by Gabrielle DeSantis

One of the most popular vehicles in America is the pickup truck. People love driving pickup trucks for a multitude of reasons. Whether it’s because they need to haul or tow heavy loads, drive offroad, and handle tough terrain, or just because they like driving trucks, people all have their reasons to own a pickup truck. As we move into 2022, there are a few brand new trucks coming out for the first time. Many are hybrid or electric vehicles, which people love because of the truck’s long history of bad gas mileage. Here are some of the most anticipated pickup trucks of 2022.

2022 Rivian R1T electric pickup

Though this list is in no particular order, this might be the most anticipated truck of 2022. The Rivian R1T has everything a pickup fan could want from their next vehicle. It’s fully electric, tows 11,000 lbs, and has more amenities than most luxury vehicles. One of the best features of the Rivian R1T as well as most other electric trucks is the frunk. Giving drivers an extra 11 cubic feet of storage space is never a bad thing, especially for truck owners. The biggest negative about this truck is the price tag. Starting at $67,500, it’ll be a big jump for most who are coming from an F-150 XL. If this truck was more affordable, it would surely be one of the most anticipated pickup trucks of 2022.

2022 Tesla Cybertruck electric pickup

The Cybertruck is a one-of-a-kind vehicle. With so many delays on the production, we’re not entirely sure this truck will reach consumers in 2022, but here’s to hoping. Elon Musk’s next big project first garnered attention with its unique design, unlike anything you’ve seen before. The Goliath of electric vehicles wanted to change the way a pickup truck looks and behaves. They attempted to do so by changing people’s perception of how they think one “should” look. With all the luxury you’d expect from a Tesla onboard, the dual-motor tows over 10,000 lbs, and the tri-motor 14,000. It has standard autopilot and the Cybertruck exoskeleton. The exoskeleton features virtually unbreakable armor glass and an ultra-hard 30X cold-rolled stainless steel body. The single-motor RWD version starts at just $39,900, but for the tri-motor, you’ll be looking at a $69,900 price tag.

2022 GMC Hummer electric pickup

Many automakers have announced EVs or entire lineups recently, but this one may have made the most noise. In large part due to the fact that the original Hummer was synonymous with poor gas mileage. The Hummer was the example people would use when speaking about a vehicle that hurt the environment or cost too much to fill up. Now in an electric pickup version, the Hummer pickup EV will release alongside its SUV counterpart in 2022. It has modular sky panels and looks to be no stranger to leaving the road. It can be charged up to nearly 100 miles in just 10 minutes and averages up to a 350-mile range on a single charge. The Hummer pickup EV starts at $79,995 and can reach a whopping $99,995 in the three-motor, 830-hp version.

2022 Ford Maverick hybrid pickup

Unlike the previous pickup trucks on this list, the Maverick is not fully electric. The compact truck is taking the market by storm, creating as much hype, or maybe more, than the Ford Lightning. The strongest selling point of the Maverick is the price. Starting at a measly $19,995 for the XL trim, it’s significantly cheaper than every other truck on this list.

The best part is when upgrading to the highest trim level, Lariat, you’ll only boost the price up to $25,490. This is a very affordable option for someone looking to get better gas mileage in a very serviceable pickup. Though not electric, the Maverick’s 2.5L hybrid engine will give a pleasant 37 mpg combined. Save on trips to the gas station as well as the price of the vehicle with this hybrid. It’s available in all-wheel drive, with a 4K tow package, and plenty of technology. The Maverick might be the most anticipated pickup truck of 2022.

2022 Nissan Frontier standard pickup

While other automakers focus on creating the first electric pickups in their respective lineups, Nissan is still working on perfecting the standard pickup. Marketed as the most powerful truck in its class, it has a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine and 9-speed automatic transmission. The 2022 Frontier is capable of producing 310 horsepower. The Frontier will have a max towing capacity of 6,720 lbs, has a completely redesigned interior, and is now equipped with “the most advanced driver-assist features and safety technologies you’ll find in a midsize pickup truck” (via Nissanusa.com). The Frontier comes in two trims, the King Cab S and SV, which will cost $27,840 and $30,540 respectively.

2022 Ford Lightning electric pickup

Expected to begin deliveries in the Spring of 2022, this fully electric pickup truck from one of the most respected truck-makers in the world is coming in hot. The F-150 has been the best-selling truck in America for 44-years, and Ford is hoping the electric version is no different. The Lightning’s targeted EPA-estimated 300-mile range for the extended battery and 230-mile for the standard battery is really good. The Ford Intelligent Backup Power might be even better.

