Best Truck for 2022 – CNET

Pickup vehicles are versatile automobiles. They may also help you haul your loved ones, tow your toys and carry your gear all on the similar time. Some are pavement queens, others are specialised for journey — and a few aren’t even technically pickups in any respect. With the big variety of pickup vehicles out there, it may be robust to decide on which one is best for you.

That is the place your folks at CNET Automobiles are available in. We have pushed all of them, from the venerable Ford F-150 to the all-electric Rivian R1T. Should you’re combating a shopping for determination, check out our suggestions for pickup vehicles that suit your way of life and desires.

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There’s a purpose the Ford F-150 is the bestselling truck, nay, the bestselling car in America: It simply works. Obtainable with three cab choices, three mattress lengths, 4 totally different gasoline engines, a hybrid variant and a soon-to-be-released electrical powertrain, there is a wealth of customization available. And that is earlier than you dig into the eight totally different trim ranges and two- and four-wheel drive choices. 

The Ford additionally comes with some cool options that are not present in the remainder of the market. An onboard generator can present as much as 7.2 kW of energy and you may get 4 120-volt, 20-amp retailers and one 240-volt, 30-amp plug. Ford says you possibly can arrange a cell welding store with this a lot juice. The gear selector folds flat, making means for a fold-down work floor, and the seats can recline almost 180 levels for a fast nap.

Relying in your configuration you may tow as much as 14,000 kilos and haul 3,325 kilos, which is greater than the max numbers from the Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra.

As for tech, the F-150 is on the market with all of the superior driver’s aids you possibly can ever need together with Energetic Drive Help. On sure mapped and divided highways the F-150 will enable drivers to take their palms off the steering wheel, though a driver-facing digital camera makes positive your eyes stay on the street. The F-150 begins at $31,685 together with $1,695 for vacation spot.

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It has been awhile seen we have seen the Tundra on a best-of record, however the all-new 2022 mannequin deserves some props. It does not have as many engine decisions because the F-150, relying as a substitute on a 3.5-liter twin turbo V6 with 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque on SR5 and up trims. If you need extra, go for the iForce Max energy plant with electrical help, pushing out 437 ponies and 583 pound-feet of torque. Yowza.

A brand new coil spring arrange within the rear together with out there self-leveling rear suspension with adaptive dampers make the Tundra significantly better to drive on the pavement. Towing is available in at 12,000 kilos with a max payload of 1,940. Lastly, a brand new straight path help function makes positive the trailer will go precisely the place the truck is pointed whereas backing up, with none steering enter from the motive force. 

The outdated Tundra was just about tech-free, however this next-generation full-size truck has an out there 12.3-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster and an non-compulsory 14-inch touchscreen housing an all-new infotainment system. It is a main improve with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, pinch-to-zoom functionality and pure speech recognition.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra begins at $37,645 together with $1,695 for vacation spot.

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Coming again for the 2019 mannequin yr after an eight yr hiatus, the Ford Ranger will get the midsize market proper. Geared up with a punchy 2.3-liter turbocharged i4, good for 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, energy will get to the pavement through 10-speed automated transmission. The additional torque over the competitors means it is easy to get the Ranger on top of things on the freeway and the 10-speed is simply as superior, by no means trying to find a gear. For many who wish to enterprise off the pavement, the brand new Tremor package deal provides every kind of off-road goodies.

Towing capability is a whopping 7,500 kilos, no matter configuration. A two-wheel drive Ranger can haul 1,905 kilos of payload beating the pants off the Toyota Tacoma and GM’s Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon twins. A 4×4 Ranger can carry a bit much less: 1,696 kilos. 

There’s loads of tech with an out there 8-inch touchscreen operating Sync3 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A normal blind-spot monitoring system that covers the size of a trailer makes it simpler to haul stuff round city. Lane conserving help can be normal, however adaptive cruise management is further. Count on to pay a beginning worth of $27,440 together with $1,295 for vacation spot and a $645 acquisition charge.

