Best Midsize Trucks | 2026 Midsize Pickup Trucks Rated | CarBuzzYou needn’t go all out to get your hands on a capable pickup, as many of the best midsize trucks offer competitive towing and hauling capacities. Thanks to their more reasonable dimensions, they are better suited for driving around town, but they can still go off-road when needed since 4x4 drivetrains are common in the segment. You also get a variety of engines to choose from, like a gas V6 or a diesel that offers better gas mileage. This segment has no shortage of great choices, so it takes a lot to stand out from the pack. Just take a look at our ratings of the best midsize pickup trucks of 2026 sold in the USA if you doubt it.Vehicles are assigned a BuzzScore in relation to their direct segment competitors, and as such, vehicles in this list, while similarly scored, do not necessarily compete directly against one another. Find out more about how the BuzzScore ratings work here. These lists are continuously updated with the latest BuzzScores and vehicles as they become available. Honda Ridgeline Kicking off this midsize truck comparison is the simple and dependable Honda Ridgeline. This fits among the best midsize pickups since it has some off-road capabilities, all trims have standard all-wheel-drive, and they can all tow up to 5,000 pounds. It's not a body-on-frame model like some others we'll get to, but it can handle itself well on rough terrain. Under the hood is a 3.5-liter naturally-aspirated V6 that makes 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, which gets paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission. This midsize truck starts at $40,795 for the Sport trim, and scales up to the Black Edition with two-tone paint for $47,895. GMC Canyon The best midsize truck General Motors has to offer is the GMC Canyon. This model is a great balance between rugged capabilities, respectable towing and hauling capacities, and it has a comfortable interior. Under the hood is a 2.7L turbo I4 that makes 310 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque. There are four trims to choose from, starting with the Elevation for $38,900 and ending with the Denali for $53,300. Our favorite, though, is the AT4X, which comes with a 2-inch lift, larger all-terrain tires, a skid plate for the transfer case, rock protectors, and more. When properly equipped, the Canyon can tow up to 7,700 pounds."Thanks to those impressive DSSV dampers, the ride in the Canyon AT4X was smoother compared to what we observed in the Colorado Trail Boss. Absorbing road impacts seems to be a wonderful side effect when tuning a truck for grueling off-roading. We didn't notice too much road noise from the mud-terrain tires, meaning that the AT4X offers few compromises for street driving."- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz Chevrolet Colorado While it's essentially the same truck under the skin as the GMC Canyon, the Chevrolet Colorado is another great option among these midsize trucks. They're built on the same platform, which means it also gets a 2.7-liter TurboMax inline-4 that makes 310 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 7,700 pounds. The main reason to choose this Chevy over the GMC, though, is that it costs less on the lower end of trims. There are five available trims; the WT starts at $32,400, and the lineup is capped by the ZR2 for $50,700. This top off-road variant has every off-road upgrade one could ask for in a truck of this size. Some features include 33-inch mud terrain tires, a 3-inch lift, DSSV dampers, and more."As it did on the road, the Colorado transmitted small vibrations back from the trails, but larger dips in the road were virtually eliminated. The suspension loves speed, doing its best work going over huge impacts rather than smaller ones. The Bison Edition adds Multimatic jounce control dampers, which are essential bump stops, that cushion the truck if it happens to get airborne. We can report that they really work."- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz Rivian R1T Truck The Rivian R1T is one of the most well-rounded truckson the market. We aren't here to argue about whether it's actually a midsize truck or not, but It faces some strong competition from other EV models. Horsepower ranges from 533 hp in the Dual Standard trim to 1,025 hp in the quad trim. All four trims come with standard all-wheel drive and a host of drive modes to conquer any trail. The higher up one goes in its trim list, the more capable the truck becomes. If you have deep enough pockets for the quad-motor variant, then you'll get access to a 2.5-second 0-60 mph sprint, 400 miles of range, and nine drive modes for any situation. Toyota Tacoma It might not have the best BuzzScore on the list, but the best midsize pickup in this writer's eyes is the Toyota Tacoma. Six trim levels come with the model's gas-only 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-4, but five other trims come with the i-Force MAX hybrid setup. Models with this hybrid powertrain make 326 combined horsepower and an impressive 465 lb-ft of torque. Even though the standard gas option is plenty for most people — and it's a good way to save money up front — choosing a hybrid trim makes a difference in every-day driving and off-road capability. Buyers will love the Trailhunter and TRD Pro trims for ultimate off-road capability in its segment. Nissan Frontier As we come down to the final two models on this list of the top midsize trucks, we want to highlight how great the Nissan