There’s a vehicle sales trend we’re watching closely that’s emerged through 2024: Canadians are shopping for smaller vehicles. While we don’t expect full-size pickup trucks to be unseated as the king of the automotive hill in this country any time soon, downsizing has become a higher priority among Canadians being pressured by rising vehicle prices and a higher cost of living. If you’re a devout pickup driver but have been considering whether you need all the capability a full-size truck or heavy-duty truck offers, a midsize or compact pickup truck might make more sense for you.
Smaller trucks offer many of the same conveniences of larger ones such as an external truck bed, standard safety features, and plenty of ground clearance. Most also offer four-wheel drive (4WD) systems and more than enough towing and payload capacity for the average driver pulling a camper or making runs to the home improvement store.
Think a compact or midsize pickup truck might be for you? Take a look through this list of the best pickup trucks with smaller dimensions available in Canada in 2025. It also happens to be a rundown of all the smaller new trucks available on the Canadian truck market today, so you can peruse your options and figure out which one is best for you.
Pricing includes manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) plus destination charges and dealer fees but not options or sales taxes. While current at time of publication, pricing is subject to change.
The Best Small Trucks Available in Canada
- Chevrolet Colorado
- Ford Maverick
- Ford Ranger
- GMC Canyon
- Honda Ridgeline
- Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Jeep Gladiator
- Nissan Frontier
- Toyota Tacoma
Chevrolet Colorado
The Chevy Colorado mid-size truck and its upmarket sibling, the GMC Canyon highlighted below, most recently received a full redesign for the 2023 model year. On the Colorado side, this brought a new ZR2 model with even more off-road capability, and a first-ever Trail Boss version. The tailgate also has additional in-bed storage and a power outlet, plus a mid-gate setup to allow for hauling longer items. All trucks come with the same engine, a 2.7-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, though different power outputs are offered with different grades.
A new 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity sweetens the deal. But with trailering capacity of up to 3,492 kilograms (7,700 pounds) and maximum payload of 763 kilograms (1,684 pounds), this truck will be capable enough to meet the needs of most drivers. For 2024, a new Colorado ZR2 Bison trim was introduced that offered additional off-roading functionality such as a winch-capable front bumper, steel skid plates, 31 centimetres of ground clearance, and more. Pricing for the 2024 Chevrolet Colorado starts in Canada at $39,233 (2025 pricing was not yet available at time of publication).
Ford Maverick
Ford’s tiniest truck gets a refresh for 2025 that makes AWD available with the hybrid powertrain for the first time. This gives the Maverick Hybrid a tow rating of up to 1,814 kilograms (4,000 pounds) when equipped with the optional 4K Tow package. The refresh also adds a new 13.2-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a new Maverick Lobo street truck trim, and some styling updates.
The 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine combines with hybrid drive for a total system output of 191 hp, while the engine makes 162 lb-ft of torque on its own. On the fuel efficiency side, expect to burn a frugal 5.6 L/100 km city, 6.7 highway, and 6.2 combined with FWD. The 2.0-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder is the base engine and still brings all-wheel drive (AWD) with it by default along with power specs of 250 hp and 277 lb-ft. The Tremor trim continues to offer an upgraded AWD system, off-road suspension, and 2.5-centimetre (1-inch) lift. Canadian pricing for the 2025 Ford Maverick Hybrid starts in Canada at $36,795.
Ford Ranger
If you need a little more space and capability than the Maverick can offer, Ford has you covered. The mid-size Ranger fills the gap between the pint-sized Maverick and Ford’s full-size pickup truck, the Ford F-150. A next-generation Ford Ranger arrived for the 2024 model year with an updated design, new towing tools, and a newly available V6 engine. That 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 produces 315 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, while the base 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder continues with 270 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both engines are matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission and 4WD. A new Ford Ranger Raptor was also announced for 2024. Tuned by Ford Performance, it includes a long travel suspension including a Watts link rear suspension, 2.5-inch Fox shocks, and more. Pricing for the 2025 Ford Ranger starts in Canada at $44,165, while the 2025 Ford Ranger Raptor starts at $80,015.
GMC Canyon
As with the Chevrolet Colorado noted above, the GMC Canyon midsize pickup truck received a redesign for the 2023 model year. It comes with the same standard 2.7-litre turbo four-cylinder engine as the previous generation, maximum 3,492 kilograms (7,700 pounds) of towing, though max payload is slightly lower at 743 kilograms (1,640 pounds). GMC ups the ante on the Canyon’s premium positioning with a Denali Black Edition and a first-ever Canyon AT4X off-roader. Pricing in Canada for the 2024 GMC Canyon starts at $51,033. (2025 pricing was not yet available as of this writing.)