Toyota

Should you go by gross sales numbers, the Toyota Tacoma is the midsize pickup king, however there may be extra to a truck than simply gross sales studies. We just like the Tacoma in the beginning for its reliability and wonderful resale worth. A four-cylinder engine is normal however do your self a favor and go for the three.5-liter V6 with a six-speed handbook transmission, however know that probably the most gasoline economic system you may get out of a four-wheel drive Taco is barely 20 miles per gallon.

Why does not it take prime canine? It affords much less towing and hauling capabilities than the Ranger — a most of 6,800 kilos towing and as much as 1,685 kilos within the mattress. The six-speed automated transmission is finicky and likes to upshift rapidly and the throttle response is laggy. Additional, the inside is cramped and uncomfortable and the infotainment, although outfitted with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remains to be behind the Ranger’s when it comes to graphics and processing velocity.

The Toyota Tacoma begins at $27,715 together with $1,215 for vacation spot. 

Ram

You may have your heavy-duty Ram in 2500 or 3500 guise with a single or twin rear wheel with a 6.4-liter V8, a 6.7-liter Cummins diesel or a 6.7-liter high-output Cummins diesel. The common cab and crew cab will be had with an enormous 8-foot mattress, or you may go the other way and go for the cavernous mega cab with a nonetheless substantial six-foot, four-inch mattress.

We’re placing the Ram on prime over the Ford for just a few causes. The excessive output 6.7-liter produces 420 horsepower and  edges out the Ford with 1,075 pound-feet of torque. Equally, the Ram can tow only a smidge extra: 37,090 kilos with a gooseneck trailer. Do not forget that in lots of states, solely drivers with a industrial license can tow this type of weight, so be sure you verify your native laws earlier than you go off and tow the equal of 9 elephants.

Most payload right here is 7,680 kilos however what’s most pleasurable is the driving expertise. The Ram 2500 will be had with a five-link coil suspension or an air suspension, and we actually like Ram’s Uconnect infotainment with its large ol’ 12-inch touchscreen and tow-specific navigation.

The 2022 Ram Heavy Responsibility begins at $39,545 together with $1,795 for vacation spot.

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The F-Collection Tremendous Responsibility truck is on the market as an F-250, F-350 or F-450 with a single or twin rear wheel arrange and your selection of a 6.2-liter V8, a 7.3-liter V8 or a 6.7-liter Energy Stroke diesel V8. That diesel will ship 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. The Tremendous Responsibility begins at $38,190 together with $1,695 for vacation spot.

Relying on how the Tremendous Responsibility is configured, you may tow 37,000 kilos with a gooseneck trailer, 32,500 kilos with a traditional trailer and may haul 7,850 kilos of payload in its mattress. As within the Ram, keep in mind that a industrial license is normally wanted to tow that form of weight.

What units the Ford aside is that it may be had with the Tremor off-road package deal with 35-inch tires, drive modes with a rock-crawl mode and suspension tuned for the dust. Positive, you might not have to take your big pickup truck out wheeling, however is not it good to know you possibly can?

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Towing a trailer will be intimidating. Visibility is hard, backing it up is troublesome and folk can get actually nervous behind the wheel. The Silverado 1500 is on the market with as much as 15 totally different digital camera views to place your fears at relaxation.

The clear trailer know-how is de facto cool, giving drivers a view of what’s behind them. We additionally just like the rear facet view possibility, which supplies a trailer size indicator displaying automobiles within the trailer’s lane-change path. A rear trailer view shows tips to assist in backing up and you may actually have a view contained in the trailer to verify in in your livestock. To assist in hooking up the trailer there are 4 out there hitch view angles as effectively. Lastly, you may get a jack knife alert and a mattress digital camera with zoom performance. Rounding out the tech is SuperCruise, which calibrates for drag and elevated braking distances and permits drivers to go hands-free, eyes-up on 200,000 miles of mapped highways.

The Silverado can be out there with on-screen checklists to be sure you’ve achieved every part when hooking up, trailer tire stress and temperature monitoring in addition to trailer lighting checks so you will not be driving down the freeway with one tail mild out like a noob. 

Relying on configuration the Silverado can tow wherever from 8,900 kilos to 13,300 kilos. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 begins at $33,595 together with $1,695 for vacation spot.

