Pickup Trucks

Large pickup trucks

Among full-sized pickups, the stiffest competition for the 2007 model year is between the Chevrolet Silverado (*est. $17,015 to $38,990) and Toyota Tundra (*est. $22,290 to $32,725) . In each review that places the Chevy ahead of the Toyota pickup, we found another review that flips the order. Which you choose depends partly on how you drive and partly on where your national allegiances lie.

The 2007 Chevrolet Silverado wins an award at Car and Driver for the year's best pickup, and it's the Truck of the Year at Motor Trend. Car and Driver's review notes that the Silverado doesn't break any new ground. Instead, it continues to refine and balance a familiar formula. Chevrolet recognizes that most pickup owners don't even take their trucks offroad; more and more people use their pickup as a commuter car. For that reason, the Silverado's strongest attribute may be its exceptional ride quality on the pavement. Even reviews that eventually pin the ribbon on the Toyota Tundra note that the Chevy Silverado is a terrifically comfortable truck; its interior materials were consistently judged nicer than the Tundra's cockpit. The Silverado also wins points on value, with a lower starting price than the Tundra.

When it comes to sheer power, the Chevrolet Silverado slips behind the Toyota Tundra, and at Edmunds.com, editors say throttle response is a bit soft. Side airbags and stability control aren't standard on all models, and not every review was impressed with the new styling.

Like most pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado is available in a staggering 38 varieties of cab capacity, door style and engine. The Silverado has four available engines, from a 195-hp, 4.3-liter V-6 to a 367-hp, 6.0-liter V-8 (most reviews test the more powerful engines). In addition, there are a number of diesel options available for the Silverado as well (which we'll cover in an upcoming report on diesel cars and trucks). Extended and crew cabs are available for the Silverado, and there are three possible cab lengths: 5'8'', 6'6'' and 8 ft. The Silverado has a maximum towing capacity of 10,500 pounds. Fuel economy is rated by the EPA at 15 to 17 mpg/city and 19 to 22 mpg/hwy, depending on the engine. In real-world tests, reviews got average mileage of between 12.5 and 15 mpg in mixed driving.

For 2007, Chevrolet is also offering the Silverado Classic (*est. $15,840 to $35,160) , which keeps the body styling of the previous incarnation of the Silverado instead of the new design. The GMC Sierra (*est. $17,860 to $41,195) is largely a clone of the Chevrolet Silverado, based on the same platform with similar options. Most reviews prefer the style lines of the Silverado to those of the GMC Sierra, however.

The Toyota Tundra (*est. $22,290 to $32,725) has also seen a major renovation for the 2007 model year. It came out ahead of the Ford F-150 and the Silverado in a matchup at Cars.com, and bested the Silverado and Nissan Titan in a three-car comparison at Edmunds.com.

While the Tundra is not as complex as the Silverado in terms of cab and body style varieties, there are still plenty of combinations. There are three engine options available: a 236-hp, 4.0-liter V-6, a 271-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 and a 381-hp, 5.7-liter V-8 (which gets the most praise in reviews). Toyota expects two-thirds of buyers to go for the big 5.7-liter V-8, currently a class leader. The Tundra is available with one of three cabs: either a regular, double or crew cab, and in one of three bed sizes: 66.7", 78.7" or 97.6".

Where the Chevrolet Silverado offers more in terms of smooth car-like handling and a comfortable interior, the Toyota Tundra excels in utility. In the head-to-head comparison at Edmunds.com, the Tundra has the most expansive interior, with a lot of interior storage. It was the best performer on gravel, with the most precise steering and best torque. Although it was the longest truck of the three, the Tundra had the tightest turning radius. At Cars.com, the Tundra is the easy winner for its excellent drivetrain, and it ties with the Silverado for smooth ride. While all reviews comment on the roomy cabin, some reviews aren't crazy about the interior materials. Motor Trend calls the interior "cheesy," with a plastic-trimmed dash that looks better in pictures than in person.

Gas-mileage estimates for the Toyota Tundra match the EPA estimates for the Chevrolet Silverado, but in real-world tests at Edmunds.com, editors got 14.4 mpg in mixed driving with the largest available V-8 engine -- better than the Silverado when equipped with its largest V-8 engine. In terms of towing capacity the Tundra can haul an impressive 10,800 pounds. Safety features are impressive, with standard side-curtain airbags and stability control. A rear camera is optional.

The Ford F-150 (*est. $18,275 to $33,125) last saw a redesign in 2004, and this is much of the reason that it has not seen as much press this year: the vehicle is starting to look dated next to the competition. The ride is a little rough, entry is a little awkward and the fuel efficiency is slightly below average. However, it is still the best-selling pickup in America. There are three engine options, truck beds sized from 5.5 feet to 8 feet and three cab sizes available. The Ford F-150 has a maximum towing capacity of 10,500 pounds. Keep in mind that heavy-duty Ford F-250 and F-350 variants are available, some with optional diesel engines.

