'So expensive': Truck drivers are shunning large pickups for smaller, compact models
Posted by Mercurydriver@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 211 comments
munche@reddit
So one of my cars is a 94 Buick Roadmaster, which is considered an absolute land yacht in it's era
and when I pull up next to a stock 150 or Silverado it seems like 2 sizes smaller than them
Trucks are way too gigantic
lowstrife@reddit
And beyond just the sheer size, it's the hood heights doing most of the damage (to pedestrians and other objects upon impact). Here's a fairly old full size Tundra compared to my Lexus, which on its own would be considered quite a large astute motorcar.
https://i.imgur.com/smTlmAK.jpeg
TrySoda@reddit
Are we supposed to make the trucks with squinted, tapered off low front hoods? Like rats sniffing the ground as they go down the road? Cmon now lol
UserM16@reddit
Ready for downvotes but contrary to popular belief, taller hood height accommodates more impact safety clearance before hitting the engine block, for pedestrian safety.
wookieSLAYER1@reddit
Yeah those pedestrian impacts would decrease significantly if drivers could first of all, see the pedestrians.
spdcrzy@reddit
This is absolutely fucking bullshit and automakers know it. There IS a sweet spot, yes. But hoods so tall that you would easily miss a small child are insane.
lowstrife@reddit
Yeah that's not how that works, at all. Hitting the engine block is not the risk. On a low hood, you bounce off the top. On a tall hood? You get sucked underneath and run over.
zeno0771@reddit
Oh good, so pedestrians won't need to worry about getting any engine grease/oil on them while they're decapitated by the hood.
gumol@reddit
is the Tundra stock? It looks lifted
Colorado070707@reddit
I think it's stock but honestly it's a horrible picture for size comparison because of the wide lens, it won't show the comparison correctly.
coldpipe@reddit
Just use carsized https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/lexus-ls-1994-sedan-vs-toyota-tundra-2014-pick-up-crewmax/
lowstrife@reddit
Distortion or not - my picture is actually under-selling the size difference. Sheesh. What an insane vehicle.
Kordidk@reddit
Also it's an LS400 which while big in its time is smaller than my 21 Camry. Which I will say does not feel big lol
bmillions@reddit
Hood heights on these newer full size trucks are insane. I have a 2019 Nissan Armada, which is a full size SUV and parked in front of a stock 2024 F-150 yesterday and the hood of the F-150 looked at least a foot taller. Made my Armada look short.
lowstrife@reddit
Yeah my mom stood infront of one of the ZR2 Chevy offroad spec trucks and its hood was taller than she was. Neighbors truck, parked down the street. If they ever actually take it offroad, they always pressure and powerwash the thing because the under chassis is perfectly spotless. What mindful owners!
/s
Snow_source@reddit
I was driving home today and trying to make a left. I kept pulling forward and the nose of the F-150 to my right was over my roof blocking my view of oncoming traffic entirely.
Whenever I pulled forward he would nudge forward so that I couldn't see past his massive nose. I basically got to play "will I or won't I get hit when I pull out" because he kept blocking my line of sight.
Trucks are too damn big.
elinyera@reddit
I think that in a Supra, almost any car would block your view.
testthrowawayzz@reddit
The entire body is too tall.
I have seen lowered trucks on the road and even then they still look quite a bit taller than a standard car next to it
maybach320@reddit
It’s not just hood height, all of it has gotten too tall. I have a 02 f350 and used a company truck the other days that’s a 24 F350 and I couldn’t reach the bottom of the bed when reaching over the side and I’m 6ft. The hood was nuts as well the guy I was working with is 5’9” and I could see his head when he walked in front of the truck. Sure my 02s not winning awards for seeing things right in front of the truck but I can definitely see a fully grown adult in front of my older truck.
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alwaysforward31@reddit
Here's another comparison. F-150 vs Honda Accord
https://imgur.com/a/e6e6iTD
Bassracerx@reddit
What is worst is they are gigantic and you only get a 5.5 foot bed. If you want a 6 foot or larger bed your options are super small. The manufacturers make them but dealers barely stock them
epicvipes17@reddit
Insane to me, my uncle has a 93 roadmaster wagon and I've driven in it a lot and it's massive to me like a couch on wheels but I haven't payed attention to the size difference to a truck lol
magbarn@reddit
It’s also always these full size truck driving dumbasses here that are always running red lights and killing people.
Competitive-Reach287@reddit
Cars got fat, too. A 2025 Corolla has about the same footprint as a 1999 4Runner.
