The best 2022 compact pickup trucks include a variety of vehicles that offer something for anyone looking for a new truck. Consumer Reports has tested each of these trucks and given them scores based on their performance, safety, style, and comfort. These are the top small pickup trucks new for 2022, and they’re all under $40,000.
The 2022 Honda Ridgeline | Honda
The 2022 Honda Ridgeline is the best 2022 compact pickup truck
Honda is known for making solid, comfortable vehicles, and the 2022 Honda Ridgeline is no exception. It has a starting price of $37,640. With an overall score of 82/100, Consumer Reports says that the Ridgeline is the best new compact pickup truck. Among its strengths are its predicted reliability, with a score of 4/5, and its predicted owner satisfaction score, which is perfect. In addition, both the 2022 Ridgeline’s ride and noise get a 4/5, making this the best truck you can buy.
The Ridgeline comes standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 280 go and 262 lb-ft of torque. That’s matched to a 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive. The Ridgeline can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
The base model Ridgeline comes with a host of features, like 18-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, and keyless ignition and entry. In addition, the 2022 Honda Ridgeline has an 8-inch touchscreen and is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has a 7-speaker sound system.
All Ridgelines come with the Honda Sensing safety collection of features. These include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and forward-collision warning.
The 2022 Ford Ranger is one of the best small trucks
If the Ridgeline isn’t your speed, you might like the 2022 Ford Ranger. The Ranger has a starting price of $25,500. It’s ranked second on Consumer Reports’ list of the best compact pickup trucks, although it’s a fairly distant second, with an overall score of 62/100. The predicted reliability for the Ranger is very good, at a 4/5. Its predicted owner satisfaction, routine handling, and noise are all mediocre, at a 3/5. Still, that’s enough for second place for the 2022 Ranger.
The 2022 Ford Ranger has a turbocharged 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes 270-hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It’s matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission. You can opt to add 4WD to your Ford Ranger. The Ranger gets 21 mpg on the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
The Ranger has important safety systems. Standard in the new Ford Ranger are forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. It also comes with Wi-Fi, as well as remote start and remote lock and unlock.
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is an affordable compact pickup
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz offers compact pickup truck shoppers a unique-looking alternative to the Honda Ridgeline and Ford Ranger. Starting at $24,140, the Santa Cruz has an overall score of 59, though its predicted owner satisfaction, routine handling, ride, and noise all get an excellent 4/5.
The Santa Cruz comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 181 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. That’s matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel-drive, though you can upgrade to all-wheel drive.
It also comes with an 8-inch touchscreen that’s compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a six-speaker sound system. As far as safety features, the 2022 Santa Cruz comes with forward collision warning and lane-keep assist.
The 2022 Nissan Frontier rounds off the top trucks
With a starting price of $28,340, the 2022 Nissan Frontier is one of the most affordable and best compact pickup trucks you can buy. It has an overall score of 54/100 and a very good predicted owner satisfaction score of 4/5. In addition, both its routine and emergency handling get mediocre scores of 3/5, as does its ride.
The Nissan Frontier has a 3.8-liter V6 that makes 310-hp, matched with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In addition, all Nissan Frontier trucks now come with forward collision warning, a rear door alert, and a driver awareness sensor.
According to Car and Driver, the 2022 Frontier has an 8-inch infotainment screen and a 7-inch digital gauge cluster. It comes with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also comes with a six-way adjustable driver’s seat.
If you’re looking for one of the best compact pickup trucks, you can’t go wrong with any of these options. They top Consumer Reports’ list of trucks, although certainly the Honda Ridgeline has a pretty good lead on the others. Still, all of these trucks are under $40,000, making them more affordable than many other options out there.
Keyword: Consumer Reports’ Highest-Rated 2022 Compact Pickup Trucks Under $40,000?