Major News Outlet Wants to Make Pickup News
By most accounts, U.S. News & World Report is a top-tier news organization that does a pretty good job of dissecting the global political landscape. Additionally, over the last five years or so they've developed an automotive arm that's tried to figure out who offers the best pickup truck, based largely on surveys and third-party data. As much as we prefer good ol' fashioned head-to-head comparison testing with grizzled experts, they do make a few good observations here.
It may not be political, but it's no less controversial, as they seem to average all trim packages and optional equipment together, as well as offering an interesting percentage breakdown of their scoring. Be that as it may, here's a brief look at their 2017 rankings, priorities and criticisms of the current half-ton pickup landscape.
Fifth Place
2017 GMC Sierra 1500
It didn't like the ride but neglected to note that GMC is the only one offering MagneRide shocks on several trim levels, and it mentioned nothing about the powertrains. The 6.2-liter V-8 is a monster.
Fourth Place
2017 Nissan Titan
U.S. News made comments about the ride and handling of the big truck, and correctly called out the sharpness of the steering feel. But it got into the weeds when it suggested the Titan XD isn't a completely different truck.
Third Place
2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
It's good to see U.S. News call out the fact that the Chevy has the biggest payload numbers, but also high on the list of things that makes this a good choice is that it has a standard Teen Driver tracking system.
Second Place
2017 Ram 1500
All we can say is thank you to another outlet that understands value. Yes, the Ram is a great deal because of how much standard and optional equipment is available for a modest price. And everyone loves the Rebel.
First Place
2017 Ford F-150
This was no surprise since U.S. News was quite clear that safety equipment (standard and optional) and reliability scores were among its top priorities, and we're OK with that. Like us, they appreciate how many configurations are available.
Cars.com images by Evan Sears; manufacturer image
Comments
Thier goes Mark again criticizing other reviewers. I would worry about my own reviewing and not what others are doing. I know pickuptrucks.com does not get everything right when it comes to truck reviewing.
Congrats to RAM . The Best again.
Good job, RAM.
Ford girly men lose and RAM wins, again!!!
Wait a sec, I thought Ram won?
@Mark, Really? After your half @$$ed test of work trucks when some cant tow because it cost too much for Ford customers to add a brake controller and Ram won most of the tests and you crown Ford the winner. What a joke. This site is a joke. Any comment on why Fords burn so much?
I'm not a Ram fan, but the Rebel would be the only one that would last more then a day on the farm... just saying..
Maybe PUTC needs to get some East Coast reviewers that have different standards than West Coasters. What works in the west doesn't necessarily work in the East the same way.
Ford has deep pockets to buy many journalists!
@Mark, Really? After your half @$$ed test of work trucks when some cant tow because it cost too much for Ford customers to add a brake controller and Ram won most of the tests and you crown Ford the winner. What a joke. This site is a joke. Any comment on why Fords burn so much?
Posted by: HEMI V8 | Apr 1, 2017 1:33:29 PM
What are you talking about. The brake controller is optional on all of the tested trucks. The F250 was the clear winner because it did everything better than Ram. That's why it won.
2nd Place
2017 Ram 1500
All we can say is thank you to another outlet that understands value. Yes, the Ram is a great deal because of how much standard and optional equipment is available for a modest price.
It appears ram received second place over the better GM trucks because the ram is cheap. I guess that is ok if you plan on leasing for 2 years.
Mark, with all fairness... this site isn't any better at times than U.S. News & World Report. Your article on their journalism is a prime example.
Nothing new here. Main Stream Fake News....
Frod girly men lose again.
Ford girly men lose again.
Posted by: Michigan Bobby | Apr 1, 2017 4:26:50 PM
Yeah!
Frod girly men lose again.
Posted by: Michigan Bobby | Apr 1, 2017 4:26:50 PM
Ford girly men lose again.
Posted by: Michigan Bobby | Apr 1, 2017 4:26:50 PM
Yeah!
Posted by: Sierra | Apr 1, 2017 4:28:35 PM
Looks like gmsucksogreat is up to his usual multi poster names again.
Speaking of gmsucksogreat, why is gmc behind nissan? Hahaha hahaha
Again I'm not surprised. Ford is head and shoulder better than the competition. Try again GM. Maybe next time you'll design a better truck than Nissan but I doubt it.
Ford first to the junk yard on a trailer pulled my a GM or Ram truck!
Reading comprehension!
U.S. News & World Report is a top-tier news organization................................................. here's a brief look at their 2017 rankings,.....................
Daddy Doe aka Alll11111111,
GUTS
GLORY
AMERICA'S LONGEST LASTING PICKUPS
RAM!!!!
Daddy Doe aka Alll11111111,
GUTS
GLORY
AMERICA'S LONGEST LASTING PICKUPS
RAM!!!!
The ones that did not read the article are posting their stupid comments again... for those that read the article the standings were #1 Ford.....#2 Silverado....#3 Sierra tied with the Ram.....#5 Nissan....#6 Tundra. PUTC put their own spin on things and rankings.
