Top 5 Trucks for Women in the Bay Area

Practicality: Trucks double as a work vehicle and a family car.

A sense of safety: Some women feel safer sitting as high as the SUV and other truck drivers on the road. As a driver of a compact vehicle, I often feel dwarfed by these hulking monster vehicles.

Style Preference: While there are a lot of moms who drive their kids around in SUVs, not everyone likes them. I have driven a couple and found that they don't handle very well and have too many blind spots. Trucks are a good alternative, especially the models that have king cabs.

Features: Modern trucks have adjustable brakes and gas pedals. They're easier to step in and step out of, compared to the traditional trucks. They have bigger passenger cabins for transporting children, sporting gear and groceries. And, they feel more "car-like".

Now that I've listed the reasons of why women love their pickups, I'll move on to the top 5 that I see in my neighborhood.

Toyota Tundra

Cost: $27,000 - $37,400

The Toyota Tundra received a 10/10 reliability score from U.S News Rankings and Reviews. It also earned a good government crash test rating and was touted as one of the "Top Safety Picks" for 2009.

Tundra's performance scored 8.2/10. Some drivers reported that it felt too big and that the ride felt too bouncy, compared to the Dodge Ram and the Ford F-150. . For some, its bulky design may make it difficult to park and maneuver through narrow roads. Despite those issues, many drivers enjoy the quiet ride and the power of the V8 engine.

Another complaint was the interior. While drivers enjoyed the spacious cab, the comfortable seating, the amenities and the ample storage space, they didn't like the hard plastic that makes up most of the interior design. Toyota fell short on that.

Ample storage and seating space makes up for the shoddy design. There are three Tundra models to choose from. The Regular Cab offers two seats up front, with storage space in the back. The Double Cab has additional seating for three people in the back. If I were to get the Tundra, I would choose the CrewMax because it offers plenty of legroom and sliding seats.

With the storage, you get two glove boxes, a center console that can hold a laptop or hanging files (perfect for corporate moms) and storage space on all four doors.

Toyota Tacoma

Cost: $15,345 - $27,250

The Tacoma is rated one of the best choices in the compact pickup class, due to its car-like interior and its towing and hauling capabilities. It comes with a 3-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty, high quality interior design and an optional V6 engine.

Most drivers feel that the truck handles well on the road, although it may get bouncy if you're hauling a big load. The V6 can also get noisy.

Ford Ranger

Cost: $17,566 - $25,501

The Ford Ranger is a good option for single women or women with small families. I have to warn you that this truck is as basic as they come. If you want air-conditioning, a CD player or cruise control, you'll have to order them. Both the exterior and interior are sparse, and many drivers complained that it rides rough.

Regular Cab models will seat up to three people and have storage space behind the seat. Super Cab models will set up to five people, with space to fit luggage or groceries. The Ford Ranger comes in six trims, with a choice of two engines and two bed sizes.

Ford added a new Roll Stability Control (RSC) system to the Ranger, which will prevent rollovers. The side-chest airbags add to the safety factor of this truck.

Dodge Dakota

Cost: $22,575 - $32,341

The Dodge Dakota is larger than most compact pickups. Its best features are its towing and six-passenger capacities. The worst features are the gutless V6 engine, its high starting price and lackluster interior.

To combat the high price, you might want to consider buying the 2009 model, if it's still available. The 2009 model also comes with a lifetime warranty. Strangely enough, the 2010 does not.

Chevy Silverado

Cost: $21,293 - $41,634

The Chevy Silverado is one of the best full-size trucks on the market. It has comfortable seating, a comprehensive safety system, a powerful V8 engine and drives smoothly on the road.

Three body styles are available for the Silverado: a standard 2-door cab, an extended cab that comes with a small rear-seat area that is accessed by two rear-hinged doors and an extended cab with four doors. Standard and extended cabs have the option of a standard-sized or long-sized bed. Crew cabs come with the short bed only, due to maneuverability issues.

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