The Cheapest Trucks You Can Buy for 2022

Configuration: SR trim level, extended cab, 4×2

Toyota has finally redesigned the Tundra for 2022, and the new model features a new design inside and out and new powertrain choices under the hood. The base SR model soldiers on and is pictured here, although the least expensive configuration is the extended cab rather than the crew cab in this photo. All Tundra models feature a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V-6 engine, but the SR makes do with less punch than the higher models, as it has 348 hp and 405 pound-feet of torque. Spend more money and you’ll get a more potent version of the V-6 with 389 hp and 479 pound-feet of torque.

Configuration: Sport trim level, 4×4

The Jeep Gladiator is the Wrangler of trucks, literally. Based on Jeep’s iconic off-road SUV, this four-door pickup has many of the same rock-crawling abilities and bears the important distinction of being the only convertible pickup you can buy. Though Jeep recently added a diesel engine option, the cheapest way to get a Gladiator is with the standard 3.6-liter gasoline V-6. The base model, called Sport, has a six-speed manual transmission.

Configuration: Tradesman, Quad Cab, 4×2

The Ram 1500 was new for 2019 and is our favorite of the full-size pickups. We even awarded it a 10Best trophy for 2020. In its most affordable form, you get an extended-cab Ram Tradesman with rear-wheel drive and a V-6 engine. There’s no regular-cab model available. If you’re looking for a cheaper Ram, you can step back in time to the old model, which Ram currently sells as the 1500 Classic, found elsewhere on this list.

Configuration: XL trim level, regular cab, 4×2

The Ford F-150 is the perpetual winner in the pickup-truck sales race, and it was redesigned for 2021. The new design isn’t all that different, and you won’t benefit from many of the truck’s most interesting new features when you choose a stripper model like the XL regular cab seen here for just over $30,000. And even though there’s a new F-150 hybrid available, getting an F-series on the cheap requires settling for a carryover engine, a naturally aspirated 3.3-liter V-6, and rear-wheel drive.

Configuration: Tradesman trim level, regular cab, 4×2

The cheapest new Ram pickup you can buy is not really all that new. What Ram calls the 1500 Classic is the previous-generation truck that FCA is still building and sending out to dealerships and fleet customers. While it’s not as snazzy as the newer-generation Ram that debuted for 2019, it is a decent value and offers lower-priced models such as the regular-cab Tradesman model you see here.

Configuration: base trim level, regular cab, 4×2, package discount

GMC’s Sierra is effectively identical to the Chevy Silverado, except for the way it looks. The two trucks share engines and configurations, and are only separated by styling and trim differences. The GMC is a bit more expensive to start in its regular-cab form with a 4.3-liter V-6 engine. (The base price listed here includes a $2000 package discount which may have some stipulations.) An updated version of the Sierra is coming for 2022, but we don’t have pricing for it yet.

Configuration: S trim level, extended cab, 4×2

The Nissan Frontier has given up its title of the cheapest pickup truck, but fortunately it’s a completely new truck for the first time in more than a decade. All models now come with a new 3.8-liter V-6 engine, as the four-cylinder base engine from the previous generation is gone. The interior is far more modern and there are more features available than before, although the base S trim level remains fairly sparsely equipped.

Configuration: WT trim level, regular cab, 4×2, package discount

Chevrolet earns the title of the cheapest full-size pickup in the land, although it may be on a technicality (the base price listed here includes a $2000 package discount which may have some stipulations). Regardless, the cheapo Chevy Silverado is a far cry from the loaded crew-cab High Country models that can cost more than twice as much as this sub-$30,000 sum. This regular-cab model in Work Truck trim doesn’t have much flair, and it makes do with rear-wheel drive and a 4.3-liter V-6 engine. Chevy updated the Silverado for 2022 but hasn’t yet released pricing for the new model.

Configuration: Elevation trim level, extended cab, 4×2, rear seat delete

GMC has eliminated the most basic versions of the Canyon pickup, causing it to rise significantly in price. It now starts with the Elevation trim, which is better-equipped than the previous SL model and looks a little cooler to boot. It’s still mechanically similar to the Chevy Colorado, coming standard with a 2.5-liter inline-four and rear-wheel drive. It’s also available with a hidden discount in the form of the rear-seat delete option, which drops the base price by $240.

Configuration: Work Truck trim level, extended cab, 4×2, rear seat delete

The Chevy Colorado is less expensive than its GMC twin, the Canyon, but not as cheap as it used to be due to some changes for 2021. The base trim has been eliminated and the models now start with the Work Truck version, which accounts for a few thousand dollars added to the bottom line. It comes with rear-wheel drive and a 2.5-liter inline-four. Deleting the rear seats drops that base price by $240, but Ford and Toyota still offer cheaper takes on the mid-size pickup.

Configuration: XL trim level, extended cab, 4×2

Due to some pricing and equipment changes among its competitors, the Ford Ranger has leapfrogged mid-size trucks from GMC, Nissan, and Chevy to become the second-cheapest truck on the market. The Ranger made a comeback recently, although owners of old Rangers will be surprised by the uptick in size. Fortunately, it still offers the familiarly humble models such as the XL extended-cab, which doesn’t have any frills by today’s standards. While Ford used to offer a $240 discount by selecting a rear-seat delete package, the removal of the jump seats is now a no-cost option, eliminating those potential savings.

Configuration: SR trim level, extended cab, 4×2, with Utility Package

Toyota’s Tacoma has perhaps the best reputation in the small-pickup segment, having built its name on reliability, affordability, and no-nonsense capability. For 2022, the affordability angle is perhaps its most compelling, as it’s cheaper than any of the other conventional body-on-frame trucks on the market. That’s thanks in part to the available Utility package that slashes $1715 from the base price in exchange for removing the rear seats, sliding rear window, and the paint from the bumpers and other exterior trim pieces. Honestly, we don’t mind the spartan look of the base Tacoma.

Configuration: SE trim level, FWD

To create the Santa Cruz, Hyundai essentially stretched a Tucson crossover and grafted a small pickup bed on the back. Like the Maverick and Ridgeline found elsewhere on this list, this is a unibody truck, and it’s quite small by today’s standards. The base engine is a 191-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four, and front-wheel drive is standard. All-wheel drive and a more powerful turbo 2.5-liter engine are available, but for a significant upcharge.

Configuration: XL trim level, FWD

Ford is expanding its pickup lineup with an entirely new take on the genre. The Maverick is a crossover-based unibody crew-cab truck with a small bed and a standard front-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain. Sounds interesting, right? It starts at a remarkably low base price of under $22,000 and offers up to 42 mpg according to the EPA, making it a frugal option for those who want a truck but don’t need so much capability. A turbo 2.0-liter inline-four is optional, as is all-wheel drive, but those push the price significantly higher.