The Secret of Mid-Size Pickups: 5 'Forgotten' Models That Cost Half and Are Worth Gold

The Secret of Mid-Size Pickups: 5 ‘Forgotten’ Models That Cost Half and Are Worth Gold

Written by Carla Teles

Published on 03/11/2025 at 17:35

O segredo das picapes médias usadas: 5 modelos ‘esquecidos’ que valem ouro e custam metade do preço de uma 0km. Veja a lista completa.

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While The Market Inflates The 0km, Experts Indicate Which Robust Mid-Size Pickups Deliver The Same (Or More) For Much Less.

The search for mid-size pickups 0km has led consumers to financing options that resemble the price of an apartment. However, the used market hides true “gold mines”: robust, reliable trucks that do the same job, or even better, for less than half the value.

Many drivers are unaware of the potential of previous generation models that offer excellent cost-effectiveness. An analysis from the Carrão na Garagem portal highlighted five of these pickups that challenge the logic of paying high prices just for the “smell of new,” proving that it’s possible to own a respectable truck without emptying the bank account.

Chevrolet S10 2013: The Durable Warrior

The Chevrolet S10, especially the 2013 model, is considered an underestimated legend by those who understand the subject. The great asset of this model is the 2.8 turbo diesel Duramax engine, which delivers 180 horsepower and a torque described as “tractor-like.” This engine is the result of a partnership with Isuzu, a Japanese brand renowned for its specialization in diesel engines, translating to durability and resistance for heavy work.

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Ford Ranger 2013: Balance and Strength

The Ford Ranger 2013 is often overlooked but is one of the most complete mid-size pickups Brazil has ever seen. Born from the union of American engineering and Australian rigor, it was designed for demanding markets. Its heart is the 3.2 turbo diesel engine with 5 cylinders, a “war tank” with 200 horsepower and nearly 48 kgf·m of torque, providing real strength even when the bed is full.

Comfort is a differentiator, with a suspension of progressive leaf springs that ensure stability when loaded and smoothness when empty. The cost-benefit ratio is what stands out: a pickup with this engine and SUV-like comfort can be found in the range of R$ 70,000 to R$ 90,000, a lower value than many 0km popular cars. The caveat, the source points out, is the need to use high-quality diesel and keep the injection system maintenance up to date.

Nissan Frontier 2011: Robustness

The Nissan Frontier 2011 is synonymous with toughness. Equipped with a 2.5 turbo diesel engine that delivers 172 horsepower and over 40 kgf·m of torque, it was made for heavy-duty work. The six-speed manual transmission is described as “practically indestructible”, and the five-speed automatic version is also considered rock-solid, provided that the oil change is done on time. The 4×4 traction is praised for its mechanical simplicity, “without electronic fuss.”

One of its greatest highlights is the interior space. With a wheelbase of 3.20 meters, the cabin is considered huge, accommodating passengers comfortably. According to Carrão na Garagem, a well-maintained Frontier 2011 can be found for around R$ 80,000, which represents less than one-third the price of some new mid-size pickups, doing exactly the same job.

Toyota Hilux 2009: The Resale Legend

Talking about used mid-size pickups without mentioning the Toyota Hilux is impossible. The 2009 model, equipped with a 3.0 turbo diesel engine with 163 horsepower and 35 kgf·m of torque, is a “monument to durability.” The secret of the Hilux, according to the analysis, has never been raw power, but reliability: “it’s the kind of engine that doesn’t break, doesn’t complain, just works,” with reports of units exceeding 800,000 km driven.

The simple 4×4 system and the heavy chassis make it a favorite for those who live on the road. The price, however, is a “shock”: even with over 15 years, a well-maintained 2009 Hilux ranges between R$ 80,000 and R$ 110,000. The explanation for the high value is that it practically does not depreciate. It’s an investment that, if well cared for, allows for future resale at the same price as the purchase, but requires increased vigilance against scams and tampered vehicles.

L200 Triton 2013: The Underrated Cost-Benefit

The Mitsubishi L200 Triton 2013 rounds out the list as the pickup that many underestimate but offers a cost-benefit that sets a reference in Brazil. It is aimed at those who need a work tool that can take the beating. The 3.2 turbo diesel engine with 170 horsepower and 35 kgf·m of torque is praised for its strength, seeming “made to tow the world.”

The significant technical differentiator is the Super Select traction system, one of the most efficient on the market, allowing the shift from 2×4 to 4×4 even at 100 km/h. Although the bed is slightly smaller than its rivals (780 liters), it makes up for this in robustness and price, ranging between R$ 80,000 and R$ 100,000. The analysis from Carrão na Garagem emphasizes that the vehicle “ages well,” without creaks, and has a good supply of parts.

Is It Worth Paying A Lot For Status?

The analysis of these five models of mid-size pickups proves that the used market is full of opportunities. They demonstrate that age does not mean weakness and that it is possible to acquire a tough, reliable machine ready to work spending a fraction of the value of a 0km model.

The choice between paying a lot for the status of the year or being smart and saving seems clear for those seeking rationality. And now, we want to know your opinion: which of these five pickups would you take home? Do you think they deserve the throne of best cost-benefit in the market? Leave your comment below and tell us which model you think was missing from this list!

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The Secret of Mid-Size Pickups: 5 ‘Forgotten’ Models That Cost Half and Are Worth Gold

While The Market Inflates The 0km, Experts Indicate Which Robust Mid-Size Pickups Deliver The Same (Or More) For Much Less.

Chevrolet S10 2013: The Durable Warrior

Ford Ranger 2013: Balance and Strength

Nissan Frontier 2011: Robustness

Toyota Hilux 2009: The Resale Legend

L200 Triton 2013: The Underrated Cost-Benefit

Is It Worth Paying A Lot For Status?

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The Secret of Mid-Size Pickups: 5 ‘Forgotten’ Models That Cost Half and Are Worth Gold

While The Market Inflates The 0km, Experts Indicate Which Robust Mid-Size Pickups Deliver The Same (Or More) For Much Less.

Chevrolet S10 2013: The Durable Warrior

Ford Ranger 2013: Balance and Strength

Nissan Frontier 2011: Robustness

Toyota Hilux 2009: The Resale Legend

L200 Triton 2013: The Underrated Cost-Benefit

Is It Worth Paying A Lot For Status?

At over 8,800 meters above sea level, the summit of Mount Everest is made up of rocks that originated at the bottom of an ocean about 500 million years ago and were pushed to the highest point on Earth by the collision of tectonic plates.

Found in one of the most radioactive places on Earth, this Chernobyl fungus may be doing something with radiation that no one has been able to explain to this day.

The U.S. Army receives the first Black Hawk helicopter that can fly without pilots, be controlled by a tablet, and even land on its own during high-risk missions.

With more than 635,000 doctors, Brazil sees competition increasing in large cities, and recent graduates are competing for shifts at an accelerated pace while the countryside still faces shortages.

What can really trigger large volcanic eruptions? Research suggests that gas returning to the magma may be more dangerous than gas escaping from it.

Goodbye expensive popular car: electric vehicle for less than R$ 70,000 starts being sold in Brazil with a range of 200 km and targets those looking to escape gasoline.

With an investment of R$ 612 million, a capacity to process 1.2 million liters of milk per day, Piracanjuba inaugurates a mega cheese factory that increases national production, reduces dependence on imports, and repositions Brazil on the global dairy map.

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