Americans love big trucks, but most buyers never actually use all the brawn of half-ton models, and about one in six choose a midsize pickup instead. These smaller haulers offer most of the style and ability of their big brothers in more fuel-efficient, practical and affordable packages. Like the big boys, many midsizes offer off-road, luxury, performance and work truck grades, and many are fun and stylish. Sales in this segment are dominated by Toyota’s Tacoma, but the revival of Ford’s Ranger and modernized entries from GM and Jeep have buoyed interest in midsize trucks, making the segment more competitive and diverse.
- 2022 Honda Ridgeline
- 2021 Jeep Gladiator
- 2021 Chevrolet Colorado
- 2021 Toyota Tacoma
- 2021 Ford Ranger
- 2022 GMC Canyon
Why We Picked It
Midsize pickup trucks promise traditional truck utility in a more manageably-sized and fuel-efficient and package, and the Honda Ridgeline’s crossover underpinnings deliver on all counts. Last year’s restyle also helped it look the part of a proper truck. The Ridgeline does 85% of what most pickup owners will ever do with their trucks while delivering capable handling, good V6 fuel economy and a raft of standard features other trucks lack. On the flip side, towing capacity maxes out at 5,000 pounds and its off-road talents are limited compared to trucks like the Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Gladiator.
Pros & Cons
- Roomy, family-friendly interior
- Car-like handling and on-road dynamics
- Lots of nice features lacking in other trucks
- Crossover-like towing capacity
- Limited off-road talents
- Single powertrain choice
Specs
Also Featured In
#3 in Best Pickups For 2021
Why We Picked It
Few, if any, pickups can match the Gladiator’s off-road talents, particularly with the extra ground clearance of the Rubicon trim, and its styling is as rugged as its capabilities. It’s a usable and roomy daily driver, though its off-road optimization means it’s a little noisy and on-road steering feel and handling aren’t great. The new diesel powertrain brings lots of low-down torque and great fuel economy. The gas powertrain gives decent acceleration, while the optional Max Tow package offers excellent towing capability.
Pros & Cons
- Rugged looks, go-anywhere image
- Supreme off-road abilities
- Excellent utility; even greater than the Wrangler
- Short on safety systems and crash test data
- High price rises quickly with options
- Poor on-road handling
Specs
Also Featured In
Why We Picked It
The Chevrolet Colorado offers something for everyone, with a trio of powertrain choices and three cab and bed combinations. The base engine is overmatched by the truck’s weight, but the available 308-horsepower V6 engine and torquey turbodiesel four provide much more oomph. The diesel offers very good fuel economy, but also boasts a 7,700-pound tow rating, tied with its GMC Canyon sister for best in class. The off-road-oriented Colorado ZR2 has the performance hardware serious off-road adventurers want with macho looks to match. While highly capable, the Colorado loses points for so-so crash test scores and a lack of standard driver-assist features.
Pros & Cons
- Powerful engine lineup, with big towing capacity
- Comfortable driving manners
- Highly configurable
- So-so safety scores, lack of driver-assist gear
- Cabin quality is only mid-pack
- Off-road models a climb to get in and out of
Specs
Also Featured In
/https://www.forbes.com/wheels/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2021_Toytoa-Tacoma_hero_top-Gallery_960.png)
Why We Picked It
Like a Pendleton flannel, the Toyota Tacoma is revered for its rugged simplicity and durability rather than its cutting-edge tech or deluge of features. Though it could stand to be a bit more comfortable during everyday use, it’s otherwise a practical mid-sized runabout and capable off-road companion; the fact it has a cargo bed is almost a bonus. Right-sized for most needs, it does, however, skimp on rear-seat space and its week-kneed base four-cylinder can’t compare to the V6. That said, it’s easy to see why the Tacoma is almost the stuff of legend and has been the best-seller in the mid-size truck class for so many years.
Pros & Cons
- Convenient, easy to use utility off and on the road
- Rugged, solid build
- A good amount of standard safety features
- Rough ride on everyday roads
- Slow, even for a truck
- Crude braking response, lots of body motions
Specs
Also Featured In
Why We Picked It
The Ranger does a good job of balancing the utility and capability demanded of a truck while keeping the whole package relatively compact. Rear passengers pay for it in room, however. The styling is bland, but easily dressed up with a variety of option packages, and the cabin feels a bit old. The Ranger can be had a with a wide array of active safety features, offers credible off-road and towing performance, and has class-leading payload capacity. The new Tremor package boosts the truck’s off-road chops considerably, but also adds cost to what sometimes feels like an unrefined machine.
