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.
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.
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.
My dream rig is the ubiquitous Toyota Hilux 4 door diesel. BUT. Government says I can’t get one.
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.
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.
This globalist loser thinks it is “fine” to make it in Mexico, a narco state, and import them into thr USA under cutting US workers. Stopped right there.
With our new crop of illegal aliens from south of the border all driving around drunk in their big Chevy pickups, I’m going to want to drive a truck even bigger.
these Kei trucks are extremely cool!
In a free market, intelligent people evaluate their needs and buy vehicles accordingly.
The free market has been gone for a long, long time.
Yesterday, I was watching an auto auction, however and one of the cars auctioned was a Range Rover Pick up..
I get a bit of a jealous twinge when I see a nice condition Ranger PU on the road. The Maverick and Colorado are more like a midsize. I had an 89 Ranger and loved it. Granted, it didn’t get great mileage (4x4) but with up to date engineering a similar sized non hybrid truck would definitely have a market if it’s economy was 5-7 MPG better than the midsize