Eastern_Yam@reddit
I remember my childhood friend's parents' Accord seeming small. I have a 2020 Accord and it's within an inch of a Highlander in length and width and has a horrendous turning radius. It should not be that difficult to manoeuvre a "mid-sized" sedan in smaller parking lots.
testthrowawayzz@reddit
Yeah, Accord is getting too big for my preference. I would rather get a compact SUV for about the same (and more practical) usable interior space in a smaller footprint or a midsize SUV for way more interior space for the same exterior footprint.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
The Accord has grown about 8 inches in the past 30 years, but the new ones certainly look a lot bigger.
AKADriver@reddit
8 inches isn't a huge growth but it is typically what used to be the difference between classes of sedans. The Civic sedan is now the size of a 5th gen '95 Accord; they've all basically ratcheted up by one class in size with the Accord now similar to the FWD full size cars of the '90s like a LeSabre.
just_a_T114@reddit
My 50 year old full size, 8ft bed equipped 1/2 ton pickup is absolutely dwarfed by the Seawise Giant that is my 9 year old “”midsize”” pickup
wiscotangofoxtreat@reddit
Why is there the same 5 people in this sub alwaus denying trucks have gotten massive. Lol
juridiculous@reddit
They own trucks and feel personally attacked.
That’s about as deep as it goes.
AKADriver@reddit
It's a weird contrarian thing. Or maybe it's just a version of the same "car enthusiasts are stupid, the car industry is always right and knows what you want" attitude that haunts every comment section.
PotatoDrives@reddit
A friend has a GMC 1500 and the hood is shoulder height on me. I'm 6'3" and his truck is stock.
Altruistic_Brick1730@reddit
no they're not
FrattyMcBeaver@reddit
80% of maverick owners are new to trucks. People that used to buy cars are now buying bigger vehicles (small pickups). People that drove big trucks still drive big trucks.
odelay42@reddit
Another way to think of this is, many small truck buyers were never going to buy large trucks.
Also, it’s not like that 20% can never grow.
throwawayainteasy@reddit
I did.
I was in the market for a mid-sized pickup near the end of 2021. But I ended up getting a full sized.
Mostly because the pricing on midsized trucks at the time (and maybe still?) made zero sense. It was only a few thousand dollars difference between a midsized and a comparably equipped full-sized pickup. For my purposes, the midsized was fine, but having the extra payload capacity and room of the full sized was definitely a nice benefit for not a lot extra.
Plus, extra odd to me, the insurance for the full sized was significantly cheaper than the midsized. And I could actually get the full sized. The midsized pickups were just not available--they sold pretty much the moment they hit the lots.
So I ended up with a full sized truck.
Hopefully the market/pricing corrected itself a bit, because at least at the time I was in the market, buyers were basically incentivized to get the full sized option instead.
odelay42@reddit
Sure, that’s why said “many” not “all”.
FrattyMcBeaver@reddit
Small trucks are a gateway drug to large trucks.
danny_ish@reddit
A lot of maverick truck drivers buy a fullsize for a specific use case, that case changes and they look at regular cars, then end up missing the utility of a bed but dont need to tow/haul heavy and end up in a maverick. 5 of my coworkers have one, this is 3 of their scenerios. The other 2 came from wagons, like Subaru’s, and needed more utility space for hobbies- one into mountain biking and one into kayaking + bbq’ing, the last one heavily considered a new outback, tesla 3, and maverick. Another friend who had a mid size hatch back who heavily considered a maverick ended up in a Subaru outback. They compete
Sma11ey@reddit
I used to have a Chevy 2500HD when I did landscaping. We paid ~$60k CAD for it brand new in 2011. To get a similar diesel truck is over $100k CAD now. Used similar pickups with 50-150k km’s are going for 50-70k. It’s insane how much they’ve jumped in price
Raboyto2@reddit
2011 to 2025 is 14 years. 3% inflation per year makes your $60k truck $93.5k in today’s dollars.
Bonerchill@reddit
The average profit of a landscaping business has not increased by the same amount.
Colorful_Monk_3467@reddit
Landscaping business does not need a brand new $100k truck
thuper@reddit
I agree, and I have no sympathy for anybody who spends $100,000 on a truck. But I think someone doing landscaping needs some kind of work vehicle andwe're also talking about how used ones are also not moderately priced anymore.
Yankee831@reddit
That really is case dependent. A small crew can absolutely run on smaller older vehicles but a company with multiple crews, heavy equipment, etc may absolutely need new equipment. Downtime is expensive when you have half a dozen guys stranded with a broke down vehicle.
Colorful_Monk_3467@reddit
And if it grows to that point they can probably float those trucks.
PotatoDrives@reddit
Unless they've got an excavator for landscaping, they don't need a 3/4 ton. 1/2 tons have more than enough towing capacity.
danny_ish@reddit
If you have a trailer hooked up 70+ % of the time, a 1/2 ton is just not the right vehicle. They are made to be passenger cars. If your constantly trailering, you will see 1/2 the service interval with a 3/4 ton. Its just how it is, unfortunately. If the trailer is super light, you might be able to get away with the more reliable/over built 1/2 tons, like the toyota and nissan versions
WayOfTheDingo@reddit
If you want to appear legitimate and professional, you cannot roll up in a 2009 dented truck.
gimpwiz@reddit
To a landscaping job? Of course you can. Most landscapers I see use the most beat up trucks. I think people are stoked to see it because they know they're not paying for someone's brand new lifted 3/4 ton.
dayvieee@reddit
From my own personal experience, back then it was very easy to get 10% off MSRP just by walking through the door. I paid about $28k usd for a 2010 Silverado 1500 that had a MSRP of $40k.
zeno0771@reddit
This is the biggest mindblower of all, to me.
Until maybe 2018, if you paid MSRP for a regular-production vehicle (meaning no special-editions), you were a chump. I tell people that now and they look at me like I just landed here from another planet. If you pay over MSRP for anything they built more than 1500 of, then you deserve every bit of greasing & fleecing you get at the dealership as well as eating the depreciation.
Novel-Mechanic3448@reddit
That's a 5% jump after inflation. Far from "insane". a 2025 is also 10x more truck for the money. But hey, math is hard.
SwiftCEO@reddit
Hate to say it, but there’s nothing like driving a big truck. You feel like you own the road. I’m not negating the safety and environmental concerns though. New trucks are just very comfortable on long drives.
Astramael@reddit
I’ve also noticed this while driving big trucks. Your perception of speed and distance is also kind of skewed since you are further from the road.
Unfortunately performance oriented cars own the road, so that feeling is very misleading. Trucks are slower on average, handle significantly worse, and are less efficient.
This goes some way to explaining why I’m driving past crashed trucks all winter long.
Adjective_Noun1312@reddit
Yeah that's pretty obvious from all the needle dicks in lifted Rams trying to crawl up my tailpipe, or outright passing on a blind crest like I'm standing still, for "only" going ten over the limit on the narrow back roads I take to work.
TuneSoft7119@reddit
I would 100% buy a maverick if they had a single cab long bed option. a 4 foot bed just isnt usable.
SelfServeSporstwash@reddit
I haul a shit ton of stuff in my Mav. It fits over a yard of soil, it hauls kayaks like a champ. I’ve moved a washer and dryer (at the same time), chest freezer and refrigerator (at the same time), enough lumber to build a bridge on our land, enough concrete mix to redo our patio, more compost and manure than I feel like adding up.
Like… it’s very capable. You do not need that long of a bed. Period.
crunch816@reddit
I grew up driving 3 generations of Silverados, and I love my Ridgeline.
Downloading_Bungee@reddit
I hope they come out with a hybrid one, the fuel economy im getting is disappointing especially in city.
NorthernUrban@reddit
FWIW: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a69267457/honda-suv-truck-next-generation-hybrid-v6-details/
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Fucking finally. The only reason I'm in a Ford is because Honda took their sweet time with the Ridgeline refresh.
metengrinwi@reddit
I have a Maverick hybrid on order that I’m trading my Escape hybrid for.
Reynor247@reddit
Interesting I recently decided to choose the escape over the maverick. The price was the biggest factor though
metengrinwi@reddit
My Escape is an excellent car. I’d like to be able to to better haul my fat bike in winter in an enclosed space, so going to try a Mav with a cap. It barely fits in the Escape with a lot of disassembly.
Yankee831@reddit
Would you like your cargo air conditioned or not basically lol.
kinkycarbon@reddit
Majority of vehicles are under 2000 mm in width. 2500 mm is rare in trucks, but it’s around the limit for the width of a single lane. First gen Ford Super Duty with dual rear wheels put it at 2426 mm/ 95.5 inches. Already 8 feet wide. Average road lane with is 12 feet. Parking lane width is around 8 feet.
TooMuchButtHair@reddit
It's relatively easy to buy a maverick when it gets 40mpg.
Fish_bob@reddit
Yeah the headline is misleading. The article doesn’t mention growth of the small/compact truck segment at the expense of the full size truck segment. Seems the full size truck segment remains quite strong.
caterham09@reddit
I have a bone to pick with current trucks right now. It's impossible to get a useful work truck brand new for under 60k now.
What I mean is that people who are actually doing work with trucks want usually 3 things. An 8ft bed, towing capacity and probably extra seats. The most important of those 3 being the 8ft bed.
Currently the cheapest Ford truck you can get with an 8ft bed is the base XL trim f150 single cab for $38,000. This truck will have 2 seats, no interior storage and it tows 5000lbs less than every other version of the f150 (aside from the raptors). My wife bought one for her company work truck and the lack of seats/towing capability really hampered it's effectiveness. Her having to pay for delivery because she couldn't tow made the truck almost worthless imo, or at least she wasn't saving any money.
