Compact Pickup Trucks: 7 top models on the market today

Jeep Gladiator

Toyota Tacoma

Nissan Frontier

Chevy Colorado

Honda Ridgeline

Ford Ranger

GMC Canyon

Introduced as a 2020 model, the Gladiator brings the off-road prowess and iconic appeal of the Wrangler SUV to the mid-size pickup segment. Check out our full first drive review here.

It’s the third truck in this class to offer a diesel engine, a 3.0L V6 with more power than the four-cylinder in the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon models. Along with its big torque potential, it promises thrifty fuel consumption in highway driving and decent towing capacity.

Base power is from a 3.6L gas V6, and transmission choices are a six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic. Naturally, 4WD is standard.

From the Wrangler the Gladiator inherits underpinnings designed primarily for off-road driving, so performance on paved surfaces is less impressive than other trucks in this class. The cargo bed is also shallow compared to that of other pickups.

All in all, the Gladiator is a niche product aimed at a very specific type of truck buyer. Still, it’s the one to buy if you want to make an entrance wherever you go.

Notable features:

Capable four-wheel drive system

Powerful diesel engine option

Removable top panels create a convertible feel

General Motors kicked off the current craze for mid-size pickups with this truck, which proved that a smaller model didn’t have to compromise on comfort compared to a full-size model.

We like the Colorado’s spacious cabin and comfortable seating, which combine to make this a brilliant long-distance vehicle. The Colorado also boasts one of the most comfortable rides in this segment, a trait that helped this model set the tone for the rest of the class to follow.

Engine choices include four-cylinder gas and diesel engines and a V6 that tops the 300-hp mark. The four-cylinder gasser comes with a manual transmission, but the other two motors are standard with an eight-speed automatic.

There is no regular cab version of the Colorado. Instead, the range begins with an extended cab configuration with small back seats, and the option is a Crew Cab body with full-size rear doors and a three-place bench seat.

Notable features:

ZR2 Bison’s skid plates, winch mount and ZR2’s standard locking differentials

Optional four-cylinder diesel engine boasts excellent fuel economy and generous torque

Available HD infotainment screen and leading-edge USB connectivity

One of the best-known names in pickups came back in 2019 after an eight-year hiatus as Ford re-entered the mid-size segment. The Ranger was originally designed for the Australian market and modified for North American production. 

Power comes from a turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine (the mid-size pickup segment’s first) that makes 280 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque and comes with a 10-speed transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The engine is a winner with its combination of aggressive torque delivery and eager high-end power.

Typical for the class, the Ranger starts in a SuperCab configuration with rear seats designed for occasional use only. A larger four-door Crew Cab body is designed to appeal to the bulk of mid-size truck shoppers.

A firm ride projects a feeling of solidity but detracts from the Ranger’s daily driving comfort.

Notable features:

FX4 models get Trail Control, which functions like cruise control for off-roading

Ford’s blind spot monitor will cover the entire length of a truck and trailer

First mid-size truck with a 10-speed transmission

Despite its maker being best known for building hyper-reliable cars, the Tacoma garners a good amount of attention in the mid-size truck segment. Base model power is from a 3.5L V6 that makes 278 hp and comes matched with standard four-wheel drive; it falls a bit short in the towing capacity department compared to the other small trucks.

You’ll either love or hate the Tacoma’s driving position, which feels more like that of a car than what other trucks offer.

Off-roaders will gravitate toward Tacoma’s TRD trims, which can be had with features like remote reservoir shocks and a camera-based multi-terrain monitor.

Furthermore, if you’re a keen off-roader and manual-shift driver, you’ll appreciate the ability to disable the Tacoma’s clutch interlock, which allows the engine starter to operate with the truck in gear. So equipped, you can actually use the starter to crawl the truck up steep inclines.

Notable features:

Standard active safety features like pedestrian detection/automatic braking and lane departure alert

TRD Pro trims get a high-mount desert engine air intake

Other off-road ready kit includes remote reservoir shocks and a multi-terrain monitor

Since its arrival in 2005, the Honda Ridgeline has endured all kinds of criticism from know-it-alls who say this is not a “real” truck because it’s based on a front-wheel drive platform and lacks truckish features like low-range 4WD gearing. The truth is, however, that the Ridgeline is enough for most drivers’ everyday needs with its 280-hp V6 and a tow rating approaching 2,300 kg. 

Here’s our review of the top-trim Ridgeline Black Edition model.

Ridgeline comes standard with advanced safety items like automatic emergency braking with forward collision warning, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. Couple those features with the Ridgeline’s SUV underpinnings and you get a truck that’s remarkably well-suited to daily driving.

Among the Ridgeline’s most useful features are a multi-function tailgate that opens two ways, and a trunk built into the cargo bed that protects whatever’s inside from the elements.

Notable features:

side- and bottom-hinged tailgate

weatherproof cargo compartment in cargo bed

optional cargo bed “exciters” that turn the truck into one big speaker

General Motors’ other mid-size truck comes from GMC, whose Canyon wears more assertive styling than its Chevrolet cousin, but is otherwise a mechanical twin to the Colorado. The key difference is GMC’s upscale Denali trim, which includes features that are optional in the Colorado, like ventilated front seats, navigation, and a full suite of driver assists. 

Like the Chevy, engine choices are four-cylinder gas and diesel and a gas V6, and body styles include extended and Crew Cab configurations. Here’s our review of the GMC Canyon SLT Diesel.

The Canyon’s styling is more rugged looking than that of its Colorado sibling, but it offers similar performance and comfort; this is the truck we’d choose for long-distance driving.

If you’re into roughing it, the All-Terrain model gets an off-road suspension, skid plates, and a hill descent control system. The Canyon’s maximum towing capacity is 3,493 kg (7,700 lbs).

Notable features:

Denali trim includes niceties like heated and ventilated front seats and a Bose stereo

More rugged styling than the softer-edged Colorado

Available smartphone integration

Early in 2020, Nissan announced a long-awaited redesign for its Frontier pickup, which will debut as a 2021 model. This new truck promises to bring Nissan into the modern age of mid-size trucks after years of attempting to compete with a design dating from the mid-2000s.

If you buy a 2020 model Frontier, you’ll have to make do with the old look, but you will get a taste of the new truck thanks to an all-new 3.8L, 310-hp V6 and nine-speed transmission that will be carried over to the 2021 Frontier.

Nissan had originally set the 2021 Frontier’s arrival for September of 2020, but that timeline was taken before the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a halt. Nissan has yet to confirm whether the new Frontier will be delayed. So far, Nissan has only teased the new look, highlighting LED daytime running lights, but not showing much else.

Notable features:

All-new, more powerful drivetrain

No regular cab body style

A familiar, time-tested design