Pickup trucks are a hot commodity these days. Supply chain problems and production delays across the board have created something of a log jamb for the auto industry. With the demand for pickup trucks skyrocketing, the pickup market is taking a particularly hard hit. This, coupled with the increasingly technological features expected in trucks, has created a perfect price storm for our once-inexpensive stuff haulers. So the question is: how much do you have to pay for a van in 2022?
Why are pickup trucks so expensive?
As mentioned above, the car market is experiencing a bit of a traffic jam. There is more demand than supply, which makes prices high. But that’s not the only thing driving prices. Not only do we expect more from our vehicles, like cameras, heated parts, safety features, sensors, better gas mileage, and of course incredible power, but vehicle safety standards have also increased. Both of these factors lead to vehicles that are much more expensive and slow to manufacture. Not to mention, when you add all these technological components, they all require semiconductor chips, of which there are still global shortages.
So we are left with a product that is expensive to make, with parts that are in short supply, and a long line of buyers eager for the product.
How much is the cheapest new pickup truck right now?
The 2022 Ford Maverick is the cheapest new pickup truck on the market as of this writing. According to cars.com, the 2022 Ford Maverick remains the cheapest new pickup truck on the market. Starting at $22,195 MSRP, the Maverick is hard to beat. However, for all the reasons mentioned above, getting your hands on one is challenging. This diminutive truck arrives just in time with a super-efficient 191-hp 2.5-liter hybrid four-cylinder engine that generates a combined 37 mpg. Not only is it cheap to buy, but it’s also cheap to drive.
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a close runner-up, starting at just $25,450 but topping out at $40,000. Although it costs a few bucks more, the Hyundai pickup is an interesting choice due to its small size and equally efficient 2.5-liter gasoline engine with a combined 25 mpg average.
From there, in order, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma starts at $27,250, then the 2023 Ford Ranger at $27,400, the 2023 Nissan Frontier at $29,190, and lastly for midsize trucks, the 2023 Honda Ridgeline starts at $38,800.
What is the cheapest new full-size pickup truck?
The venerable 2023 Ford F-150 leads the pack for cheapest new full-size pickup trucks with a starting price of $34,585. The new and improved 2023 Toyota Tundra comes next, with a starting price of $36,965, followed by the 2023 Chevy Silverado, 2023 Ram and GMC Sierra 1500, all around the $37,000 mark. The Nissan Titian goes up to $40,000 for starting MSRP, and then the Rivian R1T tops the starting price lists at $67,500.
Although these are starting prices, all of these trucks can quickly exceed $50,000. In fact, some of them can reach $100,000 in their highest version, like the Ram TRX and the Ford F-150 Raptor.
Should you buy a truck right now?
Pickup trucks have never spanned such a wide range of price points. With a price range of $20k-$100k, the pickup market is certainly in a strange and unique place. Unfortunately, many jobs require a pickup truck, and for those who need one, nothing else will do. But if you don’t really need a truck for the job, now might not be the best time to buy one. Once supply stabilizes and demand begins to wane, the market is likely to return to a proper range of affordable used pickup trucks to expensive performance models.