Don’t ask me what the scenario is where The Autopian is somehow empowered to force everyone to get a pickup truck and why we’re not forcing you to buy something more on-brand for us (for example, the weirdest shitbox within your Facebook Marketplace range settings), but go with me here.
You’re getting a pickup truck. Whether or not you need one doesn’t matter. Heck, let’s even say it’s on the government’s dime, so don’t worry about whatever your cash flow situation is. You’re getting a pickup truck. And by “pickup truck,” I mean anything with a bed that a regular person would say is a pickup truck, even if they have to squint a bit. So, no utes, but Autopian Asks isn’t very big on rules, so don’t expect the Comment Cops to bust in if you start talking cars with beds attached.
That said, some people– probably not you, but some people – will decry trucks like the Ford Maverick, Honda Ridgeline, and Hyundai Santa Cruz as mere cars with beds attached, because they’re not body-on-frame and don’t have a solid rear axle. To which I say: nah, they’re pickup trucks. And of those three, it’s probably the Maverick for me, even though I chose a Ridgeline for the topshot. I’m not a big fan of driving pickups when they aren’t actively doing truck things, so the more car-like a truck is, the better. And the lower the better, too.
But that’s just me. Maybe this is your chance to get a mucho-macho lifted truck just for lulz. Perhaps you’d like to go full cowboy Cadillac, since value and practicality are only as much of the discussion as you want them to be. Or maybe … I dunno, I’m asking.
If you must have a truck lest you run afoul of the truck-having police, which do you choose?
Top graphic image: Honda
A late 80s El Camino SS, don’t tell me it ain’t a truck!!!
Oi! That’s a Ute, mate. JK. Some of them could look pretty cool.
A Ford Lightning with the extended range battery. I do not need to tow, so this would do all the truck things I would ever need and with the added value of a frunk that my current truck does not offer. Even if the battery range fell off a cliff in 10 years it would still be useful running errands around town.
Turbo Subaru Baja with a 5MT. Malicious compliance is still compliance.
This ^^^
I too don’t prefer to drive a pickup unless it is doing truck stuff but if I do need to drive one it has to do as much as it can in one trip. So if I have to have one pickup to rule them all (looks in the driveway) a F-250 4×4 Crew Cab 8′ bed. Now the Maverick is interesting and I’ve considered one as a daily driver because it is a car with a bed. In that case it would be a Hybrid AWD in the Lariat trim.
The one I have works just fine! 93 ranger 2.3/5 speed. Brown extended cab. Although I am looking for a new(er) one. Repair costs are getting to be more than it’s worth now. Believe it or not, when you get past 300,000, EVERYTHING starts breaking! 🙂
I can’t justify a NEW Maverick, but I do like them. I like the IDEA of the Slate, but I don’t know if it’ll work out for me. So, on the hunt for another Ranger.
Is it required to be new to me?
I’ve already got 3 pickups, a 1990 Toyota pickup (regular cab, short bed with 4WD, 5MT, manual everything, and 22RE engine), a 2020 Tacoma with six speed manual, and a 1995 RHD Australian market Land Cruiser 70 series pickup.
If I got another one I think my wife and family would start to ask questions, but I guess I’d go for a tow rig. Probably a late 90s, early 2000s diesel HD domestic. Heavy towing is the only capability I don’t already have covered.
Ford Maverick Hybrid AWD in XLT trim with the 4,000 lb tow package.
I thought the hybrid was limited to 2500 lb?
FWD Hybrid is limited to 2,000 lbs. The AWD Hybrid has an optional 4,000 lb towing package. It can also be flat towed behind an RV.
https://www.wichitafallsford.net/research-2026-ford-maverick-towing-capacity
You know my answer, especially if it has to be new: Slate Truck.
If I didn’t have a running car and I did have money, I’d already be in line.
Small, electric, and free-as-in-freedom. Only way it could be better is if it wasn’t a truck, so this question has already been “imposed” on me.
If its new I’m going Ford Maverick LOBO, if used then I’m going OBS Ford F150.
Which one is OBS at this point?
The general consensus is that “OBS” means the 1992-1997 body style. Some people call all 1987-1997 ford trucks “OBS” since they’re pretty similar under the hood, and I’ve even heard all 1980-1997 ford trucks called “OBS chassis” trucks since they’re pretty similar and share some parts. But most people mean 1992-1997 when saying an “OBS Ford”
Huh. I’d be happy with any, but I’d be happiest if I didn’t get a 88-92 version.
The middle gen(87-91) definitely seems to be the least loved. Not as classic feeling as the 80-86 and not as modern as the 92-97
Great point, I should have been a little more specific since the term gets used too broadly sometimes. 1992-1997 is my go to body style, I know they aren’t the most fuel efficient, not the most powerful, but I still have a soft spot for them.
OBS originally came to be during the late 90s for the 92-97 when the new Jellybean F-150 was being sold at the same time as the “old body style”, hence the naming. Overtime the “OBS” name has been applied to other gens and even to GMT400 Chevys. 92-97s are great trucks, the 5.0 in my F-150 feels quick enough and has tolerable fuel economy, plus it’s comfortable, looks great, and parts are cheap
2018 Ram 2500 with the Cummins
A Mitsubishi Minicab Kei truck if could be bought new in the United States.
I’d pay $25K for one cash if I could legally get one here. Are you listening Japanese manufacturers?
Right now, today on August 4th 2026 if I needed a pickup truck for what I need a pickup truck for I would buy a Honda Ridgeline.
Maverick suffers because Ford.
F150 no because Ford.
Ram because suck.
Silverado/GMC no because a company that allows what is happening with their V8 engines is without a doubt letting other things “go” and since the Ignition Switch scandal I have never trusted old OR new General Motors and their engineering with the possibility of my family being injured by their arrogance.
