Best Used Trucks Under $20K You Can Still Trust in 2025

Finding a good truck under $20,000 isn’t easy anymore but it’s not impossible. Consumer Reports has identified several used trucks that still offer solid reliability, strong performance, and reasonable ownership costs. In this video, we break down 9 used trucks under $20,000 that are actually worth buying, based on long-term reliability data and real owner feedback.

Toyota Tacoma

You ever meet someone who just won’t go down easy? That’s the Tacoma. Always dirt under the nails, still smiling somehow. I drove one from like 2008 or something, cost me maybe $17k back then, and the seat smelled like wet dog for months after I bought it. Still miss it though. Not fast, not comfy, but every time you look at it you kinda go, “yeah, this thing’ll outlive me.” My uncle actually rolled his once and it still drove straight. Weird truck magic.

Ford Ranger

Rangers are funny. They look small till you park next to a Civic, and suddenly it’s the boss. I had this rusty blue one a few years back, bought it for around $10k because the guy said it had “character.” Which, apparently, means it leaked oil whenever it felt emotional. Still, something about how it growled on cold mornings made me trust it. I’d pour my coffee on the tailgate and just… sit there. Thinking about nothing.

Chevy Silverado 1500

Silverados feel like country music you can drive. You might not love them, but they got stories. My neighbor’s old 2013 is still kicking, think he paid $18k or something, and yeah the paint’s peeling but the engine sounds like someone clearing their throat before doing something important. I used to joke it smells like rubber boots and fast food fries. It really did though.

Honda Ridgeline

I know truck people clown the Ridgeline. “It’s just a minivan with a job.” whatever. I kinda like it. Quiet, smooth, like that one friend who drives slow but gets you home safe. Plus, under $20k you might grab an older one in decent shape, which honestly is wild. I drove one once and it had storage under the bed that felt like a secret. kept ice and beers in it, which made me like it even more.

Nissan Frontier

Frontiers are those “eh, good enough” trucks, but that’s kinda the point. They don’t pretend. $15k, get one with some miles, it’ll still do its thing. I once borrowed a Frontier and forgot to return it for two weeks (don’t ask). It just… felt reliable. Like that shrugging coworker who’s always there, quietly doing your job better than you.

GMC Sierra 1500

Sierra’s that guy who wears nice boots but still knows how to fix stuff. You can tell it’s a Silverado in a fancy suit. I remember sitting in one used for $19k at a sketchy dealership parking lot, breathing in that mix of leather cleaner and McDonald’s fries. I was tempted. Still think about it sometimes, especially when something in my car rattles.

Toyota Tundra

Tundras just feel big. Like too big, honestly. But also comforting. I had a buddy who used one for road trips, and sitting in it felt like being in a slow, warm spaceship. He got his used for like $19,500 maybe, and whenever it hit a bump, everything squeaked a little, but in a friendly way. Also, it eats gas like a teenager eats pizza. Still kinda love it though.

Dodge Ram 1500

Rams always feel reckless to me. Big growl, big ego. But fun. My buddy had a 2012 Ram, paid around $16k, and I swear it smelled like cologne and gasoline. He’d rev it unnecessarily just to “test the throttle.” Sure, bro. But man that sound. It rattles your ribs. Unreliable? Yeah. Cool? Definitely.

Chevrolet Colorado

The Colorado feels like someone made a Silverado but shrunk it just enough to make it sporty. And it works. A solid used one’s like $17k, maybe less if it’s got the dents. I rented one once and the seat fabric had this weird citrus cleaner smell that made me nostalgic for no reason. Took it on dirt roads and came back coated in dust. looked cooler that way.