Every year sees changes in the automotive industry and the truck world is no different. New models are released, new features are added, and facelifts revitalize and update looks.
Several trucks made a splash for 2016, from minor adjustments to major changes and all-new releases.
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Perhaps the hottest new truck that has been released in recent years, the Nissan Titan XD is stronger, tougher, more aggressive and way more attractive than its outgoing model. The Titan XD is built up on a 2500 platform, classifying it as a ¾ ton truck but appealing to the ½ ton market as well.
The biggest news is the 5.0-liter Cummins V8 under the hood, producing 310 horsepower and a monstrous 555 lb-ft of torque. The interior is completely new and introduces some of the finer things in life including gorgeous leather with detailed stitching, NissanConnect functions integrated into a powerful Rockford Fosgate sound system, and front and rear sonar systems to assist with parking. The 2016 Nissan Titan XD is supremely capable with 12,300lb tow capacity and an integrated gooseneck hitch in the truck bed.
Look for the 2017 Nissan Titan half-ton to arrive late in the 2016 calendar year as well.
The mid-size truck market is heating up again with the addition of an all-new diesel engine for the 2016 GMC Canyon. Specifically developed for the smaller truck market, the 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine has been planned for the Canyon all along. The turbodiesel four-cylinder produces 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, enough for it to be capable of towing up to 7,700lb when properly equipped. The all-new Duramax diesel engine is the cleanest-burning diesel engine from GM to date with advanced EGR cooling technology. This helps it get better gas mileage than the Canyon’s own V6 gas engine.
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The GMC Canyon Diesel is also bio-diesel capable and is an attractive option for only $4,000 more on the sticker price. Other notable changes are an exhaust brake integration and an integrated trailer brake controller.
While the 2016 Tacoma doesn’t vary that greatly in appearance from previous model years, the truck is a massive step up in quality, refinement, and performance. The 2016 Tacoma has aggressively-styled features including piercing new headlights, a wide, ominous front grille, and crisp angles all around. The engine options include a 3.5-liter V6 with 278 horsepower, in line with many of the full-sized trucks on the market today.
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The Tacoma is chock full of driver amenities including a color multi-information display, Smart Key with Push Button Start, Qi-compatible wireless charging station, and even a GoPro mount on the rearview mirror. The truck draws inspiration from off-road vehicles, including Crawl control, multi-terrain select for the 4WD transfer case, and Hill Start Assist. Most impressive for a gas-powered mid-sized truck is its ability to tow up to 6,800lbs.
The all-new Tacoma is versatile and powerful, but keep an eye out for the 2017 Tacoma TRD for an even more off-road focused truck.
If you weren’t attracted to the unusual shape of the previous Honda Ridgeline’s angular box design, you’re in for a treat now. The Ridgeline is back for the 2017 model year, being released later on in 2016. It’s a whole new truck – an actual truck.
This pickup is focused on the driving experience and is much less for the off-road enthusiast and more for the city driver who occasionally needs to haul things. Different strokes, right? Technology advances include tri-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 400-watt inverter, and a built-in 540-watt stereo system right in the truck box. Tailgating parties just became your responsibility.
The engine holds steady with the 3.5-liter V6 though the new Ridgeline will be available in both front and all-wheel drive. For all-wheel drive vehicles, you’ll have a terrain selection option for the best traction no matter where you go. Also carried forward from the former Ridgeline model is the innovative in-box trunk that is sealed from the elements.
The all-new 2017 Ridgeline should be available in the next few months.
Several decades ago, there was the Jeep Comanche, the CJ10, and the Willys Jeep pickup trucks. For reasons unexplained, the pickup truck was dropped from the Jeep lineup with only whispers, musings, and teaser concepts coming about…until now. It has officially been announced that the Jeep pickup truck will return as part of the Wrangler series.
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The Jeep Wrangler pickup will be built out of the same plant in Toledo, Ohio as the Jeep Wrangler SUV. The throngs of Jeep followers are going to snatch up every last one of these trucks and it could potentially revitalize an otherwise stale mid-size pickup truck market for FCA. Expect to see the 3.6-liter V6 under the hood with 285 horsepower, more than enough to be competitive with the Tundra, Canyon, and Frontier pickups.
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