Here’s How Pickup Truck Prices Soar During the Pandemic

As anyone who’s in the market for a new pickup in recent years can attest, the costs of a full-size pickup truck are simply insane, driven by an expensive mix of inflation, demand for more gadgets and performance, and the ever-growing popularity of the genre.

According to Cars. com, they now average more than $60,000, which is a 6% increase from last year, and far more than the already staggering costs of premium models recorded before the pandemic. And that’s not even counting the heavy-duty vehicle with maximum capacity. models and the newest all-electric pickup trucks that have the highest MSRP of all.

Big trucks mean big profits for automakers and nowhere is this more evident than the growing variety of sleek and rugged pickups in each of the available diversities that are literally redefining the perception of automotive luxury, with stratospheric costs to match. with the King Ranch, Limited, and Platinum trim levels of the Ford F-150, as well as the Denali and Denali Ultimate trim levels of the GMC Sierra 1500, among others.

There’s also a recent wave of ultra-expensive off-road models, such as the Ford F-150 Raptor R and Ram 1500 TRX, which combine massive amounts of force with pulling action to serve as road-legal sand and dirt dunes. . In addition, several all-electric vans are being launched with 0 exhaust emissions, but with exorbitant retail prices.

“Pickup trucks are a popular choice for many practical reasons, but the cultural and social influence of pickup trucks in America should not be underestimated,” says Aaron Bragman, office leader for Cars. com in Detroit. pick-up. owning a van, but at a higher price”

How rushed have the top rows of the full-size truck market become?The last time we documented the premium trend in the market segment was in 2018, when four-door luxury pickup trucks were starting to gain momentum as rugged family vehicles. Five years ago, that meant high-end retail costs were between $50,000 and $60,000 for half-ton models, and well within the $70,000 diversity for better-performing heavy-duty luxury pickups with increased towing and hauling capabilities.

That would seem reasonable until the decade today, with the most expensive full-size pickup truck for 2023, the battery-powered Hummer EV Pickup Edition 1 pickup truck, starting at $110,295 and going up to $126,110 with all-inclusive option options.

Below, we document the prices of all popular full-size pickup trucks sold in the U. S. We have taken a look at the U. S. , comparing the maximum trim levels between the 2018 full-size styles we documented above with their 2023 equivalents to see how tall they are. We come with the MSRP base for the most practical finish of each style line, as well as the charge when fully loaded with all available factory options, bundles, and middleman accessories, based on pricing information from kbb. com:

Nissan Titan Platinum Reserve Crew Cab

• 2018 MSRP: $57,145; With options: $58,690

• MSRP for 2023: $61,215; With options: $71,935

The Titan has been an outlier in the full-size pickup truck market ruled by national brands, but it still helps keep up with the competition. It was recently updated for 2020 with a slimmer line, a variety of updates, and additional features. Now, the Platinum Reserve is the incredible edition of the Titan, and like the rest of the lineup, it comes with a 5. 6-liter V8 engine.

Toyota Tundra Platinum CrewMax

• 2018 MSRP: $51,425; With options: $57,349

• 2023 MSRP: $65,900 With options: $76,307

The Tundra has been redesigned for 2022 with new styling, more features and new V6 powertrain options. Five years ago, the Platinum was the lineup edition and has since been eclipsed by the even more expensive Capstone Hybrid CrewMax, which starts at $79,440. and tops out at $89,521 with all the features and packages available.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country Crew Cab

• 2018 MSRP: $56,870; With options: $66,430.

• MSRP for 2023: $65,900; With options: $81,615

The last time the Silverado gained a complete redesign was in 2019, with an update for 2022. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine is now popular and is included in five of the style versions, along with one of two available V8 engines. The High Country is sumptuous in diversity and has the most sensible price tag for diversity. The ZR2 4WD off-roader brought in since then is even more expensive, starting at $71,500. An all-electric edition will arrive in 2024 and cost up to $105,000 with the more practical four-door RST First Edition, with no options.

Ram 1500 Limited Crew Cab Tungsten Edition

• 2018 MSRP: $58,990; With options: $62,995

• 2023 MSRP: $69,445; With options: $84,865

The sleekest Ram 1500 is the Tungsten Edition trim, which is packed with amenities and powered by a 5. 7-liter Hemi V8 engine. Since then, it has been dethroned as the most expensive edition by the race-ready off-road TRX, comprising a sweeping 702-horsepower edition of the supercharged Hellcat V8 that is presented differently in the Dodge Challenger and Charger muscle cars. The value is $84,355, with no options.

GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Crew Cab

• 2018 MSRP: $57,550; With options: $71,580

• MSRP for 2023: $71,395; With options: $90,160

GMC has helped advance the luxury pickup genre with high-end Denali versions of its trucks and SUVs packed with many sophisticated and useful features. Like its Chevrolet equivalent, the half-ton-capacity GMC Sierra 1500 was last updated for 2022 and offers a choice of four-turbo and V8 engines. Since then, the Denali version has been overshadowed by the even more lavishly supplied and aptly named Denali Ultimate Crew Cab, which starts at $83,995 and tops out at $92,100 with a heavy hand on the spec sheet.

Ford F-150 Supercrew Limited

• 2018 MSRP: $65,240; With options: $70,565

• MSRP for 2023: $86,100; With options: $89,900

The 2023 F-150 lineup comes with no less than 3 luxury models, which, in addition to the Limited, come with the Western-themed King Ranch and a more urban Platinum version. Since then, it has been eclipsed in terms of value through a new cap. Top-tier off-road warrior, the F-150 Raptor R 4WD SuperCrew, which starts at $109,205 and can spend up to $114,435 with a number of add-ons. Meanwhile, the new all-electric F-150 Lightning hits almost as high, with its top-tier Platinum Crew Cab starting at $93,990 and reaching $98,590 with all options available.

Needless to say, rugged versions of the Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, and Ram trucks cost a few thousand dollars more than the models indexed here, and are outperformed by two lines of all-electric trucks that existed only in parts a decade earlier:

Rivian R1T 2023 Launch Edition

• MSRP: $86,800; With options: $112,695

The Rivian R1T comes from a start-up automaker that builds it in Normal, Illinois. It’s very stylish and useful, with up to 835 horsepower available and operational diversity culminating in a relaxing 400-mile anxiety on a charge.

2023 GMC Hummer EV Pickup Truck 1 Edition

• MSRP: $110,295; With options: $126,110

Resurrecting a logo that was once associated with eco-friendliness, the Hummer EV is an all-electric, all-electric, zero-emission full-size team cab luxury pickup truck. It also comes with some weird on- and off-road capabilities, adding a four-wheel guide in “crab ride” mode. A three-motor powertrain produces a whopping 1,000 horsepower, with 1,200 pound-feet of torque and an estimated range of 329 miles on a full battery.

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