Pros & Cons
- Lots of available safety tech
- Good acceleration and cargo hauling ability
- New Tremor package beefs up off-road talent
- Adding features quickly drives up the price
- Bland styling, dated interior
- Rivals still offer more off-road ability
Specs
Also Featured In
Why We Picked It
The 2022 GMC Canyon is a strongly competitive midsize pickup truck, but with compromises. A re-styling in 2021 and the new for 2022 Denali Black Edition add value, but the Canyon’s higher-level trims aren’t quite as premium as GMC bills them. Chevrolet’s Colorado offers much of the same for less money, including the class-leading 7,700 pound tow rating, but with a less stylish look. Both lose points for lack of standard driver-assist features. Power with the V6 is good, but fuel economy suffers.
Pros & Cons
- Strong powertrain options with class-leading tow rating
- Smooth, compliant ride
- Handsome styling
- Few driver-assist features, and none standard
- Base engine lacks power
- Top trims not as premium as name or price tag suggest
Specs
Also Featured In
Methodology
This list contains a mixture of 2021 and 2022 model year vehicles. Our rating methodology has been expanded from five to seven categories for 2022. As such, ratings of the same vehicle between these two model years may differ slightly.
For 2022, our ratings categories are:
- Performance
- Fuel Economy
- Safety
- Infotainment
- Comfort & Room
- Cargo Space & Storage
- Style & Design
Overall: 100 points
- Performance (15 points) The Performance score is a subjective assessment of a vehicle’s handling, braking, acceleration, ride quality and other qualitative performance measures such as horsepower, torque, zero-to-60 time and top speed. Towing capability for trucks and SUVs also is considered. Performance of the vehicles is compared against the identified competitive set. While driving, reviewers look for attributes relative to the expectations set by the manufacturer and by consumer expectations.
- Fuel Economy (15 points) The Fuel Economy score is based on the combined mpg estimate for the entire model lineup and how that figure measures against the identified competitive set. The mpg estimates are based on EPA data or the manufacturer if no EPA data is available. Hybrid and plug-in electric variants within a lineup that significantly lower their overall average will not be included in the comparison unless the competitive set also have hybrid or PHEV variants. Scoring for pure electric vehicles will be based on kilowatts consumed per 100 miles and the comparative mile per gallon equivalent, or MPGe.
- Safety (15 points) The Safety score is based on crash test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Vehicles not yet rated by either agency receive zero points. Also included in the safety rating are points awarded for certain advanced driver-assistance safety features offered as standard equipment on the base trim. There are nine safety features Forbes Wheels considers mandatory for the standard offering: forward emergency automatic braking, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning or one its higher-level variants, lane keeping assistance or lane centering. Vehicles must have at least four of these in their standard offering to receive points. Vehicles that offer a Level 2 self-driving system, (a combination of adaptive cruise control and lane centering) are eligible for a bonus point.
- Infotainment (15 points) The Infotainment score is based on points awarded for certain features offered as standard equipment on the base trim. Forbes Wheels identifies certain features that are growing in popularity and therefore have been adopted by both premium and mainstream automakers. Some of these features include a minimum 7-inch touchscreen (or premium vehicles that use a rotary knob, touchpad or other mechanism to control a non-touchscreen display), wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a customizable, digital driver information display or instrument panel and at least 2 USB ports. Additional points are awarded for popular features that haven’t been widely adopted in mainstream vehicles such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless charging capabilities.
- Comfort & Room (15 points) The Comfort & Room score is based on points awarded for the reviewer’s assessment of the vehicle’s comfort, ergonomics and overall interior feel as well as effective use of space. Points also are awarded for the measurement of rear-seat legroom and how it compares with the identified competitive set. Vehicles that offer segment-best legroom in either rear seat or optional third row are eligible for a bonus point.
- Cargo Space & Storage (15 points) The Cargo Space & Storage score is based on points awarded for the reviewer’s assessment of the vehicle’s large and small cargo spaces (as well as small-item storage) and how well they serve their purpose and effective use of space. Reviewers also consider innovative storage solutions and flexible loading features. Points also are awarded for the cargo space measurements for rear cargo hold or trunk and how it compares with the identified competitive set. Vehicles that offer a segment-best cargo or trunk space are eligible for a bonus point.
- Styling (10 points) The Styling score is a subjective assessment of a vehicle’s overall styling and design, inside and out. Reviewers also consider the configuration of the interior and how well the design plays into the function. Build quality also is a consideration.