https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/10/how-cafe-killed-compact-trucks-and-station-wagons/ is a little old, but very detailed.
Basically, small trucks have a harder time meeting this requirement that the big trucks, thus few small trucks.
Posted on 12/04/2022 9:20:22 PM PST by nagant
Answer: Government-imposed CAFE standards, the standards which ostensibly mandate higher fuel economy.
Back in the early 80s I had a Chevy Luv Diesel that got about 45 miles a gallon.
It was a great little truck until the transmission went out a couple of weeks after the warranty expired and they wanted about a thousand dollars less than I paid for the whole vehicle new to replace it.
I kinda wish I had kept it until I could have found a good used transmission.
I knew a girl who had a rabbit diesel pickup, she loved it.
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/10/how-cafe-killed-compact-trucks-and-station-wagons/ is a little old, but very detailed.
Basically, small trucks have a harder time meeting this requirement that the big trucks, thus few small trucks.
If we had a free market, we would be able to buy cars that easily lasted 300K miles, for $10K
Because I need to tow a 7,000 pound horse trailer loaded with 3 horses on a regular basis. And also, because I need a big truck to maintain my ranch sweetheart. Not all of us live in big cities and have no idea where meat comes from.
Those little Japanese trucks were bare-bones death traps that you couldn’t sell legally today. We have the new Ford Maverick pickup which has a 40+ mpg hybrid version- and it is basically sold out for this model year.
I immediately thought of the maverick and broncos. I just wish they didnt have the engine issues and with the maverick, the fuel tank issue.
My dream rig is the ubiquitous Toyota Hilux 4 door diesel. BUT. Government says I can’t get one.
Wow
MY 1976 1 ton 4 speed dually Chevy I use for towing a 4 horse trailer has 348,000 miles on it. Runs just fine.
Won’t even think of giving it up or selling it at ANY price.
348,000 miles and approaching half a century of use. Wow!
because of the “chicken tax” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax
Because “small” and “high fuel economy” are the description of a Smart Car, not a truck.
It takes size and energy to move a load, you can’t legislate that away, it’s physics.
The fact that someone would even write such drivel, is a testament to how dumb people have become.
“Those little Japanese trucks were bare-bones death traps that you couldn’t sell legally today. We have the new Ford Maverick pickup which has a 40+ mpg hybrid version- and it is basically sold out for this model year.”
You can’t buy one because Ford probably loses money on every one they sell; they probably sell just enough to improve their CAFE.
Some people don’t need big trucks, but a small truck will do just fine. I haul trash to the transfer station once a week. It won’t fit in the trunk of my sedan and stinks up the SUV. I’d love to have a small fuel efficient truck for just such purposes.
I too live in exurbia far from cities but I don’t farm or raise horses.I wish the government just let the market find out what people want.
Well, there is the Ford Maverick, though if this were Australia, it would be considered a Ute. Mileage is decent, but no ladder frame, and I think max towing is 4000 pounds (pretty much suitable for a small single-axle trailer).
Vehicles designed for transporting families don’t need more than a 2.0L Turbo Diesel.
Another reason: I’ve owned quite a few S-10 Blazers and a couple or S-10 pickups with the 4.3 liter. They got around 17 mpg. My 2001 F150 4x4 gets around 16 mpg. The F150 is more comfortable and will haul more.
I live in hill country with hills and curves galore and a 55 mph speed limit. Much rather be in a full size truck vs another full size truck in an accident.
I wouldn’t mind having a Colorado but even used, they fetch good money. Even so, 2015 gets 20 mpg which a 2016 full size Chevy will also get.
I’d love another ElCamino.
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