What's the Best Size Truck for My Lifestyle?

Jump To: Truck for off-roading | Truck for the daily commute | Truck for recreational activities | Work truck for heavy cargo | Truck for tailgating

Today, people use their trucks for everything from taking the kids to school to off-roading to hauling concrete. According to Edmunds' data, the vast majority of pickup trucks sold today are four-door crew cabs, and there are more pickup models on sale than ever before.

This wide range of choices can add confusion if you're looking to purchase or lease a new truck. To help out, Edmunds has identified five common uses and provided suggestions for the right-size truck to meet truck shoppers' needs.

Best truck for off-roading: 2025 Jeep Gladiator

People take their trucks off-road for a variety of purposes, such as camping, hunting, fishing or just for fun. Pickups have evolved to the point where most of them can be equipped for playing in the dirt — Ford's FX4 and Chevy's Z71 packages come to mind here. But when it comes to serious off-roading, some are more equal than others.

For many consumers, the Jeep brand is synonymous with off-pavement adventure, and the 2025 Jeep Gladiator — especially in Sahara or Rubicon trim — carries on that tradition with the toughness and rugged looks buyers expect. The midsize Gladiator is based on the brand's venerable Wrangler and comes with standard four-wheel drive, a heavy-duty suspension, and available off-road upgrades. It's also the only truck with a removable roof and doors.

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Read our 2025 Jeep Gladiator review

Best truck for the daily commute: 2025 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid

If you're carpooling with a crowd, a full-size pickup with plenty of legroom in the back seat might work best for you. However, a midsize truck will be a better choice for navigating congested city streets and keeping your monthly payments and fuel bills relatively low, especially the hybrid we've picked out here.

The Toyota Tacoma was recently reborn from the wheels up, and the result is one of our favorite midsize pickup trucks. It will handle the daily bump and grind with aplomb, and it's easy to live with (as we found out after a year) and easy to park. Midgrade trims come with a vast array of features. Plus, if you opt for the hybrid powertrain (what Toyota calls the i-Force Max engine) in a midgrade model like the TRD Sport, you're getting a great mix of utility and 23 mpg combined, quite good for any pickup.

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Read our 2025 Toyota Tacoma review

Best truck for recreational activities: 2025 Ram 1500

If you're the adventurous type who likes to ride a dirt bike or tow a large camper, a full-size pickup will deliver the most versatility in terms of utility, cargo capacity and comfort.

The recently updated Ram 1500 delivers on all of those fronts. It's supremely comfortable and full of driver assistance tech that will make the drive to and from whenever you find yourself a stress-free breeze. When properly equipped, the Ram 1500 can tow up to 11,580 pounds and it has a max payload capacity of 2,300 pounds — more than enough for a small boat or a pair of Jet Skis.

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Read our 2025 Ram 1500 review

Best work truck for heavy cargo: 2025 Ram 2500

If your business requires serious hauling or towing, only a heavy-duty pickup will fit the bill. These models have beefier frames and stronger suspension systems designed to tow big trailers and haul heavy cargo.

With its smooth-riding coil-spring rear suspension and excellent towing and carrying capacities, the 2025 Ram 2500 combines comfort and utility. Some shoppers might opt for the Ram 3500 to carry even larger payloads, but its leaf-spring rear suspension means sacrificing a bit of comfort. Hitting the sweet spot between ride and brawn, the Ram 2500 will meet the needs of most buyers, whether they're towing up to 20,000 pounds or carrying as much as 4,420 pounds in the bed.

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Read our 2025 Ram 2500 review

Best truck for tailgating: 2025 Ford F-150 Hybrid

Tailgating before sporting events and concerts has become more than a casual pastime. For many enthusiasts, it's a serious ritual. While something else might work in a pinch, everyone knows a tailgate requires, well, a tailgate.

And plenty of power. That's why we recommend the Ford F-150 with its optional hybrid powertrain. With ProPower On Board, this truck can power all of the accessories you might need to host the perfect tailgate party. An electric grill, a TV, a big speaker, and more are all well within the F-150's wheelhouse when it comes to accessories you can power. Heck, you can even power major appliances in your house in the event of a power outage. We just hope you only ever have to keep it in your favorite football team's parking lot.

Shop all new Ford F-150s for sale
Read our 2025 Ford F-150 review