The next cheapest truck after that is a base level f250 for $46,000, but again that's the 2 seat no options truck. Realistically the cheapest you can get into a decent work truck with an 8ft bed and room to take more than 1 person to the job site is over $50,000. That's of course assuming you don't want 4wd because then you're at $60,000.
It's so much money to have what a lot of people who actually do real work, need on a daily basis.
Captain_Alaska@reddit
Both the base F-150 and F-250 are 3 seaters with a bench...
Vhozite@reddit
Trucks aren’t for work anymore they’re basically just minivans for guys at this point
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Yep. They're lifestyle vehicles.
gumol@reddit
what’s wrong with a vehicle matching your lifestyle?
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Nothing, until truck owners start beating their chests about the capabilities of their vehicles that they never use.
Massive all terrain tires? Need those for the mall?
Massive bed? For hauling air 99.99% of the time? Zero scratches in the bed?
ZaneMasterX@reddit
I use the absolute crap out of my truck. I beat on it, haul with it weekly, and its big enough to fit all these GIGANTIC kids seats we have to buy now. One of the car seats I have for my daughter doesnt even fit in the back of my wife's 2021 Grand Cherokee, its crazy. So the big cab on my truck works for us as a family with a kid in a car seat and a dog.
And I can go rip offroad at 90mph with my big all MASSIVE 37" all terrain tires!!! * Beats Chest *
wiscotangofoxtreat@reddit
My neighbor has 3 kid seats in a 2008 focus.....
ZaneMasterX@reddit
Thats surviving not thriving.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
F-35s and eagles fly by
God bless America! 😁
gumol@reddit
Ok, I guess I'm confused about what a "lifestyle vehicle means".
My lifestyle involves towing my kart to the track or going on some sketchy unpaved roads to get to the trailhead (where my civic was often bottoming out). I also go to the mountains in the winter.
I bought a car to match this lifestyle, but I also use it to drive to work and go to the mall. Is that bad?
_____________what@reddit
I think when people use the term "lifestyle" vehicle, they mean it is a vehicle whose looks match the style you want. You've got a truck you're using for truck purposes.
wiscotangofoxtreat@reddit
Case in point is every truck sub. They treat them like dresses.
How muh 35s look? Need a stance, do i go with the level kit?
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Hey man you never know when I'll need that 2 gallons of gas in my $100 Rotopax. I could be an entire 5 miles from the nearest gas station.
_____________what@reddit
They need to be mounted up high so that I can use my bed! I mean, just in case I need to use my bed.
...I've never used my bed.
wiscotangofoxtreat@reddit
Sounds like a civic worked fine
Shmokesshweed@reddit
No, because you actually use it for its intended purpose some of the time.
wiscotangofoxtreat@reddit
Its imagined lifestyle because marketing is effective
Bonerchill@reddit
If a truck matched my lifestyle, it’d be a rust-free but faded paint extended-cab Sixties International 3/4-ton 4WD with a Cummins R2.8 and 6-speed auto on mismatched all-terrains (spare is only a spare wheel with no tire) with a headlight out.
caterham09@reddit
Nothing, but when it inflates the price for people who actually want to use the vehicle for its intended purpose, people get upset.
q0vneob@reddit
Kinda, but thats the wrong take. Its not the 90s anymore - owning and maintaining a second utility vehicle isnt practical for most people when you could get one vehicle thats nice enough to haul the family around and do weekend truck shit.
quiksi@reddit
As one of those lifestyle buyers, pre pandemic nice trucks were significantly cheaper (especially after big incentives) than comparably luxurious cars and. SUVs. I don’t think that’s the case anymore and if I were buying today I wouldn’t be looking at pickups at all.
Vhozite@reddit
Yeah modern trucks are pretty damn nice inside. Not luxurious in the way something like an S-class but just very comfortable and easy going. It’s like being able to drive everywhere in your living room. They aren’t my thing but I get the appeal.
That said I feel like that popularity is also driving up the price.
Novel-Mechanic3448@reddit
I was going to argue but then noticed you moved the goalposts for the ones that are actually cheap, that's a you problem really.
caterham09@reddit
The goal was to have a truck with an 8ft bed and can transport more than 2 people to a jobsite. I don't think those are unreasonable expectations
wiscotangofoxtreat@reddit
The people buying trucks for truck things are buying work vans lol
aliendepict@reddit
Man i want this article to be true but reading it this is a kind of poorly written mostly anecdotal piece. The sante cruz market has dropped out from under it in 2025 and while maybe a few dealerships are doing well wi the the product most arent. The makeup of sales between full size and midsize has also not changed statistically. I went and looked up the numbers myself since the writer doesnt use any references for this puff piece… and while 80% of new mavrick owners are new to ford means thats a great truck and was serving a market ford wasn’t. The grand total makeup of midsize trucks hasnt changed much making me think that Ford is really just getting owners of other small trucks that now have an american option vs japanese or Korean.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Maverick and Santa Cruz are the only two compact trucks in America. Maverick outsells Santa Cruz 5:1 or 6:1 depending on the month.
