Trendy pickup vehicles can tow and haul greater than ever. A number of “light-duty” full-size vehicles are able to pulling over 10,000 kilos, which is greater than sufficient to tow issues like boats, automobile trailers, or work tools. Then there are the vehicles designed as radical off-road machines with massive knobby tires and big suspension journey. However trendy pickup vehicles are able to extra than simply spectacular towing capability or smashing by the world’s hardest terrain. They’re additionally spacious, high-tech, feature-rich types of passenger transport.
To accommodate extra passengers, crew-cab (four-door) configurations of pickup vehicles have principally taken over the market, with plenty of full- and mid-size vehicles now coming with solely 4 doorways. There are even a number of compact vehicles which have sufficient room for households and sufficient functionality to haul round or muddy mountain bikes or make all types of journeys to the native ironmongery store in your newest house enchancment undertaking.
However that are one of the best ones for households? I have been testing pickup vehicles for over a decade, with expertise behind the wheel of nearly each truck in the marketplace. And SlashGear’s editors have examined all the newest fashions, driving them in all kinds of distinctive eventualities, so we all know which vehicles dwell as much as the hype. So for this checklist, we have taken our expertise with vehicles and mixed it with trendy security rankings to establish one of the best vehicles that stability truck capabilities with family-friendly options.
Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 is likely one of the most versatile vehicles on sale at present. Relying on the way you equip it, the F-150 is able to towing as a lot as 13,500 kilos or hauling a payload of two,440 kilos. It is obtainable with a number of completely different engines, together with a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, a 3.5-liter PowerBoost Hybrid V6, and a 5.0-liter V8 for the truck purists on the market. And let’s not neglect the fully-electric model of the F-150, the Lightning. There’s even the off-road conquering Raptor, which can thrill drivers and passengers alike over a number of the world’s roughest terrain.
The newest model of the F-150 makes use of Ford’s newest BlueCruise hands-free know-how, which ought to definitely take a number of the pressure off these summer time household highway journeys. It is also spacious and comfy, with a usually easy trip on the freeway and spectacular inside tech. The newest F-150 shines in security checks too, incomes 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA in its total security ranking and a Prime Security Choose designation from the IIHS.
The F-150 acquired the bottom potential rating of “Poor” from the IIHS within the reasonable overlap entrance crash take a look at, however that is comparatively frequent amongst massive full-size vehicles today. Conversely, it acquired the highest “Good” rating for small overlap frontal security and aspect crash safety. Beginning costs for the newest F-150 vary from round $40,000 for base two-door fashions, all the best way as much as over $80,000 for the high-performance Raptor.
Toyota Tundra
The Tundra does not have as many powertrain selections as rivals just like the F-150, however that does not imply the large Toyota is missing for energy. For 2026, the Tundra comes with one in all two powertrains: a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 often known as the i-Power or a hybridized V6 referred to as the i-Power Max. Horsepower output is 389 hp or 479 hp, respectively, and each engines are sufficient to get the Tundra shifting in a rush.
Regardless that it’s a bit on the massive aspect, our take a look at of the 2024 Tundra discovered it sensible and well-equipped, with sufficient room for the entire household. CrewMax (crew cab) variations of the Tundra are particularly spacious, with over 41 inches of legroom in each the entrance and rear seats, alongside loads of hip- and headroom for taller passengers too.
The Tundra can get a bit expensive on greater trims, however that is the norm today amongst full-size vehicles. MSRP for the 2026 Tundra ranges from round $44,000 for base trims to over $80,000 for the topped-out Capstone mannequin — we would advocate one of many mid-range fashions to stability options and worth. The Tundra will get prime security rankings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with the previous giving the Tundra its highest honor of Prime Security Choose+ with prime rankings of “Good” within the small overlap, reasonable overlap, and aspect crashworthiness checks. Equally, the NHTSA provides the Tundra its prime total ranking of 5 stars.
Toyota Tacoma
One of many strongest selections within the midsize truck phase and some of the stalwart pickups you should buy, the Tacoma is a pickup with loads to supply. The 2026 mannequin continues to supply a regular 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine on base trims, however higher trims get a hybrid system that pushes out as a lot as 326 hp.
