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During many model years, one recently upgraded pickup truck scoops all the truck of the year awards. But 2022 is proving to be the year of the full-size pickup truck. The 2022 Ram 1500, 2022 Ford Maverick, and 2022 Rivian R1T all won a different publication’s truck of the year award. Here’s what sets these pickup trucks apart.

The Ram 1500 is Car and Driver’s truck of the year

2022 Ram 1500 Rebel and Ram 1500 Limited were named to Car and Driver's top ten trucks | Stellantis
2022 Ram 1500 Rebel and Ram 1500 Limited | Stellantis

When Car and Driver ranked every full-size 2022 pickup truck, the publication put the Ram 1500 at the front of the pack. Car and Driver acknowledges that while many full-size pickup trucks have to work for a living, many others spend life cruising around town. The amazing thing about the fifth-generation Ram is it can do both.

The 2022 Ram 1500’s EcoDiesel V6 leads its class in both torque and fuel efficiency. Available HEMI V8s offer a well-tuned eTorque mild-hybrid system also designed for both power and efficiency. Rear coil suspension (and available air-ride) endows this full-size truck with an incredibly smooth ride. Ram even upgraded its latest interior and infotainment system to blow away the competition.

Learn more Car and Driver’s best pickups of the year.

The Ford Maverick is TFL Truck’s truck of the year

The 2022 Ford Maverick won TFL truck's pickup of the year | Ford
The 2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

Sure, some truck traditionalists will hate the Ford Maverick’s unibody construction and available hybrid/FWD drivetrain. But Henry Ford joked that if he gave the people what they want, they would just ask for a faster horse. Yet again, Ford has given us the vehicle we did not know we need.

The 2022 Ford Maverick boasts numbers impossible to ignore. It starts at under $20K with a fuel-efficiency rating of over 40 mpg. Say what? The Ford Maverick is a true compact truck. That means parking it in a city will be as easy as parking its Bronco cousin. The Maverick should prove to be an effective “gateway truck” for current car drivers.

See how the Maverick won TFL truck of the year.

The Rivian R1T won MotorTrend’s truck of the year

This 2022 Rivian R1T is MotorTrend's truck of the year | Rivian
The 2022 Rivian R1T | Rivian

MotorTrend and Rivian have had a steamy love affair since the start-up introduced the first electric pickup truck to the market. First, MotorTrend reviewed the R1T and swooned over the industry’s first electric quad-motor drive, saying the feature rocketed the burly truck into sports sedan levels of performance.

Next, MotorTrend nabbed two of the Rivina R1T 4x4s and set a record; the team completed the first fully electric off-road transcontinental expedition. MotorTrend gives its car and truck of the year a set of golden calipers to symbolize excellence in engineering. It should not have been a shock when MotorTrend named the 2013 Tesla Model S its 2013 car of the year. It was even less surprising when MotorTrend named the Rivian R1T its 2022 truck of the year.

See MotorTrend’s Rivian R1T review.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.