Best entry-level pickup truck

I second the F150 as I'm more of a Ford guy but a Chevy 1/2 ton is good too. I wouldn't bother with the smaller sized pickups, year for year the 1/2 tons can get just as good of mileage as their smaller cousins with a mid sized motor. But you will get less MPG if you decide to buy one equiped with the larger motor (ie a 350 V8).

While I recommend a 4x4 I do have to toss out an FYI. A properly equiped 4x2 with a driver who knows what they are doing will go just as far as a standard 4x4. Matter of fact, leave your 4x4 in 2 wheel drive and see how far you can get then put it in 4 wheel drive. Typically you'll make it another 50-100ft in snow before once again losing forward bite.

My dad had an old chevy 2x4 that had big pizza cutter tires on the back and he is a good driver as well. Needless to say that truck went a few places that 4 wheel drives didn't. However I think a 4x4 is better and my chevy 1/2 ton gets 22mpg on freeway consistently plus they are a lot more reliable than those Fo**s. ;) I would even dare say "they are your best option". Ha ha