10 Great Trucks That Deserve More Attention

2021 Honda Ridgeline ・ Photo by Honda

Americans love their trucks. Simply look over the best-sellers list and you’ll get ample proof of this... The three top-selling vehicles in America last year were all full-size pickup trucks — the Ford F-Series, the RAM pickup line, and the Chevrolet Silverado. The top-selling mid-size pickup truck, the Toyota Tacoma, is no stranger to anybody, either. It often cracks the top 10 list, and others in its segment are also extremely popular vehicles overall.

So the bright light of pickup trucks is not being hidden under a bushel. That said, some trucks on the market deserve more attention than they get. They offer great utility, excellent cargo-carrying ability, and laudable quality. Very often they are exceptional values, albeit not quite as visible as the hottest-selling nameplates in the nation. If you’re considering a pickup this year, here are 10 great trucks that deserve more attention.

2021 Nissan Titan XD

Nissan has been in the full-size pickup truck game for a long time now, and the brand boasts a strong truck heritage with its popular Frontier mid-size pickup that has had a long life of its own.

For those looking for a truck with heavy-duty capabilities, the Titan XD fits the bill. Built on a unique chassis compared to the standard Titan full-size pickup, the XD has an extended 151.6-inch wheelbase; that’s about 15 inches longer than the Titan Crew Cab. It also has a 6.5-foot bed. The XD also features heavier-duty brakes and suspension and an integrated gooseneck hitch for trailering. It has a five-passenger Crew Cab body configuration and is 4x4 only. It’s available in S, SV, PRO-4X, SL, and Platinum Reserve trim levels. The Titan’s powertrain employs a 5.6-liter V8 that produces 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque coupled with a nine-speed automatic.

Photo by Nissan

2021 GMC Sierra

The GMC Sierra is a near-twin of the Chevrolet Silverado full-size pickup truck. From an engineering and features standpoint, it is very mainstream. And just like the Chevy Silverado, it was recently remade almost completely.

For 2021, the Sierra offers increased trailering with the 2.7-liter turbo and 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engines. The camera trailering technologies have been upgraded and now include Trailer Length Indicator, Jack-Knife Alert, Cargo Bed View Enhancement, Rear Trailer View with Trailer-Angle Indicator, and Rear Side View enhancement. The truck now offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The Sierra is also offered in specialty AT4 (off-road-oriented) and Denali (luxury-oriented) editions. A 10-speed automatic is available with the 6.2-liter V8 and the 5.3-liter V8 in some four-wheel-drive models.

Photo by General Motors

2021 Ram 1500 Classic

The Ram 1500 Classic is the previous generation of the Ram 1500 full-size pickup. It has remained in production as a value-oriented offering. The lowest-priced Tradesman trim level of the 1500 Classic is about $4,000 less expensive than the least expensive Tradesman model of the current-generation Ram 1500, but it has plenty of capabilities.

The standard engine in the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic is a 305-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, and a 395-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 is optional. Both engines are backed by eight-speed automatic transmissions, and rear-drive and four-wheel-drive versions are available. As you’d guess, the 1500 Classic doesn’t offer all the amenities and modern design of the current-generation Ram 1500. However, the model packs a punch in terms of value. 

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2021 Toyota Tundra

The Toyota Tundra has not been able to break into the Big 3 in full-size pickup truck sales, but it keeps satisfying its customers. Though it has been more than a decade since the truck was completely redesigned, that will change with the 2022 model.

In contrast to the Big 3 trucks that offer a number of powertrain choices, the Tundra has just one — a 5.7-liter V8 that produces 381 horsepower. It’s teamed with a reliable six-speed automatic transmission. The Tundra is a great choice if you are graduating in size from the extremely popular Toyota Tacoma pickup because the two trucks share a similar feel. For 2021, Toyota introduced the Tundra Trail Special Edition. Available in both rear-drive and 4-wheel-drive versions, the Tundra Trail is based on the SR5 CrewMax with SR5 Upgrade package. It offers a 38-gallon fuel tank, front bucket seats with driver’s power lumbar support, front center console, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, three front cupholders, and an anti-theft system with alarm and engine immobilizer.

Photo by Toyota

2021 GMC Canyon

The 2021 GMC Canyon is the twin of the more popular Chevrolet Colorado mid-size pickup. It’s a handy size that is much more maneuverable and garageable than full-size pickups. The Canyon is positioned to be a slightly more upscale version of the Colorado, but aside from its top Denali trim, that’s not especially apparent.

