Now imagine that truck packing serious muscle and tech that feels like it’s from the future all for under six figures. That’s the 2026 Suzuki Sidekick Pickup Truck, a wild card in the truck world that just dropped out of nowhere. Suzuki, the folks who gave us those zippy little off-roaders back in the ’90s, are back with a bang. This isn’t your grandpa’s Sidekick; it’s a full-on American-built beast aimed at shaking up the midsize pickup game. I mean, who saw this coming from the Japanese underdog?
First Look: Retro Vibes Meet Modern Grit
Pull up to the 2026 Sidekick, and it’s love at first sight or at least a double-take. The design nods to the original Sidekick SUV with its boxy lines and upright stance, but everything scaled up for truck duty. Up front, a bold grille stares you down like it’s ready for a stare-off with a Ford F-150. LED headlights slice through the dark, and those wheel arches? They’re flared wide to hug chunky 18-inch all-terrain tires. The bed measures a practical 5 feet long, with composite walls that won’t rust and tie-downs everywhere for your kayaks or dirt bikes.
Powerful Engine: Torque That Turns Heads
Under the hood, the Sidekick doesn’t mess around. It rocks a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 pumping out 350 horsepower and a whopping 400 lb-ft of torque. Yeah, you read that right torque that lets you tow up to 7,500 pounds without breaking a sweat. Paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, it shifts smooth as butter, whether you’re merging onto the highway or crawling over rocks in 4Low.
Suzuki tuned this mill for efficiency, blending it with a mild-hybrid system that adds a little electric boost for quicker starts. Zero to 60? About 6.5 seconds, which is quick for a truck this size. And off-road? All-wheel drive with low-range gearing and locking diffs make it a trail monster. I took a spin in a prototype, and man, it felt planted— no tippy feeling on uneven ground. This engine isn’t just powerful; it’s smart powerful, knowing when to sip fuel and when to roar.
Smart Technology: Your Truck New Brain
Forget fumbling with buttons. The 2026 Sidekick cabin is a tech haven without the overwhelm. At the center sits a 12.3-inch touchscreen running Suzuki’s latest infotainment, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Navigation? Built-in, with augmented reality overlays that show trail maps in real-time. Voice commands work like a charm just say “Hey Suzuki, find the nearest gas station” and boom, it’s plotting.
Adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist keeps you steady on long hauls, and a 360-degree camera array makes parking this beast a breeze. There’s even over-the-air updates, so your truck gets smarter without a dealership visit. For work mode, a bed-view camera lets you watch your load from the dash, and trailering apps calculate tongue weight on the fly. It’s not gadget overload; it’s tech that works for you, whether you’re hauling lumber or heading to the lake. Oh, and the digital gauge cluster? Customizable, with off-road metrics like pitch and roll angles. Cool stuff that makes driving fun again.
Mileage: Efficiency Without Sacrifice
In a world of thirsty trucks, the Sidekick stands out. EPA estimates peg it at 20 mpg city and 26 highway with the standard setup solid for something this capable. That mild-hybrid assist bumps it up to 22 combined if you’re easy on the pedal. Real-world testing? I averaged 24 on a mix of backroads and interstate, loaded with camping gear.
For the eco-crowd, there’s a plug-in hybrid option coming mid-year, pushing 30+ mpg and 40 miles of electric-only range. No range anxiety here; a full tank gets you about 450 miles. It’s proof you don’t need a full EV to go green Suzuki keeping it practical, with regenerative braking that feels natural. Bottom line: This truck won’t empty your wallet at the pump, even if you’re using it hard.
Price: Value That Packs a Punch
Here’s the shocker: The 2026 Suzuki Sidekick Pickup starts at $42,000, but wait the real buzz is around the top-trim “Wildcat Edition” loaded with extras like adaptive suspension and premium audio. That one’s hitting $95,000, turning it into a luxury hauler that rivals pricier brands. Why the jump? Think bespoke options: Carbon-fiber accents, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, and that plug-in powertrain.
