Learn which three mid-sizer trucks are currently vying for top honors on the consumer market.
With the current trend toward bigger, better, flashier, more luxurious, and therefore budget-breaking full-size pickup trucks, many consumers are looking to the impressive cast of versatile and reliable rides on the mid-size market to satisfy their truck craving.
Here, we examine our top 3 picks in the market, based on pricing, features, reliability, and performance. Whether you need a truck for work or play, we’ve got a cornucopia of information to help you make a confident decision as to which mid-size truck is best for you.
Chevrolet Colorado
Completely redesigned for 2023, the Chevy Colorado joins our list of top picks to click for many reasons. Not only does it drive well and handle with ease, but it also looks great, tows like a champ, and is loaded with some pretty upscale tech.
Plus, with a starting MSRP of $29,200, it has a price tag that won’t nauseate you. (Though, you can spend quite a bit more if you want, as the tricked-out ZR2 model goes for $46,800.)
Engine
In the power department, the Colorado offers a turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four engine that offers three separate levels of power based on trim.
Work Truck and LT models feature a standard 237 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque, while the Z71 and Trail Boss trims step up to a 2.7L Turbo Plus, good for 310 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The off-road-ready ZR2 option wears a 2.7L Turbo High-Output engine which yields the same 310 hp, but offers a serious 430 lb-ft of torque.
All trims come with an 8-speed automatic transmission and the Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2 models come with 4WD standard.
Towing & Payload
The least power-packed engine on the Colorado brings in a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, while the more powerful Turbo Plus pulls up to 7,700 pounds – the best in the segment.
Where payload is concerned, the ZR2 can handle 1,151 pounds of off-grid kit, the Trail Boss and Z71 models can manage up to 1,587 pounds, and the aptly named Work Truck can heft up to 1,684 pounds.
Interior & Exterior
The new Colorado features sleeker and more modern styling than its bulkier, slightly awkward predecessor. Offered only as a 4-door crew cab with a single bed length, there are three distinct chassis setups underlying the different trims. They provide between 7.9 and 10.7 inches of ground clearance, as well as a 3.1-inch-longer wheelbase than the former Crew Cab/short box model.
This is a truck, so we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the bed. Chevy ups the ante with class-leading functionality out back. Eight fixed tie-downs come standard, with up to nine other moveable points, as well as cycle grooves in the front wall, bed pockets, a 120-volt outlet, and an adjustable mid-position tailgate.
Inside that tailgate is the segment’s first built-in tailgate storage solution. The lockable lid hides a 45-inch-wide and 4-inch-deep water-tight compartment with drain. It comes standard on the ZR2, and is available as an upgrade on the other models.
The Colorado sports a vastly improved interior, that is also tailored to complement each trim level. The badge’s reputation for work-ready and functional appointments remains, but with some refined elements sneaking on scene. Most notable among these is the standard (and class-leading) 11.3-inch-diagonal color infotainment touchscreen.
Ford Ranger
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, capable, classic-looking choice, the Ford Ranger fits the bill. Starting at $27,400, it comes in as one of the most affordable mid-size trucks on the market and doesn’t sacrifice the things that matter most — towing capacity, performance, and fuel economy — in order to do so.
However, be aware that Ford is raising that price as the Ranger enters its fifth generation with a total redesign for the 2024 model year. The new Ranger gets bolder exterior styling and a modernized interior, while a more powerful twin-turbo V-6 joins the lineup of available equipment upgrades.
Whether you choose to wait for the redesign or stick it out with the current model, both options exemplify what we like most about the Ranger: a straightforward, no-nonsense vibe.
This isn’t a mid-sizer that sweeps you off your feet and elicits butterflies in your gut every time you open the garage door. But with sharp looks, ample hustle and respectable grunt, it lives up to the legacy of a good ol’ American Ford.
Engine
The Ranger features a turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine that pushes out a respectable 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It’s got a 10-speed automatic transmission with RWD standard and an optional 4WD upgrade. These numbers are not expected to change for 2024, though the new available V-6 will make 315 hp.
