Buying a new vehicle for cheap these days can be a daunting task, especially when talking about a pickup truck. As customer demands continue to grow, so have the trucks’ capabilities and price tags. If you have $50,000 or more to spend, the options will be almost limitless, but when a mere $30,000 is available, the options go down considerably.

The awesome thing is that the pickup truck industry is highly competitive, with each automaker gunning to outdo and one-up the rivals. This is great for those looking for trucks loaded with luxury features and innovative technology. Many trucks today offer as much comfort inside as some high-end cars, such as the 2023 GMC Denali. Some even have towing capabilities rivaling Peterbilt and Kenworth big rigs.

Consequently, prices for these “work vehicles” have become luxury-like in the process. Sure, some buyers need a truck to pull double duty as the family sedan throughout the week while still towing the boat or RV on the weekends. For that purpose, modern full-size to heavy-duty trucks fit the bill nicely, with even some of the mid-sized trucks being able to step up and make a showing.

Because prices have jumped so high, folks wanting to spend $30,000 or less on a truck only have a few options: primarily single or extended-cab full-size trucks. It all depends on how the truck is optioned out, the trim level needed, and the model size and year.

Those looking to tow must sacrifice interior amenities for a larger engine and a towing package. Those looking for more interior room will ironically have to stick with a mid-sized truck that offers a four-door crew cab model. In the end, it all boils down to how the truck will be used. Evaluating personal use is perhaps the most critical aspect of buying a pickup on a budget.

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The Nissan Frontier Is Just Under The Budget, Starting At $29,370

The 2023 Nissan Frontier
Nissan

As a general rule, buying a Nissan Frontier would be over the budget limits set, but in this case, it barely squeaks in with a starting MSRP of $29,370. That does not give much room for options or upgrading trim levels, but since it is such as dependable, up-and-coming truck, the base level will get the job done.

The Frontier packs a 3.8 liter V-6 with 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. It is rated to tow up to 6,690 pounds. Not as much as some of the other choices on this list, but still plenty of pulling power to handle the average camper or boat. One great thing about going with a smaller truck is that it gets better gas mileage than its larger siblings.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Can Be Bought For $29,200

2023 Chevrolet Colorado WT Left 3/4 Front
Nicolas Sena

The Chevrolet Silverado is out of the budget perimeters, so a buyer must go with the Chevy Colorado if they want to stay under $30,000. The Colorado is a mid-sized truck with plenty of power for towing and hauling, offering best-in-class towing of up to 7,700 pounds. Like most of the new trucks on the market, it offers various drive modes to allow the driver to optimize the drivetrain on any terrain.

The engine choices are gone because Chevy only provides the truck with a turbocharged 2.7L inline four-cylinder that ranges in horsepower depending upon the trim level purchased. To stay under the budget limits, the base 2023 Chevrolet Colorado with a 237 horsepower engine can be picked up for $29,200. Check out our Driven Review of the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado.

RELATED: Here's Why The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Is The Best Mid-Size Pickup On Sale Today

The 2022 Ram 1500 Is Just Under The Limit At $29,060

2022 Ram 1500 Classic Tradesman
Ram

Unfortunately, the new 2023 Ram 1500 is slightly over the limits set, but the 2022 base models can still be had for just under $30,000. You will have to visit a used car lot to get the Ram 1500 under the budget limits because, as everyone knows, it loses value as soon as the truck is driven off the lot.

The great thing about trying to find a model of pickup that is a year old is that it may even be possible to find one sitting on a lot, brand new, and market down drastically to make room for the new 2023 model. The 2022 Ram 1500 came with as many options as possible, including the high-end trim levels that must be ignored. The best bet would be to look for a base-level Tradesman or HFE because they are the lowest trim levels that Ram offered last year.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma Offers Exceptional Reliability For $27,750

Red 2023 Toyota Tacoma
Toyota

Toyota has been around for a long time, and they have earned the reputation of having the most dependable trucks and cars on the planet. They may not be the most luxurious or have the most high-tech gadgets available, but when it comes to a solid pickup, nothing else on the market can compare with the 2023 Toyota Tacoma.

The suggested starting price for the base level 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR begins at $27,700, leaving room to add some specific options that are wanted. Better yet, the next trim level, SR5, can be ordered instead, but only at the base level because it has a starting price tag of $29,540.

