These Are the Most Reliable Midsize Pickups of 2026, According to JD Power
In February of 2026, JD Power released its 2026 US Vehicle Dependability Study, which ranks modern vehicles by brand, and class, after three years of ownership. The winner in the most reliable midsize truck category was the Toyota Tacoma, with no other comparable model scoring at or above the average for this category. We’re not surprised by this decision, as our review of the 2024 Tacoma found it to be an improvement over last year, especially in TRD Off-Road trim. According to JD Power, no other midsize pickup comes close to the reliability of the Tacoma, which also took top honors for most reliable midsize pickup truck last year.
All of the findings from this JD Power study point to several problems. First, premium-class cars tend to be less reliable than their mass-market counterparts. Second, both EVs and plug-in hybrids have more problems than gasoline-powered vehicles. Finally, the study recorded the highest rate of complications since the 2022 redesign. The worst area for car problems turns out to be the infotainment system, which has 56.7 problems out of 100 cars.
Other results of the 2026 study, which investigated the reliability of 2023 model year vehicles over a three-year period, included the notable finding that the integration of smartphones into the vehicle’s work areas was directly responsible for four out of five problems. These problems make up about half of those related to car infotainment systems. Foremost among these were issues with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, followed by Bluetooth connectivity issues, wireless charging issues, and OEM app connectivity issues.
More details on Toyota Tacoma performance and trim levels
The Toyota Tacoma is an excellent choice among midsize trucks. Not only did it win its category in the JD Power 2026 US Vehicle Dependability Study, but it also offers something for anyone looking for this type of vehicle, from a basic pickup to an off-roader that can handle almost any road.
The Tacoma, a car we’ve covered in depth in the past with a detailed buying guide, is available in 11 different trim levels. 2026 models range from the $33,840 Tacoma SR to the $66,045 Tacoma TRD Pro. While the SR only comes with a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four that produces 228 horsepower, other variants offer a beefier 278-horsepower variant. Both a 6-speed manual and an 8-speed automatic transmission are available, making the Tacoma the only pickup of any size in the US market to come with a stick shift option. There’s also a 326-horsepower hybrid model for the Tacoma, which is the only powertrain available on certain models. Four-wheel drive is available as standard on most trim levels.
A Toyota Tacoma performance test with car and driver, using a 278-horsepower engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, produced a 0-60 mph time of 7.0 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 15.3 seconds at 91 mph, and a skidpad roadholding of 0.77g. The hybrid version of the Tacoma did not perform as well as the standard internal combustion engine version in these tests, mainly due to the significant weight penalty imposed by the hybrid drivetrain.