aliendepict@reddit
Yep exactly my point
turboash78@reddit
90s full sized pickups were the perfect size, not these awful bloated monstrosities.
broke_saturn@reddit
There’s not as much difference as you would think. My 1995 Silverado extended cab 6.5ft bed was 218” L and 76” W
My 2006 F150 extended cab 6.5ft bed was 229” L and 78”W
My current 2022 F150 crew cab 5.5ft bed is 231”L and 80”W
It’s about 13” in length and 4” in width.
steakpienacho@reddit
The biggest thing to me about newer trucks is how damn tall they've gotten, especially HD trucks. My dad has a single cab/long bed F350 and it isn't any longer than my CCSB F150, but the hood on that thing is damn near at eye level for me at 5'10". Prior to this truck, I had a Tacoma because the bed sat low enough that I could actually reach into it over the bed side, that can't be said about any half tons without stepping up on the tire. But the tacoma was the biggest piece of shit in so many regards I'll never understand why people love them lol
wiscotangofoxtreat@reddit
Not much of a difference.
Here's a couple massive differences and let's not bring g up the other ones we dont like to talk about
Metalsheepapocalypse@reddit
No they’re not.
They’re taking increasingly more expensive and longer duration loans out for the same models…not being able to afford them and then rolling that into another one several years later.
We’re getting close to the 2008 financial crisis again but for cars and trucks instead of houses.
tballer93@reddit
A modern ranger is the size and capability of a 00’s F-150.
blainestang@reddit
Lengths of each:
New Ranger crew cab short bed: 210.9” Difference: 15” ‘01 F150 Supercrew short bed: 225.9” (might be w/o rear bumper) Difference: 6.8” Current F150 Supercrew short bed: 232.7”
There are lots of versions, and I actually think the ‘01 might be longer than listed above, but a 00’s F150 is closer in size to a new F150 than a Ranger.
xDarknal@reddit
Really it isn't until you go back to the 90s and 80s where trucks were all single cab where you get the size comparisons to be comparable. But its sort of not a fair comparison because most people shop crew cabs/super crew nowadays because trucks are family haulers.
Also I will die on this hill even single I love a crewcab/supercrew because I can move the driver seat flat and sleep in my truck.
BrashHarbor@reddit
Half-ton trucks have had virtually the same exterior dimensions since the 1970s.
The new Ranger is bigger than the original one, but is still markedly smaller than any F150 built in the last 50 years
wiscotangofoxtreat@reddit
My god the maroons of this sub wont stop with this fucking nonsense trying to pretend trucks haven't gotten larger
Fordfanatic2025@reddit
The maverick is literally the truck most people need. Relatively small, it has comparable room inside to a Tacoma or ranger, I've actually heard it's more comfortable than those, the hybrid system it uses has been around for like 15 years and has a stellar reputation for reliability, often lasting about 500k miles in taxis, the warranty is solid, the resale value is great, it's pretty fun to drive by truck standards, and it has a fun personality imo.
Love mine, I've had it for about 3.5 years now and it's been great. I've often said dollar for dollar, there is no better new car for the money.
TuneSoft7119@reddit
If only the maverick was body on frame, single/extended cab, and a usable bed.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
That's why the Ranger and F-150 exist.
TuneSoft7119@reddit
but the f150 is way too expensive. I just priced one out, extended cab, 6.5 foot bed, v8, 4wd with a locking diff, block heater and no other options is $47k. You dont even get a sliding rear window, or fog lights.
I will die on the hill that the frontier is the best truck on the market today if you dont need to tow.
If you need to tow, the best truck is a base model 250/350 of your brand of choice gas/diesel of your choice. But even those are stupid expensive.
xDarknal@reddit
You cant seat a whole set of wheels lying flat in a Frontier truck bed. Unfortunately, many people including myself can't just leave stuff in a truck bed without a tonneau cover otherwise people will try it to steal it.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
The best deals are going to be on what is on the lot, and that generally means crew cab and V6. Crew cab STXs I've seen for as low as 42k around me without an ounce of haggling.
Frontier is a great truck, for sure. Very good value and proven reliability.
HEAT-FS@reddit
Big pickups are awesome.
But they only exist in their current overpriced and bloated forms because of protectionist laws that keep them from having to compete with their smaller international counterparts.
band-of-horses@reddit
I bought a Ridgeline last year and was cross shopping other full size and midsize trucks. Honestly, full size trucks weren't that much more expensive. On paper sure the MSRP on them was much higher, however it was pretty easy to find massive discounts on full size trucks. You could get a nicely equipped full size for < $50k versus maybe $45k for a nicely equipped midsize (my black edition Ridgeline, on paper, was $48k).
