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Nissan Frontier on a rocky trail

Good Midsize Pickup Trucks You Can Buy Today for Less Than $10k

Midsize trucks are a booming segment. And for good reason –– they are useful and versatile. You can buy a midsize pickup truck and it will do double duty without a hitch. Its day job as your work truck will just get it warmed up to take your family camping on the weekends. Because of …

Midsize trucks are a booming segment. And for good reason –– they are useful and versatile. You can buy a midsize pickup truck and it will do double duty without a hitch. Its day job as your work truck will just get it warmed up to take your family camping on the weekends. Because of this, a new midsize pickup can also get really expensive.

For something you know you are going to drag through the mud and use for hauling, is all that bling necessary? An old faithful might be the perfect pickup pick for both your lifestyle and your wallet. Based on this list from TruckTrend, there are definitely good midsize pickup trucks you can buy today for less than $10K.

Third-gen Ford Ranger

Produced from 1998 until 2012, the Ford Ranger is just good property. The entire generation changed very little throughout its long lifespan. The Ford Ranger’s parts are easy to find in a pinch, due to so many of these little trucks in circulation. There are cab and engine options aplenty, and it’s not difficult to find a decent all-around third-gen Ranger for under $10k.

A line of used Ford pickup trucks at a dealership.
Ford Ranger | George Waldman/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Third-gen Dodge Dakota

This one is cool because it has been out of production for nearly a decade. Throughout production, this third-gen Dodge pickup was available with a manual transmission. It’s a little rarer than the next used midsizer. So, if you’re looking for a budget truck that’s kind of a hipster go with a Dakota between 2004 and 2011. When Dodge trucks switched to RAM, the Dakota died. But now you can find one –– even with a V8 –– for under $10k.

First-gen Chevy Colorado

This Chevrolet midsize pickup truck is not difficult to find in just about any trim. Fully loaded crew cabs between 2003 and 2012 are out there waiting for a bargain hunter to scoop up because of the straight-five engine that no one wanted. Sure, the V8 was great. But it’s pretty much impossible to find a Colorado with a V8 for such a low price point.

First-gen Honda Ridgeline

The Honda Ridgeline today is a list topper all over the place. But even the first-gen was great. From 2006-2014 the Ridgeline appealed to those who wanted a truck was a little less rough around the edges. The third-gen Ridgeline’s unibody configuration means it gets great fuel economy. Additionally, Honda reliability follows these midsize pickups around wherever they go. Because of this, however, it can get a little more difficult to find one for $10K with less than 150,000 miles.

An older Honda Ridgeline driving through a puddle
Honda Ridgeline | Don Kelsen/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Second-gen Nissan Frontier

Facelifted in 2004, the Nissan Frontier hasn’t seen much change since. The Nissan midsizer is confident and capable, with parts available due to its long-running second generation. It’s the newest truck you can buy for under $10K, with models as new as 2017 and 2018 for the sub $10K price point.

What about the Taco?

Toyota Tacomas are some of the best midsize trucks around. So, why didn’t they make it on the list? Because of the way these Toyota trucks hold their value, this reliable Toyota pickup is insanely hard to find for such a low price. Even First-generation finds can be expensive, because they are still great trucks. That said, if you do find a Taco for under $10K it’ll be a single cab beater with a ton of miles.


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