2020 Trucks

When it comes to getting things done, trucks are second to none. These versatile machines are like big, golden retrievers — dedicated, reliable and part of countless people’s families. For many, life without one of these animals – a dog or a pickup – is unthinkable. Most trucks are still built on a body-on-frame architecture, making them more robust for tough jobs and off-roading, but the Honda Ridgeline, for example, is built on a unibody crossover platform but still has the utility of an exposed bed.

Pros and Cons of Trucks

Pros: Nothing works harder than a truck. Whether you need to tow, haul, go off-roading, load the bed up with anything from hay bales to dirt bikes to gardening supplies, or even just carry around your family and toys in comfort, there’s nothing better than a truck. These days, trucks are more luxurious, tech-savvy, clever and user-friendly than ever. New tech helps to make towing or off-roading easier and safer and really helps truck drivers get the most from their rigs. The aftermarket selection for parts and accessories to personalize trucks or make them more useful is also massive. Many trucks often have a high resale value. If you need a simple, no-frills RWD work truck or a super luxurious AWD rig, there is a pickup for every job.

Cons: There is a lot of choice in the truck world and a ton of configurations, which can be a lot to navigate for someone new to the truck market. Trucks can also get prohibitively expensive and aren’t known to be very fuel efficient. Driving a truck around in tight urban areas or trying to navigate them through parking garages can also be quite stressful if drivers aren’t used to the huge size. Some trucks are so tall they won’t even fit in some parking garages.

What’s New in Trucks for 2019?

2019 is a huge year for trucks. Not only does it mark the year the Ford Ranger returns to the North American market, but also the year the ever-popular F-150 finally gained a diesel engine. The Power Stroke diesel gets 250 hp, 440 pound-feet of torque, and should get 30 mpg. That diesel rounds out the F-150’s already strong lineup. Back to the Ranger for a minute, this smaller pickup truck will have just one engine option, a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder, and the same 10-speed transmission as the F-150. Unfortunately, it seems Ford won’t be bringing the Ranger Raptor version to North America.

ALSO SEE: Ford Ranger vs F-150: Which Truck is Right for You?

Another brand-new entry into the trucks market is the Jeep Gladiator, which will compete with smaller trucks like the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma, especially their off-road versions, the Colorado ZR2 and the Tacoma TRD. As the Wrangler-based pickup truck that fans have been asking about or decades, the new midsize is a highly anticipated model. With all the off-road capability that the Wrangler is famous for, the new Gladiator makes use of a 5-foot bed, but you can still take off the roof and doors as well as fold down the windshield to get closer to nature. The Gladiator is expected to offer chart-topping tow and payload ratings of up to 7,650 pounds (3,470 kg) and 1,600 pounds (726 kg), respectively. The standard V6 helps the cause with 285 hp and 260 pound-feet of torque - which gets to all four wheels via an 8-speed auto or a 6-speed manual.

The Ram 1500 is all new for 2019 and besides a stylish new look, more features, an excellent new tablet-like infotainment setup, and an overhauled suspension, the big news is that it’s now available as a mild hybrid. Both the V6 and the Hemi V8 can now be augmented by a 48-volt electrical system that helps lower fuel consumption and provides a boost in torque when needed. It works seamlessly to improve both fuel efficiency and performance.

ALSO SEE: Toyota Tacoma vs Tundra: Which Truck is Right for You?

Following Ford’s lead, the Chevrolet Silverado has also added a Diesel engine to the mix. The 2019 Chevy Silverado has lost hundreds of pounds over the old one and is also available with heavily updated versions of the 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter Small Block, along with an all-new 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax diesel engine, which will come with a 10-speed transmission that was co-developed with Ford. There is also a new turbocharged four-cylinder model. The V8s now come with a new cylinder deactivation system that can idle up to seven cylinders under light loads. Of course, the truck gets an all-new look and more features and tech. Chevy also revamped its HD trucks lineup.

The GMC Sierra, like the Silverado it shares a lot with, has also been completely redone for 2019 with the coolest innovation being the new carbon fiber bed and the MultiPro tailgate. This tailgate is a novelty in the world of trucks, where most tailgates operate the exact same way. The MultiPro tailgate operates like a tailgate in a tailgate and has multiple configurations so that it can be used as a desk/work surface, a step, load stop, and more.

What’s Coming in Trucks?

Trucks are getting smarter, more fuel efficient, more high tech, and easier to live with. Diesel trucks are coming back in a big way and hybrid trucks will also become more commonplace.

The Ford is set to unveil a new heavy-duty F-Series truck for the 2020 model year.

The popular Toyota Tacoma and Tundra are really showing their age, and despite this are still boasting very strong sales. Toyota will likely debut all-new or heavily refreshed versions of their pickups in the near future.

Hyundai is said to be entering the small pickup truck market with a Santa Cruz model to compete with unibody trucks like the Honda Ridgeline.