What Brands Should Making Pickup Trucks Right Now That Aren’t?

Fifty years ago, the idea of a suburban family selecting a pickup truck as one of their two primary vehicles was rather unheard of. Today, of course, that’s not the case, as products like Ford Mavericks are high on the shopping lists of those who don’t really spend much time doing “pickup things” at all.

Because of this, more and more car companies are trying to get on board with pickups. The question for today is, which brands that aren’t currently offering pickups should be? I’m not talking about making a ute out of some regular SUV or sedan; I mean which ones should make a ground-up new truck?

Recently we’ve seen that Kia is reportedly going to sell a pickup in the United States. They’re currently making a truck for other markets called the Tasman, a vehicle so ugly it’s almost appealing. Yikes.

We’re told that the supposed-US-market Kia pickup won’t look like this, but that doesn’t seem to be the issue. Maybe it’s just me, but does anyone really want a Kia pickup, regardless of the styling?

Personally, I miss the days when Mazda was a big player with mini trucks. Their legacy goes back over half a century, including rotary-powered pickups. They weren’t a mechanical or sales success, but what a cool idea!

After that, Mazda sold the popular and affordable “B” series (also offered as the Ford Courier) before, ironically, simply hawking rebadged Ford Rangers until 2009. I’d love to see a revived B-Series as something like a gas-powered Slate or something, wouldn’t you?

There’s even a Mazda pickup for sale now in other markets that’s a nicely reskinned Isuzu that we apparently won’t be getting. That’s a pretty nice-looking truck that makes me want a Mazda even more.

How about Lexus? If I’m spending absurd dollars on a loaded Toyota pickup truck, I wouldn’t mind spending a few more to get the Lexus dealership experience, as well as some higher-end interior trim. Somehow a Lexus-branded Tundra makes sense.