If you’ve been thinking about buying that shiny new truck you’ve been dreaming about forever, then you might want to seriously think about finally making 2020 the year. Buyers can choose from a host of recently updated pickups, including a slate of Ram, Chevy, and Ford models in addition to offerings from Nissan and Toyota. So which truck should you buy? Some of that depends on your needs, of course, so we’ve kept that in mind by adding a range of trucks in various categories. Keep reading to find out more of our favorite trucks to buy right now, including our top picks in each major segment. All prices listed are for the base model vehicles.
2020 Chevrolet Colorado: $22,395
TOP PICK
We love the Chevrolet Colorado for its carlike handling, which makes it feel like a much smaller vehicle than it actually is. It also benefits from strong engine choices, particularly the 308-hp V-6. It’s one of the best trucks to buy in 2020, if not the best midsize truck on the market right now. You might want to wait a bit for the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado, which arrives in 2020 with the same mechanical specifications as the current model but a new look that brings it in line with the recently updated Silverado.
2020 Ram 1500: $33,840
TOP PICK
After nabbing the 2019 MotorTrend Truck of the Year award, the Ram 1500 returns for 2020 with an updated EcoDiesel V-6 putting down 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque, good for a fuel economy rating of 22/32 mpg city/highway. We’re also impressed by the smooth and efficient mild hybrid engines. Opt for the Limited model for one of the most sumptuous interiors you’ll find on any truck. This luxury truck offers a 12-inch touchscreen and a standard air suspension.
2020 Ram Heavy Duty: $35,440
TOP PICK
The Ram HD is an exceptional heavy-duty truck, so much so that we named it the 2020 MotorTrend Truck of the Year. It’s hard to think of three-quarter and one-ton trucks as well rounded, but this pickup offers strong towing capability, efficiency, and a comfortable ride while loaded or unloaded. It also benefits from the versatile and stylish interior found on the smaller Ram 1500. You can get all manner of Ram HD models, from the base Tradesman up to the super $60,000-plus Limited, making it one of the best trucks on the market.
2020 Jeep Gladiator: $35,040
Jeep may be late to the compact pickup segment, but its Gladiator is a home run. With excellent off-road performance and a roomy cabin, the Gladiator blends comfort and capability. Speaking of capability, towing and payload numbers are very impressive at 7,650 pounds and 1,600 pounds, respectively. Buyers can choose between a 285-hp 3.6-liter V-6 engine that pairs to either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual, and a 260-hp, 442-lb-ft EcoDiesel V-6 that pairs to the eight-speed auto. You can’t say this about any other pickup: It offers a convertible top or Freedom Top with removable panels.
2020 Ford F-150: $30,090
This 2018 MotorTrend Truck of the Year winner remains a strong competitor. There are endless configurations, and top trims feature luxurious interiors fit for a king. We especially like versions with the 2.7-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder, which doesn’t feel underpowered with its 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Towing is a strong 13,200 pounds when equipped with the 375-hp, 470-lb-ft 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6. We’d skip the diesel variant, however, which disappoints with poor towing performance and ponderous acceleration.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: $29,895
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a comfortable everyday driver, and it’s capable when you need it to be. Although we wish for quicker throttle response in the volume-selling 5.3-liter V-8 engine, we enjoy the robust performance offered by the Silverado’s 6.2-liter V-8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Along with strong acceleration, this engine boasts outstanding towing capability of 13,400 pounds. A diesel engine joins the lineup for 2020 and offers buttery-smooth performance with 277 hp, 460 lb-ft of torque, and a fuel economy rating of 23/33 mpg. It’s one of the best trucks to buy in 2020, particularly in its segment, but it has very stiff competition from the slightly more well-rounded Ram 1500.
2020 GMC Sierra 1500: $31,195
The Sierra 1500 benefits from solid engine choices, including a diesel and 2.7-liter four-cylinder, just like its Silverado sibling. Where it differs is its feature offerings. A multiconfigurable tailgate and carbon-fiber box are available on this upscale truck.
