Amongst the myriad of pickup trucks on the market, what are the best of the best? Here are our top five picks for the trucks that will dominate the market in the next two years.
Ford F-150 Lightning
Those looking for an alternative to the gas-powered F-150 might want to check out the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. Not only is this a new model, but it is also the most important new car of the year.
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is a pure electric pickup truck. Although it shares its chassis with the standard F-150, it has been enhanced for weight. The dual-electric-motor setup provides 452 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque. The base battery provides 230 miles of range. The more powerful Extended-Range battery pack boosts that figure to 320 miles.
The F-150 Lightning has a variety of options, including full-time all-wheel drive. There’s also a power tailgate. The tailgate is a bit unusual, as it has an integrated bed step and a work surface. It also has drain plugs for wet storage. It has 14 cubic feet of storage space.
In addition to its awe-inspiring features, the F-150 Lightning also has a low center of gravity. This helps keep the body roll under control. It also has an independent rear suspension.
The Ford F-150 Lightning has a number of features, such as an eight-year/100,000-mile limited warranty on parts and accessories for electric vehicles, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. It also has a 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. There’s also Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless smartphone integration.
There’s also an independent rear suspension, which helps the F-150 Lightning handle rough terrain. Ford also has a large, watertight storage compartment. There are also plugs in the bed. The storage compartment is capable of holding 400 pounds of cargo.
It’s also worth mentioning that the F-150 Lightning has a power tailgate. That’s not something that most trucks have.
The F-150 Lightning also has a power-operated front trunk. It’s also a pretty quick truck. The standard model can hit 60 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds. The extended-range model can do the same thing in just 4.0 seconds. Those wanting a truck that can go far should consider buying the Extended-Range battery pack. It can add $10,000 to the bottom line.
The F-150 Lightning is definitely a winner. It offers more than a few things that the Rivian R1T can’t.
Chevrolet Silverado HD
Designed to haul big things, the Chevy Silverado HD is the top of the large heavy-duty pickups. It offers a spacious cabin and a cab designed to tow heavy loads. Its rear bench allows for more room in the back.
Silverado HD models offer advanced active-safety systems. These include blind-spot monitoring, lane-change alert, and rear cross-traffic alert. In addition, Chevy offers its MyWay technology, which allows real-time communication with a product specialist.
Silverado HD also features a rear bench that is designed to haul heavy loads. It also offers an 8-foot-by-2-inch bed. The truck also features a standard Multi-Flex tailgate.
Chevy Silverado HD also offers a 401-horsepower 6.6-liter V8 gas engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Duramax diesel option comes standard on 2500 and 3500 models. This diesel has improved payload capacity and provides a dual rear-wheel setup for extra-heavy loads.
The interior of Chevy Silverado HD has a contemporary, upscale look. It features chrome exterior trim and a center stack that is updated. The new touchscreen provides easy access to features such as audio, climate control, and trailering information.
The Chevy Silverado HD is available in two-door Crew or Double cabs. Both cabs provide seating for up to six passengers. The Crew Cab offers more legroom than the Double Cab. However, the seatbacks in the Double Cab aren’t as comfortable as those in the Crew Cab.
Chevrolet Silverado HD offers three bed sizes, including a 5-foot-10-inch short bed, an 8-foot-2-inch standard bed, and a 12-foot-by-8-foot bed. Both the short and long beds have large steps integrated into the bumper.
The Chevrolet Silverado HD comes with an optional safety package that includes blind-spot monitoring, lane-change warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also features a 12.3-inch configurable driver information display. In addition, it offers a wireless charging pad and power outlets.
The Chevy Silverado HD also offers an advanced trailering package with a bed-view camera. It also offers a trailering app, which lets drivers virtually see through the trailer.
Despite its impressive capabilities, the Chevy Silverado HD doesn’t have official fuel economy ratings. Fuelly tracks real-world fuel economy, and some drivers report up to 16 miles per gallon from the diesel.
GMC Sierra 1500
GM has updated the GMC Sierra 1500 for the 2022 model year. This pickup features a redesigned exterior, a new infotainment system and a host of new safety features. It also offers a few upgrades to its interior.
The 2022 Sierra 1500 is available with a 6.2-liter V-8 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It has a tow rating of 13,200 pounds. With a rear-wheel drive system, it earns 16 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg combined.
The base model includes single-zone air conditioning, manual windows, and Bluetooth connectivity. The SLE model adds keyless entry, heated front seats, and a remote start system. The Limited model has a long bed and rear-wheel drive. It also features single-zone air conditioning and Android Auto smartphone integration.
The Sierra 2022 also comes with an industry first CarbonPro(tm) carbon composite bed, which offers good scratch resistance and dent resistance. In addition, the Sierra gets a new grille treatment that substitutes darkened metallic trim for brightwork. The grille gets a Vader Chrome treatment that is also available in Titanium Rush Metallic paint.
The GMC Sierra also has a new MultiPro tailgate. This is the first six-function tailgate on a pickup. This allows drivers to open and close the tailgate with ease. The MultiPro tailgate also comes standard on the AT4X and Denali Ultimate models.
In addition, the 2022 Sierra has a new touchscreen infotainment system. This infotainment system includes a 13.4-inch diagonal display, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Google Play. The new system also offers continuous map data updates and real-time traffic.
The base model has a 310-horsepower, 2.7-liter turbo-4 engine. This engine generates 420 pound-feet of torque. The new engine offers 20% more torque than last year’s model. It also has a higher towing rating than last year’s model.
For the 2022 model year, GMC has also added two new premium trims to the Sierra lineup. These trims are available with Google Play, Google Maps, and next-generation GMC Infotainment System+. All of these features are compatible with Apple and Android devices.
The GMC Sierra 1500 is a high-performance pickup that offers a variety of luxury features. However, it does not have the same luxurious interior that the Chevy Silverado 1500 offers.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Taking a new approach to the pickup truck market, Hyundai has launched the Santa Cruz, a crossover-derived platform that’s part pickup truck, part SUV, and part mini-truck. While it doesn’t have a ladder-frame chassis like other pickups, it does offer the comfort and convenience of a compact SUV, while also providing the towing capacity and off-road capability of a pickup truck.
The interior is highly configurable, with redundant steering wheel controls and a high-tech, digital instrument panel. There’s also a lockable sliding aluminum-slat tonneau cover, which offers an open-air experience and is designed to protect valuables.
The bed is also flexible, as it can be punched out to add a canopy system. It’s also longer than an SUV’s cargo area, giving the Santa Cruz the ability to accommodate almost anything.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz offers two impressive powertrains. A turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and a naturally aspirated four-cylinder are both available. The 2.5-liter’s 17-gallon fuel tank provides a 430-mile range, while the 4-cylinder’s 17.7-gallon fuel tank provides a 22-mpg combined city/highway driving range.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is also equipped with a wide range of advanced technology, including Blue Link, which allows the driver to remotely control the car’s functions. It’s also compatible with smartwatches and home assistants.
Hyundai also offers a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The warranty covers the car’s transmission, brakes, batteries, and airbags. In addition, Hyundai offers a five-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance plan.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz also features a rugged exterior, with an athletic grille that surrounds wheel arches and features daytime running lights. It’s also got a 5000-pound towing capacity, which is great for a pickup truck.
It’s also got a spacious, flexible rear bed, and a large cargo bin that can hold more than 100 beverages. It also has a lockable sliding aluminum-slat cover that retracts to the front of the bed, giving drivers the option to leave their gear secure for a weekend adventure.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz’s interior has plenty of headroom and good legroom up front, as well as a remarkably user-friendly cargo bed. But the seats could use more side bolstering.
