Best Pickup Trucks Under $50,000

The ranking of Car and Driver is based on the results of extensive instrument testing on hundreds of models every year, as well as the subjective experience accumulated by the editorial team in driving on real road conditions. We select the best pickup truck based on about 200 data indicators, covering acceleration performance, handling, comfort, cargo space, fuel economy, cost performance and driving pleasure. We are extremely cautious about rankings because our goal is to give you a comprehensive understanding of every model you are interested in.

Car and Driver's scoring and ranking are derived from the results of a large number of instrument tests we conduct on hundreds of cars every year, as well as the subjective feelings gained by editorial experts in actual driving. We use a 10-point scale to score the best trucks under $50,000 based on approximately 200 data points, covering acceleration, handling, comfort, cargo space, fuel economy, cost performance and driving pleasure. We then used these scores to compare them with other models in the same class. The reason why we attach so much importance to scoring and ranking is to give you a comprehensive understanding of the vehicles you are interested in. The list covers medium, full size and heavy pickup trucks.