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Is budget hauling important to you? If so, these are the cheapest pickup trucks offered in 2023. When you don’t want to be the second or third owner of a truck that’s been beaten, battered, and bruised, this is the shortlist of trucks you’ll want to consider. These affordable pickups give you the desired newness and reasonable capability.

Nissan Frontier S 2WD King Cab – $30,485

A 2023 Nissan Frontier is a midsize truck that currently has a recall.
Nissan Frontier | Nissan

This version of the Nissan Frontier can tow up to 6,720 pounds and uses a strong 3.8-liter V6 engine that delivers 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. This power routes through the 9-speed automatic transmission to give you a smooth and useful truck to drive.

The Nissan Frontier might not blow anyone away with performance, but it’s a useful truck and one of the five cheapest pickup trucks of 2023, putting it on this list.

Ford Ranger XL 2WD SuperCab – $28,895

The 2023 Ford Ranger off-roading in sand
2023 Ford Ranger | Ford

The Ford Ranger is a name you know well. Its return to the American truck market has been celebrated many times, but you might not realize how affordable this Ford truck can be. Ford only gives the Ranger one powertrain, a 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. This power is sent to the wheels via the 10-speed automatic transmission. If you need to tow a heavy load, the 2023 Ford Ranger offers you up to 7,500 pounds of towing.

The Ford Ranger is truly a midsize truck, slotting between the compact Maverick and full-size F-150, giving you the best of both worlds.

Toyota Tacoma SR 2WD Access Cab – $28,585

A 2023 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro midsize truck at dusk.
2023 Toyota Tacoma | Eric Boman, MotorBiscuit

This base trim of the Toyota Tacoma is one of the cheapest pickup trucks of 2023. You’ll find a rough-and-tumble feeling to this pickup while enjoying a strong level of reliability and quality. Unfortunately, the drawback to this Tacoma is the powertrain. You’ll find a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine offering only 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. This base powertrain is only good for 3,500 pounds of towing.

While not as capable as the Ranger or Frontier, this base Tacoma model could be useful for some weekend warriors that don’t need big towing numbers.

Hyundai Santa Cruz SE FWD – $27,035

Rear view of a 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz in black.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz | Hyundai

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is our introduction to the compact truck world and a great way for Hyundai to compete in this class. The Santa Cruz shares a platform with the Tucson SUV, offering a unibody build and smooth drive. This version of the Santa Cruz pulls only 1,500 pounds while powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that delivers 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is one of the cheapest pickup trucks of 2023, and it brings good fuel mileage numbers at 22city/26 hwy mpg.

Ford Maverick XL FWD Hybrid – $23,790

Orange 2023 Ford Maverick on a Wilderness Trail - this is the cheapest truck of 2023, but that doesn't mean it can't get things done
Orange 2023 Ford Maverick on a Wilderness Trail | Ford

When you want to drive the cheapest pickup truck in today’s market, you won’t find any models offered at a lower price than this Ford Maverick. MotorTrend tells us that although a hybrid powertrain powers it, the base Maverick brings impressive towing numbers at 5,000 pounds. The powertrain gives you a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, a 1.1-kWh battery, and an electric motor. This system is good for 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque running through the CVT.

Although the small Ford Maverick uses a CVT with the base engine, the fuel mileage return is impressive at 42 city/33 hwy mpg.

Will you drive one of the cheapest pickup trucks of 2023?

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