• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Auto Trends Magazine

Car reviews, industry news, & advice.

You are here: Home / Special / New Pickup Truck Shopping Tips

New Pickup Truck Shopping Tips

April 3, 2018 by admin 2 Comments

Find the right truck at the right price.

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Centennial Edition.
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 Centennial Edition.

If you are in the market for a new pickup truck, you may be considering a brand you are already familiar with. That’s a sensible approach as pickup truck buyers are typically brand loyal. In particular, they are more likely to stick with what they already know and like. For everyone else, shopping for a new truck requires research in an effort to make an informed decision. The following points are worth considering as you undertake your quest.

When Size Matters

When shopping or purchasing a new truck, there are essentially three size categories to consider: medium, full-size and heavy duty.

These days, your medium truck options include the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and the slightly larger Honda Ridgeline. Models from Ford (Ranger) and Ram (Dakota) left the market in recent years, although the Ranger is set for a return.

The smaller models offer extended and crew cab choices. You’ll also typically find standard and extended beds.

2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.
2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.

The main segment for pickup trucks are the full-size models. The Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan compete in this segment, with each supplying a variety of cabin configurations and truck bed sizes.

The heavy-duty truck market is essentially controlled by the American truck manufacturers. The Ford Super Duty, Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD and the Ram 2500 and 3500 occupy this segment. Each heavy duty line has oversized gasoline or diesel engines.

Nissan also offers a model that straddles the standard full-size and heavy-duty lines, the Titan XD. This truck has a higher towing capacity than the standard Titan, although models such as the light-duty F-150 now match or beat those limits.

2WD vs. 4WD

What you use your truck for will go far in helping you determine what type of drivetrain layout that is right for you. Two-wheel drive trucks come with the rear wheels while four-wheel drive trucks can activate all four wheels as needed. Choose the latter and your truck can give you the traction and off-road prowess as you desire.

The Honda Ridgeline is the lone exception to the 2WD vs. 4WD debate. This model is all-wheel-drive or powered by its front wheels most of the time with its rear wheels activated as needed.

2017 Nissan Titan Crew Cab.
2017 Nissan Titan Crew Cab.

Payload and Towing

Of big concern to many pickup truck owners is how much weight a truck can carry (payload) and how much weight it can pull (towing). These numbers vary from truck to truck and even from model to model. It is advisable to find the manufacturer’s payload/towing capacity chart, usually supplied right on its sales page.

The payload includes the weight of the driver, his passengers, fluids and what’s stored inside the pickup and in the bed. Towing is the ability of any truck to pull something behind it when hitched — such as a boat, a trailer or a camper. Add towing and payload together and you get your vehicle’s gross vehicle weight.

Consider all three numbers when buying a new truck.

Convenience Features

Today’s pickup trucks come well equipped and outfitted with many of the luxury appointments you can find in a premium sedan, such as leather seats, a heated steering wheel and wood trim. Still, when buying any new vehicle, you should determine which amenities are important to you.

Most pickups offer standard equipment such as an automatic transmission, power accessories, cloth seating surfaces, climate control, an audio system, multiple storage compartments and important safety features such as airbags and antilock brakes.

Popular options include fog lamps, off-road tires, power side mirrors, a navigation system, a rear backup camera, folding rear seats, an overhead console, a rear DVD entertainment system and a lined cargo area.

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor.
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor.

Truck Fuel Economy

There was a time when buying an economical pickup meant choosing the smallest truck and opting for the manual transmission. These days, your choices have improved considerably, although few trucks get 30 mpg on the highway. These come with a turbo-diesel engine.

What you will usually find are trucks that get 25 mpg on the highway, something both the smaller Toyota Tacoma and larger Ram 1500 achieve. The smaller trucks come with inline-four or V-6 gas engines, while the larger trucks are usually equipped with a standard V-6 or optional V-8 gasoline engines. Again, only select models offer diesel engines.

As for transmissions, you’ll find very few manuals. Most pickups have six-, eight- or even 10-speed automatic transmissions. The few manual gearboxes available come with the median-sized trucks.

Other matters to consider when buying a new pickup is its price, with your cost ranging from just over $20,000 for a basic medium pickup to well over $65,000 for a fully optioned heavy-duty model. Each manufacturer offers a dizzying array of model variations, enabling you to customize your truck to suit your needs and budget.

2017 GMC Canyon Denali Crew Cab.
2017 GMC Canyon Denali Crew Cab.

See Also — How to Buy a Repo Vehicle

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

Filed Under: Special Tagged With: CHEVROLET COLORADO, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, FORD F-150, FORD RANGER, GMC CANYON, GMC Sierra 1500, HONDA RIDGELINE, NISSAN FRONTIER, Nissan Titan, Nissan Titan XD, PICKUP TRUCK, RAM 1500, Toyota Tacoma, TOYOTA TUNDRA

About admin

Matt Keegan has maintained his love for cars ever since his father taught him kicking tires can be one way to uncover a problem with a vehicle’s suspension system. He since moved on to learn a few things about coefficient of drag, G-forces, toe-heel shifting, and how to work the crazy infotainment system in some random weekly driver. Matt is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a contributor to various print and online media sources.

