What is the cheapest new crew cab 4×4 full-size pickup truck you can buy? We go shopping for the brand-new 2026 Ford F-150 STX and 2026 Toyota Tundra SR5 near Denver, Colorado. We take a closer look at these pickup trucks and take them for a test drive. Here’s what we found and the results may surprise you. Let’s dig!
This is a follow-up to the 2026 Ram 1500 vs. 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 test drive that we published about a week ago. At the time, both of those trucks were priced under $50,000 (including destination) after incentives and rebates.
We’re choosing new trucks that offer at least a crew cab, a 4WD system, and a few extra features. These aren’t two-door 2WD work trucks with no options. We’re also looking for trucks that are currently on dealer lots in the Greater Denver, Colorado area. Four wheel drive trucks are very popular in these parts, so this may not be the best place to find low price deals. Anyway, the Ford F-150 STX we found is now listed below $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 a generous payload capacity of over 1,623 pounds, but its maximum tow rating is 8,400 pounds. This tow rating should be enough for most people, but you should be aware of it before purchasing.
We tried to find a new Toyota Tundra 4×4 Crew Cab for under $50,000, but we couldn’t. The truck you see in this video is a Tundra SR5 model with the 3.4L twin-turbo V6. This engine is rated at 389 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. It is also mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. This Tundra has a payload of 1,380 pounds and is rated to tow up to 11,000 pounds.
The cheapest Crew Cab we found, the Tundra, is priced at $51,161.
Kasey and I evaluated all the information, test drove these trucks, and agreed that this F-150 STX is the better buy in every way. Which truck will you choose? Please let us know in the comments section below.
