many pay extra for capability they will never use.Midsize andsmall pickups are less expensive and often more practical while offering plenty of capability for the majority of use cases. Whether you prefer the efficiency of a unibody truck or the ruggedness of a ladder frame, these trucks offer what most need without the cost of a full-size pickup; they're listed here based ontheirMotorTrend Ultimate Car Rankings score out of 10.

9. 2024 Nissan Frontier | MotorTrend Score 7.1

In a field full of fresh midsize competition, the similarly refreshed2024 Nissan Frontier finishes last among our rankings. It’s a good-looking rig – especially in the nostalgic Hardbody Edition guise – and matches solid towing capability with towing stability. But while its styling is cutting edge, its hardware is anything but – a notable difference from its primary competition. Its handling, ride, transmission tuning, and turning circle are old-school – and not in a good way. One might think the big 3.8-liter V-6 powering the Frontier would be a positive, but instead it offers less real-world performance than the largely turbo I-4 competition and inferior fuel economy. It’s a clumsy truck in some ways, and moreover its competition offers similar towing and payload numbers without feeling as last-century as the Frontier.

9. 2024 Nissan Frontier Pros, Cons, and Specs

Pros

  1. Rugged styling
  2. Throwback Hardbody variant
  3. Confident towing

Cons

  1. Mostly poor driving experience
  2. Lack of standard driver assist features
  3. Unimpressive fuel economy

Specifications

  • Base Price Range: $32,020-$46,190
  • 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
  • Max Payload Capacity: 1,590 pounds

8. 2024 Jeep Gladiator | MotorTrend Score 7.5

If fun is more important than practicality, the2024 Jeep Gladiator is an unbeatable midsize truck proposition. A convertible pickup withincredible off-road capability and mildly terrifying towing manners, the Gladiator is dramatically different from everything else in its class. Punchbowl colors and a lack of on-road refinement showcase just how focused the Gladiator is on play, with work an afterthought at best. While the 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V-6 is currently the only engine option, a 4xe plug-in hybrid variant has been confirmed for 2025, so anyone concerned by the Pentastar's thirst should wait a model year. Payload capability is lower than normal for a midsize truck, as is the competency of the Gladiator’s handling and ride. But those who consider a Gladiator don’t consider its work ability. They buy it because it's awesome.

8. 2024 Jeep Gladiator Pros, Cons, and Specs

Pros

  1. Off-road king
  2. Rip-roaring Gladiator Mojave
  3. Structural improvements for 2024

Cons

  1. Unrefined ride
  2. Concerning towing behavior in the past
  3. Cabin can get loud

Specifications

  • Base Price Range: $39,790-$64,890
  • Available Engines: 3.6L V-6 (285 hp, 260 lb-ft)
  • Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 16-17/21-22 mpg
  • Max Towing Capacity: 7,700 pounds
  • Max Payload Capacity: 1,200 pounds

7. 2024 Toyota Tacoma | MotorTrend Score 7.8

A new truck that still feels somewhat old-school, the2024 Toyota Tacoma is likely to be as beloved by the Taco community as its extremely long-running previous iteration was. Now powered by a turbocharged inline-four, this 2.4-liter engine can be had in multiple states of tune or with added power via hybridization in the top trims. The Taco is now built on the TNGA-F platform that underpins almost all of the Toyota and Lexus truck (and truck-based SUV) lineup. New inside and out, the 2024 Tacoma still has an available six-speed manual transmission, and it’s still brimming with available enthusiast-oriented off-road gear with trims like the Trail Hunter. Despite being massively improved from the previous generation, the new Tacoma still doesn’t blow away its likewise-refreshed midsize competition, with a smaller back seat and less refined road manners than trucks like theFord Ranger.

7. 2024 Toyota Tacoma Pros, Cons, and Specs

Pros

  1. Finally, a new design
  2. Off-road-capable models
  3. Available manual transmission

Cons

  1. Where's the electric Tacoma?
  2. Small back seat
  3. Base SR only gets 228 hp

Specifications

  • Base Price Range: $32,995-$53,595
  • Available Engines: 2.4L turbo I-4 (228 hp, 243 lb-ft); 2.4L turbo I-4 with 6 speed manual (270 hp, 310 lb-ft); 2.4L turbo I-4 with 8 speed auto (278 hp, 317 lb-ft); 2.4L turbo I-4 and electric motor (326 hp, 465 lb-ft)
  • Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 18-21/23-34 mpg
  • Max Towing Capacity: 6,500 (3,500 by SAE J2807 spec) pounds
  • Max Payload Capacity: 1,705 pounds

