Do you get bored of the same ol’ trucks, year after year? Yeah, it can get pretty dull. It’s normally a mix of the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and Chevy Silverado, with a smattering from Nissan, Toyota and Honda. But this year is a little different… or a lot different. We have some new trucks for 2018, and it could present some stiff competition for the stalwarts on the block.
Formerly from the Dodge brand, the Ram 1500 gets a facelift for the 2018 model year. The 2018 Ram 1500 is more aggressive and ruggedly handsome than ever before, unless you consider the Ram Power Wagon. And for the new year, it’s available in a Limited Tungsten edition.
For those who aren’t sure what that means, Ram is defining it as “ultra-luxurious.” Stepping up a notch on the bling, the Tungsten edition pickup has what they’re calling all tungsten chrome pieces. It also receives light-colored suede for its headliner and ooh-la-la light leather seating. Real wood adorns the interior that is fully stocked with all Ram’s goodies.
Uconnect 4C, push button start, in-box storage, and the choice of a 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel or 5.7-liter HEMI engine might make this extremely plush truck a looker. The price tag, however, puts it out of reach for many.
We saw the concept vehicle in 2015 from Hyundai. At the time, there was no commitment to build the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Since then, production has been confirmed and it looks like it’s sooner than later. Expect it later in the 2018 model year.
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The Hyundai Santa Cruz is being called an urban truck. That means it’s essentially an SUV with open cargo-carrying abilities…right? Like the Hyundai Santa Fe, it should be available in several trims, from basic to well-equipped. And like the Santa Fe, its engine choices will be four-cylinder mainly with an optional V6.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz has drawn a lot of attention, and 2018 would be an incredible time to release the truck. Sales are slacking because of slow sedan sales, and a compact pickup truck is the hottest commodity on the market right now.
It’s the centennial celebration for Chevrolet pickup trucks this year. Chevy is making a big deal out of certain parts of it, such as a Chevy Truck Legends Program to honor heritage truck owners. But it looks like they forgot a special Centennial edition truck…
Oh wait, it’s there. There are too many special editions already in the lineup: Redline edition, Black Out edition, Special Ops edition, Rally edition and about six others. The Centennial Edition Silverado gets heritage badges, a spray-in box liner, Centennial Blue paint, 22-inch wheels, chrome trim and a few other bits and pieces.
The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado is still the second-most popular truck in the books right now, and the Centennial Edition might add a few more to its sales tally.
It’s been the best selling truck in North America for decades. And the 2018 Ford F-150 gets a refresh to its design inside and out. It also gets a few extra knick-knacks to go with it.
Cosmetically, Ford doesn’t stray far from its traditional look. The grille is the biggest visual change, and that’s not a departure from last year by much. Inside, a few trims get new leather colors, B&O PLAY Premium Audio System, Wi-Fi connectivity, adaptive cruise control and more.
Under the hood is where Ford did most of the work for the 2018 Ford F-150. The 5.0-liter engine is retooled with direct injection and dual port technology, as well as spray-on bore liner. Most notably, a 3.3-liter V6 is added to the lineup along with a 6-speed automatic transmission. That differs from the 10-speed gearbox they’ve been peddling for the last couple years, although the 6-speed is only for the one engine.
There aren’t any big changes coming in 2018 for the Toyota Tacoma. And that’s all right by me because the Tacoma is one of the best trucks on the market today. If we’re being honest, a full-size pickup is more than most truck owners need in North America. The Toyota Tacoma is the ideal size along with its powerful V6 engine. Forget the four-cylinder though.
The 2018 Toyota Tacoma keeps it up with either the Access Cab or the Double Cab. Again, forget about the Access Cab. Here’s what you want: the 2018 Tacoma Double Cab with the 278-horsepwer 3.5-liter V6 engine, preferably in the TRD or TRD Sport trims. You’ll want the power rear sliding window, Qi-compatible wireless charging dock, the awesome composite bed with 120v outlet, and the moonroof is nice too.
It’s another couple years until the Tacoma will get a redesign. Which makes sense, its current edition leaves extremely little room for improvement.
It’s been just a little over a year since the new Nissan Titan rolled out, and about two for the Titan XD. I’ve personally sung their praises countless times since their release, but the excitement is already dying down. Despite being the sexiest truck (in my opinion), being incredibly capable, and utilizing innovation and technology in unique ways, the Nissan Titan still struggles to be mainstream.
Nonetheless, the 2018 Nissan Titan is going to be impressive. It will reflect the 2017 model year almost exactly – perhaps a color palette update or a feature addition. That’s all right, because it’s loved for the premium leather and wood used inside, the monster sunroof, available heated and cooled seats and steering wheel, decadent leather, and stunning looks.
Like its big brother, the Silverado, the Chevrolet Colorado gets a Centennial Edition to celebrate Chevy’s 100 years of trucks. It’ll get a Centennial Blue paint job, heritage bow tie emblems, a spray-in box liner with heritage bow ties, and a few other things. I’m sure it will be fine, but that’s not why we love the Colorado for 2018.
