Should You Get a Midsize or Full-Size Truck?

If you’re going to pay the extra few grand for a full-size truck, it’s important to be sure that you need the extra capability it offers and understand the limitations that come with driving a truck of that size. Likewise, if you’re going to pick a smaller and lighter-duty midsize truck, it’s important to be sure it can do everything you need it to do. Should you buy a midsize or a full-size pickup truck? Here are some things to consider.

Midsize Trucks Quick Facts

Mid-Size Trucks Can Get Around

Due to their smaller size, midsize trucks can simply go more places than full-size trucks. For a quick reference, the dimensions of the Chevy Colorado are as follows:

• Wheelbase: 131.4 inches
• Length: 213 inches
• Width: 74.9 inches
• Height: 78.8 inches

With that in mind, midsize trucks will navigate narrow city streets much easier than full-size trucks. If you spend a lot of time down in Atlanta, you’ll likely want a midsize truck just to make sure you can get where you need to go. They will also fit into most city garages without any issues. Once you move into the full-size truck range, you might have to pay attention to those “maximum height restriction” signs in public parking structures and park elsewhere.

Midsize Trucks Have Good Fuel Economy

These are pickup trucks, so they’re never going to have the incredible fuel economy of a compact sedan (unless you get an electric pickup like the Chevy Silverado EV). But as long as you’re going with a gas engine, a midsize truck will provide better fuel economy. Ask yourself if you’ll be using your truck to travel long distances or commute regularly. If the answer is yes, and you’re willing to give up some towing and hauling capabilities, you might want the fuel economy of a midsize truck.

Midsize Trucks Are Not People Haulers

Passenger needs are also something to consider. A midsize truck is fine for drivers who only need to occasionally transport backseat passengers (hopefully ones who aren’t too tall). The rear seat of a midsize truck isn’t really designed for comfort on long trips. That’s sort of the catch: it has the better fuel economy for longer trips, but not the rear passenger comfort for them. Ultimately, if you’ll typically just be driving yourself and up to one passenger, the seating capacity of a midsize truck will be just fine.

Midsize Trucks Are More Affordable

You can find many used midsize trucks for under $30,000, which is appealing to those on a budget. Understanding what a midsize truck does and doesn’t offer is important, so you can decide if opting for this more wallet-friendly size of truck makes sense for you. The higher price tag of a full-size truck is there because those trucks can do more, but if you don’t require their abilities, you don’t need to pay that higher price.

Easier Access to the Bed

A quick note on the truck bed of a midsize truck: it’s generally going to be lower than that of a full-size truck. This is nice for shorter individuals because these dimensions make it easier to reach into the bed and get what you need.

Full-Size Trucks Quick Facts

Full-Size Trucks Can’t Go Everywhere

For a quick reference, the dimensions of the full-size Chevy Silverado 1500 are:

• Wheelbase: 147.4 inches
• Length: 231.9 inches
• Width: 81.2 inches
• Height: 75.6 inches

Your full-size truck is quite a bit beefier than your midsize truck. That means it is not going to easily navigate narrow city streets, get down tight alleyways, or be allowed access to all city garages. If you’re going to spend most of your time on the open road, in rural areas, and on work sites, this shouldn’t be a problem for you. But, it is worth noting that you’ll want to take a smaller car for your trips into Atlanta.

Full-Size Trucks Are Gas Guzzlers

Full-size trucks have massive and powerful engines to back up their massive and powerful towing and hauling capacities. But that also means they are gas guzzlers. Again, if you opt for an electric pickup, this won’t be a problem. But if you’re sticking to a gas engine pickup and choose a full-size model, you could find yourself spending a lot of time at the gas pumps.
Should your full-size pickup be intended mostly for hauling items across limited areas like farms or work sites, the fuel economy shouldn’t be too limiting. However, a full-size pickup is not going to be your road trip vehicle.

Full-Size Trucks Are People Haulers

Ironically, while full-size trucks might not have the fuel economy for a road trip, they do boast the space and comfort for one. Crew cab models, in particular, have spacious back seats that can comfortably accommodate three passengers of any height for long periods of time.

Full-Size Trucks Are More Diverse

You’re going to find more diversity in a full-size pickup lineup compared to a midsize one. For example, the Silverado 1500 is offered in five different cab and bed configurations, and it has four engine options to boot. Meanwhile, the midsize Colorado has just one cab and bed configuration.

Full-Size Trucks Can Do More

The most obvious benefit of a full-size truck is its abilities. It is going to be able to trailer larger items, haul heftier equipment and carry more cargo than a midsize truck. If you need to be able to transport large loads, you need a full-size pickup. For instance, the Silverado 1500 can tow up to 13,300 lbs, while the Colorado can only handle 7,700 lbs.

Find the Pickup That’s Right for You

There is no one-size-fits-all pickup truck. There’s a reason that midsize and full-size pickups both exist––they appeal to very different drivers with very different needs. Drivers with modest towing and hauling needs don’t want to be forced to pay up for a full-size truck if they aren’t going to take advantage of its abilities. Likewise, drivers who have substantial towing and hauling needs require a full-size pickup.

Much of this decision will come down to: 1) Where you’ll be driving, 2) Who you’ll be driving, and 3) What you’ll be hauling. If you spend a lot of time in Atlanta, commute long distances, and don’t have many passengers, a midsize pickup could be right for you because it is easy to manage and has good fuel efficiency.

If you don’t need to travel far but need tons of power and won’t be in the city, a full-size pickup could be just right for your needs. It’s important to think carefully about how you’ll be using your truck before choosing between a midsize and full-size option. Of course, the best way to figure out which truck is right for you is to take the short trip from Big Creek to Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford to test drive some different used trucks for yourself.

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