10 Trucks With the Best Resale Value

2020 GMC Sierra AT4 ・ Photo by GMC

It’s easy to compare prices when you’re ready to buy a new truck. But when it’s time to pay for it, there’s another big factor to consider: the resale value of your old truck. The more your old truck is worth, the more money you can put toward your new one. Even if you’re planning to keep your truck until it falls apart, a higher resale value will help you out if your circumstances change or the vehicle is written off by an insurance company. 

That’s why we’re highlighting 10 trucks with the best resale value, meaning the percentage of their original value they retain when it’s time to resell them later. Various researchers calculate resale value in different ways, and our selections (listed in approximately descending order) reflect the general consensus among different sources. Any new vehicle, especially an expensive pickup truck, will depreciate over its lifetime. But these should retain the greatest percentage of their value.  

1. 2021 Toyota Tacoma

Toyota holds a dominant position in the mid-size pickup truck segment, and a reputation for reliability and longevity is key to this success. And because reliability and longevity are exactly what used-pickup buyers are looking for, they’re willing to pay a premium for a used Tacoma. 

That’s great news if you buy one new. Not only do you get the perks of a factory warranty, two years or 24,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance, and the other advantages of buying a new truck, but you also won’t take as much of a depreciation hit. The Tacoma is also loaded with advanced safety features, and Toyota recently added a power-adjustable driver’s seat that makes it easier for taller folks to get comfortable behind the wheel. This still isn’t an especially quick or spacious truck — even for a mid-size pickup — but plenty of folks will be eager to buy it once you’re ready to move on. Prices for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma start at $26,400. 

Photo by Toyota

2. 2021 Toyota Tundra

The 2021 Toyota Tundra is far from the best-selling full-size pickup among folks who buy brand-new vehicles. That’s not too surprising. This truck doesn’t have the cutting-edge advances in technology, driving dynamics, capability, and fuel economy that define its more popular competitors. 

But since Toyota hasn’t changed this truck much since 2007, it has developed an excellent reliability record. There’s no experimentation here. And that makes the Tundra a hot item on the used market. And you’re not getting a complete throwback, either; this is still a spacious, comfortable luxury liner compared with pickups of 20 years ago. And it’s loaded with advanced safety features that cost extra on many competitors. Not only will the Tundra fetch a good price on the used market, but it’s also relatively affordable for a half-ton pickup when it’s new; prices start at $34,025 for a nicely equipped model. Get ready for Toyota to reinvent the Tundra soon, though — a complete redesign for 2022 will bring the vehicle up to date, yet without a proven reliability record.

Photo by Toyota

3. 2021 GMC Sierra HD

Ultra-capable heavy-duty pickup trucks command a premium on the used market, and the 2021 GMC Sierra HD is among them. While it’s mechanically identical to the 2500 and 3500 versions of the Chevrolet Silverado, the Sierra has different styling and typically higher resale values. 

The latest Sierra is packed with features that will make it desirable for years to come. Certain configurations can tow as much as 36,000 pounds. Available “invisible trailer” cameras show the driver what’s happening out of their views while towing. And like other giant pickups, the Sierra HD is comfortable in addition to hardworking. You can get the same benefits in the Silverado HD, but when you’re ready to sell it, used buyers are expected to pay extra for the GMC. The Sierra HD starts at $36,200.

Photo by General Motors

4. 2021 Ram HD

Today’s Ram pickups have become the most opulent and most comfortable on the market, and that includes the heavy-duty models. At the same time, it’s available with up to 1,075 pound-feet of torque and the ability to tow a 37,100-pound trailer. 

The Ram HD is a big, burly truck that’s finished like a luxury hotel. Elegant yet sturdy materials cover every surface of its upper trim levels, and you can get a reconfigurable 12-inch infotainment touchscreen running down the middle of the dashboard. This is a benefit the Ram HD shares with smaller half-ton Ram 1500 trucks, which are less expensive and easier to drive. But when you need maximum capability, the HD delivers — and when you’re ready to sell, it’s predicted to hold its value more than the 1500. Prices start at $35,425. 

