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Top Reliability Picks: Ranking America’s Midsize Pickup Trucks

Mid-size trucks are the lifeblood of America. Whether hauling tools to and from a job web site, working fields, or just with the ability to carry all of your tenting gear round, vehicles are the transport of selection. The segment is constantly changing and evolving, and it is in an important house proper now.

If you’re somebody who drives or desires to personal and drive a truck, then you realize that reliability is essential. Between all of the heavy lifting and the brawny engines underneath the hood, vehicles aren’t the most cost effective automobiles to personal. That’s why having peace of thoughts and realizing that you just’re getting one thing dependable could make all of the distinction.

With all this stuff in thoughts, we’ve taken a have a look at all the brand new, mid-size vehicles available on the market at present and uncovered which of them are most dependable. We current what these vehicles price to personal and keep, how seemingly they’re to want main repairs, and what sort of energy you’ll discover underneath the hood.

In compiling this text, we have now cross-referenced details about automobile reliability, upkeep, and pricing from sources like iSeeCars, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, RepairPal, AutomotiveEdge, and Consumer Reports to provide the latest and correct data attainable. Please word that we have now ranked the next fashions based mostly on least dependable to most dependable.

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10 Most Reliable Used Pickup Trucks In 2024

A protracted and dependable life is essential for purchasing a second-hand pickup truck, listed here are the highest 10 most dependable used pickup vehicles of 2024.

6 2024 Jeep Gladiator

Reliability Score: Not Yet Tested

2023 Jeep Gladiator in polished silver Navigating through muddy off-road terrain
Jeep 

For these of you who love the off-road prowess that Jeep places into its Wrangler, the Gladiator provides related capabilities and a truck mattress besides. It will not be as suited to suburban roads as a number of the different mid-sized pickups on this record, nevertheless it definitely does have an air of enjoyable to it.

Reliability

While iSeeCars has not but rated the Gladiator for its reliability, there are nonetheless tons of sources we will flip to in an effort to get an thought of how sturdy the Jeep pickup is. Consumer Reports gives the 2024 Gladiator a 40 out of 100 for predicted reliability. AutomotiveEdge additionally claims that there is a 35.84% chance that it will need a major repair in its first ten years of possession. It can be far more costly to keep up than the typical pickup.

  • Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $617.60 (AutomotiveEdge)
  • Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $11,803 (AutomotiveEdge)
  • Total Recalls: 0
  • Worst Gladiator Year To Buy Used: 2020

Performance

Engine

3.6-Liter Naturally Aspirated V-6

Transmission

6-Speed Manual or 8-Speed Automatic

Horsepower

285 HP

Torque

260 LB-FT

Driveline

4WD

Towing Capacity

4500 lbs

Payload Capacity

1159 lbs

(Source: Jeep)

The 2024 Gladiator’s V-6 powertrain is just a little outdated and the ever-loved diesel variant is gone. This means that it is not in a position to tow or carry as a lot as a number of the different mid-sized pickup vehicles on the market. This is not the ideology behind the Gladiator pickup truck. While its customary 5.5-inch mattress implies that it will probably do most issues that some other pickup can, it will probably additionally seamlessly hit the paths with none effort in any way. Its lengthy record of off-roading tools and its unequalled method and departure angles imply that there actually is not something on the market just like the Gladiator.

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20 Ways The Ford Bronco Has An Edge Over The Jeep Wrangler

While the Wrangler has dominated the off-road fanatic house for many years, this is how Ford’s resurrection of the Bronco poses as its largest risk

5 2024 GMC Canyon

Reliability Score: 8.3/10

2024 GMC Canyon AT4X AEV in gray posing in field in front of mountain range
GMC Pressroom 

The GMC Canyon is the mechanical twin of the Chevrolet Colorado. The GMC Canyon makes use of loads of the tools provided on its full-size Sierra to get essentially the most out of its smaller stature. It does this excellently and is an extremely sturdy and succesful truck.

