On almost every worksite, there are big jobs that need to get done – and for those jobs, you need a capable, reliable, and powerful truck. But here’s the thing – not everybody has the room, money, or real need for a huge, hulking full-size pickup. For these people, looking for a reasonably-sized truck with all the power and reliability needed, look no further than the small and midsize pickups available today.
Many of these small trucks, like the new 2016 Chevy Colorado, offer impressive towing power and payload capacities despite their otherwise diminutive size, especially when compared to larger their full-size cousins. Here’s a quick rundown of the best small and mid-sized trucks on the market now – take a look and you’ll see that these little pickups pack a whole lot more power than one might expect.
2016 Chevy Colorado
Boasting an impressive combination of power and efficiency wrapped in a layer of style, the new Colorado small truck from Chevy offers what might be the best small truck experience of the whole 2016 model year.
The Colorado’s standard 2.4L I-4 engine offers an impressive show of power for the most basic option, pushing out up to 20 horsepower and boasting a towing capacity of up to 3,500 lbs. To top it all off, this comes with a fuel economy of up to 27 mpg highway – meaning you can town more, for longer, without having to keep stopping at the pump.
Or, for those in the market for a little more power, the Colorado also offers a 3.6L V6 engine capable of a best-in-class 305 horsepower and up to 7,000 lbs in towing capacity at 26 mpg highway, or the 2.8L diesel engine which can accomplish 369 lb.-ft of torque and tow up to 7,700 at 31 mpg highway running on clean-burning diesel fuel.
Plus, with all of your essential connectivity tools like 4G LTE Wi-Fi throughout the cabin and phone connectivity through the Chevy MyLink infotainment system, you can do all kinds of work right from your Colorado – making it one of the best mobile worksites as well as one of the best work tools on the road today.
Toyota Tacoma
For some folks, the time spent on the worksite is less about hauling heavy loads and more about crawling over rough terrain that some trucks just couldn’t handle. That’s where the Toyota Tacoma steps in – bold, reliable, and ready to take on the most difficult obstacles to get you where you need to be.
Boasting a high-strength steel frame and a bold, updated exterior, the Tacoma makes a serious statement both on the road and off. With its 3.5-liter V6 engine with direct injection, the Tacoma can pump out 278 hp and 265 lb.-ft. of torque, meaning you’ll be able to tow up to 6,800 lbs on just about any tough terrain with no problem. Plus, with available trailer sway control, you can keep everything steady when towing those heavy loads.
Thanks to features like crawl control, multi-terrain selection, and electronically controlled locking rear differential you can surmount even the rockiest patches on offroad trails making that tough trail or dug-up construction site no match for the power of your Tacoma.
For those looking to bring a serious piece of off-road equipment onto the worksite, look no further than the new 2016 Toyota Tacoma.
GMC Canyon
Then, of course, there are those looking not just for power and capability, but style. For many truck lovers luxury is just as critical as performance – and for these consumers, there is the GMC Canyon mid-size truck.
Whether you’re admiring the quiet, comfortable cabin with available heated power seats, aluminum trim, stain-resistant seat cloth, a silent inlaid door design with a liquid applied sound deadener and durable, soft-touch instrument panel or the bold exterior with projector beam headlights, chrome grille surround, and huge cargo box, you’re sure to be impressed by the Canyon’s many standard and available features that will turn your driving from a daily chore into something worth getting excited about.
And that’s not to sell the Canyon short on performance, given its available all-new Duramax 2.8L I-4 Turbo Diesel engine that can produce 181 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft of torque at an amazing 31 mpg highway. With that kind of power to match its incredibly luxurious design, the MC Canyon is the perfect mid-size truck for those looking to spice up the daily workload.
Honda Ridgeline
The Honda Ridgeline, Honda’s “first foray into the North American pickup market” turned out to be a smashing success – winning everything from accolades as a truck to top safety awards for its advanced design. The Ridgeline is designed with the reliability of a Honda mixed with the power of a small pickup to create a really excellent truck worthy of everybody’s attention.
Although a Ridgeline hasn’t been made for consumers since 2014, Honda recently announced its new 2017 Ridgeline, which will feature a 3.5-liter, direct-injected V-6 engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission and will boast a recently-awarded IIHS Top Safety Pick+ safety rating thanks to its extensive safety technology.
But what will really set the new Ridgeline apart from the pack is its spacious cargo room, boasting seating for five and 60/40 folding rear seats, the cab up front has plenty of room for your passengers or tall, bulky cargo. And for those big hauling jobs, the Ridgeline is the only truck to feature a 4-foot wide flat bed space in its class, meaning hauling awkwardly-sized cargo or large, flat pieces like plywood are a breeze in the Ridgeline.
We know we’ll be waiting with eager expectations for this exciting new Honda model, and if you’re looking for a change from the usual truck routine we hope you will be too.
Nissan Frontier
Finally, for those looking for a truck that will provide solid, dependable performance at a good value, and without all the bells and whistles of a premium model, the Nissan Frontier is the perfect truck for the job. Starting at just $18,290, The Frontier boasts a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine capable of 152 horsepower and 171 lb.-ft of torque, all at an impressive 23 mpg highway – meaning you can tow up to 3,500 lbs in one go.
With available amenities like side steps, a cab bed pop-up tent, a sliding tool box for the back cab, a class IV tow hitch receiver and a factory-installed bed liner make the Frontier perfect for everything from a day on the job site to a weekend out on the camping trail.
There are plenty of additional features on the Frontier that make it a perfectly admirable work truck, like the full-length boxed ladder frame and available sliding bed extender that make hauling long, heavy loads a piece of cake. For those with light-duty hauling and towing work on their plate who are looking to keep costs pretty affordable, look no further than the new 2016 Nissan Frontier small truck.
These, in our opinion, are the best small trucks on the market today. Each offers its own specific blend of premium features, impressive performance capabilities, and distinct style to meet just abut eery taste and need. If you’re in need of a solid, dependable truck but don’t quite need a monster, full-size pickup, these small truck models can certainly do the job you need them to do – and we’re pretty sure you’ll like being behind the wheel as well.
