Best Pickup Truck: 13 Top Models in America Ranked

Truck owners are a devoted bunch. Tell somebody that a different truck is better than the one they drive and you're liable to end up in a fist fight. Still, trying to determine the best pickup truck of 2017 is irresistible.Feel free to argue and make your voice heard for your opinion of the best pickup truck this year, but this is our run down.13. 2017 Chevrolet ColoradoThere’s little doubt the bowtie-wearing Colorado is the nerd of the truck world in North America. It’s a midsize pickup that could be mistaken for a compact. That is, unless you choose the beefier trim, the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado Z71. Anything less than that will leave you itching for your first opportunity to trade it in for a real truck. And yet, it is always one of the best selling pickup trucks year in and year out.A 200-horsepower, 191 lb-ft 2.5-liter engine is the base power plant, and it’s insufferably soft. The 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel might not sound much better at 181 horsepower, but 369 lb-ft of torque makes up for it. The standard Z71 engine is a 3.6-liter V6 with 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque, making it the most capable of the bunch.Inside, the Colorado is blah at best. MyLink with voice recognition and available navigation is great and all, but the comfort is sadly lacking. Compared to a real truck, you fold yourself into the cab, only to question why you didn’t just bite the bullet for something more.12. 2017 Nissan FrontierThe Nissan Frontier was once a great competitor in the field. Its 261-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 was included in most packages save for a few 2WD trims that received a four-cylinder. And the fact that it’s a body-on-frame midsize truck gives it true truck-like abilities. Available Bilstein suspension is a good touch, and the PRO-4X package was among the best for value and performance.But the 2017 Nissan Frontier is a relic – an ancient artifact too dated to be in the running for best pickup truck. It’s so overdue for a redesign that new units on the lot look like old trucks. The interior is unforgivable for 2017 with a heavy plastic feel, and totally devoid of driver assist options. Despite all it’s good stuff, there’s no way the Nissan Frontier can rank any higher than second to last on our quest to the best pickup truck.11. 2017 GMC SierraIf 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 DutyFor 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 TacomaIf 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.8. 2017 RAM 1500This is bound to get some flack but the 2017 Ram 1500 really is a middle-of-the-road model. It does many things well but isn’t a stand-out performer in any one category. One of the best things about the 2017 Ram 1500 is its wide range of configurations and trims. Available in 2WD or 4WD, in regular Cab, Crew Cab, or Quad Cab, and with a 5’7”, 6’4”, or 8-foot box, it’s a model that can fit most needs.The interior is trimmed big and chunky like a truck should be. The Uconnect system is less impressive than other brands, but otherwise it’s good looking and durable. But a truck needs to perform well, and the 2017 Ram 1500 can satisfy. The base engine is a 305-horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, but the star of the show is the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. The other intriguing choice is the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 240 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. It is the most fuel efficient truck, and it doesn't sacrifice much performance.7. 2017 Toyota TundraIt’s mind-blowing that the Toyota Tundra doesn’t sell better, the Tundra is pretty awesome all the way around. Many would call it the best pickup truck on the road. There are the gorgeous looks that include chrome trim, a chunky hood and classic truck lines. It has an interior that makes you feel like a man’s man – a pistol-grip shifter, comfortable seating, a massive center console lid-slash armrest, and available detailed leatherwork on the seats and dash. It can be jazzed up several notches with a moonroof and more in the 1794 Edition or Platinum trim.Its base engine is a 310-horsepower 4.6-liter V8, but you’re more likely to find the iForce 5.7-liter V8 engine under most hoods. It’s rock solid, especially paired with Toyota’s 4WD system. What you may not love so much about the Toyota Tundra is the fuel mileage, even on the smaller engine. In the case of the 2017 Toyota Tundra, you pay to play.6. 2017 GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado HDAgain, there’s nothing inherently wrong with GM’s HD trucks from either Chevrolet or GMC. When it comes down to brass tacks, there are just trucks that are better overall in our pursuit of best pickup truck. I mean, who can really argue with the durability of a Duramax 6.6-liter V8 turbo diesel engine, especially when it’s rated at 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque? Even the gas jobber is decent – a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 with 360 ponies and 380 lb-ft of torque.It looks clean and pretty with standard chrome bits, or it can be built with body-color trim. The interior is quite impressive for a working-class truck. Angular dash trim and a pretty good MyLink infotainment system give credence to Chevy and GMC’s attention to detail, and available leather interiors are the cat’s meow. Real-world work tests really do say it all, though. Payload is 3,534 pounds and max trailering capacity with a Duramax model is 14,400 pounds. Gotta love it.5. 