Frontier is. It earns a BuzzScore of 7.8 out of 10, which is pretty good given its competition. This is one of the last trucks — midsize or otherwise — that feels "old-school." It features a naturally-aspirated 3.8-liter V6 with few bells and whistles; this engine is time-tested, relatively powerful, and it's capable of towing up to 7,150 pounds. The Frontier can be optioned with different bed sizes, and has an off-road variant. Its Pro-4X and Pro-4X R trims are as cool and capable as the Frontier gets."If you are of the opinion that pickup trucks should not drive like cars, you may love the Frontier. Heavy steering gives you the feeling of doing an arm workout at the gym, especially for slow parking lot maneuvers. The steering does lighten up at higher speeds, but it always feels vague. We were surprised by the ride comfort, which is pretty docile on normal pavement. Choppy pavement revealed bouncier body motions, but nothing that we'd call unreasonable."- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz Jeep Gladiator Virtually every model on this list can be capable off-road, but the Jeep Gladiator is one of the most customizable and extreme options. It's available in seven main trims that start with the Sport at $38,830 before destination and options, and ends with the Mojave X for $59,995. All of these trims are powered by a single engine: the Pentastar 3.6-liter naturally-aspirated V6. They all have an 8-speed automatic transmission, and have the same engine output at 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The Gladiator can also tow up to 7,700 pounds when properly equipped. In its basic form, the Gladiator is a fine truck, but it shines with aftermarket possibilities that get just as crazy as the Wrangler's capabilities on the roughest terrain."We took the new Gladiator Mojave X on a challenging off-road drive around Moab. There was plenty of sand with rocks to crawl over, some technical enough to require spotting from a pro. Open stretches of sand turned the Gladiator into a show-off. It took whoops at high-speed with amazing control and came down with less of a jolt than you'd expect."- Nicole Wakelin, CarBuzz Characteristics Of Medium-Size Trucks As one of the most versatile and customizable vehicles on the road, midsize pickup trucks can fit just about any role. That being said, there are some similarities you can expect, for better or worse. These qualities might be more muted on some models, but they are almost always present: Power: Even smaller pickups boast impressive powertrains, so it makes sense that medium-size trucks are even better equipped. Most automakers will give you a choice of four-pot or V6 engines when creating a build. There are usually diesel options, too, but some brands have even started introducing completely electric setups. Unfortunately, the lack of any V8 options means that power falls short of what you’d find in a full-size truck. Ruggedness: One of the most appealing aspects of a pickup is the bold, aggressive design, with a lifted body that makes it great for off-roading. But that ruggedness extends to workhorse applications, making these cars ideal for towing. They are also built to be reliable and stand the test of time, so they don’t break down easily. To top it all off, their size and sturdiness make them among the safest cars, with most rated at five stars by the NHTSA. Practicality: Aside from their towing capacity, the top midsize trucks offer a great deal of room for onboard cargo. They may not have traditional trunk space, but they have long cargo beds. You may have to sacrifice a foot or two in order to equip a 4-door cab, but you’ll still have more room than you’d find in just about any other type of vehicle. Cost: Pickup trucks are generally quite pricey, and the larger they are, the more you should expect to pay. However, the overall cost of ownership goes up further once you factor in their poor mpg. The price of fuel is unlikely to go down anytime soon, so it’s important to consider the gas bill. This can be mitigated, to some extent, by opting for a diesel engine and a more efficient automatic transmission. What To Consider Before Buying Midsize Pickup Trucks Buying a new car is a big decision, and a pickup truck even more so. They are expensive and are not particularly well-suited for the city. Other cars like SUVs or wagons can tow a fair amount, too. This means you should carefully consider if a truck is what you need, and if so, is a midsize the right one? Here are some pros and cons to help you figure it all out: Pros Plenty of power High towing and hauling capacities Rugged construction makes them ideal for off-roading Excellent safety ratings Slightly more maneuverable around town than a full-size truck Cons Poor fuel efficiency Still cumbersome to drive Can’t tow as much as the biggest trucks Is a midsize truck worth it? When it comes to doing heavy work, a full-size truck is still king. In comparison, midsize trucks can’t tow or haul as much, though they are still hardier than your run-of-the-mill SUV. You won’t find any ludicrously powerful V8 engines under the hood, but these cars still do a fair amount of work. None offer conventional trunk space, but the cargo beds can usually be customized to suit most requirements. And, if you wish to accommodate the entire family, you can generally opt for a larger cab and a 4-door body.Sources: Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet, GMC, Rivian, Jeep, Nissan
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