Nobody is even pretending that they are for work anymore.
Whenever I write about pickup trucks being used as urban family haulers I get buried in comments about how "these are working vehicles". How they are needed on the farm and the job site. I have no doubt that this is true for many people, though I am not certain that working men and women need a 750 watt sound system and active noise cancellation. But that's not what is driving the market. Now Mike Colias of the Wall Street Journal confirms it: pickups are now luxury vehicles.
Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler have in recent years introduced trucks at price points well into luxury-vehicle territory, offering plusher interiors, more powerful engines and premium options like massage seats and touch screens the size of small TVs. Some trucks are even priced above $75,000, making them more expensive than certain luxury cars.
One customer who bought a $52,000 Ram Laramie enjoys "a yawning sunroof, heated second-row seats and a video feed that provides a 360-degree aerial view of the truck’s surroundings."
“I particularly love the surround cameras to park this beast,” said Mr. Newlon, a 49-year-old small-business owner from southwest Ohio.
One might note that he wouldn't need cameras if he could actually see the cars around him when he was parking.
The trucks are a hit with the car makers because they are protected by a 25 percent duty on foreign made trucks, so there is really not very much competition. And when you read the comments, it is clear that many buyers are very happy with them:
My 6-seater 2015 F150 Supercrew Lariat is the best luxury car I have ever owned. And that includes my previous Mercedes, BMW, Cadillac and Lexus sedans.
In another article, Dan Neil reviewed a Ford F150, who claims that it sparks joy because he is going through Kondo-mania and can haul all his stuff to the flea markets, donation centers and landfills. This is a $77,000 truck with a few options:
This thing was extra-fancy—power-deployed running boards; twin-panel moonroof; powered rear window with defrost; touch screen infotainment and navigation; towing package (optional); 22-inch polished aluminum wheels; heated leather seats all around, bartender—and it was fast.
Yes, some people need pickup trucks for work. Some people have a boat or trailer to pull. But "two-tone leather upholstery, heated/ventilated/massage front seats, touch screen navigation with Bang & Olufsen audio, two-panel moonroof"? I don't think so.
I do not begrudge anyone their fun. But because these were work vehicles, they are exempt from safety standards that protect pedestrians, and kill at three times the rate of passenger cars. Now that they are not work vehicles, they should meet the same standards for safety and fuel efficiency as any other car.
Nobody is even pretending that they are for work anymore.