6. 2024 Honda Ridgeline | MotorTrend Score 8.1

Among the first unibody-based modern pickups, the Ridgeline never fit in with the crowd – for better or worse. The2024 Honda Ridgeline is a little bit more mainstream. Meant more for overall practicality than full-on towing and hauling massive weights, the Ridgeline’s payload and towing specs are similar to compact trucks. It’s in the details that the Ridgeline proves its usefulness. The 5-foot bed’s tailgate opens both down or to the side, while a spacious, lockable trunk with a drain plug offers extra storage space – and inside, similar clever storage solutions abound. The 5-foot bed is shallower than other trucks, which limits the volume it can carry, but it also offers the benefit of a lower reach-over height. Like the smaller Maverick and Santa Cruz, the Ridgeline’s trade-off is excellent on-road dynamics for a bit less raw capability.

6. 2024 Honda Ridgeline Pros, Cons, and Specs

Pros

  1. Truck capability, crossover driving manners
  2. Clever tailgate and bed features
  3. Made in the U.S.

Cons

  1. Single powertrain, cab/bed combination
  2. Ride quality diminished when hauling
  3. Still too crossover-ish for some

Specifications

  • Base Price Range: $41,145-$47,745
  • 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
  • Max Payload Capacity: 1,583 pounds

5. 2024 GMC Canyon | MotorTrend Score 8.4

Almost like an extra trim level on top of the Chevy Colorado, the2024 GMC Canyon comes standard with some of the best that GM’s other midsize truck can give. Those parts include the 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that powers both trucks, but only in its most powerful 310 hp, 430 lb-ft tune. A 5-foot bed provides good utility, while handling and ride are excellent for a body-on-frame truck. The interior is less than spacious, with the back seat being especially tight. The screens and infotainment are good, and the overall feel is certainly one of a premium product despite some lackluster materials. For the best of all worlds, theAT4X is an excellent machine on and off the pavement, if you can afford it.

5. 2024 GMC Canyon Pros, Cons, and Specs

Pros

  1. Good ride and body control
  2. Boxy styling and tough stance
  3. Intuitive modern infotainment

Cons

  1. Single cab/bed configuration
  2. Tight interior
  3. Some low-quality plastics

Specifications

  • Base Price Range: $37,595-$55,895
  • 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
  • Max Payload Capacity: 1,670 pounds

4. 2024 Chevrolet Colorado | MotorTrend Score 8.4

The2024 Chevrolet Colorado was our 2024 Truck of the Year, surpassing all competition with style, capability, and utility. Our favorite midsize truck overall, the Colorado generally has the same positives and few negatives that the Canyon does, but with pricing more people can afford. Its excellent powertrain (in two states of tune), awesome off-road variants, and more overall capability than just about anything else in the class are mitigated only by its somewhat tight interior. There’s only one cab/bed configuration available, but the five-seater layout is what most would opt for regardless.

4. 2024 Chevrolet Colorado Pros, Cons, and Specs

Pros

  1. Burly exterior design
  2. Techy, upscale interior
  3. Capable off-road variants

Cons

  1. Short bed only
  2. No power passenger seat on any trim
  3. Less payload and towing than a full-size truck

Specifications

  • Base Price Range: $31,095-$48,395
  • Available Engines: 2.7L turbo I-4 (237 hp, 259 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
  • Max Payload Capacity: 1,684 pounds

3. 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz | MotorTrend Score 8.5

Hyundai has a genuinely good compact truck in the2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Much as the Maverick is related to its Bronco Sport SUV kin, the Santa Cruz is essentially a Tucson compact crossover SUV with a small truck bed. But while the Maverick has the look of a truck, the Santa Cruz maintains the slicker lines of its crossover sibling and has a less utilitarian feel overall. This doesn’t stop the Santa Cruz from being able to tow and haul more than the more popular Maverick, though the Hyundai’s miniscule 4-foot bed hinders making practical use of all that capability. The Santa Cruz’s carlike chassis means it drives very well, but it’s not as utilitarian as the Maverick – nor does it offer a hybrid powertrain option. Instead, it makes do with a pair of 2.5-liter I-4s: a naturally aspirated unit or a thirsty and expensive turbocharged option.

