The Best Overall Full-Size Pickup Truck for Families
Drivers have a wide range of full-size pickup trucks to choose from this year. Despite their relatively high costs, these trucks keep attracting buyers who value utility and ruggedness. You may need more from your truck, however, if it is the family vehicle. For example, is it safe and reliable? Does it have lots of infotainment and connectivity features?
There’s no need to settle for an SUV or a minivan when you can find a truck that meets all of these requirements. U.S. News & World Report ranked the top six full-size family pickup trucks. Here’s what you need to know before loading up your family in a pickup truck.
6. 2019 Toyota Tundra: $31,520
Starting off the list, the base model Toyota Tundra is roomy enough to hold a family of six. A front bucket seat option reduces seating to five. The CrewMax variant offers two full rear doors plus more legroom in the back seat compared to the double cab.
One drawback is the Tundra’s mediocre crash-test scores. But it comes standard with a rearview camera and an extensive safety package that includes forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and a sway warning system for towing.
The Tundra is equipped with infotainment features like a 6.1-inch touch screen, push-button start, voice recognition, Bluetooth, and smartphone integration. Buyers can also choose enhanced infotainment options, heated front seats, a moonroof, or off-road performance upgrades. A big plus for the Tundra is its reliability, receiving 4.5 stars out of five by J.D. Powers.
5. 2019 Nissan Titan: $30,590
This year’s Nissan Titan is a comfortable, easy-to-drive truck that seats three in its single-cab configuration. Double cab versions can seat five or six, depending on a buyer’s choice of front bucket seats. The crew cab version offers extra rear-seat space.
Average in reliability, the Titan receives good safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS. It’s equipped with a standard rearview camera but can’t compete with the Tundra for its range of standard safety features. Buyers must upgrade for the most current safety features. Or, they can wait for the 2020 Titan, which has a standard extensive Nissan Safety Shield 360 system.
The Titan’s standard infotainment features include a 7.0-inch touch screen, a four-speaker audio system, satellite radio, a USB port, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Other options include a rear-row entertainment system to a rear-door alert system that reminds drivers of items or passengers in the back.
4. 2019 GMC Sierra 1500: $33,500
The GMC Sierra is another drivable truck with above-average reliability. But at this price point, we agree with U.S. News that other trucks may be more family-friendly. The Sierra seats between three and six passengers, depending the cab configuration. The back seats of the double and crew cabs have more than enough room to seat adults comfortably.
Safety scores for the GMC Sierra fall slightly behind other trucks on this list, with a four-star NHTSA rating and poor IIHS test results for passenger-side collision and headlight quality. The Sierra’s standard safety features include a rearview camera and Teen Driver safety settings. But buyers must upgrade to get features like lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a vibrating seat that warns of hazards.
The Sierra’s standard 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is one of the best among full-size trucks. It includes a six-speaker audio system, a USB port, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Buyers can take deep dive into the Sierra’s many options like infotainment upgrades, dual-zone climate control, and a tailgate that opens in different configurations.
3. 2019 Ram 1500: $27,395
The Ram 1500 is an excellent performance-based truck, but it has family-friendly benefits, too. It has room for a family of six in a double cab or extended cab configuration. There is no single cab trim level. While the Ram 1500’s excels in crash-test ratings, a rearview camera is its only standard safety feature.
Ram 1500 buyers must pay more to get safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning. The truck features a smallish 5.0-inch touch screen infotainment system, push-button start, three USB ports, and Bluetooth. Buyers pay more for goodies like infotainment upgrades, navigation, and heated seats.
2. 2019 Ford F-150: $28,155
The Ford F-150 is a good choice for families because it’s powerful, roomy, and comfortable. Reliability is not one of this popular truck’s stronger suits, though; J.D. Power rates it “average.” The F-150 seats three people in its single-cab configuration. Both the double and extended cab styles seat up to six, and the latter has the largest back seat in its class.
The IIHS rated the F-150’s headlights as poor, but it does have excellent crash ratings. A big plus is that the truck is loaded with standard safety features including a rearview camera, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Dynamic Hitch Assist. Buyers can opt for even more safety features like a 360-degree camera and rear cross-traffic alert.
The F-150’s only standard infotainment feature is a radio. But buyers can choose from a wealth of other amenities including upgraded infotainment features, a moonroof, and power-deployed running boards.
1. 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: $32,200
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is U.S. News & World Report’s No. 1 full-size truck for families because it’s comfortable, spacious, and well-equipped. J.D. Powers also gives it four out of five stars for reliability. The Silverado’s single-cab model seats three people, and the double and crew cabs can seat six. (The front bucket-seat option does reduce passenger capacity to five.)
The truck receives excellent crash test ratings. But, like the F-150, it has a poor IIHS rating for its headlights. A rearview camera and Teen Driver safety setting come standard. Buyers can choose from many driver-assist options like lane keep assist and automatic emergency braking.
The Silverado’s standard infotainment features include a 7.0-inch touch screen infotainment system, six-speaker audio system, USB port, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Options include an upgraded infotainment system, navigation, heated seats, additional USB ports, and a sunroof.
