In contrast to single or extended-cab designs, crew cabs can easily fit up to six adults without compromising the capacity to tow and transport significant weight, which has attracted buyers to these four-door vehicles.
The trucks that successfully blend the utility of four full-size doors with the typical utility of a pickup have been identified. The bottom line is the same for all of our winners, regardless of size or price: these versatile four-door trucks will meet an incredibly broad range of transportation requirements.
Exactly how many people can a crew cab truck accommodate?
The largest cab sizes for trucks are crew cabs, which are offered on makes like the Ford F-150 and Honda Ridgeline. A crew cab has four doors and two rows of seating, which can accommodate five or six adults.
Crew cabs provide more room for the front and back passengers than extended cabs, another four-door truck that can accommodate up to six people. Therefore, a crew cab is the way to go if you want to provide your family or coworkers a comfortable journey.
It’s crucial to keep in mind, too, that a crew cab lengthens the vehicle in comparison to other cab types due to its full-size four doors. Despite the fact that crew cabs have a roomier interior for passengers, you could still need to choose a bed with a shorter length. For instance, an 8-foot bed and a crew cab are typically incompatible due to the crew cab’s four-door layout, which can only accommodate shorter bed lengths.
Best Heavy-Duty Crew Cab Truck: RAM 2500 HD
The top of the truck mountain belongs to heavy-duty vehicles. The Ram 2500 and 3500 remain the best trucks among these top workhorses.
There are many reasons, but we’ll start with the most crucial one: the diesel engine that is offered. Ram has a turbocharged straight-six diesel engine made by Cummins that comes in two different states of tune: the base model, which produces 375 horsepower and 850 lb-ft of torque, and the upgraded model, which is exclusively offered on the 3500 and produces 420 horsepower and 1,075 lb-ft of torque. You did really read that final number accurately. HD diesel now routinely produces four figures of torque, and the Ram is currently the most powerful of them all.
A 3500 with 1,075 lb-ft of torque installed can tow up to 34,470 pounds with a crew cab. The maximum towing capacity of a Ram 2500 crew cab with the standard output diesel is 20,000 pounds. Both exhibit the highest level of competence. The Ram also stands out inside, where opulent materials and unexpectedly sophisticated design cues strongly recall luxury SUVs. The Ram impresses with a focus on luxury in contrast to the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-Series Super Duty, which favor less aesthetically pleasing materials and designs.
The Ram brand also offers something they term the Mega Cab if the crew cab is in some way too small. This cab type is an XL-sized crew cab, just as it sounds. Compared to the crew cab’s 40 inches, it has 43 inches of back legroom. While the lack of available towing technology is somewhat disappointing (Chevy and GMC have excelled in this area), the in-car technology, the aesthetics, and most importantly the capability have won us over. This HD crew cab is one of our favorites.
PROS
- Best-in-class diesel torque
- Best-in-class towing capability
- Stylish cabin with a big touchscreen
- Extra-large Mega Cab also available
CONS
- Cost of diesel upgrade
- Limited towing or active-safety tech
- Transmissions down a few gears compared to rivals
Best Light-Duty Full-Size Crew Cab Truck: Ford F-150
Ford has long held a monopoly in the light-duty full-size pickup market, and for good reason—they’ve reduced the process of creating an attractive truck to a precise science. With multiple engine options, a wealth of technology, and best-in-class towing and payload figures, the most recent 2021 F-150 demonstrates their skill.
Ford has distinguished itself from the competition with the range of possible powertrains, so let’s start with engines. Our favorite of the six available powertrains is the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6, which is available in gas and hybrid versions. The latter is really the most potent engine available, outperforming even the venerable 5.0-liter V-8 with 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque compared to the V-8’s 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft.
The rear-drive models of the hybrid powertrain achieve a combined 25 mpg, which is among the greatest full-size truck fuel economy. Even the optional PowerStroke diesel can’t match that, managing only 23 mpg combined. Did we also mention that the hybrid can pull up to 12,700 pounds? Even while it is less than the conventional 3.5-liter engine’s best-in-class maximum towing capacity of 14,000 pounds, this is still more powerful than the majority of rivals’ highest output.
Not only is there a new technology in the engine, but also in the cabin. Ford’s Sync infotainment system’s most recent edition, which has twice as much computational capacity as the previous one, is housed in a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen, while a 12-inch screen is also an option. With the makeover in 2021, the two screen sizes have been increased and now match those in the Ram 1500.
The F-150 spares no expense in its pursuit of becoming the truck of choice for buyers of all stripes, offering an abundance of engine options, loads of technology, and lots of performance. It’s our top light-duty crew cab for that.
PROS
- 6 powertrain choices
- Segment-exclusive hybrid
- 14,000-pound max towing capacity
- New in-cabin tech and infotainment
CONS
- It is expensive
- Doesn’t look much different from the outgoing model
- Not the most refined
Best Off-Road Crew Cab Truck: RAM 1500 TRX
Although we’re calling it the best off-road vehicle money can buy, feel free to use a different superlative. The TRX isn’t only a legendary off-road vehicle; it’s also a true beast in every sense of the word, a monstrous vehicle that can destroy any surface, even tarmac at drag strips.
The T-Rex, as Ram engineers like to refer to it, competes with the Ford F-150 Raptor by employing a variety of gimmicks and enhancements designed to go quickly off-road. Special off-road shocks from Bilstein and a heavily modified frame, which only shares around 25% of its composition and construction with conventional Ram 1500s, are among the list of customized features. Naturally, four-wheel drive is always in use, as are knobby off-road tires. The end product is a truck that can handle anything from rock climbing to desert runs.
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