It’s the same reason we love the 2017 model year Colorado, the diesel engine. It just makes sense for this little pickup. The 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine gets the best fuel efficiency and has phenomenal torque for its size. That’s why it can tow up to 7,700 pounds, almost as much as a full-size truck.
Just whatever you do, don’t select the base or WT trim. You’ll be sorely disappointed by its lack of refinement inside. Go with the ZR2 package for a great offroad-based midsize pickup, but the Z71 and LT trims will do fine also.
When it comes to new trucks, I’m almost tired of talking about the Ridgeline, but it demands attention. I suppose that means it’s earned its place, right? The new design carries into 2018 with the classic pickup truck look mated to an SUV cabin. But Honda realized that 11 trims and configurations was too much, scaling it down to nine for the 2018 model year.
Aside from adding two color choices to the Sport trim, the Ridgeline stays the same. It’s worth mentioning its unique aspects and key points though. They include the dual-action tailgate, the in-bed trunk (lockable, by the way), in-bed audio system, and built-in power inverter. That’s just the box. Inside, there’s an 8-inch Display Audio infotainment system, available leather, sunroof, and an onslaught of Honda’s driver-assistive technologies.
The 2018 Honda Ridgeline is rated at 5,000 pounds for towing and 1,584 pounds for payload. I’m not sure who tested it, but its unibody design feels much too soft and squishy to try those numbers out.
It might be a stretch to throw this on a list of new trucks, but we’re going to roll with it. Mercedes-Benz officially is building a midsize pickup truck, definitively for the European and Asian markets. There’s a good chance it will make its way to North American as well, or at least, we hope, one day.
Like other midsize pickups such as the Honda Ridgeline and Chevrolet Colorado, it appeals to the “lifestyle” truck owner. It’s not for the demographic that plans to haul manure or gravel or tow a utility trailer. It’s going to be decked out in fine leather and contain Mercedes equipment like a GLC-Class might. Think small four-cylinder gas engines or perhaps a diesel option for the Mercedes-Benz X-Class.
You can be quite confident that the price tag will be much higher than other midsize pickups, so don’t expect many to hit the streets in your city.
We know the 2019 Ford Ranger is one of the most anticipated news trucks. It will arrive on the lot sometime in 2018, but we get a little teaser beforehand. That midsize pickup will have a prequel, the 2018 Ford Ranger Raptor. We just don’t know what it will look like yet.
You’ve been drooling over the F-150 Raptor for years. But while we’ve been focused on the big dog, an ankle-biter has been in development. It’s the same Baja-inspired heritage as the big brother, but in a smaller package.
Deets will remain scarce on the Ford Ranger Raptor until closer to its unveiling. Just know, until that time, that it’s going to be faster than anything else its size, stronger than the average full-size pickup, and actually able to go off-road without fear of getting stuck or broken.
All right, we’re going to give the some of the rumored trucks some space here. There’s a chance you may see these on the street sometime later next year. Maybe.
It has had the stale, archaic design for years, and we hoped it was going to be a redesign for 2018. Instead, we’ll deal with the boring “most affordable pickup in the United States” for another year. It’s fully expected that, during the 2018 calendar year, we’ll see the brand new 2019 Nissan Frontier. It’s years later than it should be, but it will be welcomed nonetheless.
Like most midsize or compact pickups, the new release is expected to have at least one diesel engine option. It’s not a stretch for the Nissan Frontier, which once used a 2.8-liter diesel in the engine bay. Fancy tech that you see in the Murano and Titan will make its way into the Nissan Frontier. That includes around view monitor, adaptive cruise control and intelligent climate control to state a few.
The Nissan Frontier has staked its claim on true full-frame ruggedness. Combined with Bilstein shocks and the PRO-4X edition, it’s been a good truck despite its age. Should the 2019 Nissan Frontier abandon these foundational components, you can kiss Frontier sales goodbye.
We’re getting futuristic with our new trucks now. This one is going head to head with Tesla. This crazy Canadian startup has successfully developed a fully-electric pickup truck that’s capable of traveling up to 185 miles on a single charge. The Havelaar Bison uses a dual-motor design that creates an all-wheel-drive experience that only uses electric power. And unlike other electric cars, this one has been designed with harsh climate conditions in mind.
It’s not the prettiest truck around, but it sure sounds functional. It’s purely speculation that it will be released in the coming year. The website allows for users to reserve their Havelaar Bison, but there’s no information on pricing, options, or specifications. I’d love to see it actually hit the roads soon, though.
Elon Musk announced earlier this year that he expects a Tesla pickup truck on the road within two years. That means either a 2018 or 2019 model, and it could be the rumored Tesla Model U or Model P.
It’s a unique proposition for the truck market that oh-so-faithfully supports the fossil-fuel suppliers. An electric pickup truck would be a stretch for blue collar America. Will they patiently wait for their truck to recharge, or will they opt for a truck that takes 10 minutes to fuel at the pump?
The argument for performance is intriguing. The truck bed can be deeper because the traditional drive shaft and differential don’t exist to interfere. Electric motors provide more efficient and direct torque. And there are no tailpipe emissions to pollute farmlands. It could offer unparalleled power in a small pickup, perhaps like the Model X’s 259-horsepower front motor and 503-horsepower rear motor.
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