Pickup trucks are great if you need a vehicle that allows you to haul heavy or awkward items, but not everyone wants the largest truck possible. Large trucks can be hard to drive, plus they cost a lot more.
Sometimes a smaller truck will work just fine. If you like pickup trucks and you’re after something that can haul things, but you don’t need that much space, then these small pickup trucks are the best choice for you!
Toyota Tacoma
We start off this list with the Toyota Tacoma. This small-size pickup truck comes in two versions. The standard one generates 150 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, which isn’t a higher level compared to other trucks in our review. However, the other version has a V-6 engine that produces 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, and this is actually a really good number for a small pickup truck. But this isn’t the only reason why the Toyota Tacoma is top on our list.
The Toyota Tacoma has 16-inch wheels that come with all-terrain tires, which make this truck an excellent choice for off-road adventures. This truck is also equipped with high-tech features such as the locking rear differential, which is electronically controlled. This feature is excellent for controlling the wheels in off-road situations or when you’re driving on a snowy road.
In general, the Toyota Tacoma is a great option for cold weather. This truck includes heated front seats made out of leather, that will keep you warm even in the coldest temperatures. And when it comes to driving security, you can definitely choose the Toyota Tacoma. It has active traction control, which is great for optimizing the grip and providing stability to the truck.
Nissan Frontier
This Nissan Frontier is an efficient car and a very practical choice because of its features. If you’re after a pickup truck that provides you fuel economy, this Nissan Frontier is the best option for you. It consumes up to 19 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Another practical feature for the Nissan Frontier is its keyless entry, which is great for providing security and efficiency to your truck.
This Nissan Frontier was produced in two versions: a two-door design and a four-door truck with an extended 5-foot or 6.1-foot bed. It has 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.
When it comes to horsepower, the Nissan Frontier comes with 152 horsepower and a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine. This small pickup truck also has a five-speed transmission, which isn’t the best one, but it surely is good for a practical pickup truck.
The Nissan Frontier has plenty of space inside. This is a very appealing truck with attractive cloth upholstery. If you need to have access to the rear part, the Nissan Frontier also has a rear cab window that you can slide.
Chevrolet Colorado
The Chevrolet Colorado is one of the most popular small-size pickup trucks of the brand. It has a powerful towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, which is great for a small pickup truck. One of the key features of this Chevrolet Colorado is its 2.8-liter, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. It’s an off-road pickup truck that is designed to drive over bumpy roads, dunes, or even the hardest rough terrains to drive on.
Besides, this truck also includes an electronic locking in both front and rear positions. One of the reasons why this small-size pickup truck is considered one of the best off-road trucks in its category is because it has a special damping system. The Multimatic DSSV™ Damping System is an excellent feature that provides a smooth performance when riding on bumpy roads and rough terrains. On the other hand, we can also see that the Chevrolet Colorado has off-road suspension, which also makes it a secure truck for off-road adventures.
When it comes to aesthetic looks and comfort, the Chevrolet Colorado is equipped with leather-appointed seats and a spray-on bed liner. This four-door pickup truck also comes with 17-inch wheels made out of aluminum. This small-size pickup truck also has a high-quality transfer case shield, which is really important to keep the stability of the truck while driving.
GMC Canyon
This small-size truck has a potent performance. Its 3.6-liter V-6 engine provides the GMC Canyon with 181 horsepower. The GMC Canyon may not have as much horsepower capacity as the Honda Ridgeline, but it does have a good towing capacity. When it comes to hauling heavyweight materials, this is the kind of truck you might be needing. The GMC Canyon has 369 pounds-feet of torque and has a powerful towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. Just like other trucks of this category, the GMC Canyon has a six-speed transmission.
One of the reasons why GMC Canyon is outstanding among other trucks is because it is made with great materials. It has 20-inch machine-aluminum wheels and a 5-inch chrome assist steps. The GMC Canyon has fog-lamp bezels made of chrome, a great option for when you’re driving on a foggy road.
Honda Ridgeline
This second-generation Honda Ridgeline is nothing but comfort. If you’re looking for a small-size pickup truck where you can drive comfortably, this is the truck for you. This truck has a unibody chassis along with a multi-link rear suspension that provides comfort when you’re driving. This special feature makes the experience feel more like you’re driving a car instead of a truck. It also has a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that generates 280 horsepower, which makes the Honda Ridgeline a potent small-size pickup truck.
When it comes to speed, it is very similar to the Ford Explorer. The Honda Ridgeline has a 6-speed automatic transmission. If we talk about torque capacity, this small-size truck has a lower capacity than the Ford Ranger. The Honda Ridgeline has 260 pounds-feet of torque. However, it also has an intelligent variable torque management, which is a point in favor of this truck.
On the other hand, we can see that this small pickup truck also has some high-tech features that we must mention. The Honda Ridgeline has a satellite-linked navigation system and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. But this Honda also has one outstanding feature for most people: the Honda Walk Away Auto Lock. This is a very convenient feature that locks your truck once you walk away from it.
Ford Ranger
The fourth-generation Ford Ranger was redesigned with many high-tech features that make this small pickup trucks one of the best ones in this category. One of these features is driver assistance equipment, which is a great improvement for these types of trucks. The high-tech equipment includes a rearview camera and dynamic hitch assist. This small pickup truck also has voice recognition communication and something that everybody enjoys: an entertainment system.
It is a fast pickup truck that has a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. But one of the best features we can find in this Ford Ranger is the 10-speed automatic transmission, which is capable of generating 310 pound-feet of torque and 270 horsepower.
This is all great, but when people want a pickup truck, they usually want to know that it’d be capable of carrying a heavy payload. This is the case for the four-generation Ford Ranger. It is a four-door pickup truck with a good towing capacity. It can tow up to 7,500 pounds and its towing capacity is 1,860 pounds. Just like the Ford Explorer, this truck also has enough room for a family and still can work on every type of road, from bumpy roads to dunes.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac
This Ford Explorer is the best combination of an SUV and a pickup. This truck is a four-door vehicle that has enough space inside to be a family car, but it has the versatility of an SUV. Without being a full-size truck, it has a strong 210 horsepower. The engine for this small-size pickup truck is a 4-liter V-6.
One of the best things about the Ford Explorer Sport Trac is that it has a five-speed transmission. On the other hand, you can find a limited version that comes with a V-8 engine and a six-speed transmission. That version also had 315 pound-feet of torque and its towing capacity is 7,160 pounds. Unfortunately, this truck stopped being produced in 2010.
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac comes with a 10-way driver seat, which is great for a small pickup truck, as well as a four-way manual passenger. Also nice is that this small-size pickup truck has 18-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels and chrome roof side rails.
The interior is nice as well. One of the things that makes this small pickup truck aesthetically appealing is its leather-trimmed seats and heated front bucket seats.
