Five Best Trucks Under $25,000

Let's just get one thing out of the way first here. If you want a full size pickup truck like the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram or Toyota Tundra and only have $25,000 to spend then you are looking at a very basic model that may or may not have vinyl seats. That might make a fine work truck but if you are looking for a more well rounded personal workhorse there are better choices.

With gas prices in constant flux it may be wise to look at the smaller siblings of these giant pickups. They offer terrific payload and tow ratings, differing bed lengths, powerful V6 engines and some can go off-road. Okay, one of the picks isn't necessarily a truck but it would wipe the floor with any of the other choices off-road.

So if you need a sturdy workhorse that can also pull second duty as a comfortable daily driver check out these five choices. And if you are wondering why the Chevy Colorado isn't on this list it is because it has a rental car quality interior and a whiny, wheezing five cylinder engine. Case closed.

Toyota Tacoma Pre-Runner Double Cab 4x2 V6 (5-speed automatic)
(Starting at $23,950): (17 city/21 highway)
(4.0 liter 236 horsepower/266 lb. feet of torque V6)
If you add the tow package to this model Tacoma you can haul as much as 6400 lbs. behind this compact pickup stalwart. The 4.0 liter V6 is a much smarter choice than the anemic four cylinder that is best left to vinyl clad base models with bench seats. The Double Cab also offers owners the added benefit of four full size seats so this could double as a work and family truck.

Ford Ranger XLT Super Cab V6 4x2
(Starting at $22,180): (15 city/21 highway)
(4.0 liter 207 horsepower/238 lb. feet of torque V6)
The Ford Ranger may seem like it has been around since the dinosaurs walked the earth but if your budget is below $25,000 it makes more sense than an F-150. At that budget your F-150 will have rubber floormats and a miserly specification. So unless you are just looking for a work truck to abuse the Ranger makes more sense.

The mid-range Ranger XLT variant makes the most sense as it offers you two cab size options as well as coming with all the standard creature comforts you need (air conditioning, power windows, AM/FM 6 disc CD changer/Aux-input jack). While the base four cylinder engine is adequate, the tried and true 4.0 liter V6 is much better at keeping up with traffic.

Dodge Dakota Big Horn/Lone Star Edition Extended Cab 4x2
(Starting at $24,370): (15 city/20 highway)
(3.7 liter 210 horsepower/235 lb. feet of torque V6 )
In the world of pickup trucks, some find compact pickups to be too small and full size pickups to be too large. For those people (apologies for the Goldilocks analogy) the Dodge Dakota is "just right." At this price you can't afford the four door double cab but you do get a lot of creature comforts like power windows, keyless entry, a 6-speaker AM/FM CD player and a 1,810 lb. payload capacity.

Suzuki Equator Sport Extended Cab V6 4x2
(Starting at $24,040): (15 city/20 highway)
(4.0 liter 261 horsepower/281 lb. feet of torque V6)
I am sure you are wondering why the near identical Nissan Frontier isn't listed here but there is a simple reason for that. Suzuki offers a far more generous warranty than Nissan with a 7 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty that is transferrable to the second owner. So, if you live near a Suzuki dealer this might just be the best compact pickup choice for you.

Jeep Wrangler Sport 4x4
($24,100): (15 city/19 highway)
(3.8 liter V6 with 202 horsepower/237 lb. feet of torque)
I realize this isn't a truck in terms of having an open cargo bed but when it comes to off-road capability nothing beats a Wrangler. And I say if it rides like a truck, goes off road like a truck, quacks like a truck and goes off road like a truck then it is a truck. Plus, for all the fun you can have this is a screaming bargain.

Sources: Jeep.com

Dodge.com

Fordusa.com

Toyota.com

Suzuki.com