Hyundai-no oil burning for me thank you.
Toyota Tundra and Tacoma. Too expensive for what you are actually getting.
There really isn’t anything that the Japanese mfgs can do about bringing in a Kei class truck, they are just too far away from meeting US safety standards.
A number of outlets rank the current F-150 as the most reliable full size truck, while the current Maverick takes the honors in the less than full size category.
But we have motorcycles with effectively no crash protection except for the optional helmet. Yup, I know!
2nd place Nissan Frontier is new and if used, an 86.5-96 Hardbody V6. No V6 in 97. Or Pathfinder 2-door.
The Hardbody and Pathfinders of that era were peak Nissan as far as trucks go.
Absolutely! My first new vehicle was an ’88 D21 2wd followed by a ’92 4×4 and a ’97.
I can attest to as a former 2024 Sierra AT4X owner GM made some real trash. In my 6 months and 4,000mi of ownership.
1.Diesel limp mode from a cut and unplugged EGR harness at 544mi.
2.Sound system failed at 145mi, bad amp.
3.Battery failed at 1,200mi
4.Paint had what looked like human hairs in it, specifically on the hood.
5.Did get 10 speed automatic weird lurching several times in 2wd, when cold. They changed transmission fluid and mostly stopped.
6.Had emissions light come on a few times randomly, seems like when a regen got cut off, got a Benks to force regens and drive full cycle and did not return.
7.Built in Google Maps was never stable, would often reset or get caught in an endless loop of trying to restart, at least CarPlay was usually solid and reliable.
8.Final straw was wax frame coating coming off and rusty water spots on my garage floor……and that’s my last GM.
Had a Ford (17 Lincoln MKZ 3.0 V6 AWD) that had some issues too, so no Fords either…
3 months after selling the Sierra, run my Lexis Nexis drivers report, yup, had my driving reports on it that OnStar sold to them… without my consent…
Had a 19 Ridgeline and went back to a 24 Ridgeline…
This is such a shame.
It really is because your issues (past issues!) are commonplace with GM vehicles.
In comparison our (3) Mitsubishi vehicles,
with 12k, 51k and 52K miles respectively…
We have had the following failures/hiccups…
not a single issue on the Mirage.
And people laugh at Mitsubishi.
I like what I’ve got. 2015 Dodge 2500 with the 6.4L gas engine. Crewcab/4×4. Tows the camper with room for the family, tows my equipment trailer and all the goodies, and its not my daily. Its a mid level trim, so it is a decent place to be on long road trips when towing. This is my second truck, and so far its been a great vehicle over the 7 years I’ve owned it.
If it was lighter duty I needed, or a daily, I’d be looking at the Maverick or the Ridgeline.
Ford Maverick. Hybrid AWD.
This assumes that my existing truck is dead, which will make me very very sad. But I have tasted the sweet waters of hybrid economy and I’m never going back. As thrifty as my existing truck is, the Hybrid Mav is even thriftier.
Unless the Slate is out by the time the acquisition has to be made. And then…that will be a very tough call. Can the Slate be had with a solar roof? If yes, then that’s the way I will go.
Solar roof no, tonneau cover yes
BYD Shark.
I just want a truck with enough EV range to do my commute, with the range extender for out of town trips.
That’s a tough one. I already have two full-size trucks, so as much as I want a full-size Ford, I don’t need it. Whatever I got would have to be a hybrid, which narrows down the choices somewhat.
The Slate looks really good; it’s the right size, it’s electric, and the price is right. It’s all the pickup I’d need without any of the stuff I don’t have a use for. Range is the only issue, because Mom lives 6 hours away and is in her 80’s.
I test-drove a Honda Ridgeline two years ago and came away very impressed—there were a lot of good features included, and I liked it a lot. I’d have to wait until 2028 for that.
The third option, and probably the one I’d go for if I could afford it, would be a Scout Terra with the range extender. Again, I’d have to wait for that too.
I’d go for early (2nd or 3rd gen) Toyota pick-up. 4 on the tree, really fun to drive, can absolutely take a beating, and doesn’t need an enormous driveway to keep it on
A kei truck. Any make.
I’ll take the Millenworks Pikes Peak Tacoma, thanks a bu-
Whaddaya mean it doesn’t count?
Ok, fiiine, an ’80s/90s 2wd minitruck. Stick shift. Dropped. So much stereo equipment in the bed I can project an NPR based psychological warfare campaign from across the river.
Any pickup that has two doors only, and can have 4 wheel drive. That is a pickup that is needed where I live.
Slate or 1st gen Taco
Slate.
If my driveway was bigger I would have on on order for next Q2 anyway. Small, electric, does truck things like pulling my utility trailer and having space for dirt or bikes. Doesn’t do non-truck things (big infotainment, tracking and reporting on your movements, thinking it can drive).
It’s not big. I don’t need it to be. It doesn’t go all day. I don’t need it to. It doesn’t take gas. I don’t want it to.
Alas, I can’t rationalize ditching an already paid off and perfectly functional car for something I like, but don’t need.
I’d be fine with any of the HD trucks from the Big 3, gasser models, “cowboy lux” trim, crew cab long bed.
If this was an *additional* truck, and I still had my current truck fitting the description above, there’s no way you’d keep me out of a Raptor R.
I already do and its perfect for what I use it, 2009 Ford Ranger Extended Cab, manual everything, vinyl flooring.
This is the (truck) way.
Ford ****ING RANGER.
FORD RANGER
Chevy SSR, of course. Or the one-off BMW M4 Competition xDrive pickup conversion.
Marty McFly’s Toyota 4×4 or a 4×4 Nissan Hardbody King Cab. If it has to be modern, probably a Ford Maverick Hybrid.