Over the last two decades, pickup trucks' popularity has exploded in the US. The Ford F-Series is the best-selling vehicle in the country and has been for quite some time. Americans love the versatility that only pickups can offer, whether it's to haul heavy items, go on off-road trips, or just use them as everyday vehicles. Some modern trucks are built with extreme comfort, some even better than SUVs.
With the demand projected to keep growing, manufacturers are working day and night to give consumers more truck options than they've ever had. There's a long list of pickup trucks coming in 2021 from traditional manufacturers like Ford and Chevrolet and new players like Lordstown and Bollinger. The following are ten fantastic pickup trucks every gearhead should look forward to in 2021.
10 Lordstown Motors Endurance
Following its founding in 2018, Lordstown Motors recently acquired and converted a former GM factory in Lordstown, Ohio, indicating that it's ready to produce its first vehicle ever, the Endurance electric pickup truck – one of the most powerful upcoming pickup trucks. The Endurance joins a growing list of electric pickups, but unlike the others with motors mounted on each axle, its motors will be mounted on each wheel hub. This design minimizes maintenance cost since there are fewer moving parts and improves traction and control.
The four motors will have a combined output of 600 horsepower, making it quite fast. Buyers will be able to drive it for up to 250 miles on a single charge.
9 Rivian R1T
EV startup Rivian caused a wave of excitement across the auto industry when it unveiled the R1T electric pickup and R1S electric SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2018. It was one of the most exciting and controversial cars everyone's looking forward to. Rivian made such a great impression that it attracted Ford and Amazon investments.
The keystone of Rivian's plans is the R1T electric pickup truck. With a range of 400-plus miles, a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds, 750 horsepower, and a 0-60 mph time of 3 seconds, the Rivian R1T will be one of the most potent and fastest pickup trucks ever made.
8 Bollinger B2
If a four-year-old child were asked to draw a pickup truck, the result would look like the Bollinger B2. The B2 has a simplistic and practical exterior featuring a boxy design inspired by old Land Rover Defenders. However, what lies under the B2's simple surface is as advanced as any EV in development today.
The B2 comes with two electric motors that combine to produce 614 horsepower. Bollinger is forecasting a 200-mile range on a single charge, but most of its fans hope that it will have more, particularly those who want to use it for long road trips. Interestingly, buyers will be able to pull the doors and roof panels off for an open-air driving experience.
7 Ram 1500 TRX
The incredibly popular Ram 1500 TRX is getting a refresh in 2021, but this time, it will have a massive Hellcat motor. Designed to steal some of the Ford F-150 Raptor's sales, the Ram 1500 TRX is powered by a 702-horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 engine paired with an all-new independent front suspension with active suspension dampers. Ram estimates that the TRX will go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.
Dodge has also made a few updates to the TRX exterior – it is eight inches wider than other Ram 1500 trucks and comes with a model-exclusive front end featuring a large hood scoop that feeds air to the engine.
6 GMC Hummer EV
Hummer was one of the top automakers in the 1990s, known for massive trucks that looked great on the outside and had luxurious interiors. Unfortunately, Hummer trucks had the worst gas mileage in any vehicle, which eventually led to Hummer's downfall in 2006.
Fourteen years later, Hummer is back with a fully-electric pickup truck to take on the Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, and other emerging electric pickup trucks. Dubbed the Hummer EV, the truck will be one of the most powerful, with a 1000-horsepower output. It will come with a host of cool features, including a panoramic glass roof, the Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving technology, and a "Crab" mode that allows for four-wheel steering.
5 Hyundai Santa Cruz
First announced at the 2015 North American International Auto Show, the Hyundai Santa Cruz looked like one of those concept cars that end up never being produced. However, Hyundai recently announced that the much-anticipated car-like pickup truck would be built in their Alabama plant, with the first vehicles expected to be in dealerships by the end of the year.
If Hyundai sticks with the design of the 2015 concept, the truck will ride on a crossover platform with a small bed in place of the cargo area. The Santa Cruz will likely be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower.
4 Ford F-150 Electric
After years of living in denial, Ford has finally accepted that the auto industry's future is electric. To ensure that it's not left behind as other automakers compete for the emerging electric pickup truck market, Ford is now offering an electric version of America's best-selling vehicle – the F-150.
Dubbed the F-150 Electric, Ford's new truck is expected to arrive in late 2021 or early 2022 with a design similar to the current gas-powered F-150. Although not much is known about the F-150 Electric, Ford claims that it will have more power than all F-150s available today, including the Raptor, which has 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque.
3 Tesla Cybertruck
When Tesla announced the Cybertruck in 2019, it was so well-received that the company decided to build an all-new factory in Texas just to produce the monstrous vehicle. The Cybertruck will be like no pickup Americans have ever seen, both in terms of performance and appearance.
The top-tier Cybertruck is powered by three motors producing 690 horsepower, which allows it to hit 60 mph in a Porsche-rivalling 2.9 seconds. The Cybertruck will also have an industry-leading towing capacity of 14,000 pounds and a range of 500 miles per single charge.
2 GMC Canyon AT4
The 2021 Canyon comes with the "AT4" badge, indicating that it's designed to take on tough off-road terrains. The Canyon has an eye-catching design featuring dark chrome exterior accents, red recovery hooks, a large grille, and unique interior stitching.
Under the Canyon's hood is a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 2.8-liter diesel engine option. To ensure that the Canyon AT4 can maneuver tough terrains with ease, GMC equipped it with an Eaton locking rear differential, off-road suspension tuning, a transfer case skid plate, and 17-inch wheels with 36-inch tires.
1 Ram Dakota
Fans of the Dakota pickup truck that disappeared in 2011 will be delighted to hear that Ram is planning to resurrect the Dakota nameplate in 2021 with a new mid-size pickup truck. Expected to arrive in late 2021, the new Ram Dakota will be based mainly on the Jeep Gladiator and shares many components with its larger sibling – the Ram 1500.
The Dakota is expected to use the same 3.6-liter V6 engine used across Fiat Chrysler's lineup. Buyers could also have the option of a diesel 3.0-liter V6 generating 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque.