Pickup vans are versatile autos that may haul your loved ones, tow your toys and carry your gear all on the identical time. Some are pavement queens, others are specialised for journey — and a few aren’t even technically pickups in any respect. It could be powerful to decide on which one is best for you.
That’s the place your pals at Roadshow is available in. We’ve pushed all of them, from the venerable Ford F-150 to the all-electric Rivian R1T. If you are fighting a shopping for resolution, check out our suggestions for pickup vans that suit your way of life and wishes.
Steven Ewing/Roadshow
There is a cause the Ford F-150 is the bestselling truck, nay, the bestselling car in America: It simply works. Available with three cab choices, three mattress lengths, 4 completely 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 completely 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 will get 4 120-volt, 20-amp retailers and one 240-volt, 30-amp plug. Ford says you can arrange a cell welding store with this a lot juice. The gear selector folds flat, making approach for a fold-down work floor, and the seats can recline almost 180 levels for a fast nap.
Depending 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 offered with all of the superior driver’s aids you can ever need together with Active Drive Assist. On sure mapped and divided highways the F-150 will permit drivers to take their palms off the steering wheel, though a driver-facing digicam makes positive your eyes stay on the street. The F-150 begins at $31,685 together with $1,695 for vacation spot.
Andrew Krok/Roadshow
It’s been awhile seen we have seen the Tundra on a best-of listing, 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 accessible self-leveling rear suspension with adaptive dampers make the Tundra a lot better to drive on the pavement. Towing is available in at 12,000 kilos with a max payload of 1,940. Finally, 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 accessible 12.3-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster and an non-obligatory 14-inch touchscreen housing an all-new infotainment system. It’s a serious 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.
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro has rugged model and hybrid energy
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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. Equipped 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 further torque over the competitors means it is easy to get the Ranger up to the mark on the freeway and the 10-speed is simply as superior, by no means looking for a gear. For those that need to enterprise off the pavement, the brand new Tremor bundle provides all types 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 is loads of tech with an accessible 8-inch touchscreen operating Sync3 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A regular blind-spot monitoring system that covers the size of a trailer makes it simpler to haul stuff round city. Lane holding help can also be normal, however adaptive cruise management is further. Expect to pay a beginning value of $27,440 together with $1,295 for vacation spot and a $645 acquisition charge.
2021 Ford Ranger Tremor: Now with extra off-road hijinks
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Toyota
If you go by gross sales numbers, the Toyota Tacoma is the midsize pickup king, however there’s extra to a truck than simply gross sales stories. We just like the Tacoma at the beginning for its reliability and glorious 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 essentially the most gasoline economic system you may get out of a four-wheel drive Taco is just 20 miles per gallon.
Why does not it take high 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 shortly and the throttle response is laggy. Further, the inside is cramped and uncomfortable and the infotainment, although outfitted with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, continues to be behind the Ranger’s by way of graphics and processing pace.
The Toyota Tacoma begins at $27,715 together with $1,215 for vacation spot.
2022 Toyota Tacoma Trail Edition: Lower-priced efficiency
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Ram
You can 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 could be had with an enormous 8-foot mattress, or you may go the wrong way and go for the cavernous mega cab with a nonetheless substantial six-foot, four-inch mattress.
We’re placing the Ram on high over the Ford for a number of causes. The excessive output 6.7-liter produces 420 horsepower and edges out the Ford with 1,075 pound-feet of torque. Similarly, the Ram can tow only a smidge extra: 37,090 kilos with a gooseneck trailer. Remember that in lots of states, solely drivers with a industrial license can tow this type of weight, so remember to verify your native rules earlier than you go off and tow the equal of 9 elephants.
Maximum payload right here is 7,680 kilos however what’s most pleasurable is the driving expertise. The Ram 2500 could be had with a five-link coil suspension or an air suspension, and we actually like Ram’s Uconnect infotainment with its massive ol’ 12-inch touchscreen and tow-specific navigation.
The 2022 Ram Heavy Duty begins at $39,545 together with $1,795 for vacation spot.
Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
The F-Series Super Duty truck is offered 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 Power Stroke diesel V8. That diesel will ship 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. The Super Duty begins at $38,190 together with $1,695 for vacation spot.
Depending on how the Super Duty is configured, you may tow 37,000 kilos with a gooseneck trailer, 32,500 kilos with a standard trailer and may haul 7,850 kilos of payload in its mattress. As within the Ram, keep in mind that a industrial license is often wanted to tow that sort of weight.
What units the Ford aside is that it may be had with the Tremor off-road bundle with 35-inch tires, drive modes with a rock-crawl mode and suspension tuned for the dust. Sure, it’s possible you’ll not have to take your large pickup truck out wheeling, however is not it good to know you can?
