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For now, the best truck value seems to be small and mid-size trucks that get the job done yet don’t break the bank. While full-sized truck prices are climbing through the roof, today’s mid-sized trucks show that you can still buy a lot of capability and not break the bank. That’s why all the trucks on this new list are mid-sized or smaller. What are the five trucks that offer the most for the money?

The 2023 Ford Maverick makes the best truck value list

It probably isn’t much of a surprise that the Ford Maverick is first on the list from TrueCar. Though for 2023 its base price is a bit higher than 2022 owners paid, it’s still the least expensive pickup you can buy in America. But it comes well equipped, especially in the higher trim Lariat versions. This truck gets amazing gas mileage, thanks to its base hybrid engine. 

For 2022, the Ford Maverick won MotorBiscuit’s Truck of the Year award for many of the same reasons. New for 2023, you can order it in an off-road Tremor package that adds an all-wheel drive system and a suspension lift.

Will Hyundai make a 2023 Santa Cruz?

Truecar says the 2023 Santa Cruz is the No. 2 truck for the money and for many of the same reasons that the Maverick took the top spot. The Santa Cruz doesn’t offer a hybrid version but has a 191-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder and all-wheel drive. Like the Maverick, it is built on a unibody chassis, which means that while it may drive more like a car, it can’t tow and haul as much as a full-sized truck. But, for the truck stuff that most of us do, that’s just fine.

The Santa Cruz starts at $24,450. If you step up to the Night trim, for $35,810, you can get a 281-hp turbocharged engine. But every Santa Cruz comes with niceties like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Is the Nissan Frontier worth buying?

The Nissan Frontier was all new a couple of years ago and, finally, Nissan made a midsize truck that can compete with the Ford Ranger, the Chevy Colorado, and others. The Nissan’s big advantage is its V6 engine that makes 310 horsepower and allows this small truck to work like the bigger trucks. It has a 6,720-pound towing capacity and it has a 1,600-pound payload capacity.  

The Frontier starts at $29,190, but the version most people want is the S version for $34,875. Cleverly, the Nissan can still be ordered with a long bed in a 2.5-door version. Off-road fans will appreciate the two-wheel drive Pro-X and four-wheel-drive Pro-4X versions that give this truck mountain goat abilities in the wild.

Does the 2023 Ford Ranger add the best truck value?

The Ford Ranger is all-new for 2023. Sure, it’s a bit smaller than the full-size rigs preferred by most contractors, but it can do serious work. It can tow up to 7,500 lbs, which puts it close to full-size rig territory, but in an easier-to-park package. The order banks are now open for the all-new 2023 Ford Ranger. The new truck comes with Ford’s new 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 270 hp.

It comes in several trim levels, starting with the base work truck at about $27,000. The XLT adds most of the accessories and options that you want for about $32,000, and a real four-wheel drive package is optional. If you’re really looking to dive into the off-road world, look for the new Ranger Raptor, which has too many off-road upgrades to list. Though the Ranger may be a good deal now, it’s getting a full refresh for 2024.

What does the 2023 Chevy Colorado look like?

For the 2023 model year, the Chevrolet Colorado got a complete refresh. Unfortunately, these all-new trucks have not started showing up at local dealers yet. The new truck basically throws out the old truck’s everything. Chevy started with a new, longer frame designed to tow and haul more and handle off-road duties. For the new 2023 Colorado, Chevy made an interesting engine choice: the diesel and larger V6 are gone. Instead, you can only order it with GM’s new turbo four-cylinder engines that make from 237 hp to 310 hp. 

The midsize truck wars are heating up; the best truck values are these small and midsize trucks. While full-sized trucks are great, these may do all the truck stuff you need.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.