10 Trucks That Last the Longest

2019 Ford Ranger front three quarter ・ Photo by Ford

Reliability and longevity are important with any vehicle you buy, but they’re especially important when you’re buying a pickup truck. People expect pickup trucks to be tough and sturdy, and we want to use them for work as well as day-to-day driving.

Modern trucks have never been better in terms of quality, reliability, and capability. Any truck you buy today can reasonably be expected to give you 250,000 miles or more of mostly trouble-free driving. If it’s a heavy-duty model or a diesel, you could enjoy it up to 350,000 miles in a working lifetime. To help you decide which truck is right for you, here are 10 new pickups that are built to last.

1) 2020 Ford F-150

Ford offers a 3.0-liter PowerStroke V6 turbo-diesel engine in the 2020 Ford F-150 full-size light duty pickup family. Diesels cost a bit more, but they’re known for longevity, increased hauling and towing capacity, and excellent fuel economy. Ford covers the F-150 with a warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles, and the PowerStroke diesel drivetrain for 5 years or 100,000 miles.

The 3.0-liter PowerStroke engine delivers 440 pound-feet of torque, driving the F-150 through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The 2020 F-150 will tow up to 11,500 pounds, and carry up to 1,940 pounds payload. The diesel’s fuel economy is impressive, returning up to 22 MPG in city driving, and up to 30 MPG on the highway, with an average of 25 MPG.  

Photo by Ford

2) 2020 Chevrolet Silverado

Chevrolet also has a new turbo-diesel engine available the new 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 light duty truck. The 3.0-liter Duramax is an inline six-cylinder powerplant rated at 460 pound-feet of torque and 277 horsepower. This engine also comes with a 10-speed transmission. Chevrolet trucks come with a 3-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and Chevrolet covers their diesel engine with a 5-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

In addition to the new engine, the Chevrolet Silverado was completely re-engineered last year with an all-new chassis that should be exceptionally durable. A new Trail Boss trim includes an extra-tough 4WD system. Small changes like a new taller steering knuckle reduce bump feedback to the steering wheel, and this truck comes with four-wheel disc brakes. Finally, you can choose your rear-axle ratio to keep your truck's engine operating comfortably for a longer working life.

Photo by General Motors

3) 2020 Ram 1500 Diesel

The Ram truck story is a little confusing because there are two different 2020 Ram 1500 models. One is the entirely new design and one is the previous generation, now called the 2020 Ram 1500 Classic. One big difference is that the new design Ram 1500 is available with a turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine with 480 pound-feet of torque and 260 horsepower. Build the right truck around it, and this diesel will tow up to 12,560 pounds and last for hundreds of thousands of miles.

The 2020 RAM 1500 transmission is an advanced TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic with your choice of rear-wheel or four-wheel-drive. Ram Trucks covers their vehicles with a 3-year, 36,000-mile general warranty, and a 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

4) 2020 Toyota Tundra

Toyota does not offer a diesel option on the 2020 Toyota Tundra full-size light duty truck, but they do offer a proven 5.7-liter V8. This engine delivers 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, routed through a six-speed automatic transmission. Toyota’s been making this engine a long time, and the brand’s reputation for longevity and reliability is unmatched. Toyota covers the Tundra with a 3-year, 36,000-mile comprehensive warranty, and a 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Depending on the trim level you buy, you can order your Tundra with a convenient extended cab or a full four-door crew cab. However, the gasoline engine returns only 13 MPG in the city and 18 MPG in highway driving. The tradeoff here is that the Tundra is less expensive than the diesel-powered options from other brands.

Photo by Toyota

5) 2020 Nissan Titan XD

If you want to maximize the life of any truck, a heavy-duty model is the way to go. The 2020 Nissan Titan XD offers the longest standard warranty of any new truck with five years or 100,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage. All 2020 Titan models include a 400-horsepower 5.6-liter gas V8 with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Cummins diesel has been discontinued after 2019, but the Nissan V8 tows up to 11,000 pounds.

