March 2007
What to look for in a pickup
Pickups are available in an array of sizes and trim levels, from bare-bones work trucks and off-road-ready 4x4s to leather-clad
luxury models with seating for five. There is also a variety of engines, cab configurations, bed lengths, and suspension packages
from which to choose that help you to tailor a pickup to your specific needs. (See our complete test results and Ratings for reliability, owner satisfaction, safety, and more, available to subscribers.)
Why buy a pickup? Pickups give you more cargo-carrying flexibility than any other type of vehicle. They typically have large payload capacities and good towing ability. Depending on the size of the cargo bed, you might be able to carry anything from 4x8-foot sheets of building materials to motorcycles and snowmobiles. Four-door crew-cab models, which have seating for five people, can also serve as everyday family vehicles. The number of configurations, however, can be bewildering. Here, we will guide you through some of the variables you need to consider.
Compact or full-sized? In addition to size, compact and full-sized pickups differ in their available engines and towing capacity. Compact trucks are easier to park, get better fuel economy, and are less expensive for a given configuration. Full-sized trucks provide more interior room, stronger engines, and greater load-carrying and towing capabilities. If you plan to garage the truck, make sure the garage is big enough for the vehicle you choose.
Cab size and seating. Regular cabs are the least expensive type, but they have no rear seat and very little in-cabin storage room. Extended cabs provide extra room behind the front seats, as well as two small rear seats that are best suited for children on short drives. Modern versions typically have small rear doors for easier access to the rear area. Crew-cab trucks have four regular-sized doors and two full rows of seats, which can seat five people in relative comfort. Overall, they provide a good balance for those who need either more passenger-carrying room or more interior cargo space, but don’t require a long bed.
Bed lengths and cargo size. Bed lengths range from a full-sized 8-foot version to a shorter 4-foot bed on some crew-cab models. A truck with a longer bed is more difficult to maneuver in tight situations. Many compact pickups offer a flip-out bed extender, which allows the truck to be used with the tailgate down for carrying longer cargo. A truck with a short 6.5-foot bed, for instance, can accommodate 8-foot cargo with the tailgate down. Extenders take up cargo space when the tailgate is closed, but they can be easily removed.
The Chevrolet Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT crew cabs have a midgate between the rear seat and the pickup bed. The midgate can be opened and the rear seat folded to extend the cargo area to 8 feet, from its normal 5-foot length. The Subaru Baja has a small pass-through opening that can be used in a similar way.
Access. Some larger pickups with high ground clearance can be hard to climb into for shorter people, children, and the disabled.
Engines and transmissions. The base engine for compact pickups is usually a four-cylinder engine, which is the most fuel-efficient. Optional five- or six-cylinder engines provide more power and are often smoother and quieter. The base engine for a full-sized truck is typically a V6, which provides a good balance between power and fuel economy. For heavy hauling or towing, though, you should consider a more powerful V8, V10, and diesel engine. All pickup models are available with either a manual or automatic transmission. Manual transmissions usually get a little better fuel economy.
Rear-wheel drive, 4WD, or AWD? Most models are available with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. If you drive almost exclusively on pavement without snow or ice, consider a rear-wheel-drive model, which is generally less expensive and provides better fuel economy. A 4WD system is recommended for drivers who go off-road, drive in wintry conditions, or need the low-range traction for boat launching. The most convenient system is one with full-time 4WD; models with part-time 4WD cannot be driven in 4WD mode on dry pavement. The car-based Subaru Baja comes only with all-wheel drive, which does not have low-range gearing for tackling difficult off-road terrain.
Fuel economy. Even within the same categories, the fuel-economy of different models can vary significantly. (See our comparison of real-world fuel-economy results for all tested models, available to subscribers.)
Payload capacity. Pickup trucks are categorized by payload capacity. Most pickups used for personal use are half-ton versions. Heavier-duty trucks, which come in ¾- and 1-ton versions, are mostly used for commercial purposes or heavy towing. Consider how the vehicle will be used and resist the urge to buy too much capability, as the heavier-duty trucks have firmer, less-comfortable suspensions.
Towing. A typical compact pickup can tow 4,000 pounds or more, and the largest pickups can tow up to 9,000 pounds. To take advantage of a truck’s maximum towing capacity, you usually need to have it equipped with an optional towing package. This varies from model to model, but it often includes a transmission cooler, engine-oil cooler, and wiring harness to connect the trailer’s lights to those of the truck.
Safety features. All new vehicles have standard dual front air bags, three-point safety belts in the outboard seating positions, and top-tether and LATCH child-seat attachments in the rear seats, if available. All two-passenger pickups also have an on-off switch for the front passenger air bag, which allows the bag to be deactivated for carrying children in the front. Some pickups offer side air bags and head-protection bags.
Some pickups offer electronic stability control (ESC), which helps keep the vehicle from sliding or skidding when cornering. It’s especially useful in slippery conditions or in emergency avoidance maneuvers. Consumer Reports recommends this feature because it can help prevent the pickup from getting into a situation that could cause it to roll over.
Other safety features to look for include antilock brakes, traction control, safety-belt pretensioners, occupant-sensing air-bag systems, and daytime running lights. See our Guide to safety features.