Reliability

GMC’s midsize Canyon does fairly nicely so far as reliability is anxious. It scores 8.3 out of 100 for reliability on iSeeCars. AutomotiveEdge, nonetheless, claims that the Canyon is 26.25% likely to need a major repair in its first ten years of possession. This is worse than most different fashionable pickups. On the flip aspect, the Canyon is $1,543 cheaper to keep up in its first ten years than different fashionable pickups.

  • Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $465.60 (AutomotiveEdge)
  • Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $8,778 (AutomotiveEdge)
  • Total Recalls: 0
  • Worst Canyon Year To Buy Used: 2015

Performance

Engine

2.7-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four

Transmission

8-Speed Automatic

Horsepower

310 HP

Torque

430 LB-FT

Driveline

RWD or 4WD

Towing Capacity

7,700 lbs

Payload Capacity

1,600 lbs

(Source: GMC)

Just because the Gladiator misplaced its diesel powertrain, so did the Canyon. The Duramax is not an choice, leaving the two.7-liter inline-four the one engine accessible on the Canyon. Despite this, it manages to place out extra energy than loads of the opposite mid-sized vehicles available on the market. Depending on the trim you select, your Canyon can both be had in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. There is not any selection for a guide transmission on the 2024 Canyon. Its towing capability can be fairly spectacular contemplating it solely packs a four-cylinder. Its off-road variant also has the chops to tackle nearly any international mid-size pickup.

GMC has up to date the inside of the Canyon to convey it into the twenty first Century. This means tons of options like underbody cameras, a head-up show in addition to local weather management. The 11.3-inch infotainment display screen can be a pleasant factor to see, with each trendy amenity that you could possibly count on.

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The Best GMC Pickup Trucks, Ranked On Reliability And Towing Capacity

If you are available in the market for a trusty pickup from GMC that may haul, listed here are a number of the most succesful and reliable fashions on the market.

4 2024 Chevrolet Colorado

Reliability Score: 8.3/10

A Silver 2024 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 front 3/4 shot
Chevrolet

The Chevy Colorado is a instrument that has been crafted to perform simply as nicely on the highway because it does off-road. While the Canyon and the Colorado are twins, every of them has their very own caveats that have an effect on efficiency, your selection of customization, and reliability. Chevrolet has added their very own aptitude to the mid-size truck to make it a novel selection.

Reliability

Despite the Canyon and the Colorado being so related, with each of them scoring 8.3/10 for reliability in line with iSeeCars, there are some variations. For occasion, CarEdge claims that the Colorado is only $411 cheaper to maintain than the typical pickup, that means it is dearer to keep up than the Canyon. It additionally has a 29.99% likelihood of needing a serious restore within the first ten years, in line with AutomotiveEdge, which is worse than different fashionable pickups.

  • Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $599 (RepairPal)
  • Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $9,910 (AutomotiveEdge)
  • Total Recalls: 0
  • Worst Colorado Year To Buy Used: 2015/2016

Performance

Engine

2.7-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four

2.7-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four

Transmission

8-Speed Automatic

8-Speed Automatic

Horsepower

237 HP

310 HP

Torque

260 LB-FT

430 LB-FT

Driveline

RWD or 4WD

RWD or 4WD

Towing Capacity

3,500 lbs

7,700 lbs

Payload Capacity

1,600 lbs

1,600 lbs

(Source: Chevrolet)

Just just like the GMC Canyon, diesel is not a selection on the Chevrolet Colorado. Instead, you will only find a 2.7-liter inline-four. However, the place within the Canyon you solely have entry to the excessive output model, some Colorados include a lowered 237 horsepower. Regardless of trim, you possibly can go for the extra highly effective engine, however it would price you further. This does imply, although, that the Colorado has a a lot decrease beginning worth than the Canyon, making it just a little bit extra accessible.

