These Are The 16 Smallest Pickup Trucks For Sale In The US Today

Sep 07, 2023

Compact SUVs and pickup trucks are all the rage now, and even the smallest models provide plenty of power and practicality.

The pickup truck market has been an integral part of the North American market since pretty much as early as the ‘50s and hasn't lost an ounce of its importance or popularity since. If anything, pickups are only growing in demand as they become more widely used around the rest of the world.

Updated May 2023: Large pickups used to be fashionable and considered a necessity, despite inadvertently being a slight inconvenience. These days, society looks towards enjoying more efficiently packaged pickups, and manufacturers are responding with plenty of examples. In this list, we run you through the 16 of the smallest pickups on sale right now and continue to update this list to remain timely.

While the rugged history of the pickup truck goes as far back as 1896, with the German-made Gottlieb Daimler, it wasn't really until the late ‘40s and early ‘50s that this type of vehicle became truly popularized with the original Ford F1 F-Series truck. The automobile itself was coming on leaps and bounds by this point, but a truly mobile transport vehicle was what many needed, and the pickup body style proved to be a revolution.

In today's world, manufacturers seem obsessed with trying to decrease the overall size of a vehicle, while increasing the amount of space inside. In previous decades, pickups would be great big beasts that were even cramped in some cases. This is no longer an issue, even with the smallest modern pickups.

This has also caused a huge shift in the market. Pickup truck buyers used to be mostly made up of workers and companies who need the workhorse capabilities on offer, but now even your grandmother wants one. Pickup trucks have evolved into more daily drivers than work trucks, which is why the demand for smaller trucks has grown tremendously in recent years. Small pickup trucks look less obnoxious on the road, are easier to drive for the majority of buyers, more affordable to buy and run, and still offer the capabilities most pickup truck buyers need.

Thankfully, renowned manufacturers likeChevrolet, Ford, and Toyota have taken note of the growing demand for smaller trucks and are hard at work improving their current models and developing new ones. Let's explore 16 of the coolest small pickup trucks on sale today.

Back in the '70s, Ford sold a compact passenger car bearing the Maverick name. In 2022, the brand decided to revive the nameplate, but in the form of a sub-compact pickup truck – and what a return to form it's been. Just check out why the Hyundai Santa Cruz is no match for the 2023 Ford Maverick to get a better understanding of its in-class excellence.

Regardless of which trim you get, you can be sure you're getting a reliable truck. Ford has perfected the art of building dependable trucks over the years with the F-Series, which is why the 2023 Maverick has a J.D. Power Reliability rating of 81. That's some strong stuff in return for a base price of just under $22,595.

Hyundai has come leaps and bounds over the last few years, with the breathtaking interior of the Hyundai IONIQ 6 the perfect display (both literally and figuratively) of the South Korean brand's glow-up. But that's not where the fun ends, since Hyundai has started to delve into the hot-hatch market and the world of EVs now, too.

Perhaps the most surprising of all is its entry into the pickup truck segment with the Santa Cruz, which starts at $25,700. It comes with either a 191 hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a turbocharged unit that puts out 281 hp and 311 pounds of torque. Not only does it produce an adequate amount of power, but it's also a unibody truck with a curb weight of 3,700 pounds, so it's no slouch when it comes to having fun.

After a near-10-year absence in the American market, the Ford Ranger returned to wild fanfare in 2022. Arguably, the Ranger is also in its best-ever form with the current generation, which blends mettle and comfort with the evergreen dependability on offer with the Blue Oval brand. There are five trim levels to choose from, with the cheapest starting at a more than reasonable $27,400.

That's a good deal, which you can understand more about by checking out the things we love about the Ford Ranger Raptor. The Ranger is meant for someone that enjoys driving in style butdoesn't want to spend the extremely inflated sums that the Bronco is currently going for. It still enjoys the diminutive size associated with the Ranger lineage, given that it is created to be the smaller brother to the F-150.

