Since the 1960s, small but mighty vehicles also known as compact pickups or mini trucks were introduced to the American market. Despite having limited cab and cargo bed space, compact pickups have been used as workhorses and are becoming increasingly popular for many good reasons. That said, very few automakers are audacious enough to focus on compact pickups rather than the market favorites, which are the midsize and full-size models.
Compact pickup buyers generally need the work capabilities of a pickup butn don't want the stress and cost of owning larger vehicles. Some people are not comfortable with larger trucks because they are harder to maneuver and park in tight spaces and on narrow roads. But whatever reason why you may need compact pickups, here are the ten best on the used market today.
10 2020 Honda Ridgeline
The Honda Ridgeline is based on the Pilot, and it looks like a crossover with a bed. For the Ridgeline, Honda sacrifices hauling and handling capabilities for on-road comfort, which is kind of what compact pickup buyers are looking for. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline's power comes from a smooth 3.5-liter V6 engine that puts out 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque.
There are barely any engine and transmission troubles filed by 2020 Ridgeline owners, and J.D. Power considers the compact Ridgeline pickup to be very reliable, with a score of 81 out of 100.
9 2020 Chevrolet Colorado
The 2020 Chevrolet Colorado is brilliantly crafted to work at a fast pace and offers all the comfort and fun necessary while working. The four-wheeled shape-shifter is available in two cab sizes and two cargo-bed lengths. With its three powertrain options — a base 4-cylinder, speedy 308-hp V6, and the GM-exclusive Duramax® 2.8L Turbo-Diesel — finding one that suits your needs will not be that difficult.
The diesel-powered Colorado can tow up to 7,700 pounds, which is pretty good for a compact pickup. To make the 2020 Colorado more reliable, Chevrolet equipped it with 4-wheel disc brakes with Duralife® brake rotors. So, it's not surprising that J.D. Power ranks the 2020 Colorado high on reliability, with the same score as the Honda Ridgeline. Also, there has been no recall on the 2020 Colorado.
8 2004 Chevrolet S-10
If you want an old-school truck with a torquey V6, and remarkable off-road capability at an affordable price, the 2004 Chevrolet S-10 is a great option. Available only in Crew Cab form, the 2004 Chevrolet S-10 comes with a 4.5 ft cargo bed. The compact truck can haul a trailer that weighs about 5,200 pounds.
Chevrolet furnished the five-seater 2004 S-10 with front buckets and a rear bench seat. You will find a 4.3-liter Vortec V6 engine under the hood of the S-10, and it pumps out 190 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. 57% of the S-10's reviewers on Edmunds gave it a five-star rating while 32% gave it a four-star, with no serious complaints.
7 2018 Mitsubishi Triton Exceed
The Mitsubishi Triton is the true definition of small but mighty, and no wonder it has outsold most of its competitors. The 2018 Mitsubishi Triton Exceed runs on a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that releases 178 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. Although the Mitsubishi Triton is not available in America, it has sold quite well in countries like Australia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Mexico.
For a compact pickup smaller than the Ford Ranger, the Mitsubishi Triton, which accommodates five people, offers enough headroom and legroom for all occupants. The Triton Exceed turns well around sharp bends and tows up to 6,834 pounds.
6 2018 Volkswagen Amarok
The 2018 Volkswagen Amarok comes with vast improvements in the interior and exterior, so it's not hard to see why the German automaker sold over 88,950 units, despite not being available in the North American market. The new 3.0-liter V6 TDI powertrain produces 220 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, and it takes the truck 7.9 seconds to reach 62 mph.
The Volkswagen Amarok is a practical machine for those looking for a truck for their weekend getaways or who want to get some work done during the week. It can tow a braked trailer weighing up to 7,716 pounds.
5 2017 GMC Canyon
The GMC Canyon shares many similarities with the Chevrolet Colorado, with some minor packaging differences here and there. With the ruggedly burly look of the Canyon, you can tell it is strong and able to take on hilly or mountainous areas. The base 2.5-liter inline-four cranks out 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque without any hassle.
If you want more power, opt for the 308-hp V-6 engine, with a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. With proper maintenance, your GMC Canyon can shoot past 300,000 miles.
4 2020 Toyota Tacoma
With the big grille, flared fenders, and LED daytime running lights, there's no mistaking the 2020 Tacoma on the road. The interior of the Tacoma is well furnished, and some new technologies include a 7.0-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility.
The 2020 Tacoma gets its power from a 2.7-liter inline-four with ratings of 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. If you need more power, the 3.5-liter V6 that delivers 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque would be a better fit. With a healthy maintenance culture, your Toyota Tacoma can serve you from 300,000 to 400,000 miles.
3 2016 Ford Ranger
Another pretty good truck that never made it to American shores is the Ford Ranger. This is because Ford went all out on pushing the F-Series in North America. Ford equipped the 2016 Ranger with a host of cutting-edge technology, which includes Ford's voice-activated SYNC 2 connectivity system; Hill Launch Assist, and Adaptive Load Control.
The 2016 Ranger offers two turbo-diesel engines:the 155hp/283lb-ft 2.2-liter 4-cylinder and the bigger 194hp/346lb-ft five-pot. Your Ford Ranger can serve you for over 20 years or roughly 300,000 miles with regular upkeep.
2 2019 Nissan Frontier
If you need a sturdy truck with plenty of muscle and hauling capacity to help you get some tough job done, the 2019 Nissan Frontier is pretty much all you will ever need. Going for roughly $27,000 on the used-car market, the 2019 Frontier is an inexpensive alternative to the likes of GMC Canyon and Toyota Tacoma.
The 2019 Frontier has a base inline-4 engine that dispenses 152 hp and a top-of-the-line 4.0-liter V6 with a rating of 261 horsepower. There are not that many complaints about the Frontier, and owners believe it can get to 200,000 miles with regular maintenance.
1 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
The first thought that pops up in your head when you hear the name for the first time is whether the Ford Explorer Sport Trac is an SUV or a pickup. The Sport Trac is a pickup based on the Explorer SUV. Ford simply replaced the Explorer's rear cargo area with a 4.5-foot bed to introduce the Sport Trac pickup.
The base 4.0-liter V6 drivetrain of the 2009 Explorer Sport Trac works with a 5-speed automatic transmission to produce 210 hp, while the top-of-the-range 4.6-liter V8 cranks out 292 hp, and tows up to 7,160 pounds. The 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, which has no recalls, can achieve 200,000 miles.