The value proposition on midsize trucks doesn't seem great to me given that, plus they barely get better gas mileage. I ended up going midsize mostly because I had no need for full size capability and didn't want to deal with parking and driving something that big. But if you really want truck capability, and especially a roomier interior, it sure seemed like full size trucks were a better deal. A lot more ability and room for only a slightly higher cost.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Agree. Midsize value is dead for a lot of folks, including myself. I'd rather get an F-150.
Mojave_Idiot@reddit
The only indisputable advantage of a midsize is the footprint. Price, capability, fuel economy can all be up for debate honestly.
velociraptorfarmer@reddit
Yep. The fact that I can actually park my midsize in my garage vs a fullsize is an enormous factor.
Mojave_Idiot@reddit
Exactly, the consideration of something like that can really blunt most other factors.
SweetTooth275@reddit
Imagine when Americans rediscover there are regular cars like wagons or vans that are even cheaper, way more efficient and practical. But then their complexes wouldn't allow them to buy these cars as they don't contribute to overcompensation.
Educational_Age_1333@reddit
No they're not. Smaller trucks are bringing people into the pick up segment not taking buyers from bigger trucks.
"Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds, said more automakers could capitalize on the rising interest in compact trucks, noting that the segment is still tiny: 6% market share versus 52% for large trucks. At least 120,000 Mavericks have sold so far this year compared to 20,000 units of the Santa Cruz, according to Drury."
Shmokesshweed@reddit
The vast majority are people who have never owned trucks. But there are also quite a few folks dropping down in size, especially as they get older.
Novel-Mechanic3448@reddit
thats the opposite of the truth
Shmokesshweed@reddit
What's not true?
Captain_Alaska@reddit
Did you read the article? It's explicitly saying otherwise:
anapoe@reddit
The Maverick brought me to trucks. Bought a bunch of ash boards from the local sawmill today, a stack of 2x12s last week, and a few sheets of plywood and drywall a week or two before that. Carried a 600lb granite countertop earlier this year - needed to be loaded via forklift.
I think there's a huge untapped market for small trucks - I'm looking for someone with a bed, AWD (doesn't have to be limited slip or locking), luxury, and lifetime costs including maintenance and gas in roughly that order. I'd pay a bit more than a Maverick for something nicer, but have no desire to shell out $60k for a behemoth.
Trendiggity@reddit
The Santa Cruz went off the rails design wise. I feel like it's the modern version of Homer's car and oils love to know what the designers were on when they green lit that.
I think the maverick is an anomaly simply because it's one of like 5 models in the NA market that is actually a small vehicle. If I want an actual "small" compact there is... nothing. The Kona and Trax, I guess?
bentnotbroken96@reddit
I've had trucks in the past - all compact.
I'm considering buying a truck soon. If I do it'll be as close to what I had as it can get.
orangutanDOTorg@reddit
I have a Santa Cruz and love it but the mpg needs to improve if they want to get people to move over from other types of vehicles.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
A redesign of the front and a hybrid powertrain would do wonders for it.
orangutanDOTorg@reddit
I actually like the original front, though the facelift is eh. The dct feels like a ticking time-bomb and a hybrid for more torque bc I spend a lot of time on steep mountain trails would be appreciated.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
The DCT was certainly...an interesting design choice.
The biggest thing I wish I had on the Maverick was an interior that was even half as nice as the Hyundai. But it is what it is. 😂
Chrodesk@reddit
F150 sales through 3 quarters 620k
Ranger sales 48k
maverick 120k
No ones shunning anything.
xDarknal@reddit
If the Ranger Raptor was a thing when I was truck shopping I would have bought it in a heartbeat but dealers were marking up them up and well it was a year too late.
Novel-Mechanic3448@reddit
No they aren't, it gets clicks on r/cars though. Rofl.
SerMumble@reddit
I bought a mid size $25k 2024 Toyota Tacoma instead of an 8-10 year older full size Tundra because of cost and size as a service truck.
A larger truck has the advantage of more towing and cabin space. Useful for other people but rarely used by me.
The newer Tacoma is the maximum my garage can fit and is generally better for commuting and parking. The better fuel economy and less rust with a newer Tacoma helps keep upkeep costs down.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ToyotaTacoma/s/tG7N3sgDP1
Truck costs are generally awful so to anyone buying whatever they can that best fits their needs and budget, you are awesome. I wish there were more affordable trucks because I would have loved to have spent $5k less on this deal.