From a pavement princess to the exact opposite is the Toyota Tacoma pickup: one of the brand's most respected models at present. The Tacoma starts at just under $28,000, and in return, you'll receive a whimsical 159-hp four-cylinder engine that only powers the rear wheels, but its redeeming factor is that it can still tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Luckily, you can also get ready for an adventure with the Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport, as well as a specifically tailored TRD Off-Road model. Both of them have a much more punchy 3.5-liter V6 that produces 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, and they can tow up to 6,700 lbs. However, we think it's worth waiting for the fourth-generation 2024 Toyota Tacoma instead.

The Nissan Frontier may not be the best mid-sized pickup truck overall, but it certainly stakes a claim for being the best-looking one on sale at the moment. All Frontier models get powered by the same naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 that churns out 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. That even includes the base model Frontier, which costs $29,190.

Nissan improved the current-generation Frontier in many ways to the previous generation, and apart from the exterior cosmetic upgrades, some of the coolest features of the Nissan Frontier came during its 2022 mid-cycle refresh. It means that the Japanese pickup is finally on par with other mid-sized pickup trucks, and not just on a performance level.

Related: Ranking The Largest Pickup Trucks You Can Buy

An all-new version is soon to be released, so we’d recommend checking out everything you need to know about the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado before proceeding. Some have accused it of being nothing more than a facelift that comes with a bigger price tag, but that's far from the truth. And in typical Colorado fashion, the latest addition can take you anywhere, to do just about anything.

There are five different versions you can opt for, but only one body style and one engine, albeit, with three different power outputs. Size-wise, it's found in the middle of the pack, but don't let that deter you from the huge cabin volume on offer. A starting price of just under $30,000 is also music to the ears of would-be off-road enthusiasts since it represents a substantial amount of car in return for a reasonable sum.

The ‘Tremor’ badge is reserved for those that love to off-road, and blending it with the Maverick's size and competitive price point means that this is a match made in heaven. Also factor in that HotCars’ best pickup of 2022 was the Ford Maverick, and you can see why we think it benefited from the Tremor treatment.

Opting for the package means a smoked set of head and taillights, bedside graphics, and funky body accents, in addition to a darkened 17-inch set of alloys. But where the Tremor really comes alive is with the consortium of beefed-up skid plates and intelligent off-road technology. It's headlined by the all-wheel-drive system, which can approach an angle at over nine degrees steeper than all its other trim levels. It's a fabulous companion for the adventurer lifestyle.

Let's start off with a bold statement: the 2023 GMC Canyon is better than the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado. The first reason we think this is because it has a curb weight of under 4,500 pounds, so you'll have a comparatively nimble driving experience. The second is that it's more capable off-road.

The Canyon starts at around $37,000, so it's a noticeable amount more expensive than its rival. If you were to upgrade to the Denali Canyon, you're also going to have a $45,000-sized dent in your wallet. The upshot, however, is that you'd be receiving a 308-hp 3.6-liter V6 that can rocket the GMC to 60 mph from a dig in 6.5 seconds.

Now, we realize this is a near $10,000 upgrade from the standard guise, but several valuable additions combine to justify the price hike. The most notable changes are that of a Dana rear axle, an electronic locking rear differential, Bilstein off-road shock absorbers, and a triumvirate of frontal skid plates.

Given that some of these changes could soon be made a standard option, it's understandable why we think the 2024 Nissan Frontier just got better than the Toyota Tacoma.

Now hold your horses, we know this is a big truck – especially when you look at the 2022 Jeep Gladiator Oculus Tron 6x6 custom-built behemoth – but it's all a matter of perception. The Gladiator is long at 218 inches in length, but that's mostly due to its immense 60-inch cargo bed that can hold up to 1,700 pounds worth of groceries.

At its heart, the Gladiator remains a true Jeep, so its doors are still removable, and since it is still meant to be work-worthy. The Gladiator can also pull up to 7,650 pounds thanks to a 3.6-liter V6 that puts out 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Unlike most of the trucks on this list, the Gladiator can tackle virtually any terrain you throw at it, making it a great option for gearheads who like to take the occasional weekend off-road trip.

