Best Pickup Truck of 2024
2024 Chevrolet Colorado: Finalist
- Starting price range: $30,695-$48,295
- Output range: 237-310 hp
- Maximum towing capacity: 7,700 pounds
The Chevrolet Colorado, updated for 2023 and relatively unchanged for 2024, is a massive improvement on the outgoing model, receiving a thorough redo that touches every part of the mid-size truck. The styling is obviously all new and conveys a sense of toughness with its wide stance, chunky lines and modern look. The interior gets a total rethink, as well, and is more comfortable and useful than ever despite having a little less room in the back than the last truck. Materials quality is good (if not great), but the amenities list is long, with a new Google operating system for the multimedia system and digital displays for the gauge cluster, though it still maintains a significant bank of physical buttons and controls for frequently used items.
It’s under the hood that the Colorado gets some huge upgrades, coming in the form of two new turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains. Standard is a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine making 237 hp and 259 pounds-feet of torque, while optional is a more powerful variant making 310 hp and 390 pounds-feet of torque; those are V-8 levels of power from a smallish turbo four. All engines are mated to a standard eight-speed automatic transmission and rear- or four-wheel drive, but you can have a Colorado in several different flavors ranging from basic work truck to mid-level luxury to full-on Baja-style off-road race truck.
At the top end of the trim spectrum is the extraordinary ZR2 Bison, featuring Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve off-road shock absorbers, special powertrain tuning and enormous 35-inch off-road tires. It’s the Colorado’s diversity, appeal and outstanding performance that landed it a place on our Best Pickup Truck of 2024 nominees list.
2024 Chevrolet Colorado Specs and Reviews Find a 2024 Chevrolet Colorado Near You
2024 Ford Maverick: Finalist
- Starting price range: $25,410-$36,450
- Output range: 191-250 hp
- Maximum towing capacity: 4,000 pounds
The Ford Maverick has been a Cars.com award winner since its introduction for 2022, and for good reason — it’s an incredible value, exceptionally capable, comfortable and probably as much truck as most buyers will ever need. Plus, it’s small enough to fit into a suburban garage or downtown parking space without any problem. It’s still one of our favorite pickup trucks, but one change for the most recent model year disappointed us: The Mav has gone from “hybrid standard” to “hybrid available.”
Yep, the standard powertrain is now the turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder making 250 hp and 277 pounds-feet of torque, driving either the front or all four wheels. The optional extra-cost powertrain is now the gas-electric hybrid system combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor via a continuously variable transmission. While both are fantastic powertrains, the EcoBoost provides outstanding power and up to 4,000 pounds of towing capacity; the hybrid, meanwhile, allows for significant electric operation and stellar fuel economy of 37 mpg combined. Losing the hybrid as the standard system was a real bummer, but the abilities of the Maverick still keep it in top contention for our favorite pickup. If you’re looking to go off-road, there’s a Tremor package that brings a lot of the Ford Bronco Sport’s top off-road equipment into the Maverick.
There are accessories galore for the Maverick, as well, from bed caps to 3D printer files that allow you to print your own bits and pieces and slot them into the truck’s interior. The Maverick is still an incredible choice for the vast majority of people who think they want a pickup truck, and it’s still definitely worth a look.
2024 Ford Maverick Specs and Reviews Find a 2024 Ford Maverick Near You