Every year Motor Trend puts a number of popular pickup trucks through a series of tests to determine which model is the cream of the crop. This year, the Dodge Ram 1500 was the clear victor, as the truck is fuel efficient, powerful and loaded with features. Motor Trend's panel of judges gauge each contestant's worth in six categories – design advancement, efficiency, safety, performance, value and engineering excellence, and the Ram exceeded expectations in every test.

"We had a small but solid field of contenders for Motor Trend's Truck of the Year," said Edward Loh, editor-in-chief of Motor Trend. "But in the end, the choice was clear: Ram 1500 not only withstood our rigorous testing, it impressed at every step along the way. Our judges were won over by the performance of Ram 1500's broad array of standard and optional equipment. It's a truck that can be tailored to meet most anyone's needs. For these reasons and more, we're excited to name the Ram 1500 the Motor Trend 2013 truck of the Year."

When you buy a new truck, like the Ram 1500, every optional feature you want will increase the price, and this can really add up. However, if you opt to seek out a used model, you may be able to find all the features you want and more. Since the vehicle is pre-owned it may already come with all of the amenities you were looking for at a fraction of the cost. If you shop at New Jersey State Auto Auction, you'll have the added guarantee of buying a reliable truck, because every model on the lot is CARFAX certified.