8 midsize pickup trucks ranked from worst to best

Midsize pickups now span everything from off-road-focused haulers to car-like crossovers with a bed bolted on, and the segment has grown more diverse than ever. Reviewers weighing fuel economy, ride quality, off-road ability and everyday usability arrived at sharply different verdicts on which trucks earn a spot in a driveway. Here are eight midsize pickup trucks ranked from worst to best.

1. Nissan Frontier: Rugged But Thirsty

Reviewers ranking midsize pickups from worst to best frequently place the Nissan Frontier at the bottom of the class, pointing to fuel-economy numbers in federal mileage records that trail most rivals in the segment.

The truck still offers old-school body-on-frame toughness, a stout V6 and straightforward controls, which appeals to buyers who value mechanical simplicity over the newest technology. Anyone cross-shopping daily running costs, though, may find the gap at the pump hard to justify against newer competitors in the same class. Interior technology and cabin materials also lag the segment’s newer entries, reinforcing its spot near the bottom of most published rankings.

2. Jeep Gladiator: Trail Toy, Compromised Truck

The Jeep Gladiator lands near the bottom in many worst-to-best rankings despite a devoted following, since its removable doors and roof and Wrangler-based chassis come paired with a short bed and a ride that critics call bouncy on pavement, per government fuel-economy listings for the model.

Off-road, the Gladiator remains genuinely capable, with solid axles and serious rock-crawling hardware that few rivals match. As a daily hauler, though, reviewers note the tradeoffs are real: modest towing figures for the segment, a firm highway ride and a price that climbs quickly on off-road trims.

3. Hyundai Santa Cruz: Car-Like Comfort, Limited Utility

Built on a unibody car platform rather than a traditional truck frame, the Hyundai Santa Cruz drives more like a crossover than a pickup, a distinction federal vehicle records confirm by classifying it apart from body-on-frame competitors.

That layout brings a smooth, quiet ride, sedan-like handling and a lockable in-bed trunk that reviewers single out as clever. It also means a shorter bed and lower capability ceiling than the rest of this list, so buyers who need serious towing or off-road range typically look elsewhere in the class. Its car-based platform makes it an easier daily commuter than most rivals here, which is exactly why some cross-shoppers pick it anyway.

4. GMC Canyon: Capable But Pricey

GMC’s Canyon shares its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Colorado but leans into a more upscale cabin and trim lineup, a positioning reflected in the model listings behind its fuel-economy filing with the government.

Reviewers generally rate the Canyon as a genuinely capable midsize truck, with a strong turbocharged engine and off-road-ready AT4 trims that hold their own against segment leaders. The tradeoff most often cited is price, since a well-equipped Canyon can climb close to full-size-truck territory before options are added. That premium positioning is exactly why it ranks just behind its mechanical twin from Chevrolet in most comparisons.

5. Chevrolet Colorado: Off-Road Trims Lift Its Case

The Chevrolet Colorado sits in the middle of most worst-to-best rankings, with reviewers praising the muscular turbocharged four-cylinder shared across trims and documented in its EPA testing entry.

Its ZR2 off-road trim, with wider fenders, front and rear locking differentials and long-travel suspension, is frequently called out as a genuine trail machine that punches above the truck’s price point. Base and mid-level trims draw more mixed marks, with some reviewers noting a firmer ride than key rivals. Value-minded shoppers still tend to favor the Colorado over its GMC twin simply because the equipment overlaps while the sticker price runs lower.

6. Ford Ranger: Well-Rounded, Raptor-Powerful

The Ford Ranger climbs toward the top of most rankings on the strength of a balanced ride, a roomy cabin for the segment and a lineup that spans work-truck trims to the performance-oriented Raptor, per its government fuel-economy record.

Reviewers describe the standard Ranger as a well-rounded daily truck with confident handling and useful tech, while the Raptor variant adds a twin-turbo V6 and long-travel desert-racing suspension aimed squarely at buyers cross-shopping serious off-road performance rather than maximum efficiency. That range, from work-focused base trims to a genuine desert racer, is a big reason it ranks so highly overall.

7. Honda Ridgeline: Smoothest Ride, Clever Storage

Like the Santa Cruz, the Honda Ridgeline uses a unibody platform, but reviewers rank it well above that rival thanks to a genuinely truck-sized bed, a dual-action tailgate and an in-bed trunk detailed alongside its official mileage listing.

The unibody construction also delivers the smoothest, most car-like ride in this lineup, along with strong all-weather grip from its standard all-wheel-drive system. Buyers seeking serious off-road hardware or heavy-duty towing numbers still tend toward body-on-frame rivals instead, since that is not the Ridgeline’s strength. Reviewers instead position it as the pick for owners who haul gear occasionally but drive a comfortable commuter every day.

8. Toyota Tacoma: Resale And Reliability King

Reviewers most often place the Toyota Tacoma at the top of the midsize class, citing its redesigned platform, broad trim lineup and the reputation for durability tracked in its federal fuel-economy history.

Beyond the badge’s long-standing reliability record, the Tacoma benefits from strong resale values that keep long-term ownership costs down relative to rivals. Trail-focused TRD trims add real off-road hardware, while reviewers note the ride and interior refinement have both improved markedly over the outgoing generation. That combination of proven dependability and a modernized cabin is why it consistently tops worst-to-best rankings across the class.