Best New Pickup Trucks of 2023 and 2024

2024-04-26 10:22:52

Today's Pickup trucks are more than just workhorses, they're also luxury vehicles, high-performance machines, and comfortable cruisers. Bare-bone pickups still exist, but these models are no longer the poster children of the typical truck. Credit (or blame) the fact that truck consumers expect these machines to do far more than just tow and haul heavy loads. Rather modern pickups also need to take on roles typically associated with family sedans and luxury cars. Why have two vehicles for different tasks when you can have one capable of completing both? Porque no los dos?

That said, not all trucks cater to the same buyer. Those looking to tow hefty loads will want to consider a half-ton pickup, if not an even mightier three-quarter or full-ton truck. City dwellers, meanwhile, may care for something a bit smaller, such as a mid-size or compact truck, the latter of which tend to trade hefty towing and payload capacities for car-like maneuverability and fuel efficiency.

Then there are the performance-oriented pickups such as the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram 1500 TRX. These beasts feature off-road-ready suspension components, an abundance of power, and plenty of ground clearance in order to tackle the toughest trails and tallest parking lot curbs out there.

In many ways, trucks are like kitchen knives: choosing the right one for a given task makes finishing the job at hand a heck of a lot easier. That's why we put these pickups through our exhaustive testing regimen. Because let's face it, you don't want to discover the utility knife you bought to trim the fat off a thick cut of tenderloin is actually little more than a bread knife. The trucks on our 2023 Editors' Choice list are the best of the bunch. They're not all made for completing the same jobs, but these pickups are the top tools for taking on a multitude of tasks.

Although it might not look it, the 2023 Ford Maverick is a workhorse pickup that earns its place next to the Ranger and the F-150 with a novel design and surprising usefulness. The standard powertrain is a fuel-efficient hybrid system with front-wheel drive, but a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and all-wheel drive are available. Payload capacity is more than enough for a weekend's worth of home improvement supplies, and the Maverick can be equipped to tow up to 4000 pounds. It shares its platform with the Bronco Sport SUV and has four doors and a fairly spacious interior with several clever storage solutions. However, unlike the diet Bronco, the Maverick pickup earned a spot on our list of 10Best Trucks and SUVs for 2023. The Maverick's only competition in the recently revived compact pickup truck class is the Hyundai Santa Cruz, and although that truck can tow more and offers more luxury features, it also costs more and has a smaller bed.