4 NEW PICKUP TRUCKS THE MIDDLE CLASS SHOULD CONSIDER BUYING IN 2025

For some drivers, reliable commuter sedans and sporty crossover SUVs don’t deliver enough power, performance or prestige. For them, only a pickup will do. 

But all that extra horsepower, torque, towing power and payload capacity doesn’t come cheap. Middle-class families have to determine what kind of truck they need, then make the most economical choice within the class of trucks that checks most of their boxes — and fits their budget.

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The following is a look at the top pick for middle-class families in all three major truck categories for the coming model year, as well as one that delivers on both cost and fuel economy in a way that would entice any average earner in the market for a pickup.

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Compact: Hyundai Santa Cruz

  • Starting MSRP: $28,500

Although the Ford Maverick is cheaper, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is hard to beat for any middle-class family looking for a truck that can handle small jobs but with crossover-level comfort and maneuverability on the road and in the city. 

Edmunds prefers it to the Maverick in the compact trucks category, the go-to class for anyone craving the utility and versatility of a truck without all the bulk — or cost. The Santa Cruz’s fun and quirky stylings bring a smile to anyone who loved the El Camino — but it’s more than just an agile and sporty head-turner.

Kelley Blue Book (KBB) ranks the Santa Cruz as America’s No. 1 most fuel-efficient truck, which is as essential to middle-class motorists as a sub-$30,000 price tag.

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Midsize: Ford Ranger

  • Starting MSRP: $32,980

MotorTrend and Edmunds declared the Ford Ranger as the best midsize truck of 2025. Middle-class families will appreciate that it’s cheaper than competitors like the Honda Ridgeline, Jeep Gladiator and GMC Canyon.

Joining a handful of competitors in the low $30,000s at the bottom end of the segment’s price spectrum, the Ranger earned its first-place rankings for the same reasons across publications. It matches the payload and towing of rivals but with a more refined cabin, smoother ride, and better tech and driver-assist features. 

Full-Size: Ford F-150

  • Starting MSRP: $38,710

The Toyota Tundra, Ram 1500 and a few other full-size trucks start above $40,000, but the Ford F-150’s comparatively modest MSRP is not the only reason it’s the full-size pickup of choice for middle-class motorists.

It’s the full-size pickup of choice for everyone.

The F-150 has been the bestselling pickup in America for nearly half a century and the country’s bestselling vehicle of any stripe for more than 40 years.

KBB, MotorTrend and Edmunds all rank it as the No. 1 full-size truck. All three recommend upgrading to the iconic F-150 Raptor, but that model starts at over $80,000, which puts it out of reach for most middle-class families. That leaves the F-150, which charges less for class-leading towing and payload capacities, impressive technology, and nearly infinite customization options.  

Hybrid: Ford Maverick 

  • Starting MSRP: $26,395

Anyone thinking of making the leap to an all-electric pickup has exciting options like the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, GMC Sierra EV, Tesla Cybertruck, Chevy Silverado EV and Hummer EV Pickup. The problem for middle-class families is that most start in the $60,000s, $70,000s, $80,000s and beyond.

That makes a hybrid a good compromise between fuel economy, clean energy and cost. 

Most of the top models start in the $40,000s or above, but one is much more accessible. Car and Driver ranks the Ford Maverick as America’s No. 1 best hybrid pickup. The publication says that it’s plenty capable but is half the price and half the size of the F-150. That might just make it the perfect pickup for middle-class America — especially considering it gets 40 mpg.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 New Pickup Trucks the Middle Class Should Consider Buying in 2025

2024-12-02T12:08:51Z