The Nissan Titan (*est. $23,700 to $36,200) , one of the top pickups from the 2006 model year, generally falls a nose behind the Tundra and Silverado in hands-on tests, particularly at Edmunds.com. There are two available engines and two available cabs. The Titan isn't available in the same bewildering range of trim levels as the Silverado, which makes shopping simpler (or limiting, depending on your perspective). The Titan can tow 9,500 pounds and offers a lot of power and off-road capability, but for 2007, it's just slightly outclassed.

Named the work vehicle of the year at Cars.com, the Dodge Ram 1500 (*est. $21,370 to $40,840) has been a strong force in the pickup market for years. The truck has not received a redesign since 2002, which is one of the main reasons it does not receive more attention in reviews. However, it's available in nearly every size imaginable and has a towing capacity of 8,800 pounds. Diesel versions of the Dodge Ram can tow nearly double this weight. What the Ram lacks is any feeling of luxury. The ride quality is said to be unimpressive, it's hard to get in and out of the vehicle, and opting for a larger engine in the 1500 cuts heavily into fuel efficiency.

The Cadillac Escalade EXT (*est. $53,975 to $55,750) shows how far the pickup truck has come since its inception. With a starting price of over $50,000, this is not an everyday hauling vehicle. The Escalade EXT comes equipped with leather seats, climate control and optional all-wheel drive. The towing capacity of the vehicle is 8,500 pounds, but critics note that not many people will be using their Escalade for hauling purposes.

Another upscale pickup truck, the 2007 Lincoln Mark LT (*est. $38,125 to $41,525) has not received too many reviews as yet. It does get a once-over from Forbes Autos. A 6.5-foot truck bed is new for 2007, and the Lincoln proves that it can contend with the competition, showing a maximum towing capacity of 8,900 pounds. In addition, the cabin is large and the vehicle is powerful. Unfortunately, it's an expensive ride compared to the competition, and it's a very thirsty truck in terms of fuel consumption.

We'll be covering new heavy-duty diesel trucks in an upcoming report. These include the Silverado HD, Sierra HD, Ford F-250 diesel and Dodge Ram 2500 diesel.

Mid-sized and crossover pickup trucks

If you don't need something as large as a Tundra or Silverado, and you don't need off-road capability or a lot of towing capacity, the Honda Ridgeline (*est. $27,800 to $32,940) is considered a mid-size truck, with a more powerful V-6 base engine than more compact trucks like the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, but less powerful than a full-sized truck. The Ridgeline was introduced in 2006 as Honda's first foray into the truck market, and has been met with generally positive feedback. Like the Chevrolet Silverado, the Honda Ridgeline gets the highest marks for interior comfort and car-like ride quality. The Ridgeline is also enjoying an above-average reliability record.

The Honda Ridgeline breaks the mold a bit by offering just a single engine, a 247-hp, 3.5-liter V-6, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The Ridgeline is available only as a four-door, with seating for five, coupled with a five-foot truck bed. An innovative tailgate can be either folded down or swiveled out to the side, and a weatherproof, locking trunk under the truck bed is also a bonus. In addition, the cab of the Ridgeline offers sedan-like functionality, with rear-folding seats and underneath storage.

While the Honda Ridgeline is great as a commuter truck and perfect for hauling loads from Home Depot, it's not considered a work truck. Reviews say it loses a lot of acceleration and fuel efficiency when hauling, and there's no low-range gearing. The Ridgeline is available only with an automatic transmission -- a manual gearbox isn't even an option. Off-road performance isn't notable, again highlighting the Ridgeline's better on-road capabilities. EPA fuel estimates for the Honda pickup are 16 mpg/city and 21 mpg/hwy. In real-world mixed driving at ConsumerGuide.com, testers got mileage of between 16 and 18 mpg.

Similar in style to the Honda Ridgeline, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac (*est. $24,295 to $29,870) is a SUV/pickup crossover. It also pairs a four-door cab with a short bed. While the Ridgeline truck bed is about five feet long, the bed of the Sport Trac is about six inches shorter. Additional storage areas under the bed have drain holes. The Sport Trac offers 5,310 pounds of towing capacity, and a roomy, comfortable cabin that feels like a sedan. What reviewers like about this vehicle is that it feels comfortable and is a nice compromise for people who want a truck bed but don't like the look of a conventional pickup. What they don't like is that the vehicle has a tendency to feel bulky when trying to maneuver it in small areas. Several reviewers don't like the door grab handles. Although a V-8 engine is an option, reviews say the Sport Trac doesn't feel more powerful than the Honda Ridgeline, mainly due to its higher weight. Real-world fuel economy also falls short of the Ridgeline. Testers at AutoWeek.com got about 15 mpg in mixed driving, but other reviewers only got between 12.5 and 14 mpg in mixed driving from either engine.

