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Are sedans and coupes dead? Sure, there are plenty of cars on the road, but trucks and SUVs are rapidly outselling cars. Trucks and SUVs provide incredible value and utility. They’re often more spacious than cars and can hold more cargo. Here are three reasons it’s time to ditch your car for a light pickup truck.

The light truck vehicle segment offers more comfort than ever before

A blue 2022 Hyundai Santa Crux is parked in the woods.
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz | Hyundai

Today’s pickup trucks are very different from the light truck models that were popular just a few years ago. Automakers have found ways to improve the ride and cabin qualities of pickup trucks. Great light trucks are no longer just rugged. They also offer a level of comfort uncommon to older trucks.

There’s a new generation of light pickup trucks that are currently taking over the automotive industry. These unibody trucks are lighter than body-on-frame models. They provide smoother, more comfortable rides. Unibody trucks also have better fuel efficiency.

The days of the gas guzzlin’ hulking pickup truck appear to be over. Light trucks are the best of both worlds because they can combine utility with comfort and great fuel economy.

There are plenty of affordable light truck options

A yellow 2022 Ford Maverick is driving on a damp road.
2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

Affordability is no longer an excuse to avoid buying a light pickup truck over a sedan or coupe. While most cars are still more affordable than pickup trucks, smaller compact trucks offer competitive pricing. A 2022 Honda Civic costs $22,350. The 2022 Ford Ranger starts at just $25,500.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz starts at $24,140. Ford’s new compact truck option, the 2022 Ford Maverick, starts at just $19,995. Some light pickup trucks are much more costly than cars, but there are plenty of affordable options on the market that provide great value for their prices.

The Ford Maverick is experiencing success because of its affordability and unique design. The tiny pickup is being ordered in crowded cities like L.A. and San Francisco because of the value and utility it provides drivers. Data even proves that the Maverick is attracting a larger young female audience than other pickup trucks.

If you’re looking for a new vehicle, there are several light trucks within the same price range as a new sedan or coupe. Used light trucks also can provide plenty of value to consumers.

Cars can’t compete with trucks when it comes to utility

A blue 2022 Ford Maverick.
The 2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

While midsize sedans like the Honda Accord can be spacious, no car can match the utility of a light truck model. The Accord’s got plenty of legroom but can it really compete with the Ford Maverick’s customizable truck bed? I think not.

Try lugging a couch in a sedan. Light trucks are gaining in popularity in urban areas because even city folk could benefit from having a truck bed, especially when the truck can squeeze into street parking. According to Forbes Wheels, new trucks are outselling new cars at a 3:1 ratio. Will light trucks emerge as the most popular automobiles in the near future?