The cheapest pickup trucks you can still buy under $35,000
Keenan Thompson- Prices are based on MSRP with no options.
Pickup trucks are very popular with American buyers.
Even if many of us aren't using pickups the way they are intended, they are still everywhere on the road.
As car prices rise, so have trucks. Fully loaded, full-size trucks can reach up to $100,000 for certain trims. But there are still a few more affordable trucks out there if you are willing to look. Most of the cheaper trucks are smaller and can’t tow as much, but they are still competent in their own right.
As part of the Paste BN Network, a Detroit Free Press review in October of American automaker offerings found six trucks that have a starting price below $35,000. Prices, based on starting MSRP and no options, are subject to change over time.
Ford Maverick - $28,145
The Ford Maverick is currently the cheapest pickup truck for sale in the United States. It starts below $30,000 and has a payload capacity of 1,500 pounds. It can tow up to 2,000 pounds in the base trim.
Hyundai Santa Cruz - $29,500
The Santa Cruz looks nothing like the other trucks you see on the road, as Hyundai has a very unique design language in its current lineup. It’s a small truck but Hyundai claims it can tow up to 3,500 pounds in the base trim.
Toyota Tacoma - $31,590
The Tacoma is the little brother of the Toyota Tundra but is still more than capable. It can tow better than most smaller pickups while being off-road worthy, too.
Nissan Frontier - $32,150
Every trim level of the Frontier delivers 310 horsepower from its 3.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine.
Chevrolet Colorado - $32,400
The Colorado is the more affordable truck from Chevy. It’s nearly $8,000 cheaper than the GMC Canyon, which is built on the same platform.
Ford Ranger - $33,350
The Ford Ranger is the medium-sized pickup from Ford that lies between the Maverick and F-150 in the lineup. It starts at a reasonable price for the base 4x2 trim but prices can rise greatly after options.
Keenan Thompson is a car culture reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Keenan at kthompson@freepress.com. Follow him on Instagram at @keenanautos. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.