2020 Honda Ridgeline: $35,020
The Ridgeline stands out from the crowd with its unibody structure. Essentially a Pilot crossover with a bed and a longer wheelbase, the Ridgeline benefits from a smooth ride and handling that’s decidedly not trucklike. Although competitors beat the Ridgeline when it comes to towing, the 280-hp V-6 delivers solid fuel economy numbers of 19/26 mpg city/highway.
2020 GMC Canyon: $23,790
Just like its Chevrolet Colorado sibling, the GMC Canyon offers a smooth ride and crisp handling that you’d expect from a car, not a truck. Although base models are affordable and relatively spartan, the Canyon Denali is one of the best trucks to buy in 2020 if you’re looking for a luxurious midsizer. Twenty-inch diamond-cut wheels, heated and ventilated leather-appointed front seats, and wireless charging are standard on the Canyon Denali.
2020 Ford Ranger: $25,605
This truck is at its best when it’s on the job. Although it doesn’t ride quite as smoothly or quietly as the Honda Ridgeline or Chevrolet Colorado, the Ranger swallows up lots of cargo with its spacious bed, and a heavy load doesn’t compromise the four-cylinder engine’s performance. The Ranger also boasts a strong max towing capacity of 7,500 pounds.
2020 Nissan Titan: $37,785
Nissan’s large trucks remain underdogs in the highly competitive segment, but recent refreshes bring them a little closer to competing against Ford, Chevy, and Ram. For 2020, the Titan and Titan XD receive new nine-speed automatic transmissions to replace the aging seven-speed unit. The 5.6-liter V-8 engine has been updated to make 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque on both trucks.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD: $35,695
Not everyone likes the new grille, but the redesigned-for-2020 Silverado HD is more capable than before. Impressive acceleration comes from the 6.6-liter turbodiesel V-8 engine making 445 hp and a whopping 910 lb-ft of torque. This is our top engine choice on the truck, and it’s paired with a competent 10-speed automatic transmission.
2020 GMC Sierra HD: $37,195
The Sierra HD is just as impressive as the Silverado HD when it comes to performance, with the diesel engine our top pick. Denali models are particularly imposing with the chromed-out grille, but AT4 models make an even bigger impression. They get bigger wheels and tires, specially tuned Rancho monotube shocks, and other off-road-ready features.
2020 Ford Super Duty: $35,300
Ford’s Super Duty lineup receives a midcycle refresh for 2020. It boasts a massive 1,050 lb-ft of torque with the optional diesel engine, and it also impresses with the addition of a new 7.3-liter V-8 gasoline engine known as Godzilla. The Tremor model is positioned for serious off-road driving, with an upgraded suspension, better gear ratios, and huge 35-inch all-terrain tires.
2020 Toyota Tundra: $35,020
The current Tundra has been on the market since 2007, and although its age is showing, the most recent update to come to the Tundra was the addition of a TRD Pro variant, which proved very capable driving off-road in our recent review. Toyota plans to introduce a new Tundra “soon,” though we don’t know exactly when it will arrive.
What Are the Best Trucks to Buy Right Now?
- 2020 Chevrolet Colorado: $22,395
- 2020 Ram 1500: $33,840
- 2020 Ram Heavy Duty: $35,440
- 2020 Jeep Gladiator: $35,040
- 2020 Ford F-150: $30,090
- 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: $29,895
- 2020 GMC Sierra 1500: $31,195
- 2020 Honda Ridgeline: $35,020
- 2020 GMC Canyon: $23,790
- 2020 Ford Ranger: $25,605
- 2020 Nissan Titan: $37,785
- 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD: $35,695
- 2020 GMC Sierra HD: $37,195
- 2020 Ford Super Duty: $35,300
- 2020 Toyota Tundra: $35,020
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