If you’re in the market for a pickup because you need a pickup, that is you’re going to put it to the test and need something tougher and roomier than an SUV, it’s important to take a look at the warranties on competing models. Truck warranties cover four aspects of the vehicle: Basic Warranty (which covers pretty much everything on the truck in its early life), Drivetrain (the internal components that are often high-ticket items to replace), Rust (exterior of the car only), and Roadside (which means someone will head out to help you if your battery dies in the middle of nowhere or you run out of gas). We compared four popular trucks with regards to each of these warranty components: Dodge Dakota, Toyota Tacoma, Isuzu i-370, and the Ford Ranger. Here’s what we found out:
Basic Warranty. Three years of coverage or up to 36,000 miles is the industry standard and covers the average lease, making all four candidates dependable with the Dakota, Ranger, and Tacoma coming in on par. The Isuzu i-370, however, comes out ahead in this category, with the Isuzu Basic Warranty covering three years or up to 50,000 miles. This is important if you do a...