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You may have fond memories of your grandpa’s old pickup truck: the faint smell of dust, the bumpy rides on the stiff bench seats, the roaring engine that still echoes in your brain, and the wind whipping in from the windows to make up for grandpa’s lack of air conditioning.
It makes for a charming and nostalgic picture, but it’s not something you’d likely be in the market to buy today.
Thankfully, trucks have come a long way since your grandpa’s day. Even within the last few years, several improvements have been made to make pickup trucks the best-selling vehicles in America.
Here are six ways pickup trucks have improved over the years — and by the time you’re finished reading, you might be ready to go pick one up for yourself.
Luxury comforts
According to Forbes, one in five pickup trucks sold these days is of the luxury variety. With hand-stitched leather interiors, touch screens, four-door "crew cab" options that can comfortably seat full-grown adults, and a variety of other luxury options available, trucks are resembling high-end SUVs.
Of course, you can still haul heavy loads and travel up rocky terrains, so today’s pickup trucks offer the best of both worlds.
More family-friendly
Gone are the days when trucks were considered mainly a "man’s vehicle." Larger cab options and luxury features are attracting a much wider audience.
"Given the versatility of today’s trucks, more are being utilized as a primary family vehicle," says Dawn McKenzie, a Ford spokeswoman.
Better fuel efficiency
Trucks have never been known as the most fuel-efficient vehicles. However, automakers are learning how to increase the overall mpg of pickups by reducing weight and creating more efficient engines and transmissions, according to Consumer Reports.
For example, Ford’s popular F-150 dropped 700 pounds by switching to an all-aluminum body, and the company is adding a diesel version later in 2018 that could reach 30 highway mpg.
Increased safety
Like most newer vehicles, pickup trucks are quickly adopting enhanced safety features.
Consumer Reports states that Toyota leads the pack by putting standard automatic emergency braking (AEB), forward-collision warning (FCW), and lane-departure warning (LDW) on its 2018 Tundra full-sized and Tacoma compact pickups.
Other trucks also come with AEB and FCW, along with blind-spot warning (BSW) and rear cross-traffic warning (RCTW).
Better ride
Where grandpa’s old truck may have jostled your neck and left you feeling bruised after a short drive, today’s pickups offer a much smoother ride.
Winner of Car and Driver’s Best Full-size Pickup Award for 2019, the 2020 Ram 1500 is one of the many trucks with a car-like feel on the inside. According to Digital Trends, coil springs give the Ram a smooth ride, along with a virtually silent cabin.
More power
Luxury comforts and safety features aside, buyers still want a truck with plenty of power — and today’s models are better than ever.
Ranked No. 1 on Automotive Map’s list of most powerful pickup trucks, the 2020 Ford Super Duty boasts a towing capacity of 37,000 pounds and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. To put that in perspective, the 2010 model topped out at 24,600 pounds of maximum towing, according to Car and Driver.
Pick up the right truck for you
There are many different factors to consider when you’re looking to buy a truck. To make sure you get the right one, you’ll need to think about what its primary use will be. If you aren’t towing heavy loads or hauling dirty cargo on a regular basis, bigger may not mean better when you’re looking at your options.
If you need guidance, iDrive Utah can help you find the right truck to suit your needs.
Since 2012, iDrive Utah has been providing an impressive selection of pre-owned truck models to shoppers in Orem and the surrounding area. With custom gas and diesel trucks from all of the best brands, including RAM, Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, and Toyota, customers from every state have taken advantage of the vehicles and services iDrive has to offer.
For questions about the models available, get in touch with the iDrive team today.
