The economic downturn has indeed hit the pickup truck market hard especially in the past 2 years, but despite the difficulties it has caused, it’s undeniable how much the pickup truck industry has advanced in the past decade. In an article, Mike Levine of PickupTrucks.com named the Top 10 Significant Trucks of the Decade.

Crew cabs have been popular overseas way before it was introduced in America. The 2000 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab was the first compact pickup with four full-size doors sold in the US market. After it was released, buyers welcomed the addition of another option besides regular and extended cab because it allowed them to accommodate more passengers in their pickup trucks unlike before. Other manufacturers picked up on this and later, crew cabs became a major player in the pickup truck industry, taking almost half of the entire market share.

The 2004 Nissan Titan was the first real contender of a Japanese manufacturer to rival the full-size half-ton pickup trucks made popular by the Big Three. The 300-horsepower 5.6-liter V8 with an advanced 5-speed automatic transmission in extended or crew cab made waves back then, taking 80% of the half-ton pickup truck sales until it slowed down because early releases were deemed unreliable. There are still loyal  fans and enthusiasts up to now that believe the Nissan Titan is one of the best.

Another truck from a Japanese manufacturer also made the list. The 2006 Honda Ridgeline was honored for its innovation after being the first pickup truck to have an in-bed lockable trunk, as well as a dual-action tailgate that didn’t only fold down, but also off to the side for easy and convenient access to the bed. In addition, 2006 Honda Ridgeline also made some noise because it favored an independent rear suspension over conventional leaf springs giving passengers a more comfortable ride.

Finally, the author named the 2009 Ford F-150 the most significant pickup truck of the decade because it “remains the gold standard against which other half-ton pickup trucks are compared”. In 2009, Ford updated the reliable and much loved 2004 F-150 and gave buyers 7 different models, not including engine and cab type choices. With a great 6-speed transmission and groundbreaking features that others try to copy, the Ford F-150 is the bestselling truck because it caters to everyone.

Other trucks who made the Top 10 are the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra Heavy Duty with 6.6-liter Duramax Diesel, the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, the 2005 Toyota Tacoma, the 2007 Toyota Tundra, the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 and the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. The 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac and the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra Two Mode Hybrids are also honorably mentioned. Read the full article here.