I have a 2013 Nissan Xterra bought in 2015, now with more than 222,000 kilometres. It’s been a reliable hauler, pulling boats and trailers to destinations here in west Quebec, although its age and the quality of the roads in Alymer/Pontiac result in a rough ride these days.
As I need to think about replacing it soon, I’m leaning toward a small truck that can pull 5,000 pounds easily, such as a Toyota Tacoma or a Nissan Frontier. I’ve never bought new and look for low mileage on a two- or three-year-old vehicle.
What should I be looking for to replace my Xterra? And should I consider buying new, given how high used prices seem to be for what I’m looking for? – John
Miranda Lightstone: I know all about those rough Quebec roads and how savage they can be on suspension. If John decides to look at a used pickup or SUV, then he’ll need to not only consider the mileage, but also where it’s been driven for most of its life if he wants to have some comfort after the rough Xterra ride.
Mark Richardson: A nicely coddled weekend warrior from the city would be the safest bet for John, and there are plenty of those around. Whether they’re for sale or not is another matter. Toyota Tacoma owners especially tend to hold onto their trucks for years, so the resale value is high.
Lightstone: So John should look for a new Tacoma, complete with a warranty and fresh suspension. I know I may sound like a broken record, having recommended the Tacoma before, but it really is a well-rounded, capable pickup that’s not overly expensive. It’s just rough enough around the edges to be rugged, without being uncomfortable.
Richardson: Fun fact – the Tacoma is the only pickup truck sold in Canada that’s still available with a manual transmission. That stick shift is probably even rarer to find as a used vehicle.
2024 Toyota Tacoma i FORCE MaxNATHAN LEACH-PROFFER/Courtesy of manufacturer
Lightstone: The available manual definitely makes the Tacoma more desirable to some people. And towing with a stick shift can be better because, if you know what you’re doing, it can reduce overheating and help performance.
Richardson: If John likes the idea of a Tacoma, he should look for a used one but move on quickly if there’s not one to be found with a deal on it. He’ll almost certainly end up buying new if he doesn’t want to spend months searching.
Lightstone: A quick search on Autotrader.ca shows some viable used Tacoma options from 2016-2020 model years that hover between $25,000 and $35,000. A brand-new base model Tacoma starts at roughly $52,000. So, that’s quite a price gap. However, John is going to have to do some research and investigate the history of the used Tacoma if he chooses to go that route.
Richardson: Those are much older trucks than John usually buys, and a two- or three-year-old Tacoma is a rare find.
Lightstone: Their owners just hold onto them, and if they let them go early, there has to be a good reason.
Richardson: The history of any used pickup truck – any used vehicle, for that matter – should be properly investigated before buying it. The internet is full of good advice about things such as CARFAX reports and lien checks, but it really helps if the vehicle has a full recorded history of reputable repairs and servicing, and if you know what kind of life it lived before coming to you.
Lightstone: Agreed. So if the Tacoma isn’t quite to John’s liking and he wants to stick to the Nissan family that he knows well, then the Frontier is a solid option. It sits in about the same new price range as a Tacoma.
2026 Nissan FrontierCourtesy of manufacturer
Richardson: The Tacoma has a better overall reputation, but I’d choose a Frontier that’s been taken care of over a higher-mileage Tacoma any day. It’s a solid, body-on-frame, mid-sized truck with a tried-and-true V6 engine. The 2022 redesigned model had a potential transmission glitch that was fixed on a recall, but it’s a dependable vehicle.
Lightstone: I feel like we’re forgetting the obvious here: Ford. John mentioned looking at a smaller pickup able to tow 5,000 pounds. Well, a Ford Ranger, which has a cheaper base price brand new than the Tacoma and Frontier, can do just that. And if there’s something the American manufacturers do well, it’s pickup trucks.
Richardson: They know about towing, too. Even the standard 2.3-litre inline-four engine with the basic $50,000 Ranger is rated to tow a hefty 7,500 pounds if it’s equipped with the $500 trailer tow package option.
The 2024 Ford Ranger will come in two engine options, a 2.3-litre EcoBoost that makes 270 horsepower and a 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 that makes 315.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Lightstone: We know it can tow, but what about comfort on bumpy roads? John wants comfort as much as he wants capability. Which pickup do you think has the best rough-road suspension?
Richardson: It depends on how they’re optioned for off-road use, but I do trust the Tacoma the most – to not break in the middle of nowhere.
Lightstone: John needs to really look at the used market and see if there are viable options out there with decent mileage and well-kept suspension, as well as proper paperwork history, before he makes the decision between buying new or not. And his first choice should definitely be a Tacoma.
Richardson: I think he’s already done all that, and he wants us to point him at either buying used or new. For all three of the models we’ve suggested – Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier and Ford Ranger – the typical prices for a used model are going to be proportionately higher than in other vehicle segments. So John, if you find a used model is only saving you $10,000 off the price of a new truck, then go for the new purchase, with the warranty, the higher residual value, the quick availability and the new-truck smell. If you locate a used vehicle with a saving that’s greater, you might have found a unicorn.
What car should you buy? Write to Mark and Miranda at globedrive@globeandmail.com and use ‘What car’ as part of your subject line. E-mails with different subject lines may not be answered.
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