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Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Off-Road Equipment And Specs Explained

Coming in simply behind the top-spec ZR2, this is what off-road tools you get with the 2024 Chevrolet Colorado Z71, in addition to its efficiency specs.

3 2024 Ford Ranger

Reliability Score: 8.9/100

Silver 2024 Ford Ranger Lariat
Ford

The most dependable American-made mid-size pickup on our record is the Ford Ranger. This will come as little shock to most as Ford has been completely dominating the pickup marketplace for a few years now. It was also redesigned for the 2024 model year with a daring new look impressed by its massive brother, the F-150.

Reliability

The 2024 Ford Ranger scores the very best for reliability relating to iSeeCars’ record. AutomotiveEdge, nonetheless, claims that in case you purchase a Ranger there is a 30.63% chance that it will need a repair costing more than $500 in its first ten years. The Ford Ranger can be the most costly automotive on this record to restore and keep. While it’s thought-about to be extra dependable, your elevated upkeep payments are one thing that you will have to weigh up.

  • Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $615 (RepairPal)
  • Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $10,045 (AutomotiveEdge)
  • Total Recalls: 0
  • Worst Ranger Year To Buy Used: 1999

Performance

Engine

2.3-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four

3.0-Liter Twin-Turbocharged V-6

Transmission

10-Speed Automatic

10-Speed Automatic

Horsepower

270 HP

315 HP

Torque

310 LB-FT

400 LB-FT

Driveline

RWD or 4WD

RWD or 4WD

Towing Capacity

7,500 lbs

7,500 lbs

Payload Capacity

1,805 lbs

1,805 lbs

(Source: Ford)

While international markets nonetheless get to benefit from the diesel V-6, within the U.S. it has been fully faraway from the lineup. Instead, you have got the selection between an inline-four or a brand-new twin-turbocharged V-6. What is attention-grabbing is that Ford claims, that no matter which powertrain you select, the max towing capability of the 2024 Ranger stays at 7,500 kilos. You can go for rear- or all-wheel drive, with the latter having the higher impact on towing and payload efficiency. Regardless of what you go for, you will get a 10-speed computerized transmission.

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Here’s How Much A Fully Loaded 2024 Ford Maverick Costs

If you need the fanciest approach to personal a Ford Maverick, then you definitely’d be shocked you will not even attain the typical transaction worth for a brand new automotive in 2024.

2 2024 Honda Ridgeline

Reliability Score: 9.2/100

2024 Honda Ridgeline-006-1
Honda

From Japanese automaker Honda, the Ridgeline will not be essentially the most highly effective mid-size truck which you can purchase nevertheless it definitely is among the best to stay with. It shares a lot of its underpinnings with the Honda Odyssey, a van, which suggests its on-road manners are probably the greatest on this phase.

Reliability

The Ridgeline scores fairly nicely by way of reliability in line with iSeeCars, incomes a 9.2 out of 10. AutomotiveEdge claims that the Honda Ridgeline costs $2,058 less to maintain in its first ten years than different fashionable pickup vehicles. It additionally has a 24.23% likelihood of needing a serious restore on this timeframe, which is respectable.

  • Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $502 (RepairPal)
  • Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $8,263 (AutomotiveEdge)
  • Total Recalls: 0
  • Worst Ridgeline Year To Buy Used: 2006

Performance

Engine

3.5-Liter Naturally Aspirated V-6

Transmission

9-Speed Automatic

Horsepower

280 HP

Torque

262 LB-FT

Driveline

AWD

Towing Capacity

5,000 lbs

Payload Capacity

1,583 lbs

(Source: Honda)

Honda’s Ridgeline enjoys a way more conventional powertrain than loads of the opposite pickups on this record. Instead of a turbocharged inline-four, it has a sturdy V-6. No matter what trim of the Ridgeline you go for, you’ll web your self all-wheel drive, which is unquestionably a bonus. The essential draw back to the Ridgeline is its decrease max towing than its rivals. That mentioned, 5,000 kilos is prone to be sufficient for most individuals. The largest upside is the truth that it feels extra like a automotive to drive than some other automotive on this record, making on a regular basis commutes far more snug.