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Ford Atlas Hints at Pickup Truck Future — Auto Trends Magazine says:
    April 26, 2018 at 8:33 am

    […] van as an option with base F-150 models. That would give Ford diesel engines at both ends of the pickup truck spectrum as its Super Duty line currently offers a turbo diesel. Yes, an inline six or small block […]

    Log in to Reply
  2. Highlights of the 2019 Nissan Titan XD says:
    March 11, 2019 at 9:00 am

    […] See Also — New Pickup Truck Shopping Tips […]

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Highlights of the 2021 Cadillac CT4
  • What is Bidirectional Charging?
  • A Look Back at the Ford Mustang II
  • New Duck-Billed Post Office Trucks Has Some People Quacking
  • Vroom! Lexus Reveals the IS 500 F Sport.

Recent Comments

  • Cadillac V-Series Blackwing Preview! — Auto Trends Magazine on Highlights of the 2021 Cadillac CT4
  • Highlights of the 2021 Cadillac CT4 — Auto Trends Magazine on Cadillac V-Series Blackwing Preview!
  • Introducing the All-New Cadillac CT4 — Auto Trends Magazine on Highlights of the 2021 Cadillac CT4
  • Highlights of the 2021 Cadillac CT4 — Auto Trends Magazine on The Refreshed and Handsome
    Lexus IS 350 F Sport
  • Highlights of the 2021 Cadillac CT4 — Auto Trends Magazine on Compact Performance:
    2021 Cadillac CT4-V

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008

Categories

  • Auto Parts
  • Auto Shows
  • Automotive Career
  • Automotive News
  • Book Reviews
  • Car Tips
  • Classics & Discontinued Models
  • Commentary
  • Commercial Vehicles
  • Concept Vehicles
  • Dealers
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Fleet
  • Fun News
  • Maintenance & Repairs
  • Motorsport
  • New Models
  • New Vehicle Reviews
  • Ownership Experience
  • Product Reviews
  • Special
  • Specifications

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

New!
Check out our Jobs Board!

via GIPHY

Subscribe to Auto Trends

Subscribe in a reader

Social Media

Visit our social media pages:
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest

Where is Matt Currently Published?

The Carolinian (new car reviews)
NAPA Know How Blog
On the Road Again

Pages

  • About
  • Authors List
  • Automotive Brochures
  • Contact
  • Industry Jobs
  • Write
    • Style Guide

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Highlights of the 2021 Cadillac CT4
  • What is Bidirectional Charging?
  • A Look Back at the Ford Mustang II
  • New Duck-Billed Post Office Trucks Has Some People Quacking
  • Vroom! Lexus Reveals the IS 500 F Sport.
  • Introducing the Kia Carnival MPV
  • Goodyear, Cooper Tire to Join Forces
  • Highlights of the 2021 Nissan Rogue
  • 7 Facts About the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt
  • Introducing the All-New
    2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV
  • What’s the Future for Chrysler and Dodge Under Stellantis?
  • All About Sobriety Checkpoints
  • Plug It In: Toyota RAV4 Prime
  • About the Volkswagen Taos
  • All-Wheel Drive Finally Comes to the Toyota Camry and We Like It!
  • Growing EV Industry Leaves Countries and Businesses Racing to Meet Increasing Lithium Demand
  • Introducing the All-New 2022 Nissan Pathfinder Crossover SUV
  • At Last! The All-New 2022 Nissan Frontier Revealed.
  • In Photos: 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor!
  • Cadillac V-Series Blackwing Preview!
  • Cost-Effective Crossover: Nissan Kicks
  • 10 Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Car
  • All-New Acura TLX Takes Charge
  • The Golden Years: 6 Memorable Models From the Original Era of Muscle Cars
  • From Datsun to Nissan: 40th Anniversary of the Maxima Sedan
  • The Mazda CX-5 Brings a Premium Touch to the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment
  • 4 Car Upholstery Cleaning Tips
  • The 14 Brands of Stellantis
  • Peugeot May Not Return to the U.S. Market After All
  • Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • GM Launches BrightDrop, Its Commercial EV Brand
  • The Refreshed and Handsome
    Lexus IS 350 F Sport
  • What We Know About the All-New 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
  • The All-New and Formidable 2021 Nissan Rogue Crossover
  • Fuel-Efficiency and AWD Champion: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
  • Midsize Performance Master: 2021 Hyundai Sonata N-Line
  • Performance Hatchback: The All-New 2021 Mazda Mazda3 Turbo!
  • NACTOY Finalists For 2021 Offer Familiar and Futuristic Choices
  • Super Trooper: Nissan Titan Pickup
  • Behind the Wheel of the Popular 2021 Toyota Corolla Sedan
  • Lucid Motors Completes Arizona Factory
  • A Robust Turbodiesel Comes to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • Mid-Engine Masterpiece: The Eighth-Generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  • Compact Performance:
    2021 Cadillac CT4-V
  • All-Wheel Drive Supplies the Nissan Altima With a Competitive Edge
  • Return of the Toyota Venza!
  • Lexus Brings a Convertible to the Gorgeous LC 500 Line
  • Stellantis Logo Revealed by Peugeot, Fiat Chrysler Ahead of Spring Merger
  • Preview: 2021 Nissan Rogue Crossover
  • How to Fix a Broken Rivian Vehicle
April 2018
S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« Mar   May »

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in