Related: 10 Large Pickup Trucks You Should Never Buy Used

Honda is not the first automaker that comes to mind when you think of pickup truck manufacturers, but the Japanese marque has built several awesome examples over the years. A good example of this is the Ridgeline, which is one of the few modern pickup trucks that make use of a unibody structure, and in return, it offers an affordable price tag to match the surprisingly fun driving experience. We definitely think you should consider the 2022 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition.

The Ridgeline is not meant for someone who likes to tackle the roughest of terrains and tow their 20-ton mobile homes with them. It is, however, ideal for someone who enjoys driving since it only comes with a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. The Ridgeline also offers trusted Japanese reliability, proven with a J.D. Power Reliability rating of 80 out of 100, the 2023 Honda Ridgeline.

The second ‘Tremor’ edition Ford to make our list is the 2023 Ford Ranger, which has only just been revealed over the last few months. The Ranger itself is a notable mid-range alternative to the F-150, and in its tremor guise, offers all the positives of the Maverick Tremor but with a little more of everything.

But it's not all smiles, because 10 of the most common problems with the 2023 Ford Ranger is worth reading into since the competitive pricing and stellar reputation of the Ford Ranger Tremor could be blighted by a few niggles. On the whole, though, ownership of the Ranger tends to be a rewarding experience.

At HotCars, we love the all-new 2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. The brand has given the world some fantastic pickups before, and the Colorado is one of the most long-serving but equally respected names from that group. It is available in crew-cab and short-bed configurations, but while the options list is limited for the ZR2, the pickup's versatility more than makes up for it.

On an off-road-focused vehicle, the chassis is arguably one of the most significant components that will need upgrading. In the ZR2, the standard Colorado's chassis has been modified, with the front axis pushed forward. The ZR2 also produces 310 hp and 430 pounds of torque from its Silverado-derived 2.7-liter inline-four. It's a tasty package all-round, and a seriously good way to spend the money.

The fact that so many pickups get compared to the Tacoma should tell you just how big an impact it has had on the industry, and its TRD Pro version might be the best of the lot. Of course, it's not cheap, with a starting price of just over $47,000, but it justifies the outlay as a premium luxury pickup that has as much off-road vigor as it does a calm and composed demeanor on the street.

Toyota markets the Tacoma with the eulogy, "unmatched, unequaled and unstoppable", and in most cases we’d argue that such market speak is a timid attempt to generate more interest, but where the TRD Pro is concerned, we think it's pretty fitting. This does trace its roots back to the nigh-indestructible Hilux, after all. We'd also recommend checking out the secrets this 2023 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro render may be hiding, in what is a HotCars exclusive.

The standard Jeep Gladiator has been given a fitting name and equipped with all the necessary equipment for it to be truly taken to the max across a variety of environments. Sadly, it feels like very few people actually use it for intended purposes, opting instead to use it as nothing more than a pavement prowler beneath the city lights.

If you opt for the Rubicon edition, however, we think you’d follow fellow owners in returning the Gladiator to its intended place of work. Rock crawling and dune bashing is exactly what the Rubicon is meant for, and we’ve explained just why it presents such a good option to go for in our Polaris RZR vs Jeep Gladiator Rubicon at Johnson Valley review.

Related: 10 Rare Used Pickup Trucks You Can Buy For Cheap

Alas, we arrive at the most expensive, premium, and arguably divisive pickup on this list: the 2023 GMC Canyon AT4X. The reason we say it's divisive is down to the steep price of $55,500 – and it can be further upgraded with minor modifications and trinkets to push that number to well over $60,000.

But on the flip side, just look at the 2023 GMC Canyon AT4X's awesome interior. Then consider the huge amount of torque that drives this four-door crew-cab layout, and the resultant 7700 pounds of towing capability, and the story writes itself. The Canyon AT4X is expensive, there's no denying that. But it may well be the best pickup in the world right now, too.

Marnus Moolman is a young aspiring automotive writer from South Africa who is making a name for himself, despite his young age. Currently, he is studying to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting to pursue his lifetime dream of running his own automotive detailing establishment.