If you are looking for a new truck that anyone in the family can drive, Ford, Hyundai, and Honda have some recommendations. These three comfortable compact pickup trucks come in under $50,000 and are easy to park for one reason or another. Compact trucks are easier to maneuver than full-size pickup trucks, but modern features make it even easier.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a comfortable compact pickup truck
Those looking for a comfortable compact pickup need to look no further than the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Edmunds already gave the Santa Cruz a great score, thanks to its long list of features and utility. Buyers can opt for the base engine or the turbo version, which bumps the towing numbers for the Santa Cruz up to 5,000 pounds.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz has important safety systems like Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and Lane Keeping Assist. Safe Exit Warning can warn the driver if a vehicle is detected approaching from behind.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz high scores on its safety tests. These include the side impact, roof strength, and small overlap crash tests.
MSRP range: $25,450 – $40,320
Honda’s Ridgeline is another option for compact pickup trucks
What sets the 2023 Honda Ridgeline apart from the rest is the unibody construction, which makes for a comfortable ride. Honda’s pickup truck also has a unique two-way tailgate and a lockable storage area in the truck bed. The Ridgeline also has a 5,000-pound towing capacity, which might not be enough for some buyers. Those who need more than that daily might want to find a bigger truck.
Some of the best safety features on the Ridgeline include Collision Mitigation Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control. Both systems help assist the driver in the case of traffic or an imminent collision. A Multi-Angle Rearview Camera is also helpful for towing or tight parking situations.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration awarded the 2023 Honda Ridgeline a five-star safety rating. It performed well in the frontal barrier, side crash, and rollover tests.
MSRP range: $38,800 – $46,230
The Ford Maverick might be hard to find already
A 2023 Ford Maverick | Ford
People love the 2023 Ford Maverick, and it isn’t even here yet. After its release in 2022, there has been more demand for this comfortable compact pickup truck than you might believe. The Maverick has a low starting price of an estimated $21,000 and comes with plenty of ways to configure your perfect truck. Thanks to those facts, Ford has been unable to keep up with demand.
Ford’s compact Maverick can tow between 1,500 and 4,000 pounds. Plus, a new four-pin and seven-pin connector and an integrated trailer brake controller make trailering easier. Not all details are out yet, but upgrading to the Luxury package adds wireless charging and lane-keeping assist.
Edmunds liked the Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go systems on the Maverick. No safety scores are out yet, but testing is likely ongoing.
Estimated Price: Starting at $21,000
No matter which comfortable compact pickup truck you end up with, it’ll get you from point A to point B in style. And then, it’ll make parking easier with its modern technology.