The Chevrolet Avalanche (*est. $32,135 to $35,840) is another sport utility/truck hybrid, also with a four-door cab and short truck bed. But the Avalanche does a neat trick: Its unified bed and cab allow for a midgate behind the rear seats -- this extends the cargo bed from 5.3 feet to 8.2 feet. A folding bed liner makes the whole area weatherproof. A V-8 engine is standard on the Avalanche, with either 320 or 366 horsepower and a towing capacity of 8,000 pounds. We found a good comparison at Truckin' magazine, where the Avalanche is said to outperform the similar Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The midgate idea is a winner that could be the answer for those who might normally choose an SUV, but occasionally needs a longer truck bed. Real-world fuel economy from the Avalanche is about 16 mpg in mixed driving -- better than the Ford Sport Trac. However, the Avalanche is available with a 320-hp 5.3-liter V-8 engine that can run on ethanol-blended fuel, called E85. This is a no-cost option for 2WD models and is standard on four-wheel drive Avalanche models.

Even so, the Avalanche is more expensive than the Honda Ridgeline and smaller standard trucks like the highly rated Toyota Tacoma. According to Consumer Guide's Tom Appel, "Honda Ridgeline will provide 80% of Avalanche's utility for 75% of the price and with 40% better fuel economy."

The Dodge Dakota (*est. $19,235 to $29,555) is more of a standard pickup, and it has a lot in common with its larger sibling, the Dodge Ram. The base engine is a V-6, but the more powerful V-8 engine pushes towing capacity to 7,150 pounds. However, reviews say acceleration isn't great, and fuel economy is below average. In real-world fuel economy tests, the V-6 engine returned about 14 mpg in mixed driving, below that of other mid-sized trucks. Long-term reliability has also been a problem; even recent models have had above-average problems with brake and suspension systems, according to owner surveys.

The Mitsubishi Raider (*est. $19,890 to $28,445) is pretty much a rebranded Dodge Dakota, available with a 3.7-liter V-6. There is no V-8 option for the 2007 model year. The towing capacity of the Raider is 6,400 pounds, and the truck is available with either an extended cab or a double cab. One point of note is that the Mitsubishi Raider is the IntelliChoice Best in Class winner for lowest repair costs.

Compact pickups

If you want a smaller, less expensive pickup, the Toyota Tacoma (*est. $14,180 to $24,635) gets the highest ratings among compact trucks. The base engine is a 159-hp four-cylinder, with an optional 236-hp V-6. Standard towing capacity is 3,500 pounds, but an optional V-6 tow package boosts towing capacity to 6,500 pounds. Three cabs -- a regular cab, an extended cab and a double cab -- are available. Regular and extended cabs have a six-foot truck bed. Double cabs come with a five- or six-foot bed. Gas mileage, as tested by Consumer Guide, is about 16.5 mpg for the V-6 engine in mixed driving, and in the low 20s for the base four-cylinder engine.

The Tacoma is chosen as a Best Buy at Consumer Guide -- in fact, it's the only pickup of any size to receive a best-buy rating from Consumer Guide's editors. The Toyota Tacoma was also chosen as the best small truck for 2007 by the staff of Edmunds.com. The best reviews go to the V-6 equipped Toyota Tacoma, but if you don't need to tow much and plan to use your truck mainly as an everyday truck, the four-cylinder gets good gas mileage for a truck. The interior quality and comfort are both complimented in reviews, and the off-road proficiency is good (an off-road suspension package is also available). Handling is good, and the ride quality -- while not totally car-like -- is better than previous versions of the Tacoma. The lesser points of the truck include overall refinement and driving position, which is a little too low, according to Edmunds.com. This can affect visibility. Overall, reviews say the Tacoma is the most practical small truck, with a low price tag, even for the V-6 Tacoma.

The Nissan Frontier (*est. $16,050 to $27,500) shares many aspects with the Nissan Titan. Both have similar suspension and off-road capabilities. The Frontier is available with two cab options: a crew cab with a 4-foot bed and an extended cab with a 6-foot bed. The Nissan Frontier has a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds and performs very well in safety tests. In addition, reviewers note that the Frontier has an excellent reliability record. The cabin of the Frontier is spacious, and the general consensus is that the Frontier feels like a sedan from the inside. Some note the ride is a bit stiff. If you need better towing capacity than the base-model Tacoma, the Frontier may be worth a look. It's not available with a regular cab -- only extended cab and crew cabs are available. Real-world fuel economy is about 14.5 mpg with the V-6 engine, not quite as good as the Tacoma.

