6 Perfect Pickup Trucks for Your Home Improvement Projects

With the return of warm weather, Quebecers are getting busy around the house. Snowbanks melting before our eyes, leaves that piled up last fall, and urban markets reopening their doors to gardening enthusiasts—in short, there’s plenty to do. And we haven’t even touched on the topic of minor renovations.

While it’s true that the vast majority of these “small jobs” can be handled with a compact car—or even a city crossover or larger vehicle—the best tool for household tasks is undoubtedly a pickup truck, with its highly practical cargo bed and often above-average capacity.

With fuel prices remaining high due to the conflict in the Middle East, full-size models are less appealing these days. On the other hand, mid-size or compact models may be a better choice for drivers who want a truck but don’t necessarily need one of those behemoths on the road.

We have therefore compiled a shortlist of models that, in our opinion, are best equipped to handle household chores, regardless of the home’s layout or location.

Ford Maverick

The Maverick, especially in the most affordable XL trim, is already an excellent contender for the role of family vehicle with its five seats. And even though it has one of the smallest cargo beds in the industry, it’s designed for people who need to tackle small, occasional or daily tasks. The Flexbed system includes grooves in the bed for inserting 2x4-inch boards, a simple solution for dividing the load. Plus, with the multi-position tailgate that can be set halfway down, you can even transport that famous 4x8-foot sheet of plywood.

Built on a unibody architecture, the Maverick feels more like a car than a traditional truck when it comes to driving, and its main strength is its ease of use in everyday life. Compact, easy to park, and fuel-efficient—especially in the hybrid version—it’s the perfect choice for city driving and light-duty tasks. And with a towing capacity of up to about 4,000 lbs and a bed that can carry 1,500 lbs, the Maverick certainly holds its own against larger pickup trucks.

Ford Ranger

Let’s stick with Ford, because the mid-size Ranger also has some strong selling points compared to its larger counterparts—even though it’s not possible to order the latest version of the model with a standard or XtraCab cab; the only option is the crew cab, which offers more room for family members.

The cargo bed isn’t much larger than the Maverick’s, but the Ranger offers greater capacity. This truck is built on a ladder-frame chassis, which is sturdier than the Maverick’s monocoque body. That’s why its towing capacity reaches 7,500 pounds—at least when the truck is equipped with the optional towing package.

It’s also worth noting that the Ranger can be ordered with either the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine or the more powerful 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6. Finally, there’s also the Ranger Raptor option with its 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, but let’s just say that the “hot rod” of the family falls more into the category of off-road toys.

Nissan Frontier

In the Nissan camp, the Frontier has never been so alone. The discontinuation of the Titan a few years ago means that the midsize pickup is the only model in the brand’s lineup sold with a cargo bed. And that’s not all: for the 2026 model year, the truck is available only in the Pro-4X trim, the most expensive in the lineup and, above all, designed primarily for off-road adventures.

However, as of this writing, there are still some 2025 models available with 6-foot beds (SL or SV), which are better suited for carrying planks or bags of soil for small jobs.

Less sophisticated than some of its rivals, the Frontier appeals for its simplicity and reliability. For jobs around the house, this Nissan pickup might just be exactly what drivers are looking for.

Honda Ridgeline

The Ridgeline was, in a way, the inspiration behind the Ford Maverick… and even the Hyundai Santa Cruz, if we want to lump all unibody pickup trucks into the same category. Built on the same platform as the Odyssey, Pilot, and Passport, the Ridgeline appeals with its midsize SUV-like comfort. Its ride is much smoother, and its fuel economy is even reasonable for a vehicle equipped with a V6 engine.

Although it doesn’t have the same kind of frame as most of its rivals, that doesn’t mean it can’t venture off the beaten path. Its crew cab offers plenty of space, and the rear bench seat can even be folded up, allowing you to load a TV on board. And as if that weren’t enough, the cargo area features a lockable compartment under the floor—a discreet solution for storing valuables. What’s more, this hidden storage is protected from the elements.

Want more? The tailgate can open in the traditional way (downward) or from right to left. While the Ridgeline is nearing the end of its lifecycle (its second generation was unveiled in 2016 as the 2017 model), that doesn’t make it a model to overlook, especially if comfort is at the top of your list.

Chevrolet Colorado

Of the pickup trucks on this list, the Colorado is probably the one that comes closest to being a true workhorse, particularly because it’s still available in a WT (Work Truck) trim. Equipped with steel wheels and black bumpers, the WT may be less well-equipped than the other models in the lineup, but under the hood, the bowtie brand’s representative features the same 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

Its capabilities are therefore identical to those of the more expensive models. When it comes to towing, the Colorado can pull up to 7,700 lbs, while it can carry up to 1,733 lbs in its short 5-foot-2-inch bed. An optional bed liner wouldn’t be a bad idea to protect the sides of the cargo area.

Toyota Tacoma

The top choice among buyers of midsize pickup trucks shifted toward electrified vehicles with the latest redesign. That’s when the venerable V6 was retired in favor of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine for the entry-level models, and the same engine paired with the manufacturer’s hybrid technology for a significant boost in power.

Like the 2025 Nissan Frontier, the Tacoma can still be ordered with a longer cargo bed, even with a crew cab. A Tacoma equipped this way may look a bit out of proportion, but its practicality certainly isn’t. For those on a tighter budget, the Tacoma SR5 is a smart choice.

And let’s not forget the model’s legendary reliability, which—despite a few teething problems—should serve the model well for many years to come. As for its resale value, it remains a significant advantage for anyone who changes their plans a few years after purchasing it.

Of course, buying a pickup truck requires careful consideration, especially if it’s your first one. Take the time to thoroughly assess your needs before taking the plunge. For some people, this might even be overkill. And as you can see, there isn’t just one “right” pickup truck. You may also have noticed that the Jeep Gladiator and the Hyundai Santa Cruz are missing from this list. The former is primarily geared toward off-road enthusiasts, while the latter is less practical than the Maverick, which explains in part why it isn’t as widespread as the smaller Ford.