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Relating to discover the luxurious pickup truck rig, the Ram is tops. The range-topping Restricted trim actually goes all-in on luxurious, however this particular version takes the cake. Inside you may discover plush, supportive quilted leather-based seating, out there with heating and cooling in each the entrance and rear, natch, and the rear seats can recline. Add a jeweled rotary shifter, a suede headliner and a 19-speaker Harmon Kardon Premium Sound system — you guess your candy bippy this truck is fancy.

Whereas the cabin design is top-notch, the Ram additionally delivers a stellar journey high quality. The Restricted will get air suspension normal so it rides like a dream, even on the non-compulsory 22-inch wheels, and the self-leveling know-how means the rear will not squat when trailering. The air suspension may decrease the truck whenever you’re getting out and in, so no leaping is important.

On the tech entrance you may get every part you possibly can presumably need after which extra. A 12-inch infotainment display, head-up show, digital rearview mirror — it is all potential. Driver’s aids are right here too, with full-speed adaptive cruise management, blind-spot monitoring that covers the size of a trailer and a 360-degree digital camera. The value is fairly luxe as effectively: The Ram 1500 Restricted tenth Anniversary Version prices $61,870 after a $1,695 vacation spot cost. 

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Should you actually wish to get off the crushed path, you may’t go fallacious with a Jeep Gladiator. There’s a enormous distinction between trims and for my cash, I would decide the Mojave trim over the Rubicon because it’s made to go quicker when the dust will get tough. With a 1-inch entrance carry and retuned 2.5-inch Fox internal-bypass shocks with distant reservoir and a entrance hydraulic jounce shock for further damping, the Mojave can take in whoops that might flip a Rubicon right into a pogo stick. Rear lockers and a 2.71 switch case imply the Mojave can deal with absolutely anything the desert can throw at it.

Nonetheless, if slow-speed rock crawling is your jam, then it’s best to snag your self a Rubicon. That is the ne plus extremely of tough and prepared Jeeps with entrance and rear lockers, a disconnecting entrance sway bar for extra articulation and a super-low 4.0:1 switch case. One added bonus: The Rubicon is on the market with a 3.0-liter diesel engine along with a 3.6-liter fuel V6.

Each trims have over 11 inches of floor clearance and best-in-class strategy and departure angles. Nonetheless, towing and payload suffers with all of the fancypants off-road goodies. Count on to tow a max of 6,000 kilos and haul 1,200 kilos within the mattress of a Mojave. The Rubicon can deal with a bit extra — a max of seven,000 kilos towing and 1,200 kilos of payload. 

The Jeep Gladiator begins at $36,910 together with $1,595 for vacation spot.

Ram Vans

The brand new child on the block will get our decide for the perfect full-size off-road truck. The Ram TRX has a 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 stuffed underneath the hood for 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. That is Baja 1000 trophy truck form of energy, individuals. It is also moving into some trophy pricing: $77,575 together with $1,795 for supply.

Holding all of it in verify is adaptive 2.5 Bilstein Blackhawk E2 shocks that may regulate the compression and rebound damping in 20 milliseconds. Distant reservoirs hold the shocks cool within the scorching and dusty desert environments and the truck boasts 13 inches of journey within the entrance, 14 inches within the rear. And, oh yeah: You may soar it. Ram claims 2,000 kilos of damping drive absorption at every nook. 

The Ford Raptor remains to be a worthy competitor, in actual fact it does towing and hauling only a bit higher than the Ram TRX, however for all-out raucousness, whoop-running and dune leaping, the TRX is the present king. 

FCA US LLC

If you wish to get far off the grid with loads of gear, try the Ram 2500 Energy Wagon. This heavy-duty truck has loads of room in its 6.4-foot-long mattress for an aftermarket rack, a rooftop tent, a fridge and no matter else you would possibly have to hold you cozy whereas tenting. Payload is rated at 1,560 kilos, so go forward and add the espresso maker, a set of restoration boards and a blender for end-of-day margaritas.

