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Don’t give up! You can still find an affordable truck in today’s market, but you may have to look for used options. The best-used truck for under $10,000 might be surprising because it was discontinued years ago. But it’s worth looking for. 

What is the best-used truck for under $10,000?

This might take you back because according to AutoBlog, the best-used truck under $10,000 is the Dodge Dakota. It was in production from 2005 to 2011. Don’t be alarmed if you see Ram Dakota models, because it was badged that way in the end. 

It seems like a gamble to bet on a discontinued truck, but the Ford Ranger was also discontinued in 2011 and the Chevy Colorado was scrapped in 2012. The Dakota was discontinued due to a lack of sales. 

Between 2005 and 2010 sales of the Dakota dropped by 90% as drivers decided to skip out on mid-size trucks for full-size options. At the time, the Ram 1500 and 2500 were incredibly popular in comparison. It was just a bad time for smaller trucks in general. 

The 2011 Dodge Dakota parked on pavement
2011 Dodge Dakota | Dodge

You can find the Dakota with its standard 3.7-liter V6 engine with 210 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque. Plus, some models have the 4.7-liter V8 engine with 302 hp and 329 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.6 seconds. 

With the V6 engine, the Dodge Dakota can tow up to 4,950 lbs, and with the V8 engine, it can tow up to 7,250 lbs. But you’ll need 4×4 to achieve these figures. 

Best of all, the Dakota has a solid reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 from Cars.com. It’s a durable workhorse that can last about 250,000 miles. However, some models have made it past 350,000 miles with regular care and maintenance. 

It might be time to give the best-used truck for under $10,000 a chance.

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.