RELATED: Why The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Will Decimate The Ford Ranger And Chevy Colorado

The 2023 Ford Ranger Is Just Under The Limit, Being Priced At $27,400

A Black 2023 Ford Ranger
Ford

The 2023 Ford Ranger is another mid-sized truck that is more than capable of carrying out almost any essential task needed. It has plenty of towing power, up to 7,500 pounds, which is well above the average weight of a camper (5,200 pounds.)

Of course, the higher up the trim ladder wanted, the more cash it would cost. Since the base level XL is the only one under the budget limit, it will just have to do. This truck offers a 2.3L EcoBoost engine that can easily get up to 26 MPG on the highway and 21 MPG in town. Not too bad for a truck designed to work and play with the big dogs.

The 2022 GMC Canyon Is Available New, Starting At $26,800

White GMC Canyon
GMC

Even though the 2023 Canyon is out on the market, there are still plenty of chances to get your hands on a 2022 model that has not been driven much more than for test drives. The starting sticker price for the 2022 GMC Canyon is only $26,800, which can help purchase the base level Standard or Elevation trim levels.

Unfortunately, not many options can be added to stay under the limit, but the base truck gives plenty for the buck. It comes with a 2.5L four-cylinder, a 3.6L V-6, or a 2.8L turbo-diesel that has a maximum towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds and will get a highway average of 30 MPG.

RELATED: Why Won't Automakers Build More Unibody Trucks?

The 2023 Hyundai Sante Cruz Comes In With A Sticker Price Of $25,700

Gray Hyundai Santa Cruz
Hyundai

To some truck buyers, the 2023 Hyundai Sante Cruz may not entirely be what they think a truck should look like, but when a low budget needs to be kept, it is one of the best for the price. The base level suggested sticker price for the Sante Cruz starts at $25,700 and goes up from there, depending on the options and trim level.

Of course, the great thing is that the price will still be within range even when wanting to go up to a level above the base version. The SE is priced to sell at $28,190, offering a 2.5L four-cylinder engine that pushes out just under 200 horsepower and has a combined fuel mileage of 23 MPG. Read our Driven Review of the Hyundai Santa Cruz here.

The 2023 Ford Maverick Can Be Bought For A Mere $22,595

2023 Ford Maverick
Ford

Trucks under $25,000 are right in line with the budget that has been set because it gives some room to add options. Some of the other trucks within the price range can only be bought as the bare-bones base-level model, but not the 2023 Ford Maverick. The Maverick XL and XLT can be had for under $30,000.

It may even be possible to find a 2023 Ford Maverick Lariat on markdown because it is barely over the budget limits. The great thing about the Maverick is that it can come with a hybrid engine and motor combination that gives up to 42 MPG. The version with just the internal combustion engine (ICE) only averages 30 MPG on the highway.

RELATED: Four Pickup Trucks That Prove Unibody Is Better

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline Is An Awesome Buy At $22,150

Silver Honda Ridgeline Driving
Honda

The Honda Ridgeline has gotten a bad rap simply because of the way it looks, but the truth is that it is one of the most reliable, user-friendly trucks in its class. That should be fairly obvious because the last couple of model years have a sticker well over the budget set, but thankfully a buyer will only have to go back in time a couple of years to get one for under $30,000.

A used car lot can have some in great shape for this price, or one can always be picked up by watching the auctions and “For Sale” ads. The only engine choice was the 280 horsepower 3.5L six-cylinder that puts out up to 262 pound-feet of torque. Read our Driven Review of the Honda Ridgeline here.

Just For Adrenaline Junkies: The 2007 Ford F150 Saleen That Can Be Bought For Under $30,000

A parked 2007 Ford F150 Saleen S331
Mecum

Since there are really not any more new pickup trucks available for under the $30,000 budget, there is always one that needs some attention. The 2007 Ford F150 Saleen replaced the SVT Lightening that had been retired in 2004. The Saleen SS31 was a tuned F-150 designed for racing but could still be counted out to carry out some routine daily chores.

The engine under the hood is a supercharged 5.4L V-8 that can push out up to 450 horsepower, giving this truck enough power to accelerate from 0 to 60 in a mere 6.7 seconds. The Ford Saleen pickup is an adrenalin junkies delight that can be bought anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 if the online advertisements are watched closely.