A Little Pick-Me-Up
Consider a small truck for all your light-load needs.
Most compact pickup trucks can handle your business's light
hauling and towing chores efficiently and inexpensively. Average
cargo length is 6 feet; seating ranges from three to six. Benefits
include prices starting under $20,000 and better gas mileage than
their big brothers. Downsides are limited power and payload
capacity. Let's look at three popular small pickups--the Dodge
Dakota, Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma.
The rugged $19,585 Dakota is an upscale club cab truck with the
only optional V-8 engine in its class. Full-swing rear doors ease
entry and exit. The standard engine is a V-6; the transmission, a
six-speed manual. The Dakota's safety features include ABS,
energy-absorbing steering column, knee bolsters and side-curtain
air bags. Payload: 1,700 pounds. Mileage: 16 city/22 highway.
Ford's Ranger has been around for almost two decades. This
year's base model is priced at $15,085. The Ranger's
regular cab has a 6-foot bed, though its Styleside model has a
7-foot bed. The powertrain on the base pickup is a 2.3-liter I-4,
with 143 horsepower and a five-speed manual transmission. The
extended-cab version has half-size swing doors and small rear seats
with limited knee room. Payload: 1,260 pounds. Mileage: 24 city/29
highway.
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For the budget-conscious, Toyota's sturdy Tacoma is priced
from $13,980. With a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed
manual transmission, the base pickup puts out 159 horsepower. If
you visit off-road sites, you'll need the optional suspension
package. With ABS standard, another fine option is electronic
stability control. Seating is for three. The pricier four-door
model won top crash-test scores from the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration. Toyota offers many practical Tacoma
accessories, including cargo dividers, crossbars, racks and bed
extenders. Payload: 1,410 pounds. Mileage: 21 city/ 27 highway.
Other compact pickups include Mazda's B-Series, sister to
Ford's Ranger; the Chevrolet Colorado; and the GMC Canyon.
Jill Amadio is an award-winning automotive
journalist and author.