We have pushed many various variants of the Toyota Tacoma right here at SlashGear, and I’ve personally in contrast the Tacoma Trailhunter and TRD Professional on highway journeys, in metropolis life, and cruising by the mountains. By way of that testing, I observed that the TRD Professional’s IsoDynamic seats eat up a number of rear legroom, so we would keep away from that trim stage for consumers who need sufficient rear-seat area.
The Tacoma solely acquired 4 out of 5 stars for its total security ranking from the NHTSA, however it acquired the IIHS’ Prime Security Choose designation with prime rankings in small overlap and aspect crashworthiness checks. The Tacoma is considerably inexpensive than its full-size sibling, the Tundra. Base costs for the 2026 Tacoma begin round $34,000, however prime trims can price round $65,000. A trim stage in between the 2 extremes, just like the well-equipped TRD Sport or TRD Off-Street, is probably going the candy spot.
Honda Ridgeline
Honda’s Ridgeline is a unibody pickup, which makes it extra like the typical automobile and crossover than body-on-frame vehicles just like the Tacoma, Tundra, and F-150. Some truck lovers could dismiss rigs just like the Honda Ridgeline due to this distinction, however I am of the agency perception that households will profit from the virtues they supply. I’ve pushed a number of completely different Ridgelines through the years, they usually’ve at all times been snug, with glorious trip high quality and spectacular dealing with capabilities.
The second row of the Ridgeline can also be correctly spacious in comparison with most midsize vehicles, and our most up-to-date take a look at of the Ridgeline Trailsport showcased simply how versatile the Honda pickup is for on a regular basis use. It additionally has plenty of small progressive options like its in-bed trunk, which can be utilized for gear storage, tailgating (fill it up with ice then drain it out later), and even washing out objects like used wetsuits after a day of browsing on the seaside. The Honda’s tailgate additionally opens in a number of instructions, permitting for the loading of small objects deep into the mattress with out having to climb up.
The Ridgeline hasn’t been rated not too long ago by the IIHS, with the 2017 mannequin the final one it examined. Nonetheless, the NHTSA provides the 2025 mannequin 5 out of 5 stars for total security. Relying on trim stage, the 2026 Ridgeline will price between $42,000 and $49,000.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Whereas some could follow their purist beliefs and say that the Hyundai Santa Cruz just isn’t a correct pickup, I might totally disagree. I hung out testing the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz, and it proved completely competent as a run-around truck. It has a usable mattress space and plenty of utilitarian options, and it is one in all my favourite small vehicles in recent times. It is also glorious in the event you want a number of the utility of a truck however need one thing that maximizes consolation and on a regular basis usability. In spite of everything, not everybody wants 10,000 kilos of towing capability.
On prime of all these virtues, the Santa Cruz is comparatively small from nostril to tail, so it is loads simpler to maneuver round corners. It will even be a lot simpler to search out parking in crowded cities than it will be in one thing just like the Tundra or the F-150. The Ford Maverick is the chief competitor for the Santa Cruz, and whereas it has loads to supply, it’s kind of much less refined on the within than the Santa Cruz. The Maverick additionally has less-impressive security rankings from the IIHS and NHTSA, so it did not earn a spot on this checklist. In the meantime, the Santa Cruz will get a prime five-star security ranking from NHTSA and a Prime Security Choose designation from the IIHS. The 2026 Santa Cruz is priced moderately, with fashions beginning at roughly $30,000 and topping out at $45,000 or so.
Our methodology
For a truck to earn a spot on this checklist, it needed to be spacious, well-equipped, and able to performing primary truck duties. There have been no dimension restrictions, however heavy-duty vehicles weren’t thought of due to their main give attention to functionality somewhat than consolation. Heavy-duty vehicles additionally aren’t rated for security or gas economic system estimates, so it is exhausting to guage them for family-friendliness.
Vans had been additionally judged by security rankings. Whereas not each truck on this checklist will get the best potential scores from each the IIHS and NHTSA, all of them acquired spectacular rankings from a minimum of one of many two security organizations. Lastly, as talked about earlier, we mixed all of this knowledge with our expertise of the vehicles. Since these vehicles are from completely different dimension classes and segments, they’re listed in no explicit order.
