Americans love trucks, and while full-size pickups dominate the market, the Best Small Trucks offer a practical and economical alternative, especially when considering used models. If you’re searching for a capable yet maneuverable pickup without the bulk and price of larger trucks, the used market is rich with options. These “small” trucks, often categorized as mid-size today, still pack a punch in terms of utility and features. Let’s explore ten of the best used small trucks that provide excellent value and reliability.
1. 2017 Chevrolet Colorado
The Chevrolet Colorado, since its redesign in 2015, has consistently ranked among the best small trucks. The 2017 model year is particularly appealing due to its enhanced safety features and attractive used prices. This small pickup truck balances toughness and practicality with a comfortable and refined driving experience.
The 2017 Chevy Colorado offers versatility with extended cab and crew cab configurations, and a choice of engines to suit various needs. Engine options include a fuel-efficient four-cylinder, a powerful V6, and a torque-rich turbodiesel ideal for towing. For off-road enthusiasts, the ZR2 trim provides exceptional capability without compromising on-road comfort. While it may not boast the most luxurious interior or cutting-edge tech in the small truck segment, the Colorado remains a well-rounded and dependable choice for anyone seeking a used small truck.
2. 2017 GMC Canyon
The GMC Canyon shares its underpinnings and engine options with the Chevrolet Colorado, making it a mechanically similar and equally compelling option in the used small trucks category. The 2017 GMC Canyon offers the same robust platform and engine choices as its Chevy counterpart, along with comparable advantages and drawbacks.
The key differentiator lies in the Canyon’s styling. GMC opted for a more angular and assertive design compared to the Colorado’s curves, featuring squared-off headlights, grille, and fender flares. This distinct aesthetic allows buyers to choose based on their preferred style. Additionally, the GMC Canyon offers a Denali trim, which elevates the interior with premium materials and luxury features not found in the Colorado, although it lacks a direct ZR2-equivalent off-road version. Like the Colorado, a used 2017 Canyon, or models from 2015 onwards, provides a solid and reliable small truck experience.
3. 2011 Ford Ranger
For those seeking a genuinely compact pickup, the 2011 Ford Ranger represents the last of a truly small truck breed in the American market. Modern “small” trucks are essentially mid-size, bridging the gap between full-size pickups and the older, more compact Ranger.
To find this truly small truck, we look back to the 2011 Ford Ranger, the final year before Ford discontinued it in the US (later reviving it as a mid-size model). This Ranger is smaller and more basic than today’s mid-size offerings, prioritizing maneuverability and affordability over extensive capability and spacious rear seats. It was available in regular cab and extended cab configurations, with the option of a 6-foot bed, comparable to today’s mid-size trucks in bed length, but in a smaller overall package.
4. 2019 Ford Ranger
If a truly small truck feels too diminutive, or you prefer a newer, more modern used small truck, the reintroduced 2019 Ford Ranger is an excellent option. Ford brought the Ranger back to the US market for the 2019 model year, after years of continued sales in international markets.
The 2019 Ranger is a significant departure from its older, smaller predecessor. It’s larger, more powerful, more capable, and incorporates modern technology. Compared to other recent mid-size pickups, the Ranger stands out with its strong turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering a good balance of acceleration, towing and payload capacity, safety features, and fuel efficiency. However, some critics note that its ride and handling aren’t as refined as the Chevy Colorado. Being a newer model, used 2019 Rangers may not offer the same deep discounts as older trucks, but they provide a more contemporary small truck experience. It comes in extended cab and crew cab versions, all powered by the same efficient engine.
5. 2020 Jeep Gladiator
Another recent entrant to the mid-size pickup segment, and a unique choice among used small trucks, is the 2020 Jeep Gladiator. Despite being a newer model, used Gladiators are becoming increasingly available, offering a chance to own this distinctive truck at a potentially reduced price.
The Jeep Gladiator is essentially a pickup truck version of the iconic Jeep Wrangler. It swaps the Wrangler’s rear cargo area for a 5-foot truck bed, retaining the convertible top, removable doors, and exceptional off-road prowess that define the Jeep brand. While its added length makes the Gladiator slightly less nimble than a Wrangler, it contributes to a smoother ride on pavement. Every Gladiator comes as a four-door crew cab, emphasizing its lifestyle and adventure focus.
