Best Trucks of 2024 Under $30k

Thanks mainly to Ford and Hyundai, smaller pickup trucks are again gaining prominence. The advantage of this is obvious: Shoppers who may not have been able to afford a new pickup can now do so. They may not have big V8s under the hood, but not everybody needs that much power. That being said, the list of new pickup trucks starting at under $30,000 in the USA is a short one. Based on our BuzzScore rating system, these are the affordable trucks that we most highly recommend.

Vehicles are assigned a BuzzScore in relation to their direct segment competitors, and as such, vehicles in this list, while similarly scored, do not necessarily compete directly against one another. Find out more about how the BuzzScore ratings work here.

2024 Chevrolet Colorado

At $29,500, the base Chevy Colorado only just makes the cut. That MSRP gets you the no-frills Work Truck (WT) with rear-wheel drive, utilitarian steel wheels, hardy cloth upholstery, and a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 237 horsepower. Although clearly built to work, the WT benefits from all the improvements introduced in the latest Colorado generation, which was introduced for the 2023 model year. The interior is far better than before, and it rides comfortably while performing confidently on dirt roads. We haven’t driven the base Colorado yet, but we expect it to be excellent based on how well the upper trims get the basics right.

“This might be GM’s most capable truck.”

– Jared Rosenholtz, CarBuzz Editor-at-Large, upon reviewing the 2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison

2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz

If you visit Hyundai’s website and search for the “trucks” section, you won’t find one. Instead, the Santa Cruz is grouped with the brand’s SUVs, which tells you everything you need to know. The Santa Cruz isn’t a traditionally rugged truck, as it is based on a unibody platform. Think of it as an SUV that just happens to have a practical, open bed at the back. It starts at $26,900 for the SE, and you can upgrade to the SEL and still come in at below $30k. These cheaper trims use a 191-hp 2.5-liter engine and standard front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available. At 195.7 inches in length, the Santa Cruz is a significant 17.3 inches shorter than a mid-size pickup like the Colorado. This makes it less practical but much more maneuverable.

2024 Ford Maverick

Base MSRP: $23,815
Engine: 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
Horsepower: 250 hp
Fuel Economy: 23/30 MPG

Unlike its Hyundai rival, the Maverick has more masculine lines and rugged materials, which are typical of a pickup. However, the Maverick is far removed from the ubiquitous F-150 in that it shares a unibody platform with the Escape and Bronco Sport. In the real world, the Maverick has more than enough capability for many people. Starting at $23,815 for the XL, the Maverick handsomely undercuts the Santa Cruz. Even better, the Maverick’s standard turbocharged engine makes 250 hp (much more than the Hyundai), and you can equip a more efficient hybrid engine that manages 42 mpg in city driving. The Maverick may attract sneers from those who claim it isn’t a real truck, but that’s a short-sighted view that could see you miss out on a capable vehicle and the cheapest pickup truck in America.

What About The Rest?

Every other pickup on sale in America starts at over $30,000, but three – the Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, and Ford Ranger – only just miss the sub-$30k mark, so they are worth a mention here. The cheapest Nissan Frontier starts at $30,510 for the King Cab S, while the cheapest 2024 Tacoma begins at $31,500 in SR guise. Finally, you can get a 2024 Ranger for $32,670.

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For over a century, it’s been tough to match the consistency of Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge/Ram in the truck segment.

Characteristics of Pickup Trucks Under $30,000

When you buy a pickup, there are a few things you expect it to be able to do. This is true even for new trucks under $30,000. The different brands involved in the segment each focus on specific aspects to draw in their target demographic, but there are still certain qualities you can expect most pickups to exhibit. You may not be able to get everything you want at this price point, but you shouldn’t settle for less than you need, even if it means a few less-than-ideal caveats:

Performance: Powerful V6s and V8s are not available at this price point, but there are some turbocharged four-cylinder options that provide just enough power.
Practicality: Even though the Maverick and Santa Fe have smaller beds than mid-size pickups, these open cargo areas provide more flexibility than you can get from an SUV. If you often need to transport awkwardly shaped or dirty equipment that would damage a normal car’s interior, a compact pickup is a much better choice.
Dependability: These cars are designed to make it through rain or sleet, or even the occasional crash. Needless to say, they are extremely safe and durable, able to overcome just about anything life can throw at them and keep kicking. This is also one of the reasons they maintain their value for so long.
Economy: With more petite dimensions than larger trucks, most pickups under $30k are lighter. Therefore, they use less gas. Take the Ford Maverick hybrid, for instance: It can return over 40 mpg on the highway, a remarkable figure for a truck. Less weight also equates to smaller brakes and wheels, so replacing these parts will cost less.

2023-chevrolet-colorado-lt-003 — Chevrolet

What to Consider Before Buying a Truck Under $30,000

As capable as they may be, even the top pickup trucks under $30k are not without faults. After all, they are more budget-minded, so that means you have to be willing to accept some compromises.