11. 2017 GMC Sierra
If you’re a GMC Sierra fan, I feel the need to apologize. The Sierra really is a great truck. The problem is, the rest of the trucks on this list are just better in one way or another. The 2017 GMC Sierra has power in the 5.3-liter EcoTec V8 or the 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8. The 4WD system is impressive, and the interior is comfortable. The exterior is stylish, dressed up with chrome trim and accessories. The Elevation, All Terrain and Denali trims are quite fancy at times, especially with body-color accents and blacked-out wheels.
But the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 is, sorry to say, redundant. Aside from some styling cues, it’s the same truck as the 2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 – a sibling that outsells it by 2.5 to 1. Granted, more than 200,000 GMC Sierra 1500 pickups hit the streets of the USA in 2016. There’s just no need to compete with its sister truck, the Silverado.
10. 2017 Ram Heavy Duty
For the purpose of rating the best pickup truck in America, the 2017 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 have been lumped together. And it’s at this point that trucks begin to ascend in both opinion and quality. The 2017 Ram Heavy Duty is available in the gas-powered Hemi engine, but please just spring for the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel. That’s what sets this bad boy apart. Its 900 lb-ft of torque enables the 2017 Ram 2500/3500 to tow a maximum of 31,210 pounds, making one of the most powerful diesel trucks out there.
Visually, the Ram 2500/3500 is attractive and comes in the hardworking configurations you need for tough jobs. An 8-foot box with the MegaCab for example – that’s meant for some serious action. The 2017 Ram Heavy Duty just doesn’t have widespread appeal like other trucks might. And its infotainment system, Dodge’s Uconnect package, isn’t anything to write home about.
9. 2017 Toyota Tacoma
If you want a midsize truck with the abilities of a full-size model, think Tacoma. But don’t even consider the 2.7-liter four-cylinder model unless you don’t care about performance at all. It’s the V6 Tacoma, the 3.5-liter with 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque, that you’ll want to buy. You’ll need the extra horsepower if you want to put the 4WD system to the test.
The TRD Sport and TRD PRO trims are a definite game-changer for the Toyota Tacoma. Offering a truck that is designed to play hard on and off the road is appealing to a wide variety of truck buyers. The 2017 Tacoma can tow up to 6,400 pounds too. The only downside for the Tacoma is its payload abilities. While it can handle the weight, the truck bed is a shallower design, so less cargo will fit. But it’s a marginal difference for most buyers, especially when you consider it is one of the most low maintenance vehicles out there.
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