Ford first to the junk yard on a trailer pulled my a GM or Ram truck!
Posted by: johnny doe | Apr 1, 2017 6:43:38 PM
Would you like to try that again in a more coherent manner. That sentence is rough.
GM fans are in coverup mode.
The rankings were Sierra #5, Titan #4, Silverado #3, Ram #2, and F-150 #1.
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/best-full-size-trucks-for-the-money/slide2/
GM fans are in coverup mode.
The rankings were Sierra #5, Titan #4, Silverado #3, Ram #2, and F-150 #1.
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/best-full-size-trucks-for-the-money/slide2/
Poor garbage motors fans and fiat junk trucks they are butt hurt because FORD won hahahahahahahaha. Man up and let face the consequences FORD WON fair and square so go cry on bother site no sissies allow.
So the real question is, why is the GM fan girls not doing creative math combining both GM trucks to get it to number 1. I'm sure the 1 guy with 6 different user names is trying to figure it out. Hahahahahaha
Mean while at the Trash Motors HQ 3rd recall rolls out in a week! Really F250s are rolling away! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.autonews.com/article/20170401/OEM11/170409997/ford-recalls-f-250-pickups-that-could-roll-while-in-park
US News is a shadow of its former self. When they had to move their publication to web-only it's kind of the writing on the wall.
You gotta love Mort Zuckerman and his top editorial team for surviving in the tough media landscape today, but a bunch of East Coast New York liberals writing an analysis on pickup trucks? Not so much. Hard to fathom actually.
I think we can all agree that Ram does make a cheap truck. Likely, it's why it falls apart so soon. Unfortunately, I know from experience.
"2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
It's good to see U.S. News call out the fact that the Chevy has the biggest payload numbers"
PAYLOAD?
WRONG!
The biggest payload rating for the 1500 Silverado is 2,250 lbs.
Ford F150
reg cab max 3,040 lbs
ext cab max 2,770 lbs
crew cab max 2,660 lbs
You would think that a pickup site would know the difference between maximum payload and maximum tow capacity.
Towing:
1. Silverado/Sierra = 12,500 lbs
2. Ford F150 = 12,200 lbs
3. Titan XD diesel = 12,010 lbs
4. Ram 1500 = 10,640 lbs
5. Tundra = 10,500 lbs
"But it got into the weeds when it suggested the Titan XD isn't a completely different truck."
WTF?
The Titan XD is built more like a 3/4 ton but if you look at the tow specs, it is mid pack.
I'm betting that in a few years time both Ford and GM will have a diesel 1/2 on the road.
wait? I thought US News and World Report always DID test and have stories about pickup trucks?
Why is the F-150 the #1 selling pickup?
Is it because most people are stupid for buying one?
Is it because the F-150 is the least expensive?
Is it because the F-150 looks better?
Is it because Ford didn't take a government bailout?
Is it because of the bad reputation GM and FCA has?
why no stories on the 2015-2017 F-150's with the stuck throttle bodies and the frozen door locks?
Ohhhh I see ! we can pick and choose only the good news about the F-150 and ignore the bad news
This site has gone downhill dramatically in past few years. Try going to TFLTruck instead. Great site with tons of reviews and videos
I'm all for more onboard safety equipment like lane keeping, blind spot, emergency braking, and adaptive cruise. This stuff should be standard given the growing issue of distracted driving.
Ford sure knows trucks! I can always trust my F150s.
As usual, the usual GMSUCKS gang are sore looser cry babies...especially when their shaky trucks get trumped by a Nissan and a RAM...LOL :-))
I sorta feel bad for Fard getting judged 1st by one of the most incompetent magazines outside of Consumer Reports. Like having a garbage man performing a heart transplant. It is fitting that the 2 worst quality trucks, Fard & Lam got first and second. The little girls who drive Fard & Lam will be happy, while we men will drive the longest lasting, best selling, most dependable, best built pick up trucks in the world, r GMC's & Chevy's with hot looking women next to us, as 2 guys in a Fard try to pick up 2 guys in a Lam for a date.
Seems like they are just like consumer reports. Should stick to toaster ratings.
No suprise that Ford is number 1, unless you are gmsrgreat or johny who have to keep defending the twins
Once again, where is the Tundra?
It's beginning to look more and more like Toyota doesn't matter anymore. It seems like when the current generation Tundra rolled out in 2007, Toyota was aiming to take the big truck market seriously...and dropped the ball. Remember the Turbo Diesel Dually concept from 2010? It was never mentioned again.
Now we all can dump on the titan, but Nissan gets the last laugh. by rolling out the XD version and overhauling the rest of the lineup, Nisan is making a real challenge to the big truck market. (I expect a dual-axle version real soon.) Throw in the full-size NV vans, and Nissan is now a legitimate player in the work market. Toyota doesn't offer this.
Considering they felt Americans would be satisfied with a warmed-over Tacoma instead of the all-new Hilux the rest of the world gets, I don't think Toyota is even trying anymore.
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