Should You Own a Pickup or an SUV?

When you need utility in your life, should you drive a pickup or an SUV? These two types of vehicles offer different types of utility for your needs.

Before you slam your fist down in favor of one vehicle over the other, you should think clearly about your daily needs and not just your emotional desires when it comes to driving one of these vehicles. Yes, some people do need pickup trucks. Yes, some people do need SUVs. Which one is right for you? That’s what we’re here to help you answer.

What are Your Cargo Needs?

Trucks have big beds that separate the passengers from the cargo. Because these beds are open, you can carry tall appliances, furniture, or longer items in trucks. On the other hand, if you only need cargo for your groceries and occasionally for some furniture or boxes, an SUV might be the right option. If you own a truck, think about the last time you loaded the bed with more stuff than what will fit in an SUV. If you can’t, then you should be looking toward an SUV.

How Much do You Need to Tow?

Strangely, the place where many people think of the greatest difference between whether to own a pickup or an SUV is in the towing capacity. Yes, a heavy-duty truck can tow massive loads and offer the option of a 5th wheel setup, but how often is this necessary? Unless you’re pulling a large travel trailer every weekend, you might not need the towing power of a truck. Many SUVs offer excellent towing possibilities giving you an easy way to pull a trailer.

Some Trucks Get Better Fuel Mileage Than SUVs

A Ram 1500 with the EcoDiesel engine offers you much better fuel mileage than a Chevrolet Tahoe. This difference could be what you want when you drive. Both of these vehicles ride on similar platforms, but the diesel engine can reach 30 mpg while the Tahoe struggles to get close to 20 mpg. Of course, if you look at the midsize SUV class, the story flips, and you’ll find much better fuel economy numbers in the smaller SUV.

How Long Will You Own the Vehicle?

Trucks are built tough, and this could be one of the most important factors in whether you want to own a pickup or an SUV. Most SUVs are now made to replace the sedans and passenger vehicles of old. If you’re planning on keeping your vehicle for a long time, you should buy a truck and let it be the tough and rugged pickup you love for many years. Your SUV, even when properly cared for, might not last more than ten years.

Trucks can Carry a Lot More than SUVs

Not only does the bed of a truck offer the versatility of separating the cargo from the passengers and carry tall items, but trucks can carry much heavier loads than SUVs. The substantial rear suspensions in trucks allow pickups to handle thousands of pounds when you need to take a load of rocks, pavers, or other items to your destination. With an SUV, this same load might become too difficult, and you’ll need to make several trips to get the job done.

How Many Passengers Do You Need to Take In Your Vehicle?

If you have a family of more than six people, there’s only one choice between the pickup and SUV world. You need an SUV, and you need it to have three rows of seats. Truth be told, a large family could benefit more from a large passenger van like a Ford Econoline, but most people will turn instead to the three-row SUV market. Thankfully there are lots of models with plenty of room for up to eight people. Trucks are limited to six people at the most, and some will only offer room for five people inside the cab.

The Smoother Ride Comes From an SUV

Will you drive the vehicle you choose every day? If so, you might want to look at the SUVs offered and avoid the pickup trucks. SUVs are often made with features that smooth out the ride, even if those SUVs are body-on-frame models. This is the same type of platform used for a truck. Unibody SUVs offer impressively smooth rides because they are made from car platforms with the body incorporated into the frame.

Safety Comes in Luxury Models, Not Trucks To be Found

When you need to figure out whether to own a pickup or an SUV, and you want a vehicle in the luxury class with impressive safety features, there’s only one answer. In this case, you should buy an SUV. There aren’t any Cadillac, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Audi trucks being sold in the United States. Most advanced safety features are first offered in the luxury market, and this is the best way for you to get everything you desire.

Technology, Is One Better than the Other?

The same reasoning behind the luxury models and safety would normally apply to technology, but there are many trucks offered today that pack in the tech like a can of sardines. The GMC Sierra has the Super Cruise functions, Toyota has the Tundra Capstone, which has everything you can think of, and Ford delivers impressive tech in the F-150 Limited. Of course, many SUVs offer the same tech and features as these trucks. This might be more of a case of desire rather than one over another when it comes to tech.

Most SUVs are Easier to Drive

Do you want a vehicle that’s easier to drive? When you’re considering whether to own a pickup or an SUV, the only option to make things easier is to buy an SUV. In today’s world, SUVs come in every shape and size and can be easy to drive and park everywhere. While we do have some smaller trucks now, most of these pickups are bigger, wider, and taller than SUVs and, therefore, more difficult to park and turn.

Overall, the choice between whether to buy a pickup or an SUV is yours, but realistically, you might not need the big truck you’ve had your eye on. That won’t stop you from buying it, of course.