Hauling and rock crawling with the 2020 Ford F-Series Super Duty
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Emme Hall/Roadshow
Towing a trailer could be intimidating. Visibility is hard, backing it up is troublesome and people can get actually nervous behind the wheel. The Silverado 1500 is offered with as much as 15 completely different digicam views to place your fears at relaxation.
The clear trailer know-how is actually cool, giving drivers a view of what’s behind them. We additionally just like the rear facet view choice, which supplies a trailer size indicator displaying autos within the trailer’s lane-change path. A rear trailer view shows pointers to assist in backing up and you’ll also have a view contained in the trailer to verify in in your livestock. To assist in hooking up the trailer there are 4 accessible hitch view angles as properly. Finally, you may get a jack knife alert and a mattress digicam 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 also be accessible with on-screen checklists to be sure to’ve achieved all the pieces 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 gentle out like a noob.
Depending 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.
Andrew Krok/Roadshow
When it comes to search out the luxurious pickup truck rig, the Ram is tops. The range-topping Limited trim actually goes all-in on luxurious, however this particular version takes the cake. Inside you may discover plush, supportive quilted leather-based seating, accessible 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.
While the cabin design is top-notch, the Ram additionally delivers a stellar trip high quality. The Limited will get air suspension normal so it rides like a dream, even on the non-obligatory 22-inch wheels, and the self-leveling know-how means the rear will not squat when trailering. The air suspension can even decrease the truck once you’re getting out and in, so no leaping is important.
On the tech entrance you will get all the pieces you can probably 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 digicam. The value is fairly luxe as properly: The Ram 1500 Limited tenth Anniversary Edition prices $61,870 after a $1,695 vacation spot cost.
2022 Ram 1500 Limited tenth Anniversary Edition is correctly posh
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If you actually need to get off the overwhelmed path, you may’t go mistaken with a Jeep Gladiator. There is a large distinction between trims and for my cash, I’d choose the Mojave trim over the Rubicon because it’s made to go sooner when the dust will get tough. With a 1-inch entrance elevate and retuned 2.5-inch Fox internal-bypass shocks with distant reservoir and a entrance hydraulic jounce shock for further damping, the Mojave can absorb whoops that will 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.
However, if slow-speed rock crawling is your jam, then it’s best to snag your self a Rubicon. This 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 offered with a 3.0-liter diesel engine along with a 3.6-liter fuel V6.
Both trims have over 11 inches of floor clearance and best-in-class strategy and departure angles. However, towing and payload suffers with all of the fancypants off-road goodies. Expect 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 Trucks
The new child on the block will get our choose for the very best 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’s Baja 1000 trophy truck sort of energy, folks. It’s additionally entering into some trophy pricing: $77,575 together with $1,795 for supply.
Keeping all of it in verify is adaptive 2.5 Bilstein Blackhawk E2 shocks that may alter the compression and rebound damping in 20 milliseconds. Remote reservoirs hold the shocks cool within the sizzling and dusty desert environments and the truck boasts 13 inches of journey within the entrance, 14 inches within the rear. And, oh yeah: You can leap it. Ram claims 2,000 kilos of damping drive absorption at every nook.
The Ford Raptor continues to be a worthy competitor, in reality 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 need to get far off the grid with loads of gear, take a look at the Ram 2500 Power 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 comfortable 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 massive boy some spectacular geometry. I’m 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 vans, however we averaged about 12 miles per gallon mixed after we drove it. With a 31 gallon tank you can get 372 miles of vary, however we advocate bringing gasoline with you. We want the Power Wagon have been provided with the 6.7-liter diesel engine that is accessible on different Ram HD trims, however alas, it’s not to be. You’ll shell out $59,185, together with $1,795 for vacation spot, for a brand new Power Wagon.
Honda
If all these vans sound slightly too, properly, trucky for you, take a look at the Ford Maverick. As a unibody car it is not technically a truck, but it surely performs most truck duties properly sufficient for a lot of shoppers. The Maverick begins at $21,490 together with $1,495 for vacation spot.
It’s 2.5-liter hybrid powerplant is nice for 191 horsepower and a ridiculous 37 mpg mixed (42 mpg metropolis, 33 mpg freeway). It’s 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 superb payload capability of as much as 1,500 kilos in its 4.5-foot-long mattress. Plus, the unbiased entrance and rear suspension means trip high quality is far nicer than an ordinary pickup truck.
There is not any low gearing, floor clearance is just 8.3 inches — 8.6 with all-wheel drive — and the geometry is not spectacular. Don’t count on to be going far off the overwhelmed path within the little Maverick.
Bottom line: You will not do any rock crawling with the Ford Maverick, but when it’s essential to haul and tow issues and need a easy pavement rider, there is no such thing as a have to look any additional.
Read our 2022 Ford Maverick overview.
