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Pickup trucks are everywhere right now, with more choices than ever before. However, the trucks on Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy Awards List of 2023 only come from two brands: Ford and Toyota. With everything from the compact Ford Maverick to the fully-electric F-150 Lightning, the best of the best are here.

The Ford Maverick is the top compact truck on the Best Buy Awards List

Kelley Blue Book is back at it again with the Best Buy Awards List of 2023, and the 2023 Ford Maverick snagged the top compact truck spot. A versatile truck that can do it all. 500 miles of range, a 1,500-pound payload rating, and a maximum tow rating of 4,000 pounds make up this compact Ford truck that has won the hearts of buyers (and experts).

The Ford Maverick starts at $22,195 (plus $1,495 destination), which leaves plenty of room in the budget for customization. On top of that, the Tremor and FX4 packages make the Maverick off-road-ready. Finally, the hybrid Maverick gets 42 mpg in the city.

A versatile option for buyers who want a compact truck that isn’t limited by its size, the Ford Maverick does it all.

Toyota’s Tacoma truck made Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy Awards List of 2023

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma was Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy for the midsize pickup truck category. While reliability and pickup trucks don’t usually go hand in hand, the Tacoma has been one to change all of that. Buyers can choose from various engines, trims, and other customizations. Toyota also includes plenty of advanced safety features to keep everyone safe.

Priced from $27,250 plus a $1,335 destination fee, buyers who want more off-road capability can simply add it. Kelley Blue Book says the Tacoma has 34 model configurations to suit most buyers’ needs.

From a basic rear-wheel drive work truck to a four-wheel drive option with a powerful V6, Toyota has it covered with the Tacoma.

Both the Ford F-150 and Lightning made the list

Trucks on Kelley Blue Book's Best Buy Awards include the Ford F-150 Lightning
A 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning | Ford

More Ford trucks on Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy Awards List of 2023 include the traditional, gasoline-powered 2023 Ford F-150 and the fully electric 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning. For the gasoline version, the F-150 is one of the best full-size pickup trucks for the year. As expected, the truck has the best-in-class payload and towing numbers. Equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, the F-150 can tow 14,000 pounds. This truck starts at $33,695 plus the $1,795 destination fee.

The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning might share the F-150 nameplate, but it is making a name on its own. Ford equipped the Lightning with 320 miles of range and the capability of towing 10,000 pounds. Buyers can opt for the standard-range battery or the extended-range version; both go from zero to 60 mph in under four seconds.

The trucks on Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy list are an excellent place to start, but feel free to customize as needed. You can make the perfect truck these days straight from the factory. From paint colors to off-road accessories and everything in between, Ford and Toyota have you covered.

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