1 2024 Toyota Tacoma

Reliability Score: 9.2/100

A White 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
Toyota

Toyota is a producer that has been round since what feels just like the daybreak of time. One of their largest claims to fame is their stalwart reliability. Thus, it comes as no shock that the Toyota Tacoma tops our record by way of reliability.

Reliability

The Japanese automaker does it once more and Toyota’s Tacoma is essentially the most dependable automotive on our record. On prime of that, it is usually the most cost effective to keep up by a rustic mile. CarEdge claims that the Tacoma costs $3,901 less than the typical pickup truck to keep up in its first ten years. RepairPal reaffirms this with it having the bottom common yearly upkeep of our picks.

  • Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $478 (RepairPal)
  • Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $6,420 (AutomotiveEdge)
  • Total Recalls: 0
  • Worst Tacoma Year To Buy Used: 2006

Performance

Engine

2.4-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four

2.4-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four

Transmission

6-Speed Manual or 8-Speed Automatic

6-Speed Manual or 8-Speed Automatic

Horsepower

228 HP

278 HP

Torque

243 LB-FT

317 LB-FT

Driveline

RWD or AWD

RWD or AWD

Towing Capacity

N/A

6400 lbs

Payload Capacity

N/A

1,685 lbs

(Source: Toyota)

The Toyota Tacoma incorporates a single turbocharged inline-four however with two totally different energy outputs. The weaker one is barely discovered within the entry-level SR mannequin, however each different Taco truck within the lineup will get the 278-horsepower variant. You can have your Tacoma in both rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive together with your selection of both an computerized or guide transmission.

The Tacoma was redesigned for the 2024 year and Toyota has achieved a superb job. If you’re available in the market for a mid-size pickup truck, that is trying like the very best worth for cash for the time being.

Teardown Reveals Why So Many Jeep EcoDiesel V-6s Fail

America has a posh relationship with diesel engines. Diesels are the life-blood of the transport sector, offering energy for all types of vehicles and business automobiles throughout the nation. But generally, American carmakers make diesels that develop horrendous reputations.

Eric from the I Do Cars YouTube channel finds out why Jeep’s EcoDiesel engine has such a foul status in his newest teardown video. Originally discovered within the last-gen Jeep Grand Cherokee and variations of the Ram 1500, they’re well-known for failing prematurely, with tough-to-find components and many extraordinarily tight packaging. 

The solely purpose we all know this engine is dangerous is as a result of it could not be spun by hand, indicating one thing’s gone fallacious with the rods or crankshaft. From the skin, it seems to be pretty wholesome, with no seen indicators of harm. You would not understand it was damaged judging by the heads. The areas below the valve covers are like-new, with none staining and minimal scoring. 

 

It’s solely when Eric removes the heads does the harm turn into clear. One of the pistons, sooner or later, smacked into the valves, making a transparent imprint on its face. Sure sufficient, when the oil pan is eliminated we are able to see copious metallic shavings that, in response to Eric, was once bearings for the connecting rods.

The bearings disintegrated, inflicting one of many rod caps to detach from the rod, liberating the crankshaft to chuck the piston into the top. The rod cap bounced round within the crankcase earlier than wedging itself between the crankshaft and the block, seizing the motor. Yikes.

Eric suspects a scarcity of upkeep and a scarcity of floor space for the bearings are what led to the failure. Seeing as how he is takes engines like these aside for a residing, we suspect he is onto one thing. Eric has taken aside quite a few EcoDiesels, and says they’ve all had comparable issues with the underside finish. 

Our suggestion? Just go for the gasoline engine as an alternative.

Jaguar Engine Teardown Reveals The Dangers Of Overfilling Your Oil

It’s at all times vital to routinely test and alter your oil. It’s the lifeblood of your engine, in any case, chargeable for lubricating the advanced mixture of metallic items that work collectively to make all that horsepower. Having too little oil will be catastrophic. But having an excessive amount of oil is simply as unhealthy, as this teardown of an overfilled Jaguar engine reveals.

