2020 Ford Ranger
Starting at $24,410, the Ford Ranger comes with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine with 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Along with its 10-speed automatic transmission, the Ranger can provide up to 26 mpg on the highway and 7,500 pounds of towing capacity. It also boasts a best-in-class payload rating of 1,860 pounds and up to 51.8 cubic feet of cargo space. It is available in three trim models: LT, XL and Lariat. There are SuperCrew and SuperCab configurations. Lovers of mid-sized trucks welcomed the Ranger’s return to the market in 2019 after an eight-year hiatus from Ford’s product lineup.
2021 Chevrolet Colorado
Starting at $25,200, the Chevy Colorado offers a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque in the base model (there are two higher-powered engines available). The base model has up to 3,500 pounds of towing capacity and gets up to 25 mpg on the highway. Its available maximum payload is 1,550 pounds with 49.9 cubic feet of cargo space. It's available in an LT, Z71 or ZR2 model. After extensive testing, the Overland Journal named the Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison as its first “Overland Truck of the Year” for 2020.
2021 Toyota Tacoma
Starting at $26,150, the Toyota Tacoma comes with a 3.5-liter, V6 engine providing 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. It offers 1,155 pounds of payload and up to 6,400 pounds of towing capacity. It has a 6-speed automatic transmission and gets up to 22 mpg on the highway. The Tacoma comes in three variations: SR, TRD Off-Road and Limited Edition. Off-road options are plentiful on this platform. The Tacoma is the best-selling midsize pickup in the U.S. for 13 years running, so drivers can expect much of the same in the new year’s model.
2020 Honda Ridgeline
Starting at $33,900, the Honda Ridgeline comes with a 3.5-liter, V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. A 9-speed transmission comes standard. It boasts up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity and gets up to 24 mpg on the highway. The Ridgeline has 34 cubic feet of cargo space, but it also comes with a 7.9 cubic-foot in-bed lockable trunk for extra secured storage. It comes in four variations: Sport, RTL, RL-E and Black Edition. The Honda Sensing Suite, a collection of safety and driver-assisting technologies, comes standard on every model.