Towing & Payload
With the optional Trailer Tow package, the Ranger’s towing capability is nicely competitive at 7,500 pounds. Payload is also impressive at 1,860 pounds, though that drops slightly to 1,805 for 2024.
Interior & Exterior
One thing the Ranger does lose some love over is its suspension, which is great for work, but less comfortable and forgiving for off-road excursions and playtime. However, it offers responsive steering and an easy-going drive. Plus, if you dive in and opt for the Tremor Off-Road package that’s available on the XLT and Lariat SuperCrew, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how it adds a level of comfort over the standard setup.
While 2023 and earlier models are available in SuperCab and SuperCrew, the 2024 Ranger only comes in one flavor: a crew cab with four full-size doors and a 5-foot bed. You can add some great personalization to your Ranger, though, as Ford offers a bevy of appearance packages and optional goodies.
The interior of the Ranger also loses a little love for being somewhat less luxurious than its competitors. (Again, the allure here is its utilitarianism.) Ford addresses this perceived deficiency, though, by incorporating better-grade materials in the 2024 model, along with clever storage solutions and more digital surfaces.
Toyota Tacoma
Starting at $28,250, the highly competitive Toyota Tacoma boasts impressive reliability and an almost shocking resale value. A pillar of the Toyota brand, it’s extremely popular and consistently ranked as one of the top-selling and top-performing mid-size trucks on the market.
With plenty of options, including two cab sizes, two engines, two transmissions, two bed lengths, and seven trim levels, the name of the game is customization. You can get pretty much anything you want on the Tacoma, but be careful, the choices can quickly get overwhelming -- and your budget blown faster than the candles on a birthday cake.
The Tacoma also gets a generational redesign for 2024, but unlike its competitors keeps that Cheesecake Factory menu of options. New models feature two cab and bed configurations, automatic or manual transmissions, eight trim options including a dedicated overlanding treatment, and three versions of a new 2.4-liter turbo four.
Engine
Speaking of that engine, it’s a big improvement over the outgoing model. Good for 228 hp and 243 lb.-ft. of torque in the base version, it pumps out 70 more horsepower than the 2023 model’s 2.7-liter 4-cylinder.
Those buyers looking at trims above the SR will enjoy higher-output i-FORCE engine variations: a 278-hp turbo four that makes 317 lb.-ft of torque, and a 326-hp strong hybrid setup pushing out 465 lb-ft of torque.
Yes, that means the 3.6L V6 is gone, so if you’re looking for that more traditional power, you’ll need to stick with a 2023 or older model.
Toyota keeps a six-speed manual transmission option for 2024, much to many purists’ delight. However, it is only available on the SR, TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road trims where it produces 270 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. Don’t fret, automatic-only buyers. Toyota upgraded its outgoing sluggish gearbox with a new eight-speed auto.
Towing & Payload
The Tacoma isn’t quite the workhorse as its American counterparts above, as even at its most well-equipped, it only tows up to 6,800 pounds. Payloads range from 1,050 to 1,685 lbs, depending on setup, but that’s expected to increase for 2024.
Towing capacity may drop, however, as iFORCE powertrains are only rated to pull up to 6,500 lbs, and closer to 6,000 in the hybrid configuration.
Interior & Exterior
The outgoing Tacoma boasts a distinctive, boxy, and capable-looking exterior, while the incoming replacement wears the kind of chiseled good looks we’re only used to seeing on actors preparing for an Avengers role.
Depending on your trim level, you’ll need to decide between a 5-foot or 6-foot bed, and access or double cab. The truck bed features a rugged composite liner, thoughtfully placed storage compartments, lockable and removable tailgate, adjustable tie-down cleats, and on some trims, a 120-volt outlet.
For 2024, Toyota engineers squeezed 7% additional volume by deepening the truck bed. They also upgraded to an aluminum tailgate with optional power open/close feature to lighten the load and make operation easier.
The inside gets an overhaul in the new generation, too. Long known for having a “cozy” (read: cramped) cab, the Tacoma finally elevates its utilitarian layout and appointments. Hard plastic gets swapped for nicer materials and sleek touchscreens, while the much-maligned low seating position finally gets a boost.