Pickup trucks remain the most popular type of vehicle in North America, and the selection of different types of pickup trucks is also more varied than ever before. The pickup truck has evolved from a utilitarian work vehicle to a vehicle that can provide room for the whole family and features that approach luxury status in some models. 

Whether you're looking for pure power and brawn for towing and hauling, or creature comforts and a spacious cabin for a family hauler, there's a pickup truck to fit that need.

Compact Pickup Trucks

The smallest group of pickup trucks, this type is more popular outside of North America these days. However, they were quite popular during the 80s and 90s with Japanese models from Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, and Mitsubishi leading the way. At the time, the Chevy S-10 and Ford Ranger were also considered compact pickups. 

Some of those trucks have evolved into the midsize category like the Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger. Old compact trucks are still popular on the used market in places as well. These trucks typically came in both 2WD and 4WD choices with either standard cabs or extended cabs.

Midsize Pickup Trucks

Along with full-size pickups, the midsize category is one of the most popular types of truck on the market. Midsize trucks offer a nice balance of size and power for the average truck owner. 

Modern midsize trucks like the Toyota Tacoma, Jeep Gladiator, and Chevy Colorado come in four-door versions to provide space for families. 

These models generally offer respectable towing ability that can handle midsize boats and smaller trailers. If you don't need the extra power of a full-size pickup, the midsize models offer better maneuverability and a smaller size that enables them to more easily fit into garages and navigate urban sprawl. They also tend to be the ideal choice for an off-roading pickup.

Full-Size Pickup Trucks

When you want the most flexibility and power in one package, then it's likely you'll be looking at the full-size market. This is where you'll find the best-selling Ford F-150 and other popular models like the Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra, and Chevy Silverado. 

Full-size pickup trucks are further divided into sub-categories:

• One-ton trucks
• Three-quarter-ton trucks
• Half-ton trucks

Half-ton trucks are the most popular for families as they offer increased power from the midsize category, but are still a more user-friendly size versus the larger trucks in the full-size category. The F-150, Ram 1500, and Chevy Silverado 1500 belong to this group.

When you want to step up to even more towing power and also have the choice of getting a diesel model, that's where the three-quarter-ton and one-ton categories come in. This category includes the Ford F-250, Ram 2500, Chevy Silverado 2500, Ford F-350, Ram 3500, and Chevy Silverado 3500.

The full-size category tends to give you the most options to choose from. Full-size trucks usually offer the full range of layouts like different bed sizes and crew cab configurations that feature rear seats big enough to comfortably seat adults. Many full-size truck brands offer both diesel and gas models.

Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks

Heavy-duty pickup trucks are technically also full-size trucks, but they merit a category of their own. These trucks can typically tow over 17,000 pounds and easily pair with gooseneck or fifth-wheel hitches. Diesel versions of HD trucks are the most popular due to their strong towing ability and better fuel economy than large gas engines. Modern HD trucks can definitely be outfitted with a variety of creature comforts and they ride better than older models. However, make no mistake, these are true work trucks that are less practical for general family use.

Electric and Hybrid Pickup Trucks

There aren't many options in this category as electric and hybrid powertrains are difficult to use with trucks that are meant to tow and haul. The Rivian R1T and Atlis XT are two examples of electric pickups. These models are more designed towards luxury and off-road markets versus work. If you're looking for hybrid pickups, then you'll have a bit more to choose from. The GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid and Chevy Silverado 1500 Hybrid are two examples. The hybrid trucks combine a gas engine with a smaller electrical unit that is mainly used for slow speeds and idling. This category of pickup trucks isn't really meant for towing or any kind of heavy hauling.

Luxury Pickup Trucks

Luxury trucks can fall into nearly every other category here. Most modern truck models offer high-end trims that are fully decked out with top-quality upholstery, cutting-edge technology, and plenty of connectivity features. For example, the Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn and Limited trims, the Ford F-150 King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited trims, and the Chevy Silverado 1500 High Country trim. Even though the price tags are high, these luxury pickup truck trims rival luxury models of sedans and SUVs.

No matter what kind of pickup truck you have or plan to get, you can rely on Enthuze to provide you with a wide selection of durable and rugged aftermarket truck accessories like floor liners and vent visors for your interior, or tonneau covers and Enthuze side steps for your exterior. 

If you bought your pickup truck to tow, then check out our selection of class 3 hitches for towing toys and trailers. All Enthuze truck and SUV parts are tested for the highest quality before using the Enthuze name.