Cars and Drivers
Ford F-150 Too Pricey? These Trucks Offer More For Less
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The Ford F-150 is America’s best-selling truck for a reason. It is a legend among truck owners, with a solid reputation for versatility, durability, and innovation. From weekend adventures to construction sites, this truck consistently delivers. (These are the trucks to buy if you want a true American pickup.)
The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling pickup truck for the last 41 years. At least one F-150 was sold every 49 seconds in 2022, and this continued into 2023 as it was the best-selling American passenger vehicle, starting with the relatively inexpensive price of $38,710 in 2025. (These are the most fuel-efficient pickup trucks of 2024.)
Based on its sales numbers, it’s hard to imagine that any pickup truck could be better than the Ford F-150. However, the reality is that you can find pickup truck models that are not just better than the F-150, but also cheaper, which can make them an even more attractive option for buyers. (This is the state where the most people drive pickups.)
Why This Matters
We have nothing against the Ford F-150, it is a great pickup truck. However, it’s not for everyone. Finding a comparable truck at a lower price can save you a lot of money. In addition, many of the vehicles on this list have better features, greater fuel economy, and a higher towing capacity, giving you more for your money.
These pickup trucks are better and cheaper than the Ford F-150:
9. Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Starting price: $28,500
- Towing capacity: Up to 5,000 pounds
- Payload capacity: Up to 1,400 pounds
- Seating: Room for 5
It’s a Pickup Sedan
8. GMC Canyon Elevation
- Starting price: $37,895
- Towing capacity: Up to 7,700 pounds
- Payload capacity: Up to 2,240 pounds
- Seating: Room for 5
GMC Interior
7. Toyota Tacoma
- Starting price: $31,500
- Towing capacity: Up to 6,500 pounds
- Payload capacity: Up to 1,709 pounds
- Seating: Room for 5
Toyota Reliability
With Toyota’s reliability behind it, the Tacoma is a stand-out alternative to the Ford F-150 for many reasons. You get similar off-road capabilities but with a price tag of thousands less. While Ford promises the F-150 is built for work, the Toyota Tacoma is built for both work and fun, which is a significant difference between the two brands and vehicles.
6. Honda Ridgeline
- Starting price: $40,150
- Towing capacity: Up to 5,000 pounds
- Payload capacity: Up to 1,583 pounds
- Seating: Room for 5
Higher Starting Price
Starting at just a few thousand dollars more than the Ford F-150, the biggest reason to look at the Honda Ridgeline is that the price tag won’t jump significantly between trim levels. On the other hand, the Ford F-150 can jump up to $78,950.00 for its Raptor model, while Honda’s most expensive trim starts at $46,750.00. This not-so-insignificant cost difference makes the Honda Ridgeline feel far less expensive than the Ford.
5. Chevrolet Silverado
- Starting price: $36,800
- Towing capacity: Up to 13,300 pounds
- Payload capacity: Up to 2260 pounds
- Seating: Room for 5
Chevy’s Best Pickup
In the world of pickups, the Ford F-150 may be king, but the Chevrolet Silverado is regularly plotting how to steal the throne. The Silverado starts with a lower price tag, all while offering similar towing capacity and an equally competitive max payload. Both vehicles will seat five people, while the 2025 model offers a much-improved interior that provides a giant display with plenty of safety features.
4. Chevrolet Colorado
- Starting price: $29,800
- Towing capacity: Up to 7,700 pounds
- Payload capacity: Up to 1,700 pounds
- Seating: Room for 5
Second Best Chevrolet
Don’t let the Chevrolet Colorado, the second-best pick-up in the brand’s lineup, deter you. This pickup is built for people who don’t want everything that comes with a full-size pickup while getting far more capability than a traditional family SUV can deliver. You still get plenty of Chevy benefits with the Colorado, including four different trim levels and outstanding JD Power scores for reliability.
3. Dodge RAM 1500
- Starting price: $39,420
- Towing capacity: Up to 12,750 pounds
- Payload capacity: Up to 2,330 pounds
- Seating: Room for 5
Guts. Glory. Ram.
While the initial price tag of the Dodge RAM 1500 is slightly more than that of the Ford F-150, incentives for Dodge are vastly superior, bringing the overall cost down in comparison. Better yet, you get roughly similar payload and towing capacity while getting the brand’s famous Hemi engine that can power the pickup to handle just about any road you can throw at it all year round.
2. Ford Ranger
- Starting price: $32,820
- Towing capacity: 7,500 pounds
- Payload capacity: Up to 1,847 pounds
- Seating: Room for 5
Reliable and Comfortable
Looking at the Ford Ranger over the Ford F-150, the Ranger is considered #3 in its class according to JD Power and Consumer Reports as being among the most repairable vehicles. On top of that, you get up to 7,500 pounds of towing capacity, and unless you need significantly more, you can purchase the Ranger for thousands less than the F-150 and still have enough towing capacity for just about every need.
1. Ford Maverick
- Starting price: $23,920
- Towing capacity: Up to 4,000 pounds
- Payload capacity: 1,500 pounds
- Seating: Room for 5
Built Ford Tough
The Maverick is the cheapest model in the Ford pickup lineup, but there is no reason to discount it. Instead, anyone opting for this vehicle over the F-150 will find that they get not only a more compact pickup truck that is better for small driveways and roads but also one that offers excellent fuel economy, maneuverability, and a fuel-efficient hybrid engine.
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