2017 Ford F-Series Super DutyLook, the Ford Super Duty pickups are polarizing in a few ways. You either love or hate the looks, and you’re either drawn to or despise the class-exclusive aluminum body that it now has. Even with an opinionated audience, there’s no way to avoid considering the Ford F-Series Super Duty as the best pickup truck.Personally, that wide grille is stunning to me, and the new headlight design is cool. There are awesome features that set it apart from the crowd including Trailer Reverse Guidance and driver assist features you won’t find in other HD truck lines.Most impressive is the engine lineup. The V8 gas engine is a 6.2-liter with 385 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, and that’s all right. The better choice is Ford’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel, though, making 440 horsepower and a best-in-class 925 lb-ft of torque. You’ll have a very hard time convincing me that it’s not the best HD truck based simply on its 21,000-pound max towing capacity.4. 2017 Chevrolet SilveradoYou won’t find one in my driveway, but the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado is undeniably popular and a contender for best pickup truck. Whether it’s because of brand loyalty, fairly attractive looks, a well-done interior, or the vast range of trims from base to luxury, people keep buying the Silverado. In fact, last year alone more than 500,000 Chevy Silverado pickups hit the streets.Let’s recap the good things about it: good infotainment available with Chevy’s MyLink system, engine options that range from 285 to 420 horsepower, decent fuel efficiency ratings, and class-leading max towing of 12,500 pounds. And while I’m forced to consider the fact that so many people like and buy the Silverado, I just personally don’t see its appeal.3. 2017 Honda RidgelineControversially placed in the top three is the 2017 Honda Ridgeline. Why is it controversial, you ask? It’s a pickup truck that’s not only unibody but available in front wheel drive. But don’t just take my word for it – the Honda Ridgeline is the 2017 Motor Trend Truck of the Year.It’s a more modest design than the previous generation, abandoning the side stanchions. But it has the good stuff from before plus much more. The in-bed trunk and dual-action tailgate are still awesome many years later, and the in-bed audio system and inverter are top-notch available features.As a truck, it’s not up to the same performance standards as V8 models or diesels. Its 3.5-liter, 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 is powerful enough for the common driver, and the i-VTM4 AWD system makes it feel like a true 4WD truck in its performance. You’ll get better fuel mileage than the other pigs. Just please don’t choose the front-wheel-drive only version if you have any self-respect at all.2. 2017 Nissan TitanOn the other hand, the 2017 Nissan Titan is the 2017 Truck Trend Truck of the Year. It does so on its brute strength and muscular abilities, not to mention its absolutely stunning looks. Anyone who knows me also knows that it’s my personal fave.The gas-powered Endurance 5.6-liter V8 makes 390 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque, making it capable of towing up to 9,440 pounds. Look to the Titan XD, though, and its Cummins 5.0-liter turbo diesel engine and you’ll get 310 horsepower and 555 lb-ft of torque. That gives you up to 12,640 pounds of towing capacity and a thrilling drive.I love the looks of the 2017 Titan. An Around View Monitor, two-tone leather seats, modern interior design, and its extremely quiet ride are just a few reasons. I won’t gush too much, but try the Nissan Titan for yourself. You might think it's the best pickup truck out there.1. 2017 Ford F-150It’s unquestionably the best pickup truck for 2017. The 2017 Ford F-150 is by far the top-selling pickup as well, retailing more than 820,000 units (including Super Duty) for all of 2016. That’s almost a quarter million more trucks in a year than the Silverado. And that’s in spite of all the aluminum-body controversy.The 2017 Ford F-150 looks great on the outside with bold lighting, a massive front grille, and some fantastic trim level choices that include King Ranch and Platinum trims. The appearance on the inside is just as nice, and the techie features back it up well. There’s the SYNC 3 infotainment with advanced voice recognition, Trailer Backup Assist, an outstanding 8-inch in-cluster LCD productivity screen, and a 360-degree camera with split view mode.Like all the others, performance is what it boils down to. The range-topping 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine has 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. Paired with the new 10-speed automatic transmission, it’s smooth when it needs to be and a rocket when you want it to be. Of course, 4WD is an important feature to choose as well.Related Video:

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