10 Best First Trucks

2016 Chevy Colorado bikes in truck bed ・ Photo by General Motors

As pickup sales continue to pick up, more and more first-time truck owners are entering the marketplace, and, if you are one, you may not be sure what model best suits your needs. Should you choose one with low pricing, so you don’t spend a lot on a vehicle you aren’t sure to like? Or perhaps you should look for one that handles more like a car, or isn’t necessarily the biggest truck on the block. You also may want to consider going the full boat right from the start with a fire-breathing, full-size pickup that features all the bells and whistles. But in any case, you’ll definitely want to consider our list of the best first trucks.

2016 Ford F-150

The 2016 Ford F-150 is part of the best-selling vehicle line in the country, and that's partly because it's one of the best first trucks for a wide range of customers. For example, if you've never been behind the wheel of a big pickup before, you might want the confidence of knowing your truck is backed by both a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a 5-Star Overall Safety Score from NHTSA. Well, the only trucks in the industry with that on their resumes are the F-150 SuperCab models (with two full-size front doors and two smaller, rear-opening back doors) and the SuperCrew trucks (with four traditional, full-size doors). You’ll find plenty of proactive driver-assistance measures available, too.

Photo by Ford

2017 Honda Ridgeline

Even today's most sophisticated pickups ride and handle differently than a family sedan, since nearly all trucks still rely on body-on-frame construction—which is more robust—yet also heavier and less comfortable than the all-in-one unibody construction used with modern-day cars. The only exception: the brand-new 2017 Honda Ridgeline. Honda's brand-new midsize pickup is a unibody vehicle with standard front-wheel drive and what the brand claims is "vastly superior ride comfort and handling precision compared to conventional body-on-frame truck offerings." In other words, it provides the kind of driving experience that’s ideal for the best first trucks with the as-yet untested Ridgeline also expecting an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating and a 5-Star Overall Safety Score from NHTSA.

Photo by Honda

2016 Toyota Tacoma

Some shoppers also may be wondering about the best first trucks for younger, first-time drivers. With those drivers, speeding is a top factor in increasing the risk of an accident, but with the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, the risk of speeding itself can be decreased. That's because some trims come standard with a 2.7-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces a fairly moderate 159 horsepower and 180 lb.-ft of torque. The Tacoma has less output than found in some compact cars, yet it’s still pushing a mid-size pickup of more than 200 inches. Four-cylinder Tacomas also can get tricked out with a standard Entune infotainment system, with hands-free and voice-control technology that helps drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Photo by Toyota

2016 Chevrolet Colorado

GM's next-generation midsize pickups—like the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado—satisfy customer demand for the best first trucks by furnishing just about everything available in a full-sizer, but in an easier-to-handle, easier-to-afford package. It's a difference of a few inches and a few thousand dollars as compared to the Chevy Silverado, but the smaller truck does offer something its bigger sibling can't: two consecutive Motor Trend Truck of the Year Awards, honoring both the gasoline-powered versions and the new-for-2016 Colorado diesel. As for what the Colorado shares with the Silverado, that includes benefits that first-time—or any-time—truck drivers would love, like mobile Wi-Fi, smartphone integration, wireless phone charging, and high-tech safety measures such as lane-departure warning and forward collision alert.

Photo by General Motors

2016 GMC Canyon

The best first trucks for luxury enthusiasts may be the ones that serve up a taste of premium pickup elegance, but don't force folks to bite off more than they can chew. For instance, the 2017 GMC Canyon will bring the brand's signature Denali trim to its popular midsize pickup beginning later this year, complete with typical Denali touches such as a model-exclusive, up-sized chrome grille and 20-inch aluminum wheels with an ultra-bright machined finish and painted accents. Premium amenities will abound in the cabin, too, which will be highlighted by heated and ventilated, leather-appointed front seats, a Wi-Fi enabled infotainment system, and forward collision alert with lane-departure warning. GMC also has confirmed a diesel Denali for the Canyon.

Photo by General Motors

2016 Chevrolet Silverado

The Bowtie brand also has pickups that are among the best first trucks for drivers focused on fuel economy—now that a limited number of 2016 Chevrolet Silverado pickups will offer a new eAssist mild hybrid system. Leveraging technology borrowed from the Chevy Volt, the eAssist system includes a .45 kWh lithium ion battery pack that helps boost EPA fuel-efficiency grades by 2 mpg in all facets of testing. Further, the truck's new EPA grades of 18 mpg city / 24 mpg highway / 20 mpg combined also come with an extra 13 horsepower and 44 lb.-ft of torque from its electric motor. And that goes along with the standard 5.3-liter V8 that makes 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft of torque on its own.

Photo by General Motors

2016 GMC Sierra

Then again, some people shopping for the best first trucks are ready to jump in with both feet, so why not land in a Professional Grade full-size pickup like the 2016 GMC Sierra? Unlike other truck lines, the Sierra supplies premium packaging right from the start, although the new 2016 Elevation edition is a particularly impressive choice. It builds on the standard Sierra double cab by delivering enhanced content all throughout the truck. Upgrades outside include LED front fog lights and cargo-box lighting, along with body-color accents and 20-inch black-painted aluminum wheels. The cabin then showcases GMC's newest IntelliLink infotainment system, now with mobile Wi-Fi, a 7-inch screen, faster processors, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay smartphone integration.

Photo by General Motors

2016 Nissan Titan XD

Unsurprisingly, our list of the best first trucks also includes the one that Autobytel experts already selected as the best truck of any kind this year: the 2016 Nissan Titan XD. The Titan XD takes a new approach to the full-size pickup segment, combining more-than-full-size towing capability with not-quite-heavy-duty dimensions. In fact, if you want to make sure the neighbors notice your new purchase, keep in mind that the Titan XD stretches more than 20 feet in length—16 inches longer than a comparable gas-powered Titan. The heart of the matter, though, is the XD's 5.0-liter, turbocharged diesel V8 engine. The unit comes from Cummins and kicks out enough power to pull more than 12,300 lbs.

Photo by Nissan USA

2016 Nissan Frontier

As is the case with its Toyota Tacoma rival, the 2016 Nissan Frontier features an old-school four-cylinder engine as standard equipment. Indeed, with the Nissan's unit yielding a mere 152 horsepower and 171 lb.-ft of torque, the Frontier King Cab comes with the least amount of output of any current pickup. Beyond a slower-but-safer driving experience that's great for younger, inexperienced owners, who are more likely to be at risk for a crash by speeding, the Frontier also should be on your list if you're on a budget while searching for the best first trucks. After all, it’s the least-expensive new pickup currently at dealerships, with an MSRP that’s more than $5,000 below that of the entry-level Tacoma.  

Photo by Nissan

2016 Ram 1500

For some ecologically minded customers, the best first trucks have to have best-in-class fuel economy grades, too. For them, the 2016 RAM 1500, configured with a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine and the HFE ultimate-efficiency package, puts up an EPA line of 21 mpg city / 29 mpg highway / 24 mpg combined; it’s an extra 1 mpg in all areas over the non-HFE Ram diesel, but no current pickup in any class is more fuel efficient than either. Nor does this full-size truck trade away capability to achieve those grades: the same engine also generates a robust 420 lb.-ft of torque, for a 9,200-lb. maximum tow rating.