Ford Intelligent Backup Power means when electricity is unavailable in your home, the Ford Lightning can be a generator. It has the ability to off-board up to 9.6 kW of peak energy and can power a home for three days. The Ford Lightning starts at $68,000 for the XLT version, while the Lightning Platinum will max out at $89,874. The Lightning’s price point will deter some buyers, but it remains one of the most anticipated pickup trucks of 2022.

All of these vehicles are available for preorder now and are expected to be delivered sometime in 2022. 2022 will be a great year for pickup trucks, especially for those who are interested in this massive new wave of hybrid and electric vehicles.

RELATED: The Most Complained About 2021 Pickup Truck Models

The post Most Anticipated Pickup Trucks of 2022 appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

While manual transmissions are a dying breed, learning to drive a manual is a worthwhile skill. And upon mastering the art of rowing through the gears, you’re allowed to drive a plethora of cool automobiles. You’ll perform better at track days if you choose to partake in them, and if you’ve ever dreamed of owning a classic car, you’d better know stick. But everyone starts somewhere, grinding lots of gears, so what are the easiest stickshift cars to learn on?

The Ford Fiesta was at the top of most lists

Upon searching for the answer myself, it became abundantly clear that Ford Fiestas were the best pick (especially the 2019 model). And it makes sense too. In terms of value for money, the Fiesta is priced relatively fair, around $14,000 to $17,000 depending on trim and mileage. In fact, one of the only complaints with Fords in the 2010s was their automatic transmission, so ripping that out solves the problem entirely!

Personally, I’d choose to get a Ford Fiesta ST, which has a friendly stickshift ready for you to learn on. But once you’ve figured out the basics, the ST is packed with enough power where you can have some fun. With 200 horsepower, and just 2,700 lbs of weight, the ST makes easy work of a track.

It’s not often that I can personally attest to something, but I do know how well-built Ford shifters are. One of the first manual cars I ever drove was a 2014 Ford Focus. It took minutes to figure the car out, and the transmission didn’t nag you for making a mistake or two. The Focus and Fiesta share that same, smooth manual transmission, which is certainly better than any automatic transmission they’ve offered on compact cars in recent years.

While this is a bit of personal speculation, part of the reasoning For makes really good manual transmission cars is that their compacts sell a lot better in the UK than they do in the states. And only last year did automatic transmissions manage to outsell manuals, at 56%, according to US News.

However, the Fiesta and Focus nameplates are defunct in the states. So if you’re looking for a new car with a stick, you’re options are slightly more limited.

The 2021 Chevy Spark and 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage are the cheapest new manuals you can buy

Let’s make one thing clear: these are not the best manual transmission cars on the market. But they are new, they are simple, and they are cheap. In fact, they’re the two cheapest cars on sale in America as of right now, despite the fact that so few people buy them.

The Chevy Spark packs more of a “punch,” if you can call it that, with 98 horsepower. Compare that to the Mitsubishi Mirage’s 78 horsepower and the Chevy looks like a race car. But they each have a five-speed manual transmission on the floor, and throwing it around will come easily, even if it’s not exciting.

Chances are, you’d outgrow the Mitsubishi Mirage and Chevy Spark very quickly. Though, if mpg ratings in the high 30s and compact size is appealing to you, then enough to like about each of them (even if they’re both very slow). And even if you’re just looking for a new manual car to learn on, then these are your two cheapest new options. But really, if you’ve got a stickshift lying around, you can just use that.

RELATED: Great Affordable Sports Cars for Drivers Who Want to Learn Stick Shift

At the end of the day, any old piece of junk will do the trick

I’m no stickshift expert, but something clicks in your brain when you start using a foreign transmission. And if you’re on public roads, you better figure out how to row through the gears fast. Sure, learning how to do something in a stressful situation isn’t exactly ideal, but if you’re an adrenaline junkie, it gets the blood going fast.

If you have some old jalopy, or a friend with a car they don’t mind getting a bit abused, then use that. There are plenty of sub $2,000 options on Craigslist, not that buying a car off Craigslist is responsible. But neither is eating fast food, or speeding, or procrastinating, and we all still do those things.

And once you learn to drive a stickshift, no matter what it is, the principles translate to every other manual transmission car on the road. I’ve driven an early 2000s BMW M5, a 1969 Chevy Chevelle, and the aforementioned 2014 Ford Focus and they all felt the same. And I can attest to buying a clunker, I’m talking to a guy about at a $750 Suzuki Forenza right now. So if you have the means, go buy a clunker.

You won’t feel so bad if you break it either, because everyone makes mistakes while learning to drive a manual transmission. And it’s best to make sure those mistakes aren’t expensive. Or, at the very least, are made on someone else’s car.

RELATED: Learn How to Drive a Manual Transmission the Right Way

The post Learning to Drive a Manual? These Cars Are the Best to Practice On appeared first on MotorBiscuit.