2021 Trucks

The United States has a love affair with the pickup truck. Full-size trucks have topped the list of the bestselling vehicles in America for more than four decades. Technically, the Ford F-150 has topped the charts for the past 44 years, but the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Ram 1500 are never far behind. Based on the success of the American pickups, Nissan, Toyota and Honda all jumped into the truck race with models of various shapes and sizes. At first, the Nissan and Toyota brands were most popular in the small truck segment, but as time went on, both introduced full-size models to compete with the full-sizers from the Big three. Meanwhile, Honda got involved with the American truck market with a vehicle that is a little bigger than most mid-size models and a little smaller than the full-size models.

It isn’t hard to understand why trucks are so popular in the United States. They offer more passenger space than most cars and many SUVs. They have a huge, open cargo area that can be easily converted to an enclosed, locking cargo area with a common aftermarket accessory. They have powerful engines that allow them to haul and tow heavy loads and most trucks come with four-wheel-drive, making them great for rough roads and winter weather. Unless you need to transport eight or more passengers, there isn’t much that trucks can’t do.

This year there are two new comers to the truck market that are a bit smaller than the rest. Yes, that's right, the compact pickup truck is back. Both Hyundai and Ford have introduced compact unibody pickup trucks to capitalize on those who want the usefulness of a scaled-down truck, without being burdened by the size and/or fuel consumption of a larger pickup. 

Pros and Cons of Trucks

Pros

• Can haul and tow more than any other vehicle type
• More capable on rough roads and in winter weather
• Can go just about anywhere
• Lots of power
• Huge interior
• Premium models offer luxury-level cabins

Cons

• Higher average purchase price
• Lower fuel economy
• Large footprint isn’t ideal for city driving
• Can be harder to get into for some people

Fully Electric Pickup Trucks

SEE ALSO: Top 8 Hybrid and Electric Pickup Trucks Worth Waiting For

What's New in Trucks for 2022

Ford Maverick

The mini-truck is back, thanks in large part to the Ford Maverick. Smaller than the mid-size Ranger, the Maverick combines value, technology, and utility in a way very few vehicles are capable of. Starting at less than $20,000 USD, the Maverick comes standard with a hybrid drivetrain and front wheel drive. There is an optional turbocharged Ecoboost engine that can be paired with all-wheel drive. 

SEE ALSO: Ford Maverick Wins AutoGuide 2022 Truck of the Year

Hyundai Santa Cruz

Toyota Tundra

GMC Hummer EV Pickup

Nissan Frontier

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Cheapest Pickup Trucks

Other Highlights from the World of Trucks

Ford F-150

Ram 1500

Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra

Honda Ridgeline

Toyota Tacoma