Features

Below we highlight important features for you to consider when purchasing a pickup truck.

Engines and fuel economy

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. Base full-sized trucks are typically fitted with a V6, providing a good balance between power and fuel economy. For heavy hauling or towing, though, you should consider a more powerful V8 or diesel engine. Some newer V8 engines offer cylinder deactivation, allowing the engine to operate on fewer cylinders under light loads, such as steady-speed cruising, and thereby save fuel. All pickup models are available with either a manual or automatic transmission. Manual transmissions usually get a little better fuel economy but might be less convenient.

Rear-wheel drive, 4WD or AWD?

The design for most pickup trucks is based on a rear-drive configuration. This cost-effective setup is well-suited to demanding duties, and it is fine for most purposes, such as driving on pavement or dirt roads without snow or ice. But for freezing conditions, deep mud, or off-roading, some form of four-wheel drive is recommended.

The basic four-wheel-drive system, often called 4x4, is a part-time system you select with a lever or button as needed. Low-range gearing is selectable for severe off-road conditions. Those systems aren't designed to be engaged on dry pavement, though.

A better design is full-time 4WD, optional on some but not all trucks. In that mode, the front-drive-wheel portion kicks in as needed for extra traction. The Honda Ridgeline has a car-derived all-wheel-drive system.

Towing

A typical compact pickup truck can tow 4,000 pounds or more, and 8,000 pounds or more is feasible with a full-sized pickup truck. Maximum towing capacity varies by brand, trim line, engine, gearing, and tow packages.

Cab size

Regular cabs are the least expensive, but extended cabs are far more useful. Rear seats in extended-cab trucks are often small and cramped for adults, though they're OK for kids. The real advantage is additional interior storage. Crew-cab trucks have four regular doors and a good-sized rear seating (or cargo) area, but usually come at the cost of a small cargo bed.

Access

How easy is it to climb in or out from each seating position? Try each seat yourself, to see if it meets your standards. For a full-sized pickup truck, running boards are all but essential. Look for adequate space for yourself, your expected passengers, and the cargo you expect to transport. Pay attention to head, leg, and knee room in all seating positions. In an extended-cab truck, see if it's easy to fold away the rear seats to make room for cargo.

Cargo bed

The standard bed length is eight feet in a full-sized pickup truck, and about 6½ feet in a compact truck. With some crew-cab models the bed length is as short as four feet. Fold-out bed extenders are a widely available option. They flip around to allow you to contain cargo with the tailgate folded down.

Safety features

It used to be that pickup trucks, especially compact pickup trucks, had an unenviable safety record, but that's improved some in latter years. Better crash-worthiness and more standard safety gear have helped. Greater use of safety belts among pickup truck drivers has also lessened injuries and fatalities. Driver death rates in single-vehicle rollover crashes remain above average for most pickup trucks, except for the very largest ones. One reason for the high fatality rates in many pickup trucks has to do with demographics. Pickup trucks are popular among young males, who tend to be the riskiest drivers. That, plus the fact that compact pickup trucks are among the most inherently rollover-prone vehicles, makes for a deadly combination.

Electronic stability control is a recommended safety feature with a proven track record of reducing fatalities. ESC will be mandatory starting with the 2012 model year. It's especially useful in slippery conditions or in cases where someone takes a corner too fast. It also reduces the typical axle hop on rough surfaces. All new pickup trucks have standard left and right front air bags, lap-and-shoulder belts in all outboard seating positions, and top-tether and lower LATCH attachments in the rear seats. Chest-level side air bags are common for front-seat passengers, too. Curtain-style side air bags that cover the front and rear side windows are increasingly common and we recommend them.

Another useful feature, traction control, can help you get going on a slippery road but doesn't aid in a sideways skid. It can be helpful with rear-drive pickup trucks, which are prone to tire slippage when the bed is empty.

Check our safety ratings, which factor crash-test results when available, and take those scores into consideration. Because since some sports models are low-volume specialty vehicles, there might not be crash test results available. Crash-test results may not apply to some sports models, since they are low-volume specialty vehicles. (Learn more about car safety.)

Emerging safety technologies

The latest automotive safety advances include telematics systems that alert emergency personnel if an air bag deploys and rear-view cameras to prevent back-over accidents-a real concern with pickup trucks. In our testing, we have found that the blind zone behind a pickup truck for an average-height driver can be 20 feet or more. (Check the blind zones on pickup trucks.)

Entertainment and convenience

The latest mobile electronics enable cars to deliver the fidelity of home theater, along with cell-phone connectivity and navigation guidance. There is a wide range of information and entertainment features available from the factory, and more available through the aftermarket. (See our guide to mobile electronics.)

Audio system

The standard car-audio package is a stereo radio tuner and in-dash CD player with speakers left and right, and fore and aft. An upgraded system typically has higher-watt amplifier power output—so you can play music loudly while minimizing distortion—and more and better-quality speakers to enhance clarity and sound separation. Top-level systems add digital sound fields, noise-canceling, surround sound, and DVD-Audio playback.

Depending on the package, an audio upgrade can add many hundreds of dollars to a car's sticker price. Cars at every price level are adding a jack where you can plug in an MP3 device for playback through the car's audio system. Only stereos with a specific iPod connector, rather than a micro-plug port, will be able to control and recharge an iPod.

Satellite and HD radio

Subscription-only satellite radio offers broad channel selection, catering to a variety of musical and information interests, much like cable TV. Most vehicles offer satellite radio readiness in some audio systems.

HD Radio is a relatively new system that allows conventional (or terrestrial) AM and FM stations to broadcast their content over digital signals with higher fidelity. It also allows stations to add more programming over several additional channels that can be broadcast "alongside" a station's main frequency, for delivering traffic or weather information, or diverse music content.

Navigation systems and connectivity

In-car navigation systems can be a valued featured if you often drive in unfamiliar territory. They typically retail for about $2,000 when offered alone but are often bundled with other features, such as a backup camera or a high-end audio system that can add another $1,000 or more. Built-in systems have large, clear screens that are in the center of the dashboard and have generally intuitive controls. They are integrated nicely into the car, and some use touch-screen displays that make it easy to enter destinations and navigate through menus. Some can also respond to voice commands, giving you the added safety of keeping your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. For a fee, many systems can provide real-time traffic reports, which can alert you to congested traffic, accidents, or road construction. But portable units can offer most of the same abilities for much less money. (See Ratings and learn more about portable GPS navigation systems.)

Bluetooth connectivity is becoming widely available, enabling wireless devices such as a cell phone to wirelessly communicate with the car's audio system. That allows convenient, hands-free phone operation.

Popularized by GM's OnStar, telematics systems use a combination of cellular telephone and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to connect drivers with a call center staffed 24/7 at the touch of a button. For a monthly or annual fee, such concierge services can provide directions or summon emergency aid based on your vehicle's location.

See also:

GPS Navigation Systems

Car batteries

Car seats

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Guide to Driving Green