Today’s pickups are just as luxurious as some SUVs and cars, but they also offer off-road and towing capabilities, which is just right with consumers. Finding the right one for you may not be so easy. Critics, like JD Power, rate it all the time, but when it comes to the best midsize trucks of 2023, four models are tied for the top spot. Which are they?
What JD Power looks for when determining grades
In scoring the vehicles on this list, JD Power polled specific truck owners to get their thoughts on what they liked and didn’t like about their minivans.
– motortrend (MotorTrend)
According to Chevy Colorado owners gave the model high marks in quality/reliability, resale and dealership experience. The area that didn’t impress them was the way it went.
No information was given about the part they didn’t like. However, JD Power reviewers felt the truck’s interior was very quiet, and its 7,700-pound towing capacity left a good impression.
Ford Ranger 2023
As with the Colorado, it also got good scores from owners when it came to all categories, with the exception of Driving Experience. Owners reported poor brake performance and didn’t like the noise the doors made when closing. The other hate they had was storing personal items.
What they did do, though, was the sound system and they felt the second row of seats was very comfortable to ride. They also liked the engine’s power, which was 270 horsepower coming from the inline-four Intercooled turbo engine. It is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Nissan Frontier 2023
It scored fairly well in all four categories with Driving Experience being the lowest rating by just a few points. This pickup truck is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine that produces up to 310 horsepower and is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. It can also tow up to 6,700 lbs.
Owners of this truck have been impressed by the engine’s power and the voice-activated experience. They also thought the displays were very attractive. But what they didn’t like was the uncomfortable second row of seats and the performance of the headlights. Fuel economy was an issue with them. The Frontier offers 17-18 mpg city and 22-24 mpg highway.
2023 Jeep Gladiator
The Jeep Gladiator scored similarly to the other four trucks until the test drive reached the lowest rating. However, the score wasn’t too far behind the other categories. This pickup offers a V6 engine that can generate 260-285 horsepower and is paired with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission.
When it comes to fuel economy, the owners were disappointed. It only gets about 16-17 mpg on city roads and 22-23 mpg when traveling on the highway. Other dislikes include inadequate storage of personal items and a lot of noise entering the cabin area.
But what they liked was the comfortable second row of seats and the sound quality coming from the audio system. Also, many reported that they liked the way the truck started, which made them feel good.
If you’re in the market for a midsize pickup truck, you’ll encounter fours that do quite well. Choosing between one of the four will depend on what features you’re looking to get and how well each will do with a test drive.