Honda Ridgeline
Although the Honda Ridgeline is the only mid-size truck on the market with a unibody structure, it’s still appreciated in truck circles for its smooth ride, durability, and reliability. It’s also appreciated for how well it drives on-road relative to most trucks with handling that more closely resembles a Honda Pilot than a Jeep. With its last redesign dating back to 2017, the Ridgeline is one of the more dated vehicles in the midsize truck segment. It’s rumoured to be slated for a new generation sometime in the next two to three years. A Ridgeline TrailSport trim level was introduced for 2024 with all-terrain tires, skid plates, and more. That and some updated design and technology elements will hold the Ridgeline over in the meantime. Honda’s classic 3.5-litre V6 engine continues to be standard on all trims. The Ridgeline has a maximum towing capacity of 2,267 kilograms (5,000 pounds) and max payload of 718 kilograms (1,583 pounds). That’s lower than most of the segment, but for a truck that handles like a crossover, some buyers will consider it a fair trade. Pricing on the 2025 Honda Ridgeline starts in Canada at $53,626.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Ford really spoiled Hyundai’s party. The Santa Cruz was all set to be in a compact truck class of its own, but then the Maverick dropped and made Hyundai’s Tucson-based ute and its price look wildly expensive. The Santa Cruz can still be spotted on Canadian city streets, though, powered by its standard 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It makes 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, sent to all four wheels via standard AWD. With a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) and payload of 792 kilograms (1,748 pounds), the Santa Cruz’s capability is just enough extra over the Maverick’s that it might push some buyers across the line. Its quirky styling seems to attract drivers who are looking for something different, too. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz carries a fees-in starting price in Canada of $44,684.
Jeep Gladiator
For the Jeep lover who wants a cargo bed, the Gladiator is a natural fit. The standard engine is a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6, producing 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity tops off at 3,492 kilograms (7,700 pounds), while the Gladiator boasts a best-in-class payload of up to 782 kilograms (1,725 pounds). Sadly, Jeep’s only pick-up has lost both its turbo-diesel engine and manual transmission in the last two years. But with very similar off-road capability to the Wrangler, Jeep enthusiasts will tell you there’s no other answer than this capable workhorse. For 2024, the Gladiator received many of the same updates the Wrangler did, including a redesigned front grille and a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The 2024 Jeep Gladiator had a Canadian starting price of $52,316. (2025 pricing was not yet available at publication time.)
Nissan Frontier
After languishing in its previous generation since 2005, the Nissan Frontier was greatly in need of an update that finally came for the 2022 model year. This brought a redesigned interior and exterior along with feature upgrades. Available in King Cab or Crew Cab configurations, the Frontier comes with a standard 3.8-litre V6 with 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque and standard 4WD. The Pro-4X grade adds to the Frontier’s off-road capability with Bilstein off-road shocks, skid plates, and more. Towing capability tops out at 2,943 kilograms (6,490 pounds), while max payload capacity is 648 kilograms (1,430 pounds). The 2025 Nissan Frontier has a starting price in Canada of $50,785.
Toyota Tacoma
Rounding out our list of the best small pick-up trucks only because it’s arranged alphabetically, we have the Toyota Tacoma. Toyota has no trouble moving these trucks in Canada or units of their larger sibling, the Toyota Tundra. Their durability, versatility, and consistently high resale value make them a hot commodity.
The Tacoma entered a long-awaited new generation for 2024. This brought a slew of updates, most notably a new pair of 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine options. The base offering creates 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque when paired with the new 8-speed automatic transmission. But kudos to Toyota for continuing to offer the Tacoma with a six-speed manual transmission, which here comes with a rev matching system. With the manual, this engine produces 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The upgrade engine is Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, the most powerful ever offered on Tacoma with fuel economy as low as 10.1 L/100 km combined. Standard on the Limited, TRD Pro and Trailhunter models in Canada, it adds an electric motor to the same engine for a total system output of 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. 4WD remains standard, and each trim has a unique setup for the suspension, which includes rear coil springs. Maximum towing for the 2024 Toyota Tacoma in Canada weighs in at 2,900 kilograms (6,400 pounds), while maximum payload is 775 kilograms (1,705 pounds). In Canada, the 2025 Toyota Tacoma carries a starting price of $51,235.