3. 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Pros, Cons, and Specs

Pros

  1. Striking design
  2. Great road manners
  3. More utility than a comparable crossover

Cons

  1. Why not buy a Maverick?
  2. Tiny 4-foot bed
  3. Expensive with the turbo-four

Specifications

  • Base Price Range: $28,275-$42,695
  • 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
  • Max Payload Capacity: 1,749 pounds

2024 Ford Ranger | MotorTrend Score 8.6

A new2024 Ford Ranger has arrived, bringing with it substantial updates while retaining the second generation’s capable powertrain and transmission. In addition to that 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four, the Ranger Raptor has arrived with a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 making 315 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The Raptor is expensive, but it justifies its price with the off-road capability one would expect from a Raptor model. Back down on Earth, Ford’s midsize entrant starts in the mid-$30,000 range and comparesfavorability even against the brand-new Toyota Tacoma. Despite both being body-on-frame pickups, the Ranger rides and handles better while offering a better powertrain. The Ranger’s spacious cabin is great, but it lacks the storage options of the Tacoma.

2024 Ford Ranger Pros, Cons, and Specs

Pros

  1. Actually a (mostly) new truck
  2. Strong base I-4, newly available V-6
  3. Hybrid and electric models likely on the way

Cons

  1. Max payload lower than before
  2. F-150 more capable
  3. Maverick more fuel-efficient

Specifications

  • Base Price Range: $34,265-$57,065
  • Available Engine:2.3L turbo I-4 (270 hp, 310 lb-ft); 2.8L twin-turbo V-6 (315 hp, 400 lb-ft)
  • Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 16-21/18-26 mpg
  • Max Towing Capacity: 7,500 pounds
  • Max Payload Capacity: 1,805 pounds

1. 2024 Ford Maverick | MotorTrend Score 9.0

A few do genuinely need the ability to tow or haul more than three tons of weight every day, but for everyone else, the2024 Ford Maverick is the right truck. Inexpensive, reasonably capable, and extremely efficient, the Maverick effectively maxes out what a compact truck can do. Driving dynamics and ride quality are great, and even the hybrid variant will accelerate with many midsize and full-size trucks. More important, the Hybrid gets roughly double the fuel economy of other trucks in (and near) its class. It’s also the cheapest hybrid on the American market. The Maverick’s $1,500 hybrid option will likely pay for itself over time, but it originally came standard before Ford realized how popular it was. The Tremor off-road trim allows for some trail capability, and all Mavericks have a funky interior with unconventional colors and textures. The more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine option gives the Maverick some extra oomph for those without need for the hybrid's efficiency, made more tempting by the available AWD with the non-hybrid powerplant.

1. 2024 Ford Maverick Pros, Cons, and Specs

Pros

  1. Efficient hybrid powertrain
  2. Outstanding value
  3. Off-roadable Tremor variant

Cons

  1. Lower towing and payload than Hyundai Santa Cruz
  2. Single cab/bed configuration
  3. Short seat cushions

Specifications

  • Base Price Range: $25,410-$36,450
  • 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: 4,000 pounds
  • Max Payload Capacity: 1,675 pounds

The Best Small and Midsize Pickup Trucks to Buy in 2024

  • 2024 Ford Maverick |MotorTrend Score 9.0
  • 2024 Ford Ranger |MotorTrend Score 8.6
  • 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz |MotorTrend Score 8.5
  • 2024 Chevrolet Colorado |MotorTrend Score 8.4
  • 2024 GMC Canyon |MotorTrend Score 8.4
  • 2024 Honda Ridgeline |MotorTrend Score 8.1
  • 2024 Toyota Tacoma |MotorTrend Score 7.8
  • 2024 Jeep Gladiator |MotorTrend Score 7.5
  • 2024 Nissan Frontier |MotorTrend Score 7.1

The Best Small and Midsize Pickup Trucks to Buy in 2023

  • 2023 Nissan Frontier | MotorTrend Score 6.5
  • 2023 Toyota Tacoma | MotorTrend Score 7.1
  • 2023 Ford Ranger | MotorTrend Score 7.2
  • 2023 Jeep Gladiator | MotorTrend Score 7.6
  • 2023 Honda Ridgeline | MotorTrend Score 8.0
  • 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz | MotorTrend Score 8.0
  • 2023 Chevrolet Colorado | MotorTrend Score 8.3
  • 2023 GMC Canyon | MotorTrend Score 8.4
  • 2023 Ford Maverick | MotorTrend Score 9.2

Photos by the Manufacturer and MotorTrend Staff.

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