Why 2022 Is the Year of the Small Pickup Truck
2022 North American Truck of the Year finalists have just been announced. Two of the three trucks announced are small pickup trucks. Here’s why 2022 is the year of the small pickup truck.
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is in high demand
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz has been enjoying great success since its release. The small pickup truck outsold the Chevy Corvette back in August. The Santa Cruz has often been one of the fastest-selling vehicles this year because of its unique design.
The Santa Cruz is a unibody truck. Its unibody design allows it to get better handling and provide drivers and passengers with a smoother ride quality. The small pickup drives like an SUV and comes with all the utility of a truck bed. It shares a platform with the popular Hyundai Tuscon.
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is 196 inches long, 75 inches wide, and 67 inches tall. It starts at just $23,990. The Santa Cruz is appealing because it is able to maneuver in ways that larger trucks cannot. Between its low starting price, unique size, and amazing ride quality, the Santa Cruz is a hit.
The 2022 Ford Maverick is unlike any other truck on the market
The aptly-named Ford Maverick is the first standard hybrid Ford pickup truck. It is also the Blue Oval’s smallest pickup truck and its most affordable pickup truck. The small pickup truck is 200 inches long, 73 inches wide, and 69 inches tall. According to CarBuzz, it starts at just $19,995, making it the most affordable new pickup truck on the market.
The Maverick provides incredible value because of its amazing fuel economy. The hybrid version gets an astounding 42 miles per gallon in the city and 33 miles per gallon on the highway. The Maverick features Ford’s Flexbed, a unique truck bed that allows consumers to customize it to their liking using pre-threaded holes and slots.
The Maverick is converting a new demographic of drivers into truck owners. More young female drivers are choosing the Maverick over any other pickup truck. The small pickup is perfect for maneuvering around crowded cities. It can easily fit into parking spots that are too small for larger pickup trucks.
A small pickup truck is likely to be the North American Truck of the Year
The only pickup truck in the running for North American Truck of the Year that isn’t compact is the 2022 Rivian R1T. While the Rivian R1T is incredibly capable, it simply isn’t accessible to the average consumer. With a starting price of over $68,000 for the Launch Edition R1T, few drivers will ever experience the amazing electric truck.
The 2022 North American Truck of the Year could be the 2022 Ford Maverick or 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Both small pickup trucks provide incredible value for their prices. Which truck will take the title?
