The Best Truck Brands 2023- For Your Perfect Choice

The best truck brand means a brand or model that ranks at the top of people’s preferences based on different requirements.

Trucks are one of the most important vehicles in the world today. They indeed help us transport tons of goods. They are quite useful for carrying heavy machines or goods around. 

An example of such a machine or good is the mobile home. You must have seen them carried around using a truck. There are other examples of goods transported by trucks. Some of them are timbers, metals, and food items.

Despite their usefulness and efficiency, trucks are valued for various reasons. Some of such are pop culture and the simple feeling of driving a monster. Some people like them because of their ability to carry goods. Other people like them because of their size and ability to navigate bad roads or terrains. 

Some people like trucks because they look nice. Trucks have a certain culture attached to them. This article will review the best trucks in 2023 while considering all their pros and cons.

Contents

Top Rated Truck Brands In The Market

The article focuses on recent truck brands that are widely available in the United States. There are two types: Small, lightweight, or pickup trucks and heavy-duty trucks.

Pickup trucks

Small or pickup trucks are light-duty trucks with a cabin and a cargo bed. Pickup trucks are efficient and versatile without the large footprints associated with bigger trucks.

There have been several great releases, but here are the top five.

1. GMC Canyon

With a reliability rating of 4.0, the GMC canyon is one of the most reliable and versatile trucks on the market today. 

It also has a long track record of minimal vehicle repairs and could easily reach 200,000 miles on its first engine.

Pros

  • High-reliability rating
  • Large truck beds
  • V6 and four-plug engine (this means it consumes less gas)

Cons

  • The interior might feel small for larger or taller people, especially the seats.
  • The bumper or front air damn limits off-road potential.

2. Ford Ranger

One of the most popular pickup trucks in the world, the ford ranger is no stranger when it comes to the best ranking.

The truck is durable and your go-to choice to tackle rough terrains.

Pros

  • The vehicle is very tech-oriented
  • It has a very quick acceleration
  • Powerful engine
  • Fuel or gas economy
  • Exceptional steering and capability

Cons

  • Though it looks huge for smaller-sized people, it may prove difficult to navigate
  •  The tech ad one can prove difficult to navigate

3. Nissan Frontier

Although the Nissan frontier has been in production since the early 2000s, it wasn’t until recently the brand got recognized as one of the best. The Nissan Frontier is one of today’s most compact and advanced pickup trucks.

The frontier has made no secret of targeting the Tacoma dominance. However, Tacoma still has an advantage over it.

Pros

  • V6 engine but packs plenty of power
  • Can take on most truck chores reasonably well
  • The vehicle has a charming vibe

Cons

  • Exterior design is not so great
  • Heavy stirring
  • Uncomfortable seats and dated ride handling

4. Toyota Tacoma

Arguably number one, the Toyota Tacoma is a true off-roader with impeccable pavement driving manners. The brand also has cool features like power driver seats and smartphone connectivity.

The Tacoma comes in six trim levels. The SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro.

Pros

  • The Tacoma has a rugged off-road capability
  • Top-level V6 engine
  • The engine can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission

Cons

  • Poor stirring ability on pavement
  • Tall step-up heights resulting from an off-road emphasis

5. Chevrolet Colorado

The best truck in the pickup category is the Chevrolet Colorado. The truck is well known for its bold aesthetic and durability. With more interior features than most trucks in the pickup category, the Chevrolet Colorado is an all-in-one truck.

The truck also has a high maximum tow rating, a powerful V6 engine, and excellent handling.

Pros

  • Attractive interior and exterior
  • Excellent stirring and handling
  • Powerful engines and great towing capability
  • Great off-road performance and plenty of safety features

Cons

  • The four-cylinder engine is quite noisy
  • It has less in-cab storage capacity than its rivals
  • The interior materials are mediocre

Large or heavy-duty trucks

Large or heavy-duty trucks

Pickup trucks are good, but they are not large or heavy-duty trucks. Heavy-duty trucks are for heavy hauling trucks. They are total workhorses. Heavy-duty trucks are the way to go when you need to move serious cargo or heavy materials.

The heavy-duty truck is favored by construction workers, ranchers, and rail yard workers. Oil rig workers and other jobs where moving large tons of goods are required are big truck fans.

Every day people who love the exterior and monster look of the truck are also truck enthusiasts. Here are the best large or heavy-duty trucks in the market today.

1. Nissan Titan XD

In a category dominated by F-250, RAM, Chevrolet Silverado, and GMC Sierra, the Nissan Titan XD makes the top 5.

The Titan XD can take on the best heavy-duty trucks with its impressive upgrades. However, there are still questions about the engine breakdowns from previous versions.

Pros

  • Powerful V-8 engine.
  • The truck has a comfortable cabin
  • Easy to stir and park
  • The truck has a lot of inbuilt safety features

Cons

  • The vehicle’s simplicity means limited options compared to other heavy-duty vehicles.
  • Although the V8 engine is powerful; it is not reliable. The engine cannot outmuscle the other heavy-duty trucks on the list.
  • Rough ride
  • The designs aren’t as great as other known brands

2. Chevrolet Silverado

The Chevrolet Silverado has always been known for its stout engine performance. Although it is an all-around great heavy-duty truck, the truck falls just short compared to the top three.

