The Cheapest Brand of Used Pickup Trucks is Also The Most Expensive When New
Here’s a fascinating anomaly: As used vehicle prices skyrocket, Nissan pickup trucks are getting a half-ton of attention. Nissan is easily among the cheapest brands of used pickup trucks. In fact, the Frontier is the only five-year-old full-frame truck still reselling for less than $25k. But the Frontier and the Titan are also the most expensive new trucks in their respective segments. Read on to find out why new Nissans are so expensive.
What is the cheapest used pickup truck?
There’s only one used full-frame five-year-old truck reselling for an average below $25k: the Nissan Frontier. The MSRPs of most new pickup trucks shot up in 2023, so used truck prices are rising too.
The result has been a ton of coverage of used Nissan Frontiers. Many journalists call it a “forgotten bargain”–like in the video below. The entire Nissan brand is attracting attention, as the Titan is currently one of the best deals on the used half-ton truck market.
But while used Nissans may be one of the last true values in the pickup truck market, Nissan’s newest trucks are the most expensive vehicles in their segments.
What is the most expensive brand of new trucks?
The Nissan Titan has the highest MSRP of any half-ton pickup truck. This brand also claims a higher MSRP than any other manufacturer’s cheapest full-frame midsize pickup truck (this segment doesn’t include the more affordable unibody “compact” trucks such as the Ford Maverick).
You can see the current MSRPs of all the 2023 midsize pickup trucks in the table below:
Advertised MSRP | |
Ford Ranger | $27,400 |
Chevrolet Colorado | $29,200 |
Toyota Tacoma | $28,600 |
Nissan Frontier | $29,770 |
In fact, the only midsize model that starts at a higher MSRP than the Frontier didn’t make the list because it is technically General Motors’ higher trim version of the Chevrolet Colorado: the GMC Canyon. This “professional grade” midsize truck starts at $36,900.
Check out the current MSRPs of the 2023 full-size pickup trucks in this final table.
Configuration | Advertised MSRP | |
Ford F-150 XL | Regular cab (2-door) | $33,835 |
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT | Regular cab (2-door) | $36,300 |
GMC Sierra 1500 Pro | Regular cab (2-door) | $37,200 |
Ram 1500 “Classic” | Regular Cab (2-door) | $31,735 |
Ram 1500 Tradesman | Quad cab (small 4-door) | $38,555 |
Toyota Tundra SR | Double cab (small 4-door) | $38,965 |
Nissan Titan S | King Cab (rear suicide doors) | $40,350 |
Why are new Nissan trucks so expensive?
Nissan doesn’t offer a stripped-down work truck. This automaker doesn’t bother competing in the commercial fleet market. So, while Nissan Trucks carry the highest MSRPs, they are actually priced competitively with other brands when configured similarly.
Here’s an example: You can’t get any two-door “regular cab” Nissan Titan. While Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram all still sell two-door work trucks for a lower price, the smallest Titan is a “King cab” with rear-hinged rear doors.
Here’s another example: you can order a Ford or Ram with an entry-level, naturally-aspirated V6 engine that makes about 300 horsepower. But every 2023 Nissan Titan has a 5.6-liter V8, which makes 400 horsepower.
Because Nissan broke into the truck market by undercutting its Detroit competitors, you’d be forgiven for being shocked at how Nissan trucks now have the highest MSRPs. But the truth is that Nissan probably doesn’t sell enough trucks to engineer as many configurations as its competitors. Instead, it targets a limited portion of the truck market with its more capable–and more expensive–offerings.
Next, find out the cheapest pickup truck with a top reliability score, or see a used Nissan Frontier reviewed in the video below: