What’s the cheapest new crew cab 4×4 full-size pickup truck you can buy? We go shopping for a brand-new 2026 Ford F-150 STX and a 2026 Toyota Tundra SR5 near Denver, Colorado. We take a close look at these pickup trucks and take them for a test drive. Here’s what we found and the result may surprise you. Let’s dig in!
This is a follow-up to the 2026 Ram 1500 versus 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 test drive that we published about a week ago. That time, both of those trucks were just under $50,000 (including destination) after incentives and discounts.
We are picking new trucks that offer at least a crew cab, a 4WD system, and just a few additional comforts. These are not two-door 2WD works trucks with no options. We are also looking for trucks that exist on dealer lots right now in the greater Denver, Colorado area. Four wheel drive trucks are very popular around these parts, so it may not be the best place to find those ultimate low-price deals. Nonetheless, the Ford F-150 STX we found is now listed at under $46,532.
This F-150 comes with its base 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and a 3.55-to-1 rear axle ratio. This engine is rated at 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. This truck has more than adequate 1,623 lbs of payload capacity, but it’s rated at a maximum tow rating of 8,400 lbs. This tow rating should be enough for most people, but you need to be aware of it before buying.
We tried to find a new Toyota Tundra 4×4 crew cab at under $50,000, but we couldn’t. The truck you see in this video is a Tundra SR5 model with a 3.4L twin-turbo V6. This engine is rated at 389 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. It’s also mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. This Tundra has 1,380 lbs of payload and it’s rated to tow up to 11,000 lbs.
The least expensive crew cab Tundra we found is listed at $51,161.
Kase and I weighed all the information, test drove these trucks, and agreed that this F-150 STX is a better buy all the way around. Which truck would you choose? Please let us know in the comments section below.