Buying the Titan XD for the long haul is smart because it comes with Nissan's Safety Shield 360 as standard equipment on all trims. This package includes rear automatic braking, automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. One last note on reliability: Nissan trucks have received the highest initial quality rating from JD Power.

Photo by Nissan

6) 2020 Jeep Gladiator

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator is popular in its second year of production, having been launched in 2019 as a 2020 model. It's still too early to know how it will last, but this Jeep mid-size pickup comes with the very reliable 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, tuned to produce 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Jeep has not yet released the Gladiator with the 3.0-liter diesel engine from the Wrangler, but that engine has 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, and returns up to 29 MPG on the highway.

The standard transmission is a 6-speed manual, but an 8-speed automatic is available and is likely to last longer than a manual. The 2020 Jeep Gladiator carries a 3-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty, with 5 years or 60,000 miles coverage on the powertrain.The Gladiator includes best-in-class (for mid-size crew cab 4X4 trucks) towing capability of 7,650 pounds, and best-in-class payload capacity of 1,600 pounds. Fuel economy with the automatic transmission is estimated at 16 MPG city and 23 MPG highway.  

Photo by Jeep

7) 2020 GMC Canyon Diesel

Both the 2020 GMC Canyon and the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado mid-size trucks are available with a 2.8-liter four-cylinder Duramax turbo-diesel. This engine produces 369 pound-feet of torque and 181 horsepower, enabling either truck to pull trailers up to 7,700 pounds. When paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, these trucks return up to 20 MPG in city driving and 30 MPG on the highway. GM gives both trucks a 3-year, 36,000-mile general warranty, and a 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The GMC and Chevrolet mid-size trucks are also available with a well-known 3.6-liter gas-powered V6 engine, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. New for 2020, you can get a Duramax-powered Colorado with rear-wheel-drive, but the diesel option is still limited to 4WD Canyon models.

Photo by General Motors

8) 2020 Honda Ridgeline

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline has been refreshed for this model year, but the basics are still the same. The Ridgeline is unique because it’s built with a stamped body like an SUV, rather than a traditional ladder frame like most trucks. As a result, the Ridgeline has a much smoother and quieter ride than most trucks. The Ridgeline is also unusual in the truck market because it's a front-wheel-drive vehicle, with all-wheel-drive available as an option.

Every Ridgeline comes with Honda’s well-developed 3.5-liter V6 gas engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. The Honda V6 is rated to produce 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Honda offers a 3-year, 36,000-mile warranty, with coverage for 5 years or 60,000 miles on the drivetrain, but what you’re really buying is Honda’s general reputation for quality and longevity. Part of that longevity is the Ridgeline's standard reinforced polymer bed material, which doesn't scratch or rust.

Photo by Honda

9) 2020 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty

The 2020 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty is an impressive truck lineup. Buyers can choose between a large 6.6-liter gas V8 or a 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel V8 engine. The Duramax boasts 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque. Diesel engines are paired with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission for extra capability. With the Duramax, the new GMC Heavy Duty will tow up to 35,500 pounds, which is far in excess of what most states will allow on a regular driver’s license.

GMC also includes a host of advanced tech features on the new Sierra Heavy Duty, including a new ProGrade trailering camera system and the MultiPro six-function tailgate. GMC’s warranty coverage is 3 years or 36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, and up to 5 years or 100,000 miles on the drivetrain.

Photo by General Motors

10) 2020 Ford Ranger

2020 is the second year for Ford's reimagined small truck, still offering just one engine option. Every 2020 Ford Ranger comes with an EcoBoost 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The benefit of the EcoBoost engine really shows up in the fuel economy ratings, but it’s unclear if this will translate into a longer-lasting truck. The Ranger can tow up to 7,500 pounds and will carry up to 1,860 pounds of payload.

According to EPA estimates, 4X2 Rangers will return 21 MPG city and 26 MPG highway, with 23 MPG in combined driving. 4X4 Rangers will achieve 20 MPG city and 24 MPG highway, with a combined rating of 22 MPG. Ford sells the Ranger with a 3-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty, plus a 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Photo by Ford