In 2021 companies seem to be respondings to a few major market trends that have influenced them up to this point. For one, the demand for small pickup trucks or SUV-like vehicles is impossible to ignore. Luxury pickups also seem to just be getting more luxurious. What was once just a workhorse like a basic F-150 now has cool options up the wazoo such as built-in wifi, a desk-like workplace, and heated massage seats!
Since the success of the Raptor companies have been amping up their offroad lineup as well, and in the ten to five years since that rise, many journalists agree that the offroad games of Ram, Toyota, and Chevy are at an all-time high. Jeep's even thrown their hat in the ring with the Gladiator.
The landscape, then, is a series of trucks that go beyond a good right-off for your company. They niche out into their own branch of towing, off-road, luxury, and city life. These 10 trucks were picked for their niche-finding skills and appraisal by the auto world for their impressive real-world results and overall ratings.
10 Ram 1500 TRX
Though Dodge Ram denied the similarities at its release, the TRX was a direct jab at the Raptor itself ("T-Rex", "Raptor"). The 2021 TRX comes just 1" shy of the Raptors suspension with 13" in front and 14" in the rear. The 702-horsepower option can run you up to six figures, more with the pictured options like a roll bar and off-road lights.
While the supercharged 6.2 liter Hemi SRT V8 is exciting, what's even cooler is the Challenger-style feedback on the dash including reaction time, 1/4 mile timer, and a dyno readout. The Bilstein Shocks and 11.8" of ground clearance make it exciting to crawl and to haul (butt).
9 Ford F-150 Lariat
Starting at just $45,045 with a 2.7-liter turbo V6, this is one truck that leaves you wanting nothing, especially in colder climates. Everything can be heated: side mirrors, all seats, steering wheel, both sides of the cabin separately, and rear window.
Every comfort you can think of is either an option or standard on this, like dimming mirrors, park assist, WiFi, emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. If you drive far and need a write-off, there's probably not a better car for you to be comfortable in for long drives and harsh weather than the Lariat.
8 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
While there's debate about the looks of the Gladiator, the Mojave has more to tell than just a new home for an understated but capable 3.6L V6. The first-ever "desert-rated" Jeep according to Jeep themselves, this one has Fox Shocks and enough offroad features to keep any Jeep head happy for a full weekend of thrashing and bashing.
It even has an "Off-Road+" button that "automatically adjusts throttle, transmission, shift points and traction control for peak performance on higher speed passes," according to Jeep. to give you an idea of the target market; this comes standard as a manual and has a $700 "Selec-Trac® Full Time 4WD System" that decides when to use what 4WD.
7 Honda Ridgeline RTL
Much hate has been directed at this unibody excuse for a truck, and even some issues with the all-wheel-drive have emerged from the older models. Honda has claimed to have fixed that, now it just looks great with the HDP-package's fender flares and bronze rims. It might be an attempt to make a TRD-style option for Honda, but it's just not that bad!
The fact is, people pining for the (also unibody) Ford Maverick are overlooking the reliable and reasonably priced Ridgeline, whose base model starts at just $36,490. The bed is very capable and certainly geared towards an... older... market, but with an AC outlet, under-bed storage, and dual-action opening tailgate there's not much you can't carry or handle.
6 Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X
Ah, the Titan; known for being the pickup truck that circled the internet when it "caught" a jet with the broken landing gear (proved fake). Still, the Titan Pro-4X has some skills that are worth noting, especially since it keeps up trucks selling for 10-20k more than itself. According to Nissan itself, the XD Titan is "The truck with the most standard Power, Tech and Safety feature in its class."
Broken down; what you get for $56,615 besides a sick blackout look is a 400-hp 5.6-L DOHC 32-valve V8 that rides on Bilstein Shocks, has an electronic locking rear differential, and a "PRO-4X® Convenience Package" that gives you heated back seats and a way to check your trailer's lights from in the cab.
5 Chevrolet Colarado ZR2 3.6L V8
The Colorado is Chevy's pretty small pickup truck that makes 308 horsepower in the ZR2 that starts at $45,395. It has a 6-speed manual option and a Cat-Back Performance Exhaust System for more speed. Despite its small size, it can tow up to 5,00 lbs.
If you like diesel, the Duramax is an option on the ZR2, and if you like comfort the ZR2 comes standard with CarPlay and has a WiFi option. While there's not much to be said about the offroading abilities except front and rear manual locking differentials, a quick lift and some cool skid plates really make this thing look capable.
4 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro
Toyota's full-size truck got the full TRD treatment with Fox Shocks, fog lights, and bigger, lighter wheels. It starts at $53,400 and balances off-road ability with simple Toyota-style convenience things like a hydraulic-assist tailgate. Historically round and unaggressive-looking, the colors available on the TRD Pro and the blacked-out look makes it seem a lot more fun than standard Tunrdas.
The 10.6 inches of ground clearance make it capable, and it gets 381 horsepower from its 5.7 liter V8, which might not deserve bucket seats but it gets them anyways! All that and it can still tow 9,200 lbs away; basically any size of camp trailer you can buy on a lot.
3 Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss
A pricer off-road capable truck that costs $51,500 to start, the Trail Boss stays a lot more grounded than the Raptor or TRX... in fact is barely tries to compete. It goes more for comfort, true to the old-fashioned chevy mannerisms. It has a 10-speed automatic and typical creature comforts like lane assist as an option.
The clearance isn't very impressive, 10.9 inches, similar to the Tundra TRD Pro. The lift is 2" over that of the ZL1 Silverado, and the shocks aren't anything worth mentioning. Still, WiFi, seat memory and heats, and hitch guidance make this trail-capable Chevy worth its salt.
2 Ford Ranger XLT
When Ford stuffs its age-tested F-150 capabilities into a smaller truck, the result is a body-on-frame vehicle you can feel comfortable backing up at Home Depot just as much as you can enjoy offroading it on some gnarly trails. While the above picture has a new grille, the appearance is the same as the FX4 package. The XLT alone is a four-seater with leather that starts at around $35,955.
With the $1,200 FX4 off-road package you get trail control (cruise control for trails), upgraded shocks, and some sweet skid plates. A tech package also allows you adaptive cruise control and automatic braking.
1 Toyota Tacoma SR5
The SR5 may not be the sportiest or the most capable of the Tacomas, but it's cheap and has just about everything you need in a small truck. It's no wonder Tacomas are the best-selling small truck, either. If you want the 4x4 278 horsepower V6 then you'll be paying $34,675.
True to Toyota's form, the inside is simple and uncomplicated and seems to focus more on driving experience than being a mobile office away from home or meeting the minimum standards for tax breaks. Also, it's important to note that Tacomas are the single best mass-produced vehicle ever at holding their value.