Let’s face it, the amount of used American trucks on the market can be confusing. These trucks were made in the USA by brands like Chevrolet, Ford, and GMC, but didn’t live up to expectations. In contrast, the option to buy instead is a better used pickup truck alternative.
Edmunds thoroughly reviewed the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado and found some positive attributes. The gas-powered V6 and the four-cylinder diesel engines offer more towing capability than rivals. It also proved pretty maneuverable. However, it just wasn’t one of the better years for the Chevy Colorado truck. It tended to give owners issues and wasn’t the most comfortable for an everyday vehicle. That makes it one of the best used American pickup trucks to skip for 2017.
Edmunds called it “broadly utilitarian.” Chevrolet built the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado in Wentzville, Missouri, at the Wentzville Assembly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it a four-star safety rating.
What to buy instead: 2017 Ram 1500
The 2017 Ram 1500 is one of the higher-rated trucks from that year for Edmunds. It has a bit of a higher price but makes up for it with engine choices, interior comfort, and ride quality.
RELATED: Only 3 Compact Pickup Trucks Are Recommended by Consumer Reports
The 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 saw new, more fuel-efficient engine choices and an improved interior. Edmunds says GMC redesigned the Sierra 1500 for 2014, which proved to be a disadvantage for this pickup truck. While the Sierra isn’t known for its reliability, the redesign proved to make that temporarily worse.
Owners reported issues with the transmission, and the towing numbers weren’t up to par with the competition. However, it was built at the Fort Wayne, Indiana, Assembly Plant, making it a used American truck to skip over. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave this truck some “good” scores on its crashworthiness tests.
What to buy instead: 2014 Toyota Tundra
Ok, the 2014 Toyota Tundra isn’t an American truck, but what it lacks in American parts, it makes up for in reliability. It also has plenty of configuration options for the engine, cabs, and trim levels.
Ford built the 2018 Ford F-150 at its Dearborn, Michigan, and Claycomo, Missouri, assembly plants. Edmunds says there are positives to the 2018 F-150, like the high tow numbers and plenty of technology. However, the ride is a bit rougher than necessary for this year. It also lacks in the area of fuel economy when compared to other vehicles, making it part of the list of used American pickup trucks to skip.
While the aluminum body panels were a good experience, these proved to have higher repair costs down the line. The IIHS did give the 2018 F-150 the Top Safety Pick award.
What to buy instead: 2018 Ram 1500
Edmunds thinks the 2018 Ram 1500 is a better used American pickup truck for this year. It has plenty of trim levels and packages to choose from, like the off-road Rebel 1500.
The good news is that used American pickup trucks are only getting better with age.
RELATED: 5 Pickup Trucks with the Worst Resale Value for 2022