In recent years, some small pick-ups have become popular, and at Proautoenthusiast.com we have taken on the task of finding the advantages and disadvantages of compact pick-ups for you.
When we talk about pick-ups, most tend to think of them as work vehicles, and a few others see them as recreational vehicles. In the world of compact trucks , they try to mix the best of both worlds to offer buyers a more complete experience with enough interior amenities, but also with good cargo capacity.
At Proautoenthusiast we seek to offer you the most complete information on each of the vehicle segments that are sold in Mexico, and that is why on this occasion we present the advantages and disadvantages of compact pick-ups.
1. Compact pickup
In the segment of compact pick up trucks. we currently find three outstanding examples: the Ram 700 , the Volkswagen Saveiro, and the Renault Oroch . The compact pick-ups have a length of 4.5 meters in single cab versions, or around 4.7 meters in double cab variants. Its width measurements are usually between 1.7 and 1.8 meters, and the height does not usually exceed 1.7 meters. The wheelbase ranges from 2.7 to 2.83 meters.
2. Advantages of compact pickups
Compact pickup trucks have a variety of very noticeable advantages. Among its main advantages, the fuel efficiency factor stands out, and that is that by not having a very robust structure or a very large body, they can get all the juice out of their small engines and squeeze them both in a work setting and make them perform efficiently. great when the vehicle is unloaded.
Among its advantages, the diversity of versions also stands out, and it is that compact pick-ups usually offer variants completely focused on work and configurations focused on recreational use, as well as intermediate versions that are valid both for work and to take the family. . They are truly versatile vehicles.
In addition to this versatility, we find a fairly simple handling for city environments, highways, and light dirt roads. The compact pick-ups have front-wheel drive, 5 or 6-speed manual transmissions, and comfortable suspension systems, so their driving is familiar to anyone who has driven any other subcompact or compact vehicle.
In addition, thanks to their small size, maneuvering with them is really easy, unlike what happens with pick-ups from higher segments, which are usually larger and have little visibility to the outside.
The compact pick-ups also stand out for their excellent load capacity . Although they seem really small and not very powerful vehicles, they are equipped to load from 750 kilograms to a ton of weight in the punt, in single cabin versions. Double cab variants could carry a little less weight, around 650 kilograms, and yet it’s still an excellent figure.
Finally, and as an advantage that is usually quite subjective, we have the design section, and that is that the most recent models in the segment have a rather rough and adventurous look, something that is difficult to find in vehicles in this price range. Compact pickup trucks are attractive.
3. Disadvantages of compact pickups
But not everything is hunky-dory with compact pick-ups in Mexico, as these trucks also have a number of notable drawbacks, especially for those looking for a truly tough pick-up ready for adventure.
The first disadvantage of compact pick-ups is that none of them have a good four-wheel drive system, or at least 4×2 rear-wheel drive: all compact pick-ups have front-wheel drive.
In the same vein, we can also mention that none of the compact pick-ups is made to decently drive on very complex terrain such as dirt roads with excess rocks, flooded surfaces, or mud-covered terrain, scenarios for which many people look for a pick-up
In addition to the points mentioned, compact pick-ups are not vehicles with good towing capacity either , and this is another one of those points that should traditionally be a must in a pick-up.
When it comes to usability, compact pick-ups are nowhere near the most spacious vehicles in their price range, and this goes for passengers as well as their luggage: although a compact pick-up has a big box in the rear, it is not very protected, and storage spaces for bulky objects in the cabin better not even talk.
The last point of the disadvantages is the little competition that there is in the segment, since this has caused vehicles like the Volkswagen Saveiro not to have important updates in many years, and that other options like the Chevrolet Tornado cease to exist.