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

5. 2021 Ford F-Series Super Duty

The Ford F-Series is America’s favorite pickup truck. The lineup is best known for the half-ton F-150, but it also includes the Super Duty: the F-250, F-350, and F-450 models. And those are the F-Series trucks with the best resale value. 

The F-150 was heavily updated this year with changes that include a new dashboard with fancier materials and a bigger touchscreen. The Super Duty is still more like last year’s model, a problem if you want the latest and the greatest. (The bigger screen arrives for 2022.) But there’s still plenty to like about this capable yet comfortable truck. Its available diesel makes 1,050 pound-feet of torque and allows a towing capacity of up to 37,000 pounds. The 2021 F-Series Super Duty is priced from $34,950. 

Photo by Ford

6. 2021 Jeep Gladiator

Jeep’s off-road legend, the Wrangler SUV, is famous for holding its value. It’s a timeless vehicle that eschews modern norms for comfort and quietness; instead, it focuses on a rowdy character, outright capability, and a plethora of unique special editions.

You can get the same flavor in the more recently introduced Jeep Gladiator pickup, and you can expect similarly impressive resale value. The ability to remove the roof and doors will never go out of style, and you can’t get those features on any other pickup. The Gladiator can be frightfully expensive for a mid-size pickup, with the 2021 model starting at $34,040 despite limited standard equipment. But on the flip side, you’ll retain a relatively high percentage of its value over the years. 

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

7. 2021 Ford Ranger

The 2021 Ford Ranger is a mid-size pickup that’s most notable (and desirable) for its excellent engine. Part of Ford’s “EcoBoost” line of turbocharged engines, this 2.3-liter four-cylinder makes 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It’s among the quickest truck in its class, yet also among the most economical. And this engine is standard equipment on all trim levels. 

The Ranger’s decently roomy interior and widely available safety and infotainment features are other perks. In general, this is a well-rounded truck. And we’d be surprised if the market disagrees in a few years when you’re ready to trade in your Ranger. Prices start at $25,070. 

Photo by Ford

8. 2021 Ford F-150

We mentioned the redesigned 2021 Ford F-150 earlier, and it’s also predicted to hold its value well. The F-150 has established itself as the most technologically advanced half-ton pickup, as an early adopter of turbocharged engines (in this case, a range of EcoBoost V6s), weight-saving aluminum body panels, and — new this year — a gas-electric hybrid powertrain that lets the truck operate as a generator on wheels. A fully electric F-150 Lightning is also expected to be among the first all-electric pickups to hit the market when it goes on sale next year, too. 

All this means that Ford has figured out how to make the F-150 relatively economical without sacrificing power or capability, and whether they’re buying new or used, customers are on board. The F-150 is also now widely available with advanced safety features and a huge 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Other clever new features include the ability to convert the center console into a workstation table. Other trucks may follow the F-150’s innovations, but for now, it’s forecast to command a premium on the used market. The 2021 F-150 starts at $29,290. 

Photo by Ford

9. 2021 GMC Sierra 1500

As with the HD versions of General Motors’ biggest pickups, the half-ton 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 has a higher projected resale value than its mechanical twin, the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. 

Both trucks have a range of four-, six-, and eight-cylinder engines, which include a torquey yet fuel-efficient V6 turbodiesel. The Sierra and Silverado don’t match the Ram 1500 for interior decor or ride quality, or the F-150’s jumbo infotainment screen, standard safety features, or (except for the diesel) excellent gas mileage. But it’s another worthy option in this segment that holds its value well. And unless you’re dedicated to certain hard-to-find features like automatic emergency braking, it can be a solid deal. Sierra 1500 prices start at $30,100. 

Photo by GMC

10. 2021 Ram 1500

The 2021 Ram 1500 doesn’t lead the half-ton pickup segment for its hardcore capability. But like its competitors, it’s mightier than most buyers will need. And it’s a leader for luxury and comfort. 

The Ram’s suspension (on most models) is engineered for a relatively smooth ride, and it gets even cushier on models with the optional air suspension. It’s a far cry from the brash, brawny Rams of a couple decades ago. And the interior is luxury-sedan gorgeous without sacrificing functionality. We also think the new 702-horsepower TRX model is a future collector’s item, miserable gas mileage or not. The Ram 1500 is priced from $33,225.   

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles