The Best Pickup Trucks of 2025

Today’s trucks come in all sizes and even propulsion systems. From full-size gas-guzzlers to compact pickups to brand new electric models, we drove every pickup model on the market to determine which ones best meet your needs, including offering the best bang for your buck.

Pickup trucks are no longer the bare-bones, limited workhorses of old. Though some models are downsizing and some are parting with their gas engines, the class as a whole is becoming more capable and comfortable.

Using a step-by-step methodology, we evaluated the most promising pickups for the attributes that we think matter — including safety, fuel economy or battery range and performance. Some of our picks are old standbys while others are relative newcomers. Below are our five top choices, with explanations on how each stands out from the pack.

(If you’re interested in a broader look at the new vehicle marketplace, check out our full list of the Best Cars of 2025.)

Best Pickup Trucks

Best Overall: Ford F-150
Best for Luxury: GMC Canyon
Best for Quality of Ride: Ram 1500
Best for Warranty: Hyundai Santa Cruz
Best for Residual Value: Toyota Tacoma

Best Overall: Ford F-150

• Price: $37,350
• Mileage: 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway

The Ford F-150 has topped the charts as America’s best-selling pickup truck for more than four decades. Durable and dependable in a wide variety of driving situations, the truck is available in eight trims and seats three to six passengers.

The F-150 starts at $37,350, which is inexpensive for a full-size truck. Yet the price escalates quickly as one moves up the model line to the range-topping Raptor model, which costs a hefty $78,905. Horsepower also varies between 325 and 720 depending on your choice, with correlating fuel efficiency ratings.

An all-around versatile truck for work or play, the F-150 leads the class in towing capacity, at 13,500 pounds when properly equipped.

Best for Luxury: GMC Canyon

• Price: $36,300
• Mileage: 19 mpg city/23 mpg highway

The GMC Canyon compact pickup is known for its smooth handling and refined cabin. The Elevation base model starts at $36,300, but if you want luxury, and can afford it, we recommend the $51,300 Denali trim. It adds heated seats and options for perforated leather upholstery and a Bose sound system.

The base model is well-equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot and a large, 11.3-inch touch screen, when rivals’ screens only measure 7 or 8 inches.

Best for Quality of Ride: Ram 1500

• Price: $40,275
• Mileage: 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway

The Ram 1500 is revamped for 2025 with new exterior styling, larger screens and new engines. The truck retains the same premium cabin and has a refined ride, courtesy of a sophisticated rear suspension.

The base model starts at $40,275, and includes a 305-horsepower V6 engine, an 8.4-inch touch screen and a long list of safety features, such as rear cross-traffic alert and forward automatic emergency braking. Upper trims offer 12- and 15.4-inch screens.

The truck can be customized in a wide range of ways, topping off at nearly $90,000 for the new-for-2025 Tungsten trim. Note, though, that the suspension that enables the Ram 1500’s stellar ride quality means it can’t tow as many pounds as competing full-size trucks.

Best for Warranty: Hyundai Santa Cruz

• Price: $28,500
• Mileage: 22 mpg city/26 mpg highway

The Hyundai Santa Cruz underwent a makeover for 2025, with refreshed styling and more features. The comfortable compact pickup now comes with a curved display with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and updated software compatible with over-the-air updates. All of which make this a very livable truck, should it be where you plan on spending most of your time.

The Santa Cruz is also unusually affordable in multiple ways. Its starting price is the lowest of the group and has the best fuel efficiency as well.

Also a plus for the truck’s cost of ownership is its best-in-class five-year/ 60,000-mile limited warranty and 10-year/ 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. That’s much better protection than you’ll get with the Ford F-150, Toyota Tacoma or GMC Canyon, each of which are covered by a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Best for Value: Toyota Tacoma

• Price: $33,000*
• Mileage: 21 mpg city/26 mpg highway*

Availability and many details about the 2025 Toyota Tacoma weren't confirmed at press time, but was expected to come in at around $33,000, which would make it among the least expensive picks of the group. Other data below are also the reported figures for the 2025 version, unless otherwise noted.

The compact pickup has a dual reputation for reliability, which provides peace of mind, and for holding its value down the road.

One way in which the Tacoma – at least for its base model – doesn’t stand out is in its power. The 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine in the 2025 version will reportedly generate 228 horsepower. That’s up only slightly from the 225 hp of the 2024 Tacoma, yet still falls short of most in this group – the Ford F150 base model delivers 325 horsepower, for example.

Fuel economy (21 mpg city/26 mpg highway) is also up slightly from the Tacoma’s 2024 figures Fuel economy (19 mpg city/24 mpg highway). =
For off-roaders who can afford to splurge, there’s the TRD Off-Road trim. With estimated 2025 pricing of about $42,600, this rugged Tacoma comes with all-terrain tires, a locking rear differential, skid plates and more.

*Estimated figures. The 2025 Toyota Tacoma is not yet out, and full information and a firm introduction date was not available as of early December.