Americans seem to love their pickup trucks! According to Forbes, North America has a strong truck culture, and it seems to be the only part of the world where most owners view a pickup truck as more than just a work vehicle.
It has to be luxurious, have enough space for the whole family, and definitely include some good comfort features. In other words, a pickup truck is only as good as its ability to be driven daily. Which trucks can handle the work and the road? Let’s take a look!
Our Selection Process
We chose these trucks based on their list of features and specifications. It could be the creature comforts they offer or, in some cases, the impressive fuel economy. This information is taken from official automaker websites and press releases, as well as testing conducted by journalists from respected automotive media.
The latter also applies wherever the driving experience is mentioned. There will be several mentions of fuel economy, for which we use the official EPA ratings for the relevant vehicle. What are some pickups that’ll get the job done for daily use? Let’s explore.
Ford Maverick
When the Maverick was launched in 2020, Ford almost singlehandedly restarted the compact pickup truck revolution. The Maverick does offer several of the benefits you’d expect from a pickup truck but wraps it in a more manageable, smaller, and cheaper package.
It’s tiny by pickup standards but can still carry a good amount of gear in its 4.5 ft bed. It comes standard with a hybrid powertrain that, according to the EPA, gets you 37 miles per gallon (mpg) in combined driving. There are some pretty cool features on offer, including 4-wheel drive and a towing package (like a real, big pickup!), and it’s full of personality.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
The compact pickup truck segment in North America also received another, perhaps somewhat unlikely, challenger. Hyundai joined the party shortly after the Maverick with the Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz is based on the Tucson SUV, evident in the front-end styling, but it has a bed in the back.
Like the Maverick, the Santa Cruz can carry stuff in its 52-inch bed, but it also has space inside for five people. It can tow a reasonable 3,500 lbs, has a normal interior with some good creature comforts, and while it does sacrifice a little on gas mileage, it makes up for it in power. The optional turbo engine in the Santa Cruz makes 281 horsepower.
Ford F-150 Powerboost Hybrid
Let’s say you need your pickup truck to be a regular half-ton pickup truck, but you also want it for a daily driver. Ford has been making mincemeat of this segment with the F-150 for decades, but now there’s a more efficient way to have one. Enter the F-150 Powerboost Hybrid.
It uses the standard 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, but thanks to its hybrid component, the EPA estimates 24 mpg during combined driving. Not bad for a big pickup, and the Hybrid also gives you a 240V power outlet in the bed to power household electronics. Or your house, as Ezra Dyer of Car and Driver discovered. Depending on which trim level you go for, you also get some pretty fantastic comfort features. It’s a little bigger than the compact pickups but still relatively manageable.
RAM 1500 eTorque
The biggest news about the revised RAM 1500 is the Hurricane six-cylinder replacing the much loved HEMI V8. Interestingly, the long-suffering Pentastar V6 remains in the lineup, and it’s still available with the eTorque hybrid system.
While not as powerful as the Hurricane versions, it offers decent towing and hauling performance, and the EPA estimates 23 mpg in combined driving with up to 26 mpg on the highway. That’s not too bad. RAM is also proud of the massive amount of technology in the new 1500, and indeed, you certainly won’t feel like something is missing if you go for one of the nicer models.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax
While RAM and Ford will sell you a hybrid half-ton pickup truck, Chevrolet is still playing catch-up. No surprise, that’s also what it did with off-road trucks. However, Chevy offers a much more fuel-efficient version of the Silverado.
Instead of hybrid power, the Silverado 1500 is available with a 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel six-cylinder. It has more torque than even the largest 6.2-liter V8 on offer and can tow well over 13,000 lbs. The EPA estimates up to 26 mpg in combined driving. The current Silverado’s interior is also heaps better than before, and in the higher trim levels, there’s some pretty excellent equipment on offer.
Toyota Tundra i-FORCE MAX
Previously, one of the Toyota Tundra’s defining features was its massive 5.7-liter V8 engine. It was thirsty, but it was a total workhorse. While the new Tundra no longer offers V8 power, there’s a pretty good consolation prize.
The current Tundra is available with the i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain, which offers up a healthy 437 hp, but also a decent 22 mpg in combined driving. Really goes to show the benefits of hybrid power. The Tundra is also crammed with features and technology, and you can get it with a proper off-roading trim level. The only potential hurdle is the Tundra’s controversial styling.
GMC Canyon
Finally, we arrive at the mid-size pickup trucks. The latest GMC Canyon shares a lot of DNA with the Chevrolet Colorado, and in terms of the styling, we think that GMC absolutely nailed it. Even though it’s smaller than its stablemates, every version of the Canyon looks very assertive.
V6 power is no longer available on the Canyon, but the new TurboMax engine is pretty impressive. Despite being “only” a four-cylinder, the TurboMax makes 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, which is more than enough for a mid-size pickup. It’s also filled with features, offers a legitimate off-roader trim level, and the EPA estimates up to 20 mpg in combined driving.
Rivian R1T
You knew it was coming. If it’s gonna be an electric pickup truck, it better be this one. Rivian came onto the United States market earlier this decade, and the R1T pickup quickly took the market by storm. Being MotorTrend’s truck of the year is just one of its many accolades. The reason is simple: very few vehicles offer this much in one.
Despite being electric, the EPA estimates the most efficient version of the R1T at 352 miles of range on a single charge. As well as the super practical truck bed, there’s also the innovative and spacious Gear Tunnel. It looks cool, it can go just about anywhere, and the most powerful version has well over 800 hp and can out-accelerate many sports cars. Unless you really want gas power, it’s tough to beat.
Ford Ranger
Finally, we end with a classic option. The Ford Ranger disappeared from the U.S. market for quite some time, but it finally returned in 2019, this time permanently. The latest Ranger joined the US market back in 2023, and it’s a pretty significant improvement over the previous one.
It’s still based on the same platform, but it’s heavily revised, with new powertrains, new styling, and a much-improved interior, complete with more tech. You can’t get it with a hybrid powertrain yet, but the base four-cylinder Ranger still offers a pretty solid 23 mpg in combined driving. Plus, being a mid-size pickup, it’s much more manageable in terms of its dimensions.
These Pickups Will Treat You Right
Considering the status of pickup trucks in North America, it’s very important that a truck also gets the job done as a daily driver. It has to be good at hauling and towing things, yes, but also at all the other stuff you’d expect from a daily.
Through more efficient powertrains and being jam-packed with great, useful features, these trucks will be a faithful companion in your everyday life. It just so happens that they can carry lots of stuff, and maybe tow the family trailer, too.