2 days Ago By Matthew Guy
Article content Ingrained as they are in the Canadian psyche, it is not disingenuous to suggest everyone reading this either currently drives or has owned a pickup truck at some point in their driving careers – or at least know someone who does. These open bed brutes make up such an outsized portion of new vehicle sales in this country that numerous models regularly sit in the top-ten list of best-selling machines here in the Great White North. We have assembled a rogue’s gallery of trucks which occupy the first step on the pricing ladder in its respective class.
Because your author is staring down no small amount of snow and misery falling from the sky as he writes this on the cusp of April, our list is comprised of vehicles equipped with all- or four-wheel drive. Also, some trucks – like the Ford Ranger – are only offered in 4×4 up here. Other than that stipulation, whatever combination of powertrain and interior jewelry makes for the smallest bottom line is what’s represented by the prices shown in this article.
Speaking of prices, they are taken from consumer-facing configurator tools and accurate as of this writing. Extra costs like delivery charges and dealer fees are not included since they can vary across our country. Let’s rock.
Cheapest Compact Pickup: 2025 Ford Maverick XL, $35,000 Occupying this sphere are car-based unibody pickups, some of which have found rafts of buyers simply seeking a unique alternative to those staid crossovers they’ve had for years. Priced at a suspiciously even $35,000 when equipped with all-wheel drive and the 2.0L EcoBoost non-hybrid engine, this little scamp is versatile as the day is long.
For this price, equipment on a Ford Maverick XL includes a 13.2-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring, satellite radio, and tilt/telescope steering wheel. You will have to twist an actual key to start the engine.
Available with ‘real truck’ gear like stout tie downs and all manner of towing/hauling helpers, the Maverick can be used like a real workhorse – unlike some vehicles which just cosplay as a pickup truck. Cheapest Midsize Pickup: 2025 Ford Ranger XL, $42,070 The popular Blue Oval midsizer slides in underneath the Chevrolet Colorado only by about $900. But, that’s still more than enough to earn Ford its second spot on this list.
Under the hood of the Ford Ranger XL is a 2.3L EcoBoost four-banger making 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, sums which exceed what was on tap in V8-powered full-size trucks not too many moons ago. Standard equipment includes a jumbo 10-inch infotainment screen, STX appearance package with snazzy wheels and fog lamps, air conditioning, and cruise control.
As for options, we highly recommend the $550 electronic locking rear differential and $350 for LT-grade tires which are much more appropriate for a truck than the stock passenger-style rubber. A four-door cab is standard these days. Cheapest Half-Ton Pickup: 2025 Chevrolet Silverado WT, $51,899 Yes, we know – the so-called ‘half-ton’ class uses a unit of measure no longer bearing any relevance to pickup trucks in this class.
However, the reference stands. Now that the Ram 1500 Classic has departed to its great reward, a Chevrolet Silverado occupies the entry point for this type of pickup truck. The configuration priced here is a 6.
5-foot short bed, it needs to be noted, though upgrading to an 8-foot box is just a $300 proposition. Underhood is the miserable efficient 2.7L four-banger engine that Chevy insists on calling ‘TurboMax’ without any mention of cylinder count anywhere in its promotional materials.
Cloth upholstery is a no-charge upgrade over vinyl and we suggest the $450 LT all-terrain tires, and One must remember this trim did not get the refreshed cabin interior and uses the same interior as trucks from five years ago or more. Cheapest Heavy Duty Pickup: 2025 Ford Super Duty F-250 XL, $63,479 We’re back at the Blue Oval dealership for a rock-bottom price on a heavy-duty pickup truck, finding this year’s Ford F-250 XL priced at $63,479 when configured with a two-door regular cab and 6.8L V8 gasoline-powered engine.
That’s a low stress but reliable mill good for 405 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic handles shifting duties. All trucks of this ilk get air conditioning and a very large 8.
0-inch infotainment touchscreen which was once reserved for top trims. The floor is covered with vinyl just the way Henry Ford intended though it wouldn’t be a bad idea to spring $260 for cloth covered seats. Onboard scales with a smart hitch are a sensible $575 stand-alone option, as are the $200 upfitter switches and $125 upgraded 250-amp alternator.
A piddling $150 adds roof-mounted clearance lights to make you look like a long haul trucker. Cheapest HD Diesel Pickup: 2025 Ford Super Duty F-250 XL, $74,954 Again we arrive in Dearborn, this time adding diesel power to our heavy duty pickup truck. Ford offers a single PowerStroke engine in the regular cab XL variant of its Ford F-250, with the price shown here being the standard tune instead of the high-output mill.
That means a total of 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. Opting for the HO bumps those figures to 500/1,200 and adds $4,000. Our recommendations for options are similar to what’s listed above for the gasoline-powered version, though the diesel is equipped as standard with better alternators.
A $350 integrated trailer brake controller should be considered essential for any buyer planning to haul a trailer with electric brakes – no matter if the load is a small utility trailer or jumbo camper. Cheapest Hybrid Pickup: 2025 Ford Maverick XL Hybrid, $37,000 This year, the crew at Ford figured out how to endow the 2.5L hybrid powertrain in its little Maverick with all-wheel drive, creating a bargain-priced pickup truck that sends power to all four wheels and uses a skiff of electrification in its propulsion.
Total system horsepower is 191 ponies, about 50 fewer than a Maverick with an EcoBoost engine. It also trades the gasser’s eight-speed automatic for a continuously variable transmission. It is important to be aware of option pricing with this base trim, as some items require the selection of other features.
For example, the 4K Tow Package seems like a good deal for $900 but it forces the fitting of Co-Pilot360 driving helpers. Still, with an approachable price and plenty of practicality including 8.1 inches of ground clearance, it is easy to understand why this vehicle is so popular.
Cheapest Electric Pickup: 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro, $59,995 This is the section likely to cause the most blowback in our comment section, and for good reason. The entry-level Pro trim of the Ford F-150 Lightning is scarce as hen’s teeth on dealer lots in Canada, generally serving as an advertising price point instead of a high-volume truck one can readily buy. In fact, the Pro trim wasn’t even part of the consumer mix in Canada at one point, instead reserved for fleet buyers only.
Still, the Pro is technically available as of this writing, so it must be included. Other entry-level EV trucks include the Chevrolet Silverado Work Truck with a standard range battery for $63,999. All-electric machines from the likes of Rivian and Hummer are in the six-figure territory.
As for the Ford in Pro trim, its standard range battery is rated for 386 kilometres of driving on a full charge, while the electric motors pump out 452 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of right now torque. Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X , Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice..
