What’s the Cheapest New Truck You Can Buy?
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As cars get safer and more advanced, their price tag rises significantly.
This makes it difficult to upgrade to a truck on a budget; however, it can be done.
So, what is the cheapest truck you can buy new?
When considering just the purchase price of the vehicle, the 2022 Ford Maverick is the least expensive new truck on the market; the starting price is just under $20,000. However, after considering the actual cost to own, the 2021 Ford Ranger is the most affordable new truck on the market today.
Owning a pick-up truck gives you the ability to drive almost anywhere while hauling almost anything.
Unfortunately, purchasing a new truck is expensive.
Learn about the cheapest, and newest, trucks for sale below.
The 2022 Ford Maverick
Purchasing a brand new vehicle at an affordable price sounds impossible.
However, it can be done.
The cheapest, and one of the newest, trucks on the market today is the 2022 Ford Maverick XL.
Ford originally sold the Maverick as a compact car from 1970 to 1977.
Today, the Maverick has been rebranded as a pick-up truck.
Before adding any packages or features, this truck costs just $19,995.
Although this truck is the cheapest on the market without any add-ons, according to Ford, “the 2022 Ford Maverick XL is anything but basic.”
The cheapest version of the 2022 Ford Maverick XL features a 2.5L Hybrid Engine.
The Ford Maverick is the first pickup to feature this hybrid engine.
It has several tech upgrades, such as a 4G LTE hotspot, an eight-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and much more.
Standard on most vehicles is automatic braking technology, and the Ford Maverick is no different.
With Pre-Collision Assist, you know that your truck will keep you safe wherever you take it.
As a hybrid truck, there are plenty of unique electric features, some of them are included, others cost extra.
These features include battery-saving technology, an electric parking brake, electronic power assist steering, and electric brake boosting.
The 2022 Ford Maverick XL also has remote keyless entry, LED headlights, a tailgate locking system ($40 extra), and a series of “Co-Pilot360” Technology ($540 extra).
Spend some time building a custom 2022 Ford Maverick on the Ford website.
Outside of technology, there are dozens of other packages you can choose from; however, you should keep in mind that every additional package will increase the truck’s price tag.
If all you need is a basic truck, the standard Ford Maverick XL will suffice.
Although trucks are notorious for having poor gas mileage (under 20 miles per gallon), the Ford Maverick XL does not have this same problem.
The Ford Maverick XL gets 23 miles per gallon in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
This gas mileage makes the truck more affordable to own.
The 2021 Ford Ranger
Purchasing a vehicle that has a small price tag is much different than buying a vehicle that is affordable to own.
The price tag only shows the initial cost to own, it does not recognize annual repair costs, fuel costs, routine maintenance, or any other cost associated with the purchase.
The true cost of ownership also takes the depreciation of the vehicle into account.
If you want a truck that will truly give you a bang for your buck, you should consider the true cost of ownership as well as the price tag.
According to Kelley Blue Book, the 2021 Ford Ranger is the cheapest, newer truck to buy after calculating the cost to own one for five years.
The 2021 Ford Ranger SuperCab has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $25,070.
While this is more expensive than the 2022 Ford Maverick, it is still fairly inexpensive for a pick-up truck.
The 2021 Ford Ranger is not just cheap to own, but it received more than four stars from consumers in categories such as value, quality, reliability, comfort, performance, and styling.
This truck has a towing capability of 7,500 pounds.
While the 2021 Ford Ranger, can tow nearly four tons, it still gets good gas mileage with 21 miles per gallon in the city and 26 miles per gallon on the highway.
Good gas mileage and a powerful engine make this the perfect truck for on and off-road driving.
For an additional $4,290, you can add the Tremor Off-Road Package to your Ford Ranger, making it the ultimate off-road vehicle.
Like the Ford Maverick, the 2021 Ford Ranger has a built-in Wi-fi modem.
As you use the FordPass app, you can earn points to use for maintenance fees.
However, activating this modem will cost extra.
You can even start your vehicle from the FordPass app.
If you frequently forget about routine maintenance, the FordPass app will notify you when it needs to be done.
As you can see, the 2021 Ford Ranger combines technology with ruggedness to give you the best driving experience Ford has to offer.
So, the Ford Ranger gets good gas mileage and is fairly inexpensive, but how is it the cheapest to own?
According to Repair Pal, the average annual cost of general vehicle maintenance is $652.
Meanwhile, the average amount of money spent on repairing the 2021 Ford Ranger annually is just $615.
Additionally, Ford Rangers are taken to the shop for unscheduled repairs less often than other vehicles.
When Ford Rangers are taken to the shop for an unscheduled repair, the chance of it being a severe issue is just 12%.
Meanwhile, the average for other midsized trucks is 13%.
When you purchase a 2021 Ford Ranger, you spend less initially than you might with another mid-size truck.
This truck becomes more affordable due to the good gas mileage and the minimal repair costs.
If you want a vehicle that you can afford to maintain on a budget, then the 2021 Ford Ranger is the perfect choice for you.
However, if you are only concerned with the initial cost to purchase the truck, wait for the 2022 Ford Maverick XL to reach your local dealership.
This truck will give you all the modern conveniences for a cheap price.