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Pickups nowadays are just as luxurious as some SUVs and cars, but it offers off-roading and towing capabilities as well, which is why they’re so popular with consumers. Finding one that’s right for you may not be so easy. Critics, like J.D. Power rate new cars all the time, but when it came to the best 2023 midsize trucks, four models tied for first place. Which ones are they?

A midsize Chevy Colorado pickup truck parked in a driveway.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado LT | Chevrolet

What J.D. Power looks for when determining scores 

When scoring vehicles in this list, J.D. Power surveyed owners of particular trucks to get their thoughts on what they liked and disliked about their pickups.

They also had them score four different categories concerning their experience with the truck they purchased and then the publication tallied up the overall score based on the owner’s responses. 

The areas owners rated were quality and reliability, driving experience, resale, and how well their purchase went at the dealership. When coming up with the top rated midsize truck, four pickups tied with an overall score of 83 out of 100 points. How well did each truck fare with its owners? 

The 2023 Chevy Colorado

According to J.D. Power, owners of the Chevy Colorado gave the model high marks in quality/reliability, resale, and dealership experience. The area that didn’t impress them was the way it drove.

No information was given as to what part they didn’t like, though. J.D. Power reviewers, however, felt the truck’s interior was pretty quiet, and its towing capacity of 7,700 lbs made a good impression. 

The 2023 Ford Ranger

As with the Colorado, the Ford Ranger also received good scores from owners when it came to all categories, except driving experience. Owners reported poor brake performance and they didn’t like the noise the doors made when they shut. Another dislike they had was storage for personal items. 

What they did like, though, was the audio system and they felt the second row of seats was pretty comfortable to ride in. They also liked the engine power, which was 270 hp coming from an Intercooled Turbo Inline-four engine. Paired with it is a 10-speed automatic transmission. 

The 2023 Nissan Frontier

The 2023 Nissan Frontier scored fairly well in all four categories with driving experience being the lesser rating by only a few points. Powering up this pickup is a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing up to 310 hp and paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It can also tow up to 6,700 lbs. 

Owners of this truck were impressed by the power the engine offered and the voice-activation experience they had. They also thought the display screens were pretty attractive. What they didn’t like, though, was the uncomfortable second row of seats, and the performance of the headlights. Fuel economy was also an issue with them. The Frontier offers 17-18 mpg in the city and 22-24 mpg on the highway. 

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator

Jeep’s Gladiator scored similarly to the other four trucks even down to the driving experience having the lowest rating. However, the score wasn’t too far behind the other categories. This pickup offers a V6 engine that can generate 260-285 hp and is paired with either a six-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission. 

When it comes to fuel economy, the 2023 Jeep Gladiator disappointed its owners. It only gets around 16-17 mpg on city roads and 22-23 mpg when traveling on the highway. Other dislikes include not enough personal item storage and too much noise getting into the cabin area.

What they did like, however, were the comfortable second row of seats, and the sound quality coming from the audio system. Also, many reported they liked the way the truck started up, it made them feel good. 

If you’re in the market for a midsize pickup, you’ll be faced with four trucks that perform well. Choosing between one of the four will depend on what features you’re looking to get and how well each one does with a test drive. 

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