If there is a title to be contested in the automotive cosmos, full-size pickup trucks compete in the heavyweight class. Imposing in size and sales volume, trucks make headlines and generate profits capable of turning entire corporate ledger sheets from red to black. With the stakes that high, manufactures are in a constant state of reinvention, in a perpetual battle for showroom supremacy.
The consumer is the real winner. Initially tailored for commercial and agricultural customers, pickups have long transcended their bare-bones birthright. No demographic is ignored: there are gasoline, diesel and hybrid powertrains (EV trucks are on the way), countless cab and bed configurations, cabins outfitted with modern tech and luxury appointments that rival premium car brands.
The one thing that’s kept pace with their growing popularity is their cost. While spartan work trucks still exist, the number of trims, special packages and optional features make one trip through the order sheet relatively easy to crest the $70,000-mark. Still, buyers don’t seem to mind pickups that cost more than a (state) college education. Perhaps it’s true that if you build it, they will come.
The nominees and winners were selected by the 2020 Forbes Wheels Car of the Year panel, comprising four staff editors and seven contributors. Our criteria included performance, safety, technology, comfort and convenience, fuel economy, design and functionality. Because each category spans the full spectrum of pricing, we selected vehicles that stand out among their peers. Vehicles eligible for nomination include any car or truck for sale or in production during 2020; some debuted prior to 2020.
Here are the Forbes Wheels 5 Best Pickups for 2021:
2021 Chevrolet Silverado
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General Motors’ Chevrolet brand trailed cross-town rival Ford into the truck business by just a single year and the two have been duking it out ever since. The 1960 arrival of the C/K line turned up the fire, and was renamed Silverado in 1999. Chevrolet “only” sold about 575,000 Silverados in 2019, but adding the 232,000 sales of the closely-related GMC Sierra, GM is nipping at Ford’s heels.
In its fourth generation, Silverado takes a traditional approach with a proven leaf-spring suspension and steel body. Unique to the segment, it offers a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 310 horsepower and 348 pound-feet of torque. The new four out-muscles the older 4.3-liter V6 by 25 ponies and 43 pound-feet.
Both have their merits, but where the Silverado shines is in the mid-level LT Trail Boss trim with Z51 off-road package and the new for 2020 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder diesel. It’s quiet—for a diesel—clean and returns an EPA-estimated 22 and 29 mpg in four-wheel drive versions. Still, while the Silverado’s capability has never been in question, its tech interfaces and graphics feel a little behind the pack. Plus, while the competition has gone subtly upscale with grille and fascia designs, the Silverado’s aggressive styling hasn’t been universally loved.
2021 Ford F-150
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While the F-Series nomenclature didn’t arrive until 1948, the Ford pickup story dates to 1917 and the million-selling Model TT truck. From those humble beginnings emerged a juggernaut: the Ford F-Series trucks (including the F-250 and larger Super Duty models), which has claimed the top-selling truck spot for 43 years and the best-selling vehicle title for over a decade. More than 890,000 F-Series trucks were sold in 2019.
In its fourteenth generation, the new for 2021 Ford F-150 builds on all the breakthroughs of the last decade, including aluminum bodywork, turbocharged engines and advanced towing tech. It also brings a more aerodynamic and stately exterior, a thoughtful interior with a 12-inch touchscreen and an innovative hybrid powertrain that doubles as an onsite generator. Dubbed Pro Power Onboard, the system can be configured to provide up to 7,200 watts of A/C power, enough for numerous tools or 23 refrigerators, as Ford claims.
With six engine options from the base 290-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 to the top-of-the-line 430-horsepower turbocharged V6 hybrid, it’s no wonder a buyer is waiting for every F-150 that rolls off the production line.
2021 Honda Ridgeline
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Honda built its reputation by entering established segments—motorcycles, automobiles, power equipment and even aircraft—and then bending the rules to fit its own agenda. The Ridgeline pickup is no exception. Introduced for the 2006 model year, its unibody construction and front-wheel drive layout polarized truck pundits upon launch.
Relaunched for the 2017 model year after brief hiatus, the second-generation Ridgeline ditched its original transformer look for more traditional styling. A mild cosmetic refresh for 2021 brought a more truck-like face in an attempt to appeal to buyers still on the fence. Still, the Ridgeline has never made a serious play to topple the sales of conventional body-on-frame mid- and full-size trucks. Instead, it blends a car-like ride, competent handling and SUV height with a bed in the back.
If the Ridgeline’s appeal still escapes you, think of it as 80% of the truck 70% of buyers will ever need. Part of its appeal is that it asks nothing of you for its added utility. The interior, including the rear seating area, is spacious and the ride quality and handling from the four-wheel independent suspension is compliant and comparatively sharp. It’s 280-hp 3.5-liter V6 that makes 262 pound-feet of torque and nine-speed automatic transmission have Honda’s trademark “ready to rev” personality baked in. Leave the tailgate down, and it’ll fit the vaunted 4×8 size sheet goods when you need it; but with a max tow rating of 5000 pounds, it’s best suited to small trailers for jet skis and the like.
2021 Jeep Gladiator
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The first genuine Jeep pickup since the XJ-based Jeep Comanche disappeared in 1992, the current Gladiator borrows its name from the J-Series Gladiator pickup that ended production in 1987. Jeep fans—and about anyone else with even a passing interest in off-roading—have for years been saying “Jeep should make Wrangler Pickup.” For the 2020 model year, it did.
Based on the Wrangler, the Gladiator shares that models’ iconic looks and the same casual-cool but capable message to both the passengers and bystanders. The longer wheelbase— 137.3-inches for the Gladiator and 118.4 inches for the Wrangler four-door—smooths out the on-road ride and the interior is nearly identical. It’s the truck bed that makes all the difference, adding a dash of utility where Wrangler previously only had a cramped cargo area.
For 2021 FCA’s 3.9-liter Pentastar V6 was joined by a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V6. The latter’s torquey low-end demeanor is tailor-made for Gladiator. While it’s 7650-pound tow ratings can’t compare to the ever-escalating 11,000-pound and up tow ratings of full-size pickups, removing the roof and heading for the beach on a sunny day in the Gladiator is a pretty good consolation prize.
2021 Ram 1500
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Ram Truck was spun off into a single division in 2010 shortly after Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy in 2009, but using the name “Ram” to signify specific Dodge truck models dates to 1980. Since the spin-off, Ram’s been on a non-stop quest to dethrone Ford and Chevy. It’s had some success. Collectively, 2019 sales of the Ram 1500, 2500 HD and 3500 HD topped 630,000 units in 2019, up 18% from the previous year.
A perennial underdog, in 2010, Ram made the bold decision to replace traditional rear leaf springs for coil springs and won a whole new legion of fans based on the smooth ride they provide. Revised significantly for 2019, the current fifth-generation 2021 Ram 1500 continues to deliver arguably the best ride in the segment.
Coupled with a quiet cabin with upgraded material quality, FCA’s intuitive Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, it’s a pleasant place to spend time. We’re also fans of the mild-hybrid Etorque option that adds 130 pound-feet of torque right off idle using a belt-driven generator and the 3.0-liter diesel V6. Although older and noisier than the state-of-the-art inline six-cylinder diesel in the Silverado, it still manages 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway in rear-wheel drive versions.
Forbes Wheels Best for 2021 Stories:
Also see these stories from the Forbes Wheels Best for 2021 package:
Coming Friday, Dec. 18:
- Best SUVs and Utilities for 2021
- Best Performance and Sports Cars for 2021
- Best Electrified Vehicles for 2021
Forbes Wheels Car of the Year Panel:
Sam Abuelsamid (contributor) is principal research analyst at consulting firm Guidehouse Insights (formerly Navigant Research) and is a frequent contributor to Forbes.com, covering innovation in the transportation sector.
Brian Armstead (contributor) is president emeritus of the Washington Automotive Press Association and a North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year (NACTOY) Juror.
Bill Howard (Forbes Wheels Staff) is editor of Forbes Wheels. He is the past president of the International Motor Press Association and was previously executive editor and contributing editor for Ziff-Davis’ PC Magazine and ExtremeTech.
Alex Kalogiannis (contributor) has been an automotive writer for over 10 years and in addition to bylines at outlets such as Gear Patrol, Trucks.com and SlashGear, he was previously Car section editor at Digital Trends.
Alex Kwanten (Forbes Wheels Staff) has worked in automotive, marine and aviation for over a decade and reported on buying, selling and servicing cars for multiple industry publications, including Automotive News.
Carly Schaffner (Forbes Wheels Staff) has worked in the automotive industry for over a decade in both editorial and communication roles. Before joining Forbes Wheels, she was managing editor of Trucks.com.
Chris Teague (contributor) is a freelance automotive writer focused on new vehicle reviews, industry trends and breaking news, and has an MBA with a focus on data analysis that gives him insight into some of the auto industry’s biggest companies.
Lawrence Ulrich (contributor) is an award-winning auto writer, and former chief auto critic for The New York Times, Detroit Free Press and The Drive.
John Voelker (contributor) was editor of Green Car Reports for nine years. He now is a reporter and analyst covering advanced auto technologies and energy policy, and a North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year (NACTOY) Juror.
Basem Wasef (contributor) is a freelance automotive writer and a North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year (NACTOY) Juror. Wasef has written three books on motorcycles, racecars and supercars.
Andrew Wendler (Forbes Wheels Staff) grew up immersed in automotive, marine and aviation culture and spent a decade at Car and Driver as a writer and editor before joining Forbes Wheels.
The Link LonkDecember 17, 2020 at 09:29AM
https://www.forbes.com/wheels/advice/forbes-wheels-5-best-pickups-for-2021/
Forbes Wheels 5 Best Pickups for 2021 - Forbes
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