Cars and Drivers

Why Buy a Ford F-150 When You Can Drive A Better Car for Less Money?

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: February 5, 2025 12:10 pm

Americans have, historically, loved pickup trucks. And who could blame us? Pickup trucks are powerful, versatile, roomy, and rugged. They offer unmatched towing capability, making them a great choice for people looking to tow a boat or other property. And when it comes to purchasing a new pickup truck, it’s no secret that people turn to the Ford F-150. Henry Ford was both the first person to create the pickup truck and even coined the name. His mastery is evident in the Ford F-150. It not only consistently improves sale prices year by year, but released an electric pickup truck — the Ford F-150 Lightning — that quickly rose the ranks to the best-selling electric truck nationwide. Ford even shared that its retail sales rates were growing at double the industry pace in 2024. 

But the truth is that there are other pickup trucks that, despite their lesser popularity, actually offer way more to buyers. Gone are the days of a pickup truck monopoly. Instead, a wide range of pickup trucks now offer more affordable prices and unique capabilities that the Ford F-150 can’t match. Here, 24/7 Wall St. identified the nine pickup trucks that are better options for the discerning driver than the Ford F-150. To explore which pickup trucks you should buy, we looked at sources like US News and World Report, AutoTrader, the Ford F-150 Forum, and JD Power. We listed these in order based on our opinion of the perceived benefits, though you may have other ideas. (I was about to buy a Ford F-150, but these 20 factors scared me off.)

Why We’re Sharing Insights on Pickup Trucks

The global pickup truck market sat at $208.67 billion in 2023 and is only expected to grow over the next decade, to $333.34 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. These numbers highlight the global draw towards pickup trucks. As the market continues to expand, car brands will seek to add new and innovative features that improve the driving experience. Many of the brands and cars on this list have already started working to improve, putting them ahead of the Ford F-150. 

Here are nine pickup trucks you should buy instead of the Ford F-150: 

9. Hyundai Santa Cruz

• Starting price: $28,500
• Towing capacity: Up to 5,000 pounds
• Payload capacity: Up to 1,400 pounds
• Seating: Room for 5

It’s a Pickup Sedan

Are you looking for the benefits of a pickup with strong towing capacity, all while feeling like you’re driving a Sedan? Then opt for the Hyundai Santa Cruz. It’s a far more comfortable ride than the Ford F-150 and has almost double the fuel economy. The Hyundai immediately shines because you can easily take this vehicle into the city without a second thought.

8. GMC Canyon Elevation 

• Starting price: $37,895
• Towing capacity: Up to 7,700 pounds
• Payload capacity: Up to 2,240 pounds
• Seating: Room for 5

GMC Interior

Even though the GMC Canyon Elevation only offers 2WD on its base model, it’s still a noteworthy Ford F-150 competitor. The GMC stands out because of its updated interior, which is more luxurious than anything Ford has today. If you opt for the Canyon Elevation, rest assured that you still get plenty of towing and payload capacity without 4WD. 

7. Toyota Tacoma

• Starting price: $31,500
• Towing capacity: Up to 6,500  pounds
• Payload capacity: Up to 1,709 pounds
• Seating: Room for 5

Toyota Reliability 

Toyota is known for its reliability, and the Tacoma is a stand-out alternative to the Ford F-150 for many reasons. You get similar offroad capabilities but with a price tag of thousands less. While Ford promises the F-150 is built for work, the Toyota Tacoma is built for both work and fun, which is a significant difference between the two brands and vehicles. 

6. Honda Ridgeline

• Starting price: $40,150
• Towing capacity: Up to 5,000 pounds
• Payload capacity: Up to 1,583 pounds
• Seating: Room for 5

Higher Starting Price

Starting just a few thousand dollars more than the Ford F-150, the biggest reason to look at the Honda Ridgeline is that the price tag won’t jump significantly between trim levels. On the other hand, the Ford F-150 can jump up to $78,95 for its Raptor model, while Honda’s most expensive trim starts at $46,750. This not-so-insignificant cost difference makes the Honda Ridgeline feel far less expensive than the Ford. 

5. Chevrolet Silverado 

• Starting price: $36,800
• Towing capacity: Up to 13,300 pounds
• Payload capacity: Up to 2260 pounds
• Seating: Room for 5

Chevy’s Best Pickup 

In the world of pickups, the Ford F-150 may be king, but the Chevrolet Silverado is regularly plotting how to steal the throne. The Silverado starts with a lower price tag, all while offering similar towing capacity and an equally competitive max payload. Both vehicles will seat five people, while the 2025 model offers a much-improved interior that provides a giant display with plenty of safety features. 

4. Chevrolet Colorado

• Starting price: $29,800
• Towing capacity: Up to 7,700 pounds
• Payload capacity: Up to 1,700 pounds
• Seating: Room for 5

Second Best Chevrolet

Don’t let the Chevrolet Colorado, the second-best pick-up in the brand’s lineup, deter you. This pickup is built for people who don’t want everything that comes with a full-size pickup while getting far more capability than a traditional family SUV can deliver. You still get plenty of Chevy benefits with the Colorado, including four different trim levels and outstanding JD Power scores for reliability. 

3. Dodge RAM 1500

• Starting price: $39,420
• Towing capacity: Up to 12,750 pounds
• Payload capacity: Up to 2,330 pounds
• Seating: Room for 5

Guts. Glory. Ram. 

The initial price tag of the Dodge RAM 1500 is slightly more than the Ford F-150, but don’t let that turn you off. Incentives for Dodge are vastly superior, bringing the overall cost down to the Ford. Better yet, you get roughly similar payload and towing capacity while getting the brand’s famous Hemi engine that can power the pickup to handle just about any road you can throw at it all year round. 

2. Ford Ranger

• Starting price: $32,820
• Towing capacity: 7,500 pounds
• Payload capacity: Up to 1,847 pounds
• Seating: Room for 5

Reliable and Comfortable

The Ford Ranger is considered third in its class according to JD Power and Consumer Reports as one of the most repairable vehicles. On top of that, you get up to 7,500 pounds of towing capacity, and unless you need significantly more, you can purchase the Ranger for thousands less than the F-150. Don’t worry, you’ll still have enough towing capacity for just about every need. 

1. Ford Maverick

• Starting price: $23,920
• Towing capacity: Up to 4,000 pounds
• Payload capacity: 1,500 pounds
• Seating: Room for 5

Built Ford Tough

The Maverick is the cheapest model in the Ford pickup lineup, but that’s not a good reason to discount it. Instead, anyone opting for this vehicle over the F-150 will find that they get not only a more compact pickup truck that is better for small driveways and roads, but also one that offers excellent fuel economy, maneuverability, and a fuel-efficient hybrid engine.