Despite a whole string of economic crises, the early 21st Century could be seen as something of an optimistic era in the automotive industry. The forward-thinking body design and adventure-oriented capability of the SUVs and pickups of the '00s produced a lot of vehicles that were, if not always top-sellers, at least commendable in the effort to bring something playful to the market.The trucks were pretty much all phased out by the end of the 2010s in favor of half-tons, with trucks like the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 taking up the slack. Nowadays, you can pick up these nostalgic semi-classics for a fraction of their original pricing. Second-Generation Ford Explorer Sport Trac The Explorer Sport Trac Was One Of The More Capable Lifestyle Trucks Of Its Era 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac front 3/4 off roadBelieve it or not, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac was actually the first time Ford had ever produced a mid-size pickup. The Ford Ranger is currently sold as a mid-size, but earlier generations of the truck were compacts. The Explorer Sport-Trac, essentially a pickup version of its namesake SUV, was initially launched as a response to mid-sizes like the Toyota Tacoma, and lifestyle trucks like the Dodge/Ram Dakota.The second generation Sport-Trac launched for the 2007 model year with a host of updates like four-wheel independent suspension and Ford's Roll Stability Control system. These trucks were available with a 4.0-liter Cologne V6 producing 210 hp, or a 4.6-liter Modular V8, producing 292 hp.The Explorer Sport Trac was a trooper, towing a maximum of 7,160 pounds when properly equipped. Even the entry-level models could pull two and a half tons in its wake. If the truck part of a lifestyle truck is a priority, a 2010 Sport Trac is a smart buy at just $9,644 according to our trending price tool. Third-Generation Ram Dakota The Dakota Is One Of The Most Affordable Used Trucks On This List 2005-2007 Dodge Dakota Front Angle ViewThe pickup truck formerly known as the Dodge Dakota, the Ram Dakota, packed a 3.7-liter V6 cranking out 210 hp in rear or all-wheel drive via a four-speed automatic transmission, and an optional 302-horse 4.7-liter V8. With an eight-cylinder under the hood, the Dakota had the Sport Trac beat for towing, with a 7,200-lb maximum capacity.The Dakota is one of the slower depreciators on this list, although that has a lot to do with its low base MSRP back when it was brand-new, selling for just $23,210 back in 2011. At $10,563 for a Bighorn, 15 years later, the Dakota is now selling for well under half its initial asking price for an entry-level model.A 4WD Laramie is a little pricier, starting at $13,910 from a $33,635 MSRP, but even these can be had for as low as $7,600 on the low end, as of February 2026. This one is definitely worth checking out if you're looking to pick up a gem for the price of a junker. Second-Generation Chevrolet Avalanche The Avalanche Is Selling For Less Than A Third Its Original MSRP 2007 - 2013 Chevrolet AvalanchePacking a 5.3-liter, 320-hp flex-fuel V8 and towing up to 8,100 lbs, the Chevrolet Avalanche defies the notion that lifestyle pickups "aren't real trucks." The pickup's 1,397-lb payload capacity might be a quarter-ton shy of a well-equipped 2013 Chevy Silverado 1500's maximum load, but the Avalanche's capable specs may have you wondering who needs a half-ton truck anyway.A 2WD LTZ with a Crew Cab would have run you $44,580 13 years ago. Today, that same truck will cost you around $13,876, less than a third of its original MSRP. The truck holds an 82/100 Quality & Reliability rating with J.D. Power, so not only is it one of the most capable mid-size trucks of its era, it's reliable, too. Hummer SUT The Hummer SUT Still Commands A Premium Price Over Two Decades Since It Hit The Market 2005 Hummer H2 SUT front 3/4 BlackThe Hummer H2 SUT was priced as a premium model back when it was brand-new, with fully-loaded models easily hitting the low six figures after taxes, titling, and financing. Today, well, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The 2008 model sells today at an average price of $28,494, more than half of its entry-level MSRP nearly two decades ago.For that price, you get a 6.2-liter flex-fuel V8 engine cranking out 393 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. That translates to an 8,200-lb towing capacity, just 100 lbs better than the Avalanche, but the appeal of a truck like this is the luxury off-road driving experience. You don't compare this truck to an Avalanche, you compare it to a Range Rover Sport, and you say, "Well, the Sport doesn't have a cargo box." Not that the Hummer's 52.7 cubic-foot bed is anything to write home about, but at least it's something. Subaru Baja This Charming Mid-Size Was Basically A Subaru Outback With A Cargo Box 2003 - 2006 Subaru Baja - front 3/4 angleEssentially a pickup truckified Subaru Outback, the Subaru Baja is all-wheel-drive-standard, with a range of 2.5-liter flat-fours, including the turbocharged EJ255, producing 210 hp in the 2004 model. The Subaru Baja, as the name implies, is all about off-road fun. You can forget doing any real work in this truck, as it only pulls 2,400 lbs, at most, and it carries up to 1,070 lbs in the bed. You can bring some camping supplies if you plan on doing an overnight trail excursion, but we've seen sedans that can out-tow this truck.The Baja was described as having "jarring looks," and that's according to Peter Tenn, the guy who designed it. The truck was meant to "look funky, look different. It doesn't fit any category, and we knew that going in." The truck was a niche product aimed at a limited audience, and it was proud of it.Subaru was hoping for around 24,000 sales a year. The brand sold 6,239 in 2005. The truck would be quietly retired after a single generation stretching over just four model years. The Baja may be remembered as a failure, but the industry's loss could be your gain, with listings closing as low as $4,000. First-Generation Honda Ridgeline The Original Ridgeline Was Less Mid-Size Pickup, More Modern-Day 'Ute 2006 - 2008 Honda Ridgeline - front 3/4 angleWe know what you're saying. The Honda Ridgeline is still around, what's it doing on a list of extinct pickups? Well, it was really a whole new truck for the second generation, built on the global light truck platform, and designed as a versatile all-purpose mid-size.The first-gen model was more of a lifestyle truck, with four-wheel drive as a standard feature, and a cold air intake system drawing air from atop the hood, in order to support water fording. It could tow 5,000 lbs, but the first-gen Ridgeline was purpose-built for getting out there and having some fun, with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 250 hp. Today, the truck sells for a little over half its original MSRP, according to our trending prices tool.