Three engine choices are available — a 200-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a 308-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, and a 181-horsepower 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel. The two four-cylinder engines have six-speed automatic transmissions, while the V6 has an eight-speed automatic. The availability of the diesel engine is a rare and appreciated feature in the segment, especially since the diesel is refined and full of torque. Also nice is the cargo bed with two-tier loading and 13 tie-down points and an available heated steering wheel. A Driver Alert safety package is standard on Denali and available on Elevation and AT4 trims. It includes forward collision alert and lane departure warning.

Photo by GMC

2021 Ford Ranger

The Ranger was a fixture in the Ford lineup for years, but then Ford dropped the model before changing course and bringing it back. That’s the reason it’s on this list of trucks that deserve more attention.

With a high-strength steel frame and a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder boasting 270 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, the Ranger is available in either SuperCab or SuperCrew configurations. It can be purchased in 4x2 or 4x4 configurations, and it comes in three trim levels – XL, XLT, and Lariat. Available Chrome, Sport, and STX appearance packages enable buyers to customize their rides. For 2021, the new STX Special Edition package and Black package get new black Ford ovals and darker box decals.

Photo by Ford

2021 Nissan Frontier

It’s time to say goodbye to an old friend. Nissan has been teasing Frontier fans with the promise of an all-new model for years now, and 2022 is the year. But in the meantime, Nissan fitted an all-new V6 engine into the old chassis for a last hurrah.

The chassis has been used for well over a decade, which speaks to how good it is. The new 310-horsepower direct-injection V6 in the 2021 model replaces the previous 152-horsepower four-cylinder and 261-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 engine choices. The new engine is mated with a standard nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous five-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmissions. Other upgrades for the outgoing high-value model include standard push-button start, a leather shift knob, a tilt-adjustable steering column, power door locks, and power windows with driver-side auto-down.

Photo by Nissan

2021 Honda Ridgeline

The Honda Ridgeline mid-size truck has found its own “white space” by being totally unconventional. While most pickup trucks look and act like pickup trucks, the Ridgeline doesn’t. And it flaunts its unconventional nature.

Based on an all-purpose chassis that supports other Honda products as well, the Ridgeline boasts the best ride quality and handling in the mid-size truck segment. To obtain those pluses, it does give up some utility and cargo-hauling capabilities. The previous generation of the Ridgeline was very unusual-looking in a class that is filled with buyers who like conventional looks, so the current model has been styled to look more truck-like. But when you see a Ridgeline sitting next to, say, a Toyota Tacoma, you realize the differences. The Ridgeline’s interior is a step up from many of its mid-size competitors. The single powerplant is a 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivers 280 horsepower.

Photo by Honda

2020 Ram 2500/3500

The Ford and Chevrolet heavy-duty pickup trucks have held top positions for a long time, but Ram is making waves with its new line of 2500 and 3500 models. The Ram 3500 Heavy Duty is the most powerful pickup in the segment with a towing capacity of a staggering 35,100 pounds and a payload capacity of 7,680 pounds. The Ram 2500 can tow up to 19,780 pounds.

The available 6.7-liter Cummins inline six-cylinder turbodiesel engine produces an unheard of 1,000 lb-ft of peak torque. The 6.4-liter V8 is no slouch either with 410 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque. Inside, the Ram Heavy Duties take their cues from the Ram 1500 in providing luxury-sedan-like interior comfort and amenities. Superior ride comfort and handling are accomplished via a class-exclusive link-coil rear suspension system in the 2500. Rear air suspension is optional in both 2500 and 3500.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2021 Ram Power Wagon

The Ram Power Wagon brings new technology to a legendary old name. The Dodge Power Wagon was a vintage truck of uncommon capabilities. Now the current Power Wagon is driven by the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, and it boasts a unique suspension system. Both contribute to its claim of being the most capable production off-road pickup truck.

The Power Wagon has best-in-class gas engine power. The beefy V8 delivers 410 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 429 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. It features variable-valve timing (VVT) with Fuel Saver Technology cylinder deactivation. For 2021, the Ram Power Wagon is offered in a 75th Anniversary Edition that celebrates the history of the iconic 4x4 pickup truck. It features a unique grille, 75th Anniversary badging, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, and a premium leather-lined interior. The Stellantis “Off-Road Pages” now available on Power Wagon show ride height, transfer-case position, pitch and roll, and accessory gauges.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles