Serving as an alternative to full-sized pickup trucks, the Toyota Tacoma is well suited to handling cargo hauling and fairly challenging off-roading. But as we were reminded with our recent crew-cab test truck, the Tacoma makes for a lousy family vehicle.

It may not look radically different on the outside, but the Chevrolet Silverado pickup has been completely redesigned and significantly upgraded for 2014. A new chassis, updated powertrain technology with several mileage-enhancing measures, and a plusher interior promise to keep this cash cow competitive. We recently had the opportunity to drive a new LTZ crew-cab, and we liked it.

Toyota's big splash at the Chicago Auto Show today was showing off a freshened 2014 Tundra pickup truck. Facing tough, significantly updated competition from Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, and Ram, a Tundra update (which debuted in 2007) was inevitable. The question is, did Toyota go far enough?

General Motors today unveiled its next-generation full-sized pickup trucks. Both the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra mark an evolutionary step forward, with revised styling, powertrains, and safety features more commonly associated with upscale cars.

Suzuki has announced that its American automotive arm will go through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, making it the latest automaker to withdraw from this market. Impact on current car owners is promised to be minimal, but it does raise concerns for prospective shoppers.

Paying more for a new car doesn't guarantee that it will be reliable. Fuel-efficient hatchbacks, wagons, compact sports sedans, compact pickups, and small SUVs are the most reliable vehicles according to our 2012 Annual Auto Survey, which is based on our subscribers' experiences with 1.2 million vehicles. Upscale cars, minivans and luxury SUVs are among the least reliable.

Safety regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are investigating 2009-2010 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD full-sized pickups for drive shaft problems. The agency has received a dozen consumer complaints that the Dodge trucks' rear wheels lock-up while being driven, risking collisions.

When a half-ton, full-size pickup truck just won't do, commercial-grade heavy-duty trucks are available to haul massive trailers and carry extreme loads. Before investing in an expensive truck, though, watch our video buying guide to see what distinguishes the latest pickups from Chevrolet, Dodge (aka Ram), and Ford.

Sometimes certain types of cars become popular not because they're practical, efficient, perform well, or even make sense. Sometimes it's pure demographics. That's the conclusion of Erich Merkle, head U.S. sales analyst at Ford Motor Company. We caught up with Merkle on a recent visit to New York City to get his take on what's ahead for the auto industry.

General Motors announced today that it is sending the Chevrolet Avalanche—our Top Pick among pickups three out of the last four years—out to pasture. The versatile truck will soldier on for one final year in 2012 with a new 2013 Black Diamond edition, which will feature body-colored sail panels and bed cover, some additional equipment, and lower price.

The arrival of spring and warmer weather means the start of the trailering season for many drivers, as families break out their boats, campers, and other outdoor gear after a long winter. But before you hitch up and go, it's important to think safety, both in terms of maintenance and once you're on the road.

Car commercials have long used music, imagery, and messaging to create brand awareness and drive sales. In our busy world, striking the right emotional chord can make a lasting emotional impact that can influence consumer decisions, but as with the case of the latest Ram pickup truck ad, they don't often hold up to scrutiny.

Ram knows that full-sized pickup trucks see a wide variety of buyers and uses. That's evident in some of the detail changes they made to the 2013 Ram 1500, unveiled this week at the New York auto show.

As gasoline prices continue to climb, the cliché "pain at the pump" is being thrown around with great frequency. But, how much pain is it really? Inspired by anecdotal complaints of drivers boasting of wallet-denting fill-ups, we crunched the data to see what the most expensive tanks are to fill, and we found more than 20 vehicles go beyond the $100 mark.

Despite seeming innovative in 2004 when it was launched, the Titan never really caught on with pickup truck buyers. The Titan brought a punchy and refined powertrain, large four-door cabin, relatively agile handling, a pre-sprayed bed, and a damped tailgate. But sales were lagging expectations and a host of reliability problems plagued it in the first few years.