Rear back-up alert systems are available in some models. These warn the driver with an audible signal and visual graphic when the rear bumper is near a solid object, such as a parked car or a signpost. These systems are marketed as parking aids and in testing CR has found they work well for this. But they aren’t reliable enough for use as backup safety systems that can detect a small child behind the vehicle. (See our report on vehicle blind spots, to compare the blind spot measurements for all tested models.)
Why buy a pickup? Pickups give you more cargo-carrying flexibility than any other type of vehicle. They typically have large payload capacities and good towing ability. Depending on the size of the cargo bed, you might be able to carry anything from 4x8-foot sheets of building materials to motorcycles and snowmobiles. Four-door crew-cab models, which have seating for five people, can also serve as everyday family vehicles. The number of configurations, however, can be bewildering. Here, we will guide you through some of the variables you need to consider.
Compact or full-sized? In addition to size, compact and full-sized pickups differ in their available engines and towing capacity. Compact trucks are easier to park, get better fuel economy, and are less expensive for a given configuration. Full-sized trucks provide more interior room, stronger engines, and greater load-carrying and towing capabilities. If you plan to garage the truck, make sure the garage is big enough for the vehicle you choose.
Cab size and seating. Regular cabs are the least expensive type, but they have no rear seat and very little in-cabin storage room. Extended cabs provide extra room behind the front seats, as well as two small rear seats that are best suited for children on short drives. Modern versions typically have small rear doors for easier access to the rear area. Crew-cab trucks have four regular-sized doors and two full rows of seats, which can seat five people in relative comfort. Overall, they provide a good balance for those who need either more passenger-carrying room or more interior cargo space, but don’t require a long bed.
Bed lengths and cargo size. Bed lengths range from a full-sized 8-foot version to a shorter 4-foot bed on some crew-cab models. A truck with a longer bed is more difficult to maneuver in tight situations. Many compact pickups offer a flip-out bed extender, which allows the truck to be used with the tailgate down for carrying longer cargo. A truck with a short 6.5-foot bed, for instance, can accommodate 8-foot cargo with the tailgate down. Extenders take up cargo space when the tailgate is closed, but they can be easily removed.
The Chevrolet Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT crew cabs have a midgate between the rear seat and the pickup bed. The midgate can be opened and the rear seat folded to extend the cargo area to 8 feet, from its normal 5-foot length. The Subaru Baja has a small pass-through opening that can be used in a similar way.
Access. Some larger pickups with high ground clearance can be hard to climb into for shorter people, children, and the disabled.
Engines and transmissions. The base engine for compact pickups is usually a four-cylinder engine, which is the most fuel-efficient. Optional five- or six-cylinder engines provide more power and are often smoother and quieter. The base engine for a full-sized truck is typically a V6, which provides a good balance between power and fuel economy. For heavy hauling or towing, though, you should consider a more powerful V8, V10, and diesel engine. All pickup models are available with either a manual or automatic transmission. Manual transmissions usually get a little better fuel economy.
Rear-wheel drive, 4WD, or AWD? Most models are available with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. If you drive almost exclusively on pavement without snow or ice, consider a rear-wheel-drive model, which is generally less expensive and provides better fuel economy. A 4WD system is recommended for drivers who go off-road, drive in wintry conditions, or need the low-range traction for boat launching. The most convenient system is one with full-time 4WD; models with part-time 4WD cannot be driven in 4WD mode on dry pavement. The car-based Subaru Baja comes only with all-wheel drive, which does not have low-range gearing for tackling difficult off-road terrain.
Fuel economy. Even within the same categories, the fuel-economy of different models can vary significantly. (See our comparison of real-world fuel-economy results for all tested models, available to subscribers.)
Payload capacity. Pickup trucks are categorized by payload capacity. Most pickups used for personal use are half-ton versions. Heavier-duty trucks, which come in ¾- and 1-ton versions, are mostly used for commercial purposes or heavy towing. Consider how the vehicle will be used and resist the urge to buy too much capability, as the heavier-duty trucks have firmer, less-comfortable suspensions.
Towing. A typical compact pickup can tow 4,000 pounds or more, and the largest pickups can tow up to 9,000 pounds. To take advantage of a truck’s maximum towing capacity, you usually need to have it equipped with an optional towing package. This varies from model to model, but it often includes a transmission cooler, engine-oil cooler, and wiring harness to connect the trailer’s lights to those of the truck.
Safety features. All new vehicles have standard dual front air bags, three-point safety belts in the outboard seating positions, and top-tether and LATCH child-seat attachments in the rear seats, if available. All two-passenger pickups also have an on-off switch for the front passenger air bag, which allows the bag to be deactivated for carrying children in the front. Some pickups offer side air bags and head-protection bags.
Some pickups offer electronic stability control (ESC), which helps keep the vehicle from sliding or skidding when cornering. It’s especially useful in slippery conditions or in emergency avoidance maneuvers. Consumer Reports recommends this feature because it can help prevent the pickup from getting into a situation that could cause it to roll over.
Other safety features to look for include antilock brakes, traction control, safety-belt pretensioners, occupant-sensing air-bag systems, and daytime running lights. See our Guide to safety features.
Rear back-up alert systems are available in some models. These warn the driver with an audible signal and visual graphic when the rear bumper is near a solid object, such as a parked car or a signpost. These systems are marketed as parking aids and in testing CR has found they work well for this. But they aren’t reliable enough for use as backup safety systems that can detect a small child behind the vehicle. (See our report on vehicle blind spots, to compare the blind spot measurements for all tested models.)
