Let’s find something to look forward to. Why not look to the booming auto market for a new truck?
Trucks are making a strong resurgence. Full-size pickups and midsize trucks are emerging as the most popular vehicles, and manufacturers are taking full advantage of it. Just look at these top 10 trucks!
The popular Honda model took a hiatus as it was being redesigned. When it returned in late 2016 as the Honda Ridgeline, it immediately captured hearts. The Ridgeline kept the trademark dual-action tailgate and the in-bed trunk. It maintains its V-6 engine, with all-wheel drive as standard equipment in almost all markets. It’s undoubtedly improved from its previous form, taking on a pickup truck image instead of an SUV-pickup hybrid.
Improvements include the Honda Sensing package with Adaptive Cruise Control, Brake Assist, and Forward Collision Warning. An in-bed power inverter is available, and Intelligent Key with Remote Start and walk-away door locks are standard equipment. Look for the Honda Ridgeline to become a mainstream competitor in the coming months.
With the Wrangler rumors flying for years, it may be a little hard to know what to expect in production before it’s actually announced.
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It’s safe to bet there will be a 3.6-liter VVT version, available in both 6-speed manual and automatic trans. And as per Wrangler spec, a two-wheel-drive base model will be available while most Wrangler pickups built will be the common 4WD design.
Midsized pickup trucks are usually overlooked in terms of performance. They’re used for the odd job around home, not hard work. The Tacoma TRD Pro demolishes that stigma.
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A glance at the front and you’re either immediately attracted or intimidated. The Tacoma TRD Pro is aggressive, in part from Rigid Industries LED fog lights and from its FOX suspension-inspired stance. A 3.5-liter V-6 and part-time 4WD get this pickup truck anywhere you want, from crawling rocks to commuting on the highway.
The Silverado’s little brother has been set aside for the occasional-use truck owner. It’s more likely to haul sports gear than topsoil or gravel, and its tow capacity will often go untested. The Colorado Duramax Diesel may change all that.
The Colorado has an optional Duramax 2.8-liter turbo diesel with best in class torque. It has 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, boosting the tow rating to 7,700 lb. Not bad for a midsize pickup.
For brute force, the Titan lives up to its name. The Nissan Titan is an absolute, well, titan. It looms large, it rides like a real truck, and it’s overly capable. And that’s just the regular Titan – there’s also the Titan XD!
Whether you choose the Cummins diesel-powered Titan XD or the standard-equipment Endurance 5.6-liter gas job, the Titan is exceptional. It’s able to carry over 1,600 lbs payload and tow over 9,300 lbs with the gas engine. If the mundane, outdated interior of the previous generation deterred you, you’ll want to take another look. The Titan mastered the truck interior. It’s comfortable yet firm, has truck-focused features like an electric brake controller and available conveniences like a heated steering wheel and navigation. It’s a winner.
There’s no doubt the Ford F150 Raptor is an attention-getter. It’s built its name as a high-performance pickup, dominating all other trucks on the market in performance. And the Ford F150 Raptor is returning to much-deserved fanfare.
It’s twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 packs a wallop at 450 horses. The 10-speed tranny is everything you need to put that power to good use. A new all-terrain selector and Fox Racing shocks make the Raptor off-road capable, although with its price approaching $100k, it’s unlikely most will ever see anything but pavement.
Fiat Chrysler has promised us a competitor to Ford’s notorious SVT Raptor. And it looks like they’ve developed a worthy adversary after all. The Ram Rebel TRX isn’t officially headed to production yet. We’re confident it will be, as the RamTrucks.com website has a ‘coming vehicles’ section listing this beast.
The Ram Rebel TRX is touted as the off-road king. Stunning, brazen looks are almost too nice to take off the trail, yet the lifted body, the oversized tires, and the LED light bars beg to run wild. And run wild it shall. The engine is a version of the Hellcat series’ supercharged 6.2-liter, tamed to 575 horsepower. But don’t think it’s all rugged. The interior is bound to contain the pinnacle of comforts in truck land.
Since the redesign in 2014, the Silverado has stayed pretty much the same except for a few tweaks. And that’s fair, since it seems to be a well-built truck. It isn’t new, nor is it bold and brash, but there’s a place for tried and true on the list.
The Chevrolet Silverado will remain virtually unchanged. A few features have been added, including Teen Driver mode, optional Low Speed Mitigation Braking, and Android Auto has finally been implemented.
Yet, if you’re looking for a diesel-powered ruck, the Silverado HD gets an upgraded Duramax engine. The 6.6-liter powerplant is said to have 910 lb-ft of torque and 445 horsepower, set to lead the segment.
Nothing has been made official as of yet, but there’s been widespread talk of the Santa Cruz. Based on the Hyundai Santa Fe platform, the Santa Cruz concept made waves at many recent auto shows, prompting leaks that it’s headed for development.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a compact pickup truck, aimed at SUV owners who occasionally need a pickup truck. Let’s face it – that targets most pickup truck drivers in North America. The Santa Cruz is unibody design to maximize a comfortable ride, and the box has a bed extender for slightly larger loads. It could actually be the best of both worlds. Let’s hope it hits the market soon.
Earlier this year, Mercedes announced they were going to be entering the pickup truck market. Since then, there has been very little in terms of news except for a couple concepts.
It’s going to be based on the Nissan Navarra/Frontier platform, and is touted as the first true luxury pickup truck on the market. Unfortunately, it’s probably not coming to North America, at least not right away.
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