CalmTiger@reddit
market data disagrees
KLconfidential@reddit
I’m in the market for a truck right now. It’s not just the price putting me off, they’re also not as reliable as they used to be. I want to stick with Toyota, but even they’re having reliability issues these days.
wiscotangofoxtreat@reddit
Toyota cult lives on
2ingredientexplosion@reddit
I need something f-150 or 1500 size but I cant afford 55k for a basic work truck.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Good news. An F-150 STX is 42k.
2ingredientexplosion@reddit
Dealer gouging my dude.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Dealers can't gouge when they have inventory piling up. This isn't a Raptor R.
762_54r@reddit
Mom said I get to post the fuck trucks thread today
Paper-street-garage@reddit
Well, they kind of did it to themselves by buying those huge things all the time when there were small options along time ago.
jy856905@reddit
Thank god
Niyeaux@reddit
we do not have anything for sale in North America that would be described as a "small, compact truck" by anyone from anywhere else in the world.
i imported a truck from japan that was 10.5 feet long and had a 6.5 foot bed. that's a small truck. it was awesome.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Those are death traps.
Niyeaux@reddit
no they're not lol, this is peak america brain. Japan does not have significantly higher accident fatalities than the US. their crash standards are different but not particularly lax.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
What truck did you have?
How many airbags does it have? My guess: that number varies with the number of people in the cab...
And how do you think it would handle a crash with a modern vehicle made for the American market?
Niyeaux@reddit
you are not going to mental gymnastics your way into changing the fact that the crash statistics are what they are
Shmokesshweed@reddit
The crash statistics are irrelevant to what we're discussing.
You're not driving this vehicle in Japan.
This type of vehicle had lax safety standards when it was developed. No airbags (if we exclude you). No crumple zones (if we exclude you). Relatively light.
This type of vehicle didn't drive around American trucks or SUVs.
Niyeaux@reddit
they've come with airbags for 20+ years now. you have no idea what you're talking about and i don't know why you feel the need to continue to making that apparent.
420_autistic_regard@reddit
It comes down to physics, dude, a cabover is always going to be inherently less safe than a long nose all else being equal. You're the one trying to justify your purchase, fyi
Niyeaux@reddit
i sold it years ago and made a profit so not sure what you think you're getting at lol
they're not cabover anymore. they moved away from that specifically to make them safer in the late 90s/early 2000s on all the major models. again, none of you know what you're fuckin talking about.
420_autistic_regard@reddit
And yours was, ok.
TFK_001@reddit
I won't complain if the 30s are the decade of the American Kei trucks if that means they dont cost as much as a house
V48runner@reddit
I don't see the value proposition of a Maverick, which is why I keep my 2004 Tacoma.
Huzani@reddit
Tbh we need to remove the vehicle size loophole that was put in I think during the Obama administration
besselfunctions@reddit
During Bush administration
kubapuch@reddit
Yeah, besides, it was Obama that killed all the old cars so we can buy new ones!
LionTigerWings@reddit
I’m pretty sure there’s no emission standards anymore. Doesn’t matter what type of vehicle it is. California probably still has something though and most manufacturers will abide by that.
The penalty for not following cafe standards has been reduced to zero.
Huzani@reddit
I thought the current admin struck states ability to regulate fuel economy
LionTigerWings@reddit
They want to I don’t know if that went through though
Ecsta@reddit
Well yeah, when everyone around you drives a giant pickup truck you don't feel safe in a sedan/hatch.
It was a main reason we got an SUV instead of a hatchback for our newest car. Got tired of all the truck members being at our eyeline.
WhippersnapperUT99@reddit
I can't imagine how Miata fans must feel. They just want to have some fun driving around but run the risk of getting literally run over by the giant trucks that are out there today.
bindermichi@reddit
Oh no! People who do not need to drive a truck learn it is a bad option as a daily driver.
I'll just pretend to be shocked a this news.
Whole-Cause641@reddit
About time
nleksan@reddit
Finally something positive in the news
Dazzling-Rooster2103@reddit
Love seeing a mom or tough guy in a big truck/SUV complaining about someone buying a $40k sports car, meanwhile they are driving an $80k+ Denali.
JonFrost@reddit
I mean this post says that but when I look around...
rewardingsnark@reddit
If 90% of your life is going to work or Costco runs there is zero need for a full size pickup.
nissanfan64@reddit
I was real big on the Maverick at release. A $20k fwd, fun, ecoboost, trucklet was a great beater. Now it’s like $28k for an XL and I just cannot fathom buying that over something like a Frontier for essentially no money more (I’ve looked at a couple sub $30k 4wd Frontiers now, they’re very easy to find). It’s a much better truck and honestly not a lot of downsides versus the Maverick.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Yes, except for:
Mileage that's twice as bad.
Worse ride.
ohwell_______@reddit
I have a frontier, of course the Maverick has the better fuel economy, but I’ve gotta say at 20+ highway and regular 87 octane gas the Frontier is not as obscenely bad on your wallet as trucks of the past
TuneSoft7119@reddit
but its a truck. A frontier is more usable than a maverick. More durable due to body on frame, a usable bed, and more basic.