The Ram comes normal with stable axles and lockers within the entrance and rear, a disconnecting sway bar for extra articulation and a 12,000-pound Warn winch. It additionally has large quantities of floor clearance, 14.3 inches, which supplies the large boy some spectacular geometry. I am speaking 33.6 levels of strategy angle, 26.2 levels of departure angle and 23.5 levels of breakover angle. Not too shabby for a truck with a 149-inch wheelbase.

The 6.4-liter V8 engine pushes out 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. The EPA does not give gasoline economic system for heavy-duty vehicles, however we averaged about 12 miles per gallon mixed once we drove it. With a 31 gallon tank you possibly can get 372 miles of vary, however we suggest bringing gasoline with you. We want the Energy Wagon have been supplied with the 6.7-liter diesel engine that is out there on different Ram HD trims, however alas, it’s not to be. You may shell out $59,185, together with $1,795 for vacation spot, for a brand new Energy Wagon.

Honda

If all these vehicles sound just a little too, effectively, trucky for you, try the Ford Maverick. As a unibody car it is not technically a truck, nevertheless it performs most truck duties effectively sufficient for a lot of customers. The Maverick begins at $21,490 together with $1,495 for vacation spot.

It is 2.5-liter hybrid powerplant is sweet for 191 horsepower and a ridiculous 37 mpg mixed (42 mpg metropolis, 33 mpg freeway). It is compact sufficient for metropolis use however can nonetheless tow 4,000 kilos when outfitted with all-wheel drive and the two.0-liter EcoBoost engine. It additionally has a wonderful payload capability of as much as 1,500 kilos in its 4.5-foot-long mattress. Plus, the impartial entrance and rear suspension means journey high quality is way nicer than a regular pickup truck.

There is no low gearing, floor clearance is barely 8.3 inches — 8.6 with all-wheel drive — and the geometry is not spectacular. Do not count on to be going far off the crushed path within the little Maverick.

Backside line: You will not do any rock crawling with the Ford Maverick, but when it’s essential haul and tow issues and need a clean pavement rider, there is no such thing as a have to look any additional.

Learn our 2022 Ford Maverick evaluation.

 

Honda

Just like the Ford Maverick above, the Honda Ridgeline is a unibody car that is not technically a truck. Although it ought to match the invoice for people eager to have the comfort of a mattress for hauling, whereas sustaining extra compliant street manners. The Ridgeline begins at $38,865 together with $1,225 for vacation spot.

It is 3.5-liter V6 engine is sweet for 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It is compact sufficient for metropolis use however can nonetheless tow 5,000 kilos and has a wonderful payload capability of as much as 1,583 kilos in its 5-foot-long mattress. The impartial entrance and rear suspension means journey high quality is way nicer than a regular pickup truck, and it returns an EPA-estimated gasoline economic system of 21 mpg mixed.

Off-roading is not prime of thoughts for the Ridgeline with it void of any low gearing, floor clearance is barely 7.6 inches and the geometry is not spectacular. The all-wheel drive system has modes for snow, sand and dust, nevertheless, and may throw 70% of the ability to the rear wheels — after which 100% of that energy to whichever rear wheel wants it. 

As with the opposite unibody vehicles on the market, crawling over boulders is not going to be a super state of affairs for the Ridgeline, but when it’s essential haul and tow issues and need a clean pavement rider, this Honda ought to positively be in your purchasing record.

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Should you stay the place parking is at a premium however you want the utility of a truck, try the diminutive Hyundai Santa Cruz. Obtainable in front- or all-wheel drive and with an out there punchy turbocharged engine, the Santa Cruz is enjoyable to drive and suits properly right into a metropolis panorama.

For hauling smaller-sized hundreds the 4.5-foot mattress is ideal. Positive, it isn’t so long as a mid-size truck, however it could actually haul a wholesome 1,753 kilos. Plus it is tremendous straightforward to succeed in into with quick mattress sides and a low mattress flooring. And it is fairly gasoline environment friendly in addition, with an EPA gasoline economic system ranking of 19 mpg metropolis, 27 mpg freeway and 22 mpg mixed.

