best small pickup 2019

I have little to no trust in most of these companies that focus on reviews. They don’t want to go out of business and this is their day job. Not to long ago they compared the new ford against the Tacoma and hammered the Tacoma for not having a rear diff on a off-road course because they brought the highest priced ford and then a base 4x4 sport. That one was very bad. They even seemed to omit that Tacoma’s have locking diffs and that the comparable model was a pro. It’s BS

 

I'm not defending the Ridgeline as a truck, I'm simply stating that for the majority of the mid-size truck market, the Ridgeline checks all the boxes of what is actually needed by most of the segment. People who need to haul and tow on the regular are better served by an F-150, full stop. The majority of the mid-size segment is going to be your dad who has a honey-do list on the weekend but needs decent economy for his drive to work and room for the family to drive to little league on the weekends. 4wd and awd are interchangeable since they're only needed for poor weather on the road. The number of people who buy these trucks for real hard use is a significant minority.

As much as I hate it, the Ridgeline is a truck by the loosest defintion and it fits in this segment. I've always found it as an abomination but the reason it's outsold every year despite being the "better" option for most is that it's not a typical truck.

This is no different than the SUV --> CUV shift from 15 years ago when everything started going unibody. The average person wants a tough image but doesn't want to make the sacrifices that come with it. The Ridgeline is that truck in the pickup market.

 

I think we are on the same page, but will respectfully disagree with you on the sales point. I bet for the first few years they will sell everyone they can make. While nowhere near Tacoma numbers, those sales will carry a much higher profit margin.

 

Wonder what their definition of "compact" is. Aren't these all midsize?

 

Crazy. There were threads extolling the majesty of the new Jeep in these very forums when it was announced. Now that’s it’s been released to the public, not so much. Was the same with the ranger, and the same with the diesel twin.

 

I don't hate the Pro 4X. I know it's dated, but it definitely tried and true. It's a good value.

 

The Ridgeline doesn't have a tough image, though. It looks like a minivan. The truck being unibody isn't the issue with it. It's the looks - And Toyota seems to be the only manufacturer that understands that midsize truck buyers still want their truck to look like a truck.

 

yep, the 'old' 2WD A/T 4Runner driver of years ago (female nurses, teachers, college students, retired folks) has been driving a Rav4 since it's inception.

 

They're ghastly looking. The look of the Gladiator just SCREAMS "middle age douchebag". lol

 

My wife wants one. She is 28 and still remembers my old Jeep we use to 4 wheel in back in high school. It was last year if the YJ. I had to remind her of all the problems again. That said I would avoid it. I won’t buy fiat

 

Yeah, should have proofread that...I fucked up my point on this one but what I meant to say is that the Ridgeline is trying to be that truck in the current market. I'm of the opinion that the fact it looks like a minivan is the only reason it's not selling and thankfully so - I'd rather they not start the avalanche toward unibody despite players like Ford dipping their toe in the water with the rumored Courier.

 

Ridgeline....

 

I thought it could go either way after seeing them on video but no, the straight lines don't work at all in person. Might look good with a cap if they do it right but it looks wrong otherwise.

 

If Toyota sold a sawed off Rav4?

I bet the market would take off.


edit: I'd like to add to this for my own wants.

If they made a RWD unibody SMALL pickup that was easier on the eyes (not so 'tough' looking,

I liked the Sport-Trac but realize by being FWD they shot themselves in the foot.

 

I think the word 'small' doesn't even have a home in the new truck market. At least not in the US McTruck market.

This is truth. If we could know the whole market (not just TW) I'd wager the majority of the Tacoma buyers would qualify. But they buy a Tacoma for a couple of reasons. 1) they don't like the looks of the Ridgeline 2) they don't test drive a Ridgeline 3) they don't want a ding on their perceived machismo.

Once you get away from the actual off road niche, the 'need' is 4WD or AWD for snow on pavement. Some towing (and their capacity ratings match Tacomas), KOA camping, mulch and plywood at HD. I'd even go so far as to wager 2/3 of the 3rd gen crowd here fit that category, and wouldn't be gnashing their teeth over the transmission, engine performance, lack of power seat and MPG.

But one thing for sure. It's harder to strike a pose in a Ridgeline. Level lifts, bad boy black wheels and gnarly tires don't work as well on them.

 

I should have taken a picture. Last week I was up at the mall and there was a younger guy driving one he blacked out with a bull bar and some other crap hanging off it.

 

Obviously I'm not referring to all who are interested. To me, it has that HUMMER vibe - I envision a 50-something who is still popping the collar in their pastel colored polo.

 

At least the El Camino was body on frame, rear wheel drive based, available with large engines and manual transmissions so it definitely had more appeal.

 

True about the frame but MOST peope buying a NEW one never gave that a thought.
The last Gen was popular enough and all it got was a 305.


Ya know, I've only seen one....1! of that Gen with a stick shift. It was for sale cheap, I should have bought it.

 

Wow, you should have snatched that one up, has to be rare.