GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado | $26,395-$56,740

Technically, these are two different trucks, but the differences are largely skin-deep, so we’ve grouped them together. These twins from General Motors can’t quite muster the popularity of the F-150, but Bouchama says they rate favourably alongside Ford’s classic pickup.

Elmer calls the engine and transmission combinations solid, but he feels the vehicles’ overall appearance is now looking a little dated. “The trucks have a veteran design,” he says. “The outside is classic, but the inside is looks tired.”

Side impact crash tests now rate an “acceptable” score from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but earlier models from 2007 to 2009 scored poorly on the same tests.