6. 2018 Nissan Frontier
The Nissan Frontier holds the title of the longest-running pickup design still on the market. While largely unchanged since 2005, the 2018 Nissan Frontier retains a rugged charm and straightforward appeal that some buyers appreciate in a used small truck. It’s a durable and traditionally styled truck, prioritizing honest utility over modern frills, which can be appealing to those seeking a no-nonsense used pickup.
The 2018 Frontier is our pick because it marked the year a backup camera became standard, enhancing safety and ease of parking. However, the core virtues of the Frontier, including the optional 4.0-liter V6 engine with a robust 261 horsepower, extend back over a decade. Though larger than the pre-2019 Ford Ranger and lacking a single cab option, the Frontier embodies a similar back-to-basics truck ethos.
7. 2018 Toyota Tacoma
The Toyota Tacoma consistently leads sales charts as America’s best-selling small truck, driven by its stellar reputation for reliability and off-road capability. However, this strong demand also translates to higher resale values, meaning used Tacomas can command a premium price. While you might pay more upfront for a used Tacoma, its excellent resale value can be a long-term benefit.
The current generation Tacoma debuted in 2016, but the 2018 model is particularly attractive as Toyota made its suite of advanced safety features standard that year. This is a notable advantage in the pickup truck segment and helps compensate for the Tacoma’s average acceleration, on-road handling, and interior space. The Tacoma offers both four-cylinder and V6 engines, and extended cab (Access Cab) and crew cab (Double Cab) configurations.
8. 2015 Toyota Tacoma
Stepping back to the previous generation Toyota Tacoma, specifically the 2015 model, can yield significant cost savings in the used small trucks market. While you sacrifice the latest tech and styling of the current Tacoma, the 2005-2015 generation retains the model’s renowned off-road capability and, arguably, even stronger reliability.
For buyers who prioritize simplicity and dependability over modern infotainment and driver aids, the 2005-2015 Tacoma generation is highly appealing. This generation is known for exceptional reliability, potentially even exceeding the current model due to its less complex systems. It also offered a single cab configuration in addition to extended and crew cab options for much of its run. Like the current Tacoma, on-road driving dynamics and seat comfort are not its strongest suits, but its ruggedness and reliability are undeniable.
9. 2017 Honda Ridgeline
The Honda Ridgeline stands out as a unique unibody crew cab pickup, offering a different approach to the small truck segment. While it meets the practical needs of many pickup buyers, its unconventional design and front-wheel-drive roots mean it’s often overlooked by traditional truck enthusiasts.
The 2017 Honda Ridgeline, representing the current, more refined generation, is essentially a pickup version of the Honda Pilot SUV. Its unibody construction and car-like platform provide exceptional cabin space, rivaling larger full-size trucks in interior room. However, its unibody design and front-wheel-drive base (AWD is available) limit its ultimate towing and payload capacities compared to body-on-frame competitors. The Ridgeline excels in comfort, refinement, and interior space, making it ideal for buyers who prioritize these aspects and have moderate hauling needs. It may not deliver the rugged, traditional truck feel, but it’s a highly practical and comfortable used small truck option.
10. 2018 Ford F-150
Including a full-size truck on a list of best small trucks might seem counterintuitive, but the Ford F-150’s vast model range offers some surprising overlaps. Specifically, a single-cab, short-bed 2018 Ford F-150 can actually be considered a surprisingly maneuverable and efficient option.
Remarkably, a single-cab Ford F-150 with a 6.5-foot bed is shorter in overall length than the “small” Ford Ranger, albeit wider. The F-150 also boasts a tighter turning radius than some smaller pickups, and the 2018 model with the 3.3-liter V6 engine and rear-wheel-drive achieves EPA fuel economy ratings up to 22 mpg combined, competitive with some smaller trucks. While it lacks a backseat in single cab form, for buyers prioritizing capability and maneuverability in a used truck without excessive bulk, a single-cab, short-bed F-150 represents an unexpected and worthwhile option.
These ten used models represent a diverse range of the best small trucks available, each offering unique strengths and catering to different needs and preferences. From genuinely compact pickups to versatile mid-size options and even a surprisingly nimble full-size contender, the used market provides excellent choices for those seeking a capable and affordable truck that’s smaller than the current crop of massive pickups.
