When you want to save money any way that you can, but you still need a truck to meet your daily needs, you’ve got a challenging task. The cheapest pickup trucks in the market are the smallest, but will they give you enough power to get things done? Do you need to consider a bare-bones full-size truck, or will a model in the midsize class fit the bill? When price matters and you want a new truck, these five trucks should be on your mind.

The 2022 Ford Maverick is the cheapest pickup truck

No other truck in the market has a starting price below $20,000. The Maverick uses a unibody construction with a crew-cab build and a small bed. Car and Driver tells us the standard layout offers you an FWD truck with a hybrid powertrain.

This Ford pickup tows up to 2,000 pounds and can carry 1,500 pounds of payload. Ford offers the uniqueness of the Flexbed technology and the FITS system to offer cargo versatility in this truck. The base hybrid powertrain also returns 42 city/33 hwy mpg, making this one of the most efficient trucks.

Find a compact truck alternative in the Hyundai Santa Cruz

If you want a bit more towing in the small pickup you drive, the Hyundai Santa Cruz could be right for you. This truck starts at $23,990 in the FWD SE model that uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, and it delivers 3,500 pounds of towing. The fuel mileage of the Santa Cruz reaches 21 city/26 hwy mpg.

The Santa Cruz rides on the same platform as the Hyundai Tucson, but it’s a little bit longer. The small bed in the rear gives you the cargo versatility you want to enjoy when it’s time for a drive.

The reliable Toyota Tacoma finds its way into the middle

The third-cheapest truck in the market today is the Toyota Tacoma. You’ll find a starting price of around $26,500 for the Access Cab SR trim of the Tacoma. This is a good truck to use when you need something a little larger than the compact trucks to help you get things done.

The standard engine setup of the Tacoma gives you a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. The payload rating for this truck is an impressive 1,685 pounds, and you’ll tow up to 3,500 pounds with this affordable model.

Another Ford makes the list with the Ranger offering an affordable price

The starting price for the Ford Ranger XL is $26,580. This price comes for the 2WD extended cab version of this Ford truck. This truck could be the sweet spot for towing and payload. Because the entire Ranger lineup only uses one powertrain, the tow rating is an impressive 7,500 pounds when you add the tow package. This truck carries up to 1,860 pounds in the bed.

The powertrain for the Ranger delivers 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque while giving you 21 city/26 hwy mpg. This Ford might not check off all of your boxes, but it could be the truck with most of what you desire.

The base model of the Chevy Colorado makes the cheapest pickup truck top five

Sliding into the fifth spot, the Chevy Colorado Work Truck trim delivers a starting price of $26,155. This truck has an extended cab and a 2WD setup with the base engine. The tow rating of this base model is 3,500 pounds, and the payload reaches 1,716 pounds. With this information, you might turn to one of the cheaper trucks that deliver better numbers.

If you drive the Colorado because you want the added size of this truck, you’ll have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that brings you 200 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque. Fuel mileage for this 2WD version reaches 19 city/25 hwy mpg.

What truck should I buy for 2022?

You have to answer this question based on what you want in your truck. None of the five cheapest trucks in the market reach the full-size truck category. If you want one of these larger models, the most affordable is the 2022 Nissan Titan. On the other hand, if you want the best overall truck, you’ll look to the Ford F-150, which is the top-rated truck by many experts.

Will truck prices go down in 2022?

There is a solution if you’re stuck because you need more capability than what the cheapest pickup trucks offer but you afford the higher prices of new full-size pickups. We’ve all lamented that supply and demand caused used vehicle prices to skyrocket. These prices should normalize as new car inventory increases. Thankfully, the price spike impacted cars and SUVs more than trucks, and you might find an affordable used truck that meets your needs.

Next, check out [x], or watch the video below with some of the cheapest pickup trucks for 2022.

This article was updated on 8/27/2022.