- Reveling in the 2023 Ram 2500 Rebel
- Canadian pricing for the 2023 Toyota Tundra announced
- A preview of the 2024 GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1
- A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Ford over the integrity of its truck roofs
- How the 2023 Toyota Tacoma stacks up against its rivals
The pickup truck segment has been steadily expanding for decades now, with more models, more use cases, and more technology on offer for buyers.
Here are the biggest and most recent pickup-related stories, debuts, and reviews from the past month.
Reveling in the 2023 Ram 2500 Rebel
2023 Ram 2500 Rebel Photo by Jil McIntosh
Ram has added another option for pickup truck shoppers with the introduction of the 2023 2500 Rebel. Sitting between the Big Horn and the Power Wagon in trim levels and above the Rebel 1500 in terms of pure pickup power, the 2500 Rebel marries the off-road readiness of the Rebel moniker with the guts of the heavy-duty 2500.
Pricing starts at $75,450 for the sole trim line, but there are options, including a diesel engine, which isn’t on offer in the 2500 Power Wagon. Whether fitted with the 6.7L Cummins inline-six turbodiesel that makes 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque (and will tow around 15,000 lbs) or the 6.4L Hemi V8 making 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque (and towing 16,870 lbs), all 2500 Rebels will get a crew cab with a 6-foot-4 bed, and 4×4 drive with a BorgWarner part-time transfer case with 2High, 4High, and 4Low.
Driving’s Jil McIntosh had the new Ram out for a test drive on the rocky trails of Cali’s Big Bear Part and was impressed by the off-roader’s performance, even on paved roads where its ilk aren’t always so comfortable. The 2023 Ram Rebel 2500 will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Canadian pricing for the 2023 Toyota Tundra announced
2022 Toyota Tundra Limited Photo by Justin Pritchard
The all-new 2023 Toyota Tundra is ready for all of your hauling needs and then some, and pricing for the different configurations has finally been announced. In Canada, base models of the full-sized pick-up truck will start at $47,050 for a two-wheel-drive Double Cab with a 6.5-foot bed and SR trim; inside, stock features include an eight-inch infotainment system and automatic climate control.
Prices climb from there, topping out at $86,190 for the fancy Capstone trim, which comes with a lot of chrome features, like 22-inch chrome wheels, an aggressive grille with chrome mesh pattern, chrome mirror caps, and chrome tailgate inserts. For a more in-depth look at the various trims and associated pricing for the 2023 Tundra, click here.
A preview of the 2024 GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1
2024 GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 Photo by GMC
The electric pickups are coming, and fast. First, there was Tesla and Rivian, then Ford with the F-150 Lightning and Chevy with the Silverado EV. Now, GMC is buzzing onto the scene with its full-size electric pickup truck, the 2024 Sierra EV Denali Edition 1.
The new GMC ‘electruck’ boasts 754 horsepower, 785 lb-ft of torque, and shares a number of important features (and therefore stats) with the Chevrolet Silverado EV. Both ride on GM’s Ultium platform and both move up to 640 km per charge with a 10-minute quick-charge feature. The pickup also comes with four-wheel steering like the new Hummer, only with less articulation on the rear wheels. Inside, you’ll have to fight not to have your eyes drawn to the enormous 16.8-inch vertical centre screen.
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Ford over the integrity of its truck roofs
2022 Ford F-150 Tremor
Modern vehicles should be safer than their predecessors, but are they always? Ford is under scrutiny for allegedly manufacturing less-than-sturdy roofs for its Ford Super Duty pickup trucks. According to the class-action suit that was filed this fall, the auto giant has been knowingly messing with the structural integrity of some of its vehicles’ roofs over a period of decades, all in order to save a few bucks.
“Ford has repeatedly chosen to degrade the structural capacity and therefore safety of its trucks, again and again, for sake of cost savings,” Steve Berman, co-founder and managing partner at Hagens Berman, the law firm involved, said in a statement. The suit went on to explain that Ford had knowingly downgaged steel and reduced the thickness of “essential components of the truck cab.” It’s not a good look for the Detroit automaker, especially since it’s already dealing with another class-action lawsuit involving a couple from Georgia who died when the roof of their 2002 F-250 collapsed during a rollover.
How the 2023 Toyota Tacoma stacks up against its rivals
2023 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Photo by Toyota
There’s no denying it: the Tacoma has developed a dedicated following since its inception in the mid-’90s. Over the decades, it’s amassed millions of owners and fans across North America who praise it for its reliability, comfort and strong resale value. The 2023 Toyota Tacoma’s popularity isn’t exactly wavering, though Driving contributor Matthew Guy points out that brand loyalty has never been less of a thing.
So, how does the Tacoma stack up against its rivals like the GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado? For starters, they all have similar horsepower. The Tacoma has 278-hp while the Ranger has 270-hp (and the other two, 310). Still, Toyota is really falling when it comes to torque — the Tacoma has just 300 lb-ft of torque whereas the latest GMC Canyon boasts 400 lb-ft. Towing varies by brand, too, though the discrepancies aren’t all too considerable. The Ranger is able to haul about 7,500 lbs whereas the Tacoma can haul about 6,500 lbs.
And how about in terms of long-term cost? Surely the ‘Yota build takes the cake here. Well, perhaps surprisingly, many of the Tacoma’s competition winds up with a similar financial impact over a three-year period.
Keyword: Pickup News Roundup: 2023 Ram 2500 Rebel, and GMC’s first EV truck