The Chevrolet Colorado (*est. $13,910 to $23,810) , like the Chevy Silverado, is available in a staggering number of configurations, including three cab choices and two engine options. Towing capacity ranges from 1,700 to 4,000 pounds. In reviews, testers are not impressed with the interior: Rear-seat space is cramped and the seats aren't comfortable enough.

The GMC Canyon (*est. $13,910 to $23,940) is a clone of the Chevrolet Colorado, with the same engine choices, an I-4 and an I-5. However, the fuel efficiency is a nice aspect, and the car gets positive markings for feeling big on the inside without feeling bulky while driving. The Canyon is available with either a regular, extended or crew cab, and a number of suspension options. In addition, there are excellent luxury options for the vehicle, such as leather seats and sunroofs (these are also available on the Colorado).

The Isuzu i-290 (*est. $16,989 to $18,989) and the Isuzu i-370 (*est. $21,078 to $27,358) are also clones of the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon trucks. Most facets of the trucks are identical besides the Isuzu badging and some exterior changes.

The Ford Ranger (*est. $13,860 to $24,315) has always been one of the top-selling small pickups. The starting price is low, and there are a lot of cab style/engine combinations, including three engines and two cab styles. The ride is stiff and truck-like, say reviews. Overall, we saw few reviews for the 2007 Ford Ranger, and no review puts it ahead of the class-leading Toyota Tacoma. The towing capacity of the Ford Ranger is about 6,000 pounds.

The Mazda B2300 (*est. $15,535 to $16,635) is a clone of the Ford Ranger, with slightly different trim styles and design lines. It is only available as a regular-cab truck with a four-cylinder engine and rear-wheel drive. Maximum towing capacity is 1,580 pounds. Off-road capabilities are not the strong suit of the Mazda.

Important Features: Pickup trucks

Experts say to consider the following when choosing a pickup truck:

• A pickup truck should carry both people and cargo. Often these goals are in direct conflict, as the trucks with the roomiest passenger accommodations tend to have the shortest cargo beds. Five- and six-passenger trucks should have beds at least five feet long, while two- and three-passenger trucks should have beds about eight feet long. Most trucks offer several different cab and bed configurations.

• Match the engine to your hauling needs. Most compact trucks can pull at least 3,000 pounds, while most full-sized trucks can tow at least 9,000 pounds. These ratings are more than adequate for most people's needs. For very heavy or frequent towing, you'll want to upgrade the engine with a V-8 or a diesel (which has more torque than similar-sized gasoline engines).

• More and more people use their trucks as commuter cars. Pickups tend to be heavy and not very aerodynamic, and they have large, powerful engines. All of these things work against fuel economy. In general, larger, full-sized trucks are less efficient than smaller, compact or mid-sized ones. Automatics fare worse than manual transmissions, and gasoline engines burn fuel faster than diesels. Four-wheel drive will send you to the pump faster than rear-wheel drive. If you mainly want a truck for carrying loads back from Costco and Home Depot, consider a smaller truck that gets better gas mileage. Smaller trucks can get 18 to 20 mpg in mixed driving.

• Four-wheel drive is a necessity only if you drive in severe off-road conditions or in snow. If you don't drive off-road in rugged terrain or live in an especially snowy region, you'll probably be better off with a regular 4 x 2 rear-wheel-drive truck. These are usually cheaper, faster and (as noted above) achieve better fuel economy than models equipped with four-wheel drive.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)	details from Edmunds.com
5	Chevrolet Silverado (*est. $17,015 to $38,990)	details
5	Toyota Tundra (*est. $22,290 to $32,725)	details
3	Toyota Tacoma (*est. $14,180 to $24,635)	details
2	Chevrolet Avalanche (*est. $32,135 to $35,840)	details
2	Honda Ridgeline (*est. $27,800 to $32,940)	details
1 each	Ford Ranger , Mazda B2300 , Nissan Titan, Lincoln Mark LT , Nissan Frontier , Dodge Dakota , Chevrolet Colorado , Cadillac Escalade EXT, Ford Explorer Sport Trac , Ford F-150

The Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra share the most amount of press in 2007 due to their introductions or redesigns, respectively. Each truck is slightly better for different needs. The Silverado scores for car-like comfort, while the Tundra gets slightly better scores for its drivetrain and utility. The Toyota Tacoma is the top compact truck. The Honda Ridgeline, which made a big splash when it was introduced in 2006, is a good mid-sized option, and it's less expensive, with better fuel economy than the Chevrolet Avalanche and its midgate extendable truck bed.

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