I am not looking for a truck to be comfortable. I am looking to throw deer in the bed, take it off road, go camping in, occasionally tow things and not worry about beating up.
nissanfan64@reddit
…yea exactly. Not much for important downsides. Thanks for confirming I guess.
SwiftCEO@reddit
Let’s not forget the Maverick’s recalls and cheap feeling interior…
Shmokesshweed@reddit
The value of the Maverick is in the hybrid. 40 mpg. Or twice as much as the Frontier.
I wouldn't say it is. But that's my opinion for my use case.
If you need the capability (towing, offroading), yes. If not, no.
nissanfan64@reddit
… so you’re only making an argument for the version of a truck that people are buying when they don’t actually need a truck.
You understand why this is silly right? I’m comparing the one that people will use for truck things compared to a Frontier. Which is also being used for truck things.
Tuxedo_Muffin@reddit
Maverick Tremor: 20mpg city, 250hp 2.0T, AWD. 2k lbs towing (lesser trims can be upgraded to 4k lbs)
Frontier PRO-4X: 18mpg city, 310hp 3.8 V6, 4WD. 6,300 lbs towing.
Both around $42k MSRP
I have not tested the ride in these, so I can't say. But on paper, the specs seem to show pros and cons for either, but overall pretty similar.
phxbimmer@reddit
The sad thing is that so many full-size trucks have a short 6 foot bed so they’re even that useful as trucks.
Boringdude1@reddit
$90K is more than a lot of those seeking a peen replacement can afford.
ManBearPig____@reddit
It doesn’t help that I can get a fully loaded Ranger Raptor for the same price as a moderately optioned F150 XLT. Most trucks aren’t towing all the time and many come with shorter beds now anyways.
terryVaderaustin@reddit
Yeah the cost of packing too many electronics nobody asked for and too many computer-controlled blah blah blahs
I have a base model 18 f150 and it has plenty of conveniences.
I also have a 1990 f150 and you get in it and you feel like you're driving and honest to God truck. not a super-sized teched out car with towing capabilities
cellardweller1234@reddit
Turns out you can do 99% of your driving in a car that is 1/4 the size and sips gas like a cheapnik. Who knew..
underground47@reddit
All cars have gotten too big and heavy.
Lava_Lamp_Shlong@reddit
Who needs a 5000lbs death machine to run errands and groceries anyways
Mahaleck@reddit
My dad downsized from an older ranger to a maverick, he’s super happy with it
04limited@reddit
The Maverick is the same physical size as the old Rangers
Vvette45@reddit
My dad downsized from a new ranger to a maverick. That one was a downsize. Although the maverick back seat is actually larger than the ranger which is funny
Tony-cums@reddit
Right. Literally not a downgrade size wise lmao
TuneSoft7119@reddit
Now if only the smaller models had extended cabs, long beds and a powerful engine.
All I want is a modern 2nd gen dakota. Extended cab, 6.5 foot bed, good towing/offroad, v8, manual trans, and no extra options.
Capt_Irk@reddit
House sized and priced trucks with the added feature of planned obsolescence built in.
Ftpini@reddit
It’s not that the trucks are large. That isn’t that expensive. It’s all the bullshit they pack into those large trucks that jacks up the price.
AbXcape@reddit
i’m not overpaying for a full size truck, I will overpay for a mid size truck instead like a $70k tacoma
Garey_Coleman@reddit
I went from Tacoma to F150 and I don’t I can back to a smaller truck.
cyberdude419@reddit
I have 2009 Prius with 65k miles, not a fancy car but goes to point A to point B. I have $0 monthly car loan payments, but I do spend about $20 a week for gas costs and $75 insurance a month. I hate giving my money to billionaires but you do you
CarpeNivem@reddit
These smaller trucks never went anywhere. People could've been buying them for years, but kept refusing to. I don't know what changed recently, but it was t availability or lack thereof.
MakesYourMise@reddit
ops flair checks out
funked1@reddit
"Smaller, still absurdly large models"
dudeness-aberdeen@reddit
I downsized from an f douche 50 to a Nissan frontier. Half the price, size, and it has a 6 ft bed.
thrivingbutts@reddit
For now they will.
Then what happens? The focus groups start to say "I wish it was a little bigger" then 20 years later we are right back to big trucks.
hi_im_bored13@reddit
truck drivers aren't the ones shunning though, it's creating an entirely new market
that, as successful as it is, is a single digit portion of the market
OldRed91@reddit
And not a day too soon
rudbri93@reddit
size was definitely a factor in stepping from my yukon to the maverick.
Skensis@reddit
Seems more like SUV/CUV drivers are gravitating to small trucks.
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