There’s loads of tech on SEL fashions and better like forward-collision braking, lane-keeping help, lane-following help, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and rear-seat occupancy alert. Increased trims get Freeway Drive Help and the cool blind spot view monitor, which places a side-view video show proper within the gauge cluster when the flip sign is engaged.

One of the best factor about driving the Santa Cruz is that it is small and straightforward to maneuver. Even midsize vehicles can really feel beastly from behind the wheel, however all that goes out the window with the Santa Cruz. It is nimble sufficient to shoot by way of site visitors and it is easy to park, all whereas sustaining a lot of the utility of its bigger brethren. Count on to pay a $25,365 beginning worth, together with $1,225 for vacation spot. 

Learn our 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz evaluation.

 

Rivian

Positive, the Rivian is in a category of 1 proper now… till the GMC Hummer EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV and Ford F-150 Lightning make their means into dealerships. Nonetheless, it is nonetheless a ridiculously succesful truck that’s at dwelling on the road with its comfy journey and out within the dust with its 15 inches of floor clearance. 

The R1T has a 135-kWh battery pack that shops sufficient energy to go 314 miles. Additional, the truck can settle for a cost of 200 kW, including 140 miles in simply 20 minutes. IT can speed up from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds, ford three toes of water and tow as much as 11,000 kilos. Yowza.

The Rivian can be flush with space for storing. A gear tunnel behind the rear seats has sufficient room for restoration gear and in a single day luggage. The frunk is nearly as large and the mattress is 54 inches lengthy. Positive, it is shorter than your normal full-size truck, however not too shabby.

Deliveries are occurring proper now, however you may nonetheless must preorder your Rivian R1T beginning on the tune of $67,500. The corporate doesn’t record any vacation spot charges.

Comparability of the greatest vehicles for 2022

Class Identify Horsepower vary (hp) Torque Vary (lb-ft) Max towing (lbs) Max payload (lbs) Beginning worth
Greatest truck general/Greatest full-size truck 2022 Ford F-150 290-430 265-570 14,000 3,325 $31,685
Greatest truck general runner-up/Greatest full-size truck runner-up 2022 Toyota Tundra 389-437 479-583 12,000 1,940 $37,645 
Greatest midsize truck 2022 Ford Ranger 270 310 7,500 1,860 $27,440
Greatest midsize truck runner-up 2022 Toyota Tacoma 159-278 180-265 6,800 1,685 $27,715
Greatest heavy obligation truck  2022 Ram HD 370-420 429-1,075 37,090 7,680 $39,545
Greatest heavy-duty truck runner-up 2022 Ford F-Collection Tremendous Responsibility 385-475 430-1,050 37,000 7,850 $38,190 
Greatest truck for a beginner tower 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 277-420 383-460 13,300 N/A $33,595
Greatest luxurious truck 2022 Ram 1500 Restricted tenth Anniversary Version 260-395 269-480 11,500 2,000 $61,870
Greatest midsize off-road truck 2022 Jeep Gladiator 260-285 260-442 7,650 1,700 $36,910
Greatest full-size off-road truck 2022 Ram TRX 702 650 8,100 1,310 $77,575
Greatest truck for overlanding 2022 Ram 2500 Energy Wagon 410 429 10,590 1,520 $59,185
Greatest small truck 2022 Ford Maverick 191-250 N/A-277 4,000 1,500 $21,490
Greatest small truck runner-up  2022 Honda Ridgeline 280 262 5,000 1,583 $38,865
Greatest metropolis truck 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz 191-282 181-311 5,000 1,753 $25,365
Greatest electrical truck 2022 Rivian R1T 835 908 11,000 1,760 $67,500

How we made our record

We ensure that to drive and evaluation each car we suggest. CNET Automobiles has many years of mixed expertise and our picks characterize the automobiles we’d wish to personal for every particular person class. Pricing is taken from each producer’s web sites, however the seller units the ultimate worth.

And bear in mind, we do not truly get to personal every part — as a lot as we would wish to — so we won’t touch upon long-term reliability. We suggest that you just speak with present house owners to get an concept of upkeep prices and the like.

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