While the vehicle feels good to drive, the rough ride can be very bad. It is more than enough to shake you from a really good dream.

Pros

  • The Silverado has a strong and reliable v8 engine
  • Excellent towing ability and very comfortable cabins
  • Great safety features on the Silverado

Cons

  • Fewer high-tech features compared to the competition
  • Does not offer a manual transmission, and the Silverado can be difficult to park
  •  The interior design of the Silverado feels a bit outdated, and there are some cheap materials on the interior.
  • The rough ride can be very bad

3. GMC Sierra

With an industry-first carbon fiber composite bed, the sierra has more cargo bed volume than other competitors. The GMC Sierra has a strong combination of capability, comfort, and performance, making it a strong contender on this list.

The truck may not be a class leader like the top two vehicles on this list, but it is a great all-around truck. Although a few nitpicks, such as plastics, are present in the cabin, the sierra has very few serious flaws.

The truck also comes in a gas or diesel engine variety.

Pros

  • The sierra has a versatile trim level of options, making it appealing to a wide range of buyers.
  • The engine of the GMC sierra generates immense power. It also has multiple engine offerings.
  • The truck is well equipped for off-road action.
  • Intense towing capabilities even for its base models.

Cons

  • To our great disappointment, the sierra has a small cabin
  • The sierra has a bit of a rough ride
  • The lower trims don’t have the best tech features
  • The truck has a poor fuel economy, leaving a lot to be desired

4. Ford super duty 250

The F-150 is great, but the 250 is greater. There are jobs for which the F-150 just isn’t cut out, and that is where the F-250 shines. Making the number 2 on the list, the F-250 edges other trucks in this category, chiefly because of its efficiency and capacity.

The F-250 offers up to 1050ib-ft of torque. However, the ride can be quite bouncy when the bed is empty. It is not surprising, considering the huge ability of the truck.

With its powerful eight-cylinder engine, the F-250 is faster, stronger, and more durable than most other heavy-duty trucks on the list.

Pros

  • The F-250 boasts a powerful array of engine choices
  • Excellent transmission pairing, offering a very smooth ride
  • With the ability to pull an excess of 22,000 pounds, the F-250 boasts an enviable towing abilityux
  • Decent array of infotainment features and different bed options. Buyers can decide between the 6.75-footbed or the 8-footbed.

Cons

  • The F-250 focuses so much on its efficiency, leaving much to be desired of its interior and exterior makeup.
  • Tremor off-road experience
  • The F-250 is quite pricey

5. RAM 2500

The RAM 2500 is beauty meets efficiency. The Ram has the capabilities of other heavy-duty trucks and is also beautifully designed.

The truck comes in either the gasoline V-8 engine or a turbocharged diesel I-6 engine. It also offers smooth transmission.

The Ram is not just the best truck in the market. It is also the most popular heavy-duty truck. However, it can be quite pricey.

Pros

  • The ram 2500 boasts great engine choices for its trims.
  • The ram 2500 also boasts great performance, power, and torque.
  • Impressive towing and hauling abilities. The truck can haul several thousand pounds of tons. Its Auto-level rear air suspension also enhances it.
  • Plenty of cabin room and passenger space.
  • Great stirring and handling.
  • Luxurious and well-designed interior.
  • Great infotainment system and driver-assisted technology

Cons

  • The truck can feel too large
  • Poor fuel economy
  • The base trim models are decently priced. However, the higher-trim models can be very expensive.
  • The diesel engine transmission is not so great and is a bit slower than gasoline engines.

Five Criteria to consider when buying a light or heavy-duty truck

If you are considering buying a truck (light or heavy duty), you have to consider a few criteria or a checklist. Here are some of them.

Engine capability

Typically you want a decent engine on your truck. For light-duty trucks, the V6 engine would ultimately serve you. 

However, there are different models of the V6, some more fuel-efficient than others. Consider this as well.

Towing and hauling capability

Ultimately, you want your trucks to have great towing ability and to be able to haul a decent amount. 

Light-duty trucks and heavy-duty trucks differ greatly in the number of tons they can weigh.

Light-duty trucks can go between 1,000 to 2,000 lbs, while heavy-duty trucks can go between 2,000 to 4,000 lbs or more.

RELATED: Towing Capacity of a Jeep Grand Cherokee

Bed space

The bed space is one of the most important items in your truck. It is what sets your truck apart from other vehicles.

Ideally, you want your truck to have a great bed space or at least a decent bed space.

RELATED: How to Measure Truck Bed for Tonneau Cover

Cab size

Ideally, you want to opt for a decent cab size. The cab size is not a lot for regular pickup trucks. The extended cab sizes often come with rear seats, which are suitable for kids.

The heavy-duty truck cabs usually come with rear seats, and they are sizeable.

Price

Pricing is one of the biggest factors when selecting a truck. Many truck brands have multiple trims with various features or packages with different price ranges.

Conclusion

Trucks are great dual-purpose vehicles aiding individual mobility and hauling. Recently they have been a big part of the car culture, with trucks like the F-150, F-250, RAM 1500, and RAM 2,500 growing in popularity.

The article has listed the top 5 truck brands for both light-duty and heavy-duty trucks. There are other great trucks if you wish to explore more options. These are, however, the recommended top five.

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