Eric from the I Do Cars YouTube channel managed to get his palms on a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 out of a 2017 Jaguar XE sedan that failed as a result of it was severely overfilled with oil. According to the salvage yard that offered the engine, 9 quarts of oil got here out of the pan when it was drained. Maximum capability for this engine is simply 5.7 quarts.

jaguar V6 engine teardown after being overfilled with oil 1
jaguar V6 engine teardown after being overfilled with oil
jaguar V6 engine teardown after being overfilled with oil 2

Teardown of the heads present indicators one thing’s gone mistaken. This engine has solely been used for 66,000 miles, so every little thing appears comparatively clear. But metallic flakes within the oil filter and scarring within the cam journals level to catastrophic injury within the block. 

Sure sufficient, as soon as the heads come off, Eric finds the 2 forwardmost pistons are now not correctly secured to the crankshaft. He additionally discovers they’ve beforehand made contact with the top — one thing that is not speculated to occur in regular operation. Taking off the oil pans reveals a ton of torn-up rod bearing materials, together with a number of large chunks. That explains the free pistons, then.

Taking the pistons out reveals a bunch of burnt metallic on the backside of the connecting rods and a bunch of injury to the cylinder partitions. When an engine is overfilled with oil, the crankshaft splashes the surplus oil round within the crankcase, turning it to foam. When that foam is sucked into the oil pump it aerates the oil to the purpose the place it could actually now not lubricate the metallic. The result’s a bunch of friction and warmth that, left untreated, will rapidly kill a motor. And that is precisely what occurred right here.

Take this Jaguar V6’s destruction as an indication to learn to test your oil correctly. Or you possibly can find yourself with a bricked engine. 

Discover How Honda Odyssey Performs With Additives Instead of Engine Oil

Engine oil is a crucial component for combustion engines, as it needs regular replacement to prevent potential disasters. Additives are designed to address different engine problems and improve the performance of the oil. But how effective are these additives when used without base oil? Garage54, a YouTube channel, recently conducted an experiment to find out.

The team selected a Honda Odyssey equipped with the automaker’s F23 engine, which was used in Honda vehicles during the 1990s and early 2000s. They drained the engine oil and then flushed the engine. Subsequently, they mixed various oil additives to create a concentrated mixture, forming an oily, greenish-brown substance that they poured directly into the engine.

Before replacing the oil with additives, the Odyssey’s engine was already experiencing issues. Smoke would billow from the tailpipe under heavy throttle. Unfortunately, the additives did not resolve the smoking problem and instead made it worse. As the van drove around town, the smoke changed from blue to gray, eventually leading to large puffs of black smoke accompanied by a loud bang from the exhaust pipe. Nevertheless, despite all the abuse, the Honda Odyssey survived the short test.

To measure any changes in the engine, the Garage54 team monitored the oil pressure in each cylinder. While two cylinders experienced a drop in oil pressure, one remained unchanged, and the fourth showed a slight increase. However, these changes were negligible, and the Honda Odyssey continued to perform without any issues during an extended overnight trip, totaling an additional 62 miles (100 kilometers).

Since the engine did not fail during the experiment, the team decided to reverse the process. They drained the additives, which had turned black, from the van and replaced them with fresh, thicker motor oil before taking the vehicle for another spin. Although the van still emitted smoke from the exhaust, using additives did not appear to cause any significant problems.

Anyone who has visited an auto parts store may have noticed the assortment of miracle fluids designed to prolong the lifespan of older vehicles. These fluids aim to enhance the positive aspects of the engine oil or counteract undesirable effects by modifying the oil’s formula. They can improve lubrication, adjust viscosity, and keep engine components free of harmful deposits and sludge, which could explain why the drained additives appeared dirty.