Honda
Like the Ford Maverick above, the Honda Ridgeline is a unibody car that is not technically a truck. Though it ought to match the invoice for folk 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’s 3.5-liter V6 engine is nice for 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It’s compact sufficient for metropolis use however can nonetheless tow 5,000 kilos and has a superb payload capability of as much as 1,583 kilos in its 5-foot-long mattress. The unbiased entrance and rear suspension means trip high quality is far nicer than an ordinary pickup truck, and it returns an EPA-estimated gasoline economic system of 21 mpg mixed.
Off-roading is not high of thoughts for the Ridgeline with it void of any low gearing, floor clearance is just 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 facility to the rear wheels — after which 100% of that energy to whichever rear wheel wants it.
As with the opposite unibody vans on the market, crawling over boulders is not going to be an excellent state of affairs for the Ridgeline, but when it’s essential to haul and tow issues and need a easy pavement rider, this Honda ought to positively be in your buying listing.
Emme Hall/Roadshow
If you reside the place parking is at a premium however you want the utility of a truck, take a look at the diminutive Hyundai Santa Cruz. Available in front- or all-wheel drive and with an accessible punchy turbocharged engine, the Santa Cruz is enjoyable to drive and suits properly right into a metropolis panorama.
For hauling smaller-sized masses the 4.5-foot mattress is ideal. Sure, it isn’t so long as a mid-size truck, however it might probably haul a wholesome 1,753 kilos. Plus it is tremendous straightforward to achieve into with brief mattress sides and a low mattress flooring. And it is fairly gasoline environment friendly as well, with an EPA gasoline economic system score of 19 mpg metropolis, 27 mpg freeway and 22 mpg mixed.
There is 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. Higher trims get Highway Drive Assist 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.
The neatest thing about driving the Santa Cruz is that it is small and straightforward to maneuver. Even midsize vans can really feel beastly from behind the wheel, however all that goes out the window with the Santa Cruz. It’s nimble sufficient to shoot by site visitors and it is easy to park, all whereas sustaining many of the utility of its bigger brethren. Expect to pay a $25,365 beginning value, together with $1,225 for vacation spot.
Read our 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz overview.
Rivian
Sure, 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 approach into dealerships. However, it is nonetheless a ridiculously succesful truck that’s at residence on the road with its snug trip 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. Further, 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 also be flush with cupboard space. A gear tunnel behind the rear seats has sufficient room for restoration gear and in a single day baggage. The frunk is nearly as massive and the mattress is 54 inches lengthy. Sure, 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 firm doesn’t listing any vacation spot charges.
Comparison of the greatest vans for 2022
Category
Name
Horsepower vary (hp)
Torque Range (lb-ft)
Max towing (lbs)
Max payload (lbs)
Starting value
Best truck total/Best full-size truck
2022 Ford F-150
290-430
265-570
14,000
3,325
$31,685
Best truck total runner-up/Best full-size truck runner-up
2022 Toyota Tundra
389-437
479-583
12,000
1,940
$37,645
Best midsize truck
2022 Ford Ranger
270
310
7,500
1,860
$27,440
Best midsize truck runner-up
2022 Toyota Tacoma
159-278
180-265
6,800
1,685
$27,715
Best heavy obligation truck
2022 Ram HD
370-420
429-1,075
37,090
7,680
$39,545
Best heavy-duty truck runner-up
2022 Ford F-Series Super Duty
385-475
430-1,050
37,000
7,850
$38,190
Best truck for a beginner tower
2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
277-420
383-460
13,300
N/A
$33,595
Best luxurious truck
2022 Ram 1500 Limited tenth Anniversary Edition
260-395
269-480
11,500
2,000
$61,870
Best midsize off-road truck
2022 Jeep Gladiator
260-285
260-442
7,650
1,700
$36,910
Best full-size off-road truck
2022 Ram TRX
702
650
8,100
1,310
$77,575
Best truck for overlanding
2022 Ram 2500 Power Wagon
410
429
10,590
1,520
$59,185
Best small truck
2022 Ford Maverick
191-250
N/A-277
4,000
1,500
$21,490
Best small truck runner-up
2022 Honda Ridgeline
280
262
5,000
1,583
$38,865
Best metropolis truck.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
191-282
181-311
5,000
1,753
$25,365
Best electrical truck
2022 Rivian R1T
835
908
11,000
1,760
$67,500
How we made our listing
We ensure to drive and overview each car we advocate. Roadshow has a long time of mixed expertise and our picks symbolize the autos we might need to personal for every particular person class. Pricing is taken from each producer’s web sites, however the vendor units the ultimate value.
And bear in mind, we do not really get to personal all the pieces — as a lot as we would need to — so we will not touch upon long-term reliability. We advocate that you just discuss with present homeowners to get an thought of upkeep prices and the like.
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