Ironically, trucks have gotten larger precisely because of regulation. In particular, emissions standards are tied to vehicle size. So if you make your vehicles bigger and bigger, you don’t have to make them more efficient.
Also, regulation makes it difficult to import small Japanese kei trucks, and regulation is the biggest reason that the Ford F series truck is the single most popular model of vehicle in the US. In particular, we’ve taxed foreign-built trucks at 25% since the mid 60s, so there’s dramatically fewer models of truck than SUV or cars.
And the Hilux isn’t available in the US. I use one as my daily driver. Seats four, has a useable bed, hauls anything I throw at it, gets car MPGs, and is narrower than a Camry. It is as much pickup truck as pretty much anyone really needs.
Ironically, trucks have gotten larger precisely because of regulation. In particular, emissions standards are tied to vehicle size. So if you make your vehicles bigger and bigger, you don’t have to make them more efficient.
Also, regulation makes it difficult to import small Japanese kei trucks, and regulation is the biggest reason that the Ford F series truck is the single most popular model of vehicle in the US. In particular, we’ve taxed foreign-built trucks at 25% since the mid 60s, so there’s dramatically fewer models of truck than SUV or cars.
this definitely goes on the short list of “most idiotic laws ever”, courtesy of your local car industry lobbyist
Yet more evidence of how effective big government is when regulatory capture is a thing.
the difference between regulation and jokes passed off as regulations
And the Hilux isn’t available in the US. I use one as my daily driver. Seats four, has a useable bed, hauls anything I throw at it, gets car MPGs, and is narrower than a Camry. It is as much pickup truck as pretty much anyone really needs.
The Hilux and the older Tacoma are basically the same truck with different trim packages.