Price: $24,690

Mileage: 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway

A pickup for smaller families and smaller jobs, the 2012 Nissan Frontier SV Crew Cab sacrifices some interior room and work capability for a lower purchase price. It is the budget-priced pickup on this list.

The price listed here includes the longer, optional 6-foot box, as well as the five-speed automatic transmission.

Delivering power to the rear wheels is a 261-horsepower, 4-liter V-6. It can tow 6,300 pounds and haul a payload of up to 1,388 pounds.

Furnished for five, the comfortable cabin offers full power accessories, air conditioning, cruise control, six air bags, and a six-speaker audio system with CD player. Paying an extra $1,700 for the Premium Utility Package increases the content to include a spray-on bed liner, Nissan's Utili-track cargo system with four tie-down cleats, Bluetooth connectivity, overhead console and an upgraded audio system with redundant steering, wheel-mounted controls and auxiliary input jack.