Small trucks are slowly getting bigger and bigger

You will never please everyone with only one model. I personally don’t want another ‘89 Ranger. While it was a great truck for me at the time it is not what I want now. The additional comfort (size) of the new Tacoma vs having to go full size was a winner for me. The access cab is fantastic over DC as it gives me room for weatherproof storage and carrying capacity without going much longer or losing bed space.

One thing people forget is parking lots spaces are getting smaller. Less space means more spaces. Now my last experience building a parking lot (we were building a mall) was 25 years ago. But the drawings got amended with 4” removed from every space width wise to gain a hundred or so spots. I bet they have figured out the exact size of new vehicles and found a formula to maximize space. All in a CAD drawing these days.

If the 3rd gen is too big import a mini truck from Japan. Then see if you really want small.

 

My '17 Taco is almost exactly the same size, weight, power and towing capacity as my 2000 Tundra.

I'm not convinced it's all about safety. The SMART car was very safe. A Miata has a 5 star safety rating. I think it's mostly because as a nation of consumer whores we have been trained to believe that bigger is better when given a choice pick the biggest thing we can afford. But maybe it's because the bigger/heavier a vehicle is the lower the fuel economy number manufacturers have to meet. Or... aliens.

 

Not necessarily. If they can make a Honda Fit or a Smart Car that gets 5 star crash test ratings, they could make a small truck that got them too. It's all about the safety cage around the passenger compartment and making sure parts crumple away from the occupants.

 

2nd Gen must be behind the Garage door??

 

Manufacturers want models to “grow” with consumers. They feel over home the average consumer has need that will grow, either real or perceived. Everyone wants improvement, and many see more space for the same mpg as an improvement. Some have growing families, some growing cargo needs. Most truck buyers now buy 4 door models. 20 years ago very few trucks were even available as 4 door models.
Safety is also a factor, while they can make a small car very safe, it is easier to make a large one as safe or more. When a large vehicle and small one crash, the larger one will almost always fare better.
They choose to grow the vehicles with the consumer. If you have a Tacoma now, and the next tacoma keeps up with your needs, they feel you may stick with it instead of looking elsewhere.

A better example is the RAV4. Back in the day I had a 98 Rav4. It was a great little SUV, and was perfect for me at the time. (Between my rav4 and Tacoma I had 2 4Runners and a wrangler) When we were looking for a new vehicle for my wife we got her a 2014 Rav4. The interior space was more than my 99 4Runner, and almost as much as my 04 4Runner. While the 98 was a great vehicle our needs (real or perceived) increased, and the good feelings I had for the old rav4 most likely influenced our decision in the new one.

As vehicles get larger a space opens up for a new vehicle to take on the small role given up by the growing model. In the case of the RAV4 it is the C-HR.
Every manufacturer who maintains model name over generations do this. Civic grew so Fit was introduced. Corolla grew so Yaris was introduced. Ford has even just doubled down - Explorer grew requiring Escape, Escape grew and they introduced the Ecosport, and they even slid the Edge in between the Escape and Explorer at one point.


Car sales have never been so competitive, each manufacturer must have more models available than 20 years ago, and they want to try to match the vehicle to a consumer. I’m sure it is just a matter of time before they release a “smaller” truck with a new model name, but only because the current generation will continue to grow.

 

I'm not a believer that I would have walked away from that accident in a smart car. Just not much of a crumple zone available.

 

Well fortunately crash test ratings are based in science instead of religion, so beliefs systems don't really enter into them.
A 2012 Impreza (as an example) has a 4 star crash test rating. A 2017 Honda Fit has a 5 star crash test rating, which means that it actually scored better than your larger Subaru in an apples-to-apples comparison.

However, 'belief' does figure in to sales figures, which is part of why manufacturers are making bigger vehicles (people want bigger vehicles because they think they're safer)

 

It was quite capable, I will give it that. There was a plastic clip that connected the cable for 4x4 to the shifter that broke twice on me. I kept a spare in the glove box and the second time it broke I busted out the spare and it fucking crumbled in my hand. Junk

 

I would guess that safety and government regulation, and maybe even not necessarily accurate ideas of what the the majority of small truck owners want, may have an influence on "small" trucks growing larger. But I would more likely think it is the simple concept that the manufacturer knows that if they force you to buy more lbs. of steel and plastic; they will make more of a profit.

 

A good read about cafe standards and vehicle footprint.
https://jalopnik.com/5948172/how-the-government-killed-fuel-efficient-cars-and-trucks

 

You are right. Very interesting reading. It is amazing how often well intended government regulation goes astray.

 

Link to an older thread on this subject, including dimensions of the Tacomas vs an older Tundra.

 

This is exactly why I bought a 1st gen tacoma over a 2nd gen (3rd gens were still 4 years away). The smaller size is much more appealing to me. I don't need anything bigger. I can fit where they can't. I can make turns in one shot where the bigger truck needs to make a multi point turn. I've done trail runs where the smaller 1st gen's size makes a huge differance.

I would like to have the modern features of a 3rd gen...and the amazing ride....and lower miles...and the looks are pretty sweet....not having worn out seats....and dents all over...and funny old truck smells....and odd shakes and rattles.

 

No, the 2018 civic is bigger than an 88 Accord.

 

My 1st gen reg cab with 2nd and 3rd gen tacos, and a fat whale of a Colorado. Crazy how the sizing has changed. Even the first gen Colorado was much smaller than the current model.

 

That gold 1st gen is a sweet truck..I have a similar one...also with an ARB bumper.

Nice regular cab too. I lvoe those!

 

the gold one is my brother's. sold him my RTT and bed rack recently when i bought a Wildernest. the little silver reg cab is mine.

 

I can't read...I just re read your post. I edited mine to reflect the facts. Nice Trucks!

 

haha no worries! thanks man. Love the 1st gen trucks.

 

Safety stuff is a reason they’ve gotten larger, consumers wanting more space and creature comforts too. People are getting larger, not just talking about waist size but just bigger, taller, broader, need more room to spread out. Mini trucks (like the pre Tacoma pickups) are great for me, but most people aren’t very comfy for a long haul.