If you'll recall, around 2001 Nissan used to sell exactly what you and I both want: a light duty small pickup marketed in the US as the Frontier. That was the D22 model truck, which in NA eventually morphed into the larger (and arguably less capable due to bloat) Navara only years later. Most Americans forgot all about the D22 Frontier.

The rest of the world still has it, usually called the NP300 Hardbody. 2 or 4 seats, 4WD optional, crank windows, manual, basic as can be, and, to quote a guy I know that has one, "an absolute donkey." Across Africa, it's the work truck for the guys that show up to fix things and do work. Foreigners show up in a giant Toyota Land Cruiser. IIRC, It's being phased out in some markets, but it's ubiquitous as the truck that does work. It was the replacement in Southern Africa for the Nissan Champ, a tiny little pickup that didn't change design for 20 years.

Since the older NP300s are still on the road (Frankensteined together), they would be coming up on being importable under the 25+ year classic car exemption. That's about your only option to get a capable light-duty pickup in the US - import Africa's aged cars.

Or wait for this electric Slate pickup.