3 Popular Used Pickup Trucks That Are More Reliable Used Than New
When it comes to trucks, finding a reliable used pickup truck can be a risky business. However, Consumer Reports has some more reliable pickup trucks used than the new trucks. Specifically, the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Colorado (aka the GMC Canyon), and the Toyota Tundra pickup trucks.
The Ford F-150 is a used pickup truck that’s more reliable used than new
Using the ratings from Consumer Reports, the reliability score for the Ford F-150 pickup truck has fallen over time. For the 2022 Ford F-150, the predicted reliability fell to an unusually low score. The overall score came in about average for a new truck. This puts the Ford truck second on the list of full-sized pickup trucks.
Looking at the 2020 Ford F-150, the reliability score came above average. The owner satisfaction score came in at the same as the 2022 score. Even back then, this used pickup truck came with forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) as standard.
While the 2022 Ford F-150 has a lot of new technology, sometimes the older version is better. The ride and the agility of the 2022 Ford F-150 could. While the 2022 has a lot of new technology, sometimes the older version is better. The ride and agility of the new truck could still be improved, as these are noted as lows in both options.
The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are solid used pickup trucks
Similarly, the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado (also known as the GMC Canyon) used pickup truck has better reliability than the brand new one. Looking at the reliability score, it came below average. The owner satisfaction was a similar score, but that still works out to be about average. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Colorado pickup truck the highest “good” score on the front, side, and other crashworthiness tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2020 truck mostly four-star ratings.
Regarding the brand-new 2022 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, Consumer Reports gave the truck a 45 out of 100 overall. At the same time, the road test score was a respectable 61 out of 100. The predicted reliability was below average, but the owner satisfaction score was surprisingly low. With the lowest score available, there seems to be a lot missing.
The second area where the new truck fell behind is the area of safety and driver assistance features. FCW is optional, along with lane-departure warning. Blind-spot warning isn’t included, neither is AEB or lane-keeping assist (LKA). Fortunately, almost all of the IIHS scores were “good.” Most of the NHTSA scores were four and five stars. With prices high enough, why not try for a used pickup truck over a brand-new version?
The Toyota Tundra is a truck known for its reliability
The Toyota Tundra has been a shining star of reliability in previous years. For the last few years, the Tundra has sat at a respectable high score for reliability. The owner satisfaction is usually a similarly high score. The 2020 Toyota Tundra has the same high score for reliability and owner satisfaction for consistency’s sake. It managed to get mostly “good” scores from the IIHS. The NHTSA gave the used pickup truck mostly four-stars and five-star scores in the crashworthiness tests.
While Consumer Reports hasn’t thoroughly tested the 2022 Toyota Tundra yet, the predicted reliability didn’t impress. When explicitly commenting on the reliability, it says, “We expect the 2022 Tundra to have average reliability compared to other new cars. This prediction is based on Toyota’s brand history and the previous generation of the Tundra.” That doesn’t explain the drop in score, though.
When it comes to finding a reliable used pickup truck, there are plenty of options out there. It isn’t clear why some new trucks have such low-reliability scores, but perhaps it is as simple as “they don’t make them like they used to.” For now, keeping up with what other owners report on sites like Consumer Reports and